Nokia N97 (Me getting one)

NOOOOO!!!! Not the N96! The N85 if anything. The N96 is an underpowered, over-priced piece of junk. All it has going for it is the 16GB built in memory. Whew, sorry...

Yeah, I was gonna wait for the N97 to come out, but I got tired of waiting. I'm still up in the air between the N97 and the OmniaHD *cough* excuse me *cough* the "Samsung i8910". Yeah Samsung, that sounds *much* cooler. In the end, I don't think I can pass up the physical keyboard. I certainly won't be getting one when they come out though. I'll wait a couple of months at least. The price will likely drop several hundred by then.

I'm pretty happy with my N85 for now, though. There's a possibility I won't get it at all. Maybe I'll just wait for a successor. I've heard faint whispers and secret susurrations of some interesting things just down the road from here.
 
It's a nice phone, but it cost way too much!

Not that I don't like Nokia I nearly brought a N79 (yes seventy-nine) a few weeks back. But when it came to getting a deal, it turned out the G1 was ALLOT cheaper. I got a G1 + 16gb + 2gb (handy for customs) memory cards that still works out cheaper than the N79, which is the cheapy of the current N series range. The G1 isn't a million miles from the N97 in terms of features, but the pricing is way off. Nokia needs work on their pricing, but they own 40% of the market what do I know...

PS, the FM transmitter and camera flash would be nice to have, but I don't miss them THAT much.
 
You do realize that the G1 only gets 3G speeds on T-Mobile, right? And the N79 (or any other N-Series for that matter) won't get 3G on T-Mobile, right? So did you pick the phone, then the provider, or do you not care about 3G?

Also, the N79 isn't the cheapest N-Series right now. The N85 can be had for about $300 right now due to a limited time $50 rebate. That's why I got one a couple of weeks ago. I've played with a friend's G1, definitely a cheaper phone than the N85 (but about even overall with the N79).
 
Prometheusg said:
NOOOOO!!!! Not the N96! The N85 if anything. The N96 is an underpowered, over-priced piece of junk. All it has going for it is the 16GB built in memory. Whew, sorry...
Click to expand...

What if I get it for $200? Still a bad deal?

I'm currently using an N70. Very happy with it but it's a bit of an old phone. Looking to upgrade but planning to stay in the Nokia N-series. Nokia are the best phones.
 
PC_User said:
What if I get it for $200? Still a bad deal?

I'm currently using an N70. Very happy with it but it's a bit of an old phone. Looking to upgrade but planning to stay in the Nokia N-series. Nokia are the best phones.
Click to expand...
Can you get a deal on an N85? Generally considered the true upgrade to the N95. The N96 is about the slowest N-Series phone you can get. It's "dual core", but the second core mostly goes unused. It's effectively an ARM 9 - 264 MHz chip. Compare that to the ARM 11 - 369 MHz in every other N-Series phone of the last year.

For $200, it's not a bad deal. But if you could get an N85 for the same price...

Yet another option is to wait for the N86 due out very soon. Of course it'll be for rape-your-skull prices, but they wouldn't have those prices unless someone was willing to pay them. I don't think it brings enough to the table, but that's my opinion. Over the N85, it sports a faster processor (ARM 11 - 434 MHz), 8GB internal storage, awesome 8mp camera with 28mm variable aperture lens, internal digital compass, redesigned keypad, kickstand, and 20 grams heavier (149 grams!).

RangerSVT said:
http://www.expansys-usa.com/d.aspx?i=163552&partner=usnews
Toshiba G810 $230 shipped.
Click to expand...
Okay, that came out of left field... what's your point? Not being hostile, just confused. :confused:
 
The specs are the best of any phone i've seen, but the UI imo just isn't up to par with g1/iphone/pre. It seems down there with WM6.
 
Careful, TSA will flag these as a new class of weaponry sent from 2050 to kill us.
 
Prometheusg said:
You apparently haven't seen many phones if those are the best specs of any phone you seen. Just sayin. The reason the UI is down there with WM6 is because it IS WM6.

The N97 is a completely different class of phone.
Click to expand...

First of all if you're going to be a smartass get your facts straight. This phone is running Symbian OS. Second of all, please show me the apparently many phones that have significantly better specs. I want at least 10 that blow it out of the water because the way you talk about it, these phones are a dime a dozen. See I can be a douche on a message board too.
 
