Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: Nokia, E75, Samsung, Propel, Pro | Themes: Smartphones
- 1. A Look At The Options
- 2. Propel Pro: Design and Usability
- 3. Propel Pro: Functionality and Productivity
- 4. E75: Design and Usability
- 5. E75: Functionality and Productivity
- 6. Design Comparison: Fat and Short vs. Lean and Mean
- 7. Multimedia Comparison: Work Plus Fun
- 8. Comparing Cameras: E75 Wins Video, Propel Wins Photos
- 9. Comparing Productivity: Battle of the Offices
- 10. Comparing Productivity: Speed Test
- 11. Final Comparison: the Smart Phone Universe
- 12. More on this topic
9. Comparing Productivity: Battle of the Offices
We tested productivity applications during the E3 conference, which coincided with our review period. We were able to see which device was simplest to install, prepare, and use in a short period of time for the convention. We looked at the calendar features, cell reception, Internet speed, and more importantly, call quality.
Setting up the Propel Pro was much easier than it was with the E75. Just pop the installation disc into your PC, give it a few minutes, and you're done. The E75 is supposed to install automatically once connected to your PC when activating the PC Suite, but it took several attempts and a reboot to make it work properly. Connecting the E75 to your PC isn't required, but the setup process does go faster if you do it on a PC. The Propel Pro has a more intuitive installation process.
Office Mobile and Quickoffice are practically identical applications. Setting up email through both devices is painless. The E75 currently does not have built-in instant messaging.
The biggest difference in productivity between these two phones is the operating system. Oddly enough, the E75 feels more like Windows than Windows Mobile 6.1 does, and the interface is much simpler to get accustomed to. When we say it's more like Windows, we mean it's more like a full operating system, not just a small mobile operating system.
Small tasks like closing an application, running several apps simultaneously, or even jumping back and forth between different apps is more time consuming than it is with the Propel Pro. With the E75, we were able to juggle text messaging, a Word document, GPS, the camera, and a browser, all running at the same time. On the E75, just hit Menu, show open apps, and select. We covered Microsoft’s entire press conference at E3 using just the E75 during which time we wrote up notes on it, took pictures, and sent Twitter updates. We accidentally left the GPS running the whole time and the E75’s productivity suite still ran fast.
Calendar and Contact synchronization was, as expected, easier on the Propel Pro, although it requires using Outlook or a Microsoft Exchange server. The E75 has a little more leeway, with Lotus Notes. We’d have liked to see more support for other Calendar and Contact applications, such as Google Calendar.
The Propel Pro generally had better reception and connected calls faster. The buttons for both phones need serious improvement. The E75 also has some built-in goodies, such as the ability to record phone calls on the phone, which the Propel Pro just doesn’t have. Finally, as mentioned, data-transfer speeds were equally fast, although the Web-browsing experience is better on the E75.
As purely as a phone for making phone calls, it’s a tough call to make when deciding the stronger suitor. Both do a surprisingly good job compared to other phones running on AT&T’s network (hint: iPhone), but the Propel Pro is slightly stronger. But for all other productivity applications, the E75 functions more like a computer than a phone, meaning it can run numerous applications concurrently without sacrificing the quality of the device and the other running applications.
- Previous page Comparing Cameras: E75 Wins Video,...
- Next page Comparing Productivity: Speed Test
"The E75 also has a front 0.8 megapixel camera for self portraits and video conferencing, which is an unusual feature for a smart phone. We’re not sure how many people would take advantage of this “vanity” camera, at least for business calls, but the image is good enough for a quick VoIP chat with video."
What?
The camera is for normal video calls, that's it. I you want to take a photo of yourself, you'd use the 3,2 Mpxl camera, of course.
Unusual feature for a smart phone? Well, don't know about that, 'cause I don't have a smart phone, but I haven't ever seen any phone which is video call capable, without this second camera.
"But the real question is whether either of these two phones perform well enough to take on larger smart phone companies, like RIM and Apple."
LOL. Nokia is by far world's largest phone and smart phone producer. By far.
"The E75 also has a front 0.8 megapixel camera for self portraits and video conferencing, which is an unusual feature for a smart phone. We’re not sure how many people would take advantage of this “vanity” camera, at least for business calls, but the image is good enough for a quick VoIP chat with video."What?The camera is for normal video calls, that's it. I you want to take a photo of yourself, you'd use the 3,2 Mpxl camera, of course.Unusual feature for a smart phone? Well, don't know about that, 'cause I don't have a smart phone, but I haven't ever seen any phone which is video call capable, without this second camera."But the real question is whether either of these two phones perform well enough to take on larger smart phone companies, like RIM and Apple."LOL. Nokia is by far world's largest phone and smart phone producer. By far.
