Reviewing Nokia's latest smartphone, the Nokia N900, was literally a hands-on experience. The sheer thickness and bulk of it meant I often had my hands full operating it, but what the device lacks in hardware sexiness, it makes up for in computing power.
The smartphone features a modern ARM Cortex A8-based core, which went a long way to boosting browser performance on the phone. As a mobile Internet device, the Nokia N900 allows for fast Internet surfing, on-the-go social networking, and comes pre-installed with Nokia messaging, which can mobilise up to 10 e-mail accounts.
The game-changing factor of the Nokia N900 is the Maemo 5 platform, with predictions that this may be Nokia's premier smartphone operating system. However, Maemo 5 brings with it a learning curve, throwing out any pre-conceived notions the user may have about their cellular navigation skills.
For example, the Maemo 5 platform offers multiple customisable home screens, but I found the setting up and transition between home screens lacked functionality. Especially since the device features a resistive touch-screen, which required more nail than finger to operate.
Also, Maemo displays a small status bar in the upper left corner of the phone, which often disappears while navigating between different home screens, leaving you lost. Without a 'home' or 'back' button, the novice user will struggle to move to another home screen or application.
For the tech-savvy user, however, the Nokia N900 offers a new platform to play with, allowing them to customise widgets, bookmarks, apps and contacts to exactly where they want. To this end, the device is truly a computer in the palm of your hand.
The N900 features a 5-megapixel Carl Zeiss camera, offering slightly above average quality photos. With moderate use, the battery life is as long as a day-and-a-half. I was impressed to notice that after charging the device, a pop-up message appeared requesting me to unplug the charger to save electricity.
Although the device has made its debut internationally, Nokia SA says the phone is only due locally in the second quarter of this year. A retail price has not been set.
Overall, the Nokia N900 is a tech-lover's phone. The Maemo 5 platform is refreshingly different, but has a long way to go in improving on user-friendliness.
I say: Geeky gadget
Plus: Optimised computing power
Minus: Not user-friendly
Price: TBA
Contact: Nokia SA
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