Customer Reviews

Nokia 5800 Navigation Edition Unlocked Phone with Free Voice Navigation and Nokia Navigation Accessory Kit--U.S. Version with Full Warranty

5 star:		(65)
4 star:		(36)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

Update on 5/8/2010:
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It's been a couple of months since I bought this phone. Finally, I've updated the firmware and some software, so I'd like to give a quick update / review on the new changes, because some of the things I mentioned before are no longer accurate.

- Firmware v40.2.005 is great. It's just a slight improvement but good nonetheless. One can update the firmware either through over-the-air (ie. 3G / WIFI) or from a PC. I'd prefer to use Nokia Ovi Suite on a PC to update the firmware because you can backup all your settings / contacts / data. Although updating the firmware is relatively safe, you'd want to do a backup just to be sure.

- Ovi Maps v3.03 is a nice improvement. The interface is about the same. The biggest change is you can download voice guidance that speak street names during navigation. With this update, it really depends on one's usage to think if this phone can replace a dedicated GPS unit. It's getting harder to say now.

- Nokia Email Messaging is Nokia's way of doing Push email. It works pretty well with GMail / Hotmail / Yahoo and I'd assume it works with other email service providers too. It basically syncs all the contents in each email accounts (up to 10). The updated client displays HTML contents which is a significant improvement.

Many new phones (especially Android phones) have come out in the last couple of months. I still think this phone still proposes excellent values with its price and features. Most of all, it's unlocked, and it can be used anywhere in the world, even without a SIM card.

The phone's user interface remains its Achilles' heel, however. As long as the user finds the phone hard to use, it really doesn't matter if the phone has the best price / features / performance in the market. Most users are using this phone to be more than just a phone. It's a smartphone because the phone is smart, not because it expects a smart user to use the phone.

Original Review:
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I'll try to keep it short. I'll give the phone 5 stars without hesitiation. Others have provided very good (or bad reviews) of this phone, and mostly they are right-on. The key about this phone is you need to know why you want this phone, and how this phone suit your needs. Do not have an unreasonable expectation. The strength of this phone is its cost vs. feature proposition. In my opinion, there's simply not a phone out there that provides such a rich feature set while costs < $250.

If you want to buy an iphone (and pay ~$1000 total - $200 for the phone + $720 for 2-year data plan @ $30/month), don't buy this phone. Buy the iphone instead. This phone is not an iphone, not an iphone killer, and not an iphone replacement.

If you want to buy a Garmin GPS, don't buy this phone. Buy a Garmin GPS instead. This is not a GPS replacement.

If you want to buy a good quality digital camera, don't buy this phone. Buy a Canon or Nikon. This is not a digital camera replacement.

If you want to buy a FM radio, don't buy this phone. But who needs a FM radio anyways.

If you want to buy a music player, actually this phone's music feature is really nice.

With the above being said, buy this phone if you want an excellent phone AND want to do all of the above without carry all of the above gadgets at the same time. In particular you want:

- a phone that is unlocked, quad-band (international use), no contract, no $30 data-plan, no $10 GPS navigation plan and costs ~$250

- a phone that has strong signal, excellent call quality, and long battery life

- a phone that can play music/video/games, browse the internet, check email, take pictures/videos, provide GPS turn-by-turn drive and walk navigation (North America only) and maps service (global map is free download), provide VOIP video calls (using the 2nd camera in the front) over WIFI (fring and nimbuzz apps are free download) EVEN WITHOUT a sim card (excellent for travel)

Some tips while using this phone:

- the touch screen is a resisitive touch screen (unlike iphone's capacitive touch screen). Do not use your "finger tip" to control the touch screen. Use your "finger nail" or the included stylus instead. Personally I like "finger nail" much better. Once you get used to this, everything is a breeze. If your "finger nail" is as sharp (or unsharp) as the included stylus, it will not scratch the screen.

- the user interface takes a while to get used to. The iphone user inteface is more superb (and it's not even close, so I'll give credit where credit is due.) However, the Nokia 5800 features are excellent and there are plenty of supported (and unofficially supported) apps to download. No need to download itunes. No need to wait for Apple certified apps. Basically, you can download whatever you want and do whatever you want with this phone (e.g. use it as a USB storage device), and that's why it's not an iphone.

