It’s time to look for potential cell phone handsets beyond the Windows Mobile Samsung Blackjack that I’ve been carrying for awhile.  I love my Blackjack and have had no reasons to switch to the iPhone or other competitors to date.  In fact, there are a bunch of things my Blackjack can do that the iPhone can’t which are keeping me from jumping ship.

The other platform that I’d consider is the Nokia smartphone platform.  And guess what, Nokia just shipped me a test phone to try out for the next month — the Nokia E71x.  Out of the box, it’s a good looking SLIM (the slimmest smartphone that AT&T Wireless sells) handset.  It’s also available completely free, with free fedex shipping and free activation right now.

I’ll post a more comprehensive review, but here’s my initial impressions likes and rants about the Nokia E71x:

  • Love the WiFi.  The native browser is ok, but I quickly downloaded my favorite browser and it works like a charm.  Surfing at WiFi speeds completely balances much of the sacrifices you have on a small screen.
  • Speakerphone is loud and crisp becuase it is placed up on top edge of the phone.
  • It’s heavy like a thin brick.  Compared to my Samsung Blackjack, this feels like a brick.  Single-hand usage/typing sometimes lets the phone drop or slip out of my hands because of the weight.  Perhaps I’ll get used to it.
  • Keys are compact and really tightly layed out. I’ve been mistyping a lot.  Some of it has to do with getting to know a new device keyboard, but the keys have no space inbetween each other, unlike the Blackjack.
  • Email app is the pits. The built-in email app is weak.  Can’t copy/paste (at least, haven’t figured it out).  If there’s a phone number in the text, can’t just click and call.   Haven’t figured out if it can support HTML emails yet.
  • Menuing could be better to get to various functions.  Thinks like changing ringer profiles takes a bunch of clicks and navigation.
  • 3.2 megapixel camera is nice. You should be able to print out 4×6 prints without any pixelation at that resolution.
  • Video!  Yes.
  • GPS - Haven’t tried it on the device yet, but that’s a super plus.  No more triangulation with Google Maps Mobile
  • It’s free on AT&T Wireless with a 2-year contract.

Here’s CNet’s first quick tour of the Nokia E71x – you’ll get a nice look at the physical formfactor as well as an good overview of some of the neat features put into this smartphone:

I’ll back back with my own $0.02 on this Nokia cell phone in a couple of weeks. But if you are carrying the Nokia E71 or E71x, could you kindly share a comment or two below? Thanks!



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