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Switching to Android

P

pharpe

Newbie
I have never owned an Andriod phone and I'm looking to switch. I have been on AT&T for years with Blackberrys and then an iphone. My contract is up and I really want to get off of AT&T. I looking into new carriers I think Verizon is the way to go. I need coverage outside major metro areas. Anyway, what I would like is recommendations on which Verizon Android phone to get. My priorities are as follows:

#1 Technology -Fastest processor, newest OS version
#2 Size - I don't need the biggest screen or a slid out key board. I want something slim that fits well in my pocket
#3 Battery - I know that batter life sucks on all smart phones but i'd like the best i can get

From my own research I'm leaning toward the Samsung Fascinate. I've heard that there is a lot of bloatware preloaded but you can clean it off by rooting. I have no problem with that and probably will do that anyway. The Incredible looks good too but is a little on the big side. Any thoughts? Not concerned with price.
 
fascinate is nice, but not the newest os
the newest os is the nexus s (cant recall network) with 2.3

the fascinate is on 2.1
 
Nexus S is a GSM phone and you can either get it with a contract through T-mobile or just buy it outright and use it T-mobile without being on contract or just use it with AT&T. But for Verizon I'd recommend looking in to the Droid X. It is a bit bigger than the Fascinate, but it comes with 2.2 so that's a plus. The Fascinate has a better processor, but unless you're going to root and flash a new ROM, the Droid X would be better.
 
marefin said:
Nexus S is a GSM phone and you can either get it with a contract through T-mobile or just buy it outright and use it T-mobile without being on contract or just use it with AT&T. But for Verizon I'd recommend looking in to the Droid X. It is a bit bigger than the Fascinate, but it comes with 2.2 so that's a plus. The Fascinate has a better processor, but unless you're going to root and flash a new ROM, the Droid X would be better.
Click to expand...

I have no problem rooting and flashing a new ROM. I'd be able to get 2.2 or 2.3 on the Fascinate doing that correct? I'd rather have the better hardware.

I like the Nexus S but not sure about T-Mobile. I've heard much better things about Verizon as far as coverage goes.
 
fyi...

sprint roams free on verizon network.. and cheaper

i hear that Motorola has the best battery of android phones...

I thought the Incredible is smaller than the Galaxy S phones.
 
Yes...they are both CDMA networks.... use the same towers.

they do not allow you to use each other's phones.

Sprint does not have Motorola android phones.
Their are only 2 phone considered top of line: EVO or EPIC; both are 4G
are you in 4G area??

EPIC is a samsung galaxy s series phone! out specs the EVO

EVO is just great working phone. EVO has bigger development backing.
 
dan330 said:
Yes...they are both CDMA networks.... use the same towers.

they do not allow you to use each other's phones.

Sprint does not have Motorola android phones.
Their are only 2 phone considered top of line: EVO or EPIC; both are 4G
are you in 4G area??

EPIC is a samsung galaxy s series phone! out specs the EVO

EVO is just great working phone. EVO has bigger development backing.
Click to expand...

Thanks Dan. I'm in Dallas. Looks like decent coverage for 4G

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So are there any advantages of Verizon over Sprint or vis-versa? Outside of cost.
 
I am in the DFW area too....

Verizon has a larger selection of top android phones.
They are getting their new "4G" in this area too. Specs say it will be faster than Sprint 4G. But Rumored that Verizon's version is hacked and share lines with their 3G. so user demand will pull down that network fast. With iphone coming on Verizon, services will degrade more so.

Also... Sprint plan has:
unlimited Cell to ANY cell
unlimited data... no caps.. no throttling
no extra charges for other services: visual voice mail, GPS, etc...

Sprint is very solid service in Texas!!!!
 
dan330 said:
I am in the DFW area too....

Verizon has a larger selection of top android phones.
They are getting their new "4G" in this area too. Specs say it will be faster than Sprint 4G. But Rumored that Verizon's version is hacked and share lines with their 3G. so user demand will pull down that network fast. With iphone coming on Verizon, services will degrade more so.

Also... Sprint plan has:
unlimited Cell to ANY cell
unlimited data... no caps.. no throttling
no extra charges for other services: visual voice mail, GPS, etc...

Sprint is very solid service in Texas!!!!
Click to expand...

Thing is I travel every week for work so it have to be good everywhere. Example, I was in Artesia, NM Monday. I couldn't even get 3g on my iphone with AT&T.
 
I have done a lot of travel to.. driving ...with friends in the car .
many with T-Mobile and ATT ...

Guess who always has a signal ...and can look up info on the net ? Give you one guess

If you can't guess .... Sprint for the win
 
in all the travel ive done(liv ein md) from the east coast to the mississipi i have always had a 3g signal with vzw. in fact in maine the vzw phones were the only ones that had a signal
 
General discussions of coverage are fairly pointless. Each person needs to assess real world coverage where it is needed. For those that travel a lot, you might want to see if you can find localized discussions regarding coverage in key areas that you travel to. Every carrier has coverage holes.


mdram said:
in all the travel ive done(liv ein md) from the east coast to the mississipi i have always had a 3g signal with vzw.
Click to expand...
Well, you haven't been in the Mammoth Cave area in Kentucky then. There's a long stretch of I-65 that doesn't have 3G coverage or didn't at the time I traveled along it.
 
takeshi said:
General discussions of coverage are fairly pointless. Each person needs to assess real world coverage where it is needed. For those that travel a lot, you might want to see if you can find localized discussions regarding coverage in key areas that you travel to. Every carrier has coverage holes.



Well, you haven't been in the Mammoth Cave area in Kentucky then. There's a long stretch of I-65 that doesn't have 3G coverage or didn't at the time I traveled along it.
Click to expand...

nope, didnt hit that area

and i do realize mialage will vary. just felt like throwing in my 2 cents :)
 
Well I found a used Incredible for $150 so I picked that up. Now I can try Verizon and Android out without a commitment. I'll still have my upgrade when all these rumored new phones come out next year and I can still jump over to Sprint if I want too. Thanks for all of the help guys.
 
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