By Randall Radic

In the first Transformers movie, a Nokia phone was placed in a tiny glass prison and zapped with energy from the Cube.  Galvanized by the Cube’s power, the Nokia transformed into a demented robot, which, if it hadn’t been in the glass prison, would have been tried to kill anything that got in its way.  Hollywood’s high-tech version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. 

Luckily, the Cube doesn’t exist and cell phones don’t metamorphose into killing machines.  But Nokia does make some killer phones.  For example, the Nokia E51, which is an all-round excellent smartphone.  It’s not as glamorous as the Apple iPhone, which is pretty much the Ferrari of phones.  Still, despite all their glamour, even Ferrari’s have shortcomings.  And it’s not as sleek as the Palm Pre.  But what the Nokia lacks in comeliness it more than makes up for in sheer functionality and in price.  In fact, the E51 might just be the best deal in town.

The E51 is an intelligent smartphone with beau coup capabilities and a myriad of users, probably because of its design and construction.  Its design shouts good taste, yet it’s constructed like a Timex watch.  It “takes a licking and keeps on ticking.”  Which means if you drop it, it won’t break.   

The screen provides a crisp, clean picture.  Admittedly, the screen is smallish, but the resolution and bright colors compensate for its size.  And the user interface (UI) would satisfy even Picasso, because it’s got pizzazz.  Along with those features, the E51 has a beefy CPU and a ton of RAM.  Which means games and other applications pose no problem.  The E51 has more than enough muscle to get the job done. 

The nicest thing about the E51 is the operating system, which is the tried and true Symbian OS 9.2.  The vast library of applications available for the Symbian OS make you wonder if it’s a smartphone or a handheld version of the Encyclopedia Britannica.  When you hook up the applications with the steroid-like performance already spoken of, the E51 executes like an Olympic weightlifter – no sweat.

Which brings up the E51’s single real weakness.  All that capability sucks the battery dry in no time.  Which means have your charger handy, because you’ll need it.  Under normal usage, the E51 has to be recharged every 24 hours.  And if you’re using a hands-free device like Bluetooth or one of the cheaper knockoffs, you’ll have to feed the battery even more often. 

The only other limitation exhibited by the E51 is the demand for application certificates.  This is a security safeguard.  It is to protect you.  So it’s not really a deficiency.  However, it means you won’t be able to run a lot of freeware.  Some E51 users actually hack into their phones and disable this requirement.  But that seems a touch too much, because the risk of damage is too great.  You’re better off just ponying up the dollars for the apps you want.  That way your conscience is clear and your security remains intact.

The camera.  Some people claim the E51’s camera is skimpy and therefore a limitation.  Wrong, because the E51 makes no claim to being a camera phone.  The fact that it even has a camera is a bonus.  So the camera issue is not an issue. 

Thus if you’re looking for a smartphone that has all the bells and whistles and will never let you down, be sure to check out the Nokia E51.  It’s got what you need and almost all of what you want.

On the Rate-O-Meter, which ranges from 1 star (don’t even think about it) to 5 stars (this is it!), the Nokia E51 rings in at 4.9 stars.  The only reason it’s not a perfect 5 is the battery.  But to paraphrase Meatloaf, “4.9 out of 5 ain’t bad.”          

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Randall Radic is a former Old Catholic priest. After a midlife crisis, he spent time behind bars. Today, he has emerged a changed man.  As the author of  Gone To Hell: True Crimes of America’s Clergy (ECW Press/ Oct 2009), Radic aims to warn the public of the sins committed behind the walls of churches every day.  Randall Radic is also author of A Priest in Hell: Gangs, Murderers and Snitching in a California Jail.

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