What do you call something that looks like a Blackberry, acts like a Blackberry and yet offers a lot more than most Blackberry devices? Nokia calls it the E61.
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I had this phone for 12 months and although I initially loved it - the quality turned out to be very poor and I've recently got rid of it. Rather disappointing. :-(
Pros: Screen, battery, keyboard
Cons: After 6 months the joystick key failed and would no longer scroll down (So I had to scroll up through menus.
It started to lock up often and took ages to send SMS (up to 1 minute during which time it was frozen).
My initial E61 would not charge and had to be exchanged.
It would not connect to any PC using the sync software provided.
Last month the power button failed and it started turning itself off all the time.
I gave up and it's now in my bottom draw as a spare.
Ive had this phone for about 3 months now, and on the whole am happy with it. IT is complicated to navigate the menus, and mine freezes every so often, but it does everything I want, ESPECIALLY sync with my desktop, which ive never been able to get working with other phones, A1000 especially. mine has been updated to newer firmware.
Pros: Mostly reliable, BATTERY is brilliant, email with three is good, and web surfing is excellent.Did I say BATTERY life is brilliant... Love the metal casing. Will definitely buy an unlocked version next time.
Cons: freezes occasionally with new firmware, record button is a pain, but v3 firmware supposedly fixes this. Connector at bottom is flaky.
Best phone on the market. Try the Nokia N73, which has better features and better quality!
Pros: screen, user interface, features, 3G, Camera, Sound Quality, Qwerky keyboard, Battery life is excellent. Phone works in WCDMA regions like Japan. 3G services very good but cost can add up. Sound quality from speaker is excellent. Browsing on internet is quite good. Software works very well with Outlook. Music sync software works well. Has Bluetooth which automatically connects to my car hands free kit. Sound quality of phone is excellent. However, if volume turned above 5 bars (about halfway) the person on the other end of line will hear an echo whenever they are speaking. Loudspeaker function seems to get rid of this problem. Very cost effective device compared to other PDA phones. Finding wifi hotspots is easy using the inbuilt WLAN finder. It shows whether the WLAN is locked and the strength of reception. Comes with free Worldmate software for travellers - very useful. Opens word documents with no problems.Cons: Wifi range isn't as good as I though it could be, though it isn't bad. Email service with Three network is a bit limited - you can't set filtering rules. Also once connected to an imap server via auto retrieve, there is no timeout so battery can be drained somewhat. Does not come with a cradle for the phone. Limited software support. Won't play youtube videos due to flash software being older version. (Flash Ver 1.1 I think is shipped with unit, ver 2 will play but is not available for e61). Although email headers are delivered automatically, I seem to have to manually retrieve the email content (could be a Three network phone issue). If there are any email attachments, these have to be downloaded again. You can create a 'To-do' item but there doesn't seem to be a place where you can make notes about the item.
Cons: Size, Wifi range isn't as good as I though it could be, though it isn't bad.
Overall, for the price and features - this phone is a BARGAIN. I was recently in Japan, and making local calls there was a breeze. I also roamed there with no issue. You can text anyone in Australia by sending a text to their Aussie number. Sending an email also was not a problem. The phone has great battery life and once I found a free wifi spot, could do a bit of web surfing and updating of worldmate. Worldmate software is great for currency conversions and weather forecasts for day trips and planning your holiday generally. I love this phone. I'm glad I bought it and it has met my expectations. I didn't realise you can buy a GPS unit for the phone also. The GPS could come in very handy if you are travelling a lot. However, I didn't test this function of the phone.
Pros: Battery life is excellent. Phone works in WCDMA regions like Japan. 3G services very good but cost can add up. Sound quality from speaker is excellent. Browsing on internet is quite good. Software works very well with Outlook. Music sync software works well. Has Bluetooth which automatically connects to my car hands free kit. Sound quality of phone is excellent. However, if volume turned above 5 bars (about halfway) the person on the other end of line will hear an echo whenever they are speaking. Loudspeaker function seems to get rid of this problem. Very cost effective device compared to other PDA phones. Finding wifi hotspots is easy using the inbuilt WLAN finder. It shows whether the WLAN is locked and the strength of reception. Comes with free Worldmate software for travellers - very useful. Opens word documents with no problems.
