So, here we are. The Nokia N97 review. Can’t say I was waiting too anxiously for this one what with the Pre and the Jobs 3.0 on the horizon but, as it turns out, well, watch the vid first, eh…

So, very impressed. Big, big grower the N97. It’s a little unfair in some ways because, on the surface, it doesn’t have the sex appeal of the other mega handsets of the summer, largely because of the OS. The Palm OS is new, Android’s still fledgling, iPhone 3.0 plugs all the holes we’ve been waiting to be filled but S60 is, well, S60. It’s been around for bloody years. It’s even on a whole bunch of very average phones out there.

Once you get over that, the N97’s a bit of a dream though. It’s not a simple phone to get to grips with. It’s straight forward in its design and lay out but there’s a lot to it. It’s not a small piece of kit either at 150g but I really feel like it could become the kind of indispensable pocket computer I’ve been waiting for. Just a question of downloading your own browser, maps and other software of choice.

As I say, though, it’s the apps that this thing needs to be a real iPhone killer and, sadly, so far, Ovi has been choking worse than when I accidentally breathe beer. I’ll give it another week but the second half of the review will come out then, whether you’re ready or not Nokia.

£499 SIM free