Symbian smartphone (Nokia E61)

Member Name: chris667

Product:	Nokia E61
Date:	10/06/08 (32 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: You can get online anywhere

Disadvantages: Poor build quality, awful software

I have had this phone for a year now, and I've used it a lot.
I bought it because I needed to get online without a phone line (I live on a boat, so no landlines), and it has been excellent in this regard, happily connecting to my Linux powered laptop and other people's windows machines.
The only bad bits are the rubbish integrated browser, the frankly embarassing PC suite software (it doesn't work, Google Nokia PC suite and see what I mean) and slightly lacklustre build quality (the phone charging socket developed a dodgy connection after a couple of months, now I need to use a universal charger with an everso slightly larger plug in order to charge it). Battery life is rubbish, too - I rarely get a day out of mine.
These faults are not really forgivable in something that costs so much money, but as it's basically worked for me, I'm going to say, go on, get one. But only if you can get it cheap.
A good tip if you use windows: Go to the Nokia Website and download the modem only driver, instead of messing about with the awful PC suite software that comes with the phone. It then just works like a modem.

Summary: Brilliant but flawed