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mm1352000

1149 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#302530 26-Feb-2010 17:08

Tried DSE. They have 2 5800s in stock but they won't let me play with them because that would mean opening the packaging (and that would mean that they can't sell them as new). They did however have a good range of mock handsets (including 5800, w995, n85, e72, e63...) on display so I had a good fiddle with them...

I have to say that the biggest surprise was how useable the qwerty keyboard on the e72 was. I really thought the buttons on a keypad like that would be too small for my fingers however that wasn't the case - I could type relatively quickly and easily. When I tried the iphone's touch keyboard the other day I found it very difficult to use... almost impossible in vertical mode (but not quite so bad in horizontal mode). I'm sure I'd get used to it but it still makes me more desperate to try the 5800's resistive screen. Who knows, I may find the 5800 even worse than the iphone because the screen is smaller and you have to push the screen harder. All that said, I still think a full qwerty keyboard takes too much space away from the screen. Unless you are doing a *lot* of data entry it is probably better to have the larger screen...

Other thoughts:
- media keys on the side of the w995 were too small and too "flat" - I don't think I'd be able to use them
- I really didn't like the bottom 2 buttons on the n85 which are absolutely flat
- the 3 buttons on the front of the 5800 were too thin for my liking - not a dealbreaker, but still...

n4

959 posts

Ultimate Geek

#302566 26-Feb-2010 19:56

Yes, you can't really use a finger on the 5800. You can type with a finger nail (you get used to it) but I find it much quicker to pull the stylus out the back and type with that. It only takes a second to get it out or put it away.

Samsung Note20 Ultra, on 2degrees

mm1352000

1149 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#303223 1-Mar-2010 10:41

Well this is becoming a real problem - I've now been to all the Vodafone retailers in Palmerston North and either they don't have phones in stock and they can't bring them in just for a demo, or they don't allow demos because they can't open packaging. How can one choose a phone (especially a touch screen phone) if you can't try it out?!?

Oh well, it seems I either choose a phone based on the information I can get on the internet and hope that it works out (and if it doesn't I onsell it on TM or something), or I don't buy any phone at all.

pageweon

393 posts

Ultimate Geek

#303239 1-Mar-2010 11:45

hmm, have you thought about the Ipad at all?
if you are leaning towards the cellphone/laptop blurry line then that seems like a logical choice to me, not suer about making calls though

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NZtechfreak

4649 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#303272 1-Mar-2010 13:25

Not particularly pocketable is it though?

Twitter: @nztechfreak
Blogs: HeadphoNZ.org

mm1352000

1149 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#303273 1-Mar-2010 13:27

NZtechfreak hit it right on the button - an Ipad won't fit in my pocket.

n4

959 posts

Ultimate Geek

#303275 1-Mar-2010 13:30

Not much good for calling either - unless you're going to use Skype etc - and then you'll probably run into the (no) multitasking issue.

Samsung Note20 Ultra, on 2degrees

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pageweon

393 posts

Ultimate Geek

#303289 1-Mar-2010 14:26

yeah , i can see that.
doesnt seem to be any perfect device out there yet does there

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mm1352000

1149 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#305947 10-Mar-2010 13:54

For those who are interested, I eventually narrowed my choice down to the Nokia N97 and 5800 Xpressmusic, simply because they had the right features, are good value for money and very popular (I figure large user base ==> good support, lots of developers ==> lots of useful software available).

I found it *really* hard to choose between the 2. On one hand the 5800 has almost all the features of the N97 at just over half the price (~$400-450 as compared to ~$750 for the N97). On the other hand, the extra/better features in the N97 (32GB internal storage, 5MP camera, QWERTY keyboard, charge by USB, FM transmitter) were definitely attractive.

In the end I decided the extra features of the N97 justified the price (~$700) for me, especially considering that I'm intending to hold on to the phone for a good 5+ years. I can absolutely understand people disagreeing with this choice... It should be interesting to see how I go because although I was desperate to try them (N97 and 5800) out in person, I never did manage to find a way to do it!

Thanks everyone for all your advice - really appreciate it!

pageweon

393 posts

Ultimate Geek

#305951 10-Mar-2010 13:59

cant fault your choise there, n97 is a spicy little unit

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NZHarrier

77 posts

Master Geek

#309683 22-Mar-2010 00:15

pageweon: cant fault your choise there, n97 is a spicy little unit

I wouldn't recommend the N97 it sucks, and that is not just a personal view, I work at 3 Service here in Perth the repair centre for 3 Mobile as a Tech Assistant and we see the N97 in all the time it is either a Software issue to hardware (small unlock button falls off etc) if you really want a good touch screen go for either the iPhone or HTC HD2 I have both.

I had the iPhone (Vodafone NZ) first and really enjoyed the Screen responce, call responce and over all usage, I have as of last Friday bought the HTC HD (Telstra) and love it, gave my old iPhone 3G to my wife.

The HTC HD is cheaper than the iPhone when buying out right, I bought my iPhone for $1129 NZD and the HTC HD2 for $789.00 AUD (got $50 bucks off as a work mate new a Telstra dealer, all helps).

The HD2 has a great screen 4.3 inch screen, 1 Ghz processor, better keyboard than the iPhone in my view and much more, I have been using it for the past 3 days and found it weird going back to the iPhone to add some stuff for the wife lol.

The HD2 is also unlocked here as well so need to pay Telstra $150 AUD, I then flashed it with a new ROM to get rid of Telstra's crap software and it worked a treat.

Well thats my 5 cents (yeah Ozy's still use them over here lol).

Jace

mm1352000

1149 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#309688 22-Mar-2010 01:21

Too late now Jace! On a more serious note, I understand where you're coming from but respectfully and strongly disagree. The N97 was absolutely the right choice *for me* - I am *very* happy with it!

I don't want to get nitpicky because people can make up their own minds about what phone is right for them, however there are 3 things I would like to say:

1. You are comparing the NZD$750 N97 with the $950 HD2 and $850/$1000/$1250 iphone. The question people have to answer when they buy any phone is whether the features and user experience justify the price. For me, the N97 represents better value than the HD2 and iphone.

2. Every phone has its problems and the N97 is no different. There are two "significant" known issues with earlier models of the N97: the GPS sensitivity and the camera cover scratching the lense. Both of these issues have been resolved in later models. Anyone with an N97 that suffers from either of these problems can take or send their phones to a Nokia care center for free repair.

3. The N97 comes unlocked in NZ.

Each to their own opinion...

NZHarrier

77 posts

Master Geek

#309691 22-Mar-2010 01:55

Hey mm1352000

Thanks for the reply, I wasn't comparing prices with the N97, just a observation on more of a Technical view, we just don't recommend the N97 to anyone any more here, due to the amount we see back with issues. Hence we ask - are you after a touch screen or QWERTY keyboard if it is the touch screen go for iPhone, keyboard (non-touch) got for E71/ E72 etc.

Over all the specs and keyboard on the N97 are great, I hope you enjoy your phone and that it meets everything you need and want, and at the end of the day that is what is important.

Cheers and good morning for you in the Motherland (lol)

Jace

gadgetmannz

97 posts

Master Geek

Trusted

#309695 22-Mar-2010 07:06

Nice choice mate. There's a load of work going on in the background for Symbian now that they've made it open source. Hope you enjoy your new toy!

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