- speaking of iphone interface - there's a PAID (for money) app out there that you can buy and install iphone-like user interface onto your Nokia 5800. Get that app if you really need the iphone user interface. Just google "Nokia 5800 myphone app" and you will find the link and reviews.

- use the GPS without data plan (and do not get charged for data usage) by going to

settings -> phone -> app. settings -> positioning -> positioning methods and check only "Internal GPS".

The GPS without data plan may take up 5 mins (or more) to acquire a lock. The GPS signal is weaker than a dedicated GPS unit, and the voice navigation does not speak street names. That's why it's not a GPS replacement, but a GPS capable phone that you can use while a dedicated GPS unit is not available.

- browse the internet and check email using WIFI. Make sure you don't get charged for extra data usage by going to

settings -> connectivity -> destinations -> Internet (or MMS or WAP) -> "Your service provider" and make sure "use access point" is set to "after confirmation".

It's annoying that you will keep getting asked if you allow internet connection, but you'll get the peace of mind that you'll never accidentally connect to the cellular data network.

- visit Chinese (Traditional or Simplified) / Japanese / Korean websites by downloading "Opera Mobile with Asian Language Support" (not the regular Opera Mobile, not Opera Mini). Just google it and you will find the link.

- take pictures / videos while outdoor and with good lighting. Poor picture / videos quality is expected for any camera phone when taking them indoor with poor lighting. The phone flash does not help. That's why it's not a digital camera replacement, but a phone with camera that can use during social outings (e.g. Facebook Mobile upload).

Some nice to have (but not required) for this phone:

- get a data-plan if your service provider has a cheap alternative compared to the standard $30 smartphone data-plan. Being able to browse the internet and check email anywhere without WIFI is very convenient. Plus, the GPS / maps include additional features like traffic, weather, additional point-of-interests update that require a data-plan. More plus, with data-plan, you can turn on A-GPS (assisted GPS), which allows the GPS to acquire a lock in less than 30 seconds and to maintain a much stronger GPS signal throughout.

And most of all enjoy your phone while you are sitting somewhere nice, like a coffee shop. People, do everyone a favor - DO NOT USE YOUR PHONE (TALK OR TEXT) while driving.

Hope my review helps.

I've been using this phone for four days and those four days have been very blissful for me.

I came from a Samsung Star touch screen phone and this Nokia 5800 Nav. edition blew it away. The Samsung star was good but it lacks wifi and GPS.

With this phone you can pretty much do anything on the go. Wifi internet? let's go. Youtube viewing? No problem. Got lost while driving/walking? It will be your savior.

PROS:
Battery life is decent if you do heavy websurfing and GPS navigating.
Battery life is super if you don't do the above too much.
Build quality is good: it has a silver metal lining around the phone and it is pretty heavy compared to my Samsung Star.
Free lifetime GPS: You get free map updates forever.
Integrated GPS, not A(Assisted)-GPS like the original 5800 xpressMusic.
I have a Garmin 255w GPS and the GPS on this phone almost keeps up with it in accuracy. The voice on this GPS sounds more human than the robotic voice on my Garmin. Hey, this is a phone, don't get your GPS expectation up too high.
Quad band unlocked: take the phone anywhere, put in any simcard and you're good to go. Yes I am talking about AT&T and T-mobile, too.
Simcard and microSD card slots are on the side of the phone - unlike many other phones where you have to open the battery to put them in(though you have to open the battery to get the simcard out).
Phone has two cameras: The main one in the back and a self portrait camera in the front for all you narcissists. =)
Comes with a lot of accessories and cables.(Car mount for Navigation is very durable)
The stylus comes in handy for handwriting on the phone.
Speaker is typical for a Nokia: good. Music plays loud and clear, even got some bass.
Charging time is quick for a high capacity battery.
Good screen resolution (I think iPhone is lower at 480x320)
Convenient phone lock/unlock button on the side for your thumb
Radio

CONS:
The Main camera picture quality is average and doesn't look like it is 3.2MP
Doesn't come with a screen protector (I had to buy one)
Dialer keypad doesn't have letters when you dial numbers. Might be a problem if you want to dial in a number disguised in letters. Hopefully they will fix this.
GPS on this phone takes a minute or two to lock in signal. Sometimes a few minutes if you're not in an opened place.
Why can't I think of anything else?


