Nokia N82 Review

Overall Rating

There are just too many but I will summaries and say - features, build quality, software

Keys are too small.

I think that calling the Nokia N82 a "mobile phone" is grossly unfair to what it actually is. This is the most extraordinary piece of equipment I think I've ever used - and I've been a database system engineer for a quarter of a century. I thought I'd seen it all.

The Phone - it works, its a phone, usual bells and whistles. Thats got that out of the way.

The build quality - compared to the Sony's I have to say it feels much better quality, less bling and more sophisticated zing! It feels as if it will last forever, and it looks powerful in a very subtle way - like a Merc.
The software - it works properly and updates the phone effortlessly. Transferring files and music is simple.

The menu - exceptional, clear and faultless. It just keeps on going - When you think you've found everything it does, you then come across something else. For example, a barcode reader?!? that flashes a red light at the target. What?

The GPS - Probably the most incredible thing I've seen. On a chip the size of my fingernail, I have the whole of Europe, down to house level, and spoken directions that will get me there, via a young lady's voice from the built-in stereo speakers - and the download of the Europe-wide map was both free and efficient. But you do need to get a 4 gig chip ( £19.99 from Carphone Warehouse) because the download is 1.7gigabytes.
So what do you pay extra for with the GPS? I haven't got a clue, maybe the nice lady's voice won't guide you after the three months trial - we'll wait and see! It's a full-blown satnav - even tells you how far you've jogged and shows you the satellites you're connected to.
The music - Much better functioned than the Sony, and I've had their Walkmans from the beginning. Still got them! Not only a very sleek graphic equaliser, but also a spacial option that gives you "surround sound" in your headphones. Complete with playlists and all the usual features. By the way, the built in stereo speakers (not kidding) should sound rubbish. They don't. They're really very good and I can't see how.

The radio - excellent sound, and also very easy to find and save stations.

The headphones? Don't know, I use my Sennheisers plugged into the normal jack on the phone itself.

The Pc connection - In the morning, I plug my phone into my Pc, I use the "Single Click Sync" button and about 5 seconds later, all my meetings and contacts are updated on my phone. Thats it.

The front screen - The Active display shows you your appointments for today and tomorrow, reminds you when you should be in a meeting and what its about. Fully configure the shortcut bar.

Connectability - this is amazing. This phone will connect directly to POP/SMTP email account and you get a choice of how you want to connect. You can use GPRS or you can even use a wireless LAN. So here you have the prospect of sitting downstairs in front of the TV browsing the internet on your phone (it's a normal browser) but connected through your wireless router upstairs.

If you're staying in a hotel and they have a wireless LAN, use theirs.

The Camera - This is not a mobile phone with a camera. It's a totally fully functioned high quality digital camera with a proper flash that gets the added benefit of being able to make telephone calls bundled in with it! There's even a smaller version on the front for video phone calls. The video camera is also excellent and takes long videos if need be.

Nice touches - Turn the screen on the side and it goes to landscape. It knows which way up it is! With the camera or for viewing photos or especially for the internet, its absolutly unbeatable.

Applications - Apart from the barcode reader, it has a miniature version of Office so you can read Word, Excell and Powrpoint file. It also has an Acrobat PDF reader, ZIP utility, games. I'm not sure where to stop here.

What doesn't the phone do? It doesn't have a built in fax and printer, it doesn't run Windows XP and it doesn't have a penknife.

The only minus points:- The size of the keys, they're not big. But they are positive and high quality. Just get thinner fingers! Also, I noticed once that the volume button turned the volume UP when it should have been down, and vice verse. Restarting fixed it.

Members' Comments onDataman's Review

• FlyGuy on 22nd Apr 2008

  excellent detailed review,