Nokia E90 In The House, Open For Q&A
I’ve had the Nokia E90 in my possession for a little while now, and am opening up this post as a Q&A for the Beautiful Behemoth. I’ve got it, I’m using it, what do you want to know?
If’ you’re not familiar with this beautiful monstronsity, the Nokia E90 is the latest in the Communicator series of powerful handsets, and the first to be based on S60, as the previous versions used S80. The handset is a large candybar with a 2.2″ display on the front and a standard numeric keypad. However, the E90 opens like a small clamshell laptop to reveal an AMAZING widescreen display and a full QWERTY keyboard with more shortcut buttons than you can shake a stick at.
The E90 was also one of the first Eseries to have any sort of multimedia capabilities to speak of, including a 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus and up to 30 fps video recording. The handset also hides a built-in GPS receiver, A2DP support for stereo Bluetooth headsets (such as the Plantronics Voyager 855), and a microSD card slot for extra storage space.
The Nokia E90 is the first mobile phone in a LONG time that gave me that amazing sense of excitement as I opened the box. The last time I felt like that was when my white and mocha Nokia N73 arrived.
As usual here on Symbian-Guru, I’ll be breaking the Nokia E90 down into several sections, covering each in its own post. As a somewhat dedicated Nseries user, and someone who’s used T9 since my 2nd cellphone, I’m anxious to see how I can handle an Eseries and the full QWERTY keyboard.
So, what questions do you have about this beautiful handset?
I would have loved this phone, but I am enjoying the 5mp cam on the n82 too much (plus the cost of the E90 would kill me).
January of this year my long long awaited Nokia E90 arrived, I was very happy with it and there wasnt any problem with it. Except for the lack of American 3G and some multimedia features.
3 months later I trade it for a Nokia N95-4 with the american 3G wich is awesome. Im more happy with my N95-4 than with my E90. N95-4 is way better.
I have read pretty much reviews about E90, so I have only one question to ask. I think you’ll be able to answer once you’ll finish to play with it:
Is it really necessary to have a PHONE that BIG ?!!!
Please don’t tell me ‘the screen’s bigger, the keypad’s bigger, bla bla bla’. Everyone knows that a screen for instance is never big enough and so on, but why don’t you have (and I’m pretty sure you don’t :-)) a tv or computer screen the size of the walls of your house for instance ?
What I mean is this thing is ,on one hand, obviously too small and to limited to be fully used as (and completely replace) a latpop computer, and on an other hand, WAY TOO BIG (big/heavy) to be carried along, 24/7/365 in ALL your activities and be used as a ‘normal’ phone as you would do with any other phone you can actually slip into your pocket (N82, N95, E65, E50, and I’m even risking the E61i to name a few PHONES)…
So what do you think of it as a phone ?
I must admit I was never fond of Nokia’s communicators form factor. I think there should be a limit to the bulk as long as it’s still a phone and not a full laptop computer yet.
I think Nokia should make it smaller or change this form factor to something like the TyTn II form factor (even though I’m not buying a Windows powered device any time soon, be it a phone or a computer).
I also think americans do like big phones in general, as well as japanese do like big clamshells, but that’s ok with me, and it’s out of subject anyway :-).
Keep it up Guru !!
I’ve had an E90 since November last year and I love it. It has basically the same features as the N95, except 2.5mm audio out instead of 3.5mm, no TV out :-(, not so good camera and no accelerometer.
The no.1 plus side is the internal screen. The keyboard is useful, but no faster than T9. It’s really great for browsing the web and easily replaces a laptop if that’s your primary use.
As for the size, I don’t think it’s too big. I keep it in my trouser pocket all day and it’s fine. The battery and build quality are both great too.
Ways to improve it (Nokia E91?):
Make it wider (like a blackberry, 4.5in screen, 800×480 would be great)
5MP camera with zenon flash (I know it’s aimed at business users, but why not make a device that does everything?)
TV out and VGA out (for powerpoint presentations)
3.5mm audio out
USB host (to plug in USB drives and other phones)
Faster processor
More internal memory
Maybe in a few years…
Hi, so many wants and don’ts.
