The 1616 is my first phone "modern". I had previously an old Motorola, robust, which had the advantages and shortcomings of the time, bigger, heavier, small screen but larger surface of keyboard keys and well separated. The Nokia 1616 is from this point of view the opposite, like all his generation. Despite this, to experience force, the keys are suitable for fairly large fingers, through the gutters between them and their bulbous shape. The key navigation is trickier to master, especially "up". The material of the keyboard is very well studied, adherent but not sticky, does not retain dirt and cleaning cloth is a stroke. Keyboard in one block, dustproof, but also anti cup of coffee! A click is heard by pressing each key, but still quite dicret and enjoyable. The hull is of good quality, classic and elegant shape, slightly matt textured material is easy to clean, light / insensitive to fingerprints, and strong! (Fallen on tile with a height of 80cm, the hull remains in place and the phone has no visible sequelae). It is against slippery, it lacks some rubber spikes that would enter with confidence. You can attach a strap (not included) or string into the slot. Bright screen, very readable, simple navigation, configurable to disable any audible or vibrating signal, we quickly mastered even without having ever faced. I regret that the time is not displayed permanently on the screen whatsoever. Manual paper written very small, not very clear, but the online manual Nokia is satisfactory. Last, radio: easily activated, good to very good reception on the Ile de France. 10 preset stations each affiliables a keyboard. A fully charged battery allows to listen at a minimum 12 hours (probably 15) and make some calls. When a call is received, it switches off automatically and resumes when you hang up. You can listen to the radio or calls on the speaker phone, which is not pleasant, or headset, that was in the box at the opposite of what we include bed on the manufacturer's website (I'm across a particular series?), which produces a slightly serious but pleasant. The fact 3.5mm audio jack so you can plug in their favorite headphones. Finally, some defects of ergonomics (hardware and software), but strong, beautiful, compact, surprisingly powerful torch, easily up to 3-4 meters by a diameter of 1.50m and beautiful time, standby but also on appeal or radio. Very highly recommended.
Update February 2001: 6 months of use in addition confirms all the good we can think of this device, except may be the talk time, announced at 8am and seems optimistic. If not "pure" sleep with a few SMS, you reach without problem 20 days with a full battery.