Ceci n’est pas une iPhone

As we all know, a blog without a post about the iPhone will be hunted down by wolves and torn limb from limb. I thought I’d get around this by telling you about my current search for an affordable Nokia N800.

My wish to have an N800 stems from the recent death of my laptop. It was mostly used for poddling about while sitting on the couch, looking at things on the internet. Now, if a household member wishes to do a bit of browsing, they’ve to go away from the bosom of their family to the cold dark chaos of the room where the big computer lives. Its lonely up there. And frightening.

Buying a whole new laptop doesn’t look like a runner, so the quest is on.

Some problems: You can’t go into a shop and look at an N800. Shops look at you like you’re a loon if you ask to see the Nokia that isn’t a phone.
Even eBay isn’t well stocked with them. And there are suspiciously large numbers of people selling them who apparently have never sold anything before. I have my doubts.
Dublin’s Rudest Retailer, Mr. Calculator, has one in the window. It has had an extra €50 added on to the standard cost. Which is already too much at €400.

And why is the N800 not an iPhone? Because it can be bought here (if you can find one), lets enterprising sorts write programmes for it, doesn’t cost a billion euros, and doesn’t require you to have a new mobile contract to get it. And because I have a phone already, thanks.