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If Google's goal is to spread Android more wide than deep, maybe this is precisely the right phone at the right time: class-leading processor, vibrant display, sexy shell, and just a sprinkling of geekiness that only Google could pull off this effortlessly.

The Nexus One is an over-hyped Android phone. But that doesn't stop it from being the best Android phone. It is, for two reasons: Hardware and software.

It brings best-of-breed hardware features to an evolving, multitasking operating system that improves with every point release. Where the Droid is 'just good enough', the Nexus One brings more polish, more power, and a better design.

It doesn't have all the features we'd like, but the Nexus One greatly enhances the Google Android family with a fast processor, good call quality, and improved voice control features. What's more, we love that all versions of the phone will be unlocked.

With its fresh phone and bold business model, Google is taking Android to a new level, and that should ramp up the competition in the super-smartphone space.

The Nexus One is an excellent app phone, fast and powerful but marred by some glitches and missing features — a worthy competitor to the Droid, if not the iPhone.

There's a lack of imagination in terms of its physical design, a few niggling bugs ... it scores points over competitors for its effortless multitasking, its flash-equipped camera and its lightning-fast speed, as well as its deep integration with Google's suite of apps.

After spending years complaining that I didn't need my PDA to be a phone, the Nexus One has convinced me that maybe that's exactly what I do want. ... the platform will only continue to grow, which makes the Nexus One a pretty good choice for someone looking for a first smartphone.