Bluetooth USB adapter

These two adapters work for sure, but it's a rather uncomplete list still...

How is your Openmoko in terms of stability? Is it really reliable, or do you run in some bugs from time to time?

The Openmoko isn't really a phone. It works to an extent as a phone but it's more like a small tablet. Some of it's features I find to be really cool, e.g:

1. You can use it without a SIM card at all. The distributions will complain that no SIM is found but you can still use all the non-phone related applications like internet and games. Some distributions are not related to a phone at all (e.g. Gamerunner is a distibutions just for playing games).

2. You can charge the phone by connecting it to a computer connected to a power source even when the computer itself isn't on. Admittedly it charges very slowly this way, but at least you never have to worry about the phone discharging at night if you left it connected to the computer and decided to switch off the computer.

3. Distributions like SHR and QtMoko can be run directly from a microSD(HC) card, so backing up data and switching distibutions is very easy.

4. You don't need GPRS or wireless to update the software on the phone or test applications which require internet as you can share the internet from your computer via SSH.

5. Another cool feature is the USB port can be used in slave and host mode, so you can copy pictures from a camera to the phone (admittedly I have yet to test this myself).

In addition, some of the applications are pretty good. I especially like Pidgin and FBReader. Evopedia (offline Wikipedia reader) is pretty good as well on SHR-testing. The software on QtMoko which takes snapshots is cool as well.

The bad part is that the phone software itself isn't always usable. For example I cannot receive text messages on SHR and I cannot connect earplugs on Om 2009 during a phone call. QtMoko however works fine as a phone (the only bug I encountered was the ringtone disappearing if I SSH or change appearance), but the Debian repositories are not optimized for the phone, so installing software requires more effort. Also, some distributions don't come with virtual keyboards of all the languages so you might need to write a keyboard yourself if you are not an English speaker.

To answer your question: if you use a distribution running on a microSD card and back it up regularly you should be fine even when software updates or installations cause problems.

I actually have the Cambridge dongle and it behaves rather erratically unfortunately (it sometimes works but usually it doesn't). It might be because the one I have is faulty (I will test another one later this week).

Sounds like Openmokos Freerunner is more for playing around atm. Still would like to have it... maybe, one day, when I rob the next bank :-P

If you want something stable Android on the Freerunner might be an option. I didn't really like it (the fonts are tiny and setting it up with Hebrew support was rather difficult) but it might actually be the most usable distro on the phone.

I should clarify: the phone only charges on a switched off computer if the computer can turn on the light of a mouse connected to it (mine apparently can).