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Nokia 8800 - photos, impressoins, thoughts

The Nokia 8800 is supposed to become the top device in Nokia's fashion line. On the one hand, it is not a Vertu yet but it is not a mass produced device either. Different to Nokia 8910i, the whole attention was drawn to the dimensions of the phone. Just following the last trends, the device was made small and, more importantly, thin (16.5 mm in the thickest part). Using non-rusting metallic parts increases the weight greatly (134 grams). Due to the small size, this weight is felt like a pleasant load in a hand and will impress many men. Women treated the device cooler and considered it a bit heavy. In general, the idea the device is for men prevailed, though it will surely fit a woman's handbag. I'd agree with the opinion and note that about 60 percent of sales will be directed to men.

Reasoning from the company's wish to create a fashion, demanded and status device we can hardly speak about the ergonomics and functionality. Nokia produces the most fashionable phones in the customer's opinion and any status device is bound to be in the public eye. Taking into consideration the announced price of 750 Euro for the end of May, we can expect the phone demanded in its segment. In Russia, by the way, the price will be higher and will be more than 900 Euro when launched. The reason is that the capacity for such devices in our country is much lower than in Europe.

This chase for the impressive body striking one's eyes and feelings at first sight developed into bad ergonomics. The slider is equipped with an automatic finishing mechanism clicking when closed. There is a rest netting under the screen to rest a finger when opening. The developers considered closing the device should go the same way. Side borders are quite sharp and if a finger got onto guiding lines, it could get pinched. The same concerns those that like to close the phone with their neck - it may be dangerous.

The dimensions of the keypad, a navi button and an Ok button are a bit smaller than average, which makes them less comfortable. Girls with long nails will find working with the phone hard since the nails will get into the gaps between the upper key line and the body. At the same time, your obedient servant even having large arms succeeded in dealing with the phone and found it comfortable. The comfort of the keypad is explained with the previous experience and the treatment to the device.

The metallic parts of the body are not easily soiled and show no fingerprints and the panel with the camera placed on it is just the opposite, very easily soiled and prints are seen at any angle.

Functionally, the model differs slightly from the Nokia 7280 and the devices may be considered similar. What's curious is that the Nokia 7280 was the first equipped with a voice dialing function not depending on pronunciation and preliminary training. I'd remind that due to the absence of a keypad, this way of dialing becomes especially useful, but considering the time gaps, the company only now succeeded in making a complete and stable working solution in this model. The dialing works well and rouses no complaints.

The screen is pleasant and the dot size is minimal for such products. The resolution is 208x208 pixels (subjectively, the screen is smoother than in Nokia 6230i though they should be similar). 3D graphics are used in the menu and all the icons are redrawn and thus the menu is more pleasant. The device provides a user with about 60 MB of memory, mp3 support and may be used as a player (if the memory capacity is enough). An Fm radio is also integrated, but the most important is a crystal clear sound of the 64-tones call signal, the device sounds very well and is comparable to Vertu in this parameter. A Japanese composer, Ryuichi Sakamoto, working with electronic music, has written call melodies especially for the device. They are somewhat pleasant and but not very interesting. The fact of attracting famous people to promoting a product of this class becomes a permanent activity and Nokia was the first to do such things.

The presence of Bluetooth doesn't look strange and the Nokia 8800 becomes one of the first devices with stereo sound transmission. That means you'll be able to listen to the radio in a stereo headset with two earphones.

The camera is rather weak and actually represents some additional story above VGA -ones having SVGA resolution. A user won't notice any great difference in the quality but it is possible to speak about a 0.5 MP camera from the marketing point of view. As a rule, the number of pixels does not stick to memory like the word megapixel does. Compared to the previous products equipped with a VGA-camera, video recording is improved; frame frequency is higher (about 18 in a subjective feeling). Considering that QCIF remained, it makes no difference.

This is the first time for many years that the company reused a number of a model. A phone with the same index has already existed and in the near future we'll see some more number taking from old devices.

The battery is 600-mAh Li-Ion providing on average two days of not very active use (an hour or an hour and a half of talking).

The model should be evaluated not from the ergonomics, user comfort or the presence of this or that function point of view but from the prestige position. Considering Nokia keeps high prices for its fashion phones Nokia 8800 will be popular. Buying the device in the first days of sales will surely demonstrate your status but the price difference even with Europe will be about 250-300 USD minimum.

Video with the device in hands, menu, prints on the plastic – 5 MB, ASF
Video with the device in hands – 2 MB, ASF