vB Easy Archive - The E90... worth it?

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The E90... worth it?
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Posted by: manchuia

I know there are E90 threads in the S60 forum, and technically it is a S60 phone, but I wanted to get opinions from the S80 people that know and love their devices.

We all know the E90 specs and they are impressive, but (relatively speaking) is it as impressive as the 9500 when it came out (compared to everything else Nokia made) and is it worth the $1K + that it will command for a while after release.

I have been riding the fence on this. Some days I say "yeah.. its the end all be all" and then other days I say "you said that about the 9500 3 years ago!!! It's a thousand dollars!!!" Every time I think the second though I immediately think of all the beer I could buy with a thousand dollars, and the E90 is quickly defeated.

I ask is it worth it because there are a couple of windows mobile devices that pack a pretty big punch (but still lack in certain areas) that will cost half this. Even though S80 is end of life, if you have the programs you need, that is even an option for about half the price (off ebay). I guess with all the alternatives... is it really worth it?

Posted by: unfuccwittable

Quote:

Originally Posted by manchuia

I know there are E90 threads in the S60 forum, and technically it is a S60 phone, but I wanted to get opinions from the S80 people that know and love their devices.

We all know the E90 specs and they are impressive, but (relatively speaking) is it as impressive as the 9500 when it came out (compared to everything else Nokia made) and is it worth the $1K + that it will command for a while after release.

I have been riding the fence on this. Some days I say "yeah.. its the end all be all" and then other days I say "you said that about the 9500 3 years ago!!! It's a thousand dollars!!!" Every time I think the second though I immediately think of all the beer I could buy with a thousand dollars, and the E90 is quickly defeated.

I ask is it worth it because there are a couple of windows mobile devices that pack a pretty big punch (but still lack in certain areas) that will cost half this. Even though S80 is end of life, if you have the programs you need, that is even an option for about half the price (off ebay). I guess with all the alternatives... is it really worth it?

you could buy a whole lot of beer with the money you will spend on the E90. BUT, what will you have to show for it? sure, you can buy 5 kegs with the money. but once the beer is gone and your hangover subsides, what do you have? nothing. now lets say you wait till November to buy the E90. the price SHOULD/COULD/POSSIBLY be reasonable. what will you have to show for it? a phone that does a whole lot, that you probably wont need to upgrade for at least 2 years. windows mobile is fun and all but it requires too many registry tweaks to make it liveable. there are cheaper alternatives, but you will probably upgrade from those alternatives to something better long before you would with the E90. the price will be alot for this phone, no doubt. but in the long term it will be worth it.

Posted by: manchuia

..but .. what if it was really GOOD beer

I have winmo now and haven't had to do tweak 1 to get it the way I want. I think it's improved a good bit since the old days. For everything the e90 has it lacks some things I see in the cheaper phones (ability to expand past 2 gb, A2DP, 3G) and that's where the sticker gets me.

Maybe it's rosy memories.. but when the 9500 came out it had everything and the kitchen sink. I think 1.3 MP cams just came out that year so it was behind with VGA, but it had qwerty, wireless, edge, etc. and there was nothing in Nokia (or anyone else's lineup) that really came close (except maybe the p910 and the treo (my phone history may be off)) I don't know why, but I am just not getting the same vibe. I am trying to see if its really the phone or that price tag.

Good point about waiting until November. Knowing Nokia that is probably when it will actually be available.

Posted by: unfuccwittable

yea, waiting is the way to go. i might take a few phones for a test drive, but i will essentially be in a phone buying freeze until november. hopefully the price of the E90 will be reasonable by then. i feel you with the lack of 3g, but a2dp is definitely a luxury for me. having a 4gb card is kinda nice, but it would likely be cheaper to get two 2gb cards and roll like that. in regards to 3g though, i feel like the US will always get the short end on that one, because we use frequencies that arent standard in other parts of the world. thems the breaks.

even if the beer is the best beer you've ever had in your life, once its gone, its gone. there is no getting it back. after its consumed, it will be no more.

Posted by: cbreze

Well I don`t drink beer anymore so that isn`t an issue. I really would like to get the e90 tho. I am going to try as hard as I can to wait till the first reviews are in and some real users give their feedback on it. This will not be easy for me as I will be chomping at the bit to have it in my hands. Perhaps it will go out of stock right out the gate and then the wait will be unavoidable. I do love my 9300 except for the lack of good apps and the slow processor,no wifi,no camera. Best thing is the keyboard. I can email so fast on it. So bottom line for me is yes, I am 99% sure I will get the e90. I am also 99% sure it will be hard as H**L to wait once it launches.

Posted by: pfreitas

Quote:

The E90... worth it?

The verdict is still out on that but I think all signs are pointing to YES!

Posted by: cbreze

I think "is it worth it " is a relative term depending on each individuals needs and income level. What would you be willing to do without (if necessary) in order to get an expensive phone? I think the e90 will be an all inclusive device for me(minus tmo 3g). If I can get a year or more of usage out of it, then I will be actually saving money.

