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Is the Nexus S worth ditching the slideout keyboard?

P

Poweranimals

Android Enthusiast
I currently have the Samsung Rant. I know... ancient technology. I'm up for an upgrade and have been interested in the Epic 4G. Not only did it seem like the perfect phone, but I also really enjoy having the slideout keyboard.

However I was watching reviews for the Nexus S and the phone seems to come off a lot slicker and has 2.3 as opposed to a reportedly glitchy 2.2. The onscreen keyboard didn't look too bad either but I don't know if it can truely replace the physical keyboard for me. There's that and the fact that the keys are said to be flat on the Epic anyway. Not really sure what to think of that.

Anyway, just looking for some advice on purchasing the best phone.
 
Honestly the best way for you to decide is to go into the store and play with both phones and see which one is better suited for you personally. Everyone is different and what is right for others, might not be right for you.
 
I have to echo the first responder. The best way to findout which phone is right, is to go and use them at the Sprint store.

now, some little tid bits I can tell you...

Nexus S will stay up to date with android updates because it is the Android Flagship phone (atleast for now)

It won't have the Sprint bloatware (most likely anyhow)

onscreen keyboards take up a lot of real estate on the screen, usually not allowing one to see the text they are responding to in say txt msgs or emails.
 
Yeah I never use the key board and wish I never had it. I would be all over the nexus S.

But like said you need to go try it some.
 
It's all about the keyboard for me so I wouldn't. I like tactile and seeing my entire screen when typing. And gingerbread is coming to the epic so that point is moot. It's the rest of the hardware. And you can always root and flash a rom to get some better performance out of the epic. It's a lot cheaper than upgrading the phone and possibly missing the keyboard.
 
i came from the rant also and went to the epic at upgrae time back in november. i love my epic and i am one of the ones with no problems with the epic thru any of the updates. i love having the key board and would not own a phone with out one. thats just my opinion. like the rest have said go to the store and try out both and see which would fit ur needs best. and the epic is getting gingerbread soon so i hear :)
 
also, if you think about it....The Nexus S is not really an upgrade over the Epic. The screen and processor are pretty much the same. You don't get gorilla glass either. Your memory is fixed at 16gb with no expansion. The only real advantage is it's slimness and you'll get more updates than you will on the Epic. But after gingerbread, it's Ice Cream and who knows when that's coming out. Gingerbread will be out for the Epic and the devs will clean that up and have it running even smoother.

If you like the keyboard, I just don't see the value in the Nexus S.
 
I'm extremely impressed with the Gorilla Glass. My phone would look like a train check if not for that. No case, no screen protector, very clumsy owner...have had this phone since release date and only a couple BARELY visible scratches.

I have long nails so I cant press keys with the tip of my fingers, and I still never use the physical keyboard. I came from Samsung Instinct and thought I would need a keyboard bc of the capacitive screen. Negative. I even type everything in portrait!
 
You'll have to put a +1 in the Epic column then because that sinuous curved screen on the Nexus S is just plain old glass. Most likely due to manufacturing issues with the curved screen and that thin layer of alkali-aluminosilicate glass.

My Epic goes bare head to toe and I have two little scratches on the screen that I only notice when the screen is off. Had it since the week after launch since my launch day screen got smashed. Gorilla Glass is nice, but it is not indestructible.
forddna said:
I'm extremely impressed with the Gorilla Glass. My phone would look like a train check if not for that. No case, no screen protector, very clumsy owner...have had this phone since release date and only a couple BARELY visible scratches.

I have long nails so I cant press keys with the tip of my fingers, and I still never use the physical keyboard. I came from Samsung Instinct and thought I would need a keyboard bc of the capacitive screen. Negative. I even type everything in portrait!
Click to expand...
 
I am liking my EPIC. With ACS Frozen 1.1.0 ROM. Its doing great.
I would like a non keyboard version to come out. I have had some Captivates and Vibrants come thru my office and they were great devices.
Also i dont like the lack of removablae / upgradeable memory. Thats a deal breaker for me.
The reason why it will be popular is because its a plain jane Android device. No carrier or Samsung software attached.
 
Beat me to it. They would have to go out of their way to make a screen for one phone differently. Grantedthe Epic is a little bit of a departure from the other galaxy phones, but...
 
oh dear, well ill eat my words today :P but alas this is a new addition for i assure you that it was only a few months ago there was a big argument on xda about it and the fact that the epic wasnt listed was called into it. i me3an everyone knew by looking at all the other samsung phones that the epic had it.. just was curiously odd that it wasnt listed
 
IMO

Well I know one thing for sure. The Nexus looks okay but not awesome. (no Gorilla glass)
I was at BestBuy and they had one on display. I held my Epic next to it and I think the Epic screen looks richer as far as screen brightness and texture....
Speed wise was identical for what I had seen.
It is lighter but has NO memory expansion. 16 GB is all you get. No spot for a memory card. No TouchWiz but that's a choice. Swype is not on it but another persona choice.
Battery life for the most part was about the same. 5-6 hrs. With no use at all. I was there for 7 hours while they installed a remote start on my truck. Hehe
I did like the feel and it's weight is better due to NO SLIDEOUT KB.

My only real gripe. The Menu, Home, back and search are not in the same place and they don't light up well if any at times.
 
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