SYMBIAN OS VERSION 5:
This is my first time using this OS and it has been good to me.
Everything is very responsive and installing apps is a breeze.
You can open a free OVI store account on your phone to download free apps, games and other stuff.
If you want to use an all in one instant messenger to compliment your WiFi, I suggest downloading an app called Nimbuzz in the Ovi store and ditch the default IM app on your phone.
Surfing the web is decent, but the screen may be a bit small for prolonged surfing.
OVI store has lots of free apps(some you have to pay)
Youtube videos play well, but don't expect to watch them in HD like you would on your PC.
[...]

All in all, this phone is worth every penny and if you wanna be different and not have an iPhone, this is the one to get.

UPDATE: This phone version has the updated firmware of V30 with increased CPU power. (Open your dialer and Press in *#0000# to see your firmware version)

UPDATE #2: I have been playing around more with the GPS and came to a conclusion that the text to speech on this phone gives me more instructions than my Garmin 255w. Though it doesn't speak street names(just "turn right" "turn left", "stay right" "stay left"...etc), it gives more instructions than the Garmin. For example, when I enter a freeway, it tells me to follow the freeway, and when I go over the speed limit, it tells me to watch my speed.

LATEST UPDATE: It has been roughly five months of owning this baby and I can't live without it now. There is a new firmware update that added the support of kinetic scrolling and many other additions. Please update to firmware v40 if you have not yet done so. It is much more stable. You can update from your phone. (Open your dialer and Press in *#0000# - then go to options and check for updates.)

I will start by saying that Amazon's shipping was lightening fast. I received the phone in 2 days with free shipping.
Unboxing the phone is a treat as there are tons of accessories included. The car mount is top notch quality. Phone booted up very quickly and setup was very smooth. 3G signal is very strong and never switches to Edge like my BB Bold and Iphone 3g did. You can't ask for more connectivity options, and data speeds have been very impressive. There is a ton of 3rd party software available both online and in the Ovi store. Not iPhone quality app store, but still nice. I found that most of the apps on my previous iPhone were largely unused anyway.
I think the touch screen is very responsive. Remember, this is a resistive screen and not capacitive. It works with a stylus or fingers....even with gloves on;)
Call quality is very good IMO. Music and video are simply fantastic on this device. The stereo speakers do a great job, or you can use the supplied ear buds or bluetooth stereo headset. GPS lock was very fast and held on well. It even gave the exact street addresses as I passed homes on a residential side street. Voice prompts are loud and clear and you get your choice of voices and language. So far I can't say anything bad about this phone. If I come across any issues I will update them here.
For an unlocked phone without contract it's quite a bargain right now.
****EDIT****
Well after a couple of weeks the screen will not go past the white Nokia welcome screen. It's soon to be on it's way back to Amazon, unfortunately. I really like the phone, but I think I'm going back to HTC.

I was a bit hesitant about moving from a Nokia E71 to this phone because of the touchscreen. I like tactile feedback and the satisfaction of physically feeling a button being pressed. Yet at the same time I wanted something new. So far I am very satisfied with this phone. It has an excellent display and it is very snappy software Symbian s60v5 that makes my "old" e71 feel dated. The construction is solid and doesn't feel cheap at all. The e71 felt more "elegant" when I first bought it, but the 5800 doesn't feel as fragile as the e71 does. Its taken me about an hour to get all my usual apps on it, but it was easy to bluetooth direct connect and transfer everything from my old phone to this one. Apparently this phone is hovering around 7 million units sold worldwide, so it must be doing well. Unfortunately a lot of us in the USA need to be spoon fed iPhones. Which this phones does and then some. it has 100s of apps and themes and all that out there. Overall I'd go for 4.5 stars cause I wish it was maybe a quarter of its width thinner, but then again I think I was just used to the thin e71. Great phone.

