My perception of Nokia is that they have gone downhill drastically, and I can't really see how anyone can defend the decisions they have been making.
Lets start with the hardware - Nokia used to be the cutting edge of hardware, their handsets were constantly in the lead with features, that genrally worked well.
Now, they are being overtaken, especially by Samsung.
Lets look at their flagship device for a minute.
The processor cannot cut it. The RAM cannot cut it. It has massive hardware issues, namely the GPS (this is not a firmware/software problem in many cases) and the camera lens.
What exactly are you getting for �500 odd? Old processor, little RAM - about the only noteworthy things are the keyboard and storage, and thats it.
If your N97 works well for you, all good. But I am growing tired of hearing that now common Nokia mantra - 'It'll get better with the upcoming firmware release.'
You what? It's been out months already, people who have one that's got so many issues are having to wait until it gets this so far mythical FW update to use it as it should be.
So, S60. S60 V5, is it being improved, well not really. Oh yes, we have widgets and various improvements, but where on earth are the things that people have been asking for years ago with S60 V3?
The contacts are still a joke, especially viewing them. And is there calender integration yet? There isn't on my 5800. The calender, that still sucks on S60 V5. A lot of feedback from 5800 users said the calender was very fiddly to use, since they kept it the same size as V3 devices, yet you have to try and touch it.
The only interesting thing about the recent show was the X6, yet my i8910 still beats it in almost every department and it's 7 months old. And yet they are not doing an X6 without CWM. So people with the 5800 wanting an upgrade have to pay an extra 50-70 for something they probably don't want (or possibly already have).
Maemo - great. But thats for the future. Do they really think theres going to be as many initial takers after the failure that was the N97? And when I say failure, I don't mean sales figures, I mean the amount of discontent it has brought to previously loyal Nokia customers.
And the netbook (sorry, mobile laptop, or whatever it's called. Dispite having an atom processor and 10" screen), what on earth is all that about? They say moving to Maemo is so they can have it across various platforms, then they stick windows 7 on the netbook. Eh?
Theres people who are on their 5th N97, and still sticking with it. And people say Apple have fanboys.
The N95 was riddled with issues, and yet Nokia decided not to learn and have repeated the mistake. The N85 was a joke of quality control, and the N97 is also. My local NSC no longer sells N series because they are fed up of the returns.
No, I'm not making any grand statements like Nokia are going to fail, because they won't. They have simply pissed off a load of people that were previously loyal, or at least held them in good standing.
For me, I love my 5800, but really wanted something that was an upgrade, so had to go for a i8910, and, I haven't seen ANY N series that well made.