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Nokia 8600 Luna Mini Review |
floatlite
Joined: Jan 23, 2002
Posts: 486
From: Glasgow
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Well recieved the new Nokia 8600 mobile phone this morning, and here's the initial view and verdict on the wee beasty.
Name.
The Nokia 8600 Luna.
As Nokia stated, they have started to utilise names to their handset, along with the numerical designation, this being the second handset to be 'named' after the 8800 'Sirocco'
Packaging.
As per the 8000 series phones from Nokia, the 8600 recieved the same 'luxury' packaging, containing an embosed box, full colour, high sublimation printed booklets, and supplied real leather phone case.
Above: Nokia 8600 Luna box sleeve.
Above: Inside the 'front cover' of the packaging.
So whats in the box?
As with the 8800 Sirocco forerunner, the 8600 Luna comes well specced with accessories in the box, the contents being as follows;
1. 8600 Luna Handset
2. Mains Charger
3. 3.5mm to USB audio adaptor
4. Stereo headset w. 3.5mm plug
5. Real Leather carry case / sleeve
6. Real Leather polishing / cleaning cloth
7. USB data cable
8. Battery
9. Instruction Manual
10. Full colour booklet 'Luna"
11. Stainless Steel carry strap.
Above: The Luna box contents 'laid bare'
The Device! Oh the Design.
Well, what can I say, I already own a Nokia 8800, and an 8800 Sirocco Dark, so I know Nokia can produce an supremely well made phone when they decide too, so I was hopeful of a well made piece of mobile niceness. As the 8600 is seemingly the underling of the 8800, would I be disapointed? Would this be a poor mans / womans (I'm PC me, you know!) 8800?
Well in a word...NO, the 8600 Luna is everybit as good, if not BETTER that the 8800, and in what ways I hear you ask??
Well, to me (and of course this is objective) the 8600 Luna has more interesting design features, more use of materials in a sensible way and some unique touches that say to me someone has really done their design breif well.
Let me expand;
The use of the smoked glass is inspired, Glass has a tactility second to none, it's smooth, warm or cold, optically interesting and it's use in a mobile is a paradox in design terms.
Above: Shiny, Moody Glass fronted 8600 (sorry about the finger prints and my ugly face 10/10 geek points if you noted the N95 taking the picture!)
The rear of the 8800 Sirocco is shiny stainless steel, great, but not practical, easily marked, and not exactly slip proof on worktops.
On the 8600 Luna, initial impressions are that the rear is not metal, but oh yes it is......
Above: So it's not stainless is it? Thats a pint you owe me mate!
......indeed the rear is still Stainless Steel, but some bright spark decided to over spray the rear with ceramic reinforced coating. So now we have a beautiful Stainless Steel rear, which is warm to the touch, looks great, tough and non slip. Inspired.
On opening the phone the camera lens (2MP) is revealed, surrounded by beautifully finished dark smoked stainless steel.
Above: The rear of the beast, ceramic reinfored rear, but stunning smoked stainless steel revealed when opened.
The Keypad, another bug bear of the 8800, both the original and the Sirocco. The Sirocco improved slightly on the originals shortcoming, mainly the top row of keys, the 1, 2, 3, and the soft keys above, unless you either were very careful, or had teeny tiny digits, you could all to easily fit the wrong buttons, with outcomes such as deleting the txt, hanging up on a call, etc etc.
Now the 8600 has this sorted, the layout, keystroke, and spacing are light years ahead of the 8800, yes they are now plastic, not metal, but keys are for pressing and using, not for looking pretty and being difficult, if not unusable.
The Screen
Above: Bigger, brighter, glossier.......happier!
The screen is excellent, thats really all I need to say. Ok then I'll say a bit more. It's slightly larger, it's most definately brighter, and the viewabily (new word alert!) is definately better than the 8800. I like it...alot.
Battery.
Wooo Hooo, no need for 2 batteries, that last no time, the 8600 is supplied with a BP - 5M, a chunky battery, not some feeble excuse for a power source that Nokia decided was good for the 8800.
UI.
Nothing to revolutionary here, good old Nokia Symbian S40 affair, nicely layed out, easy to use, and does 99% of the things you want, quickly, and easily. What more can I say, it ain't no smart phone, but it's not pretending to be, it's a luxury (let me hear mmmmmmmm) phone, not some "corporate hack, check out my blackberry inbox is bigger than yours, check out my WiFi signal" (TM David Sharp 2007) breeze block of a phone.
Initial Negatives.
NOKIA WHAT ARE YOU DOING, ANOTHER NEW CHARGER PORT!!!!! Calm down David, take your medicine. Unbelievably there is a brand new USB B type connector for the charger, headphones and data cable, but is it the standard B type mini connector, don't be foolish, of course not.
The only upside of this is that you do get a data cable, great for uploading data, and (fingers crossed) the ability to use Nokia Update Service to update the firmware at home (please Nokia)
Initial Verdict.
I love it, better than my 8800, both in looks, battery life, and style. If you want a great quality, looker of a handset, get one.
David | |
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Ibinco
Joined: Jan 22, 2004
Posts: 383
From: Holland
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Great review m8! Looks nice for a nokia  Any idea what this will cost?!
I got the magic stick! |
batesie
Joined: Feb 13, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: London, UK
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so its a usb mini b that doubles up as a charger/headset?
does that mean you cant listen to music while charging?
