A few weeks ago a friend of mine got the new Nokia 5800 (touchscreen/music phone). I instantly fell for it, which I don’t usually do. So, I decided I was going to splash out and buy one. Then my decision-making conflict began.

An Apple a day

As an iQ employee, I almost felt obliged to buy an iPhone. We’re an ‘Apple office’ (even though I’m still on the Mac waiting list). So I thought, why not mix things up a bit? Variety is the spice of life. Plus, I don’t want iQ to seem elitist and snobby towards ‘all-things-not-Apple’.

Text-aholic

But apart from all that, I’m a practical kind of gal. I asked one of my colleagues if he would recommend an iPhone, and he quite sensibly replied, “It depends on what you use your phone for“. So I thought about it (for all of 2 seconds). Texting. I text more than anything else, which is one of the main reasons I was reluctant to buy an iPhone. The QWERTY keyboard (like a regular computer keyboard) would, more than likely, cause me to launch my slick iPhone across a room at some stage of our relationship.

The Nokia offers 4 types of text input:

• QWERTY – regular computer/typewriter keyboard.
• Mini-QWERTY – a smaller version of the QWERTY keyboard, for use with the stylus (the little pen that comes with the Nokia 5800).
• Handwriting – a small pad you can write on with the stylus. You can also train it to recognise your handwriting.

And lastly, but most importantly for me:

• Alphanumeric keypad – Texting like a normal mobile. Plus it responds with a slight vibration when you touch the screen, confirming your command – something the iPhone sorely lacks. For me, this was the deal-breaker.

There’s more to life than texting

But of course there were many other factors to consider in my purchase decision:

1. The iPhone seems too fragile. I personally know a handful of people who smashed their first iPhone (and in some cases, their second one) within the first month or two. The Nokia screen isn’t made of glass so its toughness won me over immediately. (note: I am not admitting to being a clutz).
2. Sometimes fingertips are inaccessible. Not being able to use your nails to tap the touch screen was something else that put me off the iPhone. The Nokia has additional input implements, such as a stylus and a funky blue plectrum.
3. Size matters. The Nokia’s size and hard case are also more conducive to fitting into pockets and throwing into handbags.
4. Beautiful music. I also listen to the radio embarrassingly often on my phone, and well, the iPhone doesn’t come with a radio.
5. Camera: I use my camera quite a bit and wanted my new gadget to replace my own camera whilst out and about. The Nokia has 3.2 MP with flash and zoom, while the iPhone has 2 MP without flash or zoom. That’s no comparison.

Finally, the iPhone is only available with O2 on an 18 month contract and its own special price plan. I don’t like this rigidity; I prefer to keep my options open for the future.

And the winner is

So I bought the Nokia and haven’t looked back. But I’m not here to sell the Nokia, or to diss the iPhone. I personally think they both rock. The iPhone is a revolutionary internet device, but for me, it is lacking in some respects. Nokia may not be quite as slick as the iPhone, but they’ve made it usable for me.

The point? It’s not all about the coolness. Sometimes you have to be practical. That’s why we design for different users, isn’t it? We all have different needs when it comes to devices, applications, websites, phones and more. Besides, it’d be no fun if we all got the same stuff now, would it?