AT&T Android Phone Advice

[JS3587]

Hi all. Short time lurker and shorter (first) time poster.

I'm looking for some advice on a go forward for an Android phone on AT&T (due to family plan restrictions I'm staying with AT&T).

I've never had a smart phone before but I've worn out the turny bit on my rotary telecommunications device and it won't go all the way to 0. Plus it takes forever to load ESPN on telegraph line.

So it's time for an upgrade.

I'm reasonably tech savvy and tend to be a bit hard on cellphones. I'm in Chicago and somewhat worried about slow data speeds here for AT&T (is this still true?). I don't think I'll use GPS much since I don't drive often and when I do I use Google maps and the trip meter. Though it could be nice for mapping out a bar crawl or something.

It seems my current options are the Aria and the Captivate, with the Captivate being the stronger contender hardware wise but it seems to be having problems with the GPS and also is waiting on a OS update that has been taking ages to arrive (if it will arrive at all). Isn't Froyo going to be one gen back when Gingerbread comes out?

It kind of seems like I'd still be waiting for my Commodore 64 upgrade while everyone else is mind-linking to the hive core. I don't really want to be stuck with a phone that could get sidelined by its carrier and manufacturer when something newer comes out and they decide it may note be worth the effort any more.

I'm undecided on rooting and roms. My friend jail broke his Iphone and bricked it somehow. But one of the reasons I'm avoiding the Iphone is that I hate when someone tells me what I can do with my own stuff.

The Aria would be free to me but if I'm going to have a phone for two years I'll spend the 80 dollars and get upgraded hardware. I do like HTC products though.

And then there are also rumors of what looks to be a Motorola super phone just around the corner that will solve all my problems / be blazing fast / poop a kitten whenever I feel sad and need something fuzzy to hug.

But it doesn't look like AT&T's confirming anything regarding the Olympus' release date or even if it's actually coming out for AT&T. I've heard December or January but with unconfirmed rumors that could mean anything. And I'm assuming it's going to be hideously expensive when it comes out.

So if you were in my shoes what would you do?

Get the Captivate and hope for more robust support from Samsung and AT&T? Get a free Aria and live with slower hardware for two years? Hold out for the Olympus even though it may be nothing more than a pipe dream? Invest in carrier pigeons?

I'm not in a huge hurry so I can wait if I decide it's the best course of action, but I though around Christmas time it would be a good time to test the waters.

I eagerly await your sage advice.

Please note that the author of this post takes accepts no liability for any inadvertent flames/insults contained therein. No offense meant just looking for advice, peace and all that other groovy stuff.

 

[Timberline]

Nothing "sage' from me, but I recently bought the Captivate and like it so far. It's my first smartphone, so maybe my expectations aren't that high since I don't know what I don't know. Sure, there's plenty of people griping about this or that, but mine's been fine so far and there's always some who will gripe about anything - no solution is perfect.

I looked really long/hard at the iPhone too and liked it a lot. What finally pushed me toward Android though was the flash support, replaceable battery, memory expansion, and open system. I also have the impression that the Android market in general is evolving at a much faster rate than is the iPhone market.

I am, however, intrigued by the idea of dual core phones coming out after Christmas. I'm still within my 30-day return window and if I begin to have issues or hear something solid on new devices I may return mine in favor of one of those. At the same time I recognize that there's a big difference between having the hardware available in general and having the hardware adopted and available by ATT. So knowing that there's always something better around the tech corner I could as easily stay with my Captivate and upgrade in a year.

While I had my Moto Razor for a really long time and liked it better than any phone I've ever had, I have resigned myself to upgrading a lot more often now that I'm using a smartphone.

 

[Snow_Fox]

If your willing or able to go outside the box a little bit.

Could get an unlocked motorola defy.

It would be 379$ from the tmobile store..

I only am suggesting this because, your rough on phones. Its hardware is up for debate as to how "epic" it is.. but, most seem to like it.

Plus this is just my opinion but, its priceless to not have to worry about water with any particular phone..

Sure its only water resistant up to a meter.. but, I'll take that any given day.. at least there is a chance it will survive the wash or a puddle.

 

[JS3587]

Used to have a Razor. I loved that thing. It was a tank.

I'm hard on phones but not in terms of dropping it in water. I'm more worried about cracking the screen.

I went and played with the Captivate a bit and liked it. It seemed pretty intuitive and seemed to be the right size. I'm hoping with some luck I'll get it just in time for an update.