Nokia N900 Necromancy

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Nostalgia and real-world use

  • Many share strong affection for the N800/N810/N900/N9 era: first “real” pocket computers, formative Linux-learning devices, and all‑time favorite phones.
  • Common memories: Bluetooth tethering to dumb phones, hunting Wi‑Fi on campus, using Google Voice to dodge SMS fees, running Apache/Python or webservers, hosting WebSocket demos, and even doing academic work (e.g., hypervisors, emulators) on them.
  • The N900 is repeatedly praised for its slide‑out keyboard, FM transmitter, IR blaster, offline maps, stereo speakers, kickstand, and Debian‑based Maemo with apt‑get.

Hardware mods, batteries, and power

  • Some argue the article’s battery hack is overkill when BL‑5J replacements are still sold; others distrust “OEM/genuine” claims for 16‑year‑old packs.
  • Explanation of the supercapacitor approach: old Li‑ion cells develop high internal resistance, making them poor transient current buffers; large caps restore stable voltage under load for always‑powered use.
  • Side discussions on BL‑5J as a nice project form factor and on quirks like N810’s inability to recover from a fully drained battery over USB alone.

2G/3G shutdown and legality of DIY base stations

  • Several note that N900‑class devices are losing phone functionality as 2G/3G are phased out, with timelines varying by country; some links and claims conflict, and details are labeled “messy” or outdated.
  • Running one’s own 2G/3G cell is discussed: technically possible (especially for 2G) but generally illegal or tightly constrained because spectrum has been reallocated.

Nokia, Maemo/Meego, and missed opportunities

  • Strong sentiment that Nokia “had it” early: internet tablets from 2005, Linux phones, Skype + webcams years before iPhone/Android maturity.
  • Multiple accounts say operators feared open Linux devices; Nokia obeyed carrier demands (e.g., limiting telephony, Skype), while Apple forced operators to accept its terms and bypassed SMS/MMS economics.
  • Debate over whether betting on Linux vs Symbian was a mistake: some blame the OS choice, others say UX and corporate structure mattered far more.
  • Many attribute the platform’s death to internal politics and the later Microsoft pivot (Elop, Windows Phone), not technical inferiority.

Desire for modern successors and hacker ethos

  • Ongoing longing for a modern N900‑like “pocket cyberdeck” with keyboard and real Linux. Existing options mentioned: PinePhone, Librem 5, Sailfish/Jolla devices, Fxtec/Planet/GPD, but none are seen as a true successor.
  • Skepticism about commercial viability: niche demand (HN “weirdos”) vs mass‑market expectations and banking apps tied to Android/iOS.
  • One thread explores how to gain the skills behind such hacks: advice centers on gradual tinkering (Arduino/Raspberry Pi/RISC‑V, Gentoo, embedded work) and accumulating experience rather than any single formal path.
  • A few extrapolate to a future split between tightly attested, locked‑down mainstream devices and a “cyberpunk” parallel web of rooted, owner‑controlled hardware—where N900‑style freedom is the ideal.