The T-Mobile G1 (Google/Android) Phone.

[BarTopDancer]

Right now T-Mobile is really irritating me. Their data network has been offline for me most of the weekend and again today. This weekend I was in HB. Today I am in RSM. Grrrr.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

Right now T-Mobile is really irritating me. Their data network has been offline for me most of the weekend and again today. This weekend I was in HB. Today I am in RSM. Grrrr.

Humm, not good. I wonder if it is related to their (finally) setting up a 3G network to support the Android.

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by swanie

On the other hand, Mr. Swanie got the Nokia 5310 XpressMusic this weekend. What a cool little phone.

[unrelated Nokian] Glad you (and he) like it. [/unrelated Nokian]

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

Humm, not good. I wonder if it is related to their (finally) setting up a 3G network to support the Android.

No clue. As soon as I posted that it started working.

[katiesue]

so then if you just post every time you have an issue it'll be fixed. No problem.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

By that logic a Motorola Razr would be the phone for you. It's the number one selling phone in the US. The iPhone is only the fourth or fifth best selling phone in the US depending on which source you credit. So you would get better support from the masses if you had a Razr.

I know you were responding to ISM on this point, but having THE most popular phone (or whatever) is not important to me. I prefer something that is at least sort-of common, but having the #1 is irrelevant to my decision.

Further, one cannot compare the Razr to a smart phone (such as the iPhone, Android or the T-Mobile MDA that I currently use).

Originally Posted by Moonliner

But yet you want the iPhone. Why? I assume it's because you want the value added features, in short: Data. Internet access, email, maps, and all that jazz. Which is where the Android should (in time) trounce the iphone.

And the (fill in the blank) was going to trounce the iPod.

Originally Posted by Moonliner

Why does the PC which is arguably technically inferior to the Mac still dominate the market? Why do over 90% of business run Windows and not OS X despite the incredible number of flaws in windows (no matter which version you are talking about)?

Before you give your answer, I will give one of mine: because corporate IT decision makers don't want to change. They know MS. It would be too expensive to change an entire corporate IT structure.

Originally Posted by Moonliner

It's the applications. Hordes of them. Millions of them. Every bloody thing you would ever want to use a computer for has a Windows application. Office tasks, manufacturing, shipping, medical, etc.. It's all there. That is why PC's are ubiquitous and that is why the Android will (in time) roll over the iPhone. Apple tries to control development. You have to be approved to sell your application at the apple store. Apple chooses for you. Google on the other hand, is offering $10,000,000 in prizes for anyone that comes up with cool Android applications.

And it is millions of applications that I don't need. And out of those millions of applications, a large number of them are buggy, incomplete pieces of crap. In my computing lifetime, there have only been three applications that have required a PC. One was a program that Susan needed for her Pampered Chef business (which she is no longer in), one is for her sewing machine, and one is for creating an index from PDF documents (and it has got to be one of the most inelegant programs I have ever used!). For every other need in my life, the Mac has worked just fine!

Although I haven't checked in a while, the most "mobile" applications were available for the Palm platform: by the logic given, one should invest in the (antiquated) Palm.

Also, while not a perfect solution (and Apple does sometimes go a little overboard with it), I like that Apple is selective about the third-party apps that go on the iPhone. This helps ensure better stability.

The smart phone I have been using for the last two years has been an unstable POS. It is not unusable, but definitely problematic. I know of three people with the same (or in one case, newer model) phone and they all report the same issues.

The single biggest reason I like Apple products is this: they work. Yes, there have been some hiccups along the way (I don't EVEN want to discuss the Performa line), but overall, I have enjoyed a stable computing environment. It is a computer that works for me, not vice-versa. I know there are people who enjoy building and tinkering with their computers (you and CoasterMatt come to mind, and I am sure there are others on this board and in this world), but I am not one of those.

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

I've liked T-Mobile, but their policy of customers having to maintain a separate deposit account in order to have access to directory assistance really pisses me off.

I am not sure what you are having to deal with: I use their Directory Assistance all the time without having to have a separate account: I use it the same way as I have with other carriers. Yes, I am charged for it (I am too lazy to use the Google number), but I do not need to keep a separate deposit account. You must have really pissed someone off!

[BarTopDancer]

Touching on the Corporate IT point - it scares me how many people can barely operate a PC. One thing goes wrong and they freak out. Having to access something a slightly different way caused mass confusion and near meltdowns.

I could not see Macs in the every day business world simply because there isn't enough people who are know how to use them or would be comfortable learning the OS.

[swanie]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

Humm, not good. I wonder if it is related to their (finally) setting up a 3G network to support the Android.

Here's the date breakdown for the 3G rollout. Looks like yesterday's issues may have been 3G related...

Baltimore - Aug 18th
Houston – Aug 19th
Minneapolis – Aug 20th
San Diego – Sept 15th
Los Angeles – Sept 16th
Phoenix – Sept 16th
Sacramento – Sept 17th
Portland – Sept 18th
Seattle – Sept 23rd
San Francisco – Sept 24th

Also launching sometime in 2008:

Atlanta
Birmingham
Chicago
Dallas
Denver
Detroit
Kansas City
Memphis
Miami
New England
Orlando
Philadelphia
Tampa
Washington, D.C.

[swanie]

As long as the price point comes in at the $149 range, I will most likely jump on the Dream/G1 bandwagon.

Outside of the BB Pearl, T-Mobile doesn't have anything remotely interesting in the smart phone category, so I'm willing to give it a try. I can't beat my rate plan so I won't switch carriers and the rumored data plans certainly sound reasonable. The T-Mobile folks didn't seem to be all that enthused about the Kickstart and with my phone on it's last leg...I don't think I can wait for the Javelin.

The G1 does have some neat features. Have any of you checked out the video of the google maps compass feature? It is a very cool GPS feature. It isn't an iPhone, but I wouldn't shell out the money for an iPhone rate plan. It seems to be a decent compromise and a nifty little toy...provided that it works.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

And the (fill in the blank) was going to trounce the iPod.

I'll make you the same offer I did ISM. I think the iPhone is a popular product and it's not going away any time soon but like the Mac vs the PC, the iPhone will be a small percentage of the overall market vs Android. In fact I think Apple wants it that way. It helps preserve the elitist image.

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

Before you give your answer, I will give one of mine: because corporate IT decision makers don't want to change. They know MS. It would be too expensive to change an entire corporate IT structure.

Sure that's the case now. But let's not forget, Apple was first to market with a personal computer. The PC eclipsed them due to open standards for hardware and software. I maintain the Android phone will do the same thing for the same reason. I do however agree that the other "iPhone/iPod killers" were strictly posers. I wonder if Apple will take out full page ads welcoming Andriod to the market...

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

The single biggest reason I like Apple products is this: they work.

That would be the primary reason I won't be jumping on the Android band wagon just yet. I don't want a phone that goes wonkers on me when I need it. I'll give it some time to prove itself.