Steve Reviews the Newly Announced Nokia E71

ahh..an almost perfect phone..it sucks that the camera is crap..but its still one of the best phones i've seen...nice review by the way. 😊

i think the e71 looks and feels awesome!
im buying one in a few days and looking forward to using a qwerty board.
i wanted a qwerty board for ages but didnt want to buy a hiptop as they are so popular, and the iphones touch screen isnt cool as you can type and not look at the screen lol.
so sleek!

Hi, Been Using the E71 for over a month now.
Good features
1.GPS reception is excellent.
2. Really Faster than the N73 musicedition, or e61, (but somehow i feel my Moto Rokr was equally or slightly faster!!!
handling is excuisite , unlike the most other Nokia phones.
music quality is good.
Office is very useful.

Let down
Camera iS good .. but not excellent like a sony...

But ON THE WHOLE ITS REALLY GOOD USING THE E 71.

Steve,

I am thinking of switching from HTC TyTN II to the E71. I am an editor at times and while Mobile Word 2007 is a great application, I am bothered by Google's apparent lack of attachment features in its Mobile version (-I use Gmail mostly) necessitating me to manage attachments I get in IE/Gmail/html version (slow, lots of scrolling needed). I usually have to copy an attachment's text by first double clicking it to get it full screen, then going over to Word Mobile application on my phone and pasting, do the edits, and either copy it all back to a message from within Gmail or save the edited message and pick it up as an attachment from within Gmail's HTML version... All a very far cry from Palm's OS's lovely Snapperfish application, for example.

My questions therefore are :

1. Can one do some reasonably decent editing on the E71's smaller screen (just 6 lines I understand) and with its email application and keyboard? Or it is for lighter text editing really?

2. How does the E71 behave when the phone is operating say 75% full? For example I have 3000 contacts in Pocket Informant 2008...and even with WM6.1 on a TyTN II feels pretty sluggish. The hardware/software match is sometimes below par still.

3. I am frustrated by the poor keypad/dialling access on the HTC TyTN II. Often, the switching- into-dialling screen is very sluggish, the touchscreen is abit over sensitive at times and all in all it is not a comfortable experience to dial. I am eternally waiting for the software to catch up! (I have been prudent with memory management and have cleaned out my memory etc). Is the E71 better? Can Nokia's OS actually deliver in a professional environment without "stickyness"?

4. Are you the same S.Litchfield who used to be a Psion reviewer?! If so I enjoyed your reviews as an old Psion user.

Thanks,

Nishy
Sri Lanka

I have been using the phone for a month and am a heavy music user. Does anybody notice the hissing sound during music playback and also when performing any function. It is not overpowering but can help if reduced.

Unregistered wrote:I am thinking of switching from HTC TyTN II to the E71.

I had a TyTN II for a few months, now I am using the E71.

1. Can one do some reasonably decent editing on the E71's smaller screen (just 6 lines I understand) and with its email application and keyboard? Or it is for lighter text editing really?

Yes, the E71's smaller screen is of the same resolution as the one from the TyTN II. It is much sharper and better to read, to it is no problem. The keys are smaller, but mechanically better. So I consider the E71's editing capabilities at least as equal to the TyTN.

2. How does the E71 behave when the phone is operating say 75% full? For example I have 3000 contacts in Pocket Informant 2008...and even with WM6.1 on a TyTN II feels pretty sluggish. The hardware/software match is sometimes below par still.[QUOTE]

Symbian is a complete different world than WM. I found the TyTN even sluggish with just a handfull contacts. Storage consumption on Symbian is lower by an order of magnitude. I don't think, that you will ever get the E71 slower down by just adding contacts. Overall, the E71 is way faster.

[QUOTE]3. I am frustrated by the poor keypad/dialling access on the HTC TyTN II. Often, the switching- into-dialling screen is very sluggish, the touchscreen is abit over sensitive at times and all in all it is not a comfortable experience to dial. I am eternally waiting for the software to catch up! (I have been prudent with memory management and have cleaned out my memory etc). Is the E71 better? Can Nokia's OS actually deliver in a professional environment without "stickyness"?

