Are you satisified with your G2? - G2 and Desire Z General

Sorry for the seemingly inane thread, but hear me out.
I'm considering importing the G2 so that means returning it would be impossible. A few questions before pulling the trigger:
- Are there any showstopping problems I should know about with this device?
- Any features you felt disappointed not to have, such as HDMI?
- Overall, do you feel like the addition of the keyboard is worth it? Is the extra bulk (thickness, weight) a worthy tradeoff? Do the keys feel too cramped?
- Does the phone feel too heavy? Can you listen to music while jogging without it feeling way too bulky?
Thanks for helping me and apologies for making you fill out a survey like this

i really like the phone, ive had a couple of them to compare. its really fast... with the stock rom, small compared to my hd2, they keyboard is going to take a little getting used to(im a custom to the touch pro), the hardware button for the camera is nice, and its native OS is droid.

cbmm said:
i really like the phone, ive had a couple of them to compare. its really fast... with the stock rom, small compared to my hd2, they keyboard is going to take a little getting used to(im a custom to the touch pro), the hardware button for the camera is nice, and its native OS is droid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I love it now that I over clocked it. The fact I can't get fully skinned roms is annoying but we already got overclock which has made this phone zooooom zooom. Fasted phone I have ever used.

Pickx said:
Sorry for the seemingly inane thread, but hear me out.
I'm considering importing the G2 so that means returning it would be impossible. A few questions before pulling the trigger:
- Are there any showstopping problems I should know about with this device?
- Any features you felt disappointed not to have, such as HDMI?
- Overall, do you feel like the addition of the keyboard is worth it? Is the extra bulk (thickness, weight) a worthy tradeoff? Do the keys feel too cramped?
- Does the phone feel too heavy? Can you listen to music while jogging without it feeling way too bulky?
Thanks for helping me and apologies for making you fill out a survey like this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only real issue I've encountered thus far is the loose hinge that closes when you're typing in bed, for example, but I've found that holding the phone a little higher so that your fingers are on the sides of the screen keeps it open. Minor annoyance, to be sure.
Other than that, this phone is ****ing awesome. Personally I like the weight, but objectively it's quite heavy compared to other phones. Overall, I highly recommend it.

Honestly i think the build quality is a little inconsistent, which is common when a phone first launches. I would be very nervous if you cant exchange it if something was wrong. Fortunately for me i work at a retail store that sells phones so I can fully inspect a phone before I buy it. I checked out 3 G2's and only 1 of them was good enough to buy, the other 2 had dust under the screen. My hinge is loose as well but im not bothered by it.
I would probably wait for a few models runs until htc has these things ironed out.

i'll let you know i get mine today (swithching from Touch pro 2)

- Are there any showstopping problems I should know about with this device?
not really, the device is great, the hspa coverage (for me) is spotty in areas i frequent, thus the only showstopper (for me)
- Any features you felt disappointed not to have, such as HDMI?
number row on keyboard. sure hdmi out woudl be nice but a lot of things would be. possible rgb leds (unless thats been debunked/solved) around the trackpad and charger led
- Overall, do you feel like the addition of the keyboard is worth it? Is the extra bulk (thickness, weight) a worthy tradeoff? Do the keys feel too cramped?
i like they keyboard, i find that i actually like swype but havent composed a big, long email yet. i dont really like how the keyboard doesnt feel centered and G/H are slightly to the right which is opposite of coming from a G1 with it being to the left due to the chin. the enter key i feel should be a row down but these are all things you can get accustomed to. the spacing and such are good. im not a huge fan of the hinge since when opened it feels a bit wobbly. i dont doubt its sturdy overall just feels "cheap". its like having a door on a ferrari rattle when you close it or something (you wouldnt complain but you wish it wouldnt do that).
- Does the phone feel too heavy? Can you listen to music while jogging without it feeling way too bulky?
the heft is both good and bad. it feels executive like a premium device. the downside is it might be more prone to those accidental drops or something. i dont mind the weight but if i had a pick id wish it would weigh nothing and be 1"x1" but have the display of an ipad. of course these things dont add up.
overall i might take mine back, not for the device at all however. i do like it, its snappy its clean it does what i want (wish the camera was a bit better but again, not a dealbreaker). the only issue i have is with signal, which isnt device related.

