Product Description

The Nokia N97 mobile phone provides excellent user experience for internet and entertainment by combining QWERTY keyboard with resistive touch screen. Integrated A-GPS. 5 mega pixel camera. Video.A-GPS is a network dependant feature that requires a data plan. Additional charges may apply Personalize your homescreen arrow Have all of your content and connections at your fingertips on the beautiful personalizable home screen. Manage and access your internet directly from the intuitive user interface and enjoy the experience through the 3.5" sliding tilt display. Touch and QWERTY for connections to people and places arrow Enjoy the fast and fun ways to connect to your friends. Discover, share and navigate with Nokia Maps and the integrated compass that keeps you facing the right direction all the time. Downloading maps and/or navigating with Nokia Maps may involve the transmission of large amounts of data through your cellular service provider’s network. Contact your service provider for information about data transmission charges. The availability and accuracy of GPS location services are dependent on wireless networks, satellite systems. It may not function in all areas or at all times. You should never rely solely on GPS products for essential communications like emergencies. Indulge in videos, music and pictures arrow Have all your entertainment on board with up to 32 GB of storage. Get more from Ovi Store arrow Download apps, games, videos, and widgets directly to your device.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #222 in Cell Phone Accessories
• Color: Black
• Brand: Nokia
• Model: N97 Black
• Released on: 2009-05-18
• Dimensions: 4.61" h x .63" w x 2.18" l, 1.20 pounds

Features

• This unlocked cell phone is compatible with GSM carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile. Not all carrier features may be supported. It will not work with CDMA carriers like Verizon Wireless, Alltel and Sprint.
• Unlocked quad-band GSM cell phone compatible with 850/900/1800/1900 frequencies and US/International 3G compatibility via 850/1900/2100 UMTS/HSDPA plus GPRS/EDGE capabilities
• Flip-out full QWERTY keyboard; A-GPS and Nokia Maps; Wi-Fi networking; Bluetooth stereo music; 32 GB internal memory; expandable via MicroSD
• Up to 9.5 hours of GSM talk time (6 hours on 3G, up to 430 hours (17.9 days) of standby time
• What's in the Box: Nokia N97, Nokia Battery (BP-4L), travel charger (AC-10U), connectivity cable (CA-101), wired headset (AD-54, HS-45), charger adapter (CA-146), cleaning cloth

Amazon.com Product Description
Designed for the needs of Internet-savvy mobile phone users, the Nokia N97 will transform the way people connect to the Internet and to each other. It combines a large 3.5-inch touch display with a full QWERTY keyboard which flips open at an angle for optimal viewing. This provides an "always open" window to your favorite social networking sites and Internet destinations. And with integrated A-GPS sensors and an electronic compass, the device intuitively understands where it is, giving you the ability to update your status on social networks and instant messaging as well as share your location and related pictures or videos with approved friends.

The Nokia N97 mobile computer provides global 3G cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity for always-on access to your favorite social networking sites.

The quad-band Nokia N97 GSM/EDGE phone makes it easy to roam globally and stay in touch with voice and text messaging, and this model is also ready to run on 3G networks both in the US and internationally (850/1900/2100 MHz HSDPA), enabling fast downloads and streaming multimedia while on the go. It also includes integrated Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11b/g) for accessing open networks at work, home, and on the road from a variety of wireless hotspots. You'll also be able to connect to a wide variety of peripherals--including stereo headphones--with the Bluetooth 2.0+EDR capabilities.

The Nokia N97 includes 32 GB of on-board storage and is expandable via optional 16 GB MicroSD memory cards for up to 48 GB of storage. The 5-megapixel camera offers high-quality Carl Zeiss optics, 16:9 and DVD-quality video capture, and support for services like Share on Ovi for immediate sharing over HSDPA and WLAN. Other features include an easily customizable home screen, access to both personal and corporate email, Quickoffice document viewers, TV-out capability for displaying photos and videos on external televisions, stereo FM radio, USB 2.0 connectivity, and up to 9.5 hours of GSM talk time (6 hours when using 3G networks).

