[totoanon]

OK guys and girls my question is simple

Should I buy the n97

I currently have a n96 and have been very happy with this I am wondering if the n97 is anything different to the n96. I no it has the application and the keyboard but is it any better for battery stability camera etc or is it just the same but in a better case?

[cjlim]

I am in the same predicament as yourself. I also have an N96 which has been faultless since day 1. I was am also considering getting an N97 or wait a little longer for something more different like the N900.

Truth be told, the N96 does everything I need it to do, and it also does plenty more that I will never ever use, except when I am showing off to my pals. Same applies to the N97, I suppose. Hence, there is no real need to upgrade. The only reason being to show off to the lads.

Anyway, I have decided to skip the N97 because the Maemo revulotion is just around the corner and I am dying to see what awaits those who are patient.  

[psychomania]

I've been fairly happy with the N97 since day one and didn't suffer from most of the issues that people posted on here.   With the new firmware (v20) it's a lovely fast device and a real joy to use.

The N97's build quality has been surprisingly good to. I've had it since July and not picked up a single scuff or scratch. When I had the N96 it was covered in tiny scratches after 2 months, especially on the back.  I used the same pouch for both phones.

I never got on that well with the N96 which I ditched as soon as the 5800 was released.   The battery life of the N97 blows the N96 away, as does the high resolution screen and sound quality (through decent headphones).  With the new firmware the camera is also better than the N96's in my opinion.

As a former N96 owner and happy N97 owner then my vote is that you should go for it, just avoid branded versions if you can, especially from the 3 network.

Obviously it makes sense to try before you buy to make sure you like the touchscreen interface.  If you don't like touchscreens then you will hate the N97.  Personally I prefer to use the on screen alphanumeric keypad for messaging rather than the qwerty keypad. 

At the moment the N900 and maemo really doesn't float my boat.  At the moment it lacks to many features that would drastically change the way I use the phone.  The biggest turn off is the way nearly everything only works in landscape mode, not portrait.  No one handed SMS = no deal for me.

With this being a support forum you are more likely to read more negatives about a device than positives.  It's a natural bias that applies to most forums like this. 

Message Edited by psychomania on 02-Nov-2009 03:48 PM

[rasmus]

Slick looking case and a Camera (that scratches itself), pretty much the same phone.

Hate to say it, but the N97 is not a phone I would buy given the price tag.  Sure if I were to get it free, but for the money there is so much else out there.

N97 is a lousy phone in many regards, and the RAM issue can never be fixed.

If i were you I would not get one. 

[harrios]

to answer your question i should say no

[totoanon]

My problem is that if i do get one then it will be branded to the 3 network as that is the network i am with and it is best for coverage in my area. I have to admit that i am very tempted by the new X6 that is due for release soon. but the n97 looks more like a phone for me that the X6

[greigster]

No no no is my advice.

I have had 3 failed repairs and 2 replacements, all of them are lemons.

Cant wait to get rid of it.

Version 20 has not helped a lot of people with the multitude of bugs they have been suffering and I wouldnt be surprised if Nokia phase out this phone quite soon.

Only my opinion of course.

Your best bet is to read all that has been said about yellow fruit of a phone and make up your own mind.

Greigster

[dchewitt]

I say yes - go for it. I have had mine sincr the 1st day of release in June. Loved id and hated it at 1st but now with the v2.0 update it is a dream to use. 

[erikengerd]

It depends a bit on how you want to use your N97. If you are constantly on the phone all day, then I would recommend a phone that lasts longer. Take into account that the battery will last for one day (and with really heavy use less then that), so be prepared to charge it everyday. This is not a phone that you can take with you on a weekend without bringing a charger.

Also, for GPS usage you have to take into account that if your windshield has heating built-in then GPS will be unusable. When used in other cars it is ok, but an external bluetooth GPS is always better. Perhaps a matter of personal taste but I think McGuider is much better than the built-in Ovi Maps so also be prepared to get other navisoftware on your phone if you want to use it for that. 

Apart from that, I really love it. It's fast. The web browser is also really good and allows you to just browse almost all websites there are. There are also some really good 3rd party applications available (like projekt, advanced call manager, gravity, profimail, mcguider). The touch screen is also very easy to use, especially with the finger nails, but make sure you put a screen protector on it to protect the screen in any case. 

[rasmus]

II disagree with the web browser being really good.  I guess if you have not tired anything else you might see that.  I have notice that on Engadget and other sites the N97 is no longer used in any speed comparisons - just because it blows that bad.  Matter of fact, nobody writes anything on the N97, nobody is making accessories - the N97 is pretty much dead on he Radar.

If I wasn't so sour with Nokia/Symbian over the N97 - I would likely wait a month and pick up the N900.  Looks promising.

Back to the web browser -  Nokia released a few weeks back a tiny QT demo showing what QT can do.  In that pack of a few silly apps was a browser application - what made me laugh is that QT browser was SMOKIN FAST.  So if they can throw a demo app together quickly, why not replace the N97 browser with the QT one - it was sooooo much better.

QT rocks. 

