Is the E90 the Best World Phone (and More) Yet?
I’ve been testing the Nokia E90 Communicator, an powerful blend of hardware and software. It combines a number of functions into a portable computer/phone that, despite the inevitable compromises, strikes me as perhaps the best device of its kind so far.
It’s almost precisely what the Apple iPhone is not: a device designed with serious work in mind, where the keypad(s) are the data-entry systems and where multimedia creation carries a higher value than playback. There’s a fold-out keyboard and large, high-resolution screen. It still requires thumb-typing (making me suspect that Nokia could and should create a model of this that’s shorter and no less difficult for typing).
The communications array is astounding, as we’ve come to expect from Nokia lately: 4-band GSM, GPRS, HSDPA 3G, WiFi and more. This makes it a true “world phone” in ways that few competitors have matched.
The 3.2-megapixel camera takes more than good enough pictures, and the video and audio recording are more than acceptable. GPS is built-in (but the radio receiver isn’t very powerful), along with a variety of other excellent features. Web browsing is better than ever with the larger 800×352 inside screen.
Video playback still lags behind the iPhone, but not by much: I ripped a DVD of several TV-series episodes to the device and watched them on a plane. The audio and video were more than good enough to enjoy the programs — and the battery drain wasn’t too awful.
The main drawback, apart from the expected not-so-great battery life, is the size and weight, though it’s svelte compared to older models of the Communicator series. Storage is limited to 2GB with a (extra purchase) micro-SD card. Another, continuing Nokia blind spot — true for all its phones — is the company’s refusal to support the Macintosh except in crude ways.
The N95 has more sophisticated multimedia features, and upcoming 8GB model looks pretty terrific (a touch screen would make it nearly perfect apart from the lack of QWERTY keyboard). I may stick with the N95, but I’m torn, because I love the ability to do more serious work on the E90.
Wow…
But its not Apple…which means it must be crap.
His Steveness can do no wrong.
I’m very much looking forward to the Nokia ‘nPhone’ with touch interface. And the attitude towards the Mac seems to be changing at Nokia, there is some new software available at least: http://europe.nokia.com/mac
OK. Fair comment but like it or loath it you’ll find there will be a lot of iPhones out there. So (and I haven’t checked if you’ve done this yet) can you please give serious thought to putting together an iPhone friendly version of your pages.
Yes, I work for Apple. No wyou won’t find me making inteperate opinionated comments on our, or any other vendors product and their comparative merits.
But those Nokias..you just look at them and know they have no soul, no style. Yes you CAN do all those cool things with this phone, but who will want to, who will be moved to? It’s just more fucking menus and stuff, right? Just a lot of clicking around on a little bit of plastic?
A phone like this really says nothing culturally about a person’s relationship to mobility or to digital network products, and that’s the real bar now, not this macho “you gotta bang out a multimedia spreadsheet between sales meetings” scenario. No, those are not your words, but that seems to be what everyone assumes everyone else wants from a mobile. Somewhere some Finnish executive has to be able to get work done or else it’s not a real device, yes?
They’ll sell a respectable number to a bunch of phone geeks, then it will be forgotten for one with incrementally more memory or some shit like that.
I am hoping that Nokia will make it easier to upload firmware upgrades as they become avaailable, unlike the 9300/9500 series. I have a 9300 which has very buggy software. I know there is an upgrade in the firmware, my provider doesn’t care and keep denying it. Because the phone is obsolete, the message is use what you have or buy a new one. I am amazed that Nokia doesn’t seem to read its own service boards (in Europe) to pick up customer intelligence. If they are doing so, it isn’t obvious to the users. Pity. Agree with the comments on the keyboard.
I totally love my new Communicator. To have both the 800(!) pixel wide internal as well as the fully featured external screen AND keyboard/keypad is great. iPhone certainly has some advantages in the usability side but it really doesn’t have anything that the E90 wouldn’t, too. And it’s lacking _so_ many features that I feel are crucial that after having played with it for 10 minutes I really wanted to get back to my Communicator’s GPS navigation (yes, it takes a while to get a GPS fix), 3mpix camera, FM-radio, pretty powerful document editing tools, memory card, T9 dictionary to type SMSs blind, etc. And I just LOVE the fact that I can have a spare battery with me so that I can be sure that I don’t run out of power.
Yes. The Communicator IS (with all its shortcomings) absolutely the best world phone yet - and more. For those that what more than just eye-candy and smoothly rolling basic features, that is.
I’m writing this on a Windows Mobile 6 Dash that I use all the time because it puts QWERTY in my pocket. leaving aside the Apple and Nokia religions, check out the HTC Advantage - opera browser, 3g, gprs, wifi, gps, bluetooth, touch screen, magnetic QWERTY keyboard, good multimedia, 8gb storage plus microSD, office document editing, vga out… there are a lot of things that are pushing mobile computing forward
HTC is the second very best (for power users, again). I was considering it but favored the Nokia Communicator for its high res screen, 3mpix *autofocus* camera (autofocus needed to take readable photos of documents -> upload to Scanr/Qipit), the radio and even because of the normal keypad on the cover (T9 texting + better one-handed operating).
The only real downside of E90 is its weight. But then again, aluminium is heavier than plastic and the casing is fantasticly sturdy. A Finnish MP fell off his bike at nearly 40km/h with his E90 crashing to the street under him (in his pocket). A few scratches to the casing but the phone worked perfectly after the crash.
@Eric who cares that we don’t have soul? LOL
we have sharp brain and working hands… come to closest Nokia Flagship store or Nokia House if you happen to be in Helsinki/Espoo, Finland :)
The iphone can’t match the E90’s camera. And also, I heard that the Iphone can’t even record videos. (although I don’t know if this is true.)
Had my E90 since September 07. It’s not quite perfect (but close) IF you want a working tool. Yes the i-phone is stylish and sexy but how many software upgrades since it came out? My E90 just WORKS for its living. I-phone is a toy by comparison. How many i-phones selling on ebay? If you want a proper business communications device E90 rules.