This is the main reason, why I now use the E71 and sold my TyTN II on eBay. From your main screen just start typing a number or a contacts name and you got it. No switching to a dialing screen. I am a heavy mobile phone user, and the time I save on the E71 for common operations has been my main reason to switch.

But if you go with a Symbian device, you should use ProfiMail instead of the built in one. For heavy email usage, I consider ProfiMail as a must.

Has anyone had problems with the wifi or PC suite connectivity after downloading upgrades from the Nokia PC Suite? I've had the E71 for about 2 months now, and out of the box it worked fine, for a month. I was impressed more and more every day by this phone, but once the PC Suite wanted to download updates, the phone would no longer connect to my p.c. This is a problem that many users have had. But don't just take my word for it, check out the user forum on the Nokia website and see how many threads there are with people having the same problem. My phone is also stuck in infrared connectivity for use as a modem. I did not set it up that way and have never used infrared for anything. There is no option to turn off the infrared, just to "connect to computer as a modem". If anyone has had this problem or has found a solution, please post! I'm getting a bit tired of unistalling Nokia PC suite, and rebooting my phone back to factory settings (using the code *.....).

E71 is for sure, one of the greatest phones ever made by nokia co. Not like the junky N-series. Sorry folks, but this is the truth. Try E71 you will enjoy having it ..

I have bought a new NOKIA E71 and I don't know the format of the software files (for example: .SIS,.SISX etc...) so that I can easily operate my phone...

Please help me come out of this problem as soon as possible ....

thank for a very extensive review. it was very helpful. my e90 got stolen and i was considering the e71. at least now i know what to expect. thanks.

I have had this phone for 4 months ,Iam really disapointed with the following features,low screen light for daytime viewing,no folders for txt,no zoom feature as listed,txt too small to read at a glance,backscreens complicate txt,lack of intuitive icons,key board buttons hard to see at night(poor backlighting) cramed web viewing.After speaking to a nokia tech Iam told it was released too early,update patches coming.Anyone comparing this to an I phone must be on drugs.Just give me a communication device that works in the field 24/7 and supports everyday business operation.Nokia are you listening?

I'm not a phone enthusiast but someone who needs one for work. For years I've used a Nokia 5144 because it was difficult to break if dropped and because it would receive a signal where most would not.

I have an iPod Touch which is a piece of genius and very fast for answering the numerous emails I receive when I'm on the move, provided I can find a useable wireless network, which isn't always the case, so I spoke to Vodaphone and upgraded my 5144 to an E71 and what a piece of s---t it is. To compare it with the much more expensive iPhone is ridiculous and I don't find it at all surprising that Vodaphone give unlimited data, since most people would quickly give up trying to access it. It has an appalling, slow and dated operating system. Replying to emails takes and age and is flakey, wireless reception and connecting to a network is flakey and it will only work as a phone occasionally. Even when it says it has a strong signal it doesn't work and I get complaints from people that I've switched it off.

My business partner had one at the same time as me, two actually, both faulty. The first was delivered with a software problem that couldn't be overcome, even by removing the battery etc, so he asked for a replacement and that came with the buttons falling off! He's gone back to an older model too.

I haven't tried the camera, I have loaded some music, the FM radio is flakey. I'm sorry to say that I detest it and that it is going back. It reminds of the misery of using Windows mobile on an HP Ipaq I stupidly bought a year or so ago.

