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Well, I’ve had the N97 a couple of weeks now, and I’m reasonably impressed with it. Getting use to a ‘Touch Screen’ phone/PC is a bit of a pain, but not so much that I’d replace it with an ordinary ‘keypad’ type phone.

Battery life is good considering the applications it can run and the screen graphics it supports; not as good as my previous Nokia 6233 for Standby Time, but far better than the Samsung Ultra Touch. I’m getting about 3 days Standby with reasonable phone use; even when using the GPS drive function, it consumes very little battery capacity, and that impresses me.

Although the text size is relatively small (even on maximum setting), it’s very handy having a ‘micro PC’ in my pocket; I can hit the Web, check emails, lookup phone numbers, get directions, do banking, check eBay and social networks etc etc

Well after a further couple of weeks persevering with the Samsung after buying a new ‘aftermarket’ battery, I phoned 3 (Three – Vodafone Hutchison Australia) and informed them the 700 ma battery time was better than the factory 880ma battery, but only just and I still couldn’t get more than a day and a half from it on Standby, and only with minimal use.

In the intervening weeks since my last contact with 3, the new Nokia N97 mini had been released and 3 could let me have it ‘free’ on the $49/mth cap plan; all I had to do was send the Samsung back and all cancellation fees would be waived – ok, give me the N97 and I’ll see how things go from there.

The N97 is definitely a better phone in so many ways, but mainly in ‘Standby’ battery life; I’m getting 3 days + with average use. (continue reading…)