Cons: Wifi range isn't as good as I though it could be, though it isn't bad. Email service with Three network is a bit limited - you can't set filtering rules. Also once connected to an imap server via auto retrieve, there is no timeout so battery can be drained somewhat. Does not come with a cradle for the phone. Limited software support. Won't play youtube videos due to flash software being older version. (Flash Ver 1.1 I think is shipped with unit, ver 2 will play but is not available for e61). Although email headers are delivered automatically, I seem to have to manually retrieve the email content (could be a Three network phone issue). If there are any email attachments, these have to be downloaded again. You can create a 'To-do' item but there doesn't seem to be a place where you can make notes about the item.
Pros: Extremely user friendly - particularly email, SMS, and contacts. Excellent features, many unique. Navigation with joystick is surprisingly easy - would find it very hard to go back to a stylus. Great value for money compared to other smartphones. This is my 3rd smartphone (previously Palm Treo 650 and O2 XDA) and I have also had various PDA's, however this is by far the best I have ever used.
Cons: Limited software available - bundled calendar is very basic. Software developers seem slow to release compatable software.
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Cutler
14/06/2007, 02:51 PM
rating
3/10
I had this phone for 12 months and although I initially loved it - the quality turned out to be very poor and I've recently got rid of it. Rather disappointing. :-(
Pros: Screen, battery, keyboard
Cons: After 6 months the joystick key failed and would no longer scroll down (So I had to scroll up through menus.
It started to lock up often and took ages to send SMS (up to 1 minute during which time it was frozen).
My initial E61 would not charge and had to be exchanged.
It would not connect to any PC using the sync software provided.
Last month the power button failed and it started turning itself off all the time.
I gave up and it's now in my bottom draw as a spare.
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Brett
23/03/2007, 03:12 PM
rating
10/10
i had an o2 xda and gave it away. this has all those features but actually works as a phone!
Pros: screen, phone
Cons: size - thickness
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pinping
07/02/2007, 12:32 PM
rating
9/10
Ive had this phone for about 3 months now, and on the whole am happy with it. IT is complicated to navigate the menus, and mine freezes every so often, but it does everything I want, ESPECIALLY sync with my desktop, which ive never been able to get working with other phones, A1000 especially. mine has been updated to newer firmware.
Pros: Mostly reliable, BATTERY is brilliant, email with three is good, and web surfing is excellent.Did I say BATTERY life is brilliant... Love the metal casing. Will definitely buy an unlocked version next time.
Cons: freezes occasionally with new firmware, record button is a pain, but v3 firmware supposedly fixes this. Connector at bottom is flaky.
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Wolfie
20/12/2006, 01:01 AM
rating
9/10
E61 has all the Blackberry advantages + WiFi
Pros: Great for business and I can save on free WiFi calls. I registered with www.challengermobile.com and it works really well.
Cons: No camera, but I don't miss it. This is a working tool.
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IsleSeat
17/12/2006, 10:59 AM
rating
10/10
Best phone I've ever had.
Pros: Connectivity, battery life, display, solid quality feel, synchronization
Cons: You need to buy it unlocked from third part y sources, since the E61 is not offered in this version by US mobile carriers
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Santosh
10/12/2006, 07:47 PM
rating
9/10
Great Phone - Browsing is great - it's almost like a PC in your hands. Display is fantastic.
Pros: Fantastic display
Great for browsing
User friendly.
Wi fi connectivity is good
Cons: Some basic software - like wallet is missing
One touch key to activate loudspeaker missing
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TechNomads
21/10/2006, 08:42 AM
rating
10/10
Great phone for a business person
Best phone on the market. Try the Nokia N73, which has better features and better quality!
