Myth or fact, Nokia vs Sony Ericsson

[EOS Man]

It seems like in the world of mobile phones, their version of our "Canon vs Nikon" is "Nokia vs Sony Ericsson", well, at least that's what people tell me. I somehow have a gut dislike of SE phones, not sure why and I'm sure my next mobile phone will be a Nokia (or a decent PDA phone). But a friend of mine told me that Sony Ericsson phones have more features and are generally better than their Nokia equivalents. Myth or fact?

I always see Sony products as overpriced and lacking of features. But I don't know about Nokia if they offer even less than Sony Ericsson. My scoop and knowledge about mobile phones is quite limited compared to stuff about cameras ;) .

[_Ash_]

Dunno, I'm a Motorola chap myself ;)

[GilesGuthrie]

I think that the days of Nokia Evangelism have probably passed. Sony Ericsson are making really good phones, and a good variety of them in different sizes, specs and prices. I've had a K750i for 18 months now, and would have got another SE, but I wanted a smartphone instead.

Nokia really lost the plot in around 2003, in terms of physical design. They went off down a number of routes, such as the phone with a fold-out QWERTY keyboard with the screen in the middle that was the size of the average car, and the "lipstick phone" that had only a jog wheel and no other controls. Meanwhile, SE kept refining their operating system, and steadily building in features. When the K750i came out, it was the first 2MP phone with autofocus, and I think that really cemented SE's position as a supplier of serious quality. At the same time, Motorola came out with the (for the time) incredibly thin RAZR, which took the style rug right out from under Nokia's feet. I didn't like the RAZR, but an awful lot of people did, and suddenly Nokia found themselves in schtuck.

Immediately prior to the K750i, I had a Siemens SL65 for a while that was a lovely phone, just not capable enough. I note that one of Nokia's newest phones is an almost exact copy of the SL65 in design terms. I miss that phone.

In the UK at least, there are now five serious phone vendors:
SonyEricsson: focusing on syle, entertainment functionality.
Samsung: focusing mainly on the style and ease of use
Motorola: focusing on style
RIM/Blackberry: focusing on communications functionality
Nokia: working their way into all spaces

I just don't think that Nokia lead in any area any more. They used to have well-designed phones with an excellent operating system. I don't think that they lead in either of these areas any more. They have work to do.

EDIT: My K750i is a bit worn now, and some of the buttons are struggling. But my contract came up for renewal, so I got an MDA Vario II, which is a Windows Mobile phone with touch screen and slide-out QWERTY keyboard. It's all about the comms baby.

[theflyingkiwi]

In the UK at least, there are now five serious phone vendors:
SonyEricsson: focusing on syle, entertainment functionality.
Samsung: focusing mainly on the style and ease of use
Motorola: focusing on style
RIM/Blackberry: focusing on communications functionality
Nokia: working their way into all spaces


I have a motorola razer phone and I was looking something to replace it. I wouldn't mind something that plays mp3s as well of a microSD card. Out of all the reseach that I did I would say that your list is about right. The best phones that seem people are really happy with the ones you listed. I would also add LG to that list. they have come on to the market with the LG Chocolate phone, which seems a lot of poeple like.

But when it comes to cellphones there are just as many as there are point and shoots. for all different markets and for different customers. The real change is going to change is with the iphone hits the market. It's going to make everyone change a tune (which some are already doing)

However if I was going to be buying a new phone I would have SE before having a Nikon, and I would have a Nikon before having a iphone.

However I have decided not buy a new phone just yet.

[rhys]

I still use two paper cups and a piece of string!

[eternally_bored]

I don't think that you could go worng with either brand, however I will agree that I don't know what the hell Nokia was thinking with the "luxury" line of phones (the "lipstick phone", as well as the other 2 phones in their "luxury" line. I have owned several brands of phones, and when it comes to phones, it is usually a model-by-model experience. Some models of a certain brand a great, while it's predecessor could suck bigtime. Like I said, I've owned many brands (right now, I have a Nokia E62 smartphone running Symbian OS, and I love it. Nokia makes solid phones, and their reception can't be beat. I have also owned a Sony Ericsson Z520, which was also a very solid, reliable phone. Lg makes awesome CDMA phones(in the us, include verizon, alltel, and sprint) , but their GSM (t-mobile, cingular/att) offerings suck the big one.

[Woolburr]

Funny thing, Nokia or Sony Ericsson are no longer big players in the cell phone market here...Motorola and LG are the big players in this neck of the woods. Most all manufacturers upper level phones are fairly solid, but like cameras, you kind of get what you pay for. A lot of the freebie phones are total crap.

[rklepper]

I am just waiting for our phone company to offer Blackberries. That is the only thing that will get me to give up my Treo.