N97: My Initial Thoughts

I can honestly say that nothing could have shocked me more than seeing the likes of the N97 device, but I am wondering if it is a case of too little, too late for Nokia. For years there have been devices taking advantage of touchscreen technology, and it wasn't really mastered until the iPhone showed up on the scene. With this in mind, I still cannot help but have reservations about the N97 and its potential to garner much marketing prestige during its time on the market. I am sure that the price tag on it will be at least $800, so that automatically leaves me out as a buyer. However, I would never turn down an offer from WomWorld for a 2 week trial with the new qwerty slider marvel.

By no means does my doubt of the Nokia N97's success come from a place of negativity, but more so of concern. We are in an age where it seems that the public is ruled by the iPhone, and Windows Mobile models have been dominating the slider qwerty design for a long time. This new touch interface is a new thing for the public to get used to, not to mention that the touch OS on the Nokia N810 wasn't anything special to write home about. I am hopeful that this N97 will have a magical effect on the minds of consumers worldwide to accept the new and evolving Nokia, and I am hopeful that I can be open to it as well. Aside from these concerns I have always had a cautious approach to touchscreens paired with mediocre software like Windows Mobile and Symbian UIQ.3. Occasional hiccups in performance and operating tasks would irritate me to no end, and even the near flawless iPhone had unbeautiful moments. There's also my preference for the qwerty bar form factor to keep in mind. Even though I am certainly thrilled to see the features of the N97, it may not fit seamlessly into my life as efficiently as the E71. It's like a farmer purchasing a Smart Car as a primary vehicle when a truck may be better suited. Aside from a temporary trial, I will most likely not go for N97 and keep hope alive for a future design that may be conducive to my own needs.

While I would be the first to congratulate Nokia on making such a great model to start the year off, I shall try to reserve judgment as I hold on to my E71.

TRENT
Sent from my Nokia E71