[Ibanez_JS100]

My Sad Advice is NO .. Im nowAlmost happy with my N97 After many nightmares before the FWv 20 .. Even after the update to be honest it will always give u stress .. your mid will never rest from worrying .. we Lived thru the earthquake & now .. waiting for the little After Shocks ...

 it looks cool , actually it is a cool phone but it needs a special License to operate if u know what i mean :/ ..  & Camera >> My Other SE K800i 3.2 mb beats it .... plus Video is sooooo Blurry when it comes to objects close by .

 Just being honest .

[steveatesh]

for me it would be yes providing it fit your needs. Mine has been fine with only a few minor niggles and as yet i have not even updated to the FW V 20 because it is not released yet in the UK.

I moved to N97 from N95 8gig and I have found it to be a much better telephone, easier to use and features that I like very much. Battery for me is great and I only charge it daily if i have been watching videos or listening to lots of music on it.

I'm on Orange in the UK by the way.

[radical24]

if you have been happy with your current device, stick with it until you see something truly to your liking. i have an n97 and only now with v20 (this version should have been the first version that this phone ships with) does it behave semi normal. i love my phone don't get me wrong and have not had major issues with it. now with this update its fast, appears to be stable much more responsive to daily use. would i recommend it.....not exactly. stick with your phone until you see the phone you really like and would jump on the wagon regardless of bugs, issues etc. 

[Mekon101]

All depends on what you want to use it for. The reason why I got the n97 (im with three too) rather than moving away to 02 and getting that 'fruit phone' is the 5mp camera with flash, push out qwerty keyboard (as im always answering emails on the move) and being able to replace the battery on long hauls..or and being able to have more than one applciation open at the same time. But..If you want to show off then maybe you would be better with Mr S Jobs'....if thats the case and you want to stay with three, wait until midd next year when they get it. Or wait until Vodaphone give there prices and transfer your number to the cheapest...but every phone has its problems.

Apart from the fact I can't upgrade to v20 firmware at the moment and it has its issues, Its a good phone I think. The apps are nothing to shout about - apart from youtube and gravity maybe, facebook is poor in comparison but I haven't got time to play about really so im not arsed at not being able to download an app that tells me when my next **bleep** is due.

I starting to get envious of the n900, but as previous post says it not your standard mobile, and I can see a successor next year being a real fruit phone killer...so I will bide my time.

[erikengerd]

---

Mekon101 wrote:
[...]

I starting to get envious of the n900, but as previous post says it not your standard mobile, and I can see a successor next year being a real fruit phone killer...so I will bide my time.

---

I wouldn't get envious about the N900 if I were you. It is a big bulky phone with an OS for which there are almost no applications. Most likely it will remain a niche device.  I think Nokia is using it as sort of a gap filler. There is also the option of waiting for the Nokia X6.

[rasmus]

Where do you guys get your info.

The N900 is SMALLER than the n97.........thickness with the Camera is for all intensive purposes the same. 

As for apps - it is LINUX.  Plenty out there.  Firefox, VLC, Mplayer, Real Flash Player ... anything you could think of.

Message Edited by rasmus on 02-Nov-2009 10:28 PM

[totoanon]

Is the n97 really any different to the n96 that I have. My main problem with the n96 was the lack of firmware updates and the poor battery and the blurry camera, It looks to me like I will get the same problems with the n97

[St3ph3n]

apparently nokia n97 is using the same camera as nokia n96.

Ahaha i opened the music player and it said General system error. fail LOL.

I'm in the middle, the form factor is great, the features are great but the software is not as good as the iphone. Iphone firmware is nearly flawless. Nokia n97 firmware is like a sock which moths had chewed on. Lots of bugs

[psychomania]

---

totoanon wrote:
Is the n97 really any different to the n96 that I have. My main problem with the n96 was the lack of firmware updates and the poor battery and the blurry camera, It looks to me like I will get the same problems with the n97

---

 

It's a very different beast than the N96.

 

The N97 has much better battery life than the N96.  It has a 1500mah battery compared to pathetic 950mah in the N96.  

 

In my opinion the camera on the N97 is better than the N96's which I never liked.  I've had some very nice sharp pictures from it under good lighting.  V20 seems to have improved it further.  Under low light it struggles like most phone cams but the results i've got from the N97 are much better than what I got from an N96.   The post above is incorrect as it's not the same part that's used in both phones.

 

Also don't forget the touchscreen, larger screen, higher resolution that's great compared to the N96's fuzzyness.  You get the FM transmitter, improved audio quality through headphones, USB charging, full qwerty keypad, 32gb plus card slot and good build quality compared to the N96.  The web browser on the N97 is also much better than the N96's.  Personally i've never had any out of memory errors on the N96 or N97.

 

The N97 has been well served by updates so far but obviously some networks (and countries) are worse than others at passing them on to the customer.

 

Ultimately only you can make the decision if you want one or not.  Like I said yesterday you are far more likely to see negative comments on a support forum than positive ones.   

 

 

Message Edited by psychomania on 03-Nov-2009 11:18 AM

[totoanon]

I can ignore the negative comments. I hear them every day at work how the iphone is better etc, I look for the facts rather than the cosmetics