Unlocked Phone
This unlocked cell phone can be used with a GSM network service provider and it provides quad-band connectivity (850/900/1800/1900 MHz). It does not come with a SIM card, and it requires that you provide a SIM card for usage with your selected service provider. This phone comes with a full manufacturer's warranty.

Additionally, this phone can be paired with 850/1900 MHz UMTS/HSDPA 3G networks in the United States (as well as 2100 MHz 3G networks found around the world, including in Europe and Asia). When paired with a compatible 3G network, you'll enjoy a high-speed connection offering a variety of feature-rich wireless services--from data connectivity to your office to multimedia streaming, and take advantage of simultaneous voice and data services. In areas not served by a 3G network, you'll continue to receive data service via EDGE network (depending on network compatibility).

Note that the downloading of maps, games, music and videos and uploading of images and videos involves transferring large amounts of data. Your service provider may charge for the data transmission, and the availability of particular services and features may vary by carrier.

The N97's face slides open at an ergnomic angle for easy viewing while typing on the full QWERTY keyboard (see larger image).

Phone Features
Large and gorgeously colorful, the Nokia N97's 3.5-inch touch display offers a 640 x 360-pixel resolution and support for up to 16.7 million colors for an excellent color depth. The resistive touch screen includes haptic feedback so you know when you've pressed a key or onscreen menu, brightness control, an ambient light detector, and an orientation sensor that effortlessly switches from portrait to landscape viewing. The N97's home screen features the people, content and media that matter the most, including friends, social networks and news. The 16:9 widescreen display can be fully personalized with frequently updated widgets of favorite web services and social networking sites. It's also perfectly suited for browsing the web, streaming Flash videos or playing games.

When you're ready to start typing email or text/instant messages, just flip the N97 on its left side and slide the face up to reveal the full QWERTY keyboard. The display pivots to an angle that makes it easy to read the screen while you're typing.

With A-GPS functionality, you'll be able find your route quickly and easily, whether walking or driving (A-GPS is a network dependent feature that requires a data plan; additional charges may apply). The Nokia Maps application offers richer maps with urban details and satellite views and the ability to search and download information about points of interests, such as restaurants, hotels, companies, travel agencies, airports, and more. Let the built-in compass keep you pointing in the right direction--the map adapts to point the same way you do. Use the Walk pedestrian navigation to find your way, or the voice-guided Drive navigation to find the best route. The Nokia N97 comes with a three-month Walk and Drive navigation license.

Accessing Nokia Maps on the N97.

The Nokia N97 supports email accounts from more than a thousand internet service providers (ISPs) around the world (SMTP, IMAP4, POP3), as well as Gmail, Yahoo! mail and Hotmail. People who use Microsoft Exchange at work can access their email using the Mail for Exchange mobile email client, which comes pre-loaded (an Exchange email account is required and your Exchange Administrator must have enabled your account for synchronization). You'll enjoy reliable real-time access to your email, calendar, contacts and tasks, as well as be able to download attachments like Word, Excel, Powerpoint or PDF files directly to the device.

With the Carl Zeiss optics on the 5-megapixel camera (2584 x 1938 pixels), you can capture print quality photos and DVD-like quality video clips. Carl Zeiss, a world leader in high quality camera lenses, brings an award-winning legacy to the Nokia N96 with state-of-the-art optics for mobile photography and mobile video. The Zeiss name has been associated with cameras from Hasselblad, Rollei, Yashica, Sony, and Nikon. The camera offers an auto-focus Carl Zeiss lens, dual LED flash, up to 14x digital zoom, and JPEG/EXIF still image file format.

The N97 can also capture videos in a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio at 30 frames per second (fps). It includes digital video stabilization, settings for scene, video light, white balance and color tone, and up to a 90-minute clip length. Other features include automatic location tagging (geotagging) of images/videos, images taken in the correct orientation automatically, and Cover Flow viewing of photos with finger motions. Upload your photos and videos to Ovi Share and share them online with friends and family.

