I’m currently test-driving an N8 unit as a way of gauging if I really like this device enough for me to buy one.
From the start, what attracted me to the N8 was its look. I especially like the silver version, kinda sleek and futuristic looking in an old-school way.
At first I didn’t really pay much attention on how the phone performed. But after the initial infatuation, one has to go beyond the aesthetic values and really delve into how the device will be beneficial to my day to day requirements.
Initial observations are:
1. Short battery life. Everything the others have said about the limited power is true. I charged it last night and used it normally today (a couple of hours on 3G mobile internet; one or two voice call; several SMS; about 7 shots with the camera). Now the battery is down to one bar!
Great-looking touchscreen
The following day, a friend advised me to set the network to purely GSM and not Dual Mode to help reduce power consumption. Apparently, constantly being on 3G mode drains the battery faster. Makes sense.
True enough, the next couple of days saw a markedly increased battery life for the N8. I would still set the average consumption to be one day, for standby time, moderate voice calls, and several SMS functions, and the occasional picture taking. Once you start using the mobile internet, either 3G/HSPA or WiFi, the thing gets hot and drains up its juice easily.
2. Difficulty in syncing. I’ve got the correct iSync app, as well as the Nokia Multimedia transfer. But I can’t transfer fotos to the Mac via Bluetooth. Tried downloading the plugin from Nokia, but nothing happens when I click on the link.
After some tweaking here and there, restarting the device as well as my MBP, lo and behold, the thing synced my appointments calendar! WTF?
3. The camera is great, though! You can twiddle with the settings if you want better sensitivity for low-light situations, if you don’t want to use the flash, or if you want better contrast in outdoor scenes.
I’ll jot down add’l observations throughout the test period and let you guys now.
Right now, the N8 is growing on me, but hopefully not like a big pimple on my back.
Suddenly not 100% convinced to get one at this point. But I’m not quite ready to write it off. Something’s got to give soon.
I’d doing this exercise to help totally discourage me from getting the iPhone4. Is it an exercise in futility? We’ll see.
UPDATE:
3/9/2011
Seems like I forgot to post my final judgement for this device.
After a couple of weeks playing and using the N8, I had to let it go. It was a good camera, took great pictures and played videos very well. It was a good phone coz voice quality was crisp and clear. Overall, though, the whole system did not delight me as much.
I mean, its a Nokia phone, there’s no going around that fact, but somehow, I found that it took its own sweet time switching from different applications and features. It just didn’t make me into a more efficient smartphone user. For a smartphone, the N8 wasn’t that quick.
the "home" button
I guess I’m also just biased for QWERTY smartphones, and it really pained me when I realized the N8 touchscreen keyboard wasn’t in QWERTY configuration like the iPhone.
On the upside, apart from the neat camera, the screen size worked well when you use the GPS for tracing your location on a map. I used it when we got lost driving around Batangas City after Christmas and was able to figure out how to get to the main road that leads to the STAR Tollway by checking my location on the GPS map.
The aforementioned screen size also augurs well for surfing the web, checking email and updating my FaceBook status and posting on Twitter. Its a mobile web device that’s just the right size.
All in all, if I wasn’t looking for a full-on, everyday smartphone to use, I’d get the N8 as a back-up phone. What it can replace is a point-and-shoot camera, but then you’d have to ask yourself, “why get a phone to replace your camera?”
Ironically, when Nokia decided to go this route in making a smartphone, it ended up with a really good camera that doubles as a mobile communication device.
So, I decided not to get an N8. It also helped me decide not to get the iPhone4 as well. I’ll just stick to my E71 for a little while longer.
Cheers!
