Motorola ROKR E8
- c
- coreSOLO
- iIT
- 21 Nov 2008
I work in a mobile gaming studio. We got this set way back as a proto and I have a long working experience with it (cant buy it though, but willing to, lack of money lol). I want to highlight 2 things from my perspective
1. I still remember the WOW factor it carried in our studio, with every other person wanted to get his/her hands on E8 and it still is a charm in new joinees lol
2. We have a rough time handling the sets and have got a bad history of screwing up nice sets, (ppl using ball pens as stylus :P) and broken keys here and there. Initially i thought E8 will not be able to stand tall against, but the build quality of this set is awesome. All the heptic keys are working fine and front panel has acceptable scratches. That includes super rough handling and daily game testing on this set...
E8 might not include frills from some higher end sets, but its a music set and what it does, it does with a punch :)
- M
- Maniac
- xnm
- 21 Nov 2008
P.P.S:(and totally OFF-Topic)
@100moto
I think everybody wishes they could send a phone to their loved ones up in the big blue sky, only to be able to text them an "I miss you!" now and then!
- M
- Maniac
- xnm
- 21 Nov 2008
Again, this N81 vs E8 is pointless: different price tags, different specs and different consumers!
If you want to comapare the E8 with a Nokia, do it with the XM 5310.
In daily cellphone usage, 500Mhz or 312Mhz doens't matter that much if the Software(firmware/OS) the phone is using is tuned to the CPU and it's needs. And unfortunately, here is where the flaw of the E8 lies: it's badly optimized software. Of what user reports I've managed to gather in my search for a new phone, I've come to this conclusion that the carrier branded E8's are rubbish because of the software.
And most users aren't tech-saavy like some of us, so the whole idea of changing the software of the phone is somewhat daunting(and that's too bad, because on the *modding*(am I allowed to say that?) forums for Moto you can find nice people who are interested to help).
I can say that Moto is doing wrong nowdays is:
1) Bad marketing and badly targeted phones!
2) They are to slow to bring new offerings to the market!
3) They are destroying great hardware (the Moto hardware is top knotch, no matter what you will say...) with buggy, laggy, bad software(big part in this is played by the carrier branding).
On the N81 vs E8 thing: the biggest reason why I wouldn't buy the N81 (even above the fact that I don't need most of it's features) is that, while being dressed in a decent suit, and meeting some fancy people, you'll leave a much better impression if you pull out a sleek classy slab of dark UFO phone they can't quite pinpoint what it is than if you pull out a black brick of Nokia plastic. The Moto shows you have tastes in fashion and you are interested in how you are percieved, the Nokia shows that you like gadgets and geeky phones (hope nobody gets mad at me for this, I like geeky phones as well and the E8 has it's geekiness!)
About the bar phones for mum and dad: they aren't very tech-saavy and they need phones that can rough it out through the day. A clamshell, even if it's prettier and somewhat easier to use, also relies on a hinge to flip open/closed, and that is it's week spot.
About the lil'ones :P I don't want to look down on you, but writing a "OMG! E8 is so cool" message isn't of great help to people! It's better to describe your experience with the phone: how you handle it, how it takes the rough treatement (I'll asume that people in the 11-16 age bracket are less careful with their stuff...I for one was back in the day), what are your gripes with it (I for one find it rather wide, and I have decently large hands - not the biggest n'or the slimmest). Oh, and 1337 speach doesn't help either :P . Some can understand it, many can't!
PS: Sorry for the ExtraLong comments :)
Keep ROKR-ing with your E8's and be chillaxed with whatever phone you are using!
- j
- jjsoviet
- Rxc
- 21 Nov 2008
Anonymous, 21 Nov 2008If it has a 500MHz CPU, why are its JBenchmark scores so mu... moreAlso, if you still keep on nagging about the E8 having less features, why don't you nag on other phones like the V3, w300i, 5310, and loads more which obviously don't have the same featureset as your N81?