This is a product feedback on my NOKIA E71. First, just like "mac" followers I am a nokia follower its my 4th nokia phone. You made product slim but screwed up big time with the headphones.
1. The headphones are 2.5mm. The outlet pointing sidewards instead of upwards. I cannot slide my SLEEK phone anymore into the pocket if I have a headphone on it.
2. Mainly the standard headphone HS-47 which came along with the phone is outright crap. IT DON'T WORK.
3. Only and just only 1 alternative in this whole world for a decent headphone for E71. A wiry messy AD-44 with a separate head phone (that is 3 meters of wire dangling), what better can I think of to go with my sleakest/ sexiest phone. What the shit with a 17 hr music playback time if I can't wear a decent headphone. And yes I can NEVER TAKE a LONG CALL anymore. I do attend lengthy conference calls day in and day out on my phone now and while on the move.
4. You know how I feel from my language above.
5. Advise to nokia if they would only listen. Look at the iphone headphones..
6. Pls let me know if you found a solution ([email protected]). "I want to wear a WORKING headphone that has a 2.5mm L shaped jack and take calls and listen to music using the same headphone. It needs to be just plain wire and no crap attached"
7. Well, just returning the phone and jumping ship might be a good idea..😞

just got the e71 do u av 2 pay 2 use the maps daft i no but b4 i try it dont wont 2 run up a massive bill thanks [email][email protected][/email]

If you google about this you'll find that a lot of users are facing reception problems with E71. There is also a video on youtube that demonstrates drop in reception when the base of the phone is covered with the hand, or when the phone is held upside down.
Apparently, this happens because Nokia has the antenna at the bottom of this phone.

Any comments/inputs about this issue?

Thanks!

I know this phone is old hat by now, but it is just now appearing in the States. I bought this phone while in Thailand because it seemed to be everything I wanted and I needed a phone to use with a Thai sim. One thing I never want again is a Windows Mobile OS, Windows is so damn slow and tends to lock up a lot, at least that was my experience with two phones, and I hopped the Symbyan OS would be a lot better.

Performance wise the Nokia is a lot better, but they dropped the ball regarding the user interface and user settings.

It's very disappointing that Nokia seems to be as brain dead as all the other phone manufacturers. And don't blame it on when develoment began! It cannot take that long to develop a new phone. Not to mention most of the flaws with the E71 and other phones can be directly attributed to poor software design.

Overall this is still a great phone but I could have designed a better phone in about one day; if only I was a multi-millionaire I would begin my own cell phone company. The layout of the keyboard is sad; the home row of keys is layed out bad and there is plenty of room on the phone to add a separate row for the numbers instead of combining them with the alpha keys and the placement of the headphone jack coming out the right side above the volume control is really stupid.

Speaking of stupid, (with the exception of the idiots at Motorola using USB) a lot phones now have a 2.5mm headphone jack so why are all aftermarket phones still made with 3.5mm jacks? It sucks having to keep a reducer around.

Errr Maps? Really you liked it? Everytime I accessed the application it took a long time to load and it has no search method and to key in a direct location requires you to know the destinations longitude and latitude?!? That is plain nuts. Telenav is a superior product but it hasn't been ported to the E71 yet.

I could go on about the screw ups Nokia made but it wouldn't do much good

the E71 is definitely a perfect device. Compare it to the blackberry curve 8900 which lacks of 3G. Useless iisn't it. Well the E71 has 3.5G HSDPA and it has wifi. More practical then buying the blackberry curve. Buying the Blackberry bold will cost you more and the bold offers a worst of camera with only 2mp for its camera therefore its good enough that Nokia produces a 3.2mp with auto focus for the E71. The phone also has a keyboard where it is very easy to use and its icons are customisable.

Thanks for the review. I'm still using my E62 and very happy with it (even if it is slow). Maybe I missed it in the review, but how was the actual phone quality? To me, that's the most important item.

My E62 & ATT connectivity put most all other phones to shame when making a phone call. Especially in old concrete & steel buildings and at our lake cabins. All the other 'stuff' is gravy, but if I can't make a phone call... why bother?
Keith Hunter
Indianapolis

mybe the procesor is to slow. many times is turned of.Why?Can somebody help me.

e71 is handy for most cases but camera wouldn't be much worse.
close up does not function at all.
it says 10--40 cm close up but all are blurred.
seems does not autofocus.
any ideas or software updates?

