Worried about N900 back cover
 

I've now seen several videos of people opening the back cover on the N900 (covering the battery, SIM card and Micro SD slot). As far as I can see, you just pull the cover off, without needing to slide a release catch. Presumably the cover has tabs which deform slightly to click into place.

All the videos make me wince with the creaky, crackly sound the case makes as it's removed and replaced. I worry that it might break after a while, especially if you change a lot of Micro SD cards.

What do other people think, especially those who have an N900 in their hands? Are there other Nokia devices which use a similar cover, and if so, how have they been after a few years' use?

Re: Worried about N900 back cover
 

Same style locking mechanism on the 5800. It does seem fragile on video but it's really solid, actually.

Re: Worried about N900 back cover
 

The manual says you do not need to push a button to remove the back cover.

I would hope there's no reason to worry, and it's not needed by design.

Re: Worried about N900 back cover
 

It looks like the N97's back cover. The first time I was afraid to take the back cover off but it really is secure. I went through a two week period where I kept switching the SIM card between the N97 and the iPhone to see which one I was going to keep and the back cover was always as secure as it was on day 1. (if you're curious, I returned the N97)

Re: Worried about N900 back cover
 

I read the final end product N900 will have an improvement in this regard over the prototypes/preview 'N00' but don't remember the source.

Re: Worried about N900 back cover
 

Most of the hardware that is being reviewed at this point is the Production hardware. Only the software is still pre-release.

Re: Worried about N900 back cover
 

It makes me nervous too. I don't care for it.

Re: Worried about N900 back cover
 

I haven't seen a single problems with covers and you may imagine how many times you play with them in a development program.

Re: Worried about N900 back cover
 

Thanks for the assurance Quim. It's just the feel during removal is... scary. Especially to an old product designer. ;)

Re: Worried about N900 back cover
 

Agreed, its rock solid, and much thicker than that on the N97. No worries about this back cover creaking, its design is very well thought out.

Re: Worried about N900 back cover
 

The back cover is the only thing I hate about the N900. The nice metal plate of the earlier tablets was ...classy.
This is just ugly plastic...

Yeah, it's nice and solid. Also needs a bit more force to remove than the similar solution in N97. It will probably get a bit loose over the years, though. That just might go under warranty, though. Still, meh not likes.

Re: Worried about N900 back cover
 

It's not just Nokia that uses this type of battery cover, my htc hero has one as well... I cringe every time I take it off... it bends!! :(

Re: Worried about N900 back cover
 

If anyone knows anything about a metall backplate (MAGNETIC!) for the N900 please write here. :-)

Re: Worried about N900 back cover
 

Sounds like a business model is popping up for craves1... :)

Re: Worried about N900 back cover
 

I've seen n97's back covers go loose.

But to be honest I felt the n900 cover felt too secure -- straight out of the box -- and actually went back to the community room to check I hadn't missed something in the French manual I was reading...with not actually speaking French and all.

Re: Worried about N900 back cover
 

Right, my concern as well. I keep waiting for a stubborn tab to break...