Posted by: raerae28

I think the answer is yes....

I have owned a couple of Windows Mobile phones, and for the touch screen versions, there are a lot of tweaks that had to be done to get it just right and running at top notch.

Stuff like showing E when Edge is present, etc etc, ALL Reg hacks..and werent in the standard of the shelf firmware from Tmobile's version at the time. Tons of others I had to do as well...

Anyhow, I am not on Cingular 3G, and for me the E90 makes a whole lot of sense, I have an E61 now, and I want the cam, the GPS, the nice screen for browsing, the access to all the Series 60 apps (Love this about Symbian, and didnt care for it with the Windows mobile software even though I could get my hands on any of it), all that and Wifi rounds it off. Have to have VOIP.

So my vote is yes, but try to hold off on the purchase until November, save a couple hundred bucks. I did however buy the N90 at 600, which wasnt too bad, and have bought other units at the price before so, who knows.

R.

Posted by: cbreze

I`ve made an executive decision and decided to wait on the e90 indefinitly. I decided not to jump on it when it first arrives on the scene and instead wait for a price drop. What is going to help me do this is my E61i ! ! that I`ve ordered and will be here shortly. After resurrecting my 9300 and carrying it around for a few days to get the feel of this huge phone again, I am back to my dash, but.....only till my e61i arrives. Really getting tired of all the wm5+6 operating issues and I am looking forward to a whole new set of symbian operating system issues.
So, If I can get into the e61i (see no problem there) then I will be able to wait for the coming price drop in a few months on the e90. Or the other scenerio is I end up with a second s60 phone for backup heh,heh...

Posted by: fk76

So does anyone have this phone? I would like to read an actual review of it!

Posted by: raerae28

By far the WM5+6 issues out weigh the Symbian issues. I havent had symbian issues since waaaaay back several years ago, when things like copying contacts from the SIM card were faulty in the OS.

e61i is definitely a good phone, check the web for tons of reviews of this phone with video. Just do a search.

R.

Posted by: raerae28

2 Cameras - Video Calling enabled
GPS built in
Quad band
352x800 screen
full keyboard
full series 60 device on the outside (when you dont need a keyboard) - and trust me sometimes you dont need a keyboard.
Its REALLY not as big as the older communicators - its tiny by comparison
3 MP cam phone with autofocus
.
Thats a lot going on for a phone - I am almost totally sold so far.

Posted by: bostonirishguy

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenteeth

The verdict is still out on that but I think all signs are pointing to YES!

I disagree with the magic eight ball. Just my opinion, though.

Posted by: cbreze

Quote:

Originally Posted by raerae28

By far the WM5+6 issues out weigh the Symbian issues. I havent had symbian issues since waaaaay back several years ago, when things like copying contacts from the SIM card were faulty in the OS.

e61i is definitely a good phone, check the web for tons of reviews of this phone with video. Just do a search.

R.

Yeah, did lots of searching before pulling the trigger on my new e61i. This is a very cool device. Now that I`ve had it up and running for a few days. Very stable. Reminds me why I liked symbian. I look forward to real world user reviews of the new s60 communicator. I know I will have a hard time resisting it. One feature I really liked with my 9300 was being able to set it on the desk or any flat surface and being able to use it like a laptop. Amoung all the other great features of the E90 this one really works for me. I know I`m going to want it bad once the hofo reviews start showing up. Damn this f`ing addiction!

Posted by: manchuia

Everytime I tell myself the specs I think "This is it! This is the phone I want". It's only appropriate too, as I started REALLY getting into phones when the 9500 was announced, and I saved my pennies and bought that bad boy and was so freakin happy.

But then I also tell myself the MSRP. $1000 USD! That is absurd. I can't justify that no matter what angle I take (and I am really good and convincing myself that most phones are worth their price). I don't know how you guys will bite that bullet, but I just can't get over spending more money on a phone than I would in rent and car payment combined (phone + acessories + software (as I have been using winmo for a while and no longer have any S60 apps) )

It is a really cool device, but man .. .. I just don't know if I can start shelling out 4 figures for this stuff

Posted by: cbreze

Yeah, four figures for a frickin phone is absurd, your right. The way I am justifying it is this : Ordinarily I would probably average about 3 new phones a year, maybe 4. If the absurdly expensive E90 will satisfy me for 1 year then I will actually save money. Heh,heh With all the E90 comes with and that big beautiful screen I would hope it could keep me satisfied for a whole year. My daughter would think I'm crazy (maybe i am for phones) she has the same old nokia 6103 for over a year that is held together with duct tape because her dog chewed on it . Heh, heh, heh

Posted by: cbreze

Edit: I've decided the E90 is no longer worth it to me. Instead of spending over $1000 usd for a frickin phone that can,t come close to what a good laptop can do , I've decided to spend that hard earned money on a good laptop. My E61i works perfectly and does what I need to do, in fact, I love my E61i ( I may ask it to marry me) Ya hear that nokia!! You can keep your E90. It's too damn much $$$$$...

