Dex
Android Enthusiast
I have a Voyager Titanium. I have been due for an upgrade for a while now. I would really like to get a smartphone, moreover, I'd like to get an Android phone. I have been foaming at the mouth to get an Android phone since they released the information on the G1 years ago. Verizon just now got them, but I'm not sure that they have what I want. Let me explain....
I tried out a Blackberry Storm. My girlfriend works in one of the Verizon call centers and she gets to "test" different models of phones. They send one out, she signs for it and brings it home to play with for a certain period of time. After playing with the phone a little in the store I was very excited to actually have one to sit down and fool with. Since it isn't actually my phone I didn't get to do a lot of the cool Blackberry network stuff, but I did get to zoom around the net with it. The phone sucked. I was let down in a huge way. The touch screen keyboard was awful. I don't travel so the cool "you can use this phone anywhere" features didn't do much for me.
I was heartbroken by the Storm and needed to try something else. I tried out an Omnia. What a huge piece of crap. Windows Mobile is cool and all, but it seems very restricted. It wasn't my phone so I didn't try to hack it. The touch screen keyboard was terrible again, too. After looking through some of the other Windows Mobile phones that Verizon I had to offer I just gave up.
My brother has an HTC phone, I don't know the actual name of it but AT&T calls it the Tilt. The phone is pretty awesome and AT&T seemed to have quite a few awesome phones. Sprint even had a couple that really caught my eye. Alas, I am stuck with Verizon because it is the only way I can sate my urges for a reasonable price. All I wanted was a cool phone, why didn't Verizon have any... I just couldn't understand.
Enter the Android era. Now Verizon has Android phones and they are getting even more. My girlfriend got the Droid and one of my good friends who also works at the callcenter got the Eris. Between those two I got to play with some very cool phones quite a bit. I have to say though, they aren't really what I was looking for.
The Eris was small and compact and felt great in the hand. The phone was responsive and the touch screen keyboard was awesome. The fact that it didn't have 2.0 killed me though. The Sense UI is amazing and all, but not having it ported over for 2.0 is kind of weak, especially from such a good Android phone maker. I am addicted to VZNavigator, I can't move to a phone without something similar. Eris without 2.0 is just that. =(
The Droid is big and boxy and just plain ugly. The screen looks nice and it is also fairly responsive and fast. Without the Sense UI Android is kind of bland. The Droid does have 2.0 and the Googlemaps app is insane. I mean... wow. Completely blown away. However, without Sense UI the phone just doesn't feel right. After playing with the Eris, I expect the Droid to be a faster, more powerful version of it. I don't place a lot of faith in Motorola's ability to make a smartphone either.
Then, like a miracle sent from heaven, I saw stuff about the "Passion". Rumors spread like wildfire and I put my life on hold. I kept the Voyager and held out for something awesome.... something that doesn't look like it's gonna happen.
Rumors of the Passion have dried up and all of the buzz is now placed on the Nexus One, which sports similar specs as what the Passion was reported to have. The Nexus One seems cool and all (and unlike the Eris it is already capable of being rooted), but without Sense UI... I'm not sure I want it. It has the power and speed and even the looks, but the Sense UI really is a deal breaker.
How disappointed am I going to be? Am I really going to have to settle for one of these phones? I may be able to hold off another month, but by the middle of February I'm not sure I can wait any longer. The Voyager still works, but I want more out of my phone now.
I tried out a Blackberry Storm. My girlfriend works in one of the Verizon call centers and she gets to "test" different models of phones. They send one out, she signs for it and brings it home to play with for a certain period of time. After playing with the phone a little in the store I was very excited to actually have one to sit down and fool with. Since it isn't actually my phone I didn't get to do a lot of the cool Blackberry network stuff, but I did get to zoom around the net with it. The phone sucked. I was let down in a huge way. The touch screen keyboard was awful. I don't travel so the cool "you can use this phone anywhere" features didn't do much for me.
I was heartbroken by the Storm and needed to try something else. I tried out an Omnia. What a huge piece of crap. Windows Mobile is cool and all, but it seems very restricted. It wasn't my phone so I didn't try to hack it. The touch screen keyboard was terrible again, too. After looking through some of the other Windows Mobile phones that Verizon I had to offer I just gave up.
My brother has an HTC phone, I don't know the actual name of it but AT&T calls it the Tilt. The phone is pretty awesome and AT&T seemed to have quite a few awesome phones. Sprint even had a couple that really caught my eye. Alas, I am stuck with Verizon because it is the only way I can sate my urges for a reasonable price. All I wanted was a cool phone, why didn't Verizon have any... I just couldn't understand.
Enter the Android era. Now Verizon has Android phones and they are getting even more. My girlfriend got the Droid and one of my good friends who also works at the callcenter got the Eris. Between those two I got to play with some very cool phones quite a bit. I have to say though, they aren't really what I was looking for.
The Eris was small and compact and felt great in the hand. The phone was responsive and the touch screen keyboard was awesome. The fact that it didn't have 2.0 killed me though. The Sense UI is amazing and all, but not having it ported over for 2.0 is kind of weak, especially from such a good Android phone maker. I am addicted to VZNavigator, I can't move to a phone without something similar. Eris without 2.0 is just that. =(
The Droid is big and boxy and just plain ugly. The screen looks nice and it is also fairly responsive and fast. Without the Sense UI Android is kind of bland. The Droid does have 2.0 and the Googlemaps app is insane. I mean... wow. Completely blown away. However, without Sense UI the phone just doesn't feel right. After playing with the Eris, I expect the Droid to be a faster, more powerful version of it. I don't place a lot of faith in Motorola's ability to make a smartphone either.
Then, like a miracle sent from heaven, I saw stuff about the "Passion". Rumors spread like wildfire and I put my life on hold. I kept the Voyager and held out for something awesome.... something that doesn't look like it's gonna happen.
Rumors of the Passion have dried up and all of the buzz is now placed on the Nexus One, which sports similar specs as what the Passion was reported to have. The Nexus One seems cool and all (and unlike the Eris it is already capable of being rooted), but without Sense UI... I'm not sure I want it. It has the power and speed and even the looks, but the Sense UI really is a deal breaker.
How disappointed am I going to be? Am I really going to have to settle for one of these phones? I may be able to hold off another month, but by the middle of February I'm not sure I can wait any longer. The Voyager still works, but I want more out of my phone now.
