Nokia Asha 302
Nokia's latest edition to its budget Asha range snazzes things up to look much more akin to the business grade E-series with a build quality that instantly makes a positive impression. It features a bright 2.4in 320x240-pixel screen and runs Symbian with a revised S40 interface, which I didn't really take to personally, but it is a definite improvement.
The keyboard has a spongy, typical Nokia rubbery squeak, yet it's comfortable to grip and use one-handed too. For basic text and e-mail though, it does the job pretty well and, given its price, it won't be short of takers.
Samsung Galaxy Pro Y
Samsung's styling is somewhat basic but the plastic build is robust enough. It's 2.6in touchscreen display has a 320x240 resolution but it's not the sharpest at this size. Running Android 2.3 Gingerbread, it's spruced up with Samsung's TouchWiz interface. The navigation is smooth, with only minimal delays when jumping between apps.
The keyboard certainly satisfies though, with nicely rounded keys that click comfortingly and make light work of e-mails and texts. There's nothing too challenging with the Samsung Galaxy Y Pro which, apart from its lackustre display should appeal to all but the most demanding Qwerty typist.
Next page: Vodafone 555
COMMENTS
Re: Never
Why stop there?
You shouldn't use share a computer keyboard or mouse.
Don't take the lift, those buttons will be filthy. But be careful of the hand rail as you take the stairs.
Don't flush the toilet, you know where those hands have been. You can't be sure the last person washed their hands properly before turning off that tap either. Watch out for that door handle on your way out too! In fact, any door handle.
In fact just put on your paper suit and stay out of public places altogether, Mr Hughes.
Or on phones owned by adults who like to text using proper English and not kiddy's abbreviations.
Err.... you seem to have forgotten Nokia. E5? Or the really rather powerful E6?
Can't believe how fast the media has closed ranks against Nokia.... Very sad.
So sliders are off-topic?
Nokia E7 is still ruling that part of the jungle. It is everything the E-Series is about – I am not aware of anything out there that can touch it in terms of build quality, hardware features and overall design. I would love to see this form factor run MeeGo – I shake my fist at Nokia for not releasing the N950 to the general public. Not that Belle wouldn't do. In fact it does quite fine. Especially since it does the little things you simply expect a phone to do but apparently are no longer to be taken for granted.
I nearly keeled over laughing the other day when an aggressively anti-Nokia mate of mine (some people act like Nokia at some point pissed in their pint and made them drink it) sporting both an iPhone and some Android complained that "these days, you cannot turn phones off overnight anymore and still have the alert work in the morning."
I could not resist to ask him "You mean like a Nokia does, right?"
Priceless face, absolutely priceless.
Sliders
Does noone want qwery sliding phones anymore, or is it more of a case of the phone companies and manufacturers not wanting them for some reason.
I have a Nokia N900 and the missus an E7, both great form factors. I would love something like the E7, or slightly bigger with a decent grown up OS - think Maemo meets EPOC32.
There does seem to be Android sliders about, but not in the UK (Samsung Captivate, or Motorola Droid).
And no toys like the ones in the roundup dont count. I have a BB (for work), and absolutley hate the form factor as well as the phone in general, & every other chav around here has one.
