[Malky1903]

Was thinking about upgrading my N95 8GB and looked at numerous touch screen phones amongst others. I like to keep up with new technology but I'm not totally convinced by the touch screens. Seems to be a gimmick rather than a major feature. Just think a mobile phone is too small a device to warrant a touch screen but maybe having fat fingers doesn't help and I couldn't be bothered fiddling with a stylus. I seemed to get on with the iPhone but while it's relatively thin, it's still quite bulky if you see what I mean.
This brings me to a question, other than a touch screen of any kind, which mobile phone would be a worthy upgrade of my current phone?

[RobM]

You have two questions there...

To answer the first one, yes touch screens are the way forward. Not because they are better than a physical keyboard for typing, but because to deliver the web, multimedia playback, navigation, video recording and photo functionality everybody wants and expects in the latest handsets, you need a big, high-resolution screen. And you can't do that easily while keeping a keyboard, without adding bulk to the handset.

The solution... touch screen devices.

They cannot and will not be the only solution though. For messaging orientated devices, i.e. Blackberrys, a physical keyboard is a must. But to cater for one, the screen size shrinks and the media/web capabilities reduce.

It's a compromise. There are some phones that try and be everything, like the Touch Pro 2, but they are physically larger and heavier than those without a keyboard. This is a compromise too far for some people who don't want that bulk.

To answer your other question is impossible without you telling us what you need and want the replacement phone to do? What does your N95 8GB lack that makes upgrading worthwhile? What are the priorities for you?

[Malky1903]

Originally Posted by RobM83

What does your N95 8GB lack that makes upgrading worthwhile? What are the priorities for you?

The thing is, the N95 doesn't lack much at all and I'm wondering if I do need an upgrade of sorts TBH. Just feel that if I do decide to upgrade then I'll have to get a touch screen phone so that it's better the N95.
Priorities are in no particular order...
Web browsing
Music and video playing
Decent Sat Nav (Currently use Garmin XT which I like)

I would have upgraded to the N96 but that was soley based on having more expandable memory which the N95 8GB doesn't have. Have heard a lot of bad things about the N96 so not too keen on it.

[mickstreet]

The priorities that you mention are all what a touch screen would excell at due, as Rob says to having a larger screen. I personally like them, think they will become more common place and also the way that mainstream phones will go.

[RobM]

The first thing I'd advise is to leave the N96 well alone. It's fine for some lucky owners, awful for the other 95% with bad build quality and unstable firmware amongst the favourite complaints.

The N95 8GB may lack expandable memory, but it's still one of the best Nokias of recent years.

Thinking of your requirements, I would advise you hold out for the Nokia N97. It will achieve everything you want, but it also has physical buttons for when you and the touchscreen don't get along. It should be a great halfway house.

The downside, as mentioned previously, is the size. But I think this is a compromise worth making to get a more modern phone with the features you want. And with the storage of the N97, the Sat Nav abilities and the physical keyboard, it should be the only device you need to carry. Just wear loose jeans....