Comments on: Why the Nokia N900 is No Better Than an HTC Mogul — Updated

By: grantmasterflash

grantmasterflash — Wed, 11 May 2011 10:58:00 +0000

I’ve had this debate with a friend and it’s insane. I’ve been using an Android phone for 5 months and just bought an N900 because having to zoom, zoom, zoom to click on anything on a website is just stupid. With the n900 and it’s stylus I’m effectively 5x faster. If I want to just play music or run finger friendly apps then fingers are fine however, I actually want to use my mobile device for more than play. I understand and agree that it’s fiddly to have to get the stylus out, put it away, get it out etc. but the usefulness far far outweighs this. Also I don’t think our absolutely wonderful web experience on the N900 would be possible if it weren’t for the stylus. Have you wondered why Android and iphone both have cut down web browsers that rely on pinch/zoom to survive? I think the N900 does a good job of not requiring you to use the stylus for most tasks (not like the n810 where the stylus was necessary) but I’m very thankful the stylus is there for everything else. Not having one is a deal breaker (see note above about moving from Android TO the N900).

By: Mauricio Szabo

Mauricio Szabo — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:32:03 +0000

Ok, let me see… you say that N900 is lame because they had the option to INCLUDE a stylus? So, if they ship a N900 without the stylus, then… it's magic, the phone is great!

I really don't get it… give more options to the user, and they complain… I really don't get it…

By: Letha Wall

Letha Wall — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:46:03 +0000

Why the Nokia N900 is No Better Than an HTC Mogul | Mobile... http://tinyurl.com/ykdope3

[Original tweet, Topsy page]

By: Letha Wall

Letha Wall — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:46:03 +0000

Why the Nokia N900 is No Better Than an HTC Mogul | Mobile… http://tinyurl.com/ykdope3

By: Mike C

Mike C — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:20:54 +0000

I really cant disagree more with this article. Just the fact that I cant run an application like liqbase without a stylus, or have to mess around with suedo pointer things, cause the majority of websites are built for high resolution inputs, means having the stylus there is a godsend. N900 is the ONLY device that has the foresight to offer a choice.

By: D H

D H — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:14:06 +0000

What a stupid rant. The screen is so high-res compared to other phones that you have the option of a stylus if you want to. Your finger or nail will still work fine though as you very well know.

If they left it out, you bet there will be people moaning about how inaccurate it is if you don't have a stylus.

By: D H

D H — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:14:06 +0000

What a stupid rant. The screen is so high-res compared to other phones that you have the option of a stylus if you want to. Your finger or nail will still work fine though as you very well know.

If they left it out, you bet there will be people moaning about how inaccurate it is if you don't have a stylus.

By: weareborg

weareborg — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:49:57 +0000

Mobile Industry Review: Why the Nokia N900 is No Better Than an HTC Mogul (nice read). http://tinyurl.com/yh8226k

[Original tweet, Topsy page]

By: weareborg

weareborg — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:49:57 +0000

Mobile Industry Review: Why the Nokia N900 is No Better Than an HTC Mogul (nice read). http://tinyurl.com/yh8226k

By: Noah Kravitz

Noah Kravitz — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:55:42 +0000

Is @selviano a blogger now? Is @Ew4n his boss? http://bit.ly/3ZvexD

[Original tweet, Topsy page]

By: Fashionista

Fashionista — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:56:25 +0000

16 comments later, we're largely through with the anti-stylus backlash and have already hit the turning point. Clearly, from this point on, we're increasingly into the retro appeal of styli and it's unlikely that two weeks from now any self-respecting mobile device obsessive will want to be seen without one.

By: Noah Kravitz

Noah Kravitz — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:55:42 +0000

Is @selviano a blogger now? Is @Ew4n his boss? http://bit.ly/3ZvexD

By: Abul

Abul — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:55:27 +0000

Sensational headlines usually get the reader in, but usually end up with reader disgruntled, confused and leaving unless the article itself is crystal clear and there is a clear point being made.

Thanks for the update, this should help the others who were on the verge of a rant.

By: Nonso

Nonso — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:26:34 +0000

The stylus is primarily there for the Asian markets. You can write anything in Chinese or Japanese with you finger.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:22:00 +0000

I don’t get at all what you are saying. What has stuff like drawing programs to do with better UI? Sure you can do finger-painting, but sometimes you really want the accuracy of a pen. And just because I’m not from the far east, doesn’t mean that I would never want to input a Kanji. The point is, there are valid use-cases for a stylus. Having a stylus to enable these use cases is _not a bad thing_, however you twist it.

The important thing is, that the general UI never requires (or even suggests) the use of a stylus. And that’s a very separate issue from whether or not a stylus is included in the package.

By: HW design engineer

HW design engineer — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:55:00 +0000

“Just figure it out, you’re the high paid engineer. We can put a man on the moon, but we’re still in the dark ages of mobile devices with the stylus.”

Sorry, all the hardware engineers are too busy sipping champagne in the back of their Maybach’s from all the crazy N900 stylus royalty cheques.

..If only fixing hardware design challenges were as easy as blogging about them.

By: rpcutts

rpcutts — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:23:54 +0000

I disagree. I often like using a stylus and don't see a problem with it.
No one is forced to use it. What's the problem with people having the option.

By: rpcutts

rpcutts — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:21:53 +0000

I don't see what's wrong with including a stylus with a phone. If you don't want to use it then don't. People who want to use it can do so. It's not like it costs anything to include.

I mostly use my fingers on touch screens but now and again I like using the stylus. It's an advantage I look for when buying a new phone.

By: Ewan

Ewan — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:31:12 +0000

For the far east marketplace, I definitely understand the requirement to be able to draw asian characters. For everywhere else, no: design a better UI.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:27:56 +0000

It's not actually. It comes in handy, when you want to draw asian characters, drawings, or play certain games. It can be comfortable while browsing some websites, even if it is not required.

Designing a mobile UI that requires a stylus is ridiculous, but including a stylus in the package anyway does no harm whatsoever.

The iPhone, Palm Pre, or HTC Hero obviously do not include a stylus, but styli don't even work on their screens. The capability to use a stylus for precision or comfort when it would be useful is one of the few strengths of resistive screens, not a weakness.

By: Everything Phone

Everything Phone — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:46:55 +0000

Why the Nokia N900 is No Better Than an HTC Mogul | Mobile ... http://bit.ly/2DFp8w

[Original tweet, Topsy page]

By: Ewan

Ewan — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:30:29 +0000

A stylus on a mobile device is absolutely 100% ridiculous.

By: pedroalves

pedroalves — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:20:53 +0000

We have been using the wheel for millions of years too…
Should we stop, Mr. Selvidge?
Should Nokia engineers figure that out too?

By: Steve Litchfield

Steve Litchfield — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:32:17 +0000

http://is.gd/4qlwx Interesting reading – MIR's take on the N900's stylus

[Original tweet, Topsy page]

By: Michael Selvidge

Michael Selvidge — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 05:21:03 +0000

Chris, see the update above.