The release date has come and gone for the Nokia E90 and I driving myself bananas over this waiting period. Last night I got such a need for some new gadget to hold that I actually placed an online order on mobileplanet.com for a new Sony Ericsson p990i! I know, I know call me crazy...but at $330 compared to the $900 it used to cost not too long ago I figured why not. Aside from the buggy firmware and grainy video capture quality this device combines everything that I could ever want in a smartphone. Since saying goodbye to that Palm Treo 680 at the UPS store the other day I have really been yearning for another touchscreen device compatible with the DataViz docs-to-go (that is NOT the iPhone). This is where the p990 comes in. Besides, I can always do a showdown between the E61i, p990 and E90 to make a final decision on a permanent device!
Truthfully speaking I am just hoping that the E90 doesn't let me down considering the amount of money I'm willing to pay as an early adopter. The longer I have to wait for this thing the more anxious I get...I've already called mobileplanet about the status of me pre-order twice today. The responsible and rational side of me will be utterly ticked if this E90 doesn't live up to my expectations, but overall I have much hope that it will. To own a device unique to the US that has an office suite, radio, music player, worthwhile camera, high-quality camcorder, iSync-compatible PIM applications and a FULL QWERTY would be a most satisfying privilege that is worth foregoing a touchscreen interface and the DataViz docs-to-go office suite.
On the other hand there are still some issues that bring me to the middle of the road. I do not use the camcorder that often and the p990's still-shot camera is just as capable as the Nokia E90. Word processing with DataViz is going to be interesting to test on the p990, for I loved it to bits on the Treo 680. The touchscreen interface is so EFFICIENT like the Palm when it comes to navigation, word processing and info input. Size is another concern of mine, for the p990 may feel more like a phone whereas the E90 may end up being too bulky with an open clamshell (*cough*HTC TyTN*cough*). I can recall that HTC TyTN that ran Windows Mobile with a full qwerty and touchscreen and even recognized my cursive handwriting!! But the software grew too cumbersome to work with and the bulk drove me nuts! Just as important it is to have great features, sometimes having a compact, unassuming form factor is good as well. That's why I like the Treo and this Nokia E61i so much...whenever I want to write or listen to music or take pics or watch videos I just have to pull out the device and get started. Another issue is overall aesthetics with the design of the body and the graphical user interface. I must admit that after a while the smooth and beautiful UIQ font of the p990 menus started to grow on me while making the Nokia S60 font seem dated and bland (even the recent Nseries). Although the Nokia devices show much potential and capability, I am slightly bothered by the divide between the Eseries and Nseries. The Nseries always appear to have a certain upscale polish to its interface while Eseries carries a basic look that can be quite boring to look at on a daily basis. I completely understand that each series is geared toward a different market group, but I don't understand why the business and multimedia phones have to be so far apart in overall appeal. For the amount of money being paid for that E90 I think it should be treated to the same media-rich apps and features just like the N95. I love to write so my smartphone choices are automatically limited to Nokia qwerty devices on the Eseries, and I shouldn't have to miss out on those impressive graphics and games and media editing suites seen on the Nseries. Sony Ericsson did not bring on this interface division amongst its device models, for I can recall the W810i looks just as great as the p990i despite the fact that one is obviously more full-featured than the other. Oh boy, I think I am starting to talk myself out of this E90...but the p990 just seems to be a more well rounded device for me. I miss looking at slideshows and making music and playing games on a smartphone, for I am not exactly a business professional who strictly needs to stay with the Eseries just for communication purposes. The one thing I will be missing out on is native Mac synchability with my iCal and contacts as well as a Today agenda screen, but there are workarounds to that matter. I remember wishing that my N93 had a qwerty...my goodness that would have been perfect, but I had to work with a cumbersome bluetooth keyboard instead. Choices, choices, and choices...I just cannot believe I am questioning the purchase of this E90. I guess I have finally reached my financial limit in purchasing one of these gadgets...who woulda thought?
Another thing I am noticing is that this word app for the E61i is painfully slow and is trying desperately to keep up with my typing. This is the exact same issue I cursed the p990 about a long while back, so it may have been a Quickoffice issue instead of p990 issue. Hmm, this Nokia E61i also runs Quickoffice...I am beginning to smell mediocre word processing software and it stinks! DataViz docs-to-go may be my answered prayer at this point, which means that Nokia is possibly game over for me. I may have to limit my choices to only touchscreen smartphones, which narrows this down to two competitors: the Palm Treo 680 and the Sony Ericsson p990. Once I download the DataViz app to the p990, my primary test will be to watch for that damned text line of symbols popping up with each letter I press. If this is still the case I am returning the p990 ASAP and going with the Treo 680. At the end of the day I am all about writing, and if DataViz docs-to-go is the only application to suit my needs I must go toward the supported devices. Nokia I am so sorry, but you may have lost a big fan. But who knows, maybe I'll be back when there's a comparable touchscreen smartphone.
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