Since my contract with T-Mobile had expired in July, I was looking around as to what to do next. I really like the plan I have and the customer service with T-Mobile. Only problem is that they really don't have a great selection of phones for renewal at a decent price. I also didn't want to switch to AT&T just to get a free phone since I would get half the minutes and texts for the same price I'm paying with T-Mobile! Verizon and Sprint were a no-go for me.

A friend told me about unlocked phones, so I was lucky this information came right around Black Friday weekend, when the Nokia 5800 Navigation Edition was on sale.

GPS

EDIT: To ensure you only use the integrated GPS and never carrier service:
settings -> phone -> app. settings -> positioning -> positioning methods and turn off all but 'Integrated GPS'.

First off, you DON'T need a data plan to use the GPS, but there are some things you cannot access on the road without it. These include: expanded POI's, traffic, weather, satellite and terrain backgrounds, etc. However, you can at least see what they are like by using wifi. You will need to edit some of the settings so you don't use A-GPS, which is carrier assisted (it's set to it by default). It does take longer to lock onto the satellites this way, but it's not painfully slow. Also, since you have lifetime drive and walk navigation and map updates, you can just use wifi to update everything. You can also download numerous voices. My other GPS has more computerised sounding voices, but these are crystal clear and realistic. In addition, you get weather, traffic, etc. for two years. It's also great to have the car mount and car charger included. You can view the maps in 2D or 3D and the 3D version has building models for downtown areas, etc. It's nice to see the actual buildings you are passing. Also, it shows clouds during the day and stars at night along the top of the screen, which is a nice touch. The included mini-CD lets you install Nokia's OVI Suite software so you can use the phone with your PC. They also have a map updater and loader you can download.

MUSIC AND VIDEO

The 8GB microSD card comes with some music and videos on it that can obviously be deleted, but it's nice to get some freebies. It was already in the phone when I got mine. There are some good videos on how to use the device for different things, and a few music videos too! I like the XpressMusic Shortcut - very handy to access the pictures, photos, videos, etc. The camera is pretty decent for both photos and video, much better than my previous phone, so no complaints really there. It's nice there is a secondary camera too for video calls or self-pictures.

The FM radio is a nice addition, although you have to have headphones in order to use it.

One thing I really like is the two built-in speakers. They are loud and don't sound tinny at all.

The phone has a lot of ringtones to choose from. At first I couldn't find them, but then I realised they were within the different profiles you can edit. They are all mp3-style ringtones with real music, etc.

PHONE

Call quality is great and I actually get better reception with this phone than my previous one. Dialing is easy and texting can be done via a few different keyboards or handwriting with the stylus. I also like the voice-dialing - much easier to use than my last phone. Actually, when a call comes in it will also pronounce the name of the person calling (although in a very computerised voice).

You can set up the home screen to show four applications or contacts. Also a search bar is below that which enables you to search the contents of your phone and the internet. Optionally, you can also set up your email and that shortcut is displayed below the search bar.

The phone feels solidly built and sturdy. It's a nice size, maybe a tad more thick than I'd like, but overall it's a nice quality. Screen resolution is fantastic. I like the slight vibration when you touch an item to confirm you touched it. The volume, unlock and camera buttons are on the right side, while the sim card and microSD slots are on the left side. It's nice to have these external, but they still recommend you turn off the phone and remove the battery to add or remove the sim or microsd card. On the top of the phone are the power button, headphone jack and micro USB port.

Battery life is also excellent. My first charge lasted 3 days with heavy use of everything, including the GPS. I expect with light use, it will last much longer.

Some of the applications included are dictionary, converter, recorder, file manager and real player. The two games (Bounce and Global Race) are also pretty good.

There are a lot of settings that you can fiddle around with to get it just the way you like it.

Overall, this is a great alternative for those not wanting to have a contract, but wanting a great phone with all the features. The GPS features alone honestly makes it worth the cost.

