This comparison is restricted to iPhone vs n900, since android hardware varies more widely.
The comparison is also a 'what is it like to live with' instead of the raw specs.
Summary of part2: the hardware of the n900 is more impressive. If raw features is what you are looking for, the n900 impresses.
1. Battery life.
This is a simple one, the iPhone has better battery life. It is harder to add a long life battery for the iPhone, but in the spirit of the strengths of the iPhone, despite it being tricky some one has done it and it is available. You can get spare batteries for the n900, and yes there are long life batteries also.
Both will iphone and n900 will fail to survive a full day if used heavily enough, but the n900 battles just that little for often and more people run out of power on an n900. Having said that, people with n900s tend to use the device to do more. If you really want to do a lot with your device, then the n900 becomes a stronger choice. Are you a casual user? If so, then the iPhone looks good. But if you are a heavy user of your mobile device and therefore more likely to choose the n900 be prepared to use some 'through the day' charging solution, or a spare or long life battery on those days where you really use the n900 to the full extent. I don't have a spare or long life battery and it is not a problem. However if i am sitting at a desk using the n900 a lot almost as a laptop then i am using a computer keyboard and display and the n900 is on charge.
2. Display.
The n900 display can show almost 3 times the information of the iphone screen. In many cases you need good eyes or glasses to see 3 times the detail of an iphone screen but if you try to watch a movie of ip tv or 3d you will really see the difference. The n900 is also 3d accelerated and the iphone is not.
Also, when web browsing a regular web page, 480 pixels across is just not enough whereas 800 pixels can get everything.
So it depends on your usage. The n900 display is much more detailed and for some applications this matters, however if your primary use is as phone, the increased resolution won't be noticed very often.
3. Touch Screen.
It is really hard to move from n900 to iPhone and vice versa. With each, you learn how to do touch the screen to get best result and that same technique will NOT work on the other. Capacitive vs resistive generates almost a religious fervour. Certainly it is easy to see anyone accustom to either as feeling the other system is terrible. With the iPhone use the pad of your finger, with the n900 use the tip near the nail- or the nail itself.
In the end I found both about equal. The iPhone is easier to touch as you almost don't need to make contact. However a broad point of contact works best and for the finest work it is like trying to be accurate with a balloon. The iPhone carefully avoids you needing to be accurate and the lower resolution display is less appropriate for those application on the n900 that use the great accuracy of touch on the n900.
So - for general navigation the iPhone is just easy, a simple tool that does simple tasks brilliantly, but you cant use gloves or a regular stylus.
Touch on the n900 allows finer work which goes well with the higher resolution display, allows gloves and works well with the included stylus.
In the end, equal points. For simplest stuff the iPhone is best, for detailed tasks the n900 shines.
4. Camera etc.
The iPhone is currently a 3mpix camera and the camera, also capable of video on the 3Gs version. The n900 is 5mpix, again video capable, and while usually megapixels are a very poor guide to camera resolution in this case the quatlity is not far off the the 3 to 5 ration suggested by the pixels.
The n900 also has a useful dual-led flash/video light as well as a second camera for video calls.
The n900 also has infra red as well as fm radio. An extra feature of the n900 is fm transmitter so your music can be enjoyed anywhere there is an fm receiver. No cable required.
Showing posts with label iPhone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label iPhone. Show all posts
Monday, March 29, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
iPhone vs Nokia N900 vs Android ...part1
This comparision will be posted in a number of parts, and I am going to concentrate on the iPhone vs Nokia N900 and make references to Android, partly because there are several Android phones, and partly because I think Android tends to in some ways sit in the middle and where as the iPhone and N900 are opposite ends of the spectrum.
This is not a superficial test, but the results of living with the different devices for an extended period of time.
So who wins, iPhone or Nokia N900? The answer is it depends on you. If you want a cozy world where big brother Apple looks after your needs, the iPhone is for you. If you want freedom and will suffer some of the anarchy and are willing to do things for yourself that a big brother would help you with, take the N900. You will see more of the pros and cons of each as we go through the experiences.
Experience No1- The out of box experience.
Actually the out-of-box experience is very telling.
iPhone.
