MobileBurn runs a 9-page (wow!) review of Nokia 770.
If Nokia can somehow get the 770 bundled with home broadband service in a way that gets the cost down to about $100 (subsidized, of course), then I think it could break into the mainstream. If they can’t pull that off, and I think it is a tall order, I imagine it will end up like the Tablet PC “craze” in that it will have a die-hard core group of fans/consumers, but will not become something you see everywhere. In a world where you can buy a fully featured desktop PC for $350, it will be hard to get people to plunk down that much on something that fits in the palm of your hand - and doesn’t even have a keyboard.But do I want one? Most certainly yes. Do you? If you are reading this, my guess is that you, too, want one, and that you’ll be quite happy with it - as long as you have a WiFi enabled broadband connection at home.
I think MobileBurn is on to something. Selling a $100 web pad on top of a broadband connection is a great idea. I am sure that there are a lot of people out there who have cable or phone lines and want to surf the web but just don’t want the hassle of a full fledged computer. If 802.11 were built into the Cable/DSL modem, they should be able to just plug and play with the Nokia 770 or somehting similar.
Unfortunately, I think for these people, the 770 is too small–the screen probably has enough pixels, but they are too small to read without glasses. I think something about 5×7 inches instead of 3×5 inches would be better.
Yes, there have been many attempts at simple web/email terminals through the years, but something handheld and wireless with a long battery life and enough pixels to be practical just might hit the sweet spot. Somebody will get this right.
I have ordered a 770. I don’t expect it to be perfect, but it is the closest I have ever seen, and I have been watching this space for years. I decided to jump in now because I think the 770 might be good enough, and I want to support this fledgling industry so that the perfect machine can eventually be developed.
Comment by Randall 12.02.05 @ 4:50 amWhen Nokia announced 770 way back when they were already talking about subsidized prices of around $100. Let’s hope they manage to get a deal with some cable companies.
Comment by Jari 12.02.05 @ 10:41 amALL THESE FANCY SMANCY REVIEW SITES (MOBILE BURN AND OTHERS) AND NO ONE HAS THE ABILITY TO CALL “THEIR FRIENDS” OR SOMEONE AT NOKIA TO FIND OUT THE REAL HOLDUP IN SHIPPING THESE 770′S, SOFTWARE CRAP OR HARDWARE BUILDING OR WHAT!!
Comment by Bud Olivares 12.03.05 @ 1:43 amJeesh.. calm down dude..
Comment by Viipottaja 12.03.05 @ 2:28 amActually, Bud has a valid point. Nokia’s silence is very poor customer relations.
They did in fact state a Nov 17th ship date. Since then nothing. If you attempt to purchase one now, the date is farther out but does that hold for those of us who ordered already? It doesn’t say and it’s impossible to guess at Nokia’s next move.
A simple statement as to why they are not meeting their advertised ship date would go along way. It would have counted for more if they would have said something earlier.
Instead, we read about this personality or that personality and their blog about the 770 they have. We read about the 770 appearing in a CompUSA store. All this yet we get the cold shoulder from Nokia.
Personally, I am amazed, drop-jawed even over their PR bungle. It’s like watching a slow speed crash — you just can’t turn away.
Comment by jlh 12.03.05 @ 10:29 amLol.. I think you over dramatazing the issue. I think they do now send a message or say on the web when you try to place an order that they are not expecting to deliver before end of January. Or something along those lines. I saw a comment somewhere, perhaps on this site, saying that that’s what they are now doing.
But yeah, they could have handled it better. Nokia USA is badly managed overall, but they have improved lately.
Comment by Viipottaja 12.03.05 @ 10:44 pmMy local Compusa has 20 of these tablets….NOKIA SHAME ON YOU..SELLING ONLINE FOR $309 AFTER COUPON…NO WAIT, DON’T FILL THOSE ONLINE ORDERS!! WE CAN SELL ‘UM AT COMP USA FOR $399…SHAME ON NOKIA!
Comment by Bud Olivares 12.05.05 @ 1:44 amBad bad Nokia having sold some of them to CompUSA! What are you thinking Nokia? You think this is a business where bottom line matters? NO!! This is about making geeks happy and selling them all the units you possibly have at the lowest price rather than accepting a deal where you make more money! LOL LOL LOL.. calm down dudes…
Comment by Jari 12.05.05 @ 8:40 amJari certainly has a Machiavellian view of business. Filling pre-orders first is just common decency.
Nokia could have just posted a notice on their web site that everyone could go to their local CompUSA stores on a particular date instead of pre-selling the 770.
It seems to me that it is in Nokia’s best interest to do everything right. There has NEVER been a successful web tablet. I REALLY want this to be the first one.
Comment by thugwold 12.06.05 @ 1:36 amI do not consider myself a geek nor a mistreated customer. The fact that you may eventually be able to buy online with a cheaper price is a benefit to us customers (don’t see a reason to complain about that 
) and having a higher/different price in a retail store is absolutely nothing new at all. And partly beyond the control of Nokia anyway - each retailer has the final say on how much they try to squeeze out of the consumer.
Just get one on Ebay $$
Comment by Bud Olivares 12.07.05 @ 7:34 amI have Wifi at home, I have a Nokia 770, and I have not been getting much sleep lately staying up till 3 am in my bed browsing the hell out of the internet
And it’s great on the go too, found a open wifi spot at the end of my train platform, so in the morning, waiting for the train, you know what I’m doing.
Go get one if you value you time and you ‘internet time’ (time you can spend on the net)