This phone is definitely value for money. I was looking for a wifi enabled quad band phone that I could use while traveling. This phone fit right in, plus it has a GPS to boot. I use a t-mobile prepaid account so I dont use its 3G features, but use of regular WiFi where I can find it (home, work, public places, airports etc) it does the job pretty well ... and I have yet to explore its full potential.

here's what I see as its advantages:
1. WiFi enabled smart phone: Saves settings of multiple security enabled connections and connects automatically when it recognizes one is available. Allows you to disable use of 3G/provider based internet connection. Useful if you use a pre-paid ac.
2. Nokia GPS
3. Nokia Maps (over wifi/3G) - as in WiFi you can configure it to prompt before it goes online if wifi is not available.
4. Memory expandable upto 16GB (8 GB micro SD is included with phone)
5. Good Nokia / Ovi pc utilities to manage Phone book (nice), software updates, download/upload photo's, music, video's
6. Interfaces with Windows Media Player
7. SIP phone capability using the free NimBuzz download from the ovi site. I configured my voip home phone - ViaTalk.com - to work on this phone, works like a charm minus some issues that I have on my home phone which I think is a viatalk issue - it basically disables my home phone - if you can live with that its great. I have to re-boot/power off my phone router to make it work. I'll figure a way out :)
8. Free apps on ovi.com: facebook, messenger, IM, weather etc.
9. Email capability - havnt configured mine since I'm on a pc 10/24 anyway!
10. Calendar & Phone Book - can be configured to sync with outlook or manage this purely using the pc based nokia utilities
11. IM capability: I'm using NimBuzz which allows you to setup Skype, Yahoo, MSN etc all in one!!!
12. Music player - Well! this phone was/is sold as a wma/mp3 player primarily... till now. - nice clear sound. Only downside is you need to carry a tiny adapter which also functions a a remote control for volume,next/prev etc. but other than this .. awesome sound.
13. Handwriting capability: Pretty handy - I use this more & more every day!
14. Large/small keyboard for typing. responsive and easy to use - needs getting used to .. as are all things new!
15. Good sound quality (call volume) and no complaints about me being heard either
16. Very good reception - better than most phones I've used so far
17. No bugs - problems so far - no random rebooting - had this phone for a month now, updates etc have been solid!
18. Nice clear screen even in the out doors!
19. I nearly forgot to mention the great 3MP camera/video cam which takes pretty good pics. I also found a free app that allows the LED flash to be used as a flashlight.
20. Additional self facing camera for video calls
21. Size: I prefer this phone size to the iPhone, its compact and fits my pocket w/o being too heavy/bulky.

Cons:
1. On board memory could have been bigger!
2. No real cons yet!!! hey wait .. battery life could be better. With heavy use (music, GPS you'll need to charge it every day!!! this sucks ... but I guess you pay for what you use. otherwise I charge once in 2/3/4 days depending on use.

GPS Pros:
1. Driving, Walking directions
2. POI, places of interest.
3. Clean/Clear maps 2D & 3D
4. Create and download places/favs from the ovi site (better than my regular GPS can do!!!)
5. 3 different routing options - turn by turn gives you distance to next turn
6. Crisp/Clear human voice guidance (million times better than my regular GPS)

GPS Cons
1. POI's cannot be searched for by name except from the contact list. You must have the address???? It does allow you to search by category and lists several. It finds most locations easily but doesn't include many POI's. for e.g. I was looking for the farmers market in my area ... I finally looked it up online and used the address to map it. so there is a workaround!!!
2. The only reason I give it 4.5 stars is becoz the accuracy of the GPS in pin pointing its location leaves a bit to be desired, this can send you in the wrong direction but it does immediately recalculate the route.
3. Directions do not include street names (as regular GPS do).
4. Indoor reception is poor (like most GPS's I've seen though)

For a GPS enabled all in one smart phone this definitely does the job and I'd recommend buying it.

Let me start by saying that I had the first generation of this phone, meaning the original 5800XpressMusic. It was the first time I questioned the quality of the new Nokia phones as I had the Nokia 5610XM previously. This newest version of the phone, however, is very high in quality. No squeaks or anything coming from the body at all. The buttons have much better tactical feedback and the black chrome and matte body looks 100x better than the original.

The lifetime GPS software is easily the best feature of this phone. While some reviewers may say that the GPS algorithms are pretty basic, this phone has the ability to "learn" the routes you take. That was an impressive feature I discovered recently. You get traffic reports, maps, and 3D imaging for free unlike the XM model. Based on previous costs of the Nokia Maps GPS software, you are essentially buying a nice GPS device that doubles as a phone. The mount is relatively easy to figure out how to put together. Afterall, how hard can 2 screws and 2 holes fit together? Needless to say, it makes an impressive fight against standalone GPS devices. Also, even if you do not like Nokia Maps, Garmin has made their own GPS software that works just as well, if not better, than Nokia's version.

