Nokia's Latest News about Nokia first Linux-powered handheld product, the 770 Internet Tablet, is dedicated solely to Web browsing, media playing, and e-mail. Because the new portable device lacks voice-communications capabilities, it currently has few direct competitors except for the Wi-Fi enabled Palm Latest News about Palm TX. Nokia has geared the 770 to people looking for a pint-size Web-surfing device that can be used anywhere a hotspot connection is available. The sharp 4.1-inch widescreen display is great for viewing online content. Zoom and full-screen buttons make it easy to view segments of Web pages. Nokia 770 Internet Tablet

Intuitive controls make Internet browsing and sending e-mail simple. If you use a PDA Latest News about PDAs, then you should feel right at home: The color touch-screen allows you to input text using an included stylus via a virtual keyboard or natural handwriting, although a slide-out Qwerty keyboard would have been nice. A directional pad makes for easy scrolling.

Features

Measuring 5.5 x 3.1 x 0.70 inches and weighing 8.1 ounces, the Nokia 770 features both Wi-Fi Latest News about Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Latest News about Bluetooth capabilities. It runs on the Linux Latest News about Linux Internet Tablet 2005 OS and includes a Web browser, e-mail client, and RSS news reader.

The Internet Tablet features a myriad of multimedia applications such as Internet radio, several media players, and an image viewer. It supports formats includingMP3 Latest News about MP3 and AAC for audio, MPEG-4 and H.263 for video, and JPEG and GIF for images. If the 128 MB of on-board flash memory isn't enough, you can add more through an expansion slot. A USB Latest News about USB port gives the option of adding a portable hard drive or other peripherals.

Performance

The Nokia 770 connects to the Internet through any available 802.11b/g wireless Latest News about wireless access point. With built-in Bluetooth 1.2, you can also connect to the Web over a Bluetooth link-up with any compatible mobile device. The Internet Tablet delivers up to three hours of browse time or up to seven days of operation in the standby mode.

The big screen is a major benefit when compared to the smaller displays offered by the few Wi-Fi enabled smartphones Latest News about smartphone currently available. The Nokia 770 also will undoubtedly appeal to the open-source Latest News about open source community, which should speed the development of a wide spectrum of innovative applications for the device. Nokia expects to release a VoIPRelevant Products/Services from 3COM software component for the 770 sometime in the first half of next year, which might silence criticism over lack of support for voice communications.

The Nokia 770 takes up the cause of an emerging market of Web surfers who are tired of having to lug a laptopRelevant Products/Services from HP everywhere they go, and does so with success.

Nokia 770 Internet Tablet

Specs: 65,000 color touch-screen featuring 800 x 480 resolution; Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) and Bluetooth (v. 1.2) radios; 128 MB of on-board flash memory; RS-MMC expansion card slot; USB port.

Pros: A large, sharp display; support for many multimedia formats; multiple connectivity options.

Cons: No voice communications option until 2006; lack of Qwerty keyboard.

Verdict: The Nokia 770 takes up the cause of an emerging market of Web surfers who are tired of having to lug a laptop everywhere they go, and does so with success.