Can't pick a new phone

[yourbeliefs]

I'm considering getting a new phone to replace my Motorola Q9h. I was planning on sticking with AT&T, so my options are a little limited. I don't want an iPhone (yes I realize I'm only screwing myself but given how anti-Apple I am my friends and family would NEVER let me live it down) but I keep seeing issues with each alternative that feel like deal-breakers from what I can read.

I was strongly considering a Blackberry Bold until I read that the web browser sucks and that a number of developers are abandoning it for Android. Are these fears unfounded or is this valid?

Android is nearly non-existent on AT&T, with the only one available (Motorola Backflip) having an outdated OS and the upcoming HTC Desire being the only other option. Is the Desire worth waiting for? I'm also not big on having a touch screen keyboard, but to be fair I've never really had to use one.

I'm a little worn out on Windows Mobile. It seems like most of the recent WinMo devices suck, and Windows 7 Mobile hasn't exactly impressed me yet, not to mention I don't feel like waiting until Holiday 2010 to upgrade.

I'd consider a Palm but considering they're probably not going to make it past 2010 I don't think it's wise to invest in a sinking ship.

Basically I want a phone that I won't be regretting in a year because of outdated technology or from a lack of good apps available. Can anyone address the points I made here and help make a recommendation?

 

[navychop]

Yep, I've never been a fan of Apple either. But I got the iPhone anyway. Heck, so many times my wife & I want to look something up, away from our computers, and this thing will do it. When I saw it would add only $30 a month to my family plan, for unlimited data, I was sold. And I've loved it ever since.

The Backflip looks pretty good, but I don't know anyone that has one. They're all getting iPhones. One guy I set up uses ONLY his iPhone for email. Never uses a PC or Mac.

Agree with you about Palm, sadly. And I don't know anything about the Desire.

I don't care for 'berries. You either love the tiny keyboard, or you don't.

Good luck.

 

[yourbeliefs]

Another thing holding me back from the iPhone is the steep cost. You basically have to sell your soul to AT&T for the next 2 years and you have to throw down at least $200. I can get other powerful phones for free or less than $100. Having to throw down that much money isn't going to make the crap I'm going to have to eat taste any better.. ;p

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

I told you the story when you came over for Movie night of why I got my iPhone... I wasnt an Apple fan boy at all. All the phones however were trying to emulate the iPhone...

I was on Windows Mobile.

After so much time of trying to do what the Apple could do I finally got an iPhone and have LOVED it ever since.

It just works, and it does what it says. I love my iPhone!

 

[yourbeliefs]

I told you the story when you came over for Movie night of why I got my iPhone... I wasnt an Apple fan boy at all. All the phones however were trying to emulate the iPhone...

I was on Windows Mobile.

After so much time of trying to do what the Apple could do I finally got an iPhone and have LOVED it ever since.

It just works, and it does what it says. I love my iPhone!

It's just hard for me to embrace something that so goes against what I believe in in terms of development and usability. I don't like that I can't swap out memory or batteries. I don't like that I need to jailbreak the phone in order to get full functionality. I don't like that I need to deal with syncing constantly and dealing with iTunes (which I was never a fan of.) I don't like that I need to deal with Apple's proprietary cords and functionality.....

It's like dating a hot girl that has the worst family in the world..

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

I rarely use itunes with mine, everything is done on the phone.

You can ad on batteries (I have a Mophie) so thats not an issue.

Only issue I have now is I need to jailbreak so I can multitask... but that could be changing in about 20 minutes when the new OS is announced.

 

[digiblur]

You sound kinda like me on the phone choices... I don't want an iPhone due to the nazi lockdown of the phone and no keyboard. I prefer a phone with new development going on and flexibility to change it the way I want to use it which as of now only the Android OS offers that. If I want to make an app or grab one off some weird website and throw it on my phone I shouldn't have to jump through hoops to hack my phone to do it. I understand that it keeps the phone running good with approved apps, but at least let the people who understand the issues be able to load things. argghh.....

I have played with the backflip phone and some of the lockdown that AT&T did to the OS turns me off a bit, but it is a decent phone. Very odd design though, but it at least has a keyboard. The screen was a bit small for me but I'm spoiled now from the TouchPro2 with it's screen (a little bit larger than the iPhone and with much higher resolution) and very large nicely spaced out keyboard. I couldn't go back to anything less at this time. I like having the option of the on screen for quick short messages and the keyboard for nice long ones. For instance, I would have no issue typing this on my phone but with an onscreen keyboard I'd start A.D.D'ing out.

I know I heard there are supposed to be two HTC Android phones coming out for the AT&T market this year. I'm thinking it will be like HTC's normal way of one with a keyboard and one without.

I think I'd hold out on getting a phone with AT&T just yet... they waited a while on the Android thing so people would buy iphones, but when they saw people leaving because of this they finally caved. They'll have a decent selection to pick out of pretty soon.

 

[thedamaja]

The Nexus One is now available on ATT if you're looking at Android.

 

[yourbeliefs]

The Nexus One is now available on ATT if you're looking at Android.

