last100: More hands-on impressions of the Nokia N97 [full review]
Mark Guim
· 5 months ago
thanks for the review!
I was afraid of this because I hated it on the Nokia 5800's default browser: "While pages load reasonably fast, it seems that you’re unable to reliably begin scrolling or pretty much do anything, until the whole page has finished loading. Trying to do so feels like you’re fighting the device."
Steve O'Hear
· 5 months ago
As I said, the browser is definitely usable but now lags behind the iPhone and Android (and likely the Palm Pre). I suspect it just needs some software optimization. In the meantime, I hope SkyFire and others makes their way across to 5th edition soon. On my E71 I'm spoilt for browsers: Web, Opera Mini, SkyFire, o3, Bolt etc. All of which are pretty good.
Micky
· 5 months ago
Great review Steve.
Im sure several of the aforementioned cravats can be sorted out in future firmware updates, afterall, we are talking V10 here, and who cannot forget what an N95 was like on V10?
As to the keyboard, Im sure its something many will be able to get used to in time.
Steve O'Hear
· 5 months ago
Agreed, I'm sure the experience will improve with firmware updates, and it's already pretty good. As for the keyboard, I'm sure lots of people will be fine with it but it's not E71 standards. I'm frickin' fast on that thing and was from Day One.
Micky
· 5 months ago
I know where your coming from regards the E71 keyboard. I trialled an E71 myself, and at first hated it, but after just one day with it, I fell in love, so much so, i wrote my entire E71 Review on the device itself.!
ric
· 5 months ago
Great review and it sounds like Nokia continued the great design tradition of the internet tablet line but incorporating a phone to boot, (love my N810.) I think I may on the hook with this once I see how Ovi develops and how any symbian issues shake out.
Steve O'Hear
· 5 months ago
It definitely has a bit of the old MID or Netbook about it. I actually prefer it to the N810 tablet though.
Madoda Hlongwane
· 5 months ago
Great review Steve. Wow, superb :-) Love it.
Ankit Patel
· 5 months ago
Man this review only makes me crave for this device more and more eh.
spyda
· 5 months ago
Great review, thanks for that!
I'm a little confused at the browser comment where you say the N97 does not always reflow the text on a page. It wasn't unexpected that it wouldn't do so as the 5800 is the same but I'm curious to know what other S60 3rd devices you refer to actually have that feature? If you have seen it reflow some pages I can only think that it will be down to the way the page is constructed. Can you provide any url's so the same can be tried on the 5800 as a comparison?
You touched on the FM transmitter already but I am interested to know how well this works in practice if you have a chance to test it prior to returning the phone?
Thanks again!
Steve O'Hear
· 5 months ago
Regarding the re-flowing of text, my experience is based on S60 3rd Edition devices, specifically the E71, N85 and E75. You're right, the 5800 didn't reflow text very well either... http://www.last100.com/2008/11/10/ive-been-play...
I'll try and test the FM transmitter tomorrow and get back to you here.
Steve O'Hear
· 5 months ago
I tried the FM transmitter out today. It worked OK, better than other phones I've tried but perhaps not as strong as the N85. It also appeared to work better when Bluetooth was turned off but that may have been a coincidence. Hope that helps.
Merlin John
· 5 months ago
Great review and good to see the point about keyboards. I fear it might be important for many of us for some time to come. Feel a bit wistful as I'm just coming off Nokia and feel it's been closer to what I want than others. Would like this with Android! Could it ever happen?
Steve O'Hear
· 5 months ago
Android on Nokia's hardware would be pretty cool. But it's very unlikely. Nokia have the Symbian Foundation and a linux-based OS of the own called Maemo, which Intel are also supporting. http://maemo.org/
Danny
· 5 months ago
Are you that the DLNA was omitted? The spec at http://www.forum.nokia.com/devices/N97 under "connectivity" calls out UPnP. This is one of the feature I liked a lot on my N95.
