Nokia N97 Review of a Prototype
Last Friday during the New York Nokia Users Meetup, I played with a Nokia N97 prototype. I’m now giving you my initial thoughts about the device. It’s nowhere near production because it kept crashing. Since the hardware is pretty much what we’ll see when it comes out, this preview will be based on that.
Erick from MWI with the Nokia N97. Photo by Will Sisti.
Slider
I inspected the sliding mechanism right away. It is very cool! It’s really firm. You hear nice solid clicks when you slide it up or down. The quality was so good that I was constantly sliding it up and down and didn’t notice any wobble to the sides. We’ll have to wait and see if the production models maintain this high quality.
Take a look at the video below and to inspect the slider. Head to the blog if the video is not visible in your RSS reader.
Keyboard
The keyboard layout was designed differently from a typical Qwerty keyboard. The spacebar is located to the right side. It took only a few minutes to get used to, so this is not an issue I’m worried about.
Keyboard close up
Last Friday, I was concerned that the Nokia N97 was missing a dedicated period button. I told everyone on Twitter that I couldn’t find it! I had to press the Chr button and then click the screen to select the period. A second look at the official press photos and other sources show it being to the right of the letter L. The prototype I played with had the letter Ñ.
I did not have any issues pressing the buttons. All the presses were recognized by the phone. If you were fine using the tiny keyboard on the Nokia E71, the N97 shouldn’t be a problem. The buttons also felt like hard rubber, different from the rest of the phone. The friction from the buttons’ surface helped me feel the separation.
Touchscreen
I’m not sure what I feel about navigating through the menu with the touch screen. For a prototype, the interface was very quick and responsive. My problem was sometimes a menu only needed one click, while others needed a double click. Very confusing, but I’ll wait for the final product to give my judgment.
Scrolling though lists is different from many of us are used to with the iPhone. For example, on the iPhone, you drag up to go down the list. On the Nokia N97, you guide down to go down the list. I hope you can imagine what I just said. We all know that there’s no multi-touch support so we can’t pinch or expand our fingers to zoom in or out of web pages or photos. I will honestly say that with the few hours I spent playing with the Nokia N97, I still preferred the “touch” experience on the iPhone.
Final Thoughts
I’m looking forward to the Nokia N97 because it has great potential. Like what I wrote previously, it could be the answer to my problem. Contributor Renegade Fanboy also chimed in that it will be an amazing device but there could be 5 reasons not to buy the N97. We’ll have to wait for the final retail version of the Nokia N97 to make our thorough review. I really hope Nokia does not disappoint us.
Chris Walters on 28 January 2009:
The UI issue you mention, about menu options sometimes needing one click and sometimes two, is exactly the same problem currently on the 5800 XM. I’ve had a 5800 for about a month now and can attest that it’s annoying. I really hope they address this small usability glitch before the N97 comes out because it’s one of those details that seems small but stands out, like sand in your shoes.
Nokia N97 Review of a Prototype | The Nokia Blog | Worlds Best Phones on 28 January 2009:
[...] Read more from the original source:
Social Media News » Post Topic » » Nokia N97 Review of a Prototype | The Nokia Blog on 28 January 2009:
[...] More Here… here Sphere: Related [...]
Nokia N97 youtube video slide hardware and keyboard | Nokia N97 Blog on 29 January 2009:
[...] I found on the Nokia Blog a post that mentions the meeting in NYC that Nokia Users had on January 23rd. They were lucky [...]
Mark Guim on 29 January 2009:
@Chris Walters, I hope they fix that issue on both devices.
Toshidude on 29 January 2009:
Just out of curiosity: did you try the Audio-Player? And if so, do you by any chance remember if the N97 has also only 10% steps to raise or to lower the volume?
Jeran on 29 January 2009:
I have the Nokia 5800 for about 3 weeks now. Although the issue with having to click 2 times instead of 1 time might be annoying, but you can get used to it…
All this whining about that mechanism is getting annoying by the time. It’s the way it is. It’s different to other touch screens, but yeah, Nokia has to maintain a common base for both touch and non-touch phones. Otherwise prices will raise due to developing costs.
During my 3 (or were they just 2?) of heavy usage of the Nokia 5800 I don’t even have to think about if I have to click once or twice.
This reminds about the discussion of iphone fanboys vs iphone haters where the haters allways come up with: “You cannot even copy and paste with the iphone. the phone is rubbish”. That was funny for the first 2 days. Than it was annoying.
Regards,
Jeran
Solos on 29 January 2009:
“For example, on the iPhone, you drag up to go down the list. On the Nokia N97, you guide down to go down the list.”
That’s terrible. It’s very intuitive, that when You want to go down the list, You drag up. It works in iPhone and Android. I hope Nokia will add option to choose how You need to drag to scroll down the list. That would be the best option. Let users choose.
