As much as I love my N900, I've yet to find a proctor who would let me use my phone during an exam.

Well... I did get to use it on a test in Physics in high school, but only because my TI-84's batteries were dead and I had to use a TI-84 Emulator on it... And the teacher sat behind me the whole time...

Point is you're better off using the calculator and keeping a spare set of batteries around.

Yes it is, because I'm not holding an open map to examine as I drive because I simply memorize how to get where I need to go. Amazingly, people do not actually require a GPS to navigate.

However, that's not correct.

Windows RT runs on ARM processors, and as a result all binary files (programs) have to be compiled to run on ARM.
However, Windows 8 runs on what is called x86 processors, and it's binary files have to be compiled to run on x86.

And that's just the most basic difference, that completely ignores any other software differences.

What you buy for Windows RT will not just work on Windows 8.

Not yet released, but you might want to keep on top of what Jolla is doing. They're a group of ex-Nokia employees that were laid off when Nokia went full-on Windows phone that were responsible for the linux-based Nseries N900 and N9.

They're set to release information on their first phone in November, it'll be a linux phone like the Nseries phones, and while it's not likely to have the massive app market for native apps, it should do all the things you say you're looking for.

They're also saying it'll run android applications, but that's just icing on the cake for you.

I'll admit to being biased as a N900 owner, but perhaps you'll be interested to see what they offer? At the very least to compare to the windows 8 phones out there as well.

Knowing you're and AC and not entirely likely to see this response, I want to thank you for headed me down a better path and making me finally properly research fixed point maths. I'm no rockstar, but it's times like these where I get to find something I knew little of and expand my knowledge that make it worth it. Thank you.

I applaud your efforts to teach this class, and I just enrolled.

Head on over to the main page, check the <title> element

I agree this a sad story but I fail see how you reach your conclusion from it.

If you add ten years to each of his original statements it makes a bit more sense...

As someone still sticking to his N900, I think I'm going to pass on this latest offering.

That said, have you looked at what Jolla, a company of ex-Nokia employees is doing with MeeGo, the successor to the Maemo OS which our N900s runs?

Personally I'm looking forward to what they have to offer.

From the Black Mesa wiki, you don't need to buy any games to play the mod, as the Source SDK Base 2007 is free to download through steam.

As a current N900 owner, I'm also very interested in what Jolla will produce, as I'm very much hoping that to be my next phone.

However, as a US citizen the radios they choose to put into the phone may prohibit me from using it, as I'm not keen on switching from TMobile because of my grandfathered data plan.

I'm also concerned about if their phone will have a physical keyboard or not, but it is said that there will be a developer edition, which may be more to my liking.

They're also saying that the Jolla phone will be able to run Android applications, and if so that'll be an exciting development:

The people who have a Maemo device care, of course.