Phonez

FELLOW GEEKS! HEAR MY CALL!
(har, har, phone = call)

Speaking as an Android user/lover who's fed up with her Galaxy S (first gen) continually crashing in the face of new apps or firmware, and definitely about to switch carriers (going to Sprint from AT&T), I'm considering a jump to the Dark Side of hardware. That said, I'm extremely disheartened by the fact that the iDevices don't allow use of expanded memory (rendering my 32gb microSD card useless). No way I'm doling out $300 for a 32gb phone, either, so I'd be relegating myself to 16gb if I went for the 4S or 8gb (shudder) if I went 4.

I'm not thoroughly convinced that the Apple phones are "better" than the Android options - just perhaps more stable, which is what's driving me nuts.

(A pirate walks into a bar with a steering wheel sticking out of his fly. The bartender says "What's the steering wheel for?" The pirate says "Sure'n I don't know, but it's drivin' me nuts!")

...Pirate humor aside...

As stated, I love Android; I just hate my phone. I'd appreciate thoughts from both sides of the spectrum: which current/forthcoming Android phones are you fans of, and is the 4S worth the hype? Or is it just another notch in Apple's people-pleasing belt? (Speak to me as a techie, if able.) Thanks!

Replies

  • jaxdiablo
    jaxdiablo Posts: 580
    First off you look like Donna from That's 70's Show, which forces me to bend to your will (the jedi part of your name doesn't hurt either).

    Secondly, the dark isn't so bad, we have cookies...

    I'm techie in other ways, not phones, but I know what works and what I like. I had an iPhone 3g, it was good, I got talked into buying a windows phone when my contract was up, I returned it 48 hours later, and got an iPhone 4. It works amazingly well, does anything and everything I want it to do. I have access to iTunes which lets me get access to tons of music and crap like that. I guess the only thing that's a little disheartening is the lack of Flash, but really, all I'd use that for is games.

    What specifically are you looking for it to do? If I've done it on the phone (yeah, I'd probably break the phone then, yes, that's a weight joke, hush), I can let you know how it works. I only have ONE complaint about the phone - The home button started to go approx. 14 months after I bought it. That's just an annoyance more than anything else. I could probably get it fixed, but I'm getting ready to upgrade again to the next iteration of the dark lords toy, so I figure I'll just deal with it for now.
  • jedibunny
    jedibunny Posts: 321
    First off you look like Donna from That's 70's Show, which forces me to bend to your will (the jedi part of your name doesn't hurt either).

    And you haven't even seen me wielding a lightsaber in bellbottom jeans ... :tongue:

    So, the Flash thing, the memory upgrade thing, and the display thing are the items I have on my BAD list. (Display thing being not formerly mentioned, but I LOVE my SuperAMOLED.)

    What I want my phone to do: well, honestly, everything. I need it to handle my email, texts, mobile sites, music, navigation/GPS, and other odd apps (like MFP!). The quirky-irky thing about my Android/Galaxy S habit is that I'm a music ADDICT and, because I use iTunes like the whole world does (although I loved WinAmp because it really kicked the llama's *kitten*!) - some of my files are in iTunes format and need to be converted in order to be usable by any other medium and dammit, I'm lazy... so therefore a large portion of my music collection remains un-SD-carded and I, in turn, must resort to carrying around my ancient iPod of dooooom (160gb non-touchscreen version) for the gym and such.

    Music issues aside, I love my Android. I love how it operates and how it looks. I hate my hardware and I'm honestly afraid to dish out the cash for a Galaxy S II or a Nexus or what have you only to experience the same issues.
  • opus649
    opus649 Posts: 633 Member
    I love my iPhone 4S. And I hate Apple.

    One of my stated goals in getting a smart phone was that I wanted it to double as an MP3 player. I have the 16 GB model and it is doing me just fine. I use it all the time.
  • ScottyNoHotty
    ScottyNoHotty Posts: 1,957 Member
    This is the reason why I have never upgraded my Samsung 820 flip. And yes...it still says Alltel on the cover....
  • jaxdiablo
    jaxdiablo Posts: 580
    First off you look like Donna from That's 70's Show, which forces me to bend to your will (the jedi part of your name doesn't hurt either).

    And you haven't even seen me wielding a lightsaber in bellbottom jeans ... :tongue:

    So, the Flash thing, the memory upgrade thing, and the display thing are the items I have on my BAD list. (Display thing being not formerly mentioned, but I LOVE my SuperAMOLED.)

