Yep, the Nokia E71 has enjoyed some coverage on The Gadget Blog, but ultimately, I decided to go for the Nokia E63.

From my two-week encounter with a review E71, I’ve determined that the 3.2 megapixel camera wasn’t really worth the count, and while built-in HSDPA capability is great, what’s the point if the coverage needed to maximize it is really lacking?

So the E63 is definitely a much more affordable brother of the E71, and budget pricing usually connotes limited functionality. But, you still have the same awesome keyboard, and a 3.5mm jack that supports standard earphones and headphones.

All for a significant drop in price, a downgrade to a 2.0 megapixel camera (ultimately irrelevant for dedicated camera owners), and 3 more millimeters of thickness. Worthy sacrifices in my opinion, considering the E63 features the same long-lasting battery of the E71, big-screen, and WiFi.

In short, that’s why today I bought a Nokia E63. Have you? Let me know why in the comments below.

(Image from TrustedReviews.com)

Post from: The Gadget Blog

The E71’s keypad features rounded and slightly raised buttons that are easy to distinguish from each other after some practice, but don’t require an extraordinary effort to push. Right now, I’m literally blazing through this part of the post, gaining confidence with each press and committing virtually no mistakes. I guess the only way to move faster would be to use a full-size keyboard—and the E71 supports wireless ones through Bluetooth. Once again, my love for real and actual physical buttons, over virtual keyboards, is justified.

The only thumboard experience that’s better than the E71 are the current generation Treos. But the latter don’t possess the versatility of this business-oriented gadget from the Finns. The E71 literally has everything you’ll need from a high-end phone, including multiple ways to go online (WiFi for hotspots, 3G for on-the-go). Bluetooth allows easy file transfers, and heck, there’s even IR to support those older work-related electronics.

I honestly have no idea how Nokia pulled this off, cramming additional features like GPS and a 3.2 megapixel camera with flash in a relatively thin and compact frame. It’s also worth noting that the E71 also improves on its predecessors’ respective thumboards, and supplies lots of power via a 1800mAh battery. You will appreciate its capacity as you spend the whole day listening to music, surfing the web, and taking pictures—and find that you haven’t even drained the battery halfway.

To make a long story short, I’m seriously considering getting this phone. It’s a matter of finding the cash to indulge this desire.

Post from: The Gadget Blog