Now for the music, while the basic player has some things to wish for, there is a nice program approved by Nokia in the OVI Suite that makes the music much better. The phone is quite impressive for the small speakers on the side. While you'll have a hard time hearing the bass on its own, with headphones, it is no problem at all!

Now for the games and applications. While the phone is no iPhone-killer, it makes a respectable alternative due to its features. Games are now relatively plentiful as are the apps. Even if some applications require the use of a directional pad, the 5800NavigationEdition puts up a digital pad for these applications or games. The software support for this phone is improving overtime and its in a positive direction.

For the business community, adding and checking emails are a breeze. Its simple to the point where you don't have to read the directions at all. Also a plus is the integration of Office Suite, which puts "MS Word/Excel" on your phone so you can open, read, and edit documents. This is highly useful as an alternative to the netbooks that college students are currently using. Paired with an optional bluetooth keyboard, this easily replaces my laptop and my paper notebook for notes in class. Afterall, who would want to carry a heavy computing device just for notes and internet since the 5800NE can do both easily? In fact, even AIM/Skype/MSN are perfectly incorporated when you download them for free (use FRING). Overall, this is a great phone for people on the go.

Battery life for this phone is generally something that could be improved but doesn't have to be. After 3 hours of taking notes using my bluetooth keyboard, a unknown sum of text messages, and quite the number of phone calls, my battery is almost dead at the end of the day. Thankfully this version of the 5800 includes a car charger. You WILL need it if you need to rely on the GPS for more than an hour, but thats to be expected.

The camera is something that also can be improved but it works well for most things. Just be wary in times of darkness, thats all I can say. Otherwise, its pretty decent.

-----------------------------

Based on my experience, I'd buy another if I had the chance (which I did afterall). Its a great phone for the money. It may take a small while to get used to but after that, its worth it. This will definitely hold me off on purchasing another phone for a while, at least until the next XpressMusic or NavigationEdition Nokia model comes out.

The first few days I tested the 5800 with no SIM card ... wanted to see what it could do on its own (without using any cellular service).

Music & Video Player: Superb audio & video quality ... nice having the 2 built in stereo speakers. Includes 8 gig of memory & is upgradable.

GPS: No data plan (or even phone service) is required. Outstanding & full featured GPS. Signal strength is excellent (as a standalone GPS) ... Full maps, POI's, directions, etc can be used with the built-in map data. If wifi or cellular service is available, you get added features (weather, traffic, more POI's, satellite images, and faster positioning). Worldwide maps are available for free from Nokia.

Navigation version of the 5800 includes car adapter and mounting kit.

Internet: Can use wifi alone (without any cell service), bluetooth, or optionally, a cell phone data plan ... your choice.

PDA features: Usual functions ... work very well. Additional software applications are available to download for even more features.

Camera: outdoor pics look good - indoor, not as good.

Build quality: solid feel, clean design, & removable battery.

Finally, as a phone it works well; clarity, features, battery life & overall usability are all excellent.

Summary:

While there are many other devices available, the Nokia 5800 is unique in that it can do so many things on its own, with or without a specific cellular carrier or a specific service plan.

The 5800 is a very versatile and feature-packed device at a great price. So much
more than a phone: a large high-res touch screen, full featured GPS, Audio/Video player, camera, WIFI, internet browser, bluetooth, etc ... all nicely integrated. It should prove to be very useful at home, in the car, and while traveling.

I am very happy with my Nokia 5800 Navigation Edition. See below for important start-up tips.
It is an excellent bargain for below $300 and has all the features I was looking for (WiFi, Calendar syncs with Google, GPS with voice navigation, doesn't require a data plan).

The first thing to realize is that this is the exact same hardware as the 5800 XpresMusic. The main difference is that it comes with accessories to mount it in your car like a regular GPS unit. (The accessories are solid and easy to use - just follow the directions.) If you find any advice, apps, or add-ons for the XpressMusic, then it will work on your Nav Edition.

