Marwood
01-05-2006, 10:27 AM
Hello Everyone,
Yesterday evening I had the unique joy of reading the ‘users opinions and reviews’ section for the N80 on GSM Arena. I took exception to the way some users saw fit to ‘attack’ each other over the size of the so called ‘N Wedge/N Chunk’.
Well……I could follow the rhetorical route of slagging off SE users or be all PC about it, and talk about relative perceptions and the value of differentiating between the objective and the subjective. But I won’t.
Much better to make some form of comparison between the N80 and other phones.
Let’s start with the neat and popular Chav phone the Samsung D500. Now I know what you’re thinking, The N80 is a whole different kettle of fish in terms of functionality, but I’m only considering the claim that the N80 is too large. The N80’s dimensions are 94.5mm(h)x50mm(w)x26narrowing to 23mm(d) compared to the D500’s 94x47x24 (no 3Meg camera, no 3G, no WiFi, no nothing really).
Let’s also consider the D600. This has a height of 96mm but manages to be a whole 4mm, yes a massive 4mm thinner at 22mm. Indeed, the N70 using Phone Trainer at my local Orange shop suddenly took notice when we put the dummy N80 next to a D600 and my tall Orange SPV M500. The reason the N80 gives the impression of bulk is perhaps mainly due to its silver colour. Ever noticed how more rotund people gravitate towards black, rather than clingy silver to hide their secret pie addiction. That is possibly why a lot of people covet the black N80s And no, I don’t feel I’m undermining my argument by making this point.
Also, the N80 lacks swooping ‘curves’ to soften its edges, thus fooling the eye into thinking it’s bigger. It doesn’t help when “Total Mobile” print a picture of the N80 head on, saying it is actual size, when it’s not, (issue143, page 39). The N80 is a small dog, like a Staff, square set, but very powerful and appearing larger that others.
A Siemens SL75, one for da ladies handbag, is not that much smaller at 92x47x22
Ok, so the school kid’s dream, the Moto V3i is very slim but to make a fair comparison we need to look at the V3x. Their latest 3G offering has had some stick for not meeting the ‘skinny’ generation’s expectations, (unfairly really), however it is hardly big. Size wise the N80 is only bigger in depth, (99x55x20).
Another thing that works in the N80s favour is its wedge shape. My first ever mobile was an early 90s Panasonic, can’t remember the model number……it was tall, black and lit up green. It was wedge shape with a slight curve at the back and fitted my hand very well, making it comfortable to hold. There is a tendency to hold modern ‘slim’ phones by their edges so they don’t rest comfortably in the larger male hand. If you hold them in the palm of your hand, ergonomically, things just don’t work.
Before I finish, and you get annoyed for having to read so much I want to mention the SE’s. Nice phones but remember the W800i is 102x49x23.5 and not as small as it may seem. A fairer SE comparison is with the P990i, 114x57x25. “Stuff” magazine, May 2006 suggested it had a ”size to block out the sun” on page 111. Wisely they said of the N80 “What really seals the deal, though, is that its wealth of tech is in such a small user-friendly package. You could carry it around in your under crackers and not attract the wrong sort of attention.” In terms of weight the N80 competes well with other ‘Smart 3G’ phones tipping the scale at about 134g. The P990i is 150g as is my M500. I have no issues here and neither should anyone else really.
So there you go.
Do I predict a diet?….I think not!
Cheers,
M.
Yesterday evening I had the unique joy of reading the ‘users opinions and reviews’ section for the N80 on GSM Arena. I took exception to the way some users saw fit to ‘attack’ each other over the size of the so called ‘N Wedge/N Chunk’.
Well……I could follow the rhetorical route of slagging off SE users or be all PC about it, and talk about relative perceptions and the value of differentiating between the objective and the subjective. But I won’t.
Much better to make some form of comparison between the N80 and other phones.
Let’s start with the neat and popular Chav phone the Samsung D500. Now I know what you’re thinking, The N80 is a whole different kettle of fish in terms of functionality, but I’m only considering the claim that the N80 is too large. The N80’s dimensions are 94.5mm(h)x50mm(w)x26narrowing to 23mm(d) compared to the D500’s 94x47x24 (no 3Meg camera, no 3G, no WiFi, no nothing really).
Let’s also consider the D600. This has a height of 96mm but manages to be a whole 4mm, yes a massive 4mm thinner at 22mm. Indeed, the N70 using Phone Trainer at my local Orange shop suddenly took notice when we put the dummy N80 next to a D600 and my tall Orange SPV M500. The reason the N80 gives the impression of bulk is perhaps mainly due to its silver colour. Ever noticed how more rotund people gravitate towards black, rather than clingy silver to hide their secret pie addiction. That is possibly why a lot of people covet the black N80s And no, I don’t feel I’m undermining my argument by making this point.
Also, the N80 lacks swooping ‘curves’ to soften its edges, thus fooling the eye into thinking it’s bigger. It doesn’t help when “Total Mobile” print a picture of the N80 head on, saying it is actual size, when it’s not, (issue143, page 39). The N80 is a small dog, like a Staff, square set, but very powerful and appearing larger that others.
A Siemens SL75, one for da ladies handbag, is not that much smaller at 92x47x22
Ok, so the school kid’s dream, the Moto V3i is very slim but to make a fair comparison we need to look at the V3x. Their latest 3G offering has had some stick for not meeting the ‘skinny’ generation’s expectations, (unfairly really), however it is hardly big. Size wise the N80 is only bigger in depth, (99x55x20).
Another thing that works in the N80s favour is its wedge shape. My first ever mobile was an early 90s Panasonic, can’t remember the model number……it was tall, black and lit up green. It was wedge shape with a slight curve at the back and fitted my hand very well, making it comfortable to hold. There is a tendency to hold modern ‘slim’ phones by their edges so they don’t rest comfortably in the larger male hand. If you hold them in the palm of your hand, ergonomically, things just don’t work.
Before I finish, and you get annoyed for having to read so much I want to mention the SE’s. Nice phones but remember the W800i is 102x49x23.5 and not as small as it may seem. A fairer SE comparison is with the P990i, 114x57x25. “Stuff” magazine, May 2006 suggested it had a ”size to block out the sun” on page 111. Wisely they said of the N80 “What really seals the deal, though, is that its wealth of tech is in such a small user-friendly package. You could carry it around in your under crackers and not attract the wrong sort of attention.” In terms of weight the N80 competes well with other ‘Smart 3G’ phones tipping the scale at about 134g. The P990i is 150g as is my M500. I have no issues here and neither should anyone else really.
So there you go.
Do I predict a diet?….I think not!
Cheers,
M.