I was invited earlier today to get a sneak peek of the Nokia N8. The handsets are prototypes and from the demonstration I was given, I was very impressed.

If you’re a Nokia fan, and have been waiting very patiently for a revamped operating system, then you won’t be disappointed with Symbian^3. Most noticeable was the fast and responsive user interface, when browsing through the 4GB music library, with cover flow.

The wow-factors about this phone is: 12MP camera, HD recording and playback (720p), the fresh Symbian^3 OS.

What really sets this device apart is the built-in HDMI connection and USB-on-the-go. Two very handy features that any smartphone could do with. Additionally, the HDMI and USB cables are included in the box.

The N8 has 3.5″ capacitive touchscreen with a 640×360 resolution, comes with 16GB built-in memory (expandable via micro SD up to 32GB), FM transmitter, FM radio, mp3 player, free walk & drive navigation with Ovi Maps and 3 customisable homescreens.

According to Nokia, the handset will retail for under R6,000 on prepaid, and will be available on contract, by October 2010.

More information on the Nokia N8 here.

You might wonder why the comparison. These two products are hardly in the same category. But I think one might just put the other out of business. Given the state of the current economy, I don’t see consumers rushing out to buy laptops or notebooks. There have been reports that the netbook market is soaring and sales will grow by 65% this year. At the same time Nokia’s earnings have dropped in the first quarter of this year to €122 million, compared to last years €1.2 billion, during the same period.

Statistics aside, smart phones are now being created to give you the ultimate browsing experience. That’s what the touch-screen Nokia N97 promises. You can customize the phone’s home screen with widgets, watch high-quality movies, browse ‘real’ web pages etc. But what about the price tag that comes with a high-end phone like this? I’m not talking about business men and women who need these devices or the super rich. I’m talking about middle class working citizens who save up, look what the market has to offer, make comparisons and then decide what to go with.

Put yourself in this scenario – would you spend ± 6k on a cellphone and browse the web on a 3.5″ screen or spend about ± 4k and browse the internet on a 9″ screen, with full qwerty keyboard (98%)? It’s not a difficult decision.

The current mobile market is very competitive. It’s not like a few years ago where you knew exactly what phone you were getting. Now all phones offer the same features – so what do you go for?

I’ve reached a point where I don’t go for the phone that has all the coolest features. I’m not big on a GPS merged into a phone. (I think the two devices should remain separate). You can’t put everything onto a cell/smart phone. What happens if you get a call while your phone is taking you to your next destination of if you are recording an interview and your phone starts ringing? What about battery life?

I think if the average consumer is opting for a netbook, chances are he won’t be spending ± 6k on a smartphone.

Oh, I’d be lying if I said I don’t want to get my hands on the Nokia N97. Perhaps Nokia will let me play with one