From: bel@whipassgaming.com   
      
   > Not a bad deal, but you have to love the games that are out for it. Now   
   > then:   
      
   I can dig it.   
      
   > This is the original model. Pros are that it plays MP3s and has stereo   
   > headphone output (albeit with a custom headset.) Cons are that the   
   > acknowledge button is the center of the d-pad, which is inconvenient for   
   > some games.   
      
   Argh, so I had it backwards...I want the second edition, right?   
      
   > I kinda like the QD better. It's lighter, has a slightly brigher screen,   
   > and the buttons feel better. Also, you don't have to pull the battery off   
   > of the QD to swap games or drop in a memory card.   
      
   I think I remember us having this conversation back in the day, now, and   
   you're right, I think the second edition, this "QD" model, is more what   
   I am looking for.   
      
   > Not really. Once Sega, EA, and SNK jumped ship, Nokia decided that MMC   
   > media wasn't the way to go and started offering games for download only.   
   > Officially, the N-gage platform is a software SDK that runs on one of   
   > several newer Nokia phones, which means they can update the code via   
   > network instead of issuing new hardware. It's not a bad system, but there   
   > aren't any new games worth anything. 90 percent of the software for   
   > download was released on cards.   
      
   Interesting.   
      
   > Sort of. The nice thing about the original N-gage is that it's tri-band,   
   > which means it works with global GSM. But not all the phones are unlocked,   
   > so it's a crapshoot.   
      
   Hmmmm...I don't know much about cell phones, or any of this "unlocking"   
   stuff, so bare with me here: Do you mean that if one has unlocked the   
   phone I could use it with AT&T(or whoever it is I have), but if not, I   
   can't?   
      
   > No 802.11b support on the original N-gage or the QD. I'm not sure about   
   > further Nokia phones.   
      
   Argh. That was a really hip feature on that "Wing" smartphone(I'll be   
   selling it and a Palm on RGA in our next wave, or maybe the one after   
   that, not sure, if you're interested). I could browse the net, update   
   Windows Mobile, check email, etc. all without using a high priced plan   
   that supports that stuff(was just using my router at the apt, or any   
   open wireless connection).   
      
   > No hacking required, although the Symbian S.60 V1 operating system isn't   
   > very popular now. Most of the software written for Symbian needs V2, which   
   > means it won't run on the N-gage at this point. The original N-gage uses   
   > sync software to install apps directly over a USB cable.   
      
   Hmmmm...so have you tried any emulators on the QD? That was the breaking   
   point for me and the "Wing": It was just so freakin' slow when it came   
   to the emulators(could barely run SMS/NES games). :(   
      
   > Depends. The official store for the game cards closed down after they   
   > cleared out all their games for around ten bucks a piece. The crappy games   
   > on Amazon go for $5, while the decent ones go for about $15.   
      
   You have almost all of them, don't you?   
      
   > Nokia BL-6C I think is the standard battery for use in both N-gage units.   
   > It's the same battery they've been using in their phones for like eight   
   > years now. It's a 5.9 volt charger, which is different from the 3.8 volt   
   > charger some other Nokia phones use.   
      
   Ah, nice.   
      
   > No SD support of any kind. The Nokia uses only MMC cards, which are   
   > thinner and lack that extra pin for the DRM support. That's a good thing,   
   > in my book.   
      
   This "MMC", is it a data storage card? That's all I really care about,   
   is the extra storage...it doesn't really matter what format it's on.   
      
   > Well, I've had it up to hear with the Dutch. :)   
      
   Lol!   
      
   > Seriously, for the games I   
   > wanted to play (Pocket Kingdom and Xanadu Next) the N-gage is a perfectly   
   > serviceable platform. The only thing that stinks is having to charge it   
   > essentially every other day. That's not a problem I have with other   
   > handheld game units. Note that I treat the thing mostly as a game machine   
   > and not as a phone.   
      
   Yeah, I don't generally use my cell phone a lot at all...I have one game   
   on it, Tetris, and when I found out that you can't take games with you   
   when you get a new cell phone, I was *furious*. I can't make myself buy   
   any other games because the second I get a new phone, they're gone. Talk   
   about a scam...I cannot believe they get away with that.   
      
   > Anyway, hope that helps you make a decision. And if you decide you don't   
   > want it, I call dibs. :)   
      
   Yeah, as it's the first model, I'll go ahead and pass. I don't remember   
   what games it comes with, other than one of them being a Sonic   
   title...but it's $34.99 for the unit, with three games and I think it   
   may have come with the charger. If you want it, just shoot me an email   
   and we'll talk it over(it's just bel at whipassgaming.com).   
      
   > -KKC, who needs to quit buying redundant game platforms.   
      
   No need for that. We've still got some Jaguar's, Neo Geo CDs, a Pioneer   
   Laser Active Mega LD, a SuperGrafx and other redundant systems coming up   
   on RGA! ;)   
      
   Bel   
   --   
   Whip Ass Gaming: http://www.whipassgaming.com   
      
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   Don: Good!   
   Mike:.....hey wait, I don't get it...   
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