[addsig] |
Mr Miyagi
Joined: Mar 28, 2005
Posts: > 500
From: UK
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Great review, can we possible get some pics and vids please taken by the handset. Also the see through slider where you can see the keys, are u able to see the keys when the slider is shut from only a close angle, or can you see the keys through the slider from a distance? To me it it looks like a great phone, however the see through keypad kinda puts me off it at the moment.
Miyagi
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floatlite
Joined: Jan 23, 2002
Posts: 486
From: Glasgow
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On 2007-05-31 16:43:50, Ibinco wrote:
Great review m8! Looks nice for a nokia Any idea what this will cost?!
In the UK the handset is about £600 UK SIM free. On contract you can get one free from about £40 mth over 18mth on O2, Orange or T-mobile. As CPW are offering it exc for 6 weeks Voda is off the cards, although the handsets are Sim free, unlocked and unbranded, and have most UK network network setting preinstalled (O2, Voda, T mobile, Virgin, Orange)
On 2007-05-31 16:58:10, batesie wrote:
so its a usb mini b that doubles up as a charger/headset?
does that mean you cant listen to music while charging?
You got it, one port, either charger, data or headphones, not more than one at a time. No multi adaptor inc, although I guess someone, will come up with one sometime soon
[ This Message was edited by: floatlite on 2007-05-31 16:08 ]
On 2007-05-31 16:58:45, Mr Miyagi wrote:
Great review, can we possible get some pics and vids please taken by the handset. Also the see through slider where you can see the keys, are u able to see the keys when the slider is shut from only a close angle, or can you see the keys through the slider from a distance? To me it it looks like a great phone, however the see through keypad kinda puts me off it at the moment.
Miyagi
You can only see the keys through the bottom glass if you really look for them, or if you light them up, otherwise they are hidden, looks really cool.
I'll take some pics and upload them
david
[ This Message was edited by: floatlite on 2007-05-31 16:11 ] |
Mr Miyagi
Joined: Mar 28, 2005
Posts: > 500
From: UK
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ok thanks floatlite if thats the case, i might go for it then, how is it like to feel though? when it comes to texting, how smooth is it, when you text, is it easy? are the buttons hard to press or soft? how is it when it comes to holding it? does it weigh the same as the sirocoo?. At night, or in the dark what is the keypad light display like?
thanks again
Miyagi |
Mr Miyagi
Joined: Mar 28, 2005
Posts: > 500
From: UK
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i wonder if they will release a gold version of this handset like the sirocco |
floatlite
Joined: Jan 23, 2002
Posts: 486
From: Glasgow
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The keys are beautifully weighted, unlike the 8800 which are somewhere between to stiff and rattling dependant on whether you are at the top or the bottom of the keypad.
I think it's a much nicer and easier to use keypad than the 8800.
The UI seems quick and smooth, no lag when in use.
Doubt they will do a gold one, as there is not the same 'bare' metal as on the 8800, what with the ceramic coating etc |
amnesia
Joined: Jan 15, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: Doha, London, Tokyo, Shanghai
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You've beaten me to the review floatlight. But very well written indeed.
Just a few other points to add though.
1) it uses an OLED screen (greatly reduces battery power)
2) no dock. (which was a disappointment). BUt it was mentioned that glass-like dock will be provided as an extra accessory.
3) the volume of the speaker is 5 times better than the 8800 or sirocco.
My question is though, is it touch sensitve? If the keypad is slid down, can you still use it? Or it is just a design?
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Mr Miyagi
Joined: Mar 28, 2005
Posts: > 500
From: UK
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are u able to answer the phone by opening the slide, or do u have to open it and then press the answer button? and are u able to make and recieve calls with the slide in the close position?
miyagi |
floatlite
Joined: Jan 23, 2002
Posts: 486
From: Glasgow
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On 2007-05-31 18:53:44, amnesia wrote:
You've beaten me to the review floatlight. But very well written indeed.
Just a few other points to add though.
1) it uses an OLED screen (greatly reduces battery power)
2) no dock. (which was a disappointment). BUt it was mentioned that glass-like dock will be provided as an extra accessory.
3) the volume of the speaker is 5 times better than the 8800 or sirocco.
My question is though, is it touch sensitve? If the keypad is slid down, can you still use it? Or it is just a design?
It's not touch sensitive, once the keypad is sliddown you can only use the answer, reject, the 2 soft keys and the menu select joystick.
You can call from your call lost, and you can answer with the slide closed.
You can also answer by sliding the handset open.
regards
David |
QVGA
Joined: May 23, 2006
Posts: > 500
From: Pakistan
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looks stunning, another beauty from nokia. |
Mr Miyagi
Joined: Mar 28, 2005
Posts: > 500
From: UK
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i wonder why this phone is still not mentioned on the nokia website. |
floatlite
Joined: Jan 23, 2002
Posts: 486
From: Glasgow
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Officially it is not being launched until 1st June, as far as I am aware.
David |
floatlite
Joined: Jan 23, 2002
Posts: 486
From: Glasgow
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It's now on the Nokia Site
http://europe.nokia.com/nokia/0,8764,64,00.html
It's in the flash presentation at the top, if it does not show,just refresh and it'll eventually show
David
[ This Message was edited by: floatlite on 2007-05-31 20:18 ] | |
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Posted: 2007-05-31 16:09
