[n8paul]

I hate those squares with a passion   just so unapealing   thats enough to put me off a Windows phone

Widgets was the one thing Nokia got right   even  iphone is going widget based in future.

Nokai make best hardware maybe they should offer a nokia phone with Android  operating system

[pavilion_alex]

they won't offer Android, only Symbian (until it ceases development) and Windows.

Windows Phone has has been designed for ease of use.

you'll like it eventually

[PiElle]

Do you really think that WP is better than Symbian Belle?  

In my opinion, Nokia should not stop the development of Symbian ...

[blitzkid]

Yup! Nokia shouldn't stop symbian... Hope it realizes this soon before its too late. Symbian still has what it takes to bull doze other operating systems. If belle can be developed which is customizable, then why not future symbian updates?

[Mike_Myers_N8]

The Windows desktop looks like something I want nothing to do with, but that's me.  There may be a lot of people out there who want it just like that.  Fine, let them have it. 

For those of us who aer a bit more serious about phones, it's a different story.

Perhaps at some point, someone will figure out a way to put a different user interface on the phone, so it becomes a tool once again.  Nokia allows this on the N8 - we can put whatever we want on the home page(s).  It's up to the user.  No reason that eventually they'll find a way to do so with Windows.  It's only an OS, and what it has to look like is up to the software designers.

[PiElle]

There have been a lot of positive feedback about Symbian Belle. In particular on the specialist press!  

Nokia should continue to offer both systems!

[Srikanthsd]

Common Nokia, we know what we want and you know how to make it.

[Mike_Myers_N8]

Just did a lot more reading.

I wouldn't say the desktop looks horrible, but I'd certainly say it's something that I want nothing to do with.  For "the masses", who knows.  Maybe people will see it in the store, realize how easy it is to use, and buy it. 

It's completely, totally, the opposite of what I want in a phone.  The N8 allows me to set up my front end to be however *I* want it to be, with tons of data (all my needed info) on the first screen, and lots more on the other home screens.  Why anyone would want 8 colorful boxes on the screen is beyond me.

I think I'll drop out of this discussion.  I don't have anything positive to add.  I was under the impression until just now that you could turn off the boxes and use the device as I have been for ages now, but apparently that's not possible.   It's like taking a guy on a Harley, and telling him from now on, he's going to ride a motor scooter.  It may be "easier", but there's a lot of people who I suspect don't have "easier" at the top of their list.

[jimmyireland]

Not a fan of the tiles homescreen myself,but it could be good given a chance.
This is the future all phones.they are changing and we as users have to make change like it or not.

[android]

If you are a PC/Laptop(not Mac) user and does not use Linux you are in for the big surprise,  MS OS will be like that in their upgrade for Windows 7 . 

[Mike_Myers_N8]

Ha.

I'd substitute "downgrade" for "upgrade".  I think at that time, I'll either be switching to Mac, or more likely, Linux.

Maybe Linux would make a good OS for the next generation of Nokia phones too, with an appropriate desktop that's not designed for kiddies.

Yeah, in 5 years I'll still be running Win 7, and still using my N8.

[jraduga]

The idea of widgets that are in constant change is one thing, but to me after watching the really basic demonstration, at this point in time it looks like a 2 years old has been stack timber blocks on top of each other.

Now granted that phone obviously has been used a bit by the guy demostrating it, so he obviously has it setup the way he likes it. But i want to see what it looks like out of the box, surely there isnt all those kiddies play boxes all over the screen. Surely we can update and change the way it looks, CANT WE????

If not then I dont think i will be buying one. Oh and the lumia 800 seems to do less than my E7 currently does. It look cheap and its spec's say cheap, all with the one exception of a much faster processor. I hope they dont think this is going to be flagship phone, cause from what i saw on the video of nokia world presentation, it certainly didnt seem like it could even be considered. Even its screen size is smaller than my E7. Whilst i like change some change is not always for the best, and if what i saw is what we are getting, then honestly someone need to re-think in a real hurry.

Nokia are suppose to be improving on design, specifications, abilities and features. This phone just doesnt cut it. My E7 has a lot of metal in the case of the phone, the lumia 800 is all plastic. Your phones used to be plastic, you moved to metal, to provide a difference, to allow you to stand out, to give customers a good solid phone, that will handle the evryday knocks and bumps. BUT plastic come on, who are you trying to kid here. the phone is CHEAP. go back to the drawing board and see if you can come up with something that is well thought thru. Not some half-baked excuse for a nokia phone.