Pros: screen, user interface, features, 3G, Camera, Sound Quality, Qwerky keyboard, Battery life is excellent. Phone works in WCDMA regions like Japan. 3G services very good but cost can add up. Sound quality from speaker is excellent. Browsing on internet is quite good. Software works very well with Outlook. Music sync software works well. Has Bluetooth which automatically connects to my car hands free kit. Sound quality of phone is excellent. However, if volume turned above 5 bars (about halfway) the person on the other end of line will hear an echo whenever they are speaking. Loudspeaker function seems to get rid of this problem. Very cost effective device compared to other PDA phones. Finding wifi hotspots is easy using the inbuilt WLAN finder. It shows whether the WLAN is locked and the strength of reception. Comes with free Worldmate software for travellers - very useful. Opens word documents with no problems.Cons: Wifi range isn't as good as I though it could be, though it isn't bad. Email service with Three network is a bit limited - you can't set filtering rules. Also once connected to an imap server via auto retrieve, there is no timeout so battery can be drained somewhat. Does not come with a cradle for the phone. Limited software support. Won't play youtube videos due to flash software being older version. (Flash Ver 1.1 I think is shipped with unit, ver 2 will play but is not available for e61). Although email headers are delivered automatically, I seem to have to manually retrieve the email content (could be a Three network phone issue). If there are any email attachments, these have to be downloaded again. You can create a 'To-do' item but there doesn't seem to be a place where you can make notes about the item.
Cons: Size, Wifi range isn't as good as I though it could be, though it isn't bad.
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Lloydie
15/10/2006, 01:36 PM
rating
9/10
Powerful phone, PDA
Overall, for the price and features - this phone is a BARGAIN. I was recently in Japan, and making local calls there was a breeze. I also roamed there with no issue. You can text anyone in Australia by sending a text to their Aussie number. Sending an email also was not a problem. The phone has great battery life and once I found a free wifi spot, could do a bit of web surfing and updating of worldmate. Worldmate software is great for currency conversions and weather forecasts for day trips and planning your holiday generally. I love this phone. I'm glad I bought it and it has met my expectations. I didn't realise you can buy a GPS unit for the phone also. The GPS could come in very handy if you are travelling a lot. However, I didn't test this function of the phone.
Pros: Battery life is excellent. Phone works in WCDMA regions like Japan. 3G services very good but cost can add up. Sound quality from speaker is excellent. Browsing on internet is quite good. Software works very well with Outlook. Music sync software works well. Has Bluetooth which automatically connects to my car hands free kit. Sound quality of phone is excellent. However, if volume turned above 5 bars (about halfway) the person on the other end of line will hear an echo whenever they are speaking. Loudspeaker function seems to get rid of this problem. Very cost effective device compared to other PDA phones. Finding wifi hotspots is easy using the inbuilt WLAN finder. It shows whether the WLAN is locked and the strength of reception. Comes with free Worldmate software for travellers - very useful. Opens word documents with no problems.
Cons: Wifi range isn't as good as I though it could be, though it isn't bad. Email service with Three network is a bit limited - you can't set filtering rules. Also once connected to an imap server via auto retrieve, there is no timeout so battery can be drained somewhat. Does not come with a cradle for the phone. Limited software support. Won't play youtube videos due to flash software being older version. (Flash Ver 1.1 I think is shipped with unit, ver 2 will play but is not available for e61). Although email headers are delivered automatically, I seem to have to manually retrieve the email content (could be a Three network phone issue). If there are any email attachments, these have to be downloaded again. You can create a 'To-do' item but there doesn't seem to be a place where you can make notes about the item.
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joselyn.rozario
29/09/2006, 11:21 PM
rating
10/10
A must have business phone with all the edges for a travel freak
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Darren Larkin
14/09/2006, 12:03 PM
rating
10/10
Best smartphone ever made
Pros: Extremely user friendly - particularly email, SMS, and contacts. Excellent features, many unique. Navigation with joystick is surprisingly easy - would find it very hard to go back to a stylus. Great value for money compared to other smartphones. This is my 3rd smartphone (previously Palm Treo 650 and O2 XDA) and I have also had various PDA's, however this is by far the best I have ever used.
Cons: Limited software available - bundled calendar is very basic. Software developers seem slow to release compatable software.
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