Nokia N900 earns 4 of 5 stars from Mobile Tech Review

Hi

I noticed some blogs mentioned a loose usb connector, had any issues with yours?

http://tabulacrypticum.wordpress.com/2009/12/13/connecting-on-the-surface-an-n900-risk/

Loose USB connector is not a problem in production models according to Nokia.

There’s a UPDATE in the end of the blog mentioned above.

Odd — I have an N900 and I’m consistently getting 48 hours of runtime on a single battery charge (from 100% full to 0%).

I’m doing web browsing, photos, playing music and watching videos, calling, texting, and run a handful of widget (albeit with multi-hour refresh periods.)

One thing I’m not doing is running the mail client (so no periodic mail synching).

I’m connecting over a mix of 2.5G, 3G, 2.5G and WiFi.

Seems like some people are reporting 2 days runtime regularly, while others can’t get 6-8 hours on a charge.

I suspect it’s a software problem — (although there is at least one known battery draining WiFi connection bug — I just am not experiencing this bug myself) — seems some mixes of apps/widgets drain the battery very quickly, while others are fine.

“Some people get 2 days, others 6-8 ours on a charge”

I don’t believe it is a software problem, but it depends on your usage. If you always disconnect your wifi and GPRS/HSPA connections, you can get 2 days. But my N900 is always connected using wifi at home/work/school and using HSPA when I don’t have wifi coverage and need to be online. I get 10 hours on a charge this way.

Any chance one of the US carriers will have the n900? I ordered one from amazon and waiting its arrival. Will quickoffice work on this device? Happy holidays.

@Lee: T-Mobil is lined up to be it’s carrier in Jan/Feb timeframe. They have compatible 3G frequencies, where AT&T does not.

@Bernard: I suspect your issue is HSPA. I have mine on auto-connect with wifi/GPRS, but use AT&T so have no 3G capacity. I have Pidgin running 24/7 in the background, and use the phone for browsing on occasion (usually when on wifi). I also use it as a phone on occasion, for texting and calling.

My shortest day was the first day I had it, when I was showing it off and doing a lot of stuff, it ran 11 hours and complained the battery was “low” about half an hour before I was going to bed anyway. My longest was just recently when I tested it to let it run out… it ran just short of 3 days. Most nights when I plug it in to charge it, it shows more than 50% battery life, after 15 to 18 hours of use. That’s just about as good as my old 6230i, which I used for 6 years.

Another thing I like: It’s a standard Nokia battery, used by several other models. I can buy a spare, an external chargers, and change them at will. Try that with an iPhone.

4 out 5 stars? Unbelievable. Even as a former Nokia employee and fan of its products the most I could offer is 2 to 3 stars. Here are my reasons:

PROS *awesome browser *impressive menu customizabilitty *fast and responsive *multiple communication methods integrated around contacts

CONS *hardware design–camera cover does not allow setting the phone on the table flat which makes the phone move around when inputting *software lacks basic functionality. for example, address book does not accommodate basic fields like “note” which has been part of the Nokia phonebook entry paradigm for a very long time. there are many, many more examples of how core applications lack features and functionality found in Nokia phones for many past generations. in fact, some core applications are missing, like FM radio or podcasting.

In summary, the N900 gives a glimpse of Maemo’s potential. But until core software features are brought to parity with Symbian v3/v5 it is not a credible smartphone product. In fact, if Nokia does a full commercial release of the N900 as it is today Nokia risks serious customer dissatisfaction and derision from industry bloggers for putting out such a feature poor product.

@drew: “in fact, some core applications are missing, like FM radio or podcasting.”

Am I missing something or are you? I’m typing this on an N900 while listening to the FM radio on it. I also downloaded some podcasts earlier today with the GPodder. What gives?

My desktop is running linux since 1999. I have only Symbiam phones in the past 5 years. N900 is the best device for Linux/Gadget fans. But Nokia is do the same now which Apple did with the iPhone in the past: deliver a device that’s not complete and try to correct the problems with device in customers hand. This It is ok, if the N900 had a killer design… Yesterday I bought a N900 from Amazon, but I have some doubts if I should have bought the Motorola Milestone/Droid… :/

There is a notes field in Contacts on my N900 and the services integration in Contacts can’t be beat.

Like the iPhone, there are apps for that and like it was stated above there are FM radio and podcast apps to download.

The N900 deserves at least 4 stars IMHO and is a very exciting device that I am 99% sure I will be buying in January.

@Drew: have you handled the phone?

My phone sits pretty flat on my desk, it doesn’t wobble or anything at least… and the phone book has notes which actually come across when i sync with my lotus notes…

Drew, no offense, but it seems like you’re getting (mis)information second hand. Yes, the N900 has issues, but lack of FM receiver and podcasting are not among them.

