Nokia N-Gage Gray Console
Out of stock |
Similar in Video Game Consoles
- Platform: Nokia N-Gage
- Console Type: Handheld
- Gaming Type: Online Gaming
Similar in Video Game Consoles
More suggestions in Video Game Consoles »- Overview
-
Reviews
-
Compare Prices
User ReviewRead All Reviews »
NGage-Great phone that got a bad rap
Pros
Feature rich Bluetooth Music paradise (radio&mp3) Great screen
Cons
No IR port No camera Annoying way of changing games
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
This phone has a lot to offer. The NGage is for serious and light hearted people alike, great phone reception, PIM functions, and much more.
I bought this phone about 2 1/2 months ago, long after all the backlash. Let's get to the issues.
Game play: This phone isn't going to be a "Game Boy" replacement as the amount of titles available isn't vast. Games are still coming out for it, however. This brings on the weird way of installing the game card-one of the major bugaboos with this phone. Yes, it gets tedious taking the unit darn near apart, but it's a minor annoyance rather than the "Oh God, why am I being put through this???!" many would have you to believe. Speaking of cards, this phone uses multimedia cards (similar to sd) and you can install many programs including games to this card. I've bought 3 games cards but I honestly download and play games that are cheaper or free. If you get a card with decent size memory, you can have a capable game machine in your hands.
"Sidetalking": Oh yea, the infamous "Feeling like a wedge of cheese is stuck to my head." I've never used the phone that way. That's the beauty of bluetooth which this phone has. BT headsets are cheap these days, so no tangle of wires (unless you want to listen to the built-in FM radio which I'll get to) or "sidetalking." A headset is included, but i rarely use it.
The phone is packed with features. It's a Series 60 phone (Symbian OS-same OS the Psion handheld uses) and has tons of programs available for it. Along with the above mention of bluetooth and FM radio, there's also the built-in mp3 which can get songs installed to the memory card. There's an adapter that allows a regular headphone to be plugged into the phone in order to listen to the radio or mp3 (you can listen to mp3s via the loudspeaker function, but not the radio.) There's also a cord that connects to the computer that allows you to install mp3s to your memory card. In essence, the Ngage can act as another harddrive. PIM functions like note taking, contacts, etc...are there as well.
Things I didn't like: No IR port. Yes, bluetooth is great andI use it, but there are some older devices (namely pdas) that don't have bt function, so I can't connect the two. Many will feel that the phone is huge, it's definately not tiny. Also missing is a camera.
Update:
Sorry if I left out too much information in my review. I didn't want it to be too wordy. I'll go into more detail.
Games: The NGage has games that come out on little thin memory cards that can go into the slot the multimedia memory card goes in (you swap them out.) The prices for the games are roughly around the same price as the Gameboy Games, however you can find some used like other video games at EBGames/EBBoutique. The games are more or less ported from other video game platforms: Older ones like Sonic, Tombraider, Pandimonium, and Super Monkey Ball. The have shooters like Ashen and Call of Duty, sports, fighters, etc...like any other video game system.
Gameplay: There's a directional pad in the upper left side, and on the right side where the number keys are, the '5' and '7' keys are raised, so you'll most likely use them for game play. The sound is good coming from the speaker and great when used with the headphones. There's something called 'Arena' that's supposed to let people from all over play against one another. This program is included in the newer QD Deck, but is coming for the regular NGage. Gameplay can also be played via bluetooth (of course, both people will have to have the same game installed.)
The price: You can get refurbs for $100 without contract. Since the newer version (The QD) came out, there's not many of the regular NGages around. It comes with the NGage, battery, charger, headset, headset adapter so you can use regular headphones to listen to music/game play, and a connector cord to the computer in order to load mp3s into the device.
Although the NGage is marketed towards gamers who 'may' want ot use it as a phone every so often, don't be fooled by the appearance. Like I mentioned before, this is a Series 60 phone (Symbian OS) and there's many programs out there for the business type. Programs like: Mobipocket (ebook reader), Worldmate (great for travelers-get the time in dif. cities in the world, money converter, weather guide, etc...) Avantgo (Free enews.) Too many programs to mention.
