Companies don't try to offer every possible product any consumer might want. That tends to dilute their focus. Instead they tend to offer those products likely to have a significant impact on their bottom line and then focus development, marketing, and support towards those products.

In order for AT&T to offer that service to Nook owners the market has to be large enough to be worth their time. They also have to consider such issues as to whether they already have a product that they have an investment in that currently meets all or most of that market, whether the new product would bring new customers or just cannibalize existing customers, and whether their business partners are interested in pursuing such products.

The whole process is complicated and the fact that one or more customers exist for a given product is not in and of itself justification to sell a product.

I think the point is, there ARE other products that provide general computer functionality with a cellular connection.

The Nook is an eBook reader and that is all is aspires to be. That is it's business model. There is room in this world for specialized devices (they don't ALL have to all be general purpose) and I certainly think companies should have the option of creating special business arrangements (such as a constant cellular connection supported by book purchases) to support those devices.

Of course AT&T will lock this down. That is the right think to do so that those people who DO want a device such as this is, will be able to get it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smartphone

Some choice quotes:

"Most devices considered smartphones today use an identifiable operating system"

"One common feature to the majority of the smartphones is a contact list able to store as many contacts as the available memory permits, in contrast to regular phones that has a limit to the maximum number of contacts that can be stored."

It hurts arguments to complain that the 'other side' is cherry picking definitions to make their point, and then carefully cherry pick your own definition to make your point.

I think the best and most meaningful definition listed in the wikipedia article is this one:

" For some, a smartphone is a phone that runs complete operating system software providing a standardized interface and platform for application developers."

But that is my opinion.

I guess I should point out that since the reference poster said most his statement could still be accurate even if you are an exception.

Thank you for the clarification. I do not disagree with your point.

Even though I am someone who hates Windows I have to challenge this. You are saying that if Windows users want to do things other than work on their computer, then they are lazy? I supposed someone who wants to work on research curing cancer instead of spending more time getting their computer to work is lazy.

Damn, I hate lazy people.

Wow!! And that would make you a real prick. I am sure all those lousy users deserve that kind of treatment...

I think this is a critical point. The fact that the kernel is standardized and (mostly) not fractured over a number of forks seems to be the glue holding Linux together. Imagine where Linux would be without that stable foundation and imagine where it might be if some of the higher level parts were to become more standard.

I wish I had mod points. The contempt for users I see among a large number (not all) Linux developers (users) is amazing. As is the fact that those same denigrated "users" could use the same justification for contempt of those Linux developer for those areas in which the user is more knowledgeable than the developer.

I am a physician but I never feel contempt for the stupidity of my patients or call them morons for not being as expert in medicine as am I. And I hope my mechanic does not consider me a moron for the fact that he could certainly limp a complex car along that would be beyond my interest or ability to keep going.

As soon as a few Linux developers (not all) learn that they are incompetent in far greater number of disciplines than those in which they are expert the world of FOSS will be a better, or a least more civil, community.