Accessing all the features you'd need while out on business is made easy using the dedicated keys on top of the Qwerty keypad. The large screen splits certain sections into two halves and lets you view all your message folders, for example, without needing to go in and out of every one.
In many ways the E90 is like the Nokia N95 in a different casing, but where it comes into its own is when you need to type out a long email. This device is an email machine and once you've set it up (or got your IT administrator or a tech-savvy mate to), you'll really appreciate its mini-laptop-like design.
Reading and writing emails on the E90 is quick and easy to do and you can view and edit attachments using Quick Office.
Fortunately, it's not all calendars and emails. Nokia has crammed in some media functionality, too, letting you do much more than just work on it. There's a 3.2-megapixel camera, for example, that features autofocus and an LED photo light.
The camera is relatively good compared to other smart phone cameras but not as good as the Nokia N95's, and the lack of xenon flash means that shots in low light don't come out too well.
Should you choose to, you can make video calls on this handset using the secondary 0.3-megapixel (VGA) camera.
You'll also find an MP3 player that supports AAC files, and an FM radio. We're disappointed, however, to see a 2.5mm headphone jack instead of a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, as found on the Nokia N95.
Performance
Audio quality during calls is loud and clear and the speakerphone works really well, even with the speaker on the bottom side.
Browsing the Web and accessing applications was relatively smooth, a noticeable change from older Communicators.
Picture quality from the 3.2-megapixel camera was clear and sharp when viewed on the screen, but less so when printed out at full size.
We found battery life to be good, lasting for over two days, even when moderately using HSDPA or Wi-Fi, but it noticeably drained faster when using GPS. It's quoted at up to 5.8 hours' talk time on GSM and up to 14 days standby on GSM.
Conclusion
The E90 is big, bulky and not for the faint-hearted. It's the kind of phone you could use to defend yourself with in a fight -- and win.
If you're a veteran Nokia Communicator or Psion user you'll definitely appreciate the improved features. If, however, you're not, and you don't want a huge handset that won't fit in your pocket, you're better off getting a Nokia N95 or a smaller Windows Mobile handset, such as the HTC S710.
Edited by Jason Jenkins
Additional editing by Kate Macefield
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User reviews4
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haddock 29 March 2008
Good: Screen, keyboard, potential huge functionality
Bad: It's just too slow
Comment: I have given up on the E90 after about 5 months - and with 13 months to run on the contract. It would be wonderful if it worked, but it doesn't work well enough. Collecting exchange email is absurdly slow, takes minutes just to check. GPS takes up to half an hour to lock onto satellites. Firmware updater software is hopeless, and even after battling through to install updates they don't really do much to improve things.
If this phone worked instantly, responded to key presses immediately (instead of taking seconds to even register that the key has been pressed), worked smoothly with email and just generally didn't keep you hanging round for far too long, it would be the perfect phone for me, the one I hoped it would be and the one I signed up to this stupid contract to be able to get.
Instead it's a real disappointment, an expensive mistake. It might impress in the reviewer's lab but in the real world it's an encumberance.
Now I have a Blackberry and am wondering, when it comes to email, if they can do it why can't Nokia?
Paul Mulvey 29 February 2008
Good: a swiss army knife of a phone
Bad: it weighs so much that it is damaging the pocket in my suit
Comment: I'm a veteran of Psions and Nokia Communicators - and this is the best one yet. Not as elegant as the 9300i, but far quicker, more reliable and packed with just about every feature you could imagine. The build quality is superb - and that is not something you could say about all its predecessors. On the downside - the GPS is a bit slow to lock on to satellites and (a perpetual issue with Communicators) the Office suite has rather limited functionality, even when you have paid-up over the website to upgrade it. Overall, however, it's great fun and good value - as long, that is, as you don't mind the large bulge it makes in your pocket.
Rodolfo Crespo 5 December 2007
Good: You can use it like a lagtop but it is also a very good phone!
Bad: Price!
Comment: It can replace your lagtop when travelling but it still a very good telephone. It is heavy and strong and you feel you can trust it!
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