Staff Review: MotoROKR E6

[msandiej]

First off, thanks to the E6 users for all their input! I have compiled this review from E6 user opinions, Motorola specs, etc.

Lets start with the specs:

Premium entertainment PDA at only 14.5 millimeters thick
2.0 megapixel CMOS camera with 8x digital zoom to capture the moment
CIF and QVGA video capture for up to five hours
Full screen video playback
Integrated MP3 player with dedicated music keys and built-in FM radio
PDA featuring Business Card Reader, POP3 e-mail, document viewer to view Microsoft Word, Excel, etc.,
PIM Connectivity includes integrated stereo Bluetooth® wireless technology, HTML browser, hi-speed USB 2.0 EMU, 3.5 millimeter stereo jack Removable memory card slot, up to 2GB full SD card support; 8MB dynamic user memory
Extended 1000mAh battery life for long usability
Brilliant 2.4" 240 x 320, 262K colors TFT external display with the latest touch screen technology

The Motorola ROKR E6 was designed to be both an entertainment device as well as a fully functional PDA. It passes both qualifications with flying colors. In Motorola's marketing department, the ROKR E6 earned the phrase: "The ideal mobile device for classy professionals who wish to balance business efficiency with portable entertainment."

So what do users have to say about thier own ROKR's?

Like any mobile, there are pro's and con's. In the case of the E6, the pro's easily outweigh the con's in the eyes of its owners. When deciding to make a purchase of a new mobile, it's always important to know, however, what those pro's and con's are. Will the device meet your needs? Does it lack a feature that is a necessity for you?

Per our very own aksd, moderator of the E6 section, this mobile is great for those willing and able to modify its "in-box" features. The huge plus with the E6 is the Linux platform. Linux is a highly modifiable and customizable system that allows the user to make the E6 even more worthwhile than it's "from the factory" functionality provides.

In discussing the cons, one needs to know if those con's are changeable. In most cases, due to the phones OS of Linux, the simple answer is yes. For instance, the E6 currently does not come with EDGE enabled, but is EDGE compatible. Some users might consider that a major downfall, as the competitor iPhone DOES come with such a feature. It is only when the user realizes that EDGE compatible and EDGE enabled are only a four-second seem edit apart from each other. However, there are some un-changeable (at present) features that can cause frustration. One of the greatest complaints from ROKR E6 users is the keyboard. Its very small, basically, which makes using the stylus with a steady hand a necessity. When mobile users think "touchscreen," the idea of using one's own fingers is a plus, and unfortunately, this is very difficult with the current specs of the keyboard, though finger-usage is not a problem with the icons and apps. Camera quality on the phone is somewhat debateable. The E6 does have a 2MP built in camera, however there is no flash. Without a flash, any camera taking pictures without ideal light will result in blurry photos. However, the camera does have a macro-mode feature that works great with close ups in the right lighting.

With the con's come the pro's. When compared with the Nokia N73, processor speed is key. The E6 has a more than sufficient CPU, running at 312Mhz, compared to the N73's 220Mhz. Again, according to MotoFan's moderator aksd, the CPU was actually designed to run at 500Mhz, but due to Motorola's build, it was cut back. Nonetheless, the CPU speed seems to be plenty fast for most users. In fact, one of the biggest kudo's to the E6 is minimal boot-up time and response time when running applications, when compared to other smartphones. Along with processor speed, RAM management is considered excellent in the E6.

The E6 also offers good battery life, which is a complaint in another EZX series phone. The "in-box" applications, such as Picsel Viewer, are highly regarded. The native browser is considered decent, though many upgrade it regardless. The business card reader, though still with some faults, works well and is very useful.

The major pro of the E6 is the fact that it is highly modifiable. With the use of programs such as RSD Lite and RadioComm, firmware can easily be changed and seem edits applied, respectively. Even so, the shipped version of the phone has an excellent interface and wonderful native features that even allow even a novice to enjoy the phone. For the developer crowd, the one real letdown is the confusing topic of the release of the E6 SDK, though that is certainly not the phone's fault. Even without it, however, dev's are always creating useful and fun apps for this phone.

In closing, there are features that users would like to see added the the phone, such as a flash, higher RAM, and a better keyboard. The plus of Motorola is that they are known for sticking with a good thing. Phones that are as successful as the E6 are always in line for improvements, to which Motorola duly notes our wants and needs and implements them in subsequent releases.

Please feel free to add your own thoughts and comments to this review!

-Andie

[admin]

Moved to E6 forums

[alimanzoor35]

Its sounds good to me.