One who expects much is much disappointed whenever his expectations are not met. Am I right?
- j
- jjsoviet
- Rxc
- 21 Nov 2008
Anonymous, 21 Nov 2008If it has a 500MHz CPU, why are its JBenchmark scores so mu... moreWell, is that so? Sorry for being "stupid". Also, I really don't care if you brag about your N81 having features the E8 doesn't have; the question is, do you utilize all of those features?
Don't you realize that only the minority actually cares for those extra features as opposed to the masses who only want basic features? Do not force others to be technically conscious as you. If you still keep on bragging on your N81, then there's something wrong with you. Comparing a high-spec phone with a mid-end? Pick on someone your own size, my friend.
- c
- coreSOLO
- iIT
- 21 Nov 2008
boy this forum is so much fun :P
- ?
- Anonymous
- M@T
- 21 Nov 2008
If it has a 500MHz CPU, why are its JBenchmark scores so much lower than the SEs W880 which has a 150MHz CPU???? http://www.smape.com/en/reviews/motorola/Motorola_E8-rev.html Someone PLEASE explain that. Otherwise a great review by SMape.
E8lover
The N81 has a Touchsensetive NaviWheel plus Search standby plug-in to search for ANYTHING in the phone like Search on a PC, for fast Multimedia, Web and Messaging access, plus N81 is not bulky unless you're REALY weak and need to visit the gym lol, N81 is for pocketable. There's nothing your E8 does that my N81 cant, but there's loads my N81 can do that your E8 cant. Childish? Please.
Other user Stuart and jj
Many sites make slight spec mistakes doesnt mean you should just right them off, GSMArena makes spec mistakes as well. The Z10 does infact have a Texas Instruments OMAP2420 CPU running at 300MHz, its been confirmed by M-R And SMape.
- S
- Stuart
- vV5
- 21 Nov 2008
jjsoviet, 20 Nov 2008If your link is indeed correct, then the Z10, Q9 and other ... moreGood one friend, really good findings. After reading "that" comment on 312Mhz, I was greatly entertained. Putting out something like this (inaccurate info) in print here could subconsciously affecting some people without them knowing it:
1)If I'm someone braggy & immature after reading the print, there's a possibility I'll probably go out to other forums bragging & arguing (with confidence but without conscience) with people on E8's "312Mhz", not 500Mhz, that it's a lousy lagging phone, not forgetting the "N"ew Balance thing will also come to the picture - again.
2)If I'm someone logical, with radical thinking, confirming the specs with other websites, look at other reviews and if possible with the authorised Motorola Service guys are even better. You gain more knowledge this way and not "swayed" by hear-say.
*By the way, I still can't find the flash that's supposed to be embedded somewhere in my E8 according to....... (never mind). Must be located somewhere near my memory card... (LOL).
Sorry again for my dry sense of humor on the above, I still haven't started on my coffee yet.... (LOL)
These days we just wouldn't know, somewhere, someone is doing something for some reasons only he or she knows with certain objective in mind. Take care guys.
- e
- e8lover
- v0X
- 21 Nov 2008
meeia.e8lover, 20 Nov 2008motorola e8 rules! surely rather choose e8 than other cellp... morebtw i forgot to tell you...
the reason why my sister don't accept it because
it's both bulky + many people(we're one of them)
don't want lots of feature if E8 fits what we want..
camera,music,games,text,calls...
- e
- e8lover
- v0X
- 21 Nov 2008
Tsepz, 19 Nov 2008Lol, i actualy found your comment pointless. Im a power use... moreso here's some of things your phone don't have...
e8:
slim bar (not bulky)
very easy to put and get in your pocket
talk to music at the touch of a button
*modeshift technology
quickly access all of your songs w/ the fastscroll touch wheel..
some of e8 that your phone don't have..
in fact:
e8 is the WINNER in
cnet BEST of CES 2008 (PEOPLE'S VOICE)
cnet BEST of CES 2008 (CELL PHONES & SMART PHONES)
"""Vibrations tend to be shorter than what the LG Viewty offers for example, and we happen to like it better this way."""
