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For those of you who considered getting an Iphone, why Android instead?

ackmondual

ackmondual

Newbie
As always, I'm quite curious.

I myself have been using nokia 6133 (T-Mobil) for the longest time (no data plan either). Back then, I couldn't get myself to pay $30-$50 extra per month to access internet when getting internet at home and work was sufficient, not to mention paying that much for a phone with no data connectivity.

I have a separate Palm Tungsten T3 (T|T3) for PIMs (personal infomartion manager, aka organizer). In fact, I've been using Handspring/Palm devices for the longest time now (before I even got my first cell phone).

I then got an Ipod Touch (3rd gen) in hopes of replacing my T|T3, but the PIMs on the Palm OS were just too awesome to give up, while on Iphone OS, you can't do simple things like copy an appointment:confused: I later on upgraded to an Ipod Touch 4th gen to get an (inferior) camera (I let me Nokia 6133 run dry before charging it, so I sometimes couldn't use it for photos) and Retina display.

Earlier, mid-2011, I heard rumors of a 5th gen Ipod Touch which would have 3G like the Ipad. Pay $20 to $30/mo to get internet access on the go. No such thing... at least not yet at any rate. I was thinking about getting an Iphone 4gs, but Tmobil doesn't sell them, and they're $400 - $800 unlocked from what I saw on Ebay. Nice thing is all the apps on my IpT would transfer over, but an Iph would pretty much just be another IpT with internet access and much better hardware. I figured this 'll be the time to "geek out" and try an Android:cool: As for the data plan, I don't subscribe to cable TV anymore, so that more than makes up for that cost. Some of the workplaces I've been to have been more particular about using company computer to do non-work related things, so a internet phone would make for a nice alternative.
 
The deciding factors for me is the small size, the boring interface and the mandatory use of iTunes.
 
The following features are not available on iPhone (quoting myself from another thread!):

Widgets
Custom launchers without rooting (you might call them skins or themes)
Flash video
Removable batteries
Higher number of free apps (thanks to ad revenue for developers)
No iTunes (the worst piece of software ever invented, IMO)
Ability to set third party browsers as your default
Ability to side-load apps without rooting
Standard micro-USB connector ports

iPhone is a very bare phone IMO. All it has going for it is the sheer number of apps that are available on the platform (particularly games), which is compelling. However, I feel that Android is catching up in the apps department, and the features listed above are more important to me.

Too be honest though, I never really considered the iPhone. All my friends have them (or BlackBerries) but I never really liked either of those platforms. I didn't know anyone in person with an Android phone but after reading up on what they can do, the decision was a no-brainer for me.
 
besides a blackberry my first "smart" phone was the t-mobile G1, android 1.x ??
i got tired of it and got the iphone 3g, I really did like that better than the G1, but after an iOS update that basically rendered my iPhone 3G usless besides making a phone call, i switched to a windows 7 phone. after about 4 months I switched back to Android and the HTC Inspire 4g.
Im totally hooked on Android and after dealing with Apple i will never go back.

sure there are things Android cant do that iOS can, but Android is so much more. I like having a choice on what to buy Vs, the same thing everyone must by with iOS.

James
 
There are a lot of things I like about the iPhone, but these are a few of the reasons I favor an Android phone instead:
  1. Permanent root is permanent. I don't have to keep fighting to re-jailbreak every time there's an update.
  2. I can easily block or send straight to voicemail a particular contact.
  3. Better Google Voice integration.
  4. I can change the default web browser without rooting/jailbreaking.
  5. I like the autosuggest in the Android keyboard than the autocorrect in the iPhone keyboard.
  6. Free turn-by-turn Navigation with Google Maps (I hate Mapquest).
  7. Bigger screen.
  8. Tasker.
 
1) Ability to customize the phone.
2) Freedom to choose where I purchase my apps and music. Not ties down to Itunes or App store.
3) Bigger screen
4) More free apps
5) Widgets

With an iPhone, what you buy is what you get, no customizing. You are also tied to Apple for everything you want to purchase.
 
For me it was itunes and the apple walled garden....i want to have more control over my device and so far android has fitted the bill..
 
Battery... widgets.... flash.... better / bigger range of browsers.... feeling of being patronized by apple with iOS.

Honestly I see people with iPhones & most of them are not mac owners (imo)... they're just buying into the "apple fashion" that was so prevalent with the white ipods.... ironic really as I see the same people are the ones most likely to buy Dre Beats headphones, yet I keep seeing new Androids getting bundled with them (please - stop!!!) :confused: .

Android is not perfect, but I absolutely HATE the smug patronizing tone of the TV ads we have in the UK. Like the OP, I have iPod touch & to be honest, it honks of Fisher-Price to me. It's great having a music player that syncs seemlessly with iTunes on my mac, but apple products are overpriced so I'm not desperate to buy a Fisher-Price phone.
 
!on said:
It's great having a music player that syncs seemlessly with iTunes on my mac, but apple products are overpriced so I'm not desperate to buy a Fisher-Price phone.
Click to expand...
I won't call it seamless, but I've had a pretty nice experience of syncing it using DoubleTwist as an in-between, especially since I got the $.10 sale on AirSync.
 
I'd heard all types of stories of Apple. I really wanted an iPhone 4 but having to use iTunes, the user agreements, the 2 year contract and the unbelievable pricing, I decided for a Nexus S since it was pure Google (learned my lesson about non pure devices from an LG). So in the future, say about a year, I'll get the Galaxy Nexus.

That and I loved how fun Android seemed. Funny how iPhone operates like a Fisher Price product but is made by a major brand while Android has a funny little character name and logo but is productive and customizable like a Linux computer.
 
Endless amounts of customization + 4gLTE + bigger screen.

I had an iPhone 3gs way back in the day, switched to android and never even though about going back. Not to mention why would I buy a "new" smartphone that does not even support 4g.
 
I have owned every iPhone besides the 4S, and I have always enjoyed the polish and minimalism of them. Apple does a very good job in designing a complete hardware and software package IMO, but I really like the fact that nobody can touch their phone. Updates come directly from them, no carrier or bloatware are allowed period.

These reasons are also why I have owned the the Nexus One, Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus because nobody can touch the phone including the hardware manufacturer. I am not loyal to any of them, and if the iPhone 5 is nice I am sure I will buy it and then probably ping pong to the next Nexus :)
 
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