I wonder if this signals the end for the slide-out QWERTY touch-screen format for Nokia? Or will they continue this avenue with further models in the N900 family? I'll have to seriously consider whether it's worth waiting for another QWERTY, or just biting the bullet and go for touch-screen only. This would be quite unlikely though, as I dislike typing on touchscreens immensely, and there's a lot you can't do without a proper touchpad and/or QWERTY, e.g. using game console emulators.
Nokia N8-00 / N98
QWERTY is probably too expensive, and Im surprised they've stripped back to 16 Gig. But then with 32 Gig memory cards around the corner, it just provides a bit of flexibility in price IMHO.
Disappointed about the choice of screen, but hey ho.
My new opinion of the N8, quality hardware let down by probably a poor OS.
Im left thinking about all the Android devices out there with Facebook clients built into the contact lists and all that, Layar, Swype text entry, Widgets that you can actually interact with on screen because they can be double height, treble height, whatever height you want.
Meanwhile, Nokia give us more widget links that give you two lines of text. No doubt another six months waiting for stability, six months waiting for a SIP client, 9 months waiting for an updated sports tracker. No DivX player, No Shazam, and very little else apart from homebrew apps because so few people can actually be bothered developing for Symbian anymore.
Still, amazing hardware.
that is likely to have your qwerty slider ..
bear in mind these devices will happily talk to bluetooth keyboards if you need a physical input device.
Oh great, so, you're in the pub, or whatever, "let me just hook up my bluetooth keyboard". Yeah. I can see that working.
sjdean wrote:Oh great, so, you're in the pub, or whatever, "let me just hook up my bluetooth keyboard". Yeah. I can see that working.
more like hotel suite .. office (where I use mine) etc .. pubs! what would I be doing in a pub? .. um oh yeah .. not work or anything that needs a full qwerty 😊
But that's what makes the N97 so great, it's not an external keyboard, it's a flip out keyboard and is really great to use.
sjdean wrote:But that's what makes the N97 so great, it's not an external keyboard, it's a flip out keyboard and is really great to use.
Yes, I have to second that , I found it very good to use, so much so that one of the things I wanted on my next phone was physical QWERTY k/b. The E72 k/b isn't as easy to use as the N97 IMHO, it's a little too compact.
Still happy with my E90 . To many keys to mention . Touchscreen ? What for ?
😊 Regards jApi NL
I just wish they would produce a slimmer version of the E90 without reducing the screen size, just the thickness of it, with a few more improvements ( built in memory, 3.5 mm jack plug, TV Out ) it would the Daddy.
I had a go on a HTC Desire yesterday. The screen is really amazing, and the interface looks so slick compared to Symbian. Still, *probably* not an option for the QWERTY reason!
I also had a go on the N900, and I wasn't impressed at all. Just in terms of the interface it seemed clunky and awkward. Maybe my opinion would change with more of a play though.
jamessmith01 wrote:I had a go on a HTC Desire yesterday. The screen is really amazing, and the interface looks so slick compared to Symbian. Still, *probably* not an option for the QWERTY reason!I also had a go on the N900, and I wasn't impressed at all. Just in terms of the interface it seemed clunky and awkward. Maybe my opinion would change with more of a play though.
I jumped ship to the Desire about 10 days ago.
Like most people, there are some things about the N97 i really miss.
But not enough to make me go back to it.
I will say the phone/data connection at work using my N97 was soo much better than it is using my Desire.....that's my biggest gripe.
So if you have a weak phone signal, it might be worth checking one out first
i have actually sold my Desire.
Everything on the phone was amazing, it really was. in all the time i had it, it never crashed once, not once, and no matter how many Apps on put on it, it never slowed down.
But the one thing i couldn't live with was the video capture, it was awful. Outside it was 29fps, indoors it dropped to as low as 9fps! Plus the sound was terrible.
So as much as it pains me, it looks like i'll be giving Nokia some more money, like a fool, with the N8.
What is wrong with me?
PS back to the N95-1, man its hard to use after the desire......
