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

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by 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.

Of course there is the little issue that so far no one has been able to confirm that the G1 will in fact have GPS capability. It is noticeably lacking from the list of features provided so far by T-Mobile.

[swanie]

Well, T-Mobile hasn't really said anything about the Dream/G1.

Frankly, I'd be surprised if they did start pre-sales tomorrow, since their big "announcement" is supposedly coming on Sept. 23rd. The 23rd also marks the date that 3G rolls out in Washington (T-Mobile's headquarters are in Bellevue). I'm guessing that's when they will outline the actual features and pre-sale info, and then phone will release mid-Oct. as rumored.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by 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.

I cannot argue with any of this - I wholeheartedly agree (unfortunately).

Originally Posted by Moonliner

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.

I disagree with this assessment. I don't think that Apple has an interest in an elitist position. I DO believe that they want to continue their history of putting out a consistently quality product that works.

I do not know if the Android will surpass the iPhone in market share: it may, it may not. I doubt the iPhone will ever have a large share of the mobile phone market and I doubt the Android will either.

But my personal history overall is that GENERALLY speaking, Apple products work and do so consistently. I have not had this same experience with comparable non-Apple products.


(And BTW: that ad is considered one of the top ten stupid moves on the part of Apple in their history.)

[BarTopDancer]

I think that as long as ATT is the only provider that carries the iPhone within the US the iPhone will not be able to maintain a viable lead in sales. ATT service (coverage and customer) just isn't good enough throughout the entire US when it comes down to it.

If the iPhone is released onto Verizon's 3G network it may very well overtake anything else out there for non-corporate users.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

I cannot argue with any of this - I wholeheartedly agree (unfortunately).

I disagree with this assessment. I don't think that Apple has an interest in an elitist position.

Perhaps the word "elitist" is not correct.

Apple is not making products for the everyday joe. They are making products for discerning individuals with a higher than average disposable income.

Oh wait, never mind. "elitist" does fit.

[Alex]

Plus, I've never seen any evidence (an my own household anecdotal history certainly provides contrary evidence) that Macs are any more stable than PCs, the user just tend to be too busy having design-induced orgasms to complain about the physical failures.

Yay, platform wars.

[€uroMeinke]

I read the article in Wired on this before buying my iPhone and wondered if I should hold out. But Google is in a win-win situation, they're already making money off the iPhone since Google is the default search engine. Also I've found some of the Google integrations to be the best - good for the Android product I imagine. Maybe it'll have cut and paste?

I ultimately went for the iPhone becasue it was a known quantity, but I had the same Hitachi that Kevy had with T-Mobile and came to really like that phone despite it's quirks.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by swanie

Well, T-Mobile hasn't really said anything about the Dream/G1.

Frankly, I'd be surprised if they did start pre-sales tomorrow, since their big "announcement" is supposedly coming on Sept. 23rd. The 23rd also marks the date that 3G rolls out in Washington (T-Mobile's headquarters are in Bellevue). I'm guessing that's when they will outline the actual features and pre-sale info, and then phone will release mid-Oct. as rumored.

Today is here with no announcment, it looks like you are correct. The 23rd it is.

[swanie]

Damn I'm good

Additional rumors have presales shipping on 10/13, with the target street date of 10/17.

[Moonliner]

It looks like at least the initial release of Android will not have a connector to Microsoft's Exchange server for push email.

Sorry T-mobile and Google that is a deal killer.