Ideas & Opinions, Products & Services

N97 transformed me into Mr Proactive

By Mike on 08 June 2009

LONDON, England – I feel somewhat like a werewolf trapped outdoors on a full moon, only the transformation I’m currently undergoing is fully consensual and I’m not howling.

Back in December I posed the question “N97. Will it change me?” sparking a heap of comments and debate from many of you on the topic of anticipation versus reality when it comes to new devices, and how we often think and hope that our mobile behavior might alter (for the better) with a new product. And how it often does change our behavior, but not necessarily how we think it might. Especially a flagship product of the stature and near unparalleled expectancy of the N97.

I was lucky enough to get hold of an early N97 last Friday, and in less than 72 hours my new device has indeed triggered a rapid metamorphosis in my mobile behavior. One I may not (and hope not) to recover from.

Now I’m aware I’m still enjoying the honeymoon period with the N97, nonetheless my mobile behavior is very different to that of how I used my N95 8GB or E71 which I’d been using only for a couple of months before making the switch to the new N97.

The biggest change I’ve undergone is my approach to messaging – I’m now doing copious amounts of it (SMS, MMS, Email, Twitter, and on, and on…), with the most significant being that I’m sending full-blown emails proactively (typically I would react to incoming mail and use my device to reply in a few short words “from my Nokia phone”). I’ve already composed more new emails on the N97 than I did on the E71 in two months. Or N95 8GB ever. Why? Well, from what I can tell, the combo of killer keyboard, large screen, fast set-up and great fast access over-the-air have been the main inspiration and encouragement. I’m typing faster and sending stuff with less hassle than I’ve experienced before, adding attachments with ease and ultimately not thinking about it or the hurdles I’d previously associated with email on the move. It certainly feels like progressions on a personal scale.

The next most noticeable change in my mobile behavior is that I’m using all of my favourite apps far more than before – I’m Twittering more regularly via Gravity, using Maps more casually and in more frequent proactive communication with my four most contacted friends sat in my custom Contact Bar. Again, I’ve asked myself why, and I’m convinced it’s the new homescreen (read our Stepping behind the Nokia homescreen story) – the combination of the fact that this is my first touchscreen phone, and that I’m able to rapidly dip in and out of each of the icons and widgets I’ve positioned on there has transformed me into a more proactive mobile user. Or at least that’s what I believe, and I think I’ll continue to be going forward. Time will tell once the honeymoon is over, but I’m really enjoying this new experience and can’t imagine wanting to go back.

There are other idiosyncratic alterations in my mobile behavior triggered by the N97, but I’ll save those for another time (and once our initial courtship and the fuzzy feeling has subsided).

In the meantime, let us know what you think to all this, and what you’re expectations are for the N97 and if you think they’ll be met. Do you think it’ll make you more proactive (or less)? As ever scribble down your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.

Photo from Kevin Lawver

Share and Enjoy:

Related posts:

N97. Will it change me?

Tags | Email, Flagship, messaging, MMS, N97, nokia n97, sms, twitter

Post a comment

mike Says:
June 8th, 2009 at 5:05 pm

my guess would be the higher resolution screen (Half-VGA Vs the QVGA that almost all other S60 devices have). Having move “space” to see things makes all the difference.

When i got my E90, one of the things that drove the purchase was for the high res internal screen.
I have on occasion tried to use the external screen, but unless it is to just quickly check something, i find myself changing to the internal screen within about 5 seconds.

Sarantos Says:
June 8th, 2009 at 5:42 pm

Well, i expected a far better processor in the n97 and that is my main complain.

Also the screen should be capacitive… another disapointment.

ben Walker Says:
June 8th, 2009 at 9:51 pm

Hello there, I too have an n97 which I love. But maps aren’t working since I downloaded everything from my N96 (it had maps 3.0 beta installed and I guess this has something to do with the problem). Have you any idea how to right the problem? I’ve tried the forum but no luck.

SoulBlade Says:
June 9th, 2009 at 12:02 am

Maybe from now on all posts on the Conversation’s site should be made from the N97 (or E-series range) – that’ll be nice to see (at least for a week or two) – at least so we know the writers don’t always type from their PC’s.

Mike Reply:
June 9th, 2009 at 8:54 am

@SoulBlade, James did exactly that last week, writing and posting an entire story from his N97 – here’s the story http://conversations.nokia.com/2009/06/04/the-n97-is-a-mobile-computer/

TheLastTimeLord Says:
June 9th, 2009 at 7:00 am

I think i just glimpsed my own future!

msav Says:
June 9th, 2009 at 8:55 am

Even though I’m quite a technophile I’ve never owned a mobile device capable of much more anything than making calls. And it’s just ok like that. I’ve been tempted with my friends’ iPhones and maybe some others but so far I’ve not succumbed. Statistically I would probably qualify for the smart phone target group, but I just haven’t got around to it. Maybe when I finally do give in, a lot of things will change. Like, will I ever Twitter, maybe? But for me, the N97 seems yet another possibly great device. I just have a little trouble of shelling out quite a lot of bucks for something I’m not sure I need. I think I’m waiting for a more affordable, light, simple, everyday solution.

HMS Says:
June 9th, 2009 at 10:37 am

OK, this is all nice, but can you maybe have a look into that whole preorder thing?

Please finally get those preorders shipped. Escalate it inside Nokia. We are really feeling a little like being played games with. N97s pop up everywhere, special presales WEEKS before we are supposed to get ours. And we really are the most enthusiastic people you have out there. Who buy every phone from you. Nokia can not afford to play games with its most solid fanbase.

So please escalate it inside Nokia, away from the firstline supporters who can not do anything, anyway.

Thanks.

SoulBlade Says:
June 9th, 2009 at 1:16 pm

A whole post ?
Hmm.. But could he do that for all posts in a whole week. (i wonder) i.e. No reliance on a PC whatsoever – to gather info from the internet sources, complie the post, write it all on the N97 and publish ? Think its feasible ?