PC Pro has a first review of the Nexus One; Here are some of the highlights:

Google UK held an open evening for journalists last night, with the introduction of Chrome OS being its major theme. However, it also had four samples of the Google Nexus One for us attendees to play with – thus this first look review.It soon became obvious why the Nexus One has received a muted reaction in the States, where it’s already on sale. There’s no feeling of luxury as you pick up the plasticky device in your hand, and if sat in the ranks of phones at The Carphone Warehouse it would look distinctly anonymous.

The screen has many positives though. It’s very bright and, to give it its due, it is at least responsive to the touch. Probably the biggest plus of all is the resolution: a magnificent 800 x 480. That’s a match for HTC’s Touch HD2, even if you can’t see text quite so well on the Nexus One’s 3.7in screen as you can on the Touch HD2’s 4.3in screen.

But there are two big omissions from the Nexus One. First, where is the clever integration of social-networking services, which Palm was wittering on about a whole year ago when it announced the (ultimately disappointing) Palm Pre?

Perhaps; I don’t know the US market well enough to make a judgement on that one. But I think it’s also telling that Google gave away 3,000 Nexus One phones to developers at a recent conference; perhaps this is the real point of the device, rather than as a phone intended for sale. It’s a platform with a fast processor and huge screen: both ingredients Google believes to be vitally important.

For everyone else, though, you’re better off with an accomplished Android phone like the HTC Hero – which will be upgradeable to Android 2. And by the time the Nexus One officially comes out in the UK (you can buy it today from the Google US site if you so wish) the Motorola Backflip, and no doubt a number of other Android 2.1-powered devices, will be on sale too. I know which I’d buy.

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