Nokia N800 Internet Tablet Upgraded: iPhone Without the Phone?

Long before anyone had started obsessing about the iPhone, Nokia's 770 Internet Tablet hit the market with moderate fanfare, 18 months ago. The device, a handheld, Wi-Fi-ready, web-surfing  device, met with dismal reviews on release, with many complaining it was too slow and didn't have critical features like IM or VOIP features.

With its large touchscreen that nearly fills the face of the unit and a great display that can show off most web pages with no scrolling, the 770 now looks an awful lot like a primitive version of the super-hyped iPhone... just without a phone. Earlier this year, Nokia hustled out the N800 follow-up, which added a crude VOIP system, IM, and even a webcam... but it still wasn't quite all it could be.

Last week, the N800 got a firmware upgrade that finally has people talking about the N800 as a possible competitor for the iPhone, or at least an interesting alternative. The upgrades improve performance and, most notably, replace the Nokia VOIP system with industry-standard Skype. Rhapsody, more internet radio stations, better battery life, and better touchscreen response are also on the menu. This blogger puts the updated N800 through its paces and in general his comments are very positive.

Lately, I've heard a lot of folks wonder if Apple will put out an iPhone without the phone, or put another way, an iPod with Wi-Fi and a web browser. I'm reasonably sure that will happen (and it sounds like a nice product for those who don't want to be crushed under the iPhone's monthly service plan), but alternatives will abound. Of course, there's no reason to wait: You can try out the N800 now, and if you're near a Wi-Fi hotspot, you can even use it to make phone calls. You can find it for about $360 or even less if you shop around. That's a huge savings over the iPhone (and there are no monthly fees, of course), but remember you'll have to add your own SD memory card to store any media on it.

That said, the N800 doesn't have the ultra-sophisticated UI of the iPhone. Any Nokia fans out there using the new firmware that might care to offer their own hands-on review?

Meanwhile, prepare for many more portable, Wi-Fi-ready media players/web browsers to hit the market over the next few months. From what I've previewed over the summer, the holidays are going to be a bonanza for these gizmos.