Hi everyone,
I've used both the E61 and HTC S620 (Dash), as well as the KJam and Treo 600 before that. So I have plenty of experience using QWERTY phones.
My requirements from a smartphone are the following:
1) robust phone = no missed calls, good signal, strong battery life
2) Good PIM applications = I use especially Calendar and Tasks - therefore, full sync with Outlook, ability to customize Calendar and Tasks view (filter, sorting, categories etc.)
3) Portability
All three are equally important for me, and if my current phone lacks in one of the three areas I am usually dissatisfied. The HTC S620 is perfect in all 3 categories for me.
I don't download my emails on my Smartphone or browse the web, so this is not a priority for me, even though it's good to have for the occasional use.
The E61 was excellent as a phone: strong battery life and reception, robust, no missed calls. Where I found it lacked was in the PIM applications - the included calendar and tasks are not easily customized, and you can't sync categories which is important for me (I use GTD methodology to organize my life). Furthermore, even though it's thin, it's quite wide and thus not the most pocketable phone on a weekend walk or stroll into town. And I dislike switching phones...
I recently switched over to the HTC S620 and I am very pleased with my decision: it's very portable (small and thin, it fits perfectly in my pocket), is perfectly useable as a phone, and WM5 is very customizable. True it doesn't have as many applications available as a PocketPC, but I think the essential ones such as Facade, Papyrus, Agenda One, eWallet etc etc etc are there. Plus it has a great battery life (and thus better than the Samsung i320). Having used it for almost a week now, I am putting my E61 on eBay.
The most interesting comment was made by a friend of mine the other day. He said that he's used to seeing me with brick phones all the time (refering to the E61, KJam and the Treo) ... and he said this is the first time I've got a new phone that's not a brick (the HTC S620) ..... This says a lot I think...
Hope this helps.
Loukas