I had the chance to play with client Nokia's new N800 Internet Tablet over dinner last night and is it ever one sweet device.
It's not a phone. It's a Linux appliance, and already based on the reports I'm hearing, the N800 is the largest selling Linux desktop around, even though it's shirt pocket or purse size computer.
Unlike the Nokia 770, this new and improved model has more of a hand weight feel and looks sharp. It works with GizmoProject today and has a built in video camera for real time video. What's more it works with REAL's music service, Rhapsody and has more processing speed and memory. Skype for it comes out in the second quarter of this year so until then Gizmo and GoogleTalk will be how people talk with it.
With the number of new applications coming out for it this is rapidly becoming the geek crowds cool tool.
Most of the target market already has a WiFi laptop, and probably a smart phone, and who wants to carry yet another device and power supply when travelling, so
the non-traditional use cases for an Internet tablet like this are interesting.
One such is as a remote control for a home networked music system, like the Squeezebox 3 (now part of Logitech). The server for this system uses a web interface, so to browse by album art, cue up playlists that are slow to assemble with the regular remote control or modify server settings from the couch with a smaller device than a laptop, the N800 is ideal. The open source Squeezebox community developed a server web UI skin for the Nokia 770.
Personally, the killer use case I hope comes to pass that will cause me to purchase is if the promised N800 Skype client includes Skype video using the included webcam.
In our household with a 2 year old and a 2 week old and grandparents in other countries, Skype video is a killer app. But try to keep your toddler stationary in the desk chair in front of the home PC with the nice speakes and microphone. A portable Skype video device that roams at toddler speed all over the house is a killer app for me. My Tablet PC with attached webcam is too clunky for this.
Skype/Nokia - please ensure video works in the N800 Skype client. My toddler will thank you.
Sanjay Jhawar
Posted by: Sanjay Jhawar | January 10, 2007 at 02:13 PM