***The Official Nokia N97 Thread (Keep all N97 stuff in here)***

[Helios1234]

Why are people choosing this over the HTC Magic/Hero?

I've actually got an N97 coming as an upgrade but thinking of returning it and changing to a cheaper Magic.

I'm not too sure what to do at the moment. The magic will end up £6 cheaper with more minutes but I'd have to move to Vodafone while the N97 has more memory so I could use it as a music player. And with the N97, I stick with Three and hopefully get better deals for my next upgrade. It's just the cost swaying me towards the magic atm.

 

[Spleen Sauce]

I considered getting the N97 but then realised one very important thing - for me it's actually all about the apps. I tend to use my mobile more as an internet device these days along with more texting than calls.

I honestly think that even though Symbian is a mature operating system it just doesn't cut it any more. Hopefully with the new open source initiative we'll get some funky UI changes for future devices (a bit like what Sony Ericsson is developing for one of their new handsets based on Symbian).

I've had a really good play with the N97 and I can't help but compare the N97 to the iPhone 3GS - and when you do the only thing that really stands out is the camera. And, yes, you can truly multi-task but even that is sub-par. There's nothing else that is better - including the fact that it has a hardware keyboard. I can type quicker and more accurately with the iPhone's touchscreen keyboard. I love my E71's hardware keyboard also but the N97 really doesn't come even close to that.

Nokia need to pull their finger out. The touchscreen isn't that great, the keyboard isn't so good, the UI is aging, there just aren't enough good apps out there for the device (when compared to something like the iPhone or the Android handsets).

IMO, Nokia have bolted Facebook to the homescreen of the device and claimed that it's state of the art. It isn't.

 

[thehitmen]

I considered getting the N97 but then realised one very important thing - for me it's actually all about the apps. I tend to use my mobile more as an internet device these days along with more texting than calls.

I honestly think that even though Symbian is a mature operating system it just doesn't cut it any more. Hopefully with the new open source initiative we'll get some funky UI changes for future devices (a bit like what Sony Ericsson is developing for one of their new handsets based on Symbian).

I've had a really good play with the N97 and I can't help but compare the N97 to the iPhone 3GS - and when you do the only thing that really stands out is the camera. And, yes, you can truly multi-task but even that is sub-par. There's nothing else that is better - including the fact that it has a hardware keyboard. I can type quicker and more accurately with the iPhone's touchscreen keyboard. I love my E71's hardware keyboard also but the N97 really doesn't come even close to that.

Nokia need to pull their finger out. The touchscreen isn't that great, the keyboard isn't so good, the UI is aging, there just aren't enough good apps out there for the device (when compared to something like the iPhone or the Android handsets).

IMO, Nokia have bolted Facebook to the homescreen of the device and claimed that it's state of the art. It isn't.

Very true, the N97 looks wicked, but i agree, the apps don't cut it!

 

[borich_planner]

I didn't like the way the phone slides, and for what I use a phone for this is just overkill.

Borich

 

[Widge]

- Symbian OS is more mature

Although not in the realms of touch OS, it is one of the newest and is still working out its quirks.

 

[Widge]

http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_n97-review-363.php

 

[Barrybear]

had enough of mine after 1 day so sending it back.
The touch screen is amazing have to say could be better if was multi touch
the keyboard is very sensitive and the space takes about 10 minutes to get used to.
The Slide of the screen flows very nice but i almost dropped it when doing it with one hand, the phone needs a tilt function as the screen only rotates when screen is opened also if you want to type anything eg a quick text you have to use the keyboard the option of a touch keyboard like the 5800 would have been a good idea as a 1 handed text is sometimes handy.
Main faults with it have to be the software once again the symbian OS is awful very slow and just eats the memory if you use the widgets on y our homepage they run all the time therefore I couldn't listen to music and browse the web with facebook open on the homepage had to take the battery out 4 times over 1 day because it just froze on me.

I may get this phone again one day but if the hardware remains the same and the OS not updated i dont think i will.

 

[DJMK4]

I think all the comments about the slowness are slighy unfair really, I remember having 2 different Nokia N95 phones which were abit problematic in this department, when they released a nice firmware update for it the phone was fine!

There would be no way in hell I would ditch this phone over the iPhone.

 

[m@rty]

Also the phone has a tilt function, you just need to enable it in settings then it tilts automatically when you go to landscape.

 

[wwwebber]

Also the phone has a tilt function, you just need to enable it in settings then it tilts automatically when you go to landscape.

+1. User error lol

 

[Seft]

are you sure about the os being more mature? its only been out on the 5800 and now the n97. if we were talking about the non-touch screen verion of the os then that would hold true, but as its touch screen its a whole new ball game for nokia.

It's sophisticated OS vs. sophisticated UI in my opinion and, coming from an N95, I'm familiar enough with the UI for its quirks not to be too much of an issue. There were just too many instances of 'oh, you can't do that?' on Android at the moment. I'll be following its progress very carefully over the next eighteen months though - I could definitely see myself on an Android 2.5/3.0 handset. Of course, Symbian^4 will be out around then too, with a completely overhauled UI, so it's all very exciting

 

[SkScotchegg]

Is it just me or is the main screen on the N97 just look messy? I've watched loads of videos on yourtube tonight and the N97 screen with all the icons look messy, the touch screen doesnt seem too good, the phone looks too big and heavy, and the OS is apparently rubbish too according to the video's I've watched tonight.

