http://www.techsmart.co.za/mobiles/smartphones/Nokia_N97_review.html
The Nokia N97 is one of Nokia's most highly anticipated handsets yet. A big name release like this always gets gadget reviewers in a tizz looking for that unique perspective. It’s the “best Nokia ever”, it’s an “iPhone killer” and even "it’s no showstopper” articles are published in an effort to attract the most eyeballs. So what’s the verdict?
Display
The N97 just feels like a sophisticated, internet savvy phone. The thing that you immediately appreciate about the N97 is its 3.5" sliding tilt display. While we’ve seen tilt displays before this one feels solid and well built. It slides up with a reassuring thunk.
When using the phone you are greeted by a customisable widget based home screen. You can have a maximum of eight widgets constantly displaying live news feeds like News24, social network status updates like Facebook or whatever else you like. Its resistive touch-screen really makes interacting with these applications an enjoyable experience straight off the bat.
Navigation
Navigating the device’s apps is also a pleasure. Press the menu button and all the necessary settings and applications are available. The layout is logical and easy to use, allowing you to quickly access any feature you want.
Beneath its sliding tilt display is a well sized QWERTY keyboard. Aside from the stupid placement of the space bar (right aligned) its keyboard is one of the best we’ve ever used. The keys are comfortable to use, neat but well spaced and along with the left aligned directional pad the setup is really functional.
Multimedia
On the multimedia side the N97 really shines. It has a 5 megapixel camera that knocks out the 3 megapixel smartphone competition. With dual LED flash and a bunch of handy settings its camera really is adequate. Its direct integration with Nokia’s Facebook app was also appreciated.
RealPlayer, TV-out, podcasting functionality, N-Gage support, and direct access to the OviStore to download even more multimedia content will also keep you busy. The ease with which you can download, install and launch apps straight from OviStore will mean you visit it on a regular basis. The promise of more local content thanks to Nokia’s "Calling All Innovators" competition should also make these visits more worthwhile.
Connectivity
Complimenting this multitude of multimedia the N97 is a truly connected device. Connecting via 3G HSDPA or Wi-Fi is a breeze; easy to setup and even easier to use. We didn't have any connectivity problems, although we did struggle to get a POP3 account up and running. GPS and A-GPS keep you on track with Nokia Maps included. You even get turn-by-turn voice guided directions which is a nice touch, greatly enhancing its appeal as a GPS device.
Organisation
QuickOffice for viewing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents, Adobe PDF, a file manager, and other PIM tools, such as a Zip manager, a calculator, a notepad, a measurement converter, a clock, and a voice recorder make it quite an appealing business device as well.
While not as business centric as the Blackberry Storm the N97 does the basics well. Our only problem was the absence of the Nokia Messaging app seen on the E75. We were under the impression that this was Nokia’s flagship device, why should we have to download it?