- Are there any showstopping problems I should know about with this device?Not really, I get weak signal in my apt, but once they release wifi calling that will be fixed. I also have gotten used to the higne and the reboots seem to have stopped for me.
- Any features you felt disappointed not to have, such as HDMI?
Nope, I came from an iPhone to this phoen though, so I was feature light to begin with
- Overall, do you feel like the addition of the keyboard is worth it? Is the extra bulk (thickness, weight) a worthy tradeoff? Do the keys feel too cramped?
This is my first keyboard phone and its awesome! pefect thickness, and the keyboard feels great.
- Does the phone feel too heavy? Can you listen to music while jogging without it feeling way too bulky?
Nah it feels solid, I would run with it, but I'd get some kind of neoprene sleeve/holster for it.

Pickx said:
Sorry for the seemingly inane thread, but hear me out.
I'm considering importing the G2 so that means returning it would be impossible. A few questions before pulling the trigger:
1- Are there any showstopping problems I should know about with this device?
2- Any features you felt disappointed not to have, such as HDMI?
3- Overall, do you feel like the addition of the keyboard is worth it? Is the extra bulk (thickness, weight) a worthy tradeoff? Do the keys feel too cramped?
4- Does the phone feel too heavy? Can you listen to music while jogging without it feeling way too bulky?
Thanks for helping me and apologies for making you fill out a survey like this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1, not with mine in particular, dead pixels and a weak hinge would really piss me off though.
2. You know that is one thing I would have liked but not needed. I play emulators ALOT on my phone and it would have been very nice to be able to hook up two wii controllers and bust out some old snes games with my wife on the tv.
3. Extra bulk? You need to start lifting weights if its to heavy for you. Keys are very very nice as long as I cut my nails, I had nails that hadnt been cut for two weeks or so and it was annoying. Females probably wouldnt like it, maybe you just need to get used to it.
4. Bulky? Naw I love it, it just feel cheap and weak.

Well, I just sent mine back to Tmobile for a new one.
Hinge became looser over the few weeks of owning it.
Phone would reboot on it's own from time to time.
Force Closed on apps all the time.
Signal would come in and out.
Don't let what I said scare you. I'm sure I just got a really bad apple, err... phone. I love the phone very much, and hopefully the new one works better. It's a really fast little ****er, no lie!

It does what every phone does and it doesn't do what its not meant to do "drive your car? Hopefully in 5 more years" As 3g or hspa, its deffenitely faster than the iphone 4 or any 3g phone "I live next to philly so I get good service, and I home tested myself since you can't blv ppl this days cuz they lie too much". The weight is cute it makes you feel like you have a 550$ hardware. Only thing I don't like is the opening screen, I thought it should be more solid and have a bit more preassure in it. Overall, I personally like it more than vibrant, feels like a more androidish phone. Only thing I desire is to get my hands on some htc sence.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

This is my first smartphone, so I'm pretty excited about what it can do. Only thing I'd really change right now is the SMS notice. The LED flash needs to either be constant (my preference) or much more frequent than it's currently set now. I can't believe that slipped by in UI testing.

Hmm, thanks for the help so far, you guys are really helpful. I've been playing the waiting game with Android since it launched. So many features are always 'right around the corner' and should be implemented any minute now (higher resolutions as rumored in Gingerbread, Tegra 2/ARM9, Super AMOLED on non-Samsung devices,
BUT, hardware keyboards are way too rare nowadays and this keyboard seems to have been executed quite well. Again, rare.
It's very scary to import a device that could end up with a wobbly hinge or repeated resets... but honestly other than the weight and the rootkit, this phone is extremely appealing. Looks dead sexy too.

It is sexy as hell. With that said, I'm on my second because I wanted the better deal from Costco.....100 vs 200
My first one started rebooting on its own (at least it restarted-my captivate shut down and wouldn't turn back on automatically) and now this one has the screen flicker problem when the brightness is set to low. Ill exchange it.
Overall this phone is the best phone I've had since the iPhone was the latest greatest.
Shipping it in with no option to return would make me nervous.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

Hmm. Maybe I'll get the Desire Z instead. I'll give it a week or so to see if these have less problems.

