The Nokia E61 showdown

I had promised myself that my next post would be about the Nokia E61, that too when I owned one. As can be guessed, the sparkling new E61 (you can see an actual size picture here) lies right beside me. I tried writing this post directly from the E61, but unfortunately, the interface to my blog editor does not support the E61 browser (any listeners amongst the developers of the Serendipity platform - this is actual feedback!).

The E61 boasts the most connectivity options I have ever seen or heard of. GSM, GPRS, WiFi, UMTS, Bluetooth, Infrared, Pop-Port (USB connection) - there is no way that you can find yourself disconnected. Even the new thin charger has an attachment by which you can charge your phone through the older (and thicker) Nokia chargers. Till now, the only option I have not used is UMTS - and that too because no network in India supports this.

My quest for the Nokia E61 began when I searched for a Nokia phone (obviously - I have known very few people who have moved away after owning a Nokia) that has the series 60 operating system (I like to install and try new applications) and does not sport a camera (cameras are slowly being banned from offices, they increase prices and are rarely used anyway). The only phone shortlisted was the E61. The more I read about it, the more I was convinced that this was going to be my next phone. Now that I have owned it for quite some time and have experimented extensively, I think it is about time that I set the record straight.

Pros:

• The QWERTY keyboard is VERY convenient to use and not at all cumbersome. I see no advantage of styluses and touch screens.
• Contrary to common belief, the size is not dificult to handle, considering all the other advantages the phone offers.
• There is a lot that you can uncover in terms of features, options, tricks, and shorcuts. Not a day goes by when I don't learn something new about the phone.
• Nokia has ensured that the user experience picks up from earlier series 60 phones, and delivers much more. The active display is a case in point. The standby active display shows upcoming meeting/appointments, new messages (email/SMS/MMS), and the current playing song (if any).
• The inbuilt browser is very intuitive. The joystick doubles up as the mouse and you can control an intelligent cursor that tries to identify links which it automatically points to, and also scrolls the screen.
• The organizer is a boon - and is very easy to update given the fact that you have a QWERTY keyboard.
• The light sensor makes a comeback (reappearing after the Nokia 7650) and saves battery life by dimming/switching off the display and keypad light based on ambient lighting.
• You can view and edit MS Word, MS PowerPoint and MS Excel documents with the built in office tools. Believe it or not, you can draw charts in the spreadsheet application. You can also export your view to a projector/PC monitor.
• The large portrait screen and stereo sound will give you a wonderful experience while watching movies and serials.
• Finally, and most importantly, you can install a host of applications that make life simpler. Try Gmail Mobile to read your mail with the familiar Gmail interface that includes preloading of data, viewing attachments, and grouping of conversations. Chat with your Gtalk friends through GoTalkMobile. Browse the web (especially long textual pages) with Opera Mini, or relax with a wonderful round of golf in Golf Pro 2. You an even watch a movie compressed using the DivX codec using Divx mobile.

Cons:

• The phone ships with a mono headset even though stereo playback is supported. I had no problem as I had a stereo headset from a previous Nokia phone.
• The built-in browser is a bit too simplistic. I would love to have the ability to see the URL (pay attention to the status bar - there is a lot that you learn about what you are going to view on a page from the URL itself), and scroll/select text.
• Though easy to use, the joystick sometimes becomes a pain in the thumb after extensive use. The rumored Nokia E61i may be a welcome change.
• The settings might be a pain for those not comfortable with the Nokia interface.
• Series 60 v3 requires all applications to be recompiled and digitally signed by Nokia. Therefore, as of today there is a paucity of applications out there. Hopefully, this will change soon.
• The change from RS-MMC to Mini SD memory cards has rendered my 256 MB RS MMC card useless.

All in all, the advantages way outweigh the disavantages. With this phone, Nokia will take a big leap ahead from other phones in the market.