This smartphone has an integrated Wi-Fi LAN (802.11b/g), enabling seamless connectivity with wireless networks at work, at home, and on the roam via Wi-Fi hotspots at airports and coffee shops. Because it's Bluetooth enabled (with version 2.0+EDR), wireless communication headsets can be configured with the phone for total hands-free operation. It also offers Bluetooth stereo audio support (A2DP), enabling you to enjoy your music without any wires. If your laptop is Bluetooth enabled, you can connect wirelessly and enjoy dial-up networking (DUN)--surf the Internet, send email, and access files from a server.

Other features include:

• 32 GB internal memory, expandable up to 48 GB with optional 16 GB MicroSD card
• Integrated stereo speakers
• Full web browsing of real web pages; RSS reader
• Organize your life with Calendar--plan your day, organize your to-do list and set reminders for important events
• Gaming: Use the touch UI to play games and the side keys to control game functions
• Stereo FM radio (87.5-108 MHz/76-90 MHz), RDS (requires wired headset to be attached)
• Access to Internet videos, compatible with RSS feeds and video podcasts, with support for Flash video
• S60 5th edition operating system
• Organizer tools: Calendar, to-do list, notes, recorder, calculator, clock, converter
• Contacts: advanced contacts database with support for multiple phone and e-mail details per entry and thumbnail pictures
• Create, edit, and view email attachments: .doc, .xls, .ppt, .pdf
• PC application compatibility: Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, Lotus Organizer, Lotus Notes
• Support for local and remote SyncML synchronization
• Speed dialing, voice dialing (speaker independent) and voice commands
• Customization through themes, ringtones, applications
• Portrait and landscape orientation modes; with transitions via dual slide operation, or auto-rotate controlled by accelerometer
• Data transfer application for transfer of PIM information from other compatible Nokia devices
• 3.5 mm AV connector; USB 2.0 (micro USB connector)
• Nokia XpressPrint: direct printing via USB connection (PictBridge), Bluetooth connectivity (BPP), and WLAN (UPnP) or via online printing
• Flight mode
• Bluetooth version 2.0+EDR with the following profiles: A2DP (stereo music streaming), AVRC (remote control), HFP (hands-free car kits), HSP (communication headsets), BIP (for sending images to another device), DUN (dial-up networking), FTP (file transfer), HID (support for mice or joysticks), OPP (object push for business cards, calendar items, and pictures), PBA (transfer contacts)

Vital Statistics
The Nokia N97 weighs 5.29 ounces and measures 4.61 x 2.18 x 0.63 inches. Its 1500 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 9.5 hours of GSM talk time (6 hours while on 3G networks, and up to 430 hours (17.9 days) of GSM standby time (400/16.6 days on 3G networks). It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies as well as the 850/1900/2100 MHz HSDPA 3G frequencies.

What's in the Box
Nokia N97, Nokia Battery (BP-4L), travel charger (AC-10U), connectivity cable (CA-101), wired headset (AD-54, HS-45), charger adapter (CA-146), cleaning cloth

Customer Reviews

Almost perfect phone for even the most discriminating users...almost
Hello and thank you for reading this review.

I am a phone app developer and have had some 'face time' with the Nokia N97. I'll let you know some of the more in depth details so you can decide if this is the right phone for you or not. There are many positive features about this phone, but a few potential pitfalls for power users as well. Average users will probably never notice any of the pitfalls, but probably will never use some of the best features of this phone either to justify the cost.

This is the new Nokia flagship phone and it packs almost every feature anyone could ever want. It has a DVD quality camcorder with sample videos found here:
http://www.vimeo.com/4352001
Notice how well the mic picks up the creeks of the boats in Monte Carlo, and how rich the colors look. That is due to the Carl Zeiss lens Nokia has put in. The quality is also great and can be sent directly to the TV via the TV out cable, but I would recommend making a DVD from the memory card as the quality of the cable isn't as good as the DVD quality this phone provides. Video starts up quickly, which is an improvement from the previous versions.

