Comparing the Nokia E61 with Nokia 9300i Communicator is like trying to compare between two horses from the same stable. I could not resist the temptation even though the two smartphones are designed towards the same market segments of mobile phone users. Both phones are without camera and are intended with the business users in mind.

While the Nokia 9300i is a Communicator that resembles a pocketable laptop with full QWERTY keyboard, the Nokia E61 is designed with full QWERTY keyboard, conventional Pocket PC bar shape, and has a resemblance to the popular Treo 650 (without the protruding horn). Maybe this is Nokia’s way of sounding a warning that she is on her way to dominating the world’s smartphone market. The Nokia 9300i is slightly heavier (172g) than the E61 (144g), tilting the weight advantage in favour of the E61 for those that size and weight matters to.

In terms of features or functions, the two smartphones are summarily being compared and contrasted below:

Similarities between Nokia E61 and 9300i:
Both are smartphones with full Office applications
Both are Symbian OS phones, but of different versions
Both phones came with full connectivity options including Wi-Fi, with VoIP over WLAN for E61

Differences between Nokia E61 and 9300i:
The Nokia E61 is a 3G phone while the 9300i is not
The display colours of the E61 is 16M as against 65K of the 9300i Communicator
The E61 has the advanced version of OS (Symbian OS 9.1, Series 60 UI)
The Nokia E61 has Blackberry connectivity

In terms of usability:
The full QWERTY keyboard of the Nokia 9300i is much more stable and respectable than the Nokia E61’s keyboard.
The Office applications on Nokia E61 are more portable on the PC MS Office than the 9300i.
Internet browsing is faster on the E61 but better on the 9300i with its wide screen and Opera browser, though Internet browsing is slow on the 9300i.
The Nokia 9300i has Fax feature while the E61 does not

Nokia 9300i Communicator

These are just summary of the functional differences between the two phones, though there are lots of differences between them design-wise. With the Nokia E61 being newer and better multimedia capabilities, it seems the obvious choice for the phone enthusiast. The mini laptop design of the Nokia 9300i Communicator however sets it apart from all other smartphones, in addition to its wide-viewing screen, which is only equaled by its brother, the Nokia 9500 Communicator. A choice between the two phones this time may be a question of taste or style.

Nokia E61 / Nokia 9300i

Both Nokia and Sony Ericsson are my top phone choice. I don’t see myself using other phone type except Siemens. This is because these trios manufacture highly functional and data-centric phones, starting from Nokia and then closely followed by Sony Ericsson. When I consider a phone, I look at it purely from the business function of it. Any other feature is an added advantage, but not necessarily a pre-requisite for purchasing the phone. I hardly use the digital camera on my phones. What for? If I need to take good pictures, I will make use of my 5 Megapixel HP camera. This is why a phone like Nokia 9300i will appeal more to me than Nokia N93 with its 3.15 Megapixel camera and Carl Zeiss optics.

The Nokia E61 and Sony Ericsson M600 Smartphones are by no means the best phones from their respective manufacturers. All the same, they are designed with the business end-users in mind, and that explains the absence of a camera. This is no issue if you are no camera aficionado or your work place permits no camera. Similar in function, the two phones differ a little in some areas. The chart below compares the two phones based on their specifications.

Comments
The Nokia E61 seems to have all the connectivity option (including WLAN) with the exception of HSCSD. For a truly business mobile phone, Wi-Fi connectivity is essential. The Sony Ericsson lacks Wi-Fi but has the HSCSD connectivity instead.

The Nokia E61 is bigger and heavier than the Sony Ericsson M600, but has a bigger screen area. This is great for documents or eBooks reading. The SE M600 is smaller and lighter. The smaller size of the SE M600 makes it the smallest Smartphone of the manufacturer. It is highly pocketable without creating a budge in the pocket.

Nokia E61 features a full QWERTY keyboard which makes it great for typing messages or editing documents. However, the QWERTY feature of the Sony Ericsson M600 is half-way, with a button sharing two characters of the alphabets. This by no means reduces the functionality of the keyboard, but it needs a little adapting to.

