E71x or N79 for casual user with no data?

A

Ackbase

New member
I was asked by to recommend a phone between these two for someone and felt lost given I don't know much about them regarding long term use.

This is someone who uses a really old N series candybar (N72 I think) and so either would be a welcome upgrade. I know they don't have data other than 5MB, but will use WiFi if available and loves to text (contacts and facebook updates) as well as capture pics.

They've been wanting a QWERTY phone for a while and so I thought the E71x would be good, but I know it has the AT&T bloatware, known issues with wifi, poor picture quality and doesn't support Ovi Maps with free Navigation.

The N79 seems like a perfect replacement but the Ovi site says it also isn't supported for free Ovi Maps and since it isn't AT&T branded, I thinking they might get pushed around by the deathstar into a pricier plan or another contract which I wouldn't want them to do. I know they got contacted by ATT and told to come get a new replacement, but not sure what caused that other than they are approaching a 2 year mark going unlocked but are still on contract.

Ovi Maps isn't a dealbreaker, but just thought it would be nice if they could have that for roadtrips. In the end, I don't know which of these is still well supported with firmware updates and which is least likely to give a casual user any problems. Appreciate any feedback and recommendations.


Thanks.
 
Do NOT get them the E71x, as they will be forced to get a data plan through AT&T if they don't already have one -- AT&T has the phone and will recognize it as a smart phone.

My suggestion is to get the E72 (unlocked, unbranded of course), throw the SIM card in there, and you'll be good to go. E72 is still chugging in terms of support from Nokia, and it has Ovi Maps, QWERTY, and wifi like they need.
 
I've owned the E71-2 for 5 months and the N79 (US version) for 19 months. Both phones are unlocked and unbranded. I like the E71 better because it's a business oriented phone and I love the Qwerty keyboard. The N79 has been very good to me; the phone has not even crashed or rebooted once in 19 months; it just works very well in all respects. Too bad the N79 keyboard is outdated. Nokia recently sent me a E71 replacement phone since I had a serious rebooting problem whenever I tried to shut the phone down.

I owned the 5800XM for a year and thought it was made cheaply and I didn't particularly care for the touchscreen.

Stay away from AT&T branded phones unless you like being restricted.
 
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