The pictures taken by this phone are of very good quality. Many consumers are fooled by 'megapixels' (mp). Well folks, after 5mp or so, mp doesn't mean much. All it does is make your picture size better, it does NOT increase the QUALITY. I assume most of us aren't pro graphic artists that need huge pictures to zoom in on the most minute detail, and if you are, then you probably don't need this review :P
The lens and picture quality of this phone is superb, but not as good as the Samsung 8 sadly. It is by far tho, one of the best mobile phone cameras around. You can notice some problems in darker areas and they went with a dual LED flash instead of the Xeon gas flash. The Xeon gas flash would have provided much better lighting in low light situations, however as a phone enthusiast I feel it's good enough.
View sample images from thesymbianblog.com:
http://vaibhavsharma.wordpress.com/files/2009/05/nokia-n97-camera-photo-sample-01.jpg

and

http://vaibhavsharma.wordpress.com/files/2009/05/nokia-n97-camera-photo-sample-03.jpg

Judge for yourself.

This phone is a TRUE smart phone OS which means you can download apps for it such as VPN software to connect to your office network and apps such as PUTTY or RDP clients to remote control real computers at the house/office. With 3G speeds the potential is limitless.


Now for the bad. Nokia decided to use the old ARM II CPU found in the N85, 95, etc. phones but increased the clockspeed (mhz) slightly. We were looking forward to the new TI cpu which would have provided much better speeds, at the cost of battery life. They also stuck with 128mb ram with about 80mb available after boot up. I don't know about you but after I load up all of my apps and get cranking, I eat that up. I was able to notice some slow down in the pre-build when I:
-opened up several websites w/ flash content
-ran the music player
-opened up 'widget' applications
-tried basic functionality

Most users will probably never do that. If you are a power user, then you probably already know about the Samsung Omnia HD which boasts of similer features, but also the new faster CPU and dedicated GFX chip which means you can play Ipod type 3d games with ease. The final point is with the potentially underpowered CPU, you will not be able to play the super high resolution videos the Samsung can play.

Finally this phone has the slower 3G speeds which don't reach 7mbps, will you need 7mbps? Probably not. I think for 99% of users, the current 3G speeds offered by this phone are fine.

I tried out the phone and pre-ordered, I can't wait to get it. I can't wait to develop some 'widget' applications for it and really see the power of this phone with the newer more stable build.

Thank you for reading this, feel free to respond, yell, scream, or ask any questions!

Beauty and Brains - Together at Last!
[This is an updated review; some of the issues that existed when the N97 was first released have since been addressed. Also, I have moved some of the more elaborate details of the original text into a new review ("A Guide") that I created for the white version.]

Nokia E- and N-series phones have for some years now had, by far, more capabilities than anything else out there - but they have not always been the sexiest or had the widest mass appeal. Plus, although Nokia sell more smartphones than anyone else worldwide, they have not targeted or marketed the US market very heavily (thanks in part to our combination of non-standard wireless technologies and frequencies, consumers' focus on style over substance, and Nokia's unwillingness to cater to the fairly heavy-handed branding and crippling of functionality demanded by US network providers).

Much of that is changing with the N97. As you can see it definitely has the visual appeal. Also, its main enhancements over the most recent N-series phones (such as the N95, N96 and N85) are user interface centric:
>> 640x360 WVGA LCD
>> Touch screen
>> QWERTY keypad
>> Faster CPU (ARM11 at 420 MHz vs. 332/369 MHz in the N95/N85, and two ARM9 cores at 265 MHz in the N96)
>> Configurable widgets for the home screen

There are a couple of other improvements as well:
>> 32GB of built-in storage, µSDHC card slot for up to 32GB more (Nokia always advertise only the tested configuration, 16GB)
>> Additional sensors: Magnometer (electronic compass), Proximity

So, yes, Nokia have finally bit the dust and moved onto the post-iPhone touch screen bandwagon. But whereas Apple borrowed quite a few UI elements from the Motorola Ming, and other manufacturers in turn tried to copy the iPhone look and feel, Nokia has taken a decidely different approach: They have taken most of their new design elements from their own Internet Tablets line (e.g. exchangable home screen widgets, keypad layout, etc). They have also done so while keeping the underlying OS from their previous smartphones, Symbian/S60.

