E66, E71 or N82 or another nokia?

Go for the E71

Got mine last week. Very well designed. Looks great, feels great. Fast. Some features:

The best feature is the brilliant QWERTY keyboard. Such a pleasure not having to switch between T9 and non-T9, and cursing when you forgot to switch back to T9 and have already typed a whole sentence of gibberish. In addition, E71 has predictive text option which completes the word for you. Another big pleasure is having keys for comma, apostrophe, ? ! @ & / : ; + - # *and carriage return - no need to call up the symbols screen so often. Easy editing of Word, Excel and Powerpoint documents in Quickoffice, including import of graphics etc into the document.

Can access the contact list directly from Home screen - just start typing the name.

Alarm is programmable to repeat every day, or weekdays only, or every Monday etc.

Search facility to search any aspect of content - music, images, landmarks, emails, contacts, calendar, notes, etc. From that screen, can also search via Google.

Comprehensive English dictionary.

Push email via Nokia Email Service.

"Switch Mode" facility which allows you to set up two completely different Home screens with different themes, shortcuts etc - e.g. business orientated and leisure orientated

Psiloc WiPresenter - PowerPoint presentations (WiFi), or project your E71 screen onto any computer screen (via Bluetooth).

Nokia Multiscanner - a brilliant app which provides business card reading and document scanning. Take a photo and the Multiscanner converts the text from the business card into electronic data using Optical Character Recognition technology - recognizing name, company, address, mobile number - then saves it in phone book. Same for any printed document - can save as a note or document. Makes mistakes, but is a good start. According to http://www.nokia.com/A41229032 this facility is being further developed so as to be able to translate the words scanned e.g. from Greek to English on a restaurant menu.

An interesting feature is Advanced Call Manager. The application allows you to manage your contacts, that is, you can set groups of users from whom you want to receive calls and from whom you do not wish to receive calls. The application also allows you to set the action that needs to be performed for the group like: accept the call, reject, divert, send a personalized SMS, personalized greeting playback or even mute the ringer.
WorldMate which includes weather forecast for major SA cities for today and next 5 days, and can be set to audibly broadcast the forecast at any two times of the day.

I am not media orientated so can only repeat what I have read in reviews - music and video is fine, camera is lousy.
 
Just some responses to your post Richard. This is not meant as a mine is bigger than yours but just to show what is available on other phones.

The best feature is the brilliant QWERTY keyboard. Such a pleasure not having to switch between T9 and non-T9, and cursing when you forgot to switch back to T9 and have already typed a whole sentence of gibberish. In addition, E71 has predictive text option which completes the word for you.
Click to expand...

Why would you switch between T9 and non-T9? If a word does not come up with T9 then spell it so that it is there next time.

Remember I have also made mention that there are a number of input methods available on other S60v3 devices if you look for them :

* Quickwrite - this too completes the word you are typing after only two key presses. More letters typed obviously results in a more accurate "guess" by the phone.
* Voicemode - sick of typing well then try dictating your messages using this app. Unfortunately background noise is picked up so not always useful.

Although I do not doubt these do not match up to a full keyboard I am always concerned about the extra necessary space needed for a full keyboard. With the E71 with such a large phone you get a slightly smaller screen than the N82!

Easy editing of Word, Excel and Powerpoint documents in Quickoffice, including import of graphics etc into the document.
Click to expand...

Editing of office documents is also available on all symbian devices. Although I have this option on my N82 I am yet to use it as I find it so much easier editing documents on my laptop rather than on a small phone screen (no phone offers 15 inches).

Can access the contact list directly from Home screen - just start typing the name.
Click to expand...

SkyeQuiKey allows me to access contacts and applications from the home screen by just pressing the first few keys corresponding the the first few letters (ie no three presses for "c", just one press of the "abc" key will do it and bring up a list of all contacts/apps containing the letters a, b or c. A further key press will get you closer to your desired contact and usually by three key presses you have the name of the contact or app shown on your screen ready to open or dial.

Search facility to search any aspect of content - music, images, landmarks, emails, contacts, calendar, notes, etc. From that screen, can also search via Google.
Click to expand...

Standard on all Symbian 3 devices

Comprehensive English dictionary.
Click to expand...

I have loaded "MS Dictionary Viewer 4.10" which gives me a business, idioms, medical and standard English dictionary... I have seen options for various language dictionaries too but I have no need for these ;)



Obviously from the above you can tell that the N82 can do all these listed things so I don't think I really need to go through each one. If interested parties want to know if it can do something specific, feel free to ask.

