LONDON, England – Never before had I been excited about an Eseries device. Even the prospect of being at the E71’s launch in June, left me unexcited – initially. But then I started using one. Oh Boy. What a device. My favourite Nokia ever made – even more preferable to my previous favourite, the N95. And I don’t think I’m alone in that opinion.
The E71 packs the best of Nokia into one slim, gorgeous looking device. Everything about it is perfect. It feels nice in the hand, it feels solid and surprisingly unbreakable. Recently I challenged an iPhone owner to a drop test (it was late, and there was drink involved). I dropped. He refused. Mine survived, without even losing a battery cover. He was afraid of what could have happened. And that sums up the E71 for me. It’s tough, admirable and eminently capable. It’s never failed to deliver and, with the addition of Nokia Messaging, it’s now come into its own.
Will I give it up? No. Not until the N97 comes out at least. So, is all that enough to make it a significant device of 2008? Definitely, in my opinion. In fact, I think it’s possibly the single most important device Nokia has produced to date. Bar none.