Save Nokia N900 Unlocked Phone/Mobile Computer with 3.5-Inch Touchscreen, QWERTY, 5 MP Camera, Maemo Browser, 32 GB--U.S. Version with Full Warranty

I could go into great technical detail in reviewing the Nokia n900, but based on the reviews I have read, others have done that in very satisfactory fashion. So I will not duplicate their efforts.

The n900 is very quick, and in the month I have had it , has not shown any stalls or hang-ups at all.

The browser is simply splendid, and it is clearly better than anything else on the market. And for a device that is intended to access the Internet (I don't really make that many phone calls) having a first-rate browser is saying a great deal. But the browser also forms the largest part of the user interface, and the UI is pretty mystifying. The User Manual is almost pathetic in its inadequacy, so the user is reduced to experimentation to tease out the interactions.

Here are other items I mostly like in the n900:

* The GPS seems to be very sensitive, and it finds my location very quickly. The maps are colorful and pleasant, but I do not plan to use the navigation system for turn-by-turn guidance so I am less critical than I might be. But there are some annoying bugs that need correction. For instance, when you are tracking a GPS route in your car and you stop at a red traffic light the map literally spins randomly around the spot where you stopped. Very disconcerting!

* The media player works well, but again that performance is skewered by the inadequate user instructions. There is no guidance about how to import music from a previous player, so again one must experiment. Also no hints at all with importing the album artwork with the music files.

* The phone works very well and the audio quality is excellent. Nokia did a very fine job designing the phone hardware and software.

* The Internet Radio works fine too, but I have been unable to add any of my own favorite stations since the n900 tells me I have an issue with the Codec, and the user instructions offer no guidance.

* I really like the integrated Contacts/e-mail/Messaging approach.

* The camera seems to produce very nice pictures and the dual-LED flash does a good job of illumination.

* Some little things. I like the inclusion of the removable battery, and the lanyard attachment point, which is crucial to prevent drop damage.

In summary, I could compress my reactions to the Nokia n900 into a few statements. I mostly love it, except for a small number of easily-fixable bugs, and I think that the User Manual is useless. If Nokia does not prepare a better manual (fast) they will be sadly limited to the geek market (like me) and the promise of this really excellent device will be unfulfilled. But a good manual would broaden the appeal to a much larger base. Get more detail about Nokia N900 Unlocked Phone/Mobile Computer with 3.5-Inch Touchscreen, QWERTY, 5 MP Camera, Maemo Browser, 32 GB--U.S. Version with Full Warranty.