Finally
A choice between the two Smartphones depends on individual preference between a choice of Wi-Fi and a bigger screen or no Wi-Fi, but a smaller and pocketable Smartphone. Either choice, both phones are great business phones. That brings up the question at the back of my mind, “Can’t we get a perfect phone for once?”

Nokia E61 & Sony Ericsson M600

When Motorola came out with the RAZR V3 late 2004, it was an instant hit. The unusual, thin-edge and flat design of the clamshell phone makes it very attractive and extraordinary. The RAZR V3 has 172 x 220 pixels 256K TFT display, weighs 95g and with an internal memory of 5.5MB. It has a VGA camera. The shape and design of the phone has been its strong selling point.

With the success of the RAZR V3, Motorola introduced yet another similar clamshell phone, the RAZR V3i, late year 2005. The RAZR V3i was a slight modification of the original RAZR. Weighing about 5g more, the Motorola V3i in addition came with 1.23 MP camera, 10MB internal memory and a microSD TransFlash card slot, expandable to 512MB. Those who love the RAZR V3 also love the RAZR V3i. In fact, I was not surprised to find sitting beside me in an aircraft yesterday, a middle-age business man, holding the two versions of Motorola RAZR handsets. Initially, I thought the RAZR handsets will be more popular with women, but I have seen several men and business executives clutching either a Motorola RAZR V3 or V3i or both.

Motorola RAZR V3i

Motorola has another stylish clamshell, the Motorola PEBL U6, which also has a lot in common with the RAZR models and equally attracts a lot of attention. The PEBL U6 weighs about 15g more than the original RAZR, but was also a slight modification of the RAZR model. It has 5MB internal memory, but lacks a memory card slot. It has a VGA camera like the original RAZR. The Motorola PEBL U6 is not just any phone, it resembles a true pebble. In fact, one of the commercials in TV portrays a rock being cast out of space into the sea, this became a pebble that was cast out of the sea to the shore; and when it was being picked up, behold, and it was the Motorola pebble U6.

Find below a comparison chart that summarized the salient features of these three phones that have attracted a lot of attention.

Motorola PEBL U6

Pros of RAZR V3
- Good, attractive and innovative design

Cons of RAZR V3 - Weak backlighting
- Poor bluetooth connectivity
- Finicky screen and keypad
- No memory card slot
- No FM Radio
- Random freezing and shutdowns
- Condensation on the phone when hot; this may cause damage to the screen.

Pros of RAZR V3i
- High quality design
- Slim design similar to the original RAZR
- 1.23 MP camera
- MicroSD card slot
- Excellent phonebook

Cons of RAZR V3i
- Just a slight modification of the original RAZR
- Outer protecting glass catches fingerprints
- Menu items not logically arranged
- Camera picture quality is poor
- Typing text is uncomfortable / poor messaging functions
- No task or note organiser
- No FM Radio
- Poor MP3 player

Pros of PEBL U6
- Beautiful original oval design
- Innovative automatic opening of phone
- Stylish rubber surface

Cons of PEBL U6
- Increased weight when compared to original RAZR
- No memory card slot
- Menu items not arranged logically
- Poor touch orientation on the keypad
- No FM Stereo
- Poor camera picture quality
- No task or note organiser

Comments
The Motorola RAZR V3, V3i and PEBL U6 are highly stylish devices of attractive designs and top-class construction. If you ever want to attract attention anytime, anywhere, all you need is let one of these beautiful devices accompany you. However, these phones are only for the fashion-conscious individuals who desire not more than the normal call and receive functions from a phone. The phones lack most of the basic features that will make it desirable to the high-tech users, because they lack most of the sophisticated functions found in modern handsets. Nevertheless, the phones are fulfilling their functions by satisfying the needs of the classy and trendy users who always want to use the phones with best look and design.