- Are there any showstopping problems I should know about with this device?
Not any that I've noticed yet. Build quality throughout the initial release may be an issue- my first G2 had a cracked space bar, weak hinge, and after having the battery die in 6 hours, wouldn't charge or even turn on. The one I've got now? Perfect.
- Any features you felt disappointed not to have, such as HDMI?
Colored notification LED's (whether that's on the speaker or around the track pad), ability to root
- Overall, do you feel like the addition of the keyboard is worth it? Is the extra bulk (thickness, weight) a worthy tradeoff? Do the keys feel too cramped?
The keys most certainly don't feel cramped- it's a very, very spacious keyboard. I personally haven't used it very much, since I'm used to Swype, but the times I have used it (for typing URL's, long emails, or long texts) I've found it very comfortable and easy to use.
- Does the phone feel too heavy? Can you listen to music while jogging without it feeling way too bulky?
No way, I absolutely love the weight of this phone. It feels expensive, if you know what I mean. If you can find a phone with a strong hinge, the build quality feels absolutely fantastic. I don't job, so I can't tell you if it's good for that, but I can't imagine it would be very good for jogging without securing it to yourself in some way.
Hope this helps! This is the first phone that I've bought and truly been completely satisfied with out of the box. Aside from the rooting issues, this phone is perfect.

I absolutely love it! The thinkg flies! My only issues are no wifi hotspot yet and a few radio issues. These two things will be addressed in an ota update so I'm not too worried about it.

I'm really really loving mine. Had the G1 first, then the N1. Haven't had any of the hinge problems or random reboots. Screen is sharp, phone is super snappy (more so then the N1) and feels/looks like an expensive, proper business phone.
The keyboard is nice and got tons of really positive reviews. I personally liked the G1 keyboard better because it had dedicated number keys and overall seemed faster to type on.
As for negatives, I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the crappy loudspeaker yet. I'd google some reviews of the speaker first if that factor is important to you.
Overall its a great device and I am very satisfied with it. Having said that I also didn't have any of the problems other users complained about. If you get one that works like mine I think you'd fall equally in love with it.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

I just recently got the G2 about two days ago and I love it! I previously had the Blackberry Pearl for a few years and thought it was time for an upgrade. This is my first Android phone and so far, it's wonderful. I don't have the loose hinge issue or any other visible problems.
Just still getting used to it, looking for the good apps that'll tickle my funny bone, and reading more on "rooting" and the like. I'm enjoying my experience.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

The Good:
-Speedy, apps launch quickly and the phone is very smooth
-Great size, form factor
-Decent screen and brightness
-GOOD keyboard
-Battery life was impressive
The Bad:
-All three I had (yes, I ended up taking the last one back too) did the reboots in low service areas
-On my morning drive, my HD2 never drops my call. The G2 would drop in 3 places every day
-The hinge was very poorly done, and as someone who started the HTC keyboard phones with the Tytn-II, Touch Pro, and Touch Pro 2, I know they can get it right. This was just a stupid, stupid design.
-No 4gb of storage
-What the hell is with the trackpad? Can we just ditch it and save a bit of space?
I could have looked past the hinge issue, but the obvious radio issues combined with the DRM like protection of the ROM, I decided that TMOUS and HTC could shove it with this phone.

Related

[CLOSED/G2] After Almost A Month Long Affair with the Vibrant, the G2 Won My Heart