Online/Email: Depending on carrier (I use T-Mobile) you can get data plans that allow you access to email, and going online, getting sms (text) and mms (picture). With my plan, for instance I use a web browser (Net Front) and can go on wap sites as well as regular websites. Configurations for this are provided from your carrier.
Game play: This phone isn't going to be a "Game Boy" replacement as the amount of titles available isn't vast. Games are still coming out for it, however. This brings on the weird way of installing the game card-one of the major bugaboos with this phone. Yes, it gets tedious taking the unit darn near apart, but it's a minor annoyance rather than the "Oh God, why am I being put through this???!" many would have you to believe. Speaking of cards, this phone uses multimedia cards (similar to sd) and you can install many programs including games to this card. I've bought 3 games cards but I honestly download and play games that are cheaper or free. If you get a card with decent size memory, you can have a capable game machine in your hands.
"Sidetalking": Oh yea, the infamous "Feeling like a wedge of cheese is stuck to my head." I've never used the phone that way. That's the beauty of bluetooth which this phone has. BT headsets are cheap these days, so no tangle of wires (unless you want to listen to the built-in FM radio which I'll get to) or "sidetalking." A headset is included, but i rarely use it.
The phone is packed with features. It's a Series 60 phone (Symbian OS-same OS the Psion handheld uses) and has tons of programs available for it. Along with the above mention of bluetooth and FM radio, there's also the built-in mp3 which can get songs installed to the memory card. There's an adapter that allows a regular headphone to be plugged into the phone in order to listen to the radio or mp3 (you can listen to mp3s via the loudspeaker function, but not the radio.) There's also a cord that connects to the computer that allows you to install mp3s to your memory card. In essence, the Ngage can act as another harddrive. PIM functions like note taking, contacts, etc...are there as well.
Things I didn't like: No IR port. Yes, bluetooth is great andI use it, but there are some older devices (namely pdas) that don't have bt function, so I can't connect the two. Many will feel that the phone is huge, it's definately not tiny. Also missing is a camera.
Update:
Sorry if I left out too much information in my review. I didn't want it to be too wordy. I'll go into more detail.
Games: The NGage has games that come out on little thin memory cards that can go into the slot the multimedia memory card goes in (you swap them out.) The prices for the games are roughly around the same price as the Gameboy Games, however you can find some used like other video games at EBGames/EBBoutique. The games are more or less ported from other video game platforms: Older ones like Sonic, Tombraider, Pandimonium, and Super Monkey Ball. The have shooters like Ashen and Call of Duty, sports, fighters, etc...like any other video game system.
Gameplay: There's a directional pad in the upper left side, and on the right side where the number keys are, the '5' and '7' keys are raised, so you'll most likely use them for game play. The sound is good coming from the speaker and great when used with the headphones. There's something called 'Arena' that's supposed to let people from all over play against one another. This program is included in the newer QD Deck, but is coming for the regular NGage. Gameplay can also be played via bluetooth (of course, both people will have to have the same game installed.)
The price: You can get refurbs for $100 without contract. Since the newer version (The QD) came out, there's not many of the regular NGages around. It comes with the NGage, battery, charger, headset, headset adapter so you can use regular headphones to listen to music/game play, and a connector cord to the computer in order to load mp3s into the device.
Although the NGage is marketed towards gamers who 'may' want ot use it as a phone every so often, don't be fooled by the appearance. Like I mentioned before, this is a Series 60 phone (Symbian OS) and there's many programs out there for the business type. Programs like: Mobipocket (ebook reader), Worldmate (great for travelers-get the time in dif. cities in the world, money converter, weather guide, etc...) Avantgo (Free enews.) Too many programs to mention.
Online/Email: Depending on carrier (I use T-Mobile) you can get data plans that allow you access to email, and going online, getting sms (text) and mms (picture). With my plan, for instance I use a web browser (Net Front) and can go on wap sites as well as regular websites. Configurations for this are provided from your carrier.