Steve O'Hear
· 5 months ago
Pretty sure the UPnP here refers to auto-discovery of WiFi networks not UPnP AV (DNLA certified), which is what I think is missing. I too really enjoyed the feature on the N85 I reviewed.
chad eastwick
· 5 months ago
You have an error you say 32MB(in bold text) of internal storage when it is really 32GB. Great Review keep up the good work
Steve O'Hear
· 5 months ago
Thanks for that. Corrected now. I'm surprised nobody (me included) spotted the mistake until now!
Bowenarrow
· 5 months ago
Why didn't they (Nokia) do a keyboard like the E75 on the N97? there is plenty of space... Would you think the keyboard on the N97 is a cause of concern and should be considered a valid reason not to get this phone? (I currently have the 5800XM). Also the touchscreen, not sure about it on the 5800 either. Is touch on the N97 quicker than that on the 5800? Is it more responsive? Which would you use if you were writing a text, the keyboard or the touch screen?
Steve O'Hear
· 5 months ago
I wouldn't say the keyboard on the N97 is a deal breaker but it could be better. I'd certainly use the keyboard over the touch screen for most text entry. Touch does seem to be a bit more responsive than the 5800 but as I don't have one I can't compare back to back.
Amit
· 5 months ago
Can the FM transmitter be used as a speakerphone in the car?
diggyd
· 5 months ago
Thanks for a most informative review. A couple questions I'd love to have answered, if possible. 1) How does multi-tasking work, ie, how fluidly can a person switch back and forth between a few running apps? 2) How do various notifications work, such as if someone is pinging you with an instant message in the background (assuming you have an IM client running)? Would or could you get some kind of indicator on the homescreen? ditto for incoming text messages? Being used to Blackberry, these are a couple of beloved conveniences I'd hate to have to part with, but this phone is quite tempting. Thanks!
Steve O'Hear
· 5 months ago
Hi Diggyd, here's my answers...
1. Multi-tasking works really well. Simply press and hold the hardware menu button and an application switcher appears, enabling you to bring to the front any of the open apps etc.
2. Text message updates automatically appear on the homescreen via a widget I think. It's pretty similar to the way Nokia phones have always worked. As for an IM client, you get audio or vibrate alerts and in the future I'm sure many IM clients will add a widget for the N97's homescreen.
All Comments
I was afraid of this because I hated it on the Nokia 5800's default browser: "While pages load reasonably fast, it seems that you’re unable to reliably begin scrolling or pretty much do anything, until the whole page has finished loading. Trying to do so feels like you’re fighting the device."
Im sure several of the aforementioned cravats can be sorted out in future firmware updates, afterall, we are talking V10 here, and who cannot forget what an N95 was like on V10?
As to the keyboard, Im sure its something many will be able to get used to in time.
I'm a little confused at the browser comment where you say the N97 does not always reflow the text on a page. It wasn't unexpected that it wouldn't do so as the 5800 is the same but I'm curious to know what other S60 3rd devices you refer to actually have that feature? If you have seen it reflow some pages I can only think that it will be down to the way the page is constructed. Can you provide any url's so the same can be tried on the 5800 as a comparison?
You touched on the FM transmitter already but I am interested to know how well this works in practice if you have a chance to test it prior to returning the phone?
Thanks again!
http://www.last100.com/2008/11/10/ive-been-play...
I'll try and test the FM transmitter tomorrow and get back to you here.
http://maemo.org/
1) How does multi-tasking work, ie, how fluidly can a person switch back and forth between a few running apps?
2) How do various notifications work, such as if someone is pinging you with an instant message in the background (assuming you have an IM client running)? Would or could you get some kind of indicator on the homescreen? ditto for incoming text messages?
Being used to Blackberry, these are a couple of beloved conveniences I'd hate to have to part with, but this phone is quite tempting.
Thanks!
1. Multi-tasking works really well. Simply press and hold the hardware menu button and an application switcher appears, enabling you to bring to the front any of the open apps etc.
2. Text message updates automatically appear on the homescreen via a widget I think. It's pretty similar to the way Nokia phones have always worked. As for an IM client, you get audio or vibrate alerts and in the future I'm sure many IM clients will add a widget for the N97's homescreen.
I hope this helps.