Nokia N810 Internet Tablet review

Nokia isn't foolish enough to think that its line of Internet Tablets is going to attract everyone. The company has readily admitted that these are for a certain audience -- gadget lovers and early adopters -- and we certainly agree with that statement. However, with every successive model, we also see more appeal in such a device.

The latest Internet Tablet, the Nokia N810, features some nice improvements, including a full Qwerty keyboard and integrated GPS. There's also a more robust Web browser and improved interface, courtesy of the latest Nokia Internet Tablet 2008 operating system.

The Nokia N810 Internet Tablet is available now for £295.

Design
With each iteration of the Internet Tablet, Nokia has improved on the design, and the Nokia N810 is no exception. It carries a smaller footprint than the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet at 128 by 14 by 72mm but weighs the same at 226g, which is admittedly on the heavier side. Still, it's compact enough to slip into your bag or purse, and the sleekness combined with brushed metal finish makes it one sexy device. The N810 is sure to garner a few stares from onlookers.

The Nokia N810 Internet Tablet features a sleek design that should garner a few oohs and ahhs

On front, there's a 104mm (4.1-inch) QVGA touchscreen that displays 65,000 colours at an 800x480-pixel resolution. It was a pleasurable experience checking out Web sites and viewing images, thanks to the sharp definition and vibrant colours. It's readable in various lighting conditions, and there's an ambient light sensor that will adjust the screen's brightness depending on your environment.

The user interface is different than the N800, and while it's still not completely intuitive, it's easier to navigate and the applications are neatly organised by category. You can also customise the home screen with various themes and background images, and you can conveniently drag items around the page to create a layout that suits you.

To the left of the display, you'll find the webcam, a Home screen shortcut, a back button and a status LED. The navigation control pad that was found on the N800 has been relocated (more on this later), but we missed having this on the front of the device to more easily operate the device. You can use the included stylus to manoeuvre through the menus and select items. The touchscreen is responsive, though there was some lag but this was more of a performance issue rather than a problem with the touchscreen.

To the left of the tablet's 104mm (4.1-inch) touchscreen, you'll find a webcam, menu button and back key

One of the biggest and most noteworthy additions to the Nokia N810 is the new slide-out Qwerty keyboard. To access it, just push up the screen, which locks into place with a satisfying click. While we love having the keyboard since it makes emailing, instant messaging and entering Web addresses easier, we did have a couple of complaints.