Ryan711 said:
First of all if you're going to be a smartass get your facts straight. This phone is running Symbian OS. Second of all, please show me the apparently many phones that have significantly better specs. I want at least 10 that blow it out of the water because the way you talk about it, these phones are a dime a dozen. See I can be a douche on a message board too.
Click to expand...
I'm sorry, I edited my message. I was confused. I thought your post was in reference to the Toshiba. I realized later it was to the N97. You see? I thought you were saying the Toshiba had the best specs of any phone.

Nokia is failing pretty hard at modern UI design, I agree. They're getting some things right, but they're not anywhere near the class of the iPhone yet. I remember when Jobs presented the iPhone and said it was five years ahead of anything else. In UI terms, he wasn't too far off. They've been working hard at open-sourcing the OS, and I think they got lazy. Just waiting for the new Symbian to take things over, you know? Hopefully, they'll kick things into gear.

And to RangerSVT: Yeah, that's fine. It just seemed a little odd since it you posted it without any commentary. It's not a bad phone for the price. It's not in the same class as the N97, though. It's like we're discussing a Ferrari, and you post a link to a Volvo ad, lol. ;)
 
Prometheusg said:
You do realize that the G1 only gets 3G speeds on T-Mobile, right? And the N79 (or any other N-Series for that matter) won't get 3G on T-Mobile, right? So did you pick the phone, then the provider, or do you not care about 3G?

Also, the N79 isn't the cheapest N-Series right now. The N85 can be had for about $300 right now due to a limited time $50 rebate. That's why I got one a couple of weeks ago. I've played with a friend's G1, definitely a cheaper phone than the N85 (but about even overall with the N79).
Click to expand...

Yes, I have the phone with a data plan. £5 to never be board, able to look anything anywhere, check my emails is a good deal to me. Infact if you don't get a data plan with these new phones your are missing the point. (Ps it was cheaper than a n85 too, right?)

Which reminds me the point I was making was that Nokia's N series are over priced there is a great deal of up and coming phones that give them a good fight. Oh and I noticed a flaw with the n97 (I only noticed because I'm using my phone now) is the number of keys on that keyboard it only has 3x11 where as this has 5x10 (with many of them doubling with function keys), I don't care how you cut it that's allot of keys missing, makes you wondow how much they thought about how much efford they put into the phone. Having half a dedicated keyboard doesn't make sense..
 
Last edited:
Nokia needs to get these N series phones out for way cheaper than they do to compete effectively with the Iphone. I loved my E71 that was a great featured phone for a reasonable price..

But I'll be hard pressed to avoid the temptation of getting an N97.
 
Meh, I was pretty excited about this phone but I can't say I'm gonna get it without seeing the final device tested and reviewed fully. Too many of these phones are hyped to hell and beyond then they come out and fail to impress. I'm skeptical at best.
 
Wiseguy2001 said:
Oh and I noticed a flaw with the n97 (I only noticed because I'm using my phone now) is the number of keys on that keyboard it only has 3x11 where as this has 5x10 (with many of them doubling with function keys), I don't care how you cut it that's allot of keys missing, makes you wonder how much they thought about how much effort they put into the phone. Having half a dedicated keyboard doesn't make sense..
Click to expand...
I don't think it's possible to have a perfect keyboard on this scale. You're always going to have to make some sacrifices. The G1's layout is a bit too busy for my taste. I don't think I would miss the top row of number keys. It's easy enough to hit a button to get at them when you need them. The bottom row ultimately has only two buttons the N97 is missing. The '@' key and the 'search' key. Hardly Earth-shattering omissions. I do like the trackball on the right, though. It's not as good for games as the keypad on the left of the N97, but it's more natural for pretty much everything else. The spacebar could be better placed on both keyboards. It looks good on the G1, but if you space with your right thumb it's badly placed due to how you hold the phone.
 
I find the Kaiser's keyboard to be perfect for all of my needs. 4x10, with two soft buttons. The keys are decently sized and I rarely have trouble hitting any of them. I looked at the N97 as well, but I need to see the reviews and play with one before I lay down some $500 or more for another phone.
 
Lol @ $500. These things are going to be $800 easy when they first come out. Only hardcore Nokia fans or people with way too much money to blow are gonna be picking these up for the first month or two. I don't think you'll be able to get one at a reasonable price until at least August. And that's only if they release the NAM version in June (if they release one at all?).

If you're in the market for a phone anytime in the next couple of months, count the N97 out.
 
