I’ll admit I’m starting to sound a bit like a Nokia fanboy, but after spending the last week using the new Nokia Lumia 900, it’s hard not to take this phone seriously.

I’ve never been so convinced that the Nokia/ Microsoft experiment was a success, but as I always say, you’ve got to try one out before making your judgment.

And the new Lumia 900 is definitely a good place to start. It’s their flagship device, so it’s taking on the biggest names in the industry, but it’s no iPhone killer. There’s still some work to be done.

The Lumia 900 is anything but slow. The 1.4 GHz single core processor runs this phone so smoothly you’ll feel like your finger is scraping the roof of a pond. Moving around the phone is so effortless and fun you’ll find yourself flicking menus just because you can.

The camera is also a beast. At 8MP, nothing looks pixelated or low-res, and reviewing the pictures is like acid tripping without having to take any drugs. Colors are bright, playback is smooth and scrolling is instant. This phone really does make you a better photographer. Pair this up with an app like Instagram (I know), and your life will be complete.

Obviously the major difference of the new Nokia’s is that they feature Windows Phone 7 OS with the Mango app store. A lot of people have never played on a WP7 phone, so I did a little vid to show you what it looks like.

Nothing to be afraid of, see?

Personally I just like the experience of operating a phone that doesn’t look like an iPhone or an Android OS. I am bored to death with Android, even if it is brilliant at what it does. Does anyone out there share my sentiments? Please tell me in the comments.

The new Lumia is also very nice to look at and awesome to hold in your hand. The 4.3-inch screen is 11.5mm thick, and it’s not what I would call heavy at all.

This sleek and smooth nature though is a problem. You constantly find the phone slipping through your fingers as you try to operate it, and walking around with a slate of glass in your pocket you just know it’s a matter of time before…

So you’re going to need to buy a case, but that’s familiar from when you got your iPhone or Galaxy. The real question is, why phone manufacturers spend so much money designing breath-taking phones if we’re only going to have to cover them up in a designer piece of plastic. Why not just put that money towards sponsoring us a free cover for the phone when we buy it? Wouldn’t do much for the adverts though.

The other thing to watch out for on the Nokia Lumia 900 is the lack of apps. Like I said, it runs the Mango app store which has shelves more bare than the South African chain of Burger King. Just an idea of some apps you won’t find in the app store: Hootsuite, Tweetdeck, Flipboard, Instagram and others.

While Microsoft are working on it, Nokia have gone to effort to supply you with a bunch of native apps which are pretty handy. However the inability to find what you’re looking for and customize your phone yourself is a bit frustrating. Hopefully by the time you get your Lumia 900, Microsoft has stocked its shelves better.

As I say above, it’s not all bad in the app department. On the phone you’ll find an entire Office Suite and Creative Studio for document and media editing, Tango Video Calls and the very decent Nokia Drives and Nokia Maps apps which didn’t get their reputation by being kak.

On the battery front, I wanted more but wasn’t surprised with the ‘just over a day” that I got. Smartphone features drain a battery so until they come up with a way to lengthen them, you’re going to be constantly plugged in somewhere.

I know off the bat what you’re asking: should I get one?

The answer is actually quite simple: get one if you’re the guy who always likes to stay ahead of the curve. You might miss out on some functionality and apps, but you’ll be much cooler and way more progressive than your iPhone toting buddies. I think they call that Indie?

I will admit that the lack of apps in the Mango store is a problem, so if you can’t live without your Instagram, then wait for the next generation.

Get it: R369 pm for 24 months
From: www.mtn.co.za