Nokia's got 770 followups in the works

When we heard Nokia's got followups to their 770 in the works, we weren't exactly surprised. They had, after all, more or less stated intentions to further the line after its first run in the US and abroad. Apparently they'll be answering the 770 fanboys' prayers (or at least our own, anyway) by adding a full QWERTY keyboard to the device; Nokia was also sure to mention they're on track to launch with Google-based VoIP (via Talk, perhaps?).

[gristle @ Feb 14th 2006 11:15AM]

Yeah, fix the current one first huh lads??
Especially the magic crack in the bottom that lots of units have.

[declan @ Feb 14th 2006 11:24AM]

Keyboard? Not as standard I hope, I like the size it is now. Maybe throw in a bit more storage but keep the rest.

[Jon @ Feb 14th 2006 11:34AM]

That's a hell of a lot of follow-ups!

[morgan @ Feb 14th 2006 11:42AM]

Wow, this with a slide out qwerty and VOIP and I'm totally sold.

[phi @ Feb 14th 2006 11:55AM]

wow, and I'm on the verge of buying one, maybe I should wait. Oh, the torture of tech evolution.

[TZK @ Feb 14th 2006 12:11PM]

The KB is going to slide out from the bottom (OQO style).

Better design - this one is already dated before it was releasded.

CPU Upgrade - needed.
Memory upgraded - needed.
BT version upgrade - Needed.

[Alslayer @ Feb 14th 2006 12:18PM]

Once that device comes out mine is going on ebay.

[Justin @ Feb 14th 2006 12:30PM]

I love my 770. Too bad I'll havta sell it to get the new one... =D

[Ari @ Feb 14th 2006 12:39PM]

Stick a secondary e-ink display on that back of that sucka and I'm sold. (I'm probably sold anyway, actually.)

[Derrick @ Feb 14th 2006 12:46PM]

The 770 is a great device for surfing on the web without waiting for my PC to boot up. Installing all the 3rd party Linux programs converts it into a PDA. Nokia won't make it into a phone because it takes a long time and there are many regulatory requirements. I am a happy user but I will pay a bit more for a beefier hardware.

[Sam @ Feb 14th 2006 12:52PM]

Maybe I just missed it, but the only two features I found lacking when I toyed with it were:

It needs a button you can assign to swap the orientation for apps that support that. (Like eBooks, browsers, etc)

It needs a jog-dial to scroll web-pages. The directional page jumps to links in a page. So if you want to see some content without links all over it, like an article, tough luck.

Again, maybe this is configurable though. If those two things were fixed, I'd be all over it.

But the attached keyboard idea is lame. If I wanted a keyboard I'd use my laptop. I agree with the previous poster that it should at least be detachable.

[mathmonkey @ Feb 14th 2006 1:02PM]

How much, Alslayer?
Seriously, the 770 is perfect for me as it is. I want to be able to browse around the house and at work. Here's to hoping Nokia won't follow Apple's lead and will actually lower the price on the earlier unit instead of just "phasing it out".

[Dot Flowers @ Feb 14th 2006 1:37PM]

I hope someone puts out a device that gets this right. I have the Toshiba Portege TabletPC, and it's really not good.

I was thinking that Apple should put something out soon, which would be sweet.

[Eric @ Feb 14th 2006 2:11PM]

The 770 is nice, but it's still lacking one killer feature: EVDO!

[tiuk @ Feb 14th 2006 3:02PM]

I wouldn't want phone functionality. All I want is a simple, light web tablet that I can use to look at websites in class without having to lug around my laptop. I currently use my PDA for this, but I'd much rather something with a screen as large as the 770's.

[YT @ Feb 14th 2006 3:44PM]

More processing power. More memory. Better batteries. Less delays. And damn, I want to be able to use MSN Messenger on it.

[Heath @ Aug 19th 2007 11:41PM]

why would you wantMSN Messenger on a linux device? That's like putting a moped engine in a truck... or better yet.... it's time get away from the communist Mickeysoft and start using something that will be around for more than a couple years. I'd rather use Aol instant messenger than Microsoft... although, they are both communist companies and they keep building walls to separate us from...... nevermind, in a couple years when the whole world goes to internet tablets and voip phones, microsoft and aol will be nothing but a paragraph on a page in a history book.