After almost a month with the Vibrant, Why I chose G2..
I really enjoyed the big screen on the vibrant, definitely there is no flaws there, with the gorilla glass the samoled screen was just perfectly crisp.
The camera's daytime shots looked beautiful and camcorder recording was great, 720P quality, and night time mode wasn't too shabby either.
I actually thought the TouchWiz experience was fairly pleasant. Swype was also excellent.
However, theres just so many things wrong with the vibrant that urked me.
My G1 had better reception, 5 Bars, vs the Vibrant's 1-2 Bar or Occasional No Signal
The touch buttons at the bottom of vibrant, while they were pretty sensitive, it felt laggy...
Samsung Built their %$%# file system on their own properietary technology
GPS, Sorta works, but it just felt inferior to the G1's GPS, which is sad.
Ram on the Vibrant.. Although the Vibrant has 512MB of Ram, your lucky to have 100MB ram free. Why? Because its not 2.2, but also when I thought of it, I felt its because Samsung isn't as good at programming efficient kernels for their radio, etc.
128MB Ram (supposedly dedicated to graphics) which is great, but I realized I don't really need that much graphics power, Angry Birds should run fine on just about anything.
My Vibrant would power off in middle of day, or reboot randomly
It felt cheap, the buttons, the plastic backing, so glossy and cheap feeling, I had a nice mesh case would remedied a lot of the feel, but it still felt like a toy.
Sound Quality through the stereo jack, varies, from what I understand, Samsung applies their own EQ baseed on the OHM rating of your headphones or line-level connection.
Poor Software, Support, its Samsung's first generation galaxy phone, maybe next year... We shouldn't have to apply hackish lag fixes to make up for samsung's half-baked file system.
Dude. Wheres my FLASH man!, need Light, also not having Flash Support on websites I wanted to visit pissed me off so many times.
Ultimately, I felt like the Vibrant was an early prototype with lots of issues, and weighing how long each phone would last I felt the G2 would last 2 years like my G1, but the Vibrant I'd be lucky if it lasted a year, especially with it having such flimsy buttons, (power/vol). I basically babied the Vibrant, had a case, and a pouch to keep it extra safe. I didn't feel the need to do that with the G1.
Although I loved the swype on a big screen, I realize, buttons are important, even if you don't need them all the time, especially for games, scrolling through text, flash games, remoting to your pc at home. Connecting to a terminal perhaps?
In this sense, the G2 is the true gaming phone, and not the vibrant, it seems all the vibrant is geared to do is to play avatar movie, and the sims 3 mobile game, so they beefed up the ram usage for the gpu.
Also, who could deny the guaranteed development community that the G2 will definitely have, I felt the entire vibrant development was powered by 3-4 people. Samsung hasn't even come out with 2.2 yet on the vibrant, and even if they do, their crappy file system and kernels is still going to suck up a good chunk of the good it brings. My G1, made by HTC was sturdy, I've dropped it hard countless times onto concrete and it worked fine till the day I got rid of it.
QwertyAccess said:
After almost a month with the Vibrant, Why I chose G2..
I really enjoyed the big screen on the vibrant, definitely there is no flaws there, with the gorilla glass the samoled screen was just perfectly crisp.
The camera's daytime shots looked beautiful and camcorder recording was great, 720P quality, and night time mode wasn't too shabby either.
I actually thought the TouchWiz experience was fairly pleasant.
However, theres just so many things wrong with the vibrant that urked me.
My G1 had better reception, 5 Bars, vs the Vibrant's 1-2 Bar or Occasional No Signal
The touch buttons at the bottom of vibrant, while they were pretty sensitive, it felt laggy...
Samsung Built their %$%# file system on their own properietary technology
GPS, Sorta works, but it just felt inferior to the G1's GPS, which is sad.
Ram on the Vibrant.. Although the Vibrant has 512MB of Ram, your lucky to have 100MB ram free. Why? Because its not 2.2, but also when I thought of it, I felt its because Samsung isn't as good at programming efficient kernels for their radio, etc.
128MB Ram (supposedly dedicated to graphics) which is great, but I realized I don't really need that much graphics power, Angry Birds should run fine on just about anything.