From the above my conclusion would be if you really need a qwerty keyboard and are willing to sacrifice on quality when it comes to all the multimedia options like music, still camera, video camera etc then you would probably go for the E71. If the keyboard is not a big issue (and bear in mind the N82, and most Symbians I assume, come preinstalled with the "wireless keyboard" application which allows you to type messages etc using the Nokia SU-8W wireless keyboard!) then the more multimedia orientated phones will probably better suit your needs.
 
Ha ha I just thought I am sounding like an N82 salesman... but I am really passionate about this phone! ;)

And I love the challenge of seeing how it matches up to other phones on the market at the moment.
 
LancelotSA said:
Ha ha I just thought I am sounding like an N82 salesman... but I am really passionate about this phone! ;)

And I love the challenge of seeing how it matches up to other phones on the market at the moment.
Click to expand...

Just a quick q LancelotSA,

How do you find the buttons on the N82?
Only reason I'm a bit tentative atm, is because the buttons seem a bit narrow.

:confused:
 
iDenTiTy said:
Just a quick q LancelotSA,

How do you find the buttons on the N82?
Only reason I'm a bit tentative atm, is because the buttons seem a bit narrow.

:confused:
Click to expand...

Identity, as mentioned before the keys themselves do not pose much of a problem for me. The two things that probably (and again as mentioned if I were really being picky) could be mentioned as issues :

* The key numbers and letters are white on silver, and I am using a "white" silicon cover (which is superb and definitely a must!) which probably does not help, but when the key backlight is not on it is difficult to see the actual letters. I suppose this is not necessary all the time though as most of us tend to learn our keypads in a short while but I do find myself glancing at the keys sometimes and not being able to see the letters without changing the viewing angle.

* The only thing I have ever had an "issue" with is sometimes using the d-pad and when pressing right, left, up or down accidentally pressing the centre of the d-pad. Again the silicon cover I am using may not help with this but with the problem only occurring a few times it is not worth taking the cover off.

Identity, unless you are looking to type a thesis on the phone I do not think you will find it much of a problem. Because the keys are small they do only make contact with a smaller surface of your finger so plenty, and I mean plenty, key presses could hurt your finger tip... but I suppose this would happen with most phone keys! :)
 
Ok. Good to know.

Thanks.

I take it you don't have orangutan fingers.

;)


LancelotSA said:
Identity, as mentioned before the keys themselves do not pose much of a problem for me. The two things that probably (and again as mentioned if I were really being picky) could be mentioned as issues :

* The key numbers and letters are white on silver, and I am using a "white" silicon cover (which is superb and definitely a must!) which probably does not help, but when the key backlight is not on it is difficult to see the actual letters. I suppose this is not necessary all the time though as most of us tend to learn our keypads in a short while but I do find myself glancing at the keys sometimes and not being able to see the letters without changing the viewing angle.

* The only thing I have ever had an "issue" with is sometimes using the d-pad and when pressing right, left, up or down accidentally pressing the centre of the d-pad. Again the silicon cover I am using may not help with this but with the problem only occurring a few times it is not worth taking the cover off.

Identity, unless you are looking to type a thesis on the phone I do not think you will find it much of a problem. Because the keys are small they do only make contact with a smaller surface of your finger so plenty, and I mean plenty, key presses could hurt your finger tip... but I suppose this would happen with most phone keys! :)
Click to expand...
 
iDenTiTy said:
Ok. Good to know.

Thanks.

I take it you don't have orangutan fingers.

;)
Click to expand...

Ha ha I like anonymity on this forum but I am sure telling you this much will not allow anyone to pin down who I am, but I am 78kgs and 6"2... so no! ;)

But unless you have stubby fingers I am sure they still have a tip and you will be able to press the buttons. As stated on another thread (or was it this one?) I played with an iPhone the other day and I had more of a problem pressing the wrong key with that than I have ever had on the N82. The keys are quite high and distinct.
 
Hi LancelotSA - you are a professional! I agree that challenges are healthy, and stretch us all to investigate, explain, and try to make sense of. And, I must say, you do it gently. Go for it!
 
i have to add my 2 cents, considering that I've had a keyboard phone before, nothing can compare to having a decent KB. I HATE typing email and sms with the abc key thing.
It also doesnt take up any more space from the screen, cause all the new Nokias are standardised screen sizes 320x240. Believe it or not, i've measures them to confirm :) It seems like a bit of an optical illusion that some are larger than others, but the N82, E66, E71, N96 all have the exact same size screen :)

I had a look at the E71 today and the E66, and they are damn nicely put togethere. I'm only considering the E71 for now just because of the KBoard, anyone who's used a decent KB before will know its a pleasure to type on, as opposed to the regular little keypad on most phones. Other than that, the N82 does still rank top especially its kick ass camera.