I don't care much for this direction. To this day, I would take the E90 any day over the N97, had it been released with support for North American 3G (UMTS) bands. The E90 does not have a touch screen, but does have a numeric keypad on the outside in addition to the QWERTY inside the shell -- this allows you to "type" with one hand using the native T9 predictive input, and mostly keep your eyes elsewhere while dri... eh... walking.

As it is, Nokia ended up with touch screen phones (starting with the 5800 XpressMusic) kicking and screaming - it kindof shows. The user interaction paradigm is a little odd at times -- probably mostly due to the S60 legacy. [Lipstick/pig joke deliberately omitted here]. For instance:
>> You need to double-tap on icons (once to select, once to open)
>> They still retain "soft keys" on the side to access menus an the like (though now they are located on the display itself, and occupying quite a bit of space). The home (previously "standby") screen has three soft keys; the left and middle are always "Options" and a a dial pad, while the right one is configurable ("Contacts") by default.

There are some other usability issues with this phone as well:
>> Copy & Paste functionality is a bit more cumbersome. There are no keypad shortcuts; with the keypad open, cut/copy/paste are only available via the menus! Moreover, not all text input screens have such a menu available - in which case you need to close they keypad in order to bring up a virtual numeric keypad with a context menu at the top of the screen. Or, if you use an external Bluetooth keyboard, you can press Ctrl-X/C/V.
>> The keypad layout is a little unusual at first. The navigation keys are on the left (which some gamers like, but I don't). The space bar is in an odd location on the right. Mixed alpha/numeric input is cumbersome because the digits 0-9 are "shifted" via a key on the right side of the keyboard, while the standard shift key is on the left. Plus, in some dialogs you get a helpful numeric keypad on your screen, but it defaults to text input (2=abc, 3=def, etc) rather than give you quicker access to digits! (Why, Nokia? You already have the keyboard? What are you thinking?). That said, the tactile feedback is good, not too "firm" or "clicky", but with a good feedback.
>> There is a nice E-mail status widget for the home screen, but you can only have one of these. If you have multiple e-mail accounts (e.g. for work/home), you can only monitor one of them. The same goes for some of the other widgets too.
>> Direct media controls are gone (the N95/N96/N85 had a dual slider design giving ready access to play/pause/previous/next). There is a home screen widget available, but it is hardly as convenient (e.g. if you are using an application, typing a mail, etc).

Some other limitations that I found so far when compared to their previous N-series phones:
>> The amount of available RAM (dynamic memory) available for applications is low (around 55MB, versus about 75MB in the N85/N95). UPDATE 2009-07-01: This may not be an issue after all. With the latest firmware update from Nokia, the available memory seems to have increased to about 65MB - and in general, the only time I have had a "out of memory" error was while running RoadSync, which explicitly warns that it is not compatible with this phone.
>> Adobe Reader is no longer included in the price of the phone. It is still preinstalled, but now only on a trial basis. If you want to continue using it after some days (about 3 weeks I gather), you need to purchase it - similar to QuickOffice.
>> The number of applications available for this phone is somewhat more limited; this is only the second Nokia phone to use the new S60 5th edition user interface w/touch-screen support. Although most of the older applications will still run on it, there may be some that don't. Notably, Nokia Internet Radio is not included, nor is it available for download yet. :(
>> Synchronization of phone contacts/events/todos is not yet supported on the Mac, as Nokia have not as of the time of this writing released an iSync plugin for it. (You can still synchronize with Microsoft Exchange, use the built-in "Switch" application to copy contacts from another Nokia phone, or you can transfer contacts as vCards from another phone).
>> Getting Bluetooth Stereo Audio (A2DP/AVRCP) to work with your Bluetooth car stereo is hit and miss. More on my experiences in this regard in the "white" model review.
>> The UI is generally a bit "sluggish" - moreso than my previous phone, the Nokia N85, despite a faster processor. The touch UI probably has a lot to do with this. (Then again, both the N95 and certainly the N96 did not break any speed records by any stretch of the imagination).

