• Nokia N97: First Impressions

    Nokia N97: First Impressions

    Frazier Barretto, Jun 10, 2009 1758 hrs IST

    Faster interface, slide out QWERTY keypad

    mail share

Expert Review

  Previous  







Well, something is greater than just a touchscreen phone when it it's empowered with a keypad and with the N97, it's a slide out QWERTY keypad. The slide-out mechanism of the N97 is commendable, the thought and the development of this slide-out is plain and simply put - fascinating.





The slide-out is well distinguished and the keypad pushes itself out once it is nudged and does it with a soft click of confirmation. The slide-out is designed in such a fashion that the screen tilts upwards pushing it up in a comfortable reading angle. The angle is set in such a manner that it's not only comfortable to read off the screen when holding the phone in your hand, but also when it is placed on a table.





The hinge of the N97 is put to good advertising/flaunt use with the top features of the handset mentioned there. The mechanism showcases its true brilliance when going in back to turn into a bar type form factor. Again, in the same way, a nudge and the screen moves in back to smoothly parachute onto the QWERTY keypad.





Speaking of the QWERTY keypad, it is one that I haven't come across previously with all the handsets that I've used for the past three years. The 5-way D-pad is situated on the left and space bar is towards the right instead of center. If you are wondering how easy it is to get used to this one, I will let you know once I've spent enough time with the handset.





Since this is a final version of the handset that will be released across 75 countries in the current and the next month, we can also have a look at the new special interface of Symbian Series 60 5th Edition showcased in the N97. Widgets are now the trend and the best till date I've seen are from Samsung. The Nokia N97 has widgets on its main screen. The screen is filled with the basic Time, Date, and Profile widgets. Along with that, you have Messaging, Web Browser, Music Player, Nokia Maps, 4 Favorite Contacts, Facebook, Weather Updates, and Various E-mails all now at the touch on the screen without having to go through several levels of menus. These widgets can also be edited and you can move them around and arrange them on the screen.





Going through the levels of menus, I noticed Guitar Hero in Games and several applications that come pre-installed like JoikuSpot Premium, Facebook, Youtube and Boingo. We'll get into the details in the final review of the N97 but for now all I could notice is that the interface is fast; much slicker than seen on the 5800.

Well that's all for now folks. I'll get back to you with a complete review of the handset soon. Stay tuned and keep checking this space regularly.


Read Nokia N97 coverage on Techtree and you stand a chance to win it even before it hits the Indian markets!


 


 
 

Follow Techtree on Twitter

  Previous  

Do you agree with this Review?
YesNo

Up

4

Related Links
Nokia 5800 Gets First Firmware Update
Nokia Series 60 Get BlackBerry Support Again
Rahman Comes to Nokia 5800 XpressMusic
Tag keywords
Nokia Nokia N Series Nokia N97 Nokia phones mobile phones



Discussion Board
(12) Comments
Anonymously
,India, on Jun 10, 2009 06:55 PM
Even when you have that phoe its very very poor reviews..
Report abuse
kruz
,sydney, on Jul 31, 2009 07:31 PM
gt two of these phones and they are great after nokias first software update im in love wit the phone so stop hating if u cant afford people
Report abuse
Ramachandran
,chennai, on Jun 15, 2009 02:06 PM
I have seeen your review and looks like you have given much more compliments than what NOKIA desreves. First of all NOKIA is very good in releasing products with lot of software glitches and i suggest techtree to visit any of nokia's service centre to capture the woes of millions of customers. Aftre releasing a bad product nokia doesn't even bother to rectify the mistake and the service is awful. Do not spoil techtress reputation by giving weird reviews.
Report abuse
ChandruBS
,Bangalore, on Jun 10, 2009 11:51 PM
even a kid cud have written the content in ur review... wats the sue of havin the fone for ur testing???
Report abuse
Bhopiya
,Bangaluru, on Jun 11, 2009 12:59 PM
den I guess u shd go find a kid wit an N97 nd ask his/her opinion... dat shd be gd enuf for u...
Report abuse
DetestMorons
,Mumbai, on Jun 12, 2009 10:09 AM
maybe its a kid writing the comment cause he doesnt know the difference between a 'first impression' and a review
Report abuse
jack
,Hyderabad , on Jun 11, 2009 04:35 PM
man you're review was acceptable enough, but you haven't mentioned absolutely nothing about the phone's touch interface.
Report abuse
Arun
,Bangalore, on Jun 11, 2009 09:51 AM
jesus christ.. i cant believe ppl still dont know the difference between a brief FIRST IMPRESSIONS and a full fledged REVIEW! duh
Report abuse
Anil Thankappan
,Bangalore, on Jun 11, 2009 03:14 PM
The review was decent enuf for 1st impression.
Report abuse
V-man
,Air, on Jun 11, 2009 08:59 AM
Techtree comment posters are retards. Dunno the difference between REVIEW and 1st Impressions. Losers!!!
Report abuse
subho
,kolkkata, on Jun 10, 2009 07:18 PM
when u had the phone in ur hand why didnot u give a complete review
Report abuse
Techguy
,Mumbai, on Jun 11, 2009 08:42 AM
Since this is titled "First Impressions", I guess the reviewer was given a limited amount of time to handle the phone. I think the full review would be coming up next.
Report abuse

Opinion Poll