My Vibrant would power off in middle of day, or reboot randomly
It felt cheap, the buttons, the plastic backing, so glossy and cheap feeling, I had a nice mesh case would remedied a lot of the feel, but it still felt like a toy.
Sound Quality through the stereo jack, varies, from what I understand, Samsung applies their own EQ baseed on the OHM rating of your headphones or line-level connection.
Poor Software, Support, its Samsung's first generation galaxy phone, maybe next year... We shouldn't have to apply hackish lag fixes to make up for samsung's half-baked file system.
Dude. Wheres my FLASH man!, need Light, also not having Flash Support on websites I wanted to visit pissed me off so many times.
Ultimately, I felt like the Vibrant was an early prototype with lots of issues, and weighing how long each phone would last I felt the G2 would last 2 years like my G1, but the Vibrant I'd be lucky if it lasted a year, especially with it having such flimsy buttons, (power/vol). I basically babied the Vibrant, had a case, and a pouch to keep it extra safe. I didn't feel the need to do that with the G1.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds more like the Vibrant broke your heart, than the G2 winning your heart. All phones have issues, If you beleive you will be happier with the G2 then thats all that matters.
Personaly i wont be happy untill tmobile has a Solid 4.3 In display Android phone.
Well said, I do eventually want something with the build quality and feel of the HD2, I saw in the t-mobile store, theres something nice when something is made out of metal, with metallic feeling buttons.
4.3? I'm straight on that. That's HUGE! I can't be carrying box of girl scout cookies sized in my pocket. That's like carrying a first gen PSP in your pocket. (I think)
But I know what you mean, big screens are cool.
I've never owned any popular smart phone, so this will be my first Android phone and I'm glad it's going to be the G2. I just can't wait to hop onto the mobile app world own it up!
U know what gave it away before I read all that?
Your username
Why I probably will sell the Vibrant for the G2 is because of the following Vibrant issues that I have had with three different Vibrants:
1. Have to go into service mode to change the bluetooth settings for people to hear me because I sound too far away otherwise.
2. I can't view full pages with about:debug because it crashes the browser.
3. When I hold the phone close to the bottom I do lose reception.
4. How long it's taking for froyo to come out.
5. Lack of flash (Small not a big problem)
6. And ofcourse the notorious GPS.
To some these might not be a big deal but it was has me really thinking of switching. Don't get me wrong, I love the screen size and the screen itself. But function always comes before form for me.
Lol didn't even notice the screen name.
I just bought my mom the Vibrant.. lol.
She's coming from an old ass Nokia candybar. I hope it's not too difficult for her to get used to.
QwertyAccess said:
My G1, made by HTC was sturdy, I've dropped it hard countless times onto concrete and it worked fine till the day I got rid of it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, so did I, except 2 weeks ago I dropped my G1 on my wood floor at home, and that finally did the trick. the screen went all staticy and unreadable (though the phone still technically functioned otherwise).
such bad timing because I was gonna get the G2 anyway. but I'm a data addict and had to get a replacement phone for the meantime, also I got a mt3g 1.2. I was surprised, but its like way faster. the 1.2 version has 256 RAM as opposed to the 192 in the G1 and mt3g original, and it makes a huge difference. I don't need compcache turned on to to keep web pages in memory and gtalk signed in. I never realized how much compcache slows down the system.
long story short - as much as the mt3g 1.2 was an upgrade over the G1, the G2 is gonna be like 5 times that. can't wait.
/tangent
QwertyAccess,
I agree, I have been waiting for T-Mobile to release an Android handset with the build quality of the HD2.
The G2 is the closest thing I have seen, it feels very solid and well built.
Now if it would just get here.
Makes me glad we Sprint users got the most unique Galaxy S, flash and keyboard and GPS that works. Plus I can't believe this beast of a phone is so light as well.
Now, a Vibrant to the G2 might make sense to some but I dare say that if Samsung had made the Epic for all the U.S carriers in its current iteration (keyboard + flash), you might be singing a different tune.
