Nokia releases two convergent devices; shows path to the future

There's a lot of talk on the Maemo users list that Nokia should release a Maemo netbook. Is there a working port of Maemo to Intel-based chips? Maemo is a Linux-based operating system that runs Nokia's Internet Tablets which are slightly larger than a mobile phone devices that are full (if limited) computers. The run on an ARM processor, and as far as I know, Maemo has not been ported for Intel chips that you find in laptops and some netbooks, including the Nokia one pictured on the right.

This was partially mentioned above, but I don't think enough weight has been given to the fact that Nokia has just within the past three months announced major partnerships with both Intel and Microsoft. It is not surprising that a corporate-focused booklet would choose this platform.


And remember, the N900 "Rover" is coming out. The OS/2 comparison is interesting, and it may well be that Maemo stays firmly in the "hobbyist" arena. But i think we will see Maemo take a bigger role as the laptop and phone continue to merge into a new hybrid device (of which netbooks and internet tablets are early forays into this class of device.


Nokia's strategy and vision for the future can be seen clearly from one feature both of these devices share: GSM networking capability. This is the same network your mobile phone uses for its data connection, enabling an almost-anywhere connection to the Internet from both the Booklet and the Tablet devices.

At this point, it looks to me that the Booklet is aimed at corporate commuter users, primarily because the video makes a point about "VPN-less" connection to your corporate email. Whereas the tablet is still aimed at the hobbyist/bleeding-edge connected user. With phone-call capability, this could become a must-have device for the younger always-on-facebook and text messaging set.
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