Our Nokia friends were very generous to send us over their newest Internet Tablet, the N800, for a review. Read more below about our experience with this Linux-based mobile gem.
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Member since:2005-06-29
You're talking about USB wall chargers. Well, they're great too, but the point is, it should not matter if you're using a USB wall charger or charging the device while it's hooked to your PC, USB recharging is NEEDED for a portable device... a USB to charge connector converter does not count to call N770 and N800 a USB chargeable device as you still need a proper converter, not just a standard USB cable and a USB power supply (PC/MAC/Wall USB charger... make your choice).
Why should you depend on proprietary and bulky devices to hold any important data?
It doesn't matter if USB recharging isn't fast as the a proper AC charger, you need options and you don't need to carry all the bulky for a portable device... just take you PC with you in your baggage them.
There's nothing wrong with the AC charger, we just need USB charging as well, out of the box, without carrying (and buying) useless stuff. It won't be the primary recharging method, but will make this device really portable.
Edited 2007-01-25 12:34
Member since:2006-01-02
So you're *nitpicking* over the facts that a. a third party usb charger plugs into the power receptacle and not usb port (even though you can charge it with your laptop), and b. it doesn't come with a free one in addition to a wall charger (unlike every mobile device out there, most of which come with a wall charger and let the user pick a 3rd party accessory to charge via usb, car lighter or other means). Even if USB charging was there, it is likely a compact cable like a retractable one would not be supplied. So you have to purchase an accessory *regardless* of the physical port that is used.
I'm not disagreeing with you, I would love to have USB charging out the box as well, but this is how it is. It is cheap and inexpensive to pick up a USB charger for the device that is not bulky. I charge my 770 and 800 via my laptop all the time.
There is possibly another reason why the power is on a separate port, and that has to do with flashing the device with a new image (powered off device -> non-powered usb connection -> hotkey+power on or power cable connection -> flash). And this pretty much carries over Nokia's entire product line.
Member since:2005-06-28
>USB does not supply enough mA to fast-charge the device.
Konfoo, you are mistaken. PocketPCs do charge via USB, and I can tell you, some of these use higher speed CPUs and hardware than the N800 (e.g. the Dell x50v). So, no, your argument is not correct. USB-charging *is* feasible (if a bit slower to charge) and it is used by other similar devices today, and people want that. That's the real issue here.
Member since:
2006-01-02
It comes with a wall charger. USB does not supply enough mA to fast-charge the device. Unfortunately battery capacities are outgrowing the 500mA limits of the USB bus. No manufacturer in their right mind would support USB charging as default. There are just too many variables involved vs. a simple UL wall wart produced in mass quantities for less than the price of the fused USB charger cable with zero support required (and used across your entire CE device line). So this is really a moot point.