$529 is a bit too steep for me..

 

[hancox]

I'm the one guy waiting on a Zune phone, apparently.

Otherwise - I'm in same camp as you. Can't decide, and may need a new phone soon.

 

[yourbeliefs]

It's starting to look like the best thing is to just wait (which I hate doing.) It looks like the Android OS is coming to more phones during the summer, as well as the iPhone OS 4. If there's still nothing, I may have to wait until December when my wife and I can jump ship from AT&T together. Of course if my phone breaks (which it has once before) that'll speed up the process considerably...

 

[Ramy]

I have the Moto Droid, which is only on Verizon. Why don't you want to switch to Verizon? At&t is not as good as Verizon's coverage where I live so that is why I have them.

 

[yourbeliefs]

I have the Moto Droid, which is only on Verizon. Why don't you want to switch to Verizon? At&t is not as good as Verizon's coverage where I live so that is why I have them.

I'm not "Against" going to any provider, although I'd prefer to be with either AT&T or Verizon. T-Mobile's coverage seems iffy at best and Sprint is, well Sprint. I'm currently in a family plan and I'd like to take everyone with me at the same time, although that couldn't happen until December.

Android looks impressive and I could see myself getting that OS but right now there's really no "silver bullet" phone that appeals to me. Again, sadly yes as of today the iPhone has everything I would generally want in a phone, but that's a tough pill to swallow and I HAVE to believe that the future holds a better phone for me.

There's nothing really WRONG with my current Motorola Q9h, but admittedly it is rather bland and it is a little weird to have a phone that looks almost identical to a Blackberry that I can't really use email with.

 

[rockymtnhigh]

I told you the story when you came over for Movie night of why I got my iPhone... I wasnt an Apple fan boy at all. All the phones however were trying to emulate the iPhone...

I was on Windows Mobile.

After so much time of trying to do what the Apple could do I finally got an iPhone and have LOVED it ever since.

It just works, and it does what it says. I love my iPhone!

He drank the apple juice and now Scott has religion.

 

[JAG72]

I hate to say it but I switched from the iPhone to an Android device for two phones. Both the wife and I really miss the iPhone. Android is nice but it does not match the usability of the iPhone IMO. Here is hoping that Sprint gets the iPhone some time this year.

 

[rockymtnhigh]

I hate to say it but I switched from the iPhone to an Android device for two phones. Both the wife and I really miss the iPhone. Android is nice but it does not match the usability of the iPhone IMO. Here is hoping that Sprint gets the iPhone some time this year.

What is so usable about it? Please explain - and remind me, you have an Eris? or a 1.x device?

 

[JAG72]

What is so usable about it? Please explain - and remind me, you have an Eris? or a 1.x device?

I have the Hero and the wife has the moment. Overall complaint is the lack of Apps that i would use. I really miss some of the applications I had for the iPhone that is not available on the Android devices. I also really miss the syncing of my music and movies with iTunes. Yes many don't like iTunes but when all of your kids have iPods, it makes life much easier in the end.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

He drank the apple juice and now Scott has religion.

Its not a religion, it just works and works well.

No matter what phone you chose you are going to find that you are trying to emulate an iphone. Why put yourself through that and just get an iPhone.

About the only thing I don't like about the iPhone is that is on AT&T. If it were on Verizon or Sprint I wouldn't hesitate recommending the iPhone to folks.

 

[yourbeliefs]

I hate to say it but I switched from the iPhone to an Android device for two phones. Both the wife and I really miss the iPhone. Android is nice but it does not match the usability of the iPhone IMO. Here is hoping that Sprint gets the iPhone some time this year.

A main contention of mine against the iPhone is the fact that even though there are TONS of apps available to download, it's only the apps that Apple approves. I know that for 95% of users this isn't an issue, but I'm part of that annoying 5% who demands the ability to install whatever I want. For example, I really want a video game emulator for my phone. I have one on my WinMo that works fine, and all I had to do was download it from the internet and install the cab file on my phone. If I wanted to do that on an iPhone I'd have to scour around the internet and then jailbreak my phone, because Apple doesn't approve of emulators.

I don't care how "easy" it is to jailbreak the thing. It doesn't make it "right" and it opens you up to more security problems. Of course one could argue the same thing about unapproved apps, but I just don't like being told what I can and can't put on my phone. It's MY phone, and I'll do whatever the hell I damn please with it! I don't like being told what I can and can't do, and I like it even LESS when it's done by a huge, heartless corporation that lives by it's own rules and standards.

 

[rockymtnhigh]

Its not a religion, it just works and works well.

No matter what phone you chose you are going to find that you are trying to emulate an iphone. Why put yourself through that and just get an iPhone.

About the only thing I don't like about the iPhone is that is on AT&T. If it were on Verizon or Sprint I wouldn't hesitate recommending the iPhone to folks.

Spoken like a true believer.

I say b.s. to that argument. Having icons on a screen that launches applications is NOT trying to emulate an iphone. If anything, it is trying to emulate a Palm Pilot.