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Re: Suggestion for a smartphone running natively LINUX? :)

The N900 is indeed a native Linux phone. Maemo is based on Debian, and in addition there is a Debian chroot, which uses the Debian repos.

The N900 (I have one and an N810) is a really rock-solid platform, though I am not terribly enamored with Nokia. Maemo and the Nseries could have ruled the mobile phone market, and been to market before the iphone. And now their "alliance" with MS and the killing of symbian and all things Linux...Grrr. But I digress.

On Mon, Mar 14, 2011 at 6:24 PM, johhny_at_poland77 <johhny_at_poland77@zoho.com> wrote:
not android!

Debian, Fedora, or anything (natively = not in chroot)

I'm not sure, but the Nokia N900 can run Debian
http://openattitude.com/2010/03/19/easy-and-amazing-debian-for-the-n900/

I just need Linux because i need: 

 - iptables/netfilter
 - an openvpn client

Yes and yes
 
- a good browser (google chrome with notscript+wot extension)

Not sure about chrome. I know that Fennec (ffx 4 beta/rc) is available, as is the standard web browser (webkit based), I believe Midori is availabe too.
 
- flash player!!!

Included, albeit an older version (9?). This could have been upgraded somewhere along the way.
 
 - "KISS" principle - so that it could be more secure if i only install what i really want

Well, there is a pretty active community, but remember it is a phone, so there is going to be a base install, which is available as a flashable image. From there, there are several hundred apps of all descriptions. that said, all I have listening (or available to listen) are ssh and openvpn. I don't believe anything else is listening at this point.
 
 - remote desktop client (to access windows machines remotely)

I believe so, but I don't run windows.
 
it must not be a little distro, i need a big one (e.g.: Debian - the more eyes seeing it the better is it) - not a little one, that could contain a backdoor!!!!

There is a pretty active community at http://maemo.org, including Debian Devs. The forums are at http://talk.maemo.org
 
or android is a good solution? can i run chrome on it? is it a "safe" distro?

important: i would only use the phone for surfing the net.

thanks for any help regarding these questions.

Er, buying an N900 for only surfing the net? Are we talking over wifi or the mobile network? That is kind of a pricey option. If you only want an internet tablet, you may also consider buying a used N810 (probably half or less of the cost but a little long in the tooth -- The N810 has a 400MHz ARM processor, while the N900 runs at 600MHz but some have overclocked...Up to 1.15GHz). You also may, if your surfing is going to be limited to wifi, a low-cost netbook. The N900s originally listed at nearly $800US, and are still hovering about half of that. I was also going to suggest a tablet, but just about all of those are gravitating to Android, and you said no on that point. I personally have no experience with Android...Though you can, in fact, install a project called NITdroid on the N900 (and possibly the N810).

--b

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