"""The best part about the phone is the keypad, having no actual etched labels on the keys. Instead the virtual keys change depending on context. In the music player for example, the music controls appear, while letters surface in texting mode. The touch-sensitive semi-circle of a D-pad also helps a lot here, as it makes forwarding and rewinding real smooth.""" from gsmarena...
features are very practical...
don't need lots of it if all of the E8's feature are VERY USEFUL....
- e
- e8lover
- v0X
- 21 Nov 2008
jjsoviet, 20 Nov 2008Yeah, he's right. If you love your phone, then so be it. Bu... moreyes... we all know he bashes the N81 forums...
""""It would be too impractical and useless to buy a feature-rich phone if you will only use it to talk and text, not to mention show it off to your buddies. Not everyone is a techno whiz like you"""""
don't worry jjsoviet we all know who's the childish man in this forum..
- e
- e8lover
- v0X
- 21 Nov 2008
Tsepz, 20 Nov 2008You try gain popularity with your phone? Wow thats really s... moreyour past comments sounds like that.. you try to be ego like ""N81 is great at calling and Music. Its a Music, Gaming, Web and Video Smartphone, so comparing its Music side to the E8 seems fair. N81 has the dedicated Music keys, a Music Player that boots up automaticaly when the phone boots up, a built-in 3.5mm jack, an audio processor made by StarCore running at 235mhz plus a CPU running at 369mhz, two large loudspeakers, a touchsensetive iPod like navi-wheel, and headphones that come with a full Music player Remote Control so i think N81 can be labeld a Music Phone as well""
you know in times like this many people wants to gain popularity using their phones i've enough so that's why i'm thinking like that.....
you know like user of expensive phone then going to other forums w/ less feature and cheaper then trying to compete w/ them we know the expensive one wins but the other side loves their phone just the way it is...
and i wonder if why he don't stop about his phone's feature when our side accept the fact that his phone wins cuz it has more feature than our phone(based on N81 vs. E8's feature...
btw also.. thnx so much for being more childish than me(LOL)....
- e
- e8lover
- v0X
- 21 Nov 2008
Maniac, 20 Nov 2008Of what I can dig up on the net, the E8 has the same ARM 11... moreLOL yeah... i'm one! i'm just 12 so it's so hard to cope up! yeah but i understand things like ""ARM 11 CPU running at 500Mhz""... but i'm more of it's unique feature... sorry if i'm too childish in this forum... =)
- e
- e8lover
- v0X
- 21 Nov 2008
meeia.e8lover, 20 Nov 2008motorola e8 rules! surely rather choose e8 than other cellp... moreyes... we all know that motorola drops UIQ (8.1%) there current for 3Q 2008... but as a moto lover i'm supporting motorola... in times like this we see whose the real moto lovers never looses hope and sometimes against all odds... it doesn't mean that motorola drops UIQ their phones also drops features... i think they will launch phones with better features because in times like this phone companies are so competitive...
so i think that motorola wont let moto lovers to bring us down! cheer up! we're the true moto lover!!! =)
- e
- e8lover
- v0X
- 21 Nov 2008
meeia.anothere8lover, 20 Nov 2008hi there. i read your comments haha.... im also e8 lover i ... moreyeah... but i forgot to type smart phones freeze and hangs.... thanks tsepz for reminding,.... my sister's bf have N81 and N95... it's so funny seeing them arguing to swap phones... her bf wants to swap both of his phone the N81 & N95 to my sister's phone also E8(we love its features that's why we have the same E8 LOL) and samsung U900 soul... but too bad my sister didn't accept it so her bf is planning to sell it and buy motorola and samsung phones! isn't that great to hear?? from nokia to motorola and samsung! cheers! moto lovers!!
