Idea: Nokia should make the E61i with VGA screen!
By Dusan Belic on Friday, November 21st, 2008 at 1:51 AM PST In Devices, Ideas and rants, Nokia, Symbian
After using the Nokia (NYSE: NOK) E71 for two weeks, I figured what is missing – a bigger, hi-res screen. Now, I know that would make the device larger and thus uglier, but I really need more space on the screen, so I could do some serious writing with a mobile phone and connected Bluetooth keyboard. And I’m ready to bear the consequences of having an uglier device.
That being said, I argue that the perfect Nokia smartphone would be the E61i with a VGA screen (640×480 pixels). If the rest of the specs are unchanged (when compared to the E71), that would be just fine. Can you imagine such a device? Sure, design of the E61i doesn’t come close to E71’s fine lines, but it has a 2.8-inch screen which can perfectly accommodate VGA resolution. We’ve seen HTC doing so (using 2.8-inch VGA screens) with their Touch Diamond and Touch Pro models. Nokia could also include a touchscreen in the mix, but that really is not that important — or at least that’s my take.
The way I see it, the end result would create the ultimate business handset. The technology is already there — S60 can perfectly work on different screen sizes — so why wait?
Do you like the idea? Would you be interested in such a device? Don’t hesitate to share your thoughts…
You’re true, E61i has one of the best displays in Nokia business smartphones. But for me, VGA is not required for a non-touch device. S60 lacks some power that Windows Mobile has. That is reason why I’m planning to move from E61i to a powerful Windows Mobile device.
I am user of E61, because i enjoy big screen and full keyboard. Your idea is very pretty. Now i am finding my next future second brain and same form with VGA (and OS 9.5 touch or touchless) is good evolution step. Next nice idea (not my, just read anywhere) is to create new model row U (Ultimate) joining E and N. So add insisde this thinked device functions like TVout (VGA and PAL resolution is similar) and accelerometer.
Same !
I am sure you will not believe.
I am running these dats at Nokia shop and they told me “SOLD OUT” the e61i
Downside:
No front camera for 3G
No FM Radio
Slower OS operation of symbian
But I am like you, I just need such screen. (replying boss email and customers) Doing web surfuing on google reader killing articles.
Infact, I still own E61 but the middle 5 ways killing my fingers.
edmond
get a e90 dumbo!
The current E61/E62/E61i series is wrist-tiringly heavy, but if you use it in combo with a BT keyboard, I could see how a VGA screen would be an enormous boon in terms of mobile browsing and mobile word processing. It would be edging a bit into the UMPC realm, which IMO is the direction all smartphone type devices should be headed anyway.
What I really want is _ANY_ VGA (or better) screened S60 device from Nokia. They seem to be stuck in QVGA screen production even at their top end, which I suppose is good for competing devices like the HTC Touch HD and the Sony Xperia X1. Still, I’d love to see and S60 or perhaps even touch S60 device from Nokia.
This is exactly what I would be looking for in a Symbian device. I recently bought a Touch Pro to replace my Nokia N95 8GB. I still prefer symbian over windows mobile; I feel it is a powerful os, but I couldn’t stand the qvga resolution. To the person recommending the E90 I couldn’t agree more. I owned the E90 and it was my favorite device I have ever owned but sold it due to lack of 3g. If Nokia came out with a version with US 3g I would be the first in line to rebuy it. I really like the looks of the E71, but I personally will not be buying any devices from now on that don’t have close to a vga display. (Keeping my eye on Tube) I really am looking forward to see what Nokia has up there sleaves for the next Communicator, but due to the long gaps between communicators, I don’t expect a new one until Feb. of 2010.
An E70 with its 416×352 resolution is almost double of the pixel count of 320×240. With the stability of the E61i it would be … amazing…
Regarding the E61i with VGA screen idea… with FP1, SDHC, 128MB opearting memory… and a promise that it wont be left out in the cold regarding software upgrades…
I would probably be buying…
Agree!!! E61i is the best Nokia device that must be improved. BUT!… Keep 2,8 display and QWERTY! Or even 3″ display would be more preferable. With QWERTY. E71 is less atractive exactly due to smaller screen.
A year or so ago I would have agreed with you – I’ve used a Tishiba E830 VGA pda for years and I love it. But time and technology led me to a Nokia E62 (bleh!) and a Samsung BlackJack II. Yes I want a bigger screen on them both, but I like that they do *everything* and yet are so small.
So I found REDFLY – http://www.celiocorp.com – that I can use to augment my phone. When I travel and need a larger screen and keyboard, I carry the REDFLY in my cargo pants. Not an ideal solution for day to day use, I know, but I think I prefer it over permanently carrying a large phone.