Review: Nokia N800 Internet Tablet handheld computer

It’s rare for Nokia to make a device that doesn’t have a space for a mobile phone sim card.

Instead, the small and light N800 can connect to the internet using Wifi or, with a compatible mobile phone, Bluetooth.

The Nokia N800’s predecessor was the 770 which, like this one, was a tiny tablet-format handheld computer using the Linux operating system. Now, though, the processor has been upgraded to deliver noticeably faster results and the styling has been improved with a slicker, sleeker look.

A little too big for the average pocket, the N800 has neat features like a touch-screen that can tell the difference between a stylus and a finger. What's more, tap a certain part of the screen and a virtual Qwerty keyboard will appear.

There’s also handwriting recognition for those that prefer to write with the stylus, though this takes time to master. Navigation is done by the direction pad I and buttons that bring up menu screens – an efficient and navigable environment.

Of course, the N800 can check email, instant message and display RSS feeds.
If it's connected to the internet, the microphone, speaker and the retractable, spring-loaded camera can be used to make internet calls (voice or video). Skype isn't supported at the moment, but is promised for later in the year.

There's 128MB of built-in memory - twice that of the Nokia 770 – and an SD memory card slot for storing music files. Music playback through the speakers is acceptable, but the supplied headphones are better, though for the best results, invest in a decent pair.

The N800 has a large, 4in screen that makes web surfing look great. Video playback looks great and the Nokia can be propped up on its pull-out stand for comfortable viewing. However, not all video files are supported (WMV, for example), and it doesn't stream video from the internet very well; the image kept stuttering and breaking down.

There are other downsides: battery life isn’t outstanding – it'll need to be recharged after a day’s use, less still if Bluetooth or Wifi are enabled. And, oddly, it won't synchronise with Outlook; the N800 requires contacts to be entered directly into its own bespoke address book.
Certainly, it’s much more portable than a notebook computer, but the absence of a keyboard, its small memory and lack of PDA-like synchronising will limit its usefulness.

Vista compatible: N/A

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