Updated 12/19/2007

Nokia’s ambitious and pricey N810 Internet Tablet has been on sale for a few weeks, but the company is just starting to send out review samples now because it has been waiting for the GPS navigation software to be closer to final. And we’re happy to say we were among the first to get our hands on this do-it-all gadget.

 

We’ve been playing with our review unit for a couple days and wanted to provide some initial impressions that may help you decide whether you want to pull the trigger on that $479 purchase, which includes a slimmer design with a slide-out keyboard, GPS navigation, full Web 2.0 support, as well as support for Rhapsody and Skype. Stay tuned for our full review. Here’s what we like and what we don’t so far, plus our original hands-on impressions.

 

 

Yes, it could offer more tactile feedback, but the fact that the N810 has a physical keyboard at all makes a huge difference in terms of usability versus its predecessor. And after a day, we’ve found that we can type pretty quickly on this layout when we remember to push hard on the keys with our thumbs.

Because the Nokia N810 supports both Flash 9 and Ajax, you can visit virtually any site on this device. YouTube videos were choppy, but at least they played. And Netvibes loaded without any problems via Wi-Fi. Yahoo Mail had issues loading, but Facebook was fine. We haven’t yet decided whether Flash and Ajax support trumps the iPhone’s speedier page loads and more elegant method of handling zooming.

The audio quality through the speaker was surprisingly good on our early tests when we streamed “From Yesterday” from 30 Seconds to Mars on the Alternative Hits channel. Fans of subscription music will love this service, and you can load the N810 with lots of tunes using an 8GB miniSD or microSD Card (which augments the robust 2GB of built-in memory).

After pairing a Motorola Moto Q 9h Global with the tablet over Bluetooth, we were pleasantly surprised that the N810 asked us whether we wanted to establish an Internet connection with the phone. A simple setup wizard walked us through the rest of the process. If you’re willing to carry both a 3G phone and the N810 and pay for the monthly data connection, this feature is killer, especially for those without constant access to Wi-Fi hotspots.

For now, only 26 programs are listed on downloads.maemo.org for the N810’s OS 2008 platform, where you can install cool new apps directly to this gadget over the air. This includes Pidgin Internet Messenger, which we downloaded to the N810 to add some much-needed IM action. Other popular apps include the Kagu Media Player. Nokia says developers will soon be porting hundreds of other apps over from the N800.

 

 

 

It took a whopping 15 minutes for the N810 to acquire enough satellites to pinpoint our position the first time out in New Jersey, but things improved to about a minute and a half and then to 40 seconds. More troubling was that the device told us to make an illegal left turn at a NJ intersection that required taking a jug handle after the traffic light. And what’s with the cheap car dock (complete with screws)? We’ll have to do a full test-drive before we decide that getting spoken directions is worth the $129 three-year license.

Maybe there’s just not enough horsepower in the 400-MHz processor to juggle voice and data simultaneously—or maybe Skype is still figuring it out—but we’d like to be able to use the N810’s front-mounted camera for video chats. You’re supposed to be able to make video calls using Gizmo on this Internet tablet, but we don’t know anyone who uses that service. You?

Having stereo Bluetooth on board would make moving from Skype calls to Rhapsody and back again with a set of wireless headphones a lot easier. Or you could listen to YouTube videos wirelessly (assuming, of course, the stereo Bluetooth were advanced enough to handle video). On the plus side, the included wired earphones have a built-in mic for VoIP calls, and having a standard 3.5mm jack lets you plug in any earbuds you like.

Given that the N810 doesn’t have a capacitive screen, it’s barely worth mentioning that this device doesn’t support multi-touch or gestures like the iPhone does. What is worth mentioning is that sometimes we find ourselves having to tap the screen twice (with our finger or the included stylus) to make a selection.

Those looking to use their N810 to keep tabs on their calendar, contacts, and to-do lists will be disappointed with the out-of-box experience on this device. However, software-provider Access is making Garnet VM available for download, which essentially brings the former Palm OS to this Internet Tablet. That also means that you’ll be able to run thousands of Garnet apps on top of the Maemo OS2008 Linux-based platform. We’ve downloaded it, and we’ll keep you posted on how smoothly it runs.

Once considered attractive only to Linux geeks, Nokia's latest Internet Tablet has the potential to be a formidable competitor to both the iPhone and Ultra-Mobile PCs. It's more open to third-party apps than the former and much more affordable than the latter. The N810's most notable improvements include integrated GPS functionality, a full Web-browsing experience (complete with Ajax and Adobe Flash 9 support) and a slimmed-down metal design with a slide-down keyboard. At $479, the price is still a bit steep for the masses, but based on our week with a preproduction device, we think many more consumers will be interested in this machine than in previous models. 

 

The silvery N810 certainly feels more solid and looks more modern than the N800. At eight ounces, it's actually heavier than its predecessor (7.2 ounces) but only a tad thicker (0.55 inches versus 0.51 inches). Our favorite hardware upgrade is the keyboard, which while flat offers decent tactile feedback for instant messaging, e-mail, and entering Web addresses. A D-pad to the right of the layout makes navigating menus pretty simple, and you can always use your finger or the included stylus on the touchscreen.

 

Feature-wise, the N810 is pretty jam-packed. You get an integrated VGA webcam and microphone for Internet calling, via the built-in Skype and Gizmo Project applications. According to Nokia, video calling will be available only through the Gizmo client. With its 4.1-inch widescreen display, the N810 aims to be your multimedia device. The 800 x 480-pixel screen has also been improved for outdoor viewing. Built-in stereo speakers are great for rocking out to Pandora or to your own audio tracks loaded on a memory card. (Nokia says you'll be able to add up to 10GB.) Overall, the interface and controls could be more intuitive, but the learning curve is pretty short.

Web browsing was quick over the N810's Wi-Fi connection using the Mozilla-based browser, and because this device is optimized for Web 2.0 sites, we had no problem checking out the latest YouTube videos and updating our Facebook page. Wi-Fi connectivity on the go is available from Boingo Wireless and EarthLink, but we also look forward to testing Bluetooth dialup networking with a cell phone once we get a final unit in to test.

Those looking for a co-pilot will appreciate the N810's integrated GPS receiver. We didn't have a chance to play with Wayfinder's spoken turn-by-turn directions, which cost extra, but we like that maps are preloaded free and that you can look up nearby points of interest easily by circling your location with a D-pad. The optional voice-guided navigation is pretty affordable; the best package is $3.20 per month if you sign up for a 36-month subscription. Other plans for Wayfinder's voice navigation range from a steep $10.60 per week to a one-year subscription at $8.30 per month.

Because the N810 runs on the maemo Linux-based platform, this device can be personalized easily. Plus, Nokia hopes to open up this Internet Tablet to commercial developers through Forum Nokia, just as the company has done with the Series 60 platform. So while hackers can have at it just like before, users should expect more polished commercial applications to be introduced as well.

 

Our biggest beef at this stage is the lack of stereo Bluetooth; however, the tablet supports Bluetooth 2.0 for synching with your mobile phone or headset. We'd also like to see an accessory or dock that allows users to output the N810's display to a bigger monitor. Otherwise, this gadget should be a hit with early adopters who want Web 2.0 in their pocket--without a contract. The N810 will be begin shipping in the second week in November and will retail for $479. Stay tuned for a full review.