Anyone own a Nokia 770 (the Internet tablet device running Linux)?

[yllus]

I'm the Nokia 770. I'm a sexy, sexy little device.

I've wanted an Internet-enabled, touchscreen device so move around the house with and do stuff like browse the Web and pair to my Bluetooth GPS unit. Now he is mine.

So I'm wondering who else on the AnandTech Forums has this device (or the newer version, the N800). How do you like the device? What have you loaded on it?

My list of applications now loaded on the 770 are as follows:

1. Pidgin (aka Gaim), for instant messaging (Link).
2. Maemo BT Plugin, to work with Bluetooth GPS units and keyboards (Link).
3. Maemo Mapper, a free GPS mapping program (Link).
4. Minimo Browser, Firefox for the Nokia N770 (Link, search for 'Minimo').
5. X Terminal, to have command line access to the device (Link).
6. Dropbear SSH client and server, adds a SSH client to the device as well as a listening SSH server, so you can access the N770 from a remote machine on the same network (Link).
7. ScummVM, to play old Sierra point-and-click games like Secret of Monkey Island and Indiana Jones series (Link).
8. Canola, a slick media player (Link).
9. A Star Trek LCARS display theme - with sound pack! (Link)
10. rdesktop, for Remote Desktop to Windows machines (Link).

Still haven't tried:
- Nothing! I've officially run through my entire list of applications.

I'm also now using Media Converter to quickly re-encode video for the Nokia 770 with great success. One episode of Entourage is approximately 85 MB at what I deem good quality.

Edit: If anyone's interested in buying in, here are some links!

American buyers: Buy.com has it for $139.99.
Canadian buyers: Expansys.ca has it for $146.66.

 

[Colt45]

I've been wondering what to do with this cash thats burning a hole in my pocket

I've seen the N800, but it seems a bit pricy.. $150 is a lot more reasonable, even if it is slightly crappier.


edit: ordered one from expansys.. awaiting it's arrival

 

[frostedflakes]

Picked one up at buy.com just recently. I agree that the open source nature of the device is appealing, there's all kinds of software you can download for it. It's also surprisingly easy to read stuff on webpages when browsing, that was one of the only things I was worried about.

But having one problem, maybe you can help me yllus. Whenever I try to open a PDF it gives me an insufficient memory error. The PDF files in question are not what I would consider very large (a few hundred to 500kb) and I don't have a bunch of browser windows or other apps open that would be sucking up memory. Any ideas?

Also any suggestions for PC software that will convert video files to formats that will play well on the 770 and won't take up a whole lot of space? Recently picked up a 2GB RS-MMC on eBay, would be nice to be able to load a couple movies on it and use the 770 to watch them on trips or whatever.

 

[yllus]

Unfortunately I don't have my Nokia N770 in my hands yet, that'll be early this week - so I can't quite help yet on the PDF side of things. Good to hear that the screen is readable though.

Regarding a video converter, there's Media Converter for Linux, OS X and Windows that I'm told should do the job perfectly!

 

[frostedflakes]

Will check it out. Thanks.

 

[zig3695]

damn, i just bought a NEC mobilepro900 for $100 so i could have a small music jukebox player. it works but its so slow and buggy that its not entirely practical, even for music. this Nokia seems like it would have been a much better deal.... dammit!

 

[kyzen]

I got one off Woot a little while back, I love it. Still trying to find a suitable Calendar/Contacts application that can semi-painlessly sync with outlook. Any suggestions?

 

[zig3695]

there isnt anyway to add an external harddrive to this is there?

 

[yllus]

Originally posted by: kyzen
I got one off Woot a little while back, I love it. Still trying to find a suitable Calendar/Contacts application that can semi-painlessly sync with outlook. Any suggestions?

Google seems to suggest grabbing DejaDesktop for this task - DejaPIM for displaying the information on your N770, and DejaLink for syncing with Outlook.

Possibly give it a try for the 14 day trial, but I don't know about using it for the long haul. Incredibly, they seem to want $9.95/month for use of the syncing software.

 

[yllus]

Updated! Received the Nokia 770 at work yesterday, had fun playing with it all night. The battery on this thing lasts, and that includes heavy Wi-Fi access the entire time (as well as Bluetooth for the duration of my GPS pairing).

If not for the girl coming over tonight, I'd put it in my lightbox and take some pics. Another day.

 

[RedBeard]

Wooter here.

The nokia works great. I am still playing with mine. Canola works great BTW.
A 1gb+ memory card is a MUST.

Also get ScummVm. It works like a dream.

 

[gcy]

got mine last week and updated it to the latest firmware. works with 2gb card. wifi is great, no problem accessing my email or reading on it.

 

[tatteredpotato]

Does it support WPA Enterprise Encryption? The one where you have a user name and password?

 

[yllus]

Originally posted by: BlameCanada
Does it support WPA Enterprise Encryption? The one where you have a user name and password?

Three security methods seem to be supported: WEP, WPA pre-shared key, and WPA with EAP.

For WPA with EAP, three EAP types are listed: SIM, TLS and PEAP.

 

[HermDogg]

Any word on VPN? I can't seem to find a portable wifi device that supports VPN, which is a must for wireless on campus.

 

[yllus]

Originally posted by: RedBeard
Wooter here.

The nokia works great. I am still playing with mine. Canola works great BTW.
A 1gb+ memory card is a MUST.

Also get ScummVm. It works like a dream.

I've still not installed Canola (waiting on my 1GB RS-MMC card), but I did install ScummVM and now have Monkey Island 1, Monkey Island 2 and Indiana Jones 3 on my Nokia 770. Thanks!

Originally posted by: HermDogg
Any word on VPN? I can't seem to find a portable wifi device that supports VPN, which is a must for wireless on campus.

A VPN client is in the process of being built, but is nowhere near ready at this time.

 

[Colt45]

got mine today

seems pretty slick so far. gonna try SSHing into the server now.

 

[Colt45]

Posting on mine right now.

Learning handwriting recognition.

 

[tatteredpotato]

So I just ordered one of these off FS/FT, anyone have some long term impressions by now?

 

[yllus]

My long-term impressions:

This is a very solid device that is on my person about 80% of the time when I head out. My major applications of choice are the web browser, the video player (with Media Converter transcoding files before loading) and Maemo Mapper with my little GlobalSat BT-338 GPS unit. Having a portable GPS unit is incredibly useful.

With a little bit of time, the Internet capabilities of this device should be markedly enlarged. There's a project called iodine that allows IP over DNS, which would allow us to use the Internet connection in Starbucks and other coffee shops for free (at 1Mb speeds).

All that said, if I wasn't a software developer with some familiarity in Linux I'd be up a creek. This is not a device for the Average Joe.

 

[loup garou]

Hey, if you have a machine with Media Center, you might want to see if you can get in on the beta for MCEGuru's remote control app

I'm considering getting a 770 or 800 just for this, very very slick.