VentureForth
Well-Known Member
Ok - I know that everyone who owns a Captivate wants to write a review on it, and there are some great ones out there. So this is my impression of the phone after owning it for a week in a quick, easy to read format.
Hardware
Nice case. Buttons easily pushed when holding in landscape, but can be trained to avoid. Screen sensitivity is good. Menu buttons not quite as sensitive, especially when screen protector is applied.
GPS
GPS worked right out of the box and without any sort of clue, it locked on within 2 minutes the first time I turned it on.
Battery
Battery life sucks. I think I hear the electrons FLYING out of the battery into the little AMOLED screen. Folks have said that after the battery is conditioned over a couple weeks, the life gets better. I think it gets better because after a couple of weeks, you're not playing Angry Birds on it for 18 hours straight.
Samsung Widgets
Most of the Samsung widgets are lame. Daily Briefing is pretty cool as is Message Buddy. Only downfall to Daily Briefing is that it doesn't update regularly, so it's pretty useless for weather, news, twitter, and facebook.
AT&T Widgets
Avoid these if you want to keep your phone bill normal.
Basic Apps
Native EMail client works fine and syncs nice with GMail. But links - especially long ones - don't work well. GMail the App is fine for Gmail, but also has linking problems. Replaced with K-9 Mail and would love to pay for that App.
Calendar App doesn't accept meeting invites. A big downer. I understand that Touchdown is a good replacement, but not willing to pay $20 for it.
Docs to Go for free is worse than on other platforms. In addition to limited features, it also adds ads. On sale until 12/15 for $15. Get the paid version - its worth it!
Alarm didn't play nice on the clock app as much as I would have liked it to, so I replaced it with the free Alarm Clock Plus.
Navigator is a GREAT tool. Just wish it would allow me to have the map following on without a destination in mind. Bought Co-Pilot Live on sale for $3 so that I could download maps in case I ever get out of cell phone coverage (which happened a couple weeks ago while I was waiting for this phone and would have been a lifesaver if UPS didn't screw up...never mind).
Live Wallpapers are just cool. Watch the Galaxy spin, or make a ripple in water or touch the dandellion and watch the seeds fly away... An ADHD dream!
Conclusion
Over all, I think if you were an iPhone user, you'd be riding the fence on whether or not to switch to the Captivate. However, if you are on any other phone, Blackberry included, you will love this gadget!
Hardware
Nice case. Buttons easily pushed when holding in landscape, but can be trained to avoid. Screen sensitivity is good. Menu buttons not quite as sensitive, especially when screen protector is applied.
GPS
GPS worked right out of the box and without any sort of clue, it locked on within 2 minutes the first time I turned it on.
Battery
Battery life sucks. I think I hear the electrons FLYING out of the battery into the little AMOLED screen. Folks have said that after the battery is conditioned over a couple weeks, the life gets better. I think it gets better because after a couple of weeks, you're not playing Angry Birds on it for 18 hours straight.
Samsung Widgets
Most of the Samsung widgets are lame. Daily Briefing is pretty cool as is Message Buddy. Only downfall to Daily Briefing is that it doesn't update regularly, so it's pretty useless for weather, news, twitter, and facebook.
AT&T Widgets
Avoid these if you want to keep your phone bill normal.
Basic Apps
Native EMail client works fine and syncs nice with GMail. But links - especially long ones - don't work well. GMail the App is fine for Gmail, but also has linking problems. Replaced with K-9 Mail and would love to pay for that App.
Calendar App doesn't accept meeting invites. A big downer. I understand that Touchdown is a good replacement, but not willing to pay $20 for it.
Docs to Go for free is worse than on other platforms. In addition to limited features, it also adds ads. On sale until 12/15 for $15. Get the paid version - its worth it!
Alarm didn't play nice on the clock app as much as I would have liked it to, so I replaced it with the free Alarm Clock Plus.
Navigator is a GREAT tool. Just wish it would allow me to have the map following on without a destination in mind. Bought Co-Pilot Live on sale for $3 so that I could download maps in case I ever get out of cell phone coverage (which happened a couple weeks ago while I was waiting for this phone and would have been a lifesaver if UPS didn't screw up...never mind).
Live Wallpapers are just cool. Watch the Galaxy spin, or make a ripple in water or touch the dandellion and watch the seeds fly away... An ADHD dream!
Conclusion
Over all, I think if you were an iPhone user, you'd be riding the fence on whether or not to switch to the Captivate. However, if you are on any other phone, Blackberry included, you will love this gadget!
