Review: Nokia N800 Internet Tablet is fascinating but incomplete

It does have a built-in application for contacts, but you'll have to enter those contacts directly onto the device. Most mobile users will still need to carry their contacts and other personal information on a separate device.

And while VoIP would be a killer app on the N800, it is available only via Google Talk and Jabber. Nokia has publicly said a Skype client is under development for the N800, but it isn't available yet, so most users will still need to tote their cell phones for making and receiving phone calls. The same shortcoming is true with instant messaging: There's no AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger or Windows Live Messenger support.

Battery life is fair but not exceptional. It's rated at 3.5 hours of continual Web browsing over a Wi-Fi connection. A small but curious omission is that, while the built-in Bluetooth capabilities support a variety of profiles, the N800 does not support the A2DP profile for Bluetooth stereo headphones.

Does it add up?

At the core of the N800 is a conundrum: This device does a number of mobile tasks quite well, but it is missing other key capabilities. That means it won't replace your smart phone or laptop, yet at $400, it is an expensive purchase given its limited functionality.

Nokia could easily bridge much of its functionality gap by including the ability to sync with desktop personal information applications such as Microsoft Outlook. Since the device is based on Linux, there certainly is the potential for additional applications to be available. In fact, a list of currently available add-on applications is available at Maemo.org. But Nokia should include key applications and not expect them to be available separately.

Given its lack of built-in functionality and the fact that the N800 is at least twice as expensive as many leading-edge smart phones, such as Samsung's Blackjack or even Nokia's own E62, the N800 is a tough sell. It is one of those devices that is genuinely fun to use but difficult to justify buying.

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