Many people recently purchased N800 internet tablets after the price drop and they're asking if the N810 is going to take over that space. The simple answer is no - The N800 and N810 will be sold and developed side-by-side. This article is for those interested in internet tablets and wonder which is "better." Again - I will post the disclaimer that I am using a pre-release N810 so some details will be wrong, but I will do my best to avoid specifics and focus on what is known hardware and software.
The two tablets have much in common but each have unique advantages. Let's look at what each has that the other does not.
N800:
- Dual full-sized SDHC memory card slots for up to 16GB storage.
- Front-facing stereo speakers.
- D-pad access without opening slider.
- Plastic case
- FM radio
- Price point: US $239 on buy.com as of this writing.
- Sunlight readable display
- GPS
- Sliding Keyboard
- 2GB internal storage
- One MiniSDHC card slot for up to 4 GB (and later 6GB and 8GB) additional storage.
- Price point: Approx. US $450-$479
The N800 is cheaper and better suited for multimedia use. With the front-facing speakers and up to 16GB storage. This makes it a better mobile entertainment device. With full-sized SD card slots, it's also good for photographers on the road who need to upload files directly from their camera's card. The 800x480 screen is good for previewing images before they are uploaded. Navigation is still available through the use of a Bluetooth GPS receiver. The plastic case and lack of moving parts make it less prone to breaking, so it may be good for a younger crowd too. The lower price point can attract new users, enthusiasts, and hackers as well.
The N810's GPS and sunlight readable display make it much better for users constantly on the road. The keyboard can attract heavy Email users, bloggers, and instant message addicts. Other than the keyboard and GPS, the evolutionary changes in the Internet Tablet line are in the IT2008 OS, which will be available on the N800 as well.
For a $220-$240 price difference, users get built-in GPS, 2GB internal memory, sunlight readability, and a nice little keyboard. They lose and FM tuner and a card slot. For me, I'd pick the N810 because I also pack a stand-alone music and video player. The N810, paired with a good phone, makes an excellent mobile blogging device. Others (especially music and movie nuts) who do not need extensive keyboard use or constant GPS availability can still be very happy with the N800.
A final note: I realized that there's more to a GPS than simple navigation. The Nokia N810 is a "location aware" device and is open to location based applications. With WiFi or wireless broadband over Bluetooth, social networking can expand into physical space. Photos and video can be geotagged on upload. People can meet from across a rock festival without getting lost. Expect more on "location awareness" in future editorials on this blog.
12 comments:
I wonder how hard it would be to
- find out who manufactures the N810's screen,
- actually order those transflexive panels and
- bung them in our N800?
Or is there perhaps a subtle difference in physical dimensions between both screens?
There may be even subtle (on not so subtle) differences in programming the screen so it may require different driver in Linux kernel. We'll see when we have N810 kernel sources.
Also even if the screen itself may be OK the board connector may be different.
My only concern is that if we all go out and pop +/- $500 (after taxes) on the N810 is that Nokia will pop the N900 on us in less than a year from now. That would suck, now wouldn't it? Even the fact that this came out less than a year from when the N800 was released is a little bit annoying (i.e., I LOVE my N800, but I may have actually waited for the N810).
Now, if I can only be one of the luck recipients of the discounts code... ;)t1t2t3
@ fanoush:
So, we need a brave (or perhaps rather: stupid) soul who doesn't mind disemboweling her or his N810. I'd do it myself were it not that even the prospect of destroying it, is not enough incentive for me to buy a N810...
Choices choices. If Nokia continues the ITs as a product line rather than as a single product, it would seem to be a logical step to upgrade the screen on the 800. I would think that any extra cost could be offset by not having to source, inventory, design for, etc. for two screens.
By the way... great job, thoughtfix. Keep the info coming.
Hi,
I'd be very interested if the new N810 really contains a microphone input? If this is so: Is it mono/stereo? What is the sampling rate?
Best regards!
Myself, I will by a N800. Half the price, 90% of the function.
Arriving in New York / Boston from Norway next week, does anyone know where to get a cheap one?
> better suited for multimedia use. With the front-facing speakers
Are you sure? I haven't compared side by side, nor asked the hardware guys. The N810 seems to have 3 speakers in fact, the 2 laterals + something that comes from inside. Plus the metal cover I think helps resonating. I would say the N810 has better and louder sound. Don't get obfuscated because you only see 2 lateral speakers
(Nokia engineers & designers do know a bit about sound, despite some comments I read somewhere based on the leaked pictures). :)
You are saying the N800 will continue. I have a backorder for one from Mobile Planet (Mid-November) but wonder if I will get it. Another supplier, TigerDirect are saying that it is no longer available.
Any update or confirmation that Nokia are keeping the 800 on the market?
:/
tr.v. ob·fus·cat·ed
1. To make so confused or opaque as to be difficult to perceive or understand: "A great effort was made . . . to obscure or obfuscate the truth" (Robert Conquest).
2. To render indistinct or dim; darken: The fog obfuscated the shore.
This report is false I got mine 2 days ago and here is my report:
Sunlight readable display - You can see this screen 100X better then the N800 my co worker owns! The webcam, pictures and video play back are excellent. It's as good as my sony vio notebook!
GPS - Very very easy to use has the option for live traffic and free map upgrades and I'm using everything and can find just about anything around my city with clear and easy driving instructions. I do own a GARMIN 3100 that I got for christmas and now is a paper weight cause the N810 come with the GPS mount that has now took its place.
Sliding Keyboard - This is a full keyboard and I can type and send all of my emails through my VPN and it has never been made easier.
2GB internal storage - You can copy all the data on this 2gb to your HDD and transfer the data to a 16GB Axion 6x HDSC SD CARD that I purchased at the time I bought the unit and now my N810 has 16GB internal memory and works awesome!
One MiniSDHC card slot for up to 4 GB (and later 6GB and 8GB) additional storage. - This is a completely wrong statement about the product because when I purchased my device from www.onsale.com the sales rep told me it was a full size SD and I bought 2x of the 16GB SD cards so I'm jsut loving my N810 with now 32GB of space and 10x faster then my Itouch! You can allocate some of your memory to give you more processing speed and ability and I have to tell everyone to do this after you upgrade! Make the unit fly!
Price point: Approx. US $450-$479 - I only paid $399.99 and free freight for my N810 at www.onsale.com!
waiting for N900,,,
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