Even this new HTC hero that your all talking about doesnt look that good to me, so far everything is pointing me towards the iphone G3S, it does everything, it feels smooth, web surfing is good, OS is good, browsing pictures and listening to mp3s seem good. And its got loads of apps and cool tools available and some already installed. It loads up full web pages, and I've heard some people moan about it only having 3.2megapixel camera but that seems sufficent for me.

Plus I read tonight the iphone 3GS with new firmware now allows you to save any picture you see on any website you view, and then use that picture as desktop background or to send to friends or do whatever you like with it, just like on the PC, and I dont think any other phone can do this?

So yeah, I'm really thinking of ending my vodaphone contract in the morning and going and getting an iphone 3GS 16gb.

I've looked at the palm pre videos on youtube, and the HTC hero, and HTC bold and 20 other so called amazing phones mentioned on this forum and nothing seems to look as good or impress me as much as the iphone?


SkScotchegg

 

[Chris344]

I’m considering the white N97, the only thing that is putting me off this phone is what it will be like texting, I send around ~1000 messages per month, and I’m able to walk down the street texting with just one hand on my N96.

I’ve recently purchased the Nokia N86 8MP but feel it doesn’t offer much more than my current N96 and isn’t a worthy upgrade, more of a side step.

The best phone I’ve ever had was my N95 8GB, the moment I started using it I thought it was brilliant. I want another phone that I just love instantly like I did with the N95 8GB. I did have an iPhone but texting on it was horrible and the battery was very poor, that was hacked and using iReal Sms

Apart from the screen and keyboard, how does the N97 compare to the N86 and N96?

Many thanks

 

[wwwebber]

Apart from the screen and keyboard, how does the N97 compare to the N86 and N96?

Many thanks

I couldnt comment about the N96 as I went from the N95 to the N97. The N95 to N96 route was not an upgrade in my mind.

Ignoring the screen & keyboard I am pleased to say that the N97 is a definite step up from the N95. Being able to priortise connections is fantastic - ie I dont want to use voda mobile internet if wifi is available at home or at work - it takes care of this automatically. The home screen is absolute genius, I have Facebook, email, popular contacts & diary all on the home screen so seeing whats what is as easy as glancing at the screen.

If you have any specific questions then fire away.

 

[Chris344]

I couldnt comment about the N96 as I went from the N95 to the N97. The N95 to N96 route was not an upgrade in my mind.

Ignoring the screen & keyboard I am pleased to say that the N97 is a definite step up from the N95. Being able to priortise connections is fantastic - ie I dont want to use voda mobile internet if wifi is available at home or at work - it takes care of this automatically. The home screen is absolute genius, I have Facebook, email, popular contacts & diary all on the home screen so seeing whats what is as easy as glancing at the screen.

If you have any specific questions then fire away.

Hi mate, I’ve just arranged to swap my N86 for the N97. I’m looking forward tor receiving it.

My only question would be how do you find texting and writing emails? I’m used to predictive text and this has a QWERTY keyboard.

Many thanks

 

[wwwebber]

Hi mate, I’ve just arranged to swap my N86 for the N97. I’m looking forward tor receiving it.

My only question would be how do you find texting and writing emails? I’m used to predictive text and this has a QWERTY keyboard.

Many thanks

I'm using the keyboard just fine for texts & emails - you just need to get used to it. You can still revert to a touchscreen keypad though if you prefer predictive - it works just as you'd expect.

 

[Chris344]

I'm using the keyboard just fine for texts & emails - you just need to get used to it. You can still revert to a touchscreen keypad though if you prefer predictive - it works just as you'd expect.

Thanks, that is good to know…

It should be here on Saturday.

What do you like most about it and did you ever compare it to the iPhone?

 

[Hyper]

What do you like most about it and did you ever compare it to the iPhone?

Why do people compare every phone to an iphone nowadays like its the holy god of all phones.

There is better ones on the market people,

I wouldnt compare the iphone to an N97 at all, the N97 is much bigger.

 

[wwwebber]

Thanks, that is good to know…

It should be here on Saturday.

What do you like most about it and did you ever compare it to the iPhone?

I like the home screen best. I actually considered getting the iPhone ever since the iPhone 3G but the 3GS was not a big enough upgrade - it was also way over priced. I bought the N97 sim free for £499 which is half the price of a sim free iPhone 3GS I believe.

Tried the turn by turn Sat Nav over the weekend and it was awesome - I've just ordered an in car mount & charger because my TomTom is now completely redundent.

 

[rapid64k]

My first N97 went right back to vodafone as it was buggy as hell. the new one sent out to me is working fine, just waiting for the firmware upgrade to be available to us,strange how somw other people can get the new firmware while others have to wait.
had a much better sound from my N95 8gb the N97 does not have a good sound.