All About Symbian previews the Nokia E61i

Check out the full preview; here are some snippets:

With some black trim around the outside, and a metal back cover taking up almost three quarters of the device, it looks and feels sleeker and more solid when compared to the original E61.

The keyboard, the mainstay of such devices, has also been improved. It still takes up the same amount of space and the same excellent layout has been preserved, but the space between the keys has been increased and the keys are slightly more domed, with the result that mis-keying the wrong button is now something that happens a lot less.

Some existing users may be disappointed that the E61i does not use the latest version of S60 (S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 1). Nokia (NYSE: NOK) says this is due to ‘time to market considerations’ – in other words in order to get the device out in a reasonable time frame, the original software has been retained.

Unsurprisingly, Nokia says the addition of a camera has been one of the commonest requests from E61 users. Is commonest a word? =P

Sample image from the E61i

I’m not buying it because there is no performance upgrade and it still uses the same OS as my regular E61.

Do I think it looks pretty? Yes!

What would an updated model have to contain for me to open my wallet? Higher resolution screen, faster processor, S60v3FP2, 3.5 mm headphone jack, SDHC compatibility, mini usb (with charging support!) and GPS.

I think all of those are possible, except for the 3.5 mm headphone jack.

Enterprise customers want to listen to their music too!