Around a year ago, I first reviewed the Nokia E90 Communicator. I was quite positive though others in the industry (famously) weren't. Amazingly, it's still picking up first time reviewers today in 2008, with Ricky Cadden getting his first hands-on this week, in his regular video podcast (MP4 link). He's generally blown away but misses support for USA 3G frequencies and misses some of the 'Nseries-only' extras from his N95.
Read on in the full article.
One major problem with these consumer devices is the weak filesystem that can't handle long directory trees. The solution is to format your MicroSD card as ext2 and then it works beautifully. Unfortunately, the E90 can not read the superior ext2 file system. However the Nokia N810 works perfectly with ext2. Unfortunately the default file system on the N810 is also the weak VFAT and it takes some steps to convert it to a strong file system like ext2. ext2 is also superior for sharing files with your desktop computer because most professional desktop operating systems (like Ubuntu and Suse) automatically recognize USB SD cards formatted with ext2.
With VFAT file system limitations it is impossible to mirror a web site to view locally but with ext2 and GNU utilities it works perfectly. Insist on a kernel that can handle ext2 in all your mobile devices.
The major problem with the e90 is the size.
The thing is just huge... If they managed to squeeze the hardware into something like a tytn II it would sell it the bucket loads. So many people I know don't even consider the E90 because it's too big/heavy.
For others, (me included), the size is a big bonus. I have large hands and fingers and cannot get on with miniaturised phones.
Now I'm not advocating a return to the Motorola Brick - but in modern terms, bigger IS better for some people.
It's good that we have a fairly wide choice.
I don't hink E90 is too large/heavy! Hey, it's made of STEEL! This is a big bonus, and the size of interal screen too! I don't think that a VGA screen with 2.8" diagonal size is readable (unless you want to display as many information as on a QVGA screen with the same physical size).
Hi all
I really don't think the E90 is to big or heavy as it feels solid and lets face it if your going to have a 4" screen and a 57 key keyboard that is going to take some space.
What made me laugh a short while ago was when i discovered that the TyTN2 is just 20gms lighter and 26mm shorter and also 1mm thicker and for all that saving of weight and size you get a 2.8" screen and less keys. I certainly know which i prefer as the 4" screen alone makes it worth it IMO.
Marc