Posted by: manchuia

that was a quick turnaround. I would love the e61i except for the keyboard (assuming its the same as the e61/e62) size (I know the e90 is a brick but its more long than wide, making it a bit more pocketable), and the camera (assuming its the same as the e70, 6270, <insert other nokia non AF 2mp cameraphone here>. All those pretty much mean I wont like the phone. Granted I haven't tried it, but the e61/62 size has turned me off the times i have used it.

Of course this is coming from the guy that complains all the time about the size of the dash's keyboard. You just can't please me. I want something a bit bigger than a dash (at least keyboard wise), but not as big as an e61. The BB 8800 seems cool (if it wasn't a blackberry and made out of cheap material).

The E90 is stil too expensive. Especially for lack of AT&T 3G (even though I am on Tmobile, I would like to option to cheat with AT&T if need be) and ability to go above 2GB in expandable memory

Posted by: pfreitas

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbreze

Edit: I've decided the E90 is no longer worth it to me. Instead of spending over $1000 usd for a frickin phone that can,t come close to what a good laptop can do , I've decided to spend that hard earned money on a good laptop. My E61i works perfectly and does what I need to do, in fact, I love my E61i ( I may ask it to marry me) Ya hear that nokia!! You can keep your E90. It's too damn much $$$$$...

...the E90's screen is so stunning that it makes the E61i look like it's surfing a wap site.

If surfing the web on the fly is as important to you as it is to me then this picture alone should steer you towards the E90. As the previous poster mentioned, the E90's available RAM and snappy UI make this a multi-tasking monster. I can understand your reservations as the E61i is a wonderful phone and I will certainly miss the form factor as I've owned 2 E61's, an E62, and now finally the E61i, but the E90 will surely drop down to a more reasonable $700-$800 price tag and it might be too good to pass up. I will have no regret dropping $1000 on this phone but then again, I've always been an early adopter in the cmctr series.

Posted by: cbreze

I cannot deny that I would love to have the e90, but since I`ve been carrying the e61i around for awhile I`ve been noticing how much I enjoy not having a phone case strapped to my waist scraping into things all the time. In the way of seat belt installation etc. I know some would argue that the e90 is pocketable as well. I don`t think it would quite fit in a shirt pocket. Too heavy. Where I live people don`t wear much clothing, too frickin hot. Shorts are the norm and the e61i really fits well in a shorts pocket or shirt pocket. I have the 9300 and it is a tad smaller than the e90, but there`s no way it would fit in a shirt pocket and be comfortable.
Bottom line is I don`t deny I would like this phone. I just can`t justify the cost. I`ve never had a good laptop I could call my own, and now I do, and I probably paid less than the e90 costs, according to what I`ve been reading. I`m also happy with being able to tether the e61i to the lap. I`m amazed with the speed of the browser when tied to tmo edge via my e61i. I can hook up very fast and do what I need to do then disconnect and take my e61i with me in my shirt pocket for anything else that comes up. Enjoy your new e90 gt. I will be listening to the reviews, I am very content with my decision to put the e90 on hold indef. I will be enjoying it vicariously thru the hofo forum....cheers

Posted by: pfreitas

...if you're not concerned with carrying around a laptop then tethering is a very viable option. I tethered off of Cingulars EDGE connection for a few weeks and was satisfied with the speed as well. As good as the E90 is, it's never going to compete with a full blown laptop. I really think I would be content with my E61i if the screen had better resolution and the UI was as snappy as a fp1 N95....but once I got a taste there's no turning back I suppose. Anyway, I'm not trying to convince anyone to get the E90...I'm probably just trying to convince myself that it's worth it.

I will miss the E61i but I'm trying to convince my wife to ditch her treo for it so it stays in the family!......and the camera and video on the E61i are surprisingly good so it's got a few more years until it starts feeling obsolete.

Posted by: cbreze

Not only that, but I feel great being able to say no to my cell phone addiction and do something more intelligent with my $$ for a change,get something I`ve really been needing. I was very surprised my e61i camera worked so well for me on a recent road trip thru New Mexico. I was sending pix via email right and left to family members and they thought I had finally given in and bought a good quality digital cam. lol.

Posted by: pfreitas

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbreze

Not only that, but I feel great being able to say no to my cell phone addiction and do something more intelligent with my $$ for a change,get something I`ve really been needing. I was very surprised my e61i camera worked so well for me on a recent road trip thru New Mexico. I was sending pix via email right and left to family members and they thought I had finally given in and bought a good quality digital cam. lol.

I feel ya and I'm hoping I'll settle down with the E90 for quite some time. It's actually going to save me money as it has everything I've wanted in a S60. I think I'm going to be done for at least a couple of years....of course I'll need a decent S40 as a back up (6500 classic)