Sexy little ladies phone (Nokia 8890)

Member Name: ordy

Product:	Nokia 8890
Date:	22/10/01 (3395 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Size, Looks

Disadvantages: Small keys

OK, so my title is sexist. But the most annoying thing about this phone is that everyone thinks it is a ladies phone. It looks chic and fits nicely into a handbag. Problem is that I am a guy!!! However I could not resist but get my hands on such a sexy phone.

I have had a Nokia 8890 for a few months now. Nokia have brought out the 8890 as a superior model to the 8850. The 8890 a triband phone (which means you can use it in the USA as well as Europe) which tends to costs an extra 50 quid or so compared to the 8850, so if you are not going the the USA you may be better saving money and getting the 8850. Here is why I like it my 8890 so much :-

1. Size. The 8890 weighs on 91 g, and is 100 x 44 x 17 mm in dimensions. This is very small and light compared to rivals.

2. Looks. This is one sexy looking phone. Chrome coloured, with a nice sliding panel to protect the keyboard. It looks real good, and often catches peoples eye when you use it. I personally do not think that there is a better phone on the market.

3. Battery life. 50 - 150 h standby time is what Nokia claim. Well I am a heavy user and after a days heavy use need to charge it. But when usage drops I guess the 50 - 150 hours is probably reasonable and achievable. One hint is that the phone comes with a vibrate alert, useful for meetings etc, but this really runs down the battery. Use vibrate only when you need to!!!

4. Memory. The internal phonebook stores up to 250 names and phone numbers of up to 20 characters and 30 digits respectively. This is much better than many rivals.

5. Games. The 8890 has four games - Memory, Snake, Logic and Rotation - I often use these on long journeys or to fill a bored moment.

6. Voice tags. This is a great feature, which is becomingh more common on all phones now. The 8890 can store up to eight voice tags within the phonebook. The voice tags enable a number to be called simply by saying the voice tag added to t
he desired name and phone number. The voice tags are dependent on the speaker?s voice. The tags are also sensitive to background noise - idealy they should be recorded in quiet surroundings.

7. Ring tones. The 8890 holds 35 ring tones with additional capacity for five personal tones received by SMS or infrared/cable connection. Personally I have Glory Glory Man Utd on mine - doesn't always win you many friends though!!!

8. SMS functionality (short message service i.e. text messages!!). OK, so this is essential for any phone, but the 8850 has Picture messaging. This lets you send small pictures with a text message to nayone who also has picture messaging capability on their phone too. There are 10 built-in pictures and a blank space for another one that may be sent/received via SMS. The sms also has predictive text input. This will let you key in characters by a single key press with the text input based on the editable built-in dictionary. This is difficult to describe and takes some getting used to, but is a real time saver when you get used to it. It is very useful on the 8850 as, being such a small phone, the keys can be fiddly and this means that you have to type less to get the words into the sms.


9. Calendar & Calculator - I don't use them that much much good to have on hand!!

10. Alarm clock. I use this lots and lots - well every morning actually. It even comes with a snooze button. The alarm clock will work even if you switch the power off, but you have to make sure hat the battery hasn't run down. I travel a lot and this saves me relying on alarm calls in hotels, which can be unreliable!!

11. Infra red capability. Swap business cards and play games with owners of other 8850's. Because this phone is slightly expensive you tend not to meet many other 8850 owners however!! C'est la vie!

12. Radiation. This is one of the best phones for protecting against radiation. Emissions a
re much lower than for many rivals. Of course, we don't know if emissions are harmful, but given that there is an element of uncertainty I feel happy knowing that I am using one of the safest phones on the market.

Any downside? Well for people with fat fingers it is probably to small. And I don't like the female image that the phone portrays. And also it is quite costly - shop around and if you are lucky you may get it for just about 150 quid. Norm is 200 quid. I think that the networks charge a premium for this phone simply because it looks so good.

Overall, though, I am very happy. Buy it if you can!!

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