Would the N97 be able to utilize the 3g network of AT&T? I see AT&T has a unlimited data plan for $15/mo and I'm wondering if that with an N97 (or some other phone) would be as fast as an iphone on the network. Point is the $15/mo difference is $360 over two years and plus the cost of an iphone up front another $200, I figure if I can find a phone I like better like this n97 why not, although $700 does seem steep for now. Hopefully it will come down.
 
Firstly yes you can use 3g with the n97, basing this on my n95 being able to use 3g, Also with my n95 the monthly charge is $15 a month for the unlimited internet!, which is really nice compared to the 30 a month my blackberry cost. Also these are out, nokia is selling them directly through there website, also they were having promotions a month ago where they came out to 550 something with the extended warranty, the promos might still be running. Personally I really really want one, but can't justify it yet because I have the n95 and epix right now.
 
The egg has the N97 for $655 for the black or $650 for the white to include a bluetooth earpiece.

I absolutely love the look and style of this phone. My two problems with it though are the resistive screen (for those easterners), and the UI. I wonder if I could get over the touch screen. I know I could get over the UI provided it is functional. I hear the touch screen is more sensitive than you might think (earlier in this thread?), but still it has me concerned. And the UI I hope improves with software updates. For now I'll keep my eye on the phone and see what the prices do and what software updates come out. In the meantime I'll check out other phones like the htc hero, touch pro 2, and palm pre. I'd like to see android on the N97.
 
The N97 disappointed me. It was quite buggy. The UI will never be graphically improved, not even through firmware updates. The resistive screen is easily among the best in the market, but you can still tell it is resistive. It's also slow and costs too much for what it is. In the end, I traded mine for an iPhone 3G S and couldn't be happier.

July 1st has a firmware update coming for this phone, but I am not holding my breath on significant improvements.
 
mryerse said:
Would the N97 be able to utilize the 3g network of AT&T? I see AT&T has a unlimited data plan for $15/mo and I'm wondering if that with an N97 (or some other phone) would be as fast as an iphone on the network. Point is the $15/mo difference is $360 over two years and plus the cost of an iphone up front another $200, I figure if I can find a phone I like better like this n97 why not, although $700 does seem steep for now. Hopefully it will come down.
Click to expand...

I can't find the $15 data plan on AT&T's site, are you sure that exists?
 
friend'scatdied said:
The N97 disappointed me...
Click to expand...

Shortfalls accounted for, with a significant price drop I will still give this phone serious consideration. We'll see how the prices fare.

fattybear said:
I can't find the $15 data plan on AT&T's site, are you sure that exists?
Click to expand...

Yeah, I currently have a voice plan... when I log into my account and click on "features", there is an unlimited data plan for $15/mo. It doesn't include text, but others with N97 have confirmed it works.
 
harsaphes said:
I had this phone for one day and sold it.
Click to expand...

May I ask why? I had my HTC Fuze (Touch Pro) for a week before I returned it back to ATT but that was because I loathe Windows Mobile. What's wrong with the N97?
 
Honestly i wanted to like it but...I have an Iphone, and the new Google phone and of the 3 it was my least favorite. I dont know I wasnt feeling it at all...everything about it screamed 1980 or something..the icons ect..
Plus everything i wanted it to do required a download, which had to be "signed"...also terrible reviews on HOFO about symbian email., which was the most important thing to me.
I actually LOVE the google phone the best and I am returning my 3GS today.
 
harsaphes said:
Honestly i wanted to like it but...I have an Iphone, and the new Google phone and of the 3 it was my least favorite. I dont know I wasnt feeling it at all...everything about it screamed 1980 or something..the icons ect..
Plus everything i wanted it to do required a download, which had to be "signed"...also terrible reviews on HOFO about symbian email., which was the most important thing to me.
Click to expand...

Yeah, S60v5 is easily outclassed in look and feel and ease of operation. I tried to like it as well, trying to convince myself to keep it and not trade for the 3G S (I'm on T-Mobile BTW, waiting for the unlock :) ), but in the end I would rather live with a Nokia 6010 for a few weeks and graduate into my 3G S than go on for an indefinite period of time with the N97.

And I enjoyed previous Nokias too! I had the N95-3 and N85-1 and both were great and treated me well. Not so with the N97. It was a total letdown for me.
 
I watched a video that compared the browsers between the iphone and the n97 and the iphone browser seems much much better. The n97 would load the mobile version of the page while the iphone would load the main version.
 
I would always want the full web page not the mobile...You dont need the mobile version for the iphone or the android phones..they render them correctly and how they are suppose to look.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top