Forgive My Brevity. To Be Or Not To Be...
If I end up selling my vibrant for a G2, it will be for a reason a little more bizarre. My 2008 Corvette with an aftermarket exhaust drones, my nokia n95, n85, e71, iphone, etc all worked fine but the Vibrant pics up the drone and noone can hear me when my car is on. I was going to buy a wireless bluetooth to fix the problem but that seems like such a bandaid fix.
PolishDude said:
If I end up selling my vibrant for a G2, it will be for a reason a little more bizarre. My 2008 Corvette with an aftermarket exhaust drones, my nokia n95, n85, e71, iphone, etc all worked fine but the Vibrant pics up the drone and noone can hear me when my car is on. I was going to buy a wireless bluetooth to fix the problem but that seems like such a bandaid fix.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
why not get the nexus one which has the two mics, it is made for situations like that
PolishDude said:
If I end up selling my vibrant for a G2, it will be for a reason a little more bizarre. My 2008 Corvette with an aftermarket exhaust drones, my nokia n95, n85, e71, iphone, etc all worked fine but the Vibrant pics up the drone and noone can hear me when my car is on. I was going to buy a wireless bluetooth to fix the problem but that seems like such a bandaid fix.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
had a VW R32 w/aftermarket exhaust that had a horrible drone - only did it between 2200 - 2800 rpm. Unless you're headache proof, it can be eliminated. I found the point on the exhaust line that were vibrating like a tuning fork & secured them it with an additional hanger strap/bracket and wrapped the muffler body with asbestos tape - knocked 80% of the drone out - wife became more agreeable to riding in it after that
I honestly dont find it that bad, every other phone works fine but the vibrant
T-Mobile is swapping my Vibrant for a G2, but I have to wait until the 6th to get it done. On my 3rd Vibrant. GPS and lag issues. I didn't expect them to do a swap. I was expecting to pay something. Nice.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
scmurphy13 said:
T-Mobile is swapping my Vibrant for a G2, but I have to wait until the 6th to get it done. On my 3rd Vibrant. GPS and lag issues. I didn't expect them to do a swap. I was expecting to pay something. Nice.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Who did you talk to
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
I love my G1. It is rock solid. I've dropped it in water until it was several inches submerged... TWICE. I've dropped in on concrete many times. I used the clear, hard plastic, T-Mobile cases, and actually drove off with it on the roof of my car. At 20mph I saw it fly past my window and hit the ground. The case flew off, but the phone is completely fine.
Heck, my wife had one, dropped it in the grocery store parking lot (didn't realize it). I sent a text message to her phone and used GPS Tracker to find the phone. I then went to the parking lot and started calling her phone. It had been run over and thrown into a garbage can. The screen was toast, and the phone was dented and scratched, but the screen still lit up, the GPS still worked, and the phone was still ringing and accepting texts. Amazing!!
I hope the G2 is as good as the G1 was only updated. If so, I'll be very happy.
I've got a coworker with a Droid X. He's had problems with his phone locking up and freezing and needing to be rebooted, much more than I ever had with my G1, even when it was rooted and running all sorts of ROMs.
robavila721 said:
Who did you talk to
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Customer Loyalty.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
robavila721 said:
Who did you talk to
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't get a complete swap but the rep I talked too said that if you return your phone two or more times for warranty you can choose another phone per T-mobile policy. I had one warranty swap and a battery issue, the battery issue didn't qualify but if you have done two or more warranty exchanges you can get any other phone of "similar" specs for free. You just have to trade in the old phone.
Call 611 and say cancel when the computer answers. The person you talk to will be loyalty or retention or whatever they call it. They can do almost anything for you. Be nice and explain how much the Vibrant sux and how you want something done about it. They will be more than happy to take care of it for you.