- 1
- 100 Moto
- Er2
- 21 Nov 2008
Maniac, 20 Nov 2008Of what I can dig up on the net, the E8 has the same ARM 11... moreJust curious why you chose "bar" phones for your parents?
My parents are quite reluctant to use bar phones, as they find flip phones (invented by Moto) are easier to operate...just open to answer, close to end calls.
Large buttons (and sometimes fonts) on most Moto phones also help.
My dad used Moto 8500, GC87, StarTAC, T189 (during the dark days of Moto with little to no choice for flip phones after his StarTAC went out of service), V60, V60i, V600, V975 (for v-call with me), V3X (for v-call with me).
My wish is to send him the V3x to heaven...where he is right now.
Mom started with V3688, then C289/C300 (again during the dark days when Moto had little flip phones), V290, V180. Now she is using W510 (with Crystal Talk, which works GREAT!) and V3maxx (for v-call with me)
My mom's friend also uses nothing but flip phones, because once she used a bar phone and accidentally pressed the send button...and the other party heard all the (gossip) conversation...
If 3G is available in your country, I do suggest you to get some 3G phones for your parents...nothing beats be able to "see" them everyday.
PS. I'll attend a church service with memorial of my dad...
- j
- jjsoviet
- Rxc
- 20 Nov 2008
Anonymous, 20 Nov 2008You say it's hard to find a bad phone. Well, this phone is ... moreYes, the stock Motorola software in the E8 is indeed lag-tastic. But what's keeping me from replacing it? Simple, I just digged in Motorola forums and found out that newer versions of the firmware are available. I flashed one to my E8 and voila, all that lagness disappeared.
You shouldn't lose hope of a product because it's bad initially. If you really are a smart consumer, you should have found ways to make it better. If you just have found out a way, then your E8 experience would be far better.
- j
- jjsoviet
- Rxc
- 20 Nov 2008
Tsepz, 20 Nov 2008Maniac No, the E8 uses a XScale PXA270 Bulevrde CPU at 312... moreIf your link is indeed correct, then the Z10, Q9 and other new Motorola phones also have CPU's clocked at 300+ Mhz only. Wow. Also, take a deep look at the E8's pecs in that site. Apparently the E8 actually has an LED flash for its camera. Didn't see one in my E8. How about the others?
- ?
- Anonymous
- nET
- 20 Nov 2008
You say it's hard to find a bad phone. Well, this phone is terrible. I have owned it for 2 months and i'm buying something else on the weekend because this phone is so bad.
Summary~
Menu lag is terrible
When you receive a message while in the menu or music player you have to accept that you want to read it and then go back through the menu to actually read it
The quick key to the contacts is about as quick as jabba the hut
It does have some good features, but the bad ones outweigh the good by a mile.
- T
- Tsepz
- M@T
- 20 Nov 2008
Maniac
No, the E8 uses a XScale PXA270 Bulevrde CPU at 312MHz just like the E6. Here is PDA.NETS E8 Specs: http://pdadb.net/index.php?m=specs&id=1267 ,they get their specs straight from Manufacturer and Chip maker.
Here are the details on its CPU: http://pdadb.net/index.php?m=cpu&id=a270
The 500MHz CPU in V8, ZN5, VE66 etc. . .is a Freescale single core CPU, its actualy the predeccessor to the N81's CPU funny enough.
Yes i agree its actualy hard to find a bad phone. The W810 is fantastic phone, i actualy owned a W800 and W900 both had same camera as W810, they have the best 2mp cameras ever made, they actualy rival current 5mp cam units. I now have a N81 and my SE K850 with modded Camera driver, i get AMAZING results with it, i love SEs due to their modifiable nature, and im loving my K850.
Yep its a shame MOTO are in deep trouble, they even droppd Symbian UIQ because they couldnt afford to keep developing it as well as MagX. I was actualy a major MOTOROLA Fan back in the E1, E2 and E398 days, i loved that E398, realy sad how they have fallen from the top.