Original Motorola RAZR V3

Ever seen the LG KG800 mobile phone? This is a phone that will surely turn any eye and make you instantly get noticed anywhere anytime. The LG KG800 is a black, slim and sexy phone to behold. It is a phone engineered with the fashion-conscious individual in mind. The LG KG800 is a tri-band phone with 1.3 MP camera and 128MB internal memory, weighing about 83g. It also features an MP3 player.

The LG K800 is a gorgeous mobile phone with a red-glowing navigation touchpad. This attractive phone got its chocolate name because in the Korean market where it was pioneered, it has the scent of chocolate. Also, the keys shape of the LG KG800 resembles a lot like pieces of a chocolate bar. The phone is a rare gem and a real black beauty that is difficult to fault its design.

On the technical side, the LG KG800 does not have much to offer the techno-savvy mobile user. This is because basically most other phones in the market have better features and functionality than this phone. But then, the LG KG800 was not designed with the techie in mind. The phone was designed and targeted at the classy, trendy and fashion aficionados who always go out with impressive wears and gadgets. Like the Nokia fashion phones (Nokia 7360, Nokia 7370 and Nokia 7380), the LG KG800 was designed for the fashion world, and it has already out-classed any other mobile phone in the market, in that category. So, if you are looking for a mobile phone that will satisfy all your communication and entertainment needs, move on, because the LG KG800 is not the phone for you.

The LG KG800 mobile phone has the following specifications.

LG KG800 Phone

Pros of LG KG800
- Good product, good design
- Very beautiful and fashionable
- Touchpad navigation
- 1.3 MP camera with LED flash
- 128 MB shared internal memory
- USB 1.2 mass storage support
- Menu system with fast response
- Excellent keypad and good backlighting
- Easy to turn off the carrier’s name or operator’s logo

Cons of LG KG800
- No memory card slot
- Poor MP3 player in addition to the above
- No FM Stereo
- Slow and poor camera performance
- Hard to disengage battery cover
- Touchpad confusing and clumsy to use
- Display resolutions not too good
- Only .bmp & 72 x 72 pixels files can be attached to contacts
- Ringtones can only be assigned to caller group and not to certain callers
- Difficulty in saving second or third number to an already existing contact directly from the standby screen.

To sum it up, the LG KG800 is a good phone for making and receiving calls. The sound quality is excellent, loud and clear. Also, if you want to go out in class and style, the LG PK800 is the best handset to carry along with you. It will surely get you noticed.

LG KG800 Slider

If you are an average cell phone user, who is not interested in or impressed by all those hi-tech features incorporated into today’s cell phone, then you may need to give the Nokia 6020 cell phone a second thought and look. It is easy to be carried away by some features in phones like MP3 Player, Megapixel Camera, FM Stereo, Wi-Fi, etc. What if you do not need or use these features? Why pay for an expensive phone when all you need is a functional, decent looking Call and Receive phone? If you are in that category of users who have no time for all those extra features in a phone, then the Nokia 6020 might be your best mate.

The Nokia 6020 phone is a classic mid-level phone that has the following specifications:

Besides, the Nokia 6020 has standard applications like Calculator, Calendar, Voice Dial, Voice Recording, etc. Weighing around 90g, the phone is light and easy to use with a beautifully designed keypad, having a central joystick. The video recording is however limited only to 50 seconds in length.

For a phone with limited functionalities, you get full value for money when compared to other phones in the same category.

Pros of the Nokia 6020
- Light and beautiful design
- Basic Call and Receive
- Reasonably priced phone for non-techies

Cons of the Nokia 6020
- No bluetooth or infrared connectivity
- Infrared interface not working properly
- Voice Recorder can be used only during calls.

Comments
This is a good phone for the older generations who cannot be bothered with any other feature in a phone except making and receiving calls. This is equally a good phone for those who are on budget and still desire to use a decent Nokia phone. They will not be disappointed with the Nokia 6020.

If you need a basic, easy to use, quick response, reliable Nokia phone, then the Nokia 6020 will give you good value for money. If you are looking for FM Stereo, MP3 Player, a megapixel camera phone or a video recorder, then you had better move on, as the Nokia 6020 was not designed for that.

Nokia 6020 Handset