Nokia N95 -- Holy Freaking Wow

[Overpaid Slacker]

So, a couple of acquaintances have iPhones, which I've futzed with, and they're cool and all. Gimmicky; but I'm OK with gimmicks.

Those people I know who have them, however must have them out, fiddling with them to no end when they're in public, but what good is early-adopting a $600+ gizmo if you don't get oohs and ahhs from the plebes?

Two nights ago, a real, hard-core, dyed-in-the-wool phone geek buddy of mine drops his N95 on me, and this thing is the tyts! It's an excellent all-round device, takes amazing photos and video, even in very low light, has a fantastic interface, and it seems, to my mind, to have thought of everything.

The friend laid a whole bunch of tech-stuff on me as to why he went with the N95 instead of the iPhone (the N95 is ~$700, IIRC), which I won't try to relate here. But he also sent me this link today to a few videos.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Rcadden

Warning: Apple devotees who are used to being on the giving end of snarky might not love these so much.

Not being a phone geek, but having had my hands on each for more than an hour, and having seen what they can do, my $0.02 is that the iPhone is cool, but it's a fanboy gadget; the N95 is a more useful, better-featured device for the techies, though very accessible to the typical user. You're probably not going to get the "oooh... aahhh" reaction from it, though, if that's important to you.

If the iPhone wasn't an "Apple iPhone" and didn't have the ... let's just say righteous ... branding and marketing it has, I think the phone sophistos would go for the N95.

JMHO, but I'll drop my ducats on the N95 (or its then-current iteration) when the time comes. If you're waiting to get an iPhone, or could still return yours, check out the N95.

JP

[lendaddy]

Can I watch dogs ride skateboards on this N95?

[masraum]

I don't know jack about either phone other than just what I've heard. I'm not prepared to spend a fortune on a phone, but...

I've almost always had Nokia phones. I've spent a little time with a few others, Sprint, Samsung, Motorola, etc.... IMO, the Nokias almost always have the best functionality and the best interface. I've always had really simple phones, that are just phones. I think I'm about ready to try to find a simple phone that includes a camera and the capability to store the phone book on flash/memory that's removable or that can download it's phonebook to a PC. That's the biggest feature that I'd like but haven't had to date. The ability to store and backup the complete phone directory.

[island911]

Originally posted by Overpaid Slacker
... link today to a few videos.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Rcadden

Warning: Apple devotees who are used to being on the giving end of snarky might not love these so much.
...

thanks for the fun vid's.

Apple devotees, all I can say is pay back is a b!tch.

lendad, you can video a dog a skateboard. A buddy had the earlier N90 (?) ..anyway, very impressive vid's. The only downside, is the Nokia is a bit thicker than an iphone or Razor....

I so wish Nokia had a CDMA version.

[berettafan]

my new samsung was $24. it does all kinds of crazy stuff like ring, take messages, etc.

oh, and i'll save the $550 i didn't spend on a phone and put it towards something i actually wouldn't mind watching a movie on.

[Jim Richards]

LOL! Phones that are simply...phones? How extraordinary!

[island911]

It would seem that the Apple crickets (can you hear them?) gave this thread one star. LOL; what a way to chirp.

[Overpaid Slacker]

Originally posted by island911
It would seem that the Apple crickets (can you hear them?) gave this thread one star. LOL; what a way to chirp.

I saw that. Feeble iDiots.

I don't disagree that phones that do EVERYthing are a bit much, but if I don't have to carry a digital camera, or an mp3 player or a video player... and can change my device's battery... There's $100 for the phone, $300 for even a decent camera, $100 for even a decent mp3 player, a PSP (on which I watch movies now) is $250... and the convenience of carrying one device, instead of 4 (yes, I could use my PSP as an mp3 player... but I don't.

JP

[nostatic]

wow, such bitterness...just have another scotch and chill

Nokia N95 CNET editors' review
Very good
7.0
out of 10

The good: The Nokia N95 cell phone boasts a 5-megapixel camera that produces good-quality photos and videos. It comes with advanced multimedia capabilities and has a 3.5mm headphone jack. The Symbian smart phone also features integrated GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, and an innovative two-way slider design.