The iPhone went with me to meet some friends. I opened the box and took the iPhone out and brought it with me with the idea I would equip it with a SIM and start playing with it while I was out. The first surprise was it was not at all obvious how i would open the SIM holder. A little detective work solved the problem, it was clear a small tool was needed, and it was logical this tool was at home in the box. No problem, a borrowed improvised tool (an earring) solved this. Insert the SIM and turn the phone on. It was then I discovered the first negative experience. The iPhone asked to be connected to iTunes. I thought 'OK, we can do that later, but I need the phone now'. It soon became clear that the iPhone cannot be activated without connecting to a computer running iTunes. You must have a computer, and you MUST install iTunes! If you have iTunes already this is no big deal, but if you find this a little dictatorial you may be more an N900 person. Load up iTunes and register to apple and the roadblock is passed. Sync your contacts and you are away. Note if moving from an Outlook addressbook there are limits on bringing multiple mobile numbers (car, mobile, work mobile or foreign mobile for example) for the smae contact across. The out of box is over. Using the device is intuitive.
n900.
No problem inserting the SIM although the mechanism for opening the rear cover is obvious it is not the most comfortable mechanism. At first startup the n800 asks a series of question. It seems very strange that once English is selected as a Language, then you must set your timezone to be somewhere in England! Very strange! Actually I am in Australia at the time and Australia is not even an option! So an English speaking person cannot travel to a non-english speaking country? So if you speak Finnish and wish that as your language can you only ever have your time zone as Finland? I am aware there have been updates for n900 and the first thing I do is download updates. The process is very smooth and simple. I need to download two updates and restart each time, however the data i entered into the phone as a test is retained and after updates I am now able to locate myself in Australia and the functionality is clearly improved.
Summary: For the Apple you need to link to Apple, install Apple software on your computer before you can use the device. For the n900 you need to update the device and it is clear the device moves from 'very raw' to 'more mature' in the process. With Apple you are tied to Apple, with the n900 you are dealing with a work in progress.
Software and Apps.
The Case.
opening the box!
The out
This is not a superficial test, but the results of living with the different devices for an extended period of time.
So who wins, iPhone or Nokia N900? The answer is it depends on you. If you want a cozy world where big brother Apple looks after your needs, the iPhone is for you. If you want freedom and will suffer some of the anarchy and are willing to do things for yourself that a big brother would help you with, take the N900. You will see more of the pros and cons of each as we go through the experiences.
Experience No1- The out of box experience.
Actually the out-of-box experience is very telling.
iPhone.
The iPhone went with me to meet some friends. I opened the box and took the iPhone out and brought it with me with the idea I would equip it with a SIM and start playing with it while I was out. The first surprise was it was not at all obvious how i would open the SIM holder. A little detective work solved the problem, it was clear a small tool was needed, and it was logical this tool was at home in the box. No problem, a borrowed improvised tool (an earring) solved this. Insert the SIM and turn the phone on. It was then I discovered the first negative experience. The iPhone asked to be connected to iTunes. I thought 'OK, we can do that later, but I need the phone now'. It soon became clear that the iPhone cannot be activated without connecting to a computer running iTunes. You must have a computer, and you MUST install iTunes! If you have iTunes already this is no big deal, but if you find this a little dictatorial you may be more an N900 person. Load up iTunes and register to apple and the roadblock is passed. Sync your contacts and you are away. Note if moving from an Outlook addressbook there are limits on bringing multiple mobile numbers (car, mobile, work mobile or foreign mobile for example) for the smae contact across. The out of box is over. Using the device is intuitive.
n900.
No problem inserting the SIM although the mechanism for opening the rear cover is obvious it is not the most comfortable mechanism. At first startup the n800 asks a series of question. It seems very strange that once English is selected as a Language, then you must set your timezone to be somewhere in England! Very strange! Actually I am in Australia at the time and Australia is not even an option! So an English speaking person cannot travel to a non-english speaking country? So if you speak Finnish and wish that as your language can you only ever have your time zone as Finland? I am aware there have been updates for n900 and the first thing I do is download updates. The process is very smooth and simple. I need to download two updates and restart each time, however the data i entered into the phone as a test is retained and after updates I am now able to locate myself in Australia and the functionality is clearly improved.
Summary: For the Apple you need to link to Apple, install Apple software on your computer before you can use the device. For the n900 you need to update the device and it is clear the device moves from 'very raw' to 'more mature' in the process. With Apple you are tied to Apple, with the n900 you are dealing with a work in progress.
Software and Apps.
The Case.
opening the box!
The out
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