ComputerWorld reviews N800
 

Re: ComputerWorld reviews N800
 

Roger, maybe we don't get it?!!

Is Internet Tablet a device for geeks or the masses? If it's the latter, then, average user should be able to surf the web and see the popular content (e.g. YouTube clips). It's not an Internet Tablet if it doesn't support the most common actions on the Internet...

I think no one wants to hear my iPod example anymore, including myself :-o)

If it's a device for geeks only, then, why do you care about what CNet or ComputerWorld are saying, huh?

I think Nokia tries to sell N800 to masses while the current OS supports Internet 2004. This doesn't go well with many out there. This device is a platform for us (who love tweaking), so do you see the difference?

Re: ComputerWorld reviews N800
 

I don't think this is a case of the geeks-masses divide.

It looks more like the "is it for business or is it for entertainment?" approach.

When I read his earnest description of all the things he tried out, I can see that David Haskin believes that everyone's needs are met by a Treo-like PDA-phone and a laptop, He doesn't envision any scenarios where the N800 pushes one or the other out of the way.

Me, I say either you understand the concept of the untethered, walkaround web. Or you don't.

----
Based on this exchange, I've gone back and added to my original post.

Re: ComputerWorld reviews N800
 

Is it a functional walkaround web? So far not...

Re: ComputerWorld reviews N800
 

"On the whole, most gadget lovers would do better with a more flexible, less expensive smart phone."

I have a more flexible, less expensive smart phone and it is neither. My Samsung i730 PPC phone cost more than twice as much and is limited to running crippled "Pocket" parodies of real software. And requires much tweaking just to get it to be a decent cell phone.

It will soon be relegated to acting as a BlueTooth WWAN modem for my new N800 Internet Tablet.

Re: ComputerWorld reviews N800
 

My take is that the N800 should do what it does well, or not at all.

It does browsing well, RSS feeds are OK (but seriously buggy), audio is OK, but video and Flash are definately sub-par and so come in for the most criticism. And lets not even mention the Email application.

Nokia have a choice - improve video and Flash to compete with the likes of Archos etc. (not exactly difficult given the hardware available in the N800) or drop these functions entirely (yes, I'm serious!) Offering sub-standard implementations is only going to draw more criticism from reviewers than if they weren't offered at all.

Re: ComputerWorld reviews N800
 

Milhouse, I 100% agree with you. We have to be objective (fan boyism has never caused progress).
The so called Internet experience (collection of everything related to web nowadays, surfing, RSS, Email, audio & video clips...) on 770/N800 is sub-par and that's where Nokia should get serious, if they want to achieve mass market acceptance.

Re: ComputerWorld reviews N800
 

I had a 770 for a while. I really loved it, but not because it was a good web browsing device - I loved it because I could hack the sh-t out of it and install cool third party open source on it. Even so, I mostly enjoyed that because it was a cool thing to do, I didn't actually find the device very productive.

If one takes a mental step back and actually looks at what the N800 can do well for the "Joe Average" consumer, one comes up with just the one thing - surf the web, and that only where there are WLAN's or by carrying a cellphone too to act as a modem. Even that isn't bulletproof, clearly, and as iFrank mentions already, showing web pages is just part of the puzzle. So why would a consumer get such a one-trick pony?

There is a lot of work left to do to make these things truly useful, and things didn't improve for Nokia with the Apple iPhone announcement. Assuming the iPhone holds up to the hype, it will give a truly polished and seamless consumer experience, as compared to the freakish puzzle of looks and interface features that comprise the N800.

Re: ComputerWorld reviews N800
 

I could not have said it better. I got the N800 two weeks ago and have decided it must go back to Nokia. I feel the hardware is good but the software/operating sysetem was an after thought. Maybe Nokia hopes the open source communty will bring it up to par, if that's the case than lower the price or give the customer more bang for the buck. Examples would be discount on wireless service, free upgrade for a better carrying case, discount on memory upgrades etc, Nokia don't profit off the communty's work!

Re: ComputerWorld reviews N800
 

I'm impressed with how well the VidConvert bookmarklet works in Opera 8.5 compared with the 770: with a stuttering YouTube page open, click "VidConvert" from my bookmarks and I get a nice shiny streaming watchable video out the other end :-)