Nokia N76

The TV commercial asks us all a question – Can a computer be beautiful? I guess so. The N76 from Nokia seems like a perfect example. It's not like there’s a shortage of extremely good-looking phones out there for the fashion freaks to choose from. But for most of them, it's not just about the looks, it's also about the performance. There are quite a few manufacturers who can deliver both and Nokia is definitely one of them. But let's find out for ourselves if the N76 is merely a fashion statement or does it also manage to give us a whole lot more.

Form Factor
The N76 may at first appear a wee bit feminine for my taste with its sparkly, mirrored shell but it is a great looking phone. No doubt about it. The black version exudes sophistication and the red one looks like it could be carried down a runway by a model having a personal conversation and we’d think it part of the show.

The N76 has chrome-like rims running round the phone in the front and back. It gives it a very classy look. The external 256K color display, beneath the reflective surface, has a pixel resolution of 160x128. It allows for caller id for incoming calls, checking new messages, as well as using the camera so you don't have to flip open the phone. There are also 3 buttons underneath the screen that can be used to activate and use the music player, radio and other functions as well. The problem is the chrome-like plating tends to peel off a little too easily after a while.

On the right side of the player, firstly are the volume/zoom function keys. They also serve as scroll keys for options on the external display. At the bottom are 2 dedicated keys - one that'll take you directly to the phone's gallery and the other for the camera.

The other side seems pretty plain at first with a tiny hole on the top that looks more like a reset switch than a charger outlet. But as you probably already know, Nokia's chargers are getting lighter and smaller all the time. The top of the phone is where the 3.5mm (thank goodness) earphone socket along with the mini USB port and power switch is located. What I don't like about its design is that there are no grooves for your fingers to easily flip it open.

In case you're wondering where the microSD card goes, I did too at first. It's so neatly placed. You'll notice at the side of the charging port is a small flap that pops up and reveals the microSD card slot. Very very neat. At the back is the 2.0 megapixel camera with flash. The rear panel is at first a bit tough to slide out. Not that you'll need to do so very often. What I found quite quaint is the little tray that Nokia has designed to slide out and hold your Sim card. Slip your card in and slide it in the designated slot underneath the battery.