Why you should and why shouldn't
buy Nokia phones
I write/update this page 21.11.2002. I decided to make this list and publish
as separate subpage, because more and more people write me, that current
Nokia products don't have this or other feature. I will try to show, which
features are important for users and which can make problems. If you have
in plans buying phone from this company, first just read this list...and
don't say later, that I didn't warn...
First start from advantages of Nokia phones (why you should buy Nokia
products):
-
good menu almost the same in each model (if you know one, you won't have
very big problems with using another)
-
general user friendly interface - for example, big battery/network bars,
sometimes even 7 bars (not like in other phones very small and 3 level
only). It's currently - in the UMTS phones it can change to WORSE (see
infos from 6650)
-
quite big screens (when compare for example to Panasonic GD 90, it's like
TV)
-
many things (like chargers in almost all popular models or system connector
in Nokia 51xx/61xx/6210/63xx) are compatible
-
antennas are built inside phones
-
many models can be very easy repaired or easy updated after releasing new
firmware (I say, that flashers for DCT3 phones are very cheap)
-
there are firmwares to some models with new functions (example: 3315 firmware
to 3310, possibility of flashing 6250 firmware to 6210, etc.)
-
long standby times and in majority big batteries
-
possibility of personalizing many things in phones - example, logos, ringtones,
etc.
And then go to the disadvantages (why you shouldn't buy Nokia products):
-
very weak support (see for example Forum Nokia and words to me from one
of Nokia workers: "have fun with your Siemens phones")
-
many times you pay only for name and not for good quality. Example: 5510
don't have memory cards, 3410 don't have GPRS, etc.
-
no using some standards. Example: although there is fast USB, it's not
used anywhere to connect with PC...
-
in fact Nokia is othe often one the last one, which make phones with some
technologies. Example: phones with GPRS
-
ERRORS in firmware. Often they're not corrected. Example: in 6310i 5.10
there are many small problems, which were reported to Nokia support are
WERE IGNORED. I say about bug in calendar connected with displaying week
numbers, translating things (for example after turning OFF Buletooth phone
says in Polish "Bluetooth ENABLED"), Info Messages are very often not centered
on the screen, etc. etc. etc. For full list see my subpage about firmware.
Sometimes errors don't allow to ENABLE phone and Nokia says, that such
errors are NOT CRITICAL and WON'T be corrected.
-
not too many opened standards and no official support from Nokia to Linux.
They say, that everything won't be published. Because of it projects like
my own Gammu (available on my www) still don't have some functions. Some
things (like format of binary ringtones) are different in each model and
they look like done in last moment.
-
new models don't contains some things, which were earlier USEFULL for users:
-
no sending caller logos over infrared
-
no possibility of forwarding SMS to another phone WITHOUT editing. Additionaly
another nice thing: in Nokia 6210 forwarding function sent some SMS incorrectly
without informing user
-
NETMONITOR. The only way to check SMS counters, battery info, full firmware
info, network info, etc. THE ONLY possibility to disabling phone light
AT ALL. The only answer from Nokia is, that it's NOT USEFULL. Of course
officialy in Forum Nokia they don't add, that everyone who have friends,
can buy such phone for NORMAL price. It sometimes hurt more, because netmonitor
IS in firmware in each new model sold in shops. The only problem is, that
it can't be activated using old methods. Words from Nokia workers: "it's
because of operators requests".
-
can't change tones for Info messages no more (6310i 5.10). Even, when you
will set tone in current phone profile to discreet, you will hear loud
"BEEEPPPPP" after receiving such message. Because of it this function can't
be used anymore.
-
Cell Info is displayed in THE SAME line with Profile name in the phones
with bigger display (in old Nokias with smaller screen it's in different
lines).
-
although there is no info from phone and no info in manual, GPRS Online
function by default doesn't work after selecting selection in phone menu.
Words from Nokia workers: "it's because of operators requests". So, currently
it seems, that users have to check each phone setting and compare it with
own bills (without working GPRS Online in the time, when operator takes
money from each started 10, 20, ... kB, bills can increase dramatically).
Many people don't use internet and don't have idea, that it can happen
and because of it operators have additional money. Nice. Of course, Gammu
from my www can unlock this option and it works like should
-
buying some models don't have sence. For example, it looks that there is
much worse support for 6310 that for 6310i. I don't know, how will be with
3510 after releasing 3510i. Hope, first one will be continued - currently
Nokia don't have any other cheap model with mono display and calendar and
big phonebook. Hope it also because it's cheap model - in practice cheap
Nokia models are continued the longest one and Nokia adds some features
to them. The more expensive model, the shorter continued.
-
can't update model X to model Y. Ericsson make update to T68 to T68i and
now T68j, Siemens from SL45 to SL45i. Nokia officialy doesn't allow such
things.
-
after years some easy things are still not implemented. Example: info about
using SMS memory in SIM, human support for Unicode SMS (each model has
it different), no possibility of sending SMS Class 0 from phone menus,
no selecting frequency band in phone menu, very weak support for AT commands,
some models (lik 6310i) don't have keypad locking with code/after specified
time, etc.
Generally currently from Nokia products I can suggest only 3310/3315, 3410
(they have all access to Netmonitor), 3510 (no netmon), 6310i. All 3xxx
seems to be continued the longest one. All other have in majority very
similiar functions - many times the same firmware in different cover.
If you have phone with MMS and color screen, wait - first Nokia models
have probably many errors. You will also pay for name only. Wait to the
moment, when prices will establish. Old models should be cheaper and maybe
only one from old models will be for you - in new Nokia offer there won't
be very probably cheap DCT3 phone with Java (like 3410), probably no more
cheap phones with mono display and calendar/big phonebook (like 3510).
For now I suggest Ericsson T68 family. When want use AT commands, buy
Siemens product.
My last comment: currently Nokia products don't have "something". Company
works more and more like Microsoft and more and more old users don't like
more and more solutions in products from it. People of course will buy
these products...up to the first moment when will find something so functional...
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