So, is this the phone everyone wanted?

Now that we've all had the phone for some time now, is this the phone you wanted? Does it live up to the hype?
I personally love this phone. I don't have any serious gripes about it. Mainly small things but they aren't a deal breaker at all. This phone feels great in hand and the keyboard feels natural. However, I never use the application shortcut buttons or the www. Button. Those feel like gimmicks to me. I would have loved a full 5 row keyboard but manufacturers seem clueless to that nowadays. The phone is still very fast and my hinge is still strong. Battery lasts me 18+ hours with heavy usage. Its great when you don't have to constantly worry about the battery level.
Can't wait for this bad boy to get rooted and over clocked!
From here on out I'm only buying phones with stock android.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
Amen. Ditched the vibrant for this and couldn't be happier.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
I am also completely happy with the phone. But like u said. I never use the www key as well as the quick keys. I would like a full number dedicated row.. but its not a deal breaker for me.
I can't wait for P. Root and wifi tethering!! (=
Sent from my T-Mobile G2
Arcadia310 said:
seem clueless to that nowadays. The phone is still very fast and my hinge is still strong.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I want you to post another vid of you demonstrating your strong hinge but this time give the phone a little jiggle now and again. I can do everything you did in that video but my hinge is far from rigid. Im on to you!
Weak hinge isnt bothering me though, although im certain this phone wouldn't survive a fall if the keyboard flops out on impact. I love the phone... keyboard could be better as you stated but im getting more used to it. The phone feels incomplete without wifi tether, but otherwise I love it.
Good screen size, good battery, good OS, good specs , good data speeds, good aesthetics.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
sinistersai4d4d said:
I want you to post another vid of you demonstrating your strong hinge but this time give the phone a little jiggle now and again. I can do everything you did in that video but my hinge is far from rigid. Im on to you!
Weak hinge isnt bothering me though, although im certain this phone wouldn't survive a fall if the keyboard flops out on impact. I love the phone... keyboard could be better as you stated but im getting more used to it. The phone feels incomplete without wifi tether, but otherwise I love it.
Good screen size, good battery, good OS, good specs , good data speeds, good aesthetics.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I will not. Why would I shake it? Why would I shake any phone? That would only damage my hinges and make them more prone to looseness. That video was a realistic demonstration for practical usage. I will not demonstrate anything unrealistic.
Yes, thank you
I love this phone coming from the HTC HD2 running android and a G1. The g2 is super fast, looks beautiful, perfect feel in my hand, my hinge is solid not loose at all. Can't complain so far best phone I've ever got my hands on.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
This phone is great. It's actually my first "smartphone."
I don't have any problems. My first time using an onscreen keyboard, and it's a huge learning curve for me though. I rarely use the physical key board.
I don't have that hinge problem. From day 1 I've had a case and I still haven't taken my screen protector off yet lol. I received my phone Oct. 3.
Stock Android FTFW. Holla.
I want to make a video for everyone about my phone, not sure what though.
And this phone is living up to the hype. The GMAIL integration makes my life a lot easier. Saving things to my SD card is simple.
I love the phone! It's a fantastic upgrade to my old G1. The only hardware option that I'd like is the notification LED off of the G1.
As far as software changes, I would only ask for 1 of two options.
option 1, phone comes with root accessibility.
option 2, phone comes with the ability to connect to IPSEC VPN, perform WIFI tether, and directly access my wpa_supplicant.conf file.
If I had either one of those things, it would be perfect
To me, these things are minor enough (and the root thing is (sort of) and will be solved). I love the phone.
Arcadia310 said:
No I will not. Why would I shake it? Why would I shake any phone? That would only damage my hinges and make them more prone to looseness. That video was a realistic demonstration for practical usage. I will not demonstrate anything unrealistic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yo man just checked out your video about the hinges. My phone has a strong hing IMO. If I'm laying down my screen will slide down. But like you said in the video, I will have to NOT be touching the screen, because naturally, I would have my fingers holding it in place. When the screen is closed, I hold it upside down - No problem.
I'm coming from Verizon and I must say, the T-Mobile call quality is nothing compared to Verizon. One of your vids you mention how you can just take a few steps and your bars will change, go in and out of Edge or HSPA. That's not necessarily a G2 issue.
I dig this phone, and I've already rocked a couple of my friends smart phones. Holla
I have my third G2 coming the first of the week. So far both of the first two had loose hinge issues and terrible reception. In the same exact place I tested the signal strength with my Nexus One and Vibrant and the G2. The G2 was not even in the ball park. I do like the phone and believe it has tremendous potential. Other issues I have had include wall papers changing by them selves. Calls not ringing in and voice mail not registering. And the most irritating dropped calls. Just by picking up the device it would launch an application and deploying the keyboard will start up apps randomly. I did not touch the screen in any way when these things occur. Tried to launch Goggle Googles and a black screen came up and when I tried to back out it went to Google Earth. So far I am not overly impressed although as I stated previously that I do like the phone. If the thrid one has the same problems i will return it and wait to see what happens. I am hoping it will not as there is just something about this phone which appeals to me.
G2 + Vibrants screen(Amoled) = Game Over.
- Fly like a G2
