The Dark Furie

Touchscreen phones - I really can't stand them. There's no tactile feedback when you touch a "button". No reassuring clicks when typing. And the screens, don't get me started on how easily they scratch. As a result, the Nokia 5800 touchscreen S60 version 5 phone was way down at the bottom of my list of interests.

Sure, it's got some interesting features, but they never got me past my hatred of touchscreens.

• 3.2 megapixel auto-focus camera.
• 3.2 inch, 640x320 pixel screen.
• New improved interface with full backwards compatibility between applications.
• HSDPA, Wi-Fi and GPS.
• Full external sensor support including accelerometer.
• Support for up to 32gb memory cards with an 8gb card in the box.
• Enhanced web browser with full widget support and enhanced widget engine enabling access to core applications.
• Stereo speakers.
• Up to 9.5 hours talk time.
• TV-out capabilities.

Some great features there but not enough to shell out £400 on a new phone whose main feature (the touchscreen) I don't like anyway. However, the announcement that the phone would be £215 (€274, $379, R3239) SIM free, blew my reservations out of the water.

I started thinking about the fact that I've just won a bluetooth keyboard and would mostly be using the phone via the keyboard while plugged into the TV, or resting on it's stand. It's amazing how cheap this phone is being launched at. In every way it's an upgrade for me and at a ridiculously cheap price too.

Considering the package contains an 8gb memory card, the stylish stand pictured above, a TV-out cable, two stylus, a thumb plectrum attached to the wrist strap and a protective carry case, the price just gets better and better.

Well done Nokia. You've just taken the 5800 from the very bottom of my list to top of the pile.