WOM World / Nokia » Blog Archive - N97 (prototype) hands on! on 29 January 2009:
[...] Guim has managed to have a play with an N97 prototype, and it’s fair to say he’s a convert, as he reports on The Nokia [...]
MikeE on 29 January 2009:
Mark, what’s the keyboard like to use? I notice there’s only one shift key.
This is the same as the Toshiba Portege G910, and it measn you have to get your fingers into all sorts of contortions when you want a capital A, for example, or to use the @ symbol.
The G910 was the worst keyboard (and smartphone!) I’ve ever used – is the N97 any better?
matthew bennett on 29 January 2009:
That’s a good clicky lookin slider!
It’s funny that you can hear Serko raving about the Palm Pre in the background audio! : )
Mark Guim on 29 January 2009:
@matthew bennett, lol serko was talking about the Pre the whole night.
N-Gage | Blog » Blog Archive » N97: Win With Widgets! on 29 January 2009:
[...] The Nokia N97 is planned as an N-Gage compatible device. For a hands-on look at the N97 in prototype form, check out this story on Nokiablog.com. [...]
Paul on 29 January 2009:
I have been waiting for years for a touchscreen nokia & now all I can say is GOOGLE ANDROID. Nokia Nokia who designed the software the scrolling should be the same as every other touchscreen Why WHy Why, I am going to move to Android as they seem to listen to the consumer.
Nokia Daily News - 01/29/09 | Nokia Daily News on 29 January 2009:
[...] The Nokia Blog – Hands on with the N97 prototype, video of the slider [...]
Ecco La Prima Recensione Del Nuovo Nokia N97, Da Non Perdere | 3 sul Blog - Tech, Fun e Web 2.0 on 30 January 2009:
[...] via [thenokiablog] [...]
Nokia N97: Neues Video zeigt Slider-Mechanismus | DonRivas.ch on 1 February 2009:
[...] Kollegen von “The Nokia Blog” haben bei Youtube ein neues Video über das Nokia N97 eingestellt. Auf dem knapp [...]
Nokia N97 toetsenbord toch niet QWERTY - Nokiawereld.nl - Nokiawereld on 4 February 2009:
[...] toetsenbord van de Nokia N97 is onlangs door Thenokiablog.com aan een test onderworpen. Een van de opvallendste conclusies is dat het toetsenbord, in [...]
nokia n97 rocks on 7 February 2009:
Looking forward to the release of the Nokia N97. Am thinking Facebook or twitter will build an application to use the social location functionality so everyone knowns where you are. Obly thing im thinking about this phone is that nokia should of gone Android!
unknown on 19 February 2009:
which phone will be better de new iphone 3g 32 gb comin out in 2009 or de n97. how much will the n97 cost in the uk.
Andy Burgin on 22 February 2009:
The Chinese copy people have already made there N97 an its available on tradetang.com,so thats what Nokias got to stop doing announcing there phones to early then copies of there mobiles get released by the Chinese copy makers an the N86 will be the same,so buying a phone on the internet you better check out your buying the original Nokia phone an not the copy one
Nokia N97 » Blog Archive » N97 Prototype video and pictures on 5 March 2009:
[...] The Nokia Blog have a nice review of a prototype N97 with this video showing what they describe as a slider function that is smooth and responsive. [...]
Nokia N97 Contracts on 6 March 2009:
The for market version looks a lot more cleaner than the prototype
Sam on 28 March 2009:
I have Nokia N97 32GB for sale. The price for 1 NOKIA N97 32GB is 450 USD with the shipping already included in the price For the moment I am located in Romania because I moved here recently . Anyway, the shipping will be started from here and will take only 3 days to reach your location. The phone will come Brand New, Unlocked, Full Accessories ,2 Years International Warranty, Original Box, Receipt , has GPS , WIFI , 5 MP Camera and many others. Is 100% Original from Nokia, Made in Finland. Email me at international.sellings.shop@gmail.com for more info !!
Sam on 28 March 2009:
I am selling the Newest NOKIA N97 32GB, New, Unlocked, In the original box with full accessories , never used or opened. Original from Nokia made in Finland. Only 450 USD , contact me now !!! HOT !!!!
mobile phone reviews on 6 April 2009:
So the second touchscreen phone is here, hoping it is better than the Nokia 5800! Ive heard this should be with us in about 4 weeks for the UK
Ingo on 27 April 2009:
i love this phone. the best one
Nokia N97 Fan on 22 June 2009:
I have got to say that the slide out qwerty looks excellent, and if the social feature would work with twitter, they would be on a roll
Pedro on 29 June 2009:
Nice blog
vaqar001 on 11 August 2009:
N97 is just balls. Biggest example od hardware and software bugs in the history of nokia.
daniel on 28 August 2009:
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Dual Sim Phones on 12 September 2009:
nice post
talktalk1 on 12 September 2009:
nice post
christina on 14 April 2010:
its my new phone
:P
christina on 14 April 2010:
its my new phone
:P