All that said, most of these issues are software/firmware related, and will improve over time. As it is, the N97 is perhaps the most capable phone on the planet today -- a jack of all trades, if you will. It certainly has improved over previous N-Series phones in a number of ways as well:
>> E-mail reading is dramatically improved - especially in clients with HTML support (e.g. System SEVEN). Also, because most of these integrate into the "Messaging" application, messages are listed much more nicely in the mailbox -- the larger screen is used very well here.
>> Web browsing - what a pleasure. This was the main attraction of the iPhone - but I think the N97 surpasses it. Kinetic scrolling, variable zoom, and quite a speed improvement. Of course the previous strengths are there too - the way the "Back" button brings up snapshot views of your previously viewed pages, Flash, etc.
>> The phone has quite a "solid" feel to it, without feeling like a tank.

To be sure, there are phones out there with better cameras (e.g. Samsung Pixon), more newbie-friendly user interfaces (iPhone), better support for a variety of corporate e-mail standards (Blackberry), and so on - but hardly any that have the combination of all these features in one device. The closest may be the close cousin Samsung Omnia HD, which:
>> runs the same OS, has the same screen resolution and many other features
>> has a better camera (yeah "megapixel blur" but also optics), HD video recording
>> faster CPU (600 MHz vs 420 MHz)
but:
>> does not have good support for U.S. 3G frequencies, and
>> does not have a keypad (QWERTY or otherwise).
These two shortcomings pretty much kills the Omnia HD as an alternative for me.

Also, aside from the N85, the N97 is the first Nokia phone to support tri-band UMTS ("worldwide" 3G). This means that you will get 3G speeds (mostly) where they are available: 850/1900 MHz for AT&T Wireless and other carriers in the Americas, 2100 MHz elsewhere (including Japan). That said, for complete worldwide coverage you would need "penta-band" UMTS, with the additional inclusion of 900 MHz for Europe, and 1700 MHz for T-Mobile USA. No phones currently support all of these bands. NOTE: There is also a "standard" version of the N97 for international markets, with support for 900/2100 MHz internationally and 1900 MHz for roaming in the Americas.

You probably won't see this phone subsidized on contract by a carrier anytime soon. The primary candidate would be AT&T - but it looks like they have passed on it (perhaps they don't believe it has mass market appeal). Then again, if you are looking to get this phone, you are not likely to be the type of person who would accept their lockdowns in the first place. Look no further than the differences between the unlocked Nokia E71 versus AT&T's E71x for a prime example: In AT&T's version, various features are disabled (keyboard shortcuts for copy&paste, the S60 native e-mail reader, network selection), and instead a number of non-removable, non-renamable, non-movable AT&T specific applications are installed.

Another upside of buying an unlocked phone like this is that it may cost you less in the long run. It seems I'm unable to get actual numbers past Amazon's editors here (see comments) - but if you have a standard SIM from AT&T, you can plug it into this phone and add a standard "data unlimited" feature. In contrast, if you get a smartphone on contract from AT&T, your data plan will be at least twice as expensive - which adds up over the 2-year contract term to cover (at least) the price difference between most of these and the unlocked N97. Plus, you would of course not need to renew your contract with an unlocked phone like this. AT&T's generally subsidize their phones a couple of hundred bucks versus the unlocked equivalent (except the iPhone, where the subsidy is closer to four hundred, but where the more expensive data plan is mandatory).

Finally, if you take your unlocked phone with you abroad, you can walk into a store and get a pre-paid SIM -- that way you local tariffs, rather than pay (outrageous!) roaming fees to AT&T.