Get over it you lot , for all intents and purposes this phone, particularly now, is extraordinary price for value there is NOTHING that rivals this. If you want a multimedia device that can't even forward on an SMS message get an Iphone. The perfect phone has not been invented yet

Been using the E90 for just over 12 months and loved it especially the ability for file loading from home pc (ie word and excel) then being able to e-mail shere them with others, just gone over to the E71 and had no problems with it at all, yes its smaller keyboard and screen are not ideal but hey this little bugger fits in my top pocket the E90, not a chance. Think all the apps are good if basic visually but could I care less if the icons look simple, could I toss. Just want a phone that does everything and this covers of most of what I want, have added a 4 GB card and can now listen to my music in the car (using the bluetooth) rather than the fat man on radio 1....excellent!

Hi Steve,

Fantastic review on the phone. I currently have an E71 and love it. Looking forward to the E72, hope you get a chance to review soon so that I can find out all about whats new 😊

Dill

I agree about Blackberry Connect. The e61/61i had flaws but blackberry functionality made me buy it and I suspect a whole lot of othes. The Nokia Email, Messaging or whatever it is called these days is simply not good enough compared to the blackberry offering. Mail for Exchange is fine but again does not have the functionality of Blackberry. If only Nokia listened to reason ....

I've just returned mine to Vodaphone because it was absolutely dreadful to use, slow cumbersome and lock prone and most of all because it was a lousy phone. I've never owned on that had such an appalling RF performance. I've lost countless calls simply because its reception is so much worse than any other I've ever owned.

I don't haven an iPhone but I do have a Touch and it is easy to see why people are prepared to spend so much more for one. It is superior in every respect.

IMO the Symbian operating system is dire, absolute misery to use, especially with a tiny screen.

Steve Litchfield's E71 Review was substantial, informative and impressive. I wish all reviews of computer equipment were as extensive and interesting.

When my E71 arrives tomorrow I will see how well it meets my needs.

Those that criticise the E71's camera forget the E71 is primary a communications device - a phone, a texting device, an email device with some work related extras. The E71's camera was never intended to replace a "proper" digital camera. It is an extra for taking snaps when one's "proper" camera is unavailable. The E71's camera shots at 3.2 mpix are much worse than my 10 year old Olympus digital with 1.4 mpix and a large light gathering lens.

Steve's review did not mention whether the E71 can function as a SMTP client to receive emails (in the same way as older versions of the Agent email program did). On the E61 trying to access a POP3 account on my Internet connected mail server never worked. Perhaps that was blocked by phone company.

What would be useful in future versions is a short-range point-to-point radio link. Similar to DECT enabling a group of people to use their phones like walkie-talkies upto about 1 km radius.

Paul J.
England

One of the best things with newer generation Nokia smart phones is the upped ram from something like 20-30 to 120mb. You wont be getting out of memories. http://www.cellphones-reviews.com

E71 is a great phone but is let down by aweful contacts section. You can't display all contact info on one screen unlike blackberrys and this is a let-down for a business phone. Most business users need this.

Unregistered wrote:Has anyone had problems with the wifi or PC suite connectivity after downloading upgrades from the Nokia PC Suite? I've had the E71 for about 2 months now, and out of the box it worked fine, for a month. I was impressed more and more every day by this phone, but once the PC Suite wanted to download updates, the phone would no longer connect to my p.c. This is a problem that many users have had. But don't just take my word for it, check out the user forum on the Nokia website and see how many threads there are with people having the same problem. My phone is also stuck in infrared connectivity for use as a modem. I did not set it up that way and have never used infrared for anything. There is no option to turn off the infrared, just to "connect to computer as a modem". If anyone has had this problem or has found a solution, please post! I'm getting a bit tired of unistalling Nokia PC suite, and rebooting my phone back to factory settings (using the code *.....).

I like this phone, it reminds me of a giant and very flat spoon!