I have the N900 with the most up-to-date firmware. I am a former Nokia employee so I am both positively predisposed to its products and knowledgeable of cell phones.

The N900 is competing against all the other smartphones out there, i.e. iPhone, Droid, Pre, Blackberry, as well as Nokia’s other smartphones, i.e. Symbian v3/v5 phones. Users of these phones are accustomed to features like the fm receiver, podcasting, etc. out-of-the-box. If the N900 does not have these features even loyal Nokia customers will be dissatisfied with it. Early adopters like myself or some of you on the forum might think nothing of their absence or maybe we do not mind downloading 3rd party applications. HOWEVER, the average user who enjoys the functionality already provided by Nokia Sybian v3/v5 phones will be disappointed with a N900 that does not at least match if not improve on their experience with other Nokia products.

I listed the fm receiver and podcasting because they are easy to note. But, the really sorely lacking functionality are in areas essential to N900’s use as a phone but more difficult to describe: the ability to customize profiles; limitations of phonebook customizability; limited call log functionality, etc. Particularly, business users have spent considerable time creating their phone books and customizing their phones. Perhaps those interested in using the N900 primarily to browse the web will not notice.

It is essential that new Nokia products match and/or surpass the functionality of other Nokia products and competitor products. If they don’t the market will slam them–instead of noting how Nokia is leading the way with new product concepts critics (particularly in the US) will pipe in how Nokia tried to match Android or iPhone and missed.

I am providing this critique as a Nokia fan with its reputation and success in mind.

P.S. The phone cannot lie flat on a table because the camera cover and kick stand apparatus. In my experience when I set it on a table it moves around when I input using the keyboard or try using my fingers or stylus to use the touchscreen.

I am falling in love the N900’s desktop customization capability and Skype integration. In spite of my fond feelings for the little guy honestly there are deficiencies that will keep it from fimdimg popularity outside the hard core Nokia fans.

here is a list of functional deficiencies/required improvements I hope the N900 team can work on in time for a full, commercial launch:

•  predictive input with soft keyboard is impossible (it needs an equivalent for right arrow key on the hard keyboard) •  the shift and blue shift keys should auto-release if they are not used within 2-5 seconds of being pressed. •  the predictive text dictionary should be more like T9 and allow you cycle through word candidates. and also it should allow me to add words to it. •  photo geotagging is missing •  ability to expand telephone log records •  ability to organize contents of programs menu •  ability to fine tune touchscreen sensitivity •  tne screen usage paradigm for notes should follow same manipulation convention as browsing •  cannot mark mails or act on multiples of them. •  must delete mail by tapping screen via delete submenu and a comfirmation–should be able to delete without confirmation and by pressing the back space key

just to name a few…

@Drew: you should know, that Nokia positions N900 as Maemo’s test device. It isn’t figured as mass phone (as opposed to iphone), it’s only for people who can and who want to install third-party software (or maybe even devlop the own one). So, I think, it’s a little silly to throw up Nokia with insufficient number of application out-of-the-box.

El tema de la bateria es por culpa de la wifi, al conectar con wifi despues al desconectar no se desconecta y se come la bateria, pulsar boton de apagado y poner en modo fuera de linea y despues otra vez modo normal y la bateria durara bastante mas.

@Drew:

It does let you add a note to a contact. Launch the Contacts program, select your contact, click their name on the top of the screen to call up the menu, select “Edit”. Go to “Add field”, and Note is at the bottom of the list. It sounds more arduous than it is. I found it during experimentation.

That said, it’s frustrating that you can only edit a contact this way, by launching the Contacts program first. Bringing up the contact’s info by clicking a shortcut on the desktop, or selecting them out of the ingoing/outgoing/missed call list, won’t let you edit the info.

Nokia is getting ready to release the N900 via tMobile here in the US. I fear the possible negative impact. The American press/blogs do not appreciate Nokia’s technology leadership. For them history started with the iPhone. A “test” product like the N900 could be seriously misunderstood and result in of torrent of bad press instead of a flood of new users eager to contribute to the Maemo community.

Drew, you have some serious problems. While some of your critique is valid, a lot of is either wrong (i.e. no notes, no photo geotagging, no radio), and when people point it out, you just go ahead with more ****, instead of actually answering.

Some interesting comments on both sides here, but it’s coming across as nit-picking ….after all…. who types with the smartphone on a table…. its handheld! If you want to use the table get out your laptop and relax!

FYI anyone looking for a contract deal on an N900 before its announced January release date – ***some retailers are already shipping it *** so will be with you before NYE…

http://www.omio.com/phones/nokia/n900/deals

Well worth it IMO – an unparalelled mobile browsing experience.

@Drew with all your misinformation…….makes one onder why you are a FORMER nokia employee………

Good smartphone with Maemo OS, best web browser