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With its launch last week in Singapore, Asian consumers finally get to experience Nokia’s first-ever Windows phone, which made its debut in selected European countries at the end of last month.

Last Wednesday, hundreds of people in Singapore began lining up at 5 a.m. to buy the new Nokia Lumia 800, with the first 100 buyers getting a free Microsoft Xbox and Kinect.

Nokia and Microsoft, both previously leaders in their respective markets, hope this collaboration will propel them to the forefront of the smartphone industry.

Nokia plans to launch two Windows phones, their first using the Internet browser: the Nokia Lumia 800, which retails in Singapore for 775 Singapore dollars ($600), and the Nokia Lumia 710, a more affordable option that has yet to be released to the public. The Lumia 800 has a body made of polycarbonate, while the Lumia 710 has a detachable plastic back cover that comes in several color options. The Lumia 800, which resembles the Nokia N8, is available in black, magenta and cyan.

The Lumia 800 immediately puts users at ease. It feels just right in the palm of your hands and the user interface is easy to master. If anything, the Lumia 800 may reignite people’s love for Windows, the first operating system for many computer users.

The most noticeable innovation in the Lumia 800 is the tiles, which is a refreshing replacement for dull Windows icons.

Gone is the music note icon and the pile of envelopes for your Inbox. The tiles can be personalized by users with photos and you can pin your favorite apps or Web sites to each tile.

To browse, you simply run your fingers through tiles. Nokia continues to use an active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) touchscreen like those featured on the Nokia N8 and N9.

The touchscreen was amazingly responsive to my fingers, allowing me to type without any errors. The less expensive Lumia 710, however, will feature a more clumsy LCD screen.

The Lumia 800 is integrated with Microsoft software, including the Bing search engine, Windows Live and Internet Explorer.

Once you log in with Windows Live, you are automatically allotted 25 gigabytes of Microsoft’s cloud service, SkyDrive. You can play the same games on both the Lumia 800 and Xbox over the Internet.

The Lumia 800 lets you stay connected via social media. The phone book is integrated with your friends’ Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn profiles. Touch the “people” tile and your contact list appears. Swipe left and a feed will appear of your friends’ posts on their social media accounts, as well as e-mails and text messages.

You will rarely need to use apps, but for those who can’t do without them, Lumia 800 users will have access to more than 35,000 free apps on Windows Phone Marketplace, and they can buy music from the Nokia Music Store.

According to Nokia, the battery provides up to 13 hours of talk time and up to 55 hours of music playback.

Nokia Drive and Nokia Maps, which are preloaded on the Lumia 800, enhance the travel experience. Nokia Drive is an accurate, helpful map program that can be used with or without GPS. For restaurants and other suggestions, Nokia Maps is a useful companion.

The Nokia Lumia 800 will be available in Indonesia next year. The exact date for the local launch, pricing and subscription plans have not yet been released.