Connections made sexy

I like my cellphone the same way I like my women — slim, sensible and affordable. Okay, I’m kidding about the women, but I’m serious about the cellphone. In today’s world of perpetual upgrades, sometimes a person just needs a phone that makes sense. The Nokia 2680 slider is exactly that. It’s sleek, stylish and has all the features one really needs in a mobile phone.

The look of this phone belongs on something that is three times its price. With its polished finish, rounded edges and slide feature, the 2680 makes other cellphones, including the one I used before this, look clunky and old. The 2680’s slim form factor makes it easier to text with one hand and more convenient to carry around in my pocket. Too often sense is sacrificed in favor of style. An attractive and stylish design that also increases usability and improves the user experience is hard to come by. This Nokia has both. 

For someone like me who drives and commutes a lot, having a phone that is slim and sleek and is still convenient enough to operate with one hand makes perfect sense. There are times when you really have to send a message and your phone’s design prevents you from doing so quickly. The 2680 does the opposite. Its design allows me to just slide up the phone, text and then slide down, all with one hand. So whether I’m stuck between plump individuals and want to whip out my phone in that tight space on my commute or need to send a quick message while the stoplight is red, the 2680 slide is a real friend.

In addition to the form, the famous Nokia interface makes the user experience more convenient. In contrast to other phones where it takes about four or five clicks just to write a new message, Nokia’s interface gets you there with one push of a button. The 2680 allows you to create several shortcuts that you can access right with a click of a button. For example, if you want your calculator to be easily accessible, you can simply create a shortcut and get there instantly.

With regard to features, the Nokia 2680 slide has all you need. It has a digital VGA camera, E-mail and MMS in addition to the standard MMS, FM Radio, Bluetooth and GPRS Internet connectivity.

Though its camera isn’t as sharp spec-wise as most camera-phones, it is more than enough for normal Kodak moments. Personally, I rarely use the camera effects of my previous phone and I know very few people who do. For those times where you just want to take a picture of friends, or of a funny sign, or of your pet, the 2680 can do the job. For more advanced photo taking, this probably isn’t the right phone.

Being able to link your e-mail account with my cellphone is an extremely useful feature. With the right settings, you can access your Yahoo Mail or Gmail right on your cellphone. Sometimes it’s just such a burden to look for an Internet café just to check an important e-mail.

MP3 players aren’t for everyone. Some people find them too expensive, or don’t like carrying them around, or don’t have MP3s to begin with. The most sensible alternative for music lovers who want to listen to tunes on the go is to listen to the radio. With the 2680’s FM radio capability, you can listen to your favorite radio stations wherever you are.

Bluetooth and Internet connectivity are great luxuries to have in case of an emergency. Let’s say your boss wants a copy of the Kobe Bryant interview and you used your 2680 to record it with its voice recorder feature. You can simply send the file to your boss’s computer via Bluetooth and save a whole lot of time.

All in all, the Nokia 2680 slider is the sensible phone for people who do not require all the frills and extra dazzle of some other lots of form cellphones. Instead, this sleek and stylish phone offers convenience and increased usability. The 2680 may not be a smartphone, but it certainly is the smart choice.