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A story of three months with a genuine multi-tasking smartphone: Nokia 9500 reviewed

He doesn't want us to think he's boasting, but Steve Litchfield does start his long-term review of the Nokia PDA phone off like this: "February 25th 2005. I've now had the 9500 for around three months..."

This is the Nokia "Communicator" phone - the one that does WiFi as well as GSM wireless. Alas! it doesn't (yet) take Skype connections, but it is a useful communicator and of course, it's descended from the old (9210) Communicator.

This  review is a thoughtful analysis by an expert, not a "preview" by a kid who wanted an excuse to ask Nokia for a free loan; and so it gets further into the machine than many superficial experiments by gadget-freaks.

For example: "Some reviewers have commented on the 9500's slow processor and sluggish performance, but take these reports with a pinch of salt," says Litchfield. Firstly, he notes, the processor is deliberately kept at 150MHz, in order to extend battery life, one of the most important parameters when actually using the Communicator.

But more important: "Secondly, these reviewers just don't know how to use a real multi-tasking computer - they keeping hitting all the 'Exit' buttons in applications. THE WHOLE POINT OF SYMBIAN OS IS THAT APPLICATIONS CAN BE LEFT RUNNING AND SWITCHED BACK TO INSTANTANEOUSLY! (Phew, it was good to get that off my chest)."

He explains: "As with the Psion palmtops of old, it's very easy to keep over a dozen programs running at any one time, switching to them as needed either with the menu-based program list or using their original icons or shortcuts. The three second wait while an application is started for the first time is a minor inconvenience; used properly, having to wait for 9500 applications should be a rare thing."

It's the sort of detail a prospective user needs to know, especially when comparing the thing with Palm or Microsoft devices, where you may (or may not) find that your favourite application shuts down when a call comes in.

Litchfield has tested all the applications, including the MP3 player, the Office programs, all built in - plus several other downloadable applications such as  SmartMovie for video and others.

His Verdict: "The 9500 won't appeal to the typical smartphone user, it's true. It's too big and there's simply too much here to confuse the novice. For them, there are a wealth of Series 60 smartphones, some now with stereo audio and matching Bluetooth qwerty keyboard," says Litchfield.

And he exposes his Psion roots (Psion hand-helds, of course, gave us the EPOC operating system, which in turn gave us Symbian) saying: "But for the ex-Psioneer, for the professional on the move, for the OPL hobbyist, and indeed anyone else who fancies a real keyboard and serious applications, this is the consummate communicator."

I do hope Nokia don't ask him for it back! He's done a good job for them, neither flattering, nor overlooking faults; and by the same token, not bypassing the excellent features. My own input: the thing is neither as big, nor as heavy, as it looks. As "big phones" go, it's longer than some Pocket PC styles, but a much more versatile device.  And if there are some  bugs still, I don't doubt they'll be cleaned out.