Finally getting a to play with the Nokia N97, here are some first impressions:

• The N97 is very similar in size to the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic in terms of thickness and width, and slightly longer. Will cause pocket bulge but is still impressive for a flagship.
• Compared to the N96 and N95, the N97 is more responsive. Still a bit slow though, especially when trying to run apps that use connectivity a lot (Maybe using a phone under better 3G or 3.5G coverage will provide better results?
• The sliding mechanism of the N97 is very solid and feels well made. A ribbon cable connects the upper part of the phone to the rest of the device. Very inaccessible, but this is a worrying vulnerability—cut the cable, goodbye phone?
• The QWERTY keyboard feels a bit flat. Maybe the next model should take a cue from the E-series keyboard and use slightly rounded keys?
• Why drop the plectrum/guitar key, used as the stylus for the 5800, and replace it with a detachable pen? Detachable = easily lost.

That’s all I’ve got now. A full review to follow when possible. For now, pics! (Click them thumbnails for the full-size editions)

The Nokia N96 is big. That’s the first thing you notice when you hold this phone in your hand. Then you notice the slight UI lag, perhaps caused by all those features crammed into a phone. Less obvious is the available 16GB of onboard memory, which makes microSDs unnecessary. In any case, a full review to follow; more pics available over at Philippine affiliate Technograph.

(image from Technograph)

Barring the obvious differences in picture quality (which also make clear the advantages of a dSLR working in good natural lighting), aren’t the similarities between the Nokia N96 and the N81 8GB as apparent?

Much better pics and a review to follow, in that order. For now, here’s another pic for your satisfaction:

Let’s hope the N96 isn’t as slow as its older counterpart. Dun dun dunnnn!!

It’s clear that HP has a winner here. Despite being no larger than a large hardbound book, the HP Mini-Note 2133 is a fully functional PC that blends the line between ultra-portable and laptop.

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