Assorted Afflatuses

Browsing the Internet this morning, I discovered that Cingular — or whatever they call themselves now — now offers the Nokia N75 to its customers. When first I heard, I said to myself, "Wow." After all, no US carrier has never sold, subsidized or supported a Nokia N-Series multimedia phone. But I soon discovered that, once again, Americans have been blessed with a bottom of the barrel handset.

Initially, I had a very sanguine outlook on the matter. The Nokia N75 sports a 3G radio that actually works in the US and a high-resolution 2-megapixel camera. It also happens to run the fantastic Symbian Series 60 operating system. Cingular's first N-Series phone even has a swanky external screen that displays pertinent information, like the time and date, when the phone is closed. With so many supposedly wonderful features, I saw only two disadvantages between the N75 and the N80 I was on the verge of purchasing.

Firstly, the "initial handset investment" with the N75 is only lower than that of the N80 when you sign your soul away to Cingular for two years and send in a mail-in-rebate for fifty dollars. Yuck. But then, I doubt I will change carriers in the next two years: Cingular has never offended me too seriously. Secondly, the N75 has only one camera (the N80 has two) and the one it has takes less detailed pictures than the better of the N80's two optical capture devices.

Then I read an actual review of the N75. Aside from its messaging features, the reviewer could not find much to praise. Commenting on the design, the reviewer says, "The closed shell is shaped like a brick, and open isn't much more attractive." Call quality, something Nokia usually does very well, also falls short of expectations: "We couldn't help but be disappointed by the sound quality on calls, which came through a bit muddy and far too warm for our tastes." The review describes the camera as, "A real letdown from a phone in a family with such a photographic pedigree." As for the 3G features I so enthusiastically received, "We had some serious problems getting Cingular Video to function properly." It reads almost like a movie poster, but with negative comments instead of well-chosen praise.

My hope evaporated before it ever melted; sublimated, if you will. I would buy the N80, but Amazon.com has conveniently decided to be "Sold out" of the more attractive (and more inexpensive) black model. So wait I shall.