The BlackBerry killer? ; How good is the new Nokia E75? Well, to begin with here's a sample: all the text on this page was written and then e-mailed from the phone!

The slide out keyboard on the device is a lot nicer than the softkeyboard on the touch screen Nokia 5800. There is somethingreassuring in real keys. The Nokia Messaging Service (NMS) launchedalongside the device is, however, a bit funny.

E75 vs E71

E-mail: E75.Even though E71 is just as capable, setting up e-mail in E75 is easier

Typing: E75.The slide out keyboard is easy to use; you can evenget up to a decent speed on it

Screen: E71.E75 screen looks very narrow, with the slide outkeyboard

Price: E71.Both devices are great value, though the E71 ischeaperSetting up e-mail on Nokia devices has always been a breezeif you knew how. NMS makes it idiot-proof much like BlackBerryConnect. Of course, you'll need your IT administrator's help toproperly configure your Microsoft Exchange or Lotus Notes server,but setting up Gmail, Yahoo! Mail or MSN Live Mail is genuinelyfast.

Mail synchronisation on devices, that was a problem with someearlier devices, is also taken care of by NMS. So, as an e-maildevice it works great. All you need is an un-metered data connectionfrom your service provider. I used Airtel's Mobile Office, for whichI pay an additional Rs 499 per month far cheaper than the Rs 999 forBlackBerry services. Does this mean the new E75 has no problems atall? On the face of it, it doesn't, actually.

The E75 has a MRP of Rs 26,300 and it is a great device. As faras the price comparison is concerned, it beats the BlackBerry Curve8900 hollow, though the latter might, all things considered, be abetter device.

The tiny Pod

Length: 4.5 cm

Width: 1.7 cm

Thickness: 0.8 cm

Weight: 10.8Apple Computer's minimalistic habit when it comes toproduct design, has claimed another victim. The new iPod Shuffle hasjust one sliding button. And there is no Play key. None. The newthird generation Shuffle, which incidentally will be sold alongsidethe old second generation one, is incredibly small, smaller than aUSB Flash Drive, thanks to the lack of an inbuilt USB dongle. Thatsaid, it does look pretty good.

So, how easy is it to use? Well, you operate most controls from athree-button controller next to the right earpiece. One click on thecentral button to play or pause, two to forward, three to rewind, ashort hold for the voice playback to read back the song name and along hold to go through play lists.

The slider on the device switches it off and toggles betweenlinear and shuffle play modes. Who said a user interface needsbuttons? The voice playback, however, can be a handful when it readsout Hindi songs. Otherwise, with the tiny size, it is a lot moreuseful than a super small LCD screen.

This 4 GB gadget costs Rs 4,900 plus local levies, which is a bitpricey compared to most small digital audio players. But that is theprice you pay to have a product touched by the Apple design gods.