If the only issue is the 4G connection, how is getting iPhone4 changing anything? My wife has one and its a cool phone but, I find the TB to be as user friendly and less finicky actually. Plus the significantly larger screen is awesome for aging eyes. You may as well wait for the iPhone 5 if 4g is what your after. Overall the iP4 is a nice device and should work great for you.
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Help NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS!! Returning TODAY!
- Thread starter pedtech
- Start date
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- Tags
- htc thunderbolt
milan03
Android Enthusiast
Sorry to hear that, but if you wanna be an early adopter, you have to be ready for things not to be always smooth. As far as 4G connectivity, that's Verizon's side, they are fixing it, it's most likely not the device itself. We all have had similar issues more less. And now it works exceptionally well at least here in NYC
rushmore
Extreme Android User
There are four main problems:
1. IME numbers shipped from factory that did not match up on some shipment batches
2. Network activation problems
3. 3G/4G toggle problems in some areas
4. New device & tech (will have bugs anyway- normal).
Considering there are only 14 days to return the device, there should be obvious that some folks are returning since not sure and do not want to get "stuck" with issues. For the reasons noted, 14 days is not long enough to get a clear view of the device. Seems VZW should change the return time to 30 days to avoid potentially excessive return rates.
rushmore
Extreme Android User
Besides the IME issue, seems correct. VZW must be under pressure by Apple to get the network stable before the iPhone 4g ships, later in the year (if it does with VZW).
26 hours until mine activated.
Silent Thunder
Well-Known Member
4G and the phone has been working good for me. I really love my T-Bolt. Sure hope you find what you are looking for.
LadyX
Member
I feel your pain man! I'm on my second thunderbolt and haven't had much luck. I decided to give it one more shot so I will see how this one goes. I understand your frustration completely. There are many bugs that need to be fixed but I believe once they are that this phone will be out of control, especially after some updates. Sometimes the device is just defective. Try another one and if you really can't deal with it anymore then.. on to the next!
rushmore
Extreme Android User
Most folks appreciate your perspective, but VZWs 14 day return policy is not practical, considering a new network and device with bugs.
VZW will probably see higher than normal returns due to the short return policy. This device needs a longer grace period for the first few months.
Agree I had the iphone 4 and its nowhere near as nice as the tb and not to mention doesnt have 4g which I know alot of people dont have but verizon is continuing to expand its lte network. But sorry you got a bad phone and had problems.
Okay guys I did it, got the iphone 4. Here are the reasons.....believe me some of them were out of my control.
First off, i left a VERY VERY reliable Sprint Network here in Phoenix due to the fact that last June of 2010 they said the 4g network would be here already, They are not 4G yet here in phoenix.
So i switched, which means I took A $60 dissconnect fee and switched to VZ. I never had problems with my EVO. LOVED it , rooted it, tethered it and my bill was never over $84 bucks total!! So this switch was huge.....
But now since VZ doesnt have the bugs in my area worked out I had to get something reliable, which i know is the iphone 4. Which by the way doesnt even have CLOSE to the thunderbolt download speeds. But what it does have is reliability, every time i try to access email, it accesses it. Every time i log onto Etrade app, it logs on, every time I use my browser to check something for work....it works. THE new TB did not, it dropped data connection about 30 times a day.....sometimes during a trade on etrade or during a business web transaction that i was making.
Oh just for the record, 9 hours total of troubleshooting either with online techs or in the store 3 times. (complete new 2nd phone and new sim card, still problems. which tells me its prob my area, but it says I am in a VERY good 4g LTE area.)
I think the VZ 14 day trial for a Brand new network is definitely not long enough, and I also believe the TB is AAPL's solution to making sure the network is SOLID before they bring out their Qualcomm dual band chipped Iphone 5. (which will also be 4g LTE)
Think about it, all these problems will be resolved almost perfectly before the Iphone 5 release sometime in the near future. AAPL is known for reliability, and i am sure the iphone 5 will be no different on a fully 4g LTE tested network by us TB owners.
First off, i left a VERY VERY reliable Sprint Network here in Phoenix due to the fact that last June of 2010 they said the 4g network would be here already, They are not 4G yet here in phoenix.
So i switched, which means I took A $60 dissconnect fee and switched to VZ. I never had problems with my EVO. LOVED it , rooted it, tethered it and my bill was never over $84 bucks total!! So this switch was huge.....
But now since VZ doesnt have the bugs in my area worked out I had to get something reliable, which i know is the iphone 4. Which by the way doesnt even have CLOSE to the thunderbolt download speeds. But what it does have is reliability, every time i try to access email, it accesses it. Every time i log onto Etrade app, it logs on, every time I use my browser to check something for work....it works. THE new TB did not, it dropped data connection about 30 times a day.....sometimes during a trade on etrade or during a business web transaction that i was making.
Oh just for the record, 9 hours total of troubleshooting either with online techs or in the store 3 times. (complete new 2nd phone and new sim card, still problems. which tells me its prob my area, but it says I am in a VERY good 4g LTE area.)