Do you think Nokia will have worked out how to do threaded messages? and a decent onscreen keyboard where you can type and still see where you are typing?
spirit44 wrote:i have actually sold my Desire.Everything on the phone was amazing, it really was. in all the time i had it, it never crashed once, not once, and no matter how many Apps on put on it, it never slowed down.
But the one thing i couldn't live with was the video capture, it was awful. Outside it was 29fps, indoors it dropped to as low as 9fps! Plus the sound was terrible.
So as much as it pains me, it looks like i'll be giving Nokia some more money, like a fool, with the N8.
What is wrong with me?
PS back to the N95-1, man its hard to use after the desire......
Do you think Nokia will have worked out how to do threaded messages? and a decent onscreen keyboard where you can type and still see where you are typing?
I went back to the N95-1 after selling the N97, and just enjoyed using it again, it was super fast compared to the N97, and it kind of steered me to my current phone, as basically I wanted an N95 with a QWERTY keyboard, result was the E72.
Im looking at going to the Samsung Galaxy S. 8 Gig on board, Super AMOLED, 720p video recording, DivX, DNLA (or DLNA), Wireless b/g/n, 5MP Camera.
Looks quite neat. Some photos don't show the phone as having a flash, but retailers say it does.
Plus it's only a 5MP Camera. And only 8Gig on board. Might get that, give it a try, if i don't like it, I will most likely switch to the N8.
^ A combination of the fact it's made by Samsung, and the crappy handling of the i8910, would make me wary of that one.
nottmbantam wrote:I went back to the N95-1 after selling the N97, and just enjoyed using it again, it was super fast compared to the N97, and it kind of steered me to my current phone, as basically I wanted an N95 with a QWERTY keyboard, result was the E72.
see, i think its different for me, as I have just given up the Desire. N95 feels slow, REALLY slow, screen is dull, small and cramped. I don't even bother using the net, after the Desire N95 feels like using dial up through a postage stamp. I thought i needed a QWERTY until i got the desire, didn't miss it for a second.
But on the plus side the video recording is brilliant!😃
I really hope the delays on the N8 mean its going to be useable and a quality piece of kit out of the box, or i'm going to be really pi$$ed 😡
teeku wrote:My new opinion of the N8, quality hardware let down by probably a poor OS.
Although S60 is looking a bit tired and clunky (compared to Andriod etc) it's stored in ROM and not really affected by firmware changes made by Nokia.
It's the Nokia firmware itself (stored in internal flash memory) which typically causes instability in the first few FW major releases. Nokia really needs to light a fire under the beta / field test department to get it right first time when the next flagship is released to market.
teeku wrote:My new opinion of the N8, quality hardware let down by probably a poor OS.
they should tweak their moto
"Connecting people......with quality hardware and a poor OS"
I've had enough of waiting a couple of seconds just to open a new SMS.
My next phone almost certainly won't be nokia, no matter how purdy it might be on the outside... (disclaimer: if Nokia revamp the Ovi store so it's actually pleasant to use, give us decently specced hardware and stop cutting corners on quality control I might be swayed)
It's like the return of the old Rover motto - "Above all, it's a Nokia"
davecozens wrote:I've had enough of waiting a couple of seconds just to open a new SMS.My next phone almost certainly won't be nokia, no matter how purdy it might be on the outside... (disclaimer: if Nokia revamp the Ovi store so it's actually pleasant to use, give us decently specced hardware and stop cutting corners on quality control I might be swayed)
It's like the return of the old Rover motto - "Above all, it's a Nokia"
i seriously think Nokia won't make the same mistakes again, the fact that they delayed it to ensure it was good enough is a good thing.
this time they have the 14 day cooling off period to convince me things have changed, otherwise its full refund time. i'm not waiting for the 'magical' software update to make things better this time round
Has anyone seen a photo that shows where the reset pin is? I have a feeling that it's the wee button under the HDMI flap, but I'm not sure. Given that there are times that the only way to reset the N97 is to remove the battery (a task at which I have become adept with one hand!) I would want a proper reset pin if the battery is in a screwed shut compartment.
Other than that, it looks the part and is lined up to replace my N97 (which I love, probably much to the chagrin of many) later in the year.