    What I want my phone to do: well, honestly, everything. I need it to handle my email, texts, mobile sites, music, navigation/GPS, and other odd apps (like MFP!). The quirky-irky thing about my Android/Galaxy S habit is that I'm a music ADDICT and, because I use iTunes like the whole world does (although I loved WinAmp because it really kicked the llama's *kitten*!) - some of my files are in iTunes format and need to be converted in order to be usable by any other medium and dammit, I'm lazy... so therefore a large portion of my music collection remains un-SD-carded and I, in turn, must resort to carrying around my ancient iPod of dooooom (160gb non-touchscreen version) for the gym and such.

    Music issues aside, I love my Android. I love how it operates and how it looks. I hate my hardware and I'm honestly afraid to dish out the cash for a Galaxy S II or a Nexus or what have you only to experience the same issues.

    Maybe I'm just blinded by the apple product, but the screen is just fine for me. It can handle all the basics without a problem, I can assure you of that, I'm an app freak as well, I had at one point 5 pages of apps, I've cut back now because a lot of them were fluff, but they all (for the most part) worked well. You could always just use pandora, or spotify. Then you can have all the music all the time! I've got the 16gb, and I've got more than 1/2 of it available right now. I do regular maintenance on my pictures, videos, and music to keep everything updated on the comp. I'd just find someone who would be willing to part with a used iphone cheap and see how you like it, and if you do, you can go ahead and upgrade to a new one. (Hint hint, my contract will be up in 2 1/2 months. lol)
  • jaric01
    jaric01 Posts: 132 Member
    Don't think you'll go wrong with an iPhone. Every one of my friends who has one loves it.

    As for android phones, depends on what service provider you're with. I'm with Verizon and they have some good ones coming out soon:

    __http://www.droid-life.com/2012/05/02/may-2012-verizon-rumors-droid-razr-hd-galaxy-siii-incredible-4g-and-more/

    I think I'm going to wait for that 5" HTC phone (similar to the Galaxy Note) with a quad-core processor and next-gen graphic processor. It's going to be a beast. Although I may have to pull the trigger sooner depending on when Verizon plans to discontinue the unlimited data plans on upgrades...
  • jedibunny
    jedibunny Posts: 321
    (Hint hint, my contract will be up in 2 1/2 months. lol)

    Oh, how I love subtlety... lol.

    I actually live with an iPhone user (who's getting a 4S soon) and my family is divided between Android and Apple users - most of our smartphones are Android-based, but about half of our laptops are Apple and most of us have or have had iPods in some form. Some close relatives are Mac addicts, some curse Apple to hell. I used to be in that camp until starting to use iTunes about 8 years ago and purchasing my first (only) iPod. -- yes, it's that ancient.

    Then I had to learn all about iPhones and iTouches and iEverythings when I started working IT support. It happens. I don't hate the products as much anymore, but I still detest the monopoly they hold over their gear AND the fact that it takes a real "Mac genius" to tweak anything. I like tweaking.

    Anyway, /endrant. :)
  • eprissel
    eprissel Posts: 92 Member
    DROID RAZR MAXX, love it and the battery life is incredible, now im just waiting for ICS and I will be satisfied. I personally hate I-Products simply because if ITunes. I currently have an IPod touch and the only thing I use it for is to stream music at home and browse internet from time to time.
  • tameko2
    tameko2 Posts: 31,634 Member
    my husband just got the new HTC phone ....whatever the heck its called...and he's pretty happy with it, in terms of processing power right now its up there and he hasn't had any issues so far wiht any of the stuff he's wanted to do on it. My friend got a galaxy a few weeks before and ended up hating it as well.

    I have an iphone because it was free (my work pays for it) but if I didn't, I would probably go to Android instead. don't get me wrong, its NICE, and there are certain things that it does very well, but it took me like a month to get used to the idea that there's no BACK button (rrgh) or even built in menus, etc that are accessible via something on the phone, there's just the one big round button that takes you home.

    Also I *loathe* itunes.

    Basically to me, the difference is about what you want to do. If you are willing to drink the koolaid the iphone does everything FOR you, very simply and neatly. But heaven help you if you want to do anything ELSE.

    It suits my needs fine ok though, I don't do much with it besides work on it and read stuffs on the interwebs and play stupid little games and track my lifting on it, and I kind of doubt I'd do much beyond that on an android phone (Although I *might* given the opportunity). And like I said, mines free.
  • jedibunny
    jedibunny Posts: 321
    Basically to me, the difference is about what you want to do. If you are willing to drink the koolaid the iphone does everything FOR you, very simply and neatly. But heaven help you if you want to do anything ELSE.

    This is another thing that bugs me. Then again, phones crashing because I downloaded Draw Something might bug me more. lol