Now for a couple of practical aspects and caveats:
>> If you are looking for a unique look, go for the white model, not this black one. Some also think it is better looking.
>>If you are going to use the N97 in your car, to play music or for GPS turn-by-turn directions, do yourself a favor and get a cradle/mount for it. For instance, there is a Brodit cradle (available from ProClipUSA) specifically designed for it; this is one part of a two-part mount, the second part will be specific to your vehicle; you can get one from either ProClipUSA, PanaVise, or Pro-Fit International - they are all compatible. Or, if you want a universal holder, the Bracketron Grip-IT works nicely for the N97, and can also be put on the same vehicle specific mounts.

Finally, if you are looking to get this phone, it is important that you get it for the capabilities, not ease of use. Like other Symbian/S60 phones, getting used to it takes a little persistence and discovery, but it will grow on you over time as you explore it and learn more about its esoteric features.

Outstanding phone
After having this phone, I do not know what else can possibly be done. I am a former Nokia N95 owner, and probably one of the few Nokia phone fans in the USA. Sure this phone is $6-700, and yeah it is not an iPhone but in the long run, you are paying it anyway if you are in the USA. Having an unlocked phone is fantastic because you can pretty much do whatever you want with it, use it anywhere on earth, and not have some carrier crippling your apps etc. I bought it from the nokia flagship in NYC, but I will be buying another from amazon.

The Good Stuff:
The GPS has improved over the already good GPS on the previous high end smartphones. The maps suite works good now, and if you dont like it you can always download google maps. The GPS captures fast, and works inside vehicles better than the one on my n95.

The screen is beautiful, and the phone is pretty much a little laptop. Typing takes a little while to get used to because of the offset space bar, but I got used to it in minutes. The combination of touch and keys does the best of both worlds. Touching is good for UI navigation, but lets face it typing on a touch screen really blows.
The camera is excellent as always shooting DVD like video and the 2 leds put out much more light than the previous 1. A xenon flash would be far better though, but I dont really mind. The camera has a cover that when moved, it activates the camera. Carl Zeiss lens and 5 megapixel resolution. Also a secondary camera for video chat.
The hinge sliding mechanism is very good and well engineered. I dont foresee it breaking. The battery life all depends on how much you use it and how much data you have on. If you have Fring running and doing gps etc it is going to probably only last 10 hours or so.
The web browser is great, it does flash and javascript properly. Web browsing experience is probably the only thing the iPhone has on this though.
There are a ton of unrestricted apps, and the ovi store is a good step.

The bad:
The UI sometimes bogs down. The iPhone feels slick and fast even though it is just as slow, but they are smart and make the animations smooth. The n97 just jumps from screen to screen. I am a programmer, and the one thing you do in UI is always keep something moving. There is some flack about the processor and ram, but I would prefer battery life. However it would be better if Nokia put in a higher speed processor and throttled it down when not needed.

Some key apps are missing. Sports tracker I had to find somewhere, and it is an older version but I got it working. The new version does not work. I love this app and it shows the power of Nokia phones but they foolishly left it out. Same with internet radio. I cant believe the phones do not ship with these, they are amazing apps. Not only do they not ship with them, they do not even have versions for the N97.

These gripes though I think will be fixed with firmware/time. That is the reason for the 4 star. If you want a phone that does absolutely everything conceivable, is not restricted, and does stuff years before the iPhone get this. I compare the iPhone because it seems in the USA if you do not have an iPhone you have some knockoff in other people's eyes. This is no iPhone knockoff, it beats them in most ways. The biggest thing for me is multitasking. I cannot believe the iPhone does not run apps in the background. Next year there will be iPhone 4.0 which will probably do it, and everyone will be in awe like they invented it. It is about the same dimensions as an iPhone but thicker. Slingplayer worked fine on n95 but it seems they do not have the n97 version out yet. Rest assured that when it does come out it is not going to have that stupid ATT restriction that barred it from the iPhone app store of using only wifi and not the 3g.