[psychomania]

---

jraduga wrote:

My E7 has a lot of metal in the case of the phone, the lumia 800 is all plastic. Your phones used to be plastic, you moved to metal, to provide a difference, to allow you to stand out, to give customers a good solid phone, that will handle the evryday knocks and bumps. BUT plastic come on, who are you trying to kid here. the phone is CHEAP. go back to the drawing board and see if you can come up with something that is well thought thru. Not some half-baked excuse for a nokia phone.

---

You really should hold a Lumia 800 (or N9) before going on about the plastic. The "plastic" on these models isn't the cheap stuff of old, it's actually polycarbonate and it feels very premium and very solid.  To me it makes the devices look and feel nicer than many metal phones out there.

You'll also find that the material is very tough and durable, in some ways more than metal. I've witnessed a Lumia 800 being abused first hand and it walked away without a scratch.

[Mike_Myers_N8]

Technically, you are right. However, the perception of what a phone is like, is just as important as the reality. Some people enjoy having the "real thing", rather than something that works just as well.

I've got no problems with "plastic" (whatever name we wish to use), but given the choice, I'd go for metal, all things being equal. I guess this is part reality, and part style.

Given an N9 style phone, or an N8 style phone, there is no question for me - I'd go for the N8 type design. It may or may not have anything to do with "reality", but I'd prefer to spend a bit more money to get what I want, even if the other choice is "just as good".

[psychomania]

mike_myers_n8, out of curiosity, when you made your "choice" was this before handling a Lumia 800/N9 or after?

[Mike_Myers_N8]

I was in the USA until a few weeks back, and am now in India. Neither the N9 nor the Lumia is available yet in either place. I haven't handled either phone.

Call me old fashioned. Whether it be cameras, guns, phones, or whatever, I "prefer" some kind of metal. I've had far too many problems with wonderful devices (even the bumpers on my Land Rover) perform perfectly when new, but changing after many years. Metal is more likely to last "forever".

To answer your question, even if the other phones felt "perfect" in my hands tomorrow, I would still prefer metal for many other reasons, which may or may not be valid - but that's another story.

[psychomania]

That's your choice but my point is that people shouldn't right it off until they've actually held a real production device. This is not cheap plastic, it's a premium material.

To me the polycarbonate N9/Lumia 800 feels far nicer in the hand than my metal N8 did, especially on a cold morning, but that's just my opinion after spending time with both materials.

Fact is that it's irrelevant whether it's metal or polycarbonate, it's still premium materials and a good looking design. The ugly plastic end caps from the N8 (that it needed to maintain a good signal) are gone, this seamless evolution looks far nicer in my opinion.

[neile35c]

Could not agree with you more the fact you can not change the tiles will also put thousands of people of People like to personalize there phones looks so old fashioned as well this is meant to be the future not a chance My C7 with anna is so much better .

[jamesvini]

back to the windows UI for a sec. Its all about integration and easy of use. The way the Win phone OS is setup is for easy integration with your social networks and online content, also its made so a very simple user could pick it up and use the device. Nokia will still make Phones that work in the same way as the N8 as in more indepth more of an enthusiasts phone.

[Mike_Myers_N8]

Gee, were I to be offered a brand-new, free phone, and the choice was C7 or any of the M$ phones, I'd instantly pick the C7 - no hesitation.

Jamesvini, I think you're spot on - simple users will love the simple interface. There's not really very much to confuse them, and phone support should be a breeze.

I think you're incorrect about one thing though - from what I've been told, M$ will not allow the software to be modified into an enthusiast's phone. Those tiles are what people are going to get, like it or not. I used to think that the operating system could be used for a feature phone similar to the N8/C7, but was told this will never happen.

You might be right (and I hope you are) that "Nokia will still make Phones that work in the same way as the N8 as in more indepth more of an enthusiasts phone", but unless M$ permits it, they won't be Windows phones.

Will there be an M10, based on Symbian or ??? with the capability of the N8 or better? Who knows.

Back to the desktop though - unless M$ allows us to eliminate those "tiles" and install our own widgets, links, and so on, I doubt if anyone will take the M$ phones seriously. They'll remain simple phones for the masses, easy to learn, easy to support, and fully integrated with social stuff --- and for that market, they will probably do very well!