The phone is a very nice size - it really fits in your hand like a phone. I have had no problems with the touchscreen. You can use for finger for almost anything, or to click something small you might need to use a fingernail. It also comes with a stylus if you're into that. The menu system is fast and fairly well laid out. The GPS works great and for me it locks onto the signal in less than 1 minute. You do not need a data connection for GPS! Once you get it set up, it acts like a standalone unit.

There is a bit of a learning curve with the interface, but it's not very difficult. (For instance sometimes you single click to select something, and sometimes you double click.)

The official Ovi Store is not the size of the iPhone store but you can still find almost anything you want. Camera seems solid, and you can make two-way video calls (!) through Fring. Impress your iPhone friends with that!

Basically this phone is everything I wanted. I'm planning to use it for a few years, and then keep it as a standalone GPS unit for my car.

Below are the first few steps you should do when you first receive the phone. The first few are especially important ... enjoy!

First steps with the phone:

1) Charge the battery fully.

2) Get your WiFi connection set up. Settings > Connectivity > Wireless LAN

3) Update the firmware so your phone has the latest improvements, which includes kinetic scrolling. Press the keypad dialer icon and enter the number *#0000# then select Options > Check for updates

4) Update your Nokia programs. Applications > SW Update.

5) Turn on fancy menu transition effects! I don't know why this is off by default. Settings > Personal > Themes > General > Options > Theme Effects set to On.

6) Download some apps. The Nokia Ovi Store is a good place to start. I recommend Opera Mini for a web browser because it is better than the default browser. Also the Gmail app is handy, and download Fring to make Skype calls (including video calls!)

7) Download a fun theme. This sets your fonts, wallpaper, etc. The Nokia Ovi Store has a few but there are zillions on the web.
I am using the "Hero 5th Edition" theme and it is really slick. Google "tehkseven" to find it.

For many more tutorials, google "all about symbian nokia 5800 tutorials." (Apparently I can't put URLs in here.)

I bought this phone the day it went on sale near the end of November. The phone still looks and works like new even after dropping it and carrying it around in my back pocket... occasionally sitting on it for long periods of time. I really don't see a need for a screen protector... yet!

Having never used (or wanting to use) a touch screen in the past, I have little to compare it to. However, I occasionally have difficulty using my fingers to surf the web. It often doesn't accept my taps or thinks I'm tapping something else. However it includes a stylus that slides into the back, and it works flawlessly when using the stylus. There is also a wrist strap with a guitar pick for tapping. I found the strap annoying so I don't use it.

The car accessories are perfect. The window mount is very easy to put in and take out. The car charger is a huge bonus since most phones only include a home charger.

The included 8 GB microSD is sufficient to hold lots of pictures, video's and music. I've got about 30 CD's worth of music, a thousand pictures and 10 video's and I'm still only using about 4 GB.

The radio only works with earphones plugged in and usually doesn't pick up my favorite station which I can pick up with any other radio. On that note, my N series phones all came with Internet radio built in. Why don't they include internet radio with the 5800?

The phone is very powerful and I use it for messaging, surfing, contact management, calendar management, and multimedia uses (listening to music and podcasts). Now I can get to the best things about the 5800:

- S60 interface, symbian OS: Unlike windows mobile, it is rock solid, rarely crashes and does not hog memory (even after you close a program).

- The Apps: You can find thousands upon thousands of free downloadable apps from independent developers. Unlike Apple & AT&T who force you buy apps from their services and the iPhone that only allows "approved" apps, I can put anything I want on my phone and it usually works great.

- It's unlocked. Screw you AT&T. I don't want your locked phone with your crap software preloaded and your crappy limited surfing abilities (not to mention the required data plan with any smartphone). I can just pay the 15/month for the basic unlimited data plan. Better yet, I can use the phone wifi capabilities to do whatever I want when I'm in range of a free access point. Also... one more message to AT&T: your plans are overpriced and if I decide to go to T-Mobile I'll just bring my phone with me.

- I don't have to be an iPhone toting dufous to have a slick, technologically innovative, affordable, touchscreen, smartphone.