Hey Rundle,
The article states that the small camera is for video calls--but calling it a vanity camera doesn't mean we think it is just for photos. We mean it is for video of yourself (which, c'mon, is kind of "vain"). It is definitely not a common feature on smart phones.
You're right--Nokia sells the most smart phones worldwide. We should probably specify in our article that we are referring to the U.S. market (we almost always are referring to the U.S. market on Tom's Guide).
In case anyone is interested in recent market share data: http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=985912
Let me continue shortly.
Consider yourself making a video call. How do you then use your phone? You'll have it in front of you and you'll be watching the screen so you can see the person you are talking to, right. Now, this definetely requires that your phone has a camera next to it's screen, otherwise the other person won't see you on his phone, right. So, not having this little 0,8 Mpx camera on your phone is plain stupid. So I can't even imagine a video call capable smartphone without this other camera. It would be straight from the stone age and virtually not useable for video calls.
As of what comes to the size of the manufacture I think it is a valuable piece of info to know weather the company in question is a big time world leader but small in USA or just small.
That said, thanks for your quick response and an interesting review.
Let me continue shortly.Consider yourself making a video call. How do you then use your phone? You'll have it in front of you and you'll be watching the screen so you can see the person you are talking to, right. Now, this definetely requires that your phone has a camera next to it's screen, otherwise the other person won't see you on his phone, right. So, not having this little 0,8 Mpx camera on your phone is plain stupid. So I can't even imagine a video call capable smartphone without this other camera. It would be straight from the stone age and virtually not useable for video calls.As of what comes to the size of the manufacture I think it is a valuable piece of info to know weather the company in question is a big time world leader but small in USA or just small.That said, thanks for your quick response and an interesting review.
I guess perhaps the writer was expressing his opinion that showing yourself in a video call is vain. But that's just his opinion! I know what you are saying, don't worry.
For the record, we all know Nokia is pretty "small" in the U.S.--hardly any of their smart phones are even available to U.S. consumers via the wireless carriers! We love Nokia--we wish their phones could come to the U.S. carriers. That's our vote. But until that happens, Nokia unfortunately is off the radar because unlocked phones are so expensive.
Nokia is poised for a takeover in the US. I live in LA and they have major advertising schemes placed everywhere and even bought out buildings next to the staples center and called it Nokia live which is a one stop live entertainment are. T-mobile is already supporting a couple of phones and I'm sure it won't be too long before all the carriers have some type of nokia phone.
Nokia is poised for a takeover in the US. I live in LA and they have major advertising schemes placed everywhere and even bought out buildings next to the staples center and called it Nokia live which is a one stop live entertainment are. T-mobile is already supporting a couple of phones and I'm sure it won't be too long before all the carriers have some type of nokia phone.
We can hope! But I'll believe it when I see it.
Lotus Notes on the E75? I worked at a company that was still using Lotus Notes a year ago. It was the clunkiest, most cumbersome and difficult to use software I had ever seen. I can only hope their mobile version is much better.
The E75 sounds like a nice phone, but without dealer subsidies (i.e. discounts w/ plan), it may not take off very well here in the U.S. As the mobile companies always say, we're spoiled here.
When you say "the mobile companies always say, we're spoiled here." Do you mean the mobile companies think U.S. consumers are spoiled or the companies themselves?
Obviously the subsidies make the phones reasonable, but when you factor the contract and high monthly charges, it hardly seems as if we are getting a bargain in the United States.
If you meant the consumers, wireless rates are typically cheaper, more feature rich and often require no contracts outside the United States. Notice I said typically. Of course if you mean the companies are spoiled here, then I totally agree
I'm a little surprised that the HTC Fuze was not included in this comparison, since it is the other, lesser well known Smartphone in the AT&T lineup. It also has a 640x480 screen and the same sort of keyboard as the Nokia.
It's called a "vanity" camera for the same reason the vanity mirrors in your car are named that. It's not an opinion, it's just a fact that having a camera facing its user at all times is a vanity camera, regardless of its use. Bear in mind that there's nothing wrong with a vanity camera or mirror...they're quite useful!
While I don't use Lotus Notes hellwig, my brother does. I'd say you wouldn't believe how often he complains about it, but if you use it, you probably would.
The Fuze wasn't included because it's already a dated model.
So... should I assume N97 review is in the works?