Comment by geoffeg
3 days ago
I would love a modern version of the N900/N810. If I could get one with a recent ARM processor, good slide out keyboard, and running a more desktop-oriented Linux install (meaning more hacking/developer friendly than just Android), I'd be seriously tempted. Sadly, I assume the current component prices would mean it would be too expensive to be realistic.
This with DisplayPort Alt-Mode so it can be docked for desktop use is pretty much my dream device.
I'd buy an N810 formfactor right now with modern guts.
The FxTec Pro 1 is the closest I've found these days; it has a slied-out keyboard and an unlocked bootloader so you can run LineageOS or Ubuntu Touch (PMOS support seems spotty).
The keyboard isn't as nice as those on phones from ~2010; it's a bit too big for the thumbs to really fly and sliding it in & out is not as effortless as it should be, but nless you count Unihertz's blackberry-likes, there's really nothing else around that comes close!
Not ARM but checkout the PinePhone, its also pretty much sold at cost (same as most Pine products)
Funny I was a supporter of their devices I bought both phones, laptop, tablets... Issue is the software man no drivers. Like the e-ink tablet had a great design/screen but the brush stroke was ass would leave dotted lines as you drew then it would render solid on lift up.
I'm complaining even though I'm not writing the drivers myself I get that.
Then you may want to pay a bit more and get a Librem 5.
The Pine Phone is cool, but the slide out keyboard on the N900/N810 was a big selling point for me.
Doesn’t it use an ARM CPU?
Yes; https://wiki.pine64.org/wiki/PinePhone#Specifications lists an Allwinner A64
Funny I tried to buy one of those breakout blackberry keyboards but they were sold out everywhere