[hobgoblin @ Feb 14th 2006 4:47PM]

just install gaim and you should have msn support. not messenger tho, but basic text and avatars atleast, and maybe audio and video in the future (if gaim ever get libmimic integrated).

[Jason Pester @ Feb 14th 2006 5:27PM]

2nd post attempt...

Nokia 770 works great with the Stowaway Bluetooth Keyboard from Think Outside http://www.thinkoutside.com using the following plugin http://770.fs-security.com/keyboards.html.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Nokia 770 keyboard looked like the following http://www.mobilemag.com/content/100/335/C1757/.

The next Nokia 77x needs better memory management (more user memory?), better OMAP processor for fluid video, and better media codec support... TCPMP software. The Web is not static anymore.

[Michael Huarng @ Feb 14th 2006 6:26PM]

Totally agree. have a nokia 770 myself and it would be much easier to have a qwerty keyboard to input the urls and etc.

[Craig Newmark @ Feb 15th 2006 12:38AM]

I have one; would be nice if it was supported.

[Ashok M @ Feb 15th 2006 12:26PM]

Yeah, how much? This time last year there was a huge thing about how all PDAs and other all-in-one devices are out, and bring back pencil and notepad etc - I hope they would learn their lesson and stop jumping the gun in future!

[Chris @ Feb 17th 2006 3:07PM]

How about a bundle including an included (detachable) Bluetooth keyboard? Here's my idea on how it would work: The foldout keyboard is actually attached to the backside of the 770 (or this new version might be called the "780"?) and folds out like wings on both side of the 780. Go find a picture of the "Nokia e70" and see what I mean. The 780 would sit inside between the two keyboard halves and allow you to see what you're typing. When done, you fold the wings up into one solid unit with a carrying case or leather sheath to hold it in. This keyboard is detachable and can be used within Bluetooth ranges.

[Ray @ Feb 19th 2006 1:30AM]

I eagerly awaited the release of the 770, but now I'll wait for the successor. Hopefully if they add a keyboard it will be designed similar to the Zaurus 3100 or a fujitsu 1510 laptop/tablet hybrid.

With slightly beefier hardware specs, It will suit all my needs.

[Eric Weber @ Feb 21st 2006 4:19PM]

The bluetooth keyboard is much better it can be left behind when size is an issue.

The onscreen keyboard is much better than the windows CE one... The handwriting recognition is ok, but the screen is not nearly as sensitive as the HP windows CE machine I had for a couple of weeks.... it's a hardware problem not the software.

SD instead of MMC would be an improvement....

Changing the key assignments to add hardware scroll instead of tabing between entry boxes would be a great improvement.

[Bryan @ Mar 9th 2006 9:47PM]

A few things...
1) I hope they don't make it any bigger. It's right at the cut off point right now of what I'd buy and what I wouldn't

2) the aftermarket PIM applications out there don't cut it. Nokia MUST release the next gen with a proper calendar with adequate alarm functions and an address book.

3) I could care less about the keyboard, although they may want to look at what Msoft did with Origami's that's pretty cool. proper sync with APPLE and PC

4) More battery life. Does it currently have a swappable battery at least?

[Tecnozoom @ Apr 12th 2006 9:07AM]

Somebody know where I can find free themes and software for Nokia 770?

Thank you

[adf @ Apr 12th 2006 3:50PM]

The 770 was a good start. I bought a Sharp Zaurus 3100 instead last winter, but it was something I had to think about. The keyboard, once you are used to having it around, is indispensible.
Things the 770 might improve (some might already be there...haven't looked in a couple months) esides just adding a keyboard.

Video out, Audio out- make it a moble media center

usb host - add external devices

more processing power

More ram/ more flash, both are cheap.

lose sd entirely and go CF. an 8 gig microdrive is a wonderful thing.

from what I hear, more media codecs, more browser plugins.

make sure the software is entirely open source, and provide the source.