Nokia lost the way a couple of years ago. From rock solid software and physically neigh indestructible phones that you could operate in the dark with one hand we've gone to phones that take 5 minutes to switch on, frequently crash and drop calls and explode in to a variety of parts (cover plates, batteries, main boards, buttons and so on) with normal use and that require the memorisation of insane menu structures to use.
>phones that take 5 minutes to switch on, frequently crash and drop calls and explode in to a variety of parts (cover plates, batteries, main boards, buttons and so on) with normal use.
Actually, it isn't. I have sworn my current one is my last nokia. It takes literally forever to start up, and after it seems that it has started up it is frequently still impossible to make calls or look at the call history or the sms messages section.
It crashes with some regularity (which is really annoying, because it takes a long time to start up again), it drops calls in the middle of a conversation about two or three times per week.
I've had to re-assemble the phone after just carrying it around in my pocket, not without danger because the battery easily pops out and might get shorted out by my keys. I've been a very loyal nokia customer for more than a decade with one (very short lived) excursion to Samsung, but this really is my last one.
I am a big fan of the older nokia phones, especially the ones with only two screen colours. I accidentally flung them across rooms, dropped them on sidewalks and even put one through a dryer once. They always still worked and I have only ever replaced them when other people bought me newer models.
However, my latest nokia is shocking compared to the others I have had before it. The case started falling off the back about 3 weeks into using it. It takes around 3 minutes to turn on and freezes without fail every time I try to delete my messages or have a look at my call log. A few friends of mine have experienced similar problems with their more expensive models too.
When I run out of room for messages (because I can't delete them), I'm just going to find out where I packed up my phone from 3 years ago and use that. I'd rather have no internet/camera/mms then try my luck with another new nokia.
I've actually considered reviving one of my ancient phones as well, I rarely if ever use any of the more advanced features of this phone anyway, I use mine to call and to very rarely send sms messages. I've used the browser once to see if it works (it does). So I really don't 'need' a fancy phone. I guess I shouldn't complain too much because the phone company sent it for free because they apparently make too much money on me but still, basic functionality should simply work as good or better as in a previous release, why regress ?
Yeah, I now consider the no-user-replacable-battery drawback of the iPhone as a feature. The least pieces and hatches, the better. Although, I have replaced it on my 2yo 3G, along with the screen.
What model are you using? My n900 takes about 1 minute to boot, has never (during the last 6 months) crashed or dropped a call (that's probably more of a network problem anyway) and the back cover is the only part that even can be taken off (and this far is has never come off by itself).
This is an N96, the button issues were with the previous phone, which was one of those with a little stick to direct the cursor. When it decided to lose the stick (just like that, it simply fell out) on a gravel road somewhere in Colombia it really was pretty awkward, the phone was pretty hard to use without it.
I've tried to detect a pattern in the dropped calls (make and model of the phone on the other side, network cells I'm in and so on), without any effect.
The phone has plenty of free memory, the techs in the store assure me the phone is ok (it's been back a few times already), latest firmware, and so on. The mechanical issues seem to be closely related to the way the back cover fits on, it's a very light 'snap' fit and nothing at all will make it come off. Because it's a slide phone I can't tape it in place or something like that.
It depends very much on what model you use. They have tens of models...
I don't know much about the N96, but my E72 is a good phone. As usual the Symbian firmware has some bugs, but other than that I'm getting very good internet/call quality and it has a solid build.
I used to have an E71 - dreadful OS/software. Email client formatted emails horribly. Browser was awful. I use my Android phone so much more, for web surfing etc, because the usability is lightyears ahead.
I have an E71. It's the best phone I've ever owned. The hardware is superb, and the OS is pretty solid, but Nokia's apps department has repeatedly shown that it can't code its way out of a wet paper bag, so the preinstalled apps are indeed pretty crappy. I use a third-party mail client (ProfiMail) and browser (Opera Mobile 10).
The majority of my interaction with the E71 is via third-party apps, and I'm fine with that, because they're far better than anything I've seen on iPhone or Android (and yes, I have tried both at length). I was using most of those same apps before the iPhone was released (also, get off my lawn, you darn kids).
Hardware wise, I suppose I can't fault the build quality. But the form factor and controls - a tiny screen and a NSEW joystick were very limiting. The keyboard was tiny but worked pretty well. But it was definitely the software that ruined it for me. Opera mobile wasn't terrible but it was really hobbled by the navigation hardware.
The screen and joystick are certainly inferior to a touch screen for web browsing. However, I love the keyboard, and can't see how you could have a keyboard that good with a large touch screen. (QWERTY sliders are all right, but you can't use them one-handed, and the form factor just seems less natural.)
So I would agree that if web browsing is more important to you than typing, the E71 is not an ideal device. I do a lot of both, and find it's a great balance.
What a waste of a very good brand image.