Nokia N900: Powerful, but Missing Some Key Features

Nokia fans disappointed by last summer's N97 smartphone, get excited: The Nokia N900 ($570, unlocked; price as of December 18, 2009) delivers on its promises of fast performance and excellent Web browsing. It also offers solid multimedia features, as well as one of the best cameras I've used on a smartphone. But the N900 isn't for everyone: Some people might find the Linux-based Maemo (MAY-mo) platform confusing and not as user-friendly as other platforms.The handset is also missing some crucial features, such as app-store support and MMS messaging, as well as full Exchange support.

The brick-like Nokia N900 isn't exactly pocket-size. Measuring 4.4 by 2.4 by 0.8 inches and weighing 6.4 ounces, this slider phone is a little heftier than most smartphones out there. The build feels solid, however, and the display slides up easily without feeling as if it's about to snap off. The N900 is meant to be used mainly in landscape mode, which became evident when I tried to use a couple of apps in portrait mode--they didn't work. In fact, the only app that I could view in portrait mode was the phone app.

Buttonwise, the N900 is pretty minimalist. The front face has no keys--not even Talk/End keys. The top spine (when you hold the phone in landscape mode) has a volume rocker, a power button, and the camera shutter button. A hold switch, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a stylus can be found on the right spine, while the micro-USB port is on the left. The camera lens and flash are on the back, as is a kickstand for propping up the device to watch videos.