Calling phone experts

[andrewducker]

I have a Nokia N80. I want a keyboard for it. Do I have to go for their official one, or do other people make compatible ones?

Not been able to track anything useful down so far...

Comments

[dreema.livejournal.com]

how does your n80 behave?

I've been thinking about getting an upgrade, but have heard bad things about the n series phones, crashing, stopping responding, needing updates but nokia charging you for them

[robhu.livejournal.com]

Entirely random out of place comment: Are you aware / interested in the fact that Dawkins' new book The God Delusion is just on the cusp of coming out? I thought you might be interested :-)

[andrewducker]

Not had much of a problem with mine. The battery isn't great if you have it on 3G 24/7 making lots of connections and downloading email frequently. But that's not surprising (it'll still last about 12 hours). If you're just using it as a phone it'll last a few days no problem.

And it crashes very infrequently, no real problems except when I was using it in a very low signal area a lot, when losing and regaining connections all the time seemed to cause flakiness.

[wibbble]

purelyskindeep pointed me in this direction. :o)

I don't know about third-party products, but I do know that the Nokia bluetooth keyboard requires drivers to be installed in order for it to work, so there's no native keyboard support in the device which might limit other companies.

I've not used the SU-8W with an N80, but I have used it with a couple of E-series handsets and it's okay - pretty much the same as any folding portable keyboard, I suppose.

[andrewducker]

http://jwz.livejournal.com/696462.html?nc=7&style=mine might interest you in return.

I already know I don't believe in God - I don't feel the need to have Dawkins tell me that :->

[wibbble]

The two year Nokia warranty covers software updates only if there's a fault - so that would cover crashing handsets, poor battery life, features not working, but not 'I just want the latest version'.

If you take your phone to somewhere that's not a Nokia service place, they'll charge you. People take their phones to their network (or just some random shop) all the time, then call me and complain about the charges.

[wibbble]

Apparently the latest version of the N80 firmware improves the battery life, so it might be worth taking it along to one of the local service points.

Alternatively, the N80 was supposed to be added to the online software updater at the start of the month, so it could appear there Any Time Now for you to just download and update yourself.

[robhu.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that link. I am not getting Sam Harris' book initially, I read 'The end of faith', and while it was worth reading I felt it lacked the kind of solid scientific argument that Dawkins tends to provide. Have you read the end of faith?

My favourite quote from jzw (quoting Sam Harris) is:
"The president of the United States has claimed, on more than one occasion, to be in dialogue with God. If he said that he was talking to God through his hairdryer, this would precipitate a national emergency. I fail to see how the addition of a hairdryer makes the claim more ridiculous or offensive."

:-P


I'm hoping that Dawkins' makes a really strong sound case in this book - his other books have been (I think) quite good at shaping thought in the UK among the intelligensia, hopefully this one will provide us with clear solid reasoning.

[nuttyxander.livejournal.com]

I grabbed a nokia keyboard for near cheap off ebay when I got my near to launch n80. It's a very nice bit of kit, but worth it only if you can get it nice second hand.

[dreema.livejournal.com]

cool, cheers for the info. i may look into getting one then :)

[andrewducker]

Yeah - I checked the software updater earlier today. Updating to the latest firmware would be nice. Once I get that and Yahoo Go starts supporting the 3rd edition of S60 I'll be happy.

I take it you work for Nokia Tech Support?

[andrewducker]

Oh, yeah - I'm glad he's written it, and I hope that it has a general effect on the population. I just don't feel the need to read it myself as well.

And it's a good quote :->

[poisonduk.livejournal.com]

http://www.mobilefun.co.uk/product/11561.htm

Says it works with symbian OS. Mobile Fun customer service are pretty good if you need to return stuff - I had to return a bluetooth GPS receiver and they didn't quibble

[wibbble]

> I take it you work for Nokia Tech Support?

You might think that, I couldn't possibly comment, etc, etc. A previous LJ/work experience is making me more cautious about committing to that sort of thing, at least in public. :o)

[alienspacebat.livejournal.com]

I also have an N80 for work but I'm not so keen on it due to battery life, particularly if you dont purposefully close the web browser after using wireless or have a rapid ap search on (anything quicker than 10 minutes per scan).

I also hate the slider - it's not the Nokia design of using a sprung retaining mechanism so it slides in my pocket and un key locks.

Most of the guys from Nokia prefer the N73 for their own phones (which is my personal phone) but take the N80 if they need wireless

As for the keyboard, find the download page for the N80 on the Nokia site. You will see the Nokia keyboard drivers listed there. You should note that they are actually compatible with any HID compliant bluetooth keyboard. The preference appears to be the think outside stowaway model (new edition) at the moment

[andrewducker]

I solved the slider problem by storing it in my pocket upside down - doesn't seem to open itself that way.

And power is a problem, i'll give you, certainly if you connect to anything a lot. But I've not found anything that can spend all day using the internet and not run out of power - especially not on a batter the size of a phone.

[andrewducker]

Looks like it hasn't been updated to support version 3 yet. I'll drop them an email and check. Cheers!