Saying that, the Samsung G800 also has a 5MP xenon flash camera, but no GPS, but only 169pm on Anytime 200. Quite nice looking too. Choices choices!

Whats making the decision even tougher now, is price. MTN are currently offering the N81 on a Anytime 100 for only 89pm!!! Seriously small money. Granted, it only has 2MP camera and 384kbs 3G, but the rest of the specs are the same as the new Nokias. Its such a balancing act price vs features and looks.
 
dudleygb said:
It also doesnt take up any more space from the screen, cause all the new Nokias are standardised screen sizes 320x240. Believe it or not, i've measures them to confirm :) It seems like a bit of an optical illusion that some are larger than others, but the N82, E66, E71, N96 all have the exact same size screen :)
Click to expand...

This was my point Dudley :

E71 :
Dimensions 114 x 57 x 10 mm
Weight 127 g
Screen size 320 x 240 pixels, 2.36 inches

N82 :
Dimensions 112 x 50.2 x 17.3 mm
Weight 114 g
Screen size 240 x 320 pixels, 2.4 inches

A fair bit heavier, a fair bit wider with no gain in the screen size.... But actually in finding and posting these figures I see the N82 is a fair bit fatter but I suppose I am just more used to a phone that is "phone shaped" and less width means it sits in my pocket better.

In looking at those dimensions, surely typing on the keyboard is not going to give you 40 words per minute? Those keys must be pretty small....

I had a look at the E71 today and the E66, and they are damn nicely put togethere. I'm only considering the E71 for now just because of the KBoard, anyone who's used a decent KB before will know its a pleasure to type on, as opposed to the regular little keypad on most phones. Other than that, the N82 does still rank top especially its kick ass camera.
Click to expand...

Yip, like I said to someone else if the keyboard is your most important requirement then clearly the E71 will win you over. I also admitted somewhere else that I use my phone a lot for taking pictures. When you have kids you want your camera, and a good one at that, close at hand at all times to catch that special moment. The most typing I do on my phone is when smsing (and I like to keep it down to one sms so no long messages), the odd web address, some notes (not long, just reminders), calender entries etc so no need for a keyboard.

In any case I know dictate to my phone if i want to "type" something long... ;)
 
The more I think about it, and work on it, the toss up is between text ability (i.e. keyboard) and media capacity. I write a lot so QWERTY is superb, so I am prepared to sacrifice on the media side. On the E71 the keyboard as a whole is superb. The D pad is excellent.

Something else - screen in landscape format is very enjoyable. Seems more natural. Certainly better for reading documents, especially PDF.
 
Just read the review for the N78. Its a very nice cheap alternative to N95, N96, N82 etc, except for the camera and storage and weird design, it boasts GPS, 3.2 Carl Zeiss (yeah not fabulous but for the price I think this is a good all rounder with good value) and the Feature Pack 2 with latest Symbian OS and Navi wheel.
And the best part its only 129pm on ANytime 100, or 189pm on Anytime 200...
huh
 
LancelotSA said:
Ha ha I just thought I am sounding like an N82 salesman... but I am really passionate about this phone! ;)

And I love the challenge of seeing how it matches up to other phones on the market at the moment.
Click to expand...

Let me share something with you then you can think about it tonight.

When I was using the Nokia N80 I thought, this is the best phone on the market. I told everyone the same old story over and over again because I wanted them to believe me and if they believe me I'll believe it too. But after a while I woke up and realise that there are a lot of other phones out there that's much better than my N80.

But hey, I'm sure you will get there too.
 
well, i've narrowed my choices down to the N78 189pm on anytime 200 (for budget its a no brainer :), N82 - still on special for 239 on anytime 200, and I really am in need of a decent camera, then this becomes the no brainer but the price goes up a little
N96 - totally splash out the budget and get it just because its the latest Nokia sliced bread 359pm on anytime 200
 
HELL, I just found the 6220, its also got a 5MP with xenon, GPS and the FP2 9.3 OS. For 329pm on Anytime 350, it seems the perfect all rounder. Definitely going for this guy! What you think Lance?
 
According to the reviews (I haven't been able to find one to check physically) the 6220 has a crappy keyboard, but all the other specs stack up. It was my first choice until Vodacom couldn't tell me when they are actually going to start selling them, but I'm very happy with my new E71. I'm actually glad Vodacom don't stock the 6220, cos if they did, I might very well have taken it without even looking at the E71.
 
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