The bad: The N95 lacks support for U.S. 3G networks; standby battery life is poor; and performance is somewhat sluggish. The hardware feels a bit cheap, and the sliding mechanism could be more secure. It's also very expensive.

The bottom line: With a 5-megapixel camera, advanced multimedia capabilities, and GPS, there's no doubt that the Nokia N95 is one of the most feature-packed smart phones to date, but poor battery life and sluggish performance make it hard to justify the high price tag.

----------

iPhone CNET editors' review
Excellent
8.0
out of 10

The good: The Apple iPhone has a stunning display, a sleek design, and an innovative multitouch user interface. Its Safari browser makes for a superb Web surfing experience, and it offers easy-to-use apps. As an iPod, it shines.

The bad: The Apple iPhone has variable call quality and lacks some basic features found in many cell phones, including stereo Bluetooth support and 3G compatibility. Integrated memory is stingy for an iPod, and you have to sync the iPhone to manage music content.

The bottom line: Despite some important missing features, a slow data network, and call quality that doesn't always deliver, the Apple iPhone sets a new benchmark for an integrated cell phone and MP3 player.

Everything is a compromise...

[island911]

"call quality that doesn't always deliver,"

So, as phones go, the iPhone is not so good. Interesting.

Yet they rate it better because of better 'cell phone and MP3 player integration'. hmmmm ...didn't seem that good.

Well, whatever. The youtube vid's are hilarious.

[masraum]

Originally posted by island911
"call quality that doesn't always deliver,"

LOL, I get it and get the compromise thing, but I have to say, giving a phone an 8 out of 10 when the review says that as a phone it's pretty moderate is pretty darn funny to me.

I understand the desire to have some stuff combined. But if it's my cellphone, I'd rather have it excel at the phone stuff and be more moderate at the non-phone stuff.

How cool would it have been if Apple and Nokia had collaborated on the iPhone? Now THAT would have been a winner.

[nostatic]

fwiw I've had excellent call quality and zero drops. ymmv. I wonder if they're comparing apples to apples wrt carriers...and that sort of stuff is heavily location dependent.

I've never said the iPhone is perfect. But it is pretty amazing. I've never really bonded with Nokia phones, and I find the Symbian OS a bit clunky. I have friends who love their Nokias though, so go figure.

[Dave L]

Originally posted by island911


I so wish Nokia had a CDMA version.

dont hold your breath, Nokia has pulled out of CDMA

[JavaBrewer]

"Apple" and "collaborated"...now that is funny.

We love the iPod despite the issue of iTunes crashing after EVERY sync on the PC. Luckily with Ubuntu loaded I can drag/drop songs all day with a smile as it works with the little Apple device just fine. No more iTunes...WHOO HOOO!

I've said crap about iPhone but have not seen one in person. I'm sure I'd love the UI but will never pay that kind of coin for a phone so I'm somewhat further down the adoption curve.

[slakjaw]

I predict that Google brands a G-Phone very soon. This will smoke the Why-Phone.

[slakjaw]

Originally posted by Dave L
dont hold your breath, Nokia has pulled out of CDMA

What? Why? in favor of what GSM?

[slakjaw]

Anyone here tried the Opera Mini web browser yet? What do you think?

[island911]

I've used Opera on the Nokia 770 --works great. btw, the 770 or N800 touchscreen smokes the iPhone with 2.5x more pixels. (800x480 ...that really is the minimum count needed IMOfor web browsing) Oh, and of course you can pan around with just a point and push, on the screen. zooming is done with a rocker button --no lobster pinching the screen, like the i(moderate quality)Phone.

[island911]

Originally posted by slakjaw
What? Why? in favor of what GSM?

Nokia sees CDMA as a shrinking market. With just Verizon and Sprint being the players in CDMA. So, CDMA is just a portion of one country's (US) market.

ROW is GSM. ..like they have a WDP.

[HardDrive]

My Sony-Ericsson 610 is AWESOME. I can make phone calls on it. Both send AND receive!!!!!!!

When will people learn? The ultimate in luxury is being LESS accessible.