Other than the iPhone, is there an AT&T phone for me?
The Nokia is, by far, the best phone, but I don’t really like Symbian (the OS). Also, the E61i is kinda slow, especially when running Good Mail (the application we use for Exchange Mail integration). I should be picking up an E71 for testing soon. I had an E61 prior to my 71, and the 71 is much faster while being way smaller. It also has Feature Pack 1 (plus a few things backported from FP2) I don’t know what all those packs exactly include, but it has quite a few little niceties added over the 61, although if you really hate S60 it might not be enough. Certainly worth a look anyway.
I’ve got a Nokia E71 and my wife has a 3G iPhone, and I’ve used both a fair bit. The killer feature of the iPhone is the enormous screen, the killer feature of the E71 is the real keyboard. Have a think about what is more important to you. I swore I’d never get another device with a soft keyboard after a previous PDA, and using an iPhone hasn’t changed that. I also seem to be alone in hating the iPhone’s web browser. My ideal phone would be something like the G1 or whatever the new Android phone is called. Big screen, real keyboard and not Windows Mobile.
@devbrain I wish I could, they stopped doing invites a while ago with no word on when they’ll allow more. I will be using it for entertainment, not business. I will likely do a small amount of work-related email but I’ll mostly be using it to entertain myself when bored in public and wishing I had the web. Or to look up restaurants, movie times, etc. Show videos to a friend. I have to get it through AT&T as I’ll be exchanging the Duo back and I got it through my husband’s work discount, so if I just return it I’ll have to cancel the contract or something. What did you hate about the iPhone? That would be great to know as so far the only thing I don’t like is the keyboard. My husband uses a blackberry for work, but I’ve never really used it. It doesn’t have web but I could play with the keyboard anyway. I’ll check it out and in the store.
“When a call comes in on the iPhone you don’t have any options other than “slide to answer”.” This is not 100% true. It’s true if your phone happens to be locked when the call comes in. If, however, the phone is unlocked at the time the call comes in, you can choose to Answer or Decline. It’s a bit bizzare, I know, but this is nothing that cannot be fixed by a firmware update.
My criteria are different than yours — I do a lot email but *heart* the blackperry pearl mini keyboard. I had an iPhone for a little over a week (just prior to the 2.1 software release). Hated it, took it back. Since replaced it with the 8110 Pearl and am very happy. If you’re surfing for entertainment I’m sure the iPhone screen will be a boon. If you’re searching for in-the-field research then you probably, like me, will find the Pearl’s comparatively teeny tiny screen to be very workable. If uber-small isn’t on your cards, then look at the new BB Curve. I have co-workers with assorted Treos and they’re nothing but trouble. Haven’t used one myself in several years. YMMV, but at least pick up the Pearl in the store and see how you like it. (fwiw, if you don’t mind the hassle of not buying from the att store, I got my pearl off amazon for $0.01 with 2yr contract extension) p.s.
