Wi-Fi on the 9300i - the Emperors New Clothes?

[slitchfield]

As part of research for PDA Essentials, I've been doing some serious testing. And there's one aspect of the new Nokia 9300i smartphone that doesn't come up to scratch. Unfortunately, it's the aspect for which the 'i' version was created...

Read on in the full article.

[Mufty]

Using a symbian OS, what do you think would be an adequate processor speed for todays websites?

Would the 208Mhz of the p990i suffer from the same drawback?

[Irregular]

All,

I really agree with Steve! Series 80 has long lacked a fast and efficient web browsing. This, linked to other holes in the platform's connectivity portfolio (most notably native FTP and RSS support) sometimes makes me wonder if my 9500 is really a "Communicator".

Then I think again, My Psion-Phone is well connected. Specifically relating to the Web there is a better option than the standard offering. Opera's non-beta release of Opera Mini (version 1.2) is surprisingly good and fast. However, the proxy approach to content delivery sometime makes you feel your operating with oven gloves on. Also, it can not be used in a private network environment settings for Intranet access, due to the security usually in place at network perimeters (i.e. at home or corporate).

Contrasting the native browser to Opera Mini raises the important issues that lie at the heart of this matter. Namely:

-Size and sophistication of content

-Speed of delivery

-Speed and efficiency of rendering engine.

-Speed and efficiency of underlying hardware

As Steve puts it, content complexity and delivery speeds have evolved naturally, increasing steadily in recent years.

And yes hardware has remain fairly static with this generation of Series 80. Shame, 'cause I think the operation would "fly" on a 500 MHz processor.

Which leaves us with rendering...I would be surprised to find of a better offering of than what's currently available, within the lifetime of the current Series 80 devices. Maybe Nokia will deliver next time.

I think the main thing that is lacking from my Communicator's software tools is a no-frills/fast file downloader. I often just want to quickly download a music file from my wireless LAN. Maybe a version Symbian version of wget wouldn't be a bad idea. (?). Maybe I could include the FTP and RSS support I was bleating on about.

I'd better get the notepad and pen out then...

Regards,

Irregular

[FLG]

I've been using the Nokia 9300i for approx 3 weeks and nothing else is in its league today! If you need - full screen web access, legacy system access via secure Citrix (can access full Microsoft browser via Citrix), usable keyboard, Blackberry email access, FAX features, POP email access, Excel and Word document function, extended battery life and Wifi! I've tried many other PDA phones - including the Cingular 8125 and nothing compares. It is an unbelievable tool! FLG>>>

[slitchfield]

>>legacy system access via secure Citrix (can access full Microsoft browser via Citrix)

(shudder) using that tiny joystick to controla remote MSIE client doesn't seem terribly efficient or pleasant 8-)

I agree about the platform though, very powerful, though I don't think most people really ever got to grips with what could be done. And a great shame that Nokia seems to have phased out the 9500, with its superior keyboard, navigator and screen....

Steve

[jah]

I have a XDA Exec and a Nokia 9500. In summary, after 2 months I have stopped using my XDA Exec as it is too stressful! So many things don't really work that well (like memory leaks, poor BT, poor call quality, poor sensitivity of the wifi, excessive battery drain, etc). But I do use it with the Wm5 Opera browser over WiFi - and the experience is very good. In the round the 9500 is my preferred choice.

[jolo]

I've been using the 9300i for some time. Straight downloads seem OK to be, in terms of speed, but the browser just bites. I think the browser rendering engine must be terrible, because it seems that rendering over GPRS or WLAN is about the same speed. I actually tested the Nokia 770, using the 9300i's gprs connection, and it took half the time to render www.cnn.com then it took the browser on the 9300i!!

[Rafe]

Bear in mind the P990 uses a different family of processors so its diificult to make meaningful comparisons in Mhz terms.

[Squeek]

I had a 9500 and found the web browser unusable for real world surfing, I ended up with the 9300 because the browsing experience over GPRS was almost identical speed (albeit costs). I was hoping that the browser had been updated on the 9300i but if it's the same as the 9500 it's a waste of time. Which is a real shame as I was going to buy the 9300i this week.

[FLG]

slitchfield - If you get a chance try the new Citrix/Symbian/Nokia 9300 or 9500 client. It is unbelievable!

Citrix has included a scaling algorithm which makes Windows XP, IE displays and other terminal emulation products running under Windows XP extremely usable in terms of viewing. Due to the scaling the navigation and real world usage is quite effective. I will try to post a screen shot of Citrix on the 9300i.

You would be amazed with what Citrix did. I have used almost every MS Mobile and Palm based phone device made in recent years, have the Nokia 770 and the 9300i is again such a wonderful comprehensive mobile device - today! Add Datawiz Word to go and Sheet to go, along with robust BlackBerry Connect software and nothing compares for business usage. Also, the front phone is actually usable and what a speaker phone function it has.

Yes, the N 9300i could be faster but neither is any Mobile 5 or Nokia 770 very fast compared to laptops or desktops. I used a Cingular 8125 and 2125 this last week and they were not very fast in real world usage. Also, I did look and use the Nokia E61 and E70 (both were very nice) at CES in Las Vegas but over GPRS they didn't seem to be any faster when compared side by side to my N 9300 - maybe that will change when productions models arrive. As for screen display of WWW pages the 9300/9500 were again without compare.

[Raven]

Originally Posted by FLG

If I had an utility to capture a screen shot from the 9300i I would send you an example.

Just press Ctrl + Shift + Chr + s.

[FLG]

Nokia 9300, 9500 or 9300i with Citrix - Sample Screens

Screen #1 - Windows XP Start - with Scaling via Wifi or GPRS

Sceen # 2 - Windows XP Desktop - with Scaling via Wifi or GPRS

Screen #3 - Windows XP Desktop - without Citrix Scaling via Wifi or GPRS

Quite readable and usable on a small mobile device - not many alternatives that work this well in such a compact package with full encryption security. Works extremely well for off-site access.

Thanks - FLG>>>

[ms139us]

I spend way too much time surfing via the 9500 and I can tell you that your surfing experience will be improved by turning off Javascript.

In fact, I am posting this now on a 9500 with JS turned off.

Want some irony? AAS (this site) has articles promoting the use of WAP, while the forums are mostly unusable via WAP. Go ahead, try to post a coherent message using the WAP interface.

More irony? Much of nokia.com *requires* Javascript to be enabled for navigation and enabling JS causes nokia.com pages to take several minutes to load.

Google works exceedingly well, though.

[dovale]

FGL, please explain what is the "Citrix/Symbian/Nokia 9300 or 9500 client" and if it is an enterprise only solution.

Steve, are you actually saying that at present Windows Mobile 5 hardware is much better fitted for web browsing?!

Cheers, dovale

[slitchfield]

Originally Posted by dovale

Steve, are you actually saying that at present Windows Mobile 5 hardware is much better fitted for web browsing?!

Cheers, dovale

Yep. Windows Mobile 5 is now pretty decent for all sorts of things, too. Just being objective. Especially now that Nokia seem to be abandoning the 9500. But my heart's still with Symbian 8-) And I can't wait to try out the E70 and E61!

Steve (currently using Nokia N70)