Third-generation Nokia tablet gains a keyboard and GPS

Can't wait to get our hands on the new Nokia N810, announced last October and released in November (when we're writing this). Unlike its predecessors, the N770 and the N800, the N810 has one big stand-out (actually, slide-out) difference: a qwerty keyboard. That alone makes it far more desirable -- and far more like the departed Sharp Zaurus -- a unit that some of us still miss.

The other big difference is built-in GPS. The N800, which currently holds the title of Ultimate Linux Handheld (September 2007), required an external GPS receiver connected to the unit by bluetooth.

On the down side (at least for this writer), is that Nokia has dropped the built-in FM radio featured in the N800. We liked that feature, and were looking forward to improvements in it, such as RDS support. Perhaps, if enough of us care, a worthy Fm radio will return in a future version.

Meanwhile, we look forward to reviewing the N810 in depth for an upcoming issue of Linux Journal.

-- Doc Searls