Nokia E71x / Reviews

"Just another customer" summed up my experience well, but I decided to add a bit anyway.

First of all let me say I am an average tech person - not great, but not inept either. I did not buy the phone for the apps or the internet availability. I thought I might eventually want, if not need, some of these options. It really is more than I need in a phone. But that isn't a problem.

The reasons I chose this phone are:

*it is a Nokia (I'm a true believer or was until recently),

*it is made of steel (heavy as a brick!): My stuff gets a bit of abuse and I wanted something that wouldn't break easily,

*it doesn't have external parts that might break (slider, flip),

*it had the possibility of more functions when I wanted them, and

*it has a decent (if not perfect)calendar.

The first thing I look for is the calendar functionality. This is THE most important thing to me.

The calendar is workable, the alarms can be customized (not just 15, 30 or 60 minutes before the event). It has anniversary, to do, meeting and memo options. It has a designated calendar key, as well as "home" "phonebook" and "message" keys. The calendar is clean but the options are still a bit limiting.

Note here: I used to have a Nokia 6126 and loved it. It had the best calendar functions I have used. The one I really wanted but haven't found on any other phone yet is the call reminder on the calendar function. One could input a number either from the address book, or other, as well as set the alarm. When the alarm goes off, hit the call key (green phone) and the call is made. so simple. Why doesn't the e71 have this?

I thought the full keypad would be nice, it is. Though the keys are small, they are beveled. It takes some help figuring out the function keys, but it is easy once you know how to make it work. The ?!:;,&;.@/-+ keys are all readily available on the keypad, which is nice. I do occasionally hit the wrong key, I don't have large hands, but do have moderate length fingernails.

This phone is anti-intuitive! I have to look up how to look up how to connect things and turn on options almost every time I want to make a change (granted I don't do it often so forget from one time to the next how to connect the bluetooth or whatever).

I have a lot of problem with dropped calls - never had a problem with my old Nokia flip phone.

I was having problems with the speaker - it seemed to vibrate so the sounds/voices came through garbled.

I have all the updates. Nokia and ATT told me to reset my phone and the problems would disappear. Well, that didn't happen. I still get dropped calls, just not every other call, more like every third call. After reset I had to reconnect all my bluetooth, etc. (which means I had to look up how to do it again!) One isn't reset yet because I can't find the manual. (Sigh. I'll look again today.)

There are no headphone jack options which work for this phone. It has a micro jack, and I have a micro converter but the headphones still won't operate, it requires bluetooth headphones.

I'm glad I have a warranty because I'm going to have to send this thing back. I wish I hadn't bought it. I don't hate it, but I don't love it, thus 3 stars.

Read original review at Amazon.