Nokia World 2009 Live Report
News iconPublished on: 02 September, 2009 by Pressian Karakostov
Nokia Booklet 3G
We always credit where credit is due and Nokia did a superb job with the design and appearance of the Booklet 3G. The whole body is one piece aluminum alloy; making is lighter and sturdier. We wished we had an Apple Mac air to snap a few comparison shots, but all we had was Samsung NC10. Take a look at the pictures and you’ll see what we are talking about – about 0.78 inches (2mm) width. Despite utilizing a huge 16 cell battery, the weight is about 2.65 pounds (1.2 kg).
In terms of connectivity options, it has everything one can expect like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3 USB ports and interestingly HDMI port which we usually see in more mid-range laptops. In addition, the Booklet 3G also packs a GPS receiver.
The first time we saw the keyboard, we were like – that is very small. Once though we actually used it and compared it to the NC10’s, we were relieved. Typing is extremely easy and comfortable once you get used to it. The actual keys are smaller compared to the ones on the NC10 and are very similar to the Mac Air’s keyboard.
When it comes to screen size, it is all about personal preference. We would have been happier with 11.6”, but still 10.1” is great. The actually screen quality is good, but not extraordinary and set at the highest brightness is pretty much the same as on the NC10. What we liked how the screen could be tilted to become almost flat with the table.
The battery life is touted to be about 12 hours, which of course really depends on what you do. If you start playing 720p video, it would be less. Still, that is about an hour more compared to ASUS Eee PC 1101HA (it is only 1.3 GHz though). As of now, Nokia does not have plans to offer extended batteries. Because of its design and aluminum construction, the Booklet 3G does not need a cooling fan, which of course saves energy as well.
In terms of processing power, a Z530 single CPU processor running at 1.6 is used. The clean Windows 7 ran very snappy like is does on most netbooks. The memory is 1 GB with no possibility for expansion. The same goes for the hard drive, which is 120 GB.
Even though the netbook features a GSM module, phone calls cannot be made. The hot-swappable SIM card is used only for data connections.
All things considered, we like the Booklet 3G mainly because of its design. If you are constantly on the road or need connectivity places where there is no Wi-Fi, and don’t want to plug those external data USB keys, you should consider it. If you just like the cool and sleek design and want to pay more for it – consider it. If you demand to watch 720p content on it – consider it. Everyone else can get similarly equipped one for twice less money.
| Nokia Booklet 3G next to Samsung N10 | |||
Nokia N900
| N900 left, N810 right |
| N900 next to E75 |
With the new Nokia N900, the Finnish phone manufacturer goes the right way. The most important change in our opinion is adding a GSM module to it. This way Nokia takes down two rabbits with one shot. The first one is having it sold through carriers (subsidized). Secondly, there is no need to carry a tablet and phone any longer. Using the carrier’s GSM network, the N900 can browse the net anywhere, and can be used as a handset as well. Add the completely revamped interface and you actually get a very decent internet… computer (no, Nokia does not call it that way). Even though Nokia tries to present the N900 as yet another part of the tablet family, with just added phone functionality, we actually see it as an experiment to see if they can get the developer community on-board (Ovi Store will feature Maemo applications, so devs will finally start making money for their apps) and how the consumers will react to the “new” operating system.
Starting with the design, the N900 looks just as a regular phone with a large display. That is because instead of the 4.1” screen of the N810, the new one is only 3.5”, as big as on the iPhone. This helps for rather normal dimensions, allowing it to be fit into a pocket. Luckily, the screen resolution is kept the same as before and is WVGA (800x480 pixels).
Being an internet device with just added phone functionality, the regular on most phones send and end keys are missing here. Actually, there are no keys on the front at all. In order to make a phone call, you have to go to the phone menu and do it from there. Still, it packs an earpiece and a microphone, so you can hold it right next to your face while in a call, instead of using the speakerphone or a headset, as in the HTC Advantage X7510. Thumbs up for Nokia.
Stereo speakers are located on each side of device. The 3.5mm headset jack and the stylus are on the right. Our only gripe when it comes to the design is about the top key row on the sliding QWERTY keyboard, which is too close to the edge of the top slider. Well, we’d prefer a 5-row keyboard instead of a 3-row one, but it is better than nothing. The 5-megapixel camera with a kick-stand around it are located on the back.
The N900 runs on the new Maemo 5 platform, which offers revamped user interface, looking sleeker than before. There are total of 7 home screen pages, very similar to the Android ones. They house different widgets, which can be moved around and arranged as you like. Clicking on the top left corner of the home screen invokes the task switcher, which also looks very contemporary. The Mozilla-powered Internet browser is better than before, with a more intelligent zoom that can be controlled with a circular gesture (kinda funny, isn’t it). It packs Flash 9.4 and can be used not only for YouTube videos, but also for Vimeo or almost any Flash content, including our 360-degrees view!
Nokia N900 Specifications
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