A few thoughts on what seems an unnecessarily aggravated exchange:
1. I've been watching the discussions about the Evo vs. the Epic for six months now. The really odd thing about the fighting on the Evo/Epic forums is people's apparent lack of awareness that their team is extremely temporary. In two years, none of us will care about either of these phones.
I happen to think both phones are amazing. I also think they're about to become irrelevant to people whose contracts expire in a few months.
2. Platform wars actually seem logical if you're fighting about different systems: Mac vs. Windows vs. Linux; XBox 360 vs. the PS3.
But people -- this is Android we're talking about. We're arguing about phones with the same software, app. library and the rest of it. If we're talking about rooted phones, then they aren't even using different versions of the software.
3. A bit of benign stereotyping (which doesn't reflect on individual users): Evo users often have an Apple it-just-works approach that is understandable (why not share your joy about your phone?) but can seem a tad smug. Epic users often have a chip on their shoulders which can also be tiresome, though they have reason to feel that way: lesser popularity, the relative lack of advertising and the Epic's bad publicity, which they themselves helped to create (though for good reasons: GPS issues, initial gimped 4G and the lack of froyo updates, all of which are in Samsung's impervious face thanks to user protests).
To which I say: Relative anonymity has its advantages, and some are better than those of wider acceptance.
The iRiver iHP120 and 140 were the only digital music players ever made that had optical I/O. With Rockbox, they were also the geekiest PMPs ever made: had the only recording options that would satisfy tapers and the only audiophile options (external DACs without surgery! non-destructive EQ!) available at that time. The iMod hadn't even been invented, let alone, the DACs that now work with the iPod Classic's dock out. (Remember: Your only options for digital recording back then were DAT and MiniDisc. Beyond that, you were talking about tens of thousands of dollars.)
No one knew about those players. But if you happened to find out about them and wanted to listen to FLAC files on a portable player and use a DAC/Amp with some really nice headphones, you were still in heaven and you could introduce close friends to an entirely new level of portable recording, fidelity and flexibility. It didn't matter what people thought.
Cutting down on the fraternal aspect means you're part of a smaller club; your excellent device is also esoteric, appreciated only by initiates.
Someone could argue that, since Galaxy S phones are everywhere, the Epic is hardly "esoteric," ROTFL. To which I could counter-argue: ah, but there are few Galaxy S devices with keyboards, two cameras and 4G, LAYCWASF (looking at you calmly with a straight face).
In certain ways the Epic was/is the iHP140 of its time. I don't know how you feel about it, but gaming is amazing on my Epic. The Sony NGP appears to be the geek-friendliest game handheld ever created, and I can't wait to play with one, but my Epic is doing a great job of subbing for it so far. I can't complain.
===========================
Here's the truth:
In a perfect world, I'd own both phones (as many people on these forums do). Whenever I felt more interested in graceful response time than crazy options, I'd put down my Epic and turn to the Evo instead.
But the world, like my chosen phone, is imperfect. I chose the phone with a keyboard because I write; SAMOLED, because I like the vivid colors, which remind me of bioluminescent fish rising through the black water of my screen. Watching a video, or playing an RPG, there's something almost spiritual about the way that colors float toward the user through total darkness.
Yes, I chose the Epic. But I also chose not to belittle the Evo, which is still an excellent choice. Every bit as good as the Epic, in fact, for users whose requirements are different from yours or mine.
Vive la diversit
1. I've been watching the discussions about the Evo vs. the Epic for six months now. The really odd thing about the fighting on the Evo/Epic forums is people's apparent lack of awareness that their team is extremely temporary. In two years, none of us will care about either of these phones.
I happen to think both phones are amazing. I also think they're about to become irrelevant to people whose contracts expire in a few months.
2. Platform wars actually seem logical if you're fighting about different systems: Mac vs. Windows vs. Linux; XBox 360 vs. the PS3.
But people -- this is Android we're talking about. We're arguing about phones with the same software, app. library and the rest of it. If we're talking about rooted phones, then they aren't even using different versions of the software.
3. A bit of benign stereotyping (which doesn't reflect on individual users): Evo users often have an Apple it-just-works approach that is understandable (why not share your joy about your phone?) but can seem a tad smug. Epic users often have a chip on their shoulders which can also be tiresome, though they have reason to feel that way: lesser popularity, the relative lack of advertising and the Epic's bad publicity, which they themselves helped to create (though for good reasons: GPS issues, initial gimped 4G and the lack of froyo updates, all of which are in Samsung's impervious face thanks to user protests).
To which I say: Relative anonymity has its advantages, and some are better than those of wider acceptance.
The iRiver iHP120 and 140 were the only digital music players ever made that had optical I/O. With Rockbox, they were also the geekiest PMPs ever made: had the only recording options that would satisfy tapers and the only audiophile options (external DACs without surgery! non-destructive EQ!) available at that time. The iMod hadn't even been invented, let alone, the DACs that now work with the iPod Classic's dock out. (Remember: Your only options for digital recording back then were DAT and MiniDisc. Beyond that, you were talking about tens of thousands of dollars.)
No one knew about those players. But if you happened to find out about them and wanted to listen to FLAC files on a portable player and use a DAC/Amp with some really nice headphones, you were still in heaven and you could introduce close friends to an entirely new level of portable recording, fidelity and flexibility. It didn't matter what people thought.
Cutting down on the fraternal aspect means you're part of a smaller club; your excellent device is also esoteric, appreciated only by initiates.
Someone could argue that, since Galaxy S phones are everywhere, the Epic is hardly "esoteric," ROTFL. To which I could counter-argue: ah, but there are few Galaxy S devices with keyboards, two cameras and 4G, LAYCWASF (looking at you calmly with a straight face).
In certain ways the Epic was/is the iHP140 of its time. I don't know how you feel about it, but gaming is amazing on my Epic. The Sony NGP appears to be the geek-friendliest game handheld ever created, and I can't wait to play with one, but my Epic is doing a great job of subbing for it so far. I can't complain.
===========================
Here's the truth:
In a perfect world, I'd own both phones (as many people on these forums do). Whenever I felt more interested in graceful response time than crazy options, I'd put down my Epic and turn to the Evo instead.
But the world, like my chosen phone, is imperfect. I chose the phone with a keyboard because I write; SAMOLED, because I like the vivid colors, which remind me of bioluminescent fish rising through the black water of my screen. Watching a video, or playing an RPG, there's something almost spiritual about the way that colors float toward the user through total darkness.
Yes, I chose the Epic. But I also chose not to belittle the Evo, which is still an excellent choice. Every bit as good as the Epic, in fact, for users whose requirements are different from yours or mine.
Vive la diversit