Honestly, people choose phones they are comfortable with, design they love to carry with them, features that will help them in their daily operation. Just like you may not mind font size slightly smaller as long as the phone size is small, but to the senior, they may have problem reading. Or senior may think phone is for making calls, so phones should be simple as long as they can read the numbers, call quality is good, the phone need not be powerful. Ladies may like cute design than guys. Etc…
Regardless, I do hope concept and support (of course design and quality) is good. Phone companies have mix and match so many phones that they can’t even cope in supporting them. They will never ‘perfect’ any model, since they are so busy designing next new ’similar’ phone. That’s why when iPhone was announced, it caught the attention as the UI concept is interesting even though it is not that powerful, not 3G, etc. They come up with features that others phone companies said not possible.
And one more thing, some said business users don’t need 5MP good camera. In fact some said they don’t need camera build in the phone. Which businesses? Photography can’t be a business? I just don’t understand why some said Nokia did not design with a better camera because it’s for business user, I think they should build with better camera since it is for business users. I met many business executives carrying digital camera with them. Why? Phone camera’s quality is not good and fast enough for them as compared to the digital camera, and not because they don’t need one.
Just some thoughts. Hope future phone will be better and more efficient.
Good day.
Hi,
I have both E90 & P1i, & am compelled to use P1i more often, here are the reasons:
1. Screen colour: Unless you want to drool over colourfuls with 65mill colours of E90, i think P1i’s 262k colours satisfies pretty much of the stuff in the web.
2. Barcode vs. Bizcard scanner: Need for a barcode scanner in E90 escapes logic compared to bizcard scanner of P1i. !?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
3. Web browsing: P1i’s Opera makes it easy to switch between windows (tabs) + fits the contents to the display screen, unlike E90’s need to scroll through.
4. Email client: P1i’s email client is far better than E90: would take another page’s review for me to explain.
5. Bulkiness: need i say anything here?
6. Music/Video: Am sorry to observe, E90 is a pure waste of money in the music department. P1i’s playback quality is much far better than E90.
7. Other features: Office Editing, 3.2 megpix camera with flash, GPS (my P1i came with wayfinder+GPS receiver).
Cheers
Suresh
How do you haul this thing around? I don’t recall belt clips being your thing (thankfully). Do you get it a leash and collar? Perhaps a Murse (Man+Purse)?
Last month was the first time I saw a friend using a E90. I only used it for 10mins and was impressed with screen size and keyboard. Once u hold it in your hand it wasn’t too bulky as images suggest. I am now tempted to get the E90 device or wait for the upcoming E71
I had the privilege of owning the E90 for several months and it was by far one of the most solidly built phones I’ve ever purchased. There were no creaks, material seemed to be top of the line, and the screen alone seemed to justify the price tag itself. This phone has dropped in price now and if it’s intended to be used like a communicator, there is nothing on the market with the same set of features and so far, cannot be outpferformed. The upcoming E71 has the same feature set(almost same) and seems to be the only replacement to the E90.
All in all, E90 does not disappoint, as long as you treat it like a communicator.
What about the issue of the keypad touching the internal screen ? I have read conflicting reports whether this has been solved since a while. But then why Nokia has just released an all black E90 with a redesigned keypad ? This all black Nokia E90 is already available in certain markets (in Jakarta, Indonesia, for sure).
My question: does the keypad of newer E90’s still touch the internal screen when in closed position ?
I had E90 since January 2008. I love it so much. Cause im using it most of the time when im browsing internet. It is really a practical one in replacement of a laptop. It is really intended for communication, that is why it is called communicator. But if you are a media fanatics then E90 is not for you. Although it has features like those of Nseries but not that much.
I have been carrying the e90 for a month now, love the screen, wifi and all. I’m a pocket carrier so bulk is not an issue, but on mine the buttons DO NOT touch the screen, total package of features are awesome, camera is very good, but call quality and surfing and storage are incredible. (mine took a 4 gb micro no prob)Just get a bluetooth, this thing will make your arm hurt on a long call, not comfortable to hold to your ear at all! (trade off, its built like a tank, excellent road warrior machine)
i have e90 i just want to know a software that can record calls automatically without the beeps
Oct 9th, 2008 at 9:34 am
[...] to the hat-tip from AllAboutSymbian for the info that the Nokia E90, my beloved behemoth, has received a firmware update, from v210 to v300.34.84. The update is available through Nokia [...]