I think the VZ 14 day trial for a Brand new network is definitely not long enough, and I also believe the TB is AAPL's solution to making sure the network is SOLID before they bring out their Qualcomm dual band chipped Iphone 5. (which will also be 4g LTE)
Think about it, all these problems will be resolved almost perfectly before the Iphone 5 release sometime in the near future. AAPL is known for reliability, and i am sure the iphone 5 will be no different on a fully 4g LTE tested network by us TB owners.
sean76
Android Expert
Boy do I agree...30 days was where it should have stayed for all phones except the iPhone. That stupid iPhone is the reason why we had our return period chopped In half. I'm so on the fence with trying an exchange, my initial thought was to do an exchange like 10/12 days in and hope for the best. I'm just reading all these horror stories and second guessing that.
Reasons to exchange...
Subpar call quality
Subpar battery life
Power button resessing
Volume button not nearly perfect.
Little laggy at times, and YouTube cuts out even with strong 4G signal at times.
Reasons not to exchange...
Some people are ending up with more problems then they begun with! Plus I have a one year warrenty, so if things worsen I can always call up and get one shipped to me.
I just don't know if the devices from launch day will differ that much from the ones available today!
rushmore
Extreme Android User
Once the luv dust leaves the eyes of the folks infatuated with the TB, more folks will also notice the issues. It is not as much the device as it is the new netwrork with a lot of bugs to purge. TB is the point device for the network, so having a 14 day return policy is bad policy.
The display is FANTASTIC, but I can not shake a few issues:
1. HTC & VZW being less than honest about the 8gb. A tech confirmed that 4gb is disabled. This is NO different than the device only having 4gb. Why say 8gb then? People that spin this are stretching reality a tad. Wyy did Motorola have no problem with 8gb internal, but HTC had to cut it off from use? Why not allocate some as media space then?
2. Speaker behind the stand (very silly) and stand conflicting with USB placement (expecting folks to buy a dock is a tad narrow minded).
3. The lack of real option to toggle 3G/4G besides the dial hack
4. The open bezel design at the bottom. This will be a problem in sustained humid environments. Snagging it and curls at the end will be an issue.
5. Placing trial version of apps that can not be removed is nuts (par for the course though, but TB seems higher than normal).
6. HTC making extra effort to lock the device down (Probably moot though, since ALL carriers and OEMs are working together to lock all devices down more)
7. Big volume button is too easy to hit
8. I am not mentioning the battery, since people that expect a 1400mah battery with all the goodies the TB has to last all day with heavy use are delusional- ANY device with all this stuff will choke with heavy use.
In summary, seems the overall "build" is solid, but some hardware and software decisions were odd. The 8gb cut to 4gb is flat out stupid and border-line fraudulent.
added:
Given the litigious product class action culture of California, I could see a lawyer trying to stir things up with the 4gb getting cut, yet 8gb is stated. If it becomes a point of awareness.
Outlaw.99
Android Enthusiast
Op, sorry you are having bad experience...
There has not been an Android device yet, that launched without issue...There are also the chance of plain bad units getting out there.... I think this device is doing well for just being launched, and Im just not getting the issues that others are....It seems that so many built this up in their mind to be the King of all phones, that they forget its still just an electronic gadget, and are disappointed that it doesnt "build them and island, then transform into a f****** jet and fly them there"...
I actually gave the iPhone a thought once, (only due to huge itunes collection) but Im not stepping back 3 years in time for a dumbed down smart phone... Thats a smartphone my mom or wife would have who have no interest in tech savvy items....
There has not been an Android device yet, that launched without issue...There are also the chance of plain bad units getting out there.... I think this device is doing well for just being launched, and Im just not getting the issues that others are....It seems that so many built this up in their mind to be the King of all phones, that they forget its still just an electronic gadget, and are disappointed that it doesnt "build them and island, then transform into a f****** jet and fly them there"...
I actually gave the iPhone a thought once, (only due to huge itunes collection) but Im not stepping back 3 years in time for a dumbed down smart phone... Thats a smartphone my mom or wife would have who have no interest in tech savvy items....
You do realize, HTC makes the Thunderbold and Motorola makes the Droid X right? Its like comparing a Honda to a Nissan. Honda has a better maintenance record than Nissan and the same goes for HTC when compared to Motorola.
rushmore
Extreme Android User
Root issue here seems that this is the first 4G device and the network has bugs and the coverage areas result in a lot of 3g/4g toggling. A lot of user concerns would be eased with a 30 day return policy.
Outlaw.99
Android Enthusiast
Correct... But you take that risk to be the FIRST on 4G... Just like when you buy a car its first year, or the first few of a game console that comes out.... There will be some issues... The 4G is not even fully out yet folks, but they are trying....
I can see some some wanting to wait it out and see whats next, but I purchased this knowing i wouldnt have the 4g in my area for a bit... I wanted the hardware....
Don't you mean the 2nd on 4G? The HTC EVO 4G on Sprint was the FIRST 4G phone in the states. Looks like nobody read the HTC EVO 4G thread before buying the Thunderbolt. People were complaining about some of the same things at first but that's because a lot of people didn't know what they were talking about.
2 different networks though. Not saying that it is going to be 100% different from the other, but I'm sure things are different.
What are you talking about, two different networks? Sprint and Verizon are both on CDMA networks. When I'm not in a Sprint area, my cell phone connects to a Verizon tower.