Keepin' it real fake, part LXII: Nokia N800 gets ripped

At this point the knockoff wizards in China will copy pretty much anything, so we're not going to claim to be surprised at this blatant rip of Nokia's N800 "Internet Tablet." The GPS unit runs Windows CE 5.0 and features a 4.3-inch touchscreen with handwriting recognition, WiFi, Skype, email and MSN support, document viewers, and a media player. It also features an NES emulator for that added dose of IP infringement -- they're really starting to go for the gusto overseas.

[Via SlashGear]

[ScOObyDoo @ Jun 15th 2007 9:41AM]

Poor Nokia. Sucks when someone makes a knockoff that actually appears to be better than the original.

[Mac Dub @ Jun 15th 2007 10:59AM]

Not just poor Nokia. Poor Apple too. http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/13/meizu-m8-minione-closer-to-production-litigation/

[Jeff @ Jun 15th 2007 10:21AM]

I like the use of the wrong "son" in the sample image.

[Kichigai Mentat @ Jun 19th 2007 5:04PM]

That's probably the right use of "Sun." Consider that this is being manufactured in China, and that Sun (as in Sun Tzu, for example) is a name in Chinese.

[Justin @ Jun 15th 2007 10:22AM]

Is "Sun" a common name overseas or did they actually misspell "Son" in the product photo? If so, thats classic, especially since father's day is this weekend.

-quick google check reveals that Sun is a common surname in China. Of course that does not matter too much since English is not native language there. Still...not a funny as I thought.

[Justin @ Jun 15th 2007 10:29AM]

Jeff beat me to it, but he missed the fact that Sun is a common name in China...YES. My perception is keen, but my typing is slow.

[darkstar @ Jun 15th 2007 10:49AM]

this is hilarious!
the knock off is actually way better with features i want

[Jeff @ Jun 15th 2007 10:54AM]

I think this thing is vaporware, but even if it's not despite better specs, this device doesn't have the same appeal as the nokia n800...

honestly the operating system can make or break a device like this... the n800 may not be for the average user who just wants to check stock quotes, IM, troll myspace pages and look at satelite images of their house on google maps.... but it runs an open platform that the hobbyist / technically inclined user can really run with...

When buying a device such as this, you have to look beyond what comes in the box, but at the community of users who support the device and contribute to its functionality. This is largely a function of how open the hardware and OS are.

[zorg @ Jun 15th 2007 11:01AM]

Moving the D-Pad to the right side works for me! Just yesterday, I (yet again) hit the escape key (the curly arrow) on the other key instead of the down side of the D-Pad.

Still, I don't think I would buy this thing. I have plenty of apps on the N800 and its main limitations are (1) the screen is not really daylight viewable and (2) the hardware is too cheap for the level of abuse I give it, e.g., the power adapter connector has broken twice. These issues will not improve in a crap knockoff.

The N800 software took me a while to get used to, but I'm pretty happy with it now and can't imagine Windows CE 5.0 will work better. Actually, my Windows experience suggests that it will be worse and will be more likely to try to shoehorn a desktop experience into a handheld form factor.

[Ross @ Jun 15th 2007 11:21AM]

I love the fact that they didn't even bother changing the promotional artwork... that "Hi Sun..." picture is part of the PR material for the N800, and is on the N800 web site and boxes.

[Darwin @ Jun 15th 2007 11:38AM]

I'm still puzzled how you go for "the gusto"

[Richard Lai @ Jun 15th 2007 11:51AM]

Urgh, now that I am back in Hong Kong, I see these shops selling Chinese-made HTC-lookalike phones, although some of them have extra features like TV reception (picture quality is surprisingly good though).

Of course, it becomes a problem when it comes to after-sale service.

[Hijakk @ Jun 15th 2007 1:00PM]

It isn't a Nokia N800, it's a "digital photo fram" for all your "on-line" needs.
You can even "incept" e-mail.
All this, plus poorly shopped in icons from XP.

[chinagurllvr @ Jun 15th 2007 4:41PM]

anyone point me towards an online dealer/importer that dabbles in all these unusual chinese devices? not just the kncokoffs, i have seen many that are actually innovative and/or unusual and wouldn't mind actually buying some, but no idea how to find them online for purchase..!

[Lance Wexler @ Jun 15th 2007 5:50PM]

I do wish my N800 had that key layout, and the camera implementation is also much better. But a huge reason I bought the Nokia was Linux (though I have never used it before); I want nothing to do with Windows software. Besides, I doubt this thing will ever show up for real.