Practical Buying: Nokia N80 Vs 5310 Express Music

A couple of years ago, I was among the crowd that wanted a mobile phone that can do ANYTHING. I thought, with the rate our technology is improving, it wouldn't be long until I find the perfect phone that will render all my other gadgets useless. After a year of waiting, I settled for a Nokia N80. It was a slide phone, a little bulky, but it had Wi-Fi. I imagined myself in a coffee shop, stylishly browsing the net using my phone. I thought about how convenient that was because I wouldn't have to bring my laptop anymore.

That fantasy shattered after the first 2 weeks that I owned my N80. First, I couldn't get over its size. I looked like I had a bar of soap in my skinny jeans when I put it in my pocket. Second, I got tired of its non-snap slide feature (You have to push it all the way or pull it all the way in order to use or hide the keypad). But I didn't want to get rid of a new phone. Plus it had Wi-Fi! My friend's phone didn't Wi-Fi, so I'm guessing mine is still cooler.

That led to the third regret. Here in the Philippines, it was only recently that a few shops and establishments offered Wi-Fi freely. That meant that I browsed the net, using my N80, at home. That was a waste of effort.

I finally got tired...recently.

I recently bought a new phone, a Nokia 5310 Express Music. I bought this and sold my Nokia N80. The main reason why I downgraded was because I didn't like the size of the N80. In exchange for my 3.2 megapixel camera and Wi-Fi capabilities, I got a 2 megapixel camera, longer talk time and half the weight.

Was it a good deal? Oh yeah. N80 certainly did have the better, higher techie features but after being together with my baby for more than a year, I figured that I didn't use them as much as I thought I would when I bought it. I don't surf the net with it, it's much too slow for my needs. I'd rather boot my laptop than subject myself to the pains of slow internet and expensive downloads.

I guess that's a huge point for the advertisers. They market their gadgets so well that I thought I needed an N80. When in reality, I just wanted a phone that I could show off. But is that what a phone is for?

I am currently very happy with my Nokia 5310. I use it as my mini stereo when I take a bath. I put it in my pocket and feel sexy. I don't take pictures with it, my Olympus mju-1030SW (oh yeah, I got a weather proof, 10MP camera) does a better job at that.

I actually learned a valuable lesson here: buy when you need it.