I've been part of the Nokia Blogger Relations program for a while now. As described in numerous posts, I've worked my way through some of the N-series phones. I started with the N73, then the N93, and finally on to the N80i. Then more recently, I got a Nokia N800 Internet Tablet.

Since I've been using these devices pretty extensively, I thought it's a good time for an update.



Currently I'm using the N73 (pictures here), and it's a love hate relationship. I love the camera. It's the best of the three by far. The candybar form factor presents a problem. In particular, I sem to be in the photo/video gallery every time I pick up the phone. The button on the side is just a problem that drives me nuts.

I wish it had WiFi. It does pair nicely with the N800, but WiFi and a usable VoIP client would move this phone up several notches on the usability scale.



Whenever I think I might be doing video, I take the N93 (pictures here). While I like the N73 photo capability better, the 30fps video capability of this phone remains phenomenal. Maybe the N95 can match it, but I've yet to see N95 video that was as good as the N93.

This one has WiFi and has proven to be a rock-solid phone. Then again, it's almost a brick. You could use it as a defensive weapon in a pinch. It's bulky, but top notch quality.



The N80i has been my favorite, and the one used most (pictures here). I love the shirt pocket form factor and the slide closure which lets me lock the keys if I wish. WiFi works well, and the Gizmo client is quite usable, and useful.

Unlike several users, I have had no battery life issues at all with the N80i. It's been rock solid as well.



The N800 (pictures here) is not a phone. It's a different animal, but included here for an important reason. The N800 simply rocks as the most useful and productive handheld device I've ever owned. I've used everything from a Sharp Zaurus, to an Apple Newton, to every Palm device ever made, and frankly none of them hold a candle to the N800.

The Maemo/Linux OS (built on Debian) provides an openness and extensibility that we just hvaen't seen in so user-friend a fashion before. While the N800 is really the next generation to the 770, this is truly a glimpse at next generation devices.

I include it here, because I also use a Treo700w. It does it all, but it's getting a bit long in the tooth. The Windows Mobile platform brings its own set of challenges. Smartphones and PDAs operate quite differently with very different feature sets. And while I liked it at the time, and still use my Treo constantly, I've come to a new point.

I said I didn't think any of the N-series phones could replace me Treo. In part, that's due to the Qwerty keyboard. I also carry a Blackberry (I am not a Blackberry fan. Don't like the devices and don't like the OS) and I rely pretty heavily on it. I still don't see any of the N-series phones as a replacement for the Treo. It's an unfair matchup.

But what has happeend is that the N800 paired with any of the N-series phones has blown the Treo out of the water. Just blown it away. I have a GPRS plan on the Nokias and EVDO on the Treo, but even with the greater bandwidth, I reach for the N800 paired to a phone far more than the Treo lately.

I wouldn't give up my Treo for an N-series phone, but I will for paired devices. The productivity and capability is exponentially greater for my work style.

Things for Nokia to work on

I wish all these phones had a native Shozu-like application onboard. Hint to Nokia - Go buy Shozu, bundle that app and make it work. It's the hottest app for a Nokia phone, period.

Fix that side button set on the N73. It makes the device a pain in the butt.

Add that lens cover slider you put on the N73 to anything you make with a camera.

Improve the camera on the N800 or include a second one like you did on every N-series phone. The quality of that camera is mediocre at best. It works for a video call, but it's simply not worth bragging about.

Battery life on the N800 could use some help, but at least it recharges quickly. if you can't bosst the battery life, make it recharge faster and build a tiny charger than can go easily into a pocket. Make it cheap. The raise the price of the N800 by $50 and include two chargers and an auto adapter with every N800. In fact, do that with the phones too.

And keep up the good work.


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