That would be Perfect!!!!
Check out my video I just made.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RZKHq6e1Ds
I am very happy with my phone. No problems with it whatsoever. It's everything I expected and more!
My hinge is somewhere in the middle between tight and loose. The screen will sometimes drop down if I hold the phone upside down without touching they keyboard. I have been using it heavily and have not had any problems with the hinge in normal use - keyboard open or closed - so it is a complete non-issue for me. I feel this is how it was designed to work.
The phone is blazing fast an the camera and video look great. No rebooting issues and reception is pretty good. I came from a Moto Cliq and the battery life and reception are both better on the G2.
tenbeau said:
I have my third G2 coming the first of the week. So far both of the first two had loose hinge issues and terrible reception.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have some of those sticky antennas that go behind your battery on order. You can get a 5 pack of them on Amazon for $5 shipped. I noticed an improvement on my Cliq after installing one, so I'm willing to bet it will help. I don't have any reception problems, but it's always good to have more bars. You just have to make sure to stick it directly where the internal antenna is.
Anybody know exactly where the antenna is in this phone?
Anyways... I want to say thanks for all the knowledgeable people on this board who helped me learn a lot about this device.
only issue is samoled is a samsung exclusive. regular amoled has too much glare. plus slcd is cheaper.
I had a couple reservations getting it, but I have to say I love this phone! I went from a G1 to Nexus One and now G2. This phone feels like a Nexus One but with a physical keyboard. I'm hanging onto my N1 as a companion/backup.
The G2 made me realize how much I missed having a physical keyboard....plus the radio and GPS on it seems to be superior to the N1....also being in a HSPA+ area is always a plus too.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
TheManCityLife said:
Yo man just checked out your video about the hinges. My phone has a strong hing IMO. If I'm laying down my screen will slide down. But like you said in the video, I will have to NOT be touching the screen, because naturally, I would have my fingers holding it in place. When the screen is closed, I hold it upside down - No problem.
I'm coming from Verizon and I must say, the T-Mobile call quality is nothing compared to Verizon. One of your vids you mention how you can just take a few steps and your bars will change, go in and out of Edge or HSPA. That's not necessarily a G2 issue.
I dig this phone, and I've already rocked a couple of my friends smart phones. Holla
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah that's definitely a problem with T-Mobile; I believe I mention that in the video. I can remember 2 years ago when I had a Sidekick I would get horrible signal while inside of buildings. I would be in class and have no signal. Now with the G2 I can walk literally 10 feet and my signal will fluctuate like crazy.
I'm sending mine back and sticking with my G1 for the following reasons:
1) In the upper right corner of market, it has a link to TMobile apps instead of my Downloads (I so hate them for that!)
2) I hate the hardware keyboard / hinge slider.
a) slider slides closed while holding and typing fast
b) impossible to type < or > with hardware keyboard (even with SYM key software popup).
c) Keys too wide and letters off-center.
d) No number row sucks, too much use of function key.
e) Although the touch pad is about the same as the rolly-ball, they both suck compared to 4 arrow keys on the keyboard.
f) I also prefer the 4 function keys as hard keys instead of softkeys.
3) Battery is worse then G1 in edge-case areas (2G/3G), but I do admit battery is better then G1 in solid 3G area.
4) Notification lights. I have not known about many missed calls/texts that I would have seen much earlier using my G1.
5) Although I love the proximity sensor in theory, I guess I don't hold my phone correctly for it because I have already hit keys while talking more than I have in 2 years with the G1.
6) microUSB port on left side instead of bottom makes it impossible to hold the phone while it is charging (I am left handed).
7) Buggy, I've had a few crashes, and the camera got stuck running or something once because barcode scanner claimed it was in use and even after I tried to kill everything the battery drained from 60% to 0% within like 15 min in my pocket. Also had apps like Google Earth and some root apps lockup.
8) External speaker sounds tinny as hell.
9) You can't swap the microSD card without removing the battery.
10) Too expensive... I'll wait until my contract is fully up in march so I get a better discount, but I'm hoping there is a better GSM phone my then. If the Epic 4G worked on TMobile (or if Sprint worked at my house), I would take that over the G2 in a second purely for the better hardware keyboard design.
After all is said and done and you get CM6 or some other custom rom on your phone, all Android phones are basically the same, other than design and speed. G1 is dog slow, but it can still do EVERYTHING the G2 can, as can any other rooted Android phone. (except play flash as well, G1 hacks for flash are still lacking)
I am completely happy with my G2. I haven't had any major issues whatsoever, and I wouldn't trade it for anything else currently on the market. There is also nothing in the near future that I've seen (MyTouch HD, WP7, etc.) that will make me regret buying the G2. My next phone will likely be the G3!
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

Swapped my Focus for a Quantum

Call me crazy, but I went in to AT&T today and swapped them out. I was really interested in having a physical keyboard, and was much more impressed with the build quality of the LG.
If you have any questions about the device, feel free to ask and I'll answer what I can.
I know what you mean, I came from a Galaxy S Vibrant to the Quantum and the LG blows the Vibrant out of the water in terms of build quality, the Vibrant felt like a cheap toy in comparison.
Yea I'm really loving the keyboard. Probably the best one I've used on a mobile phone yet. Overall solid build with just the right amount of heft.
dougp.me said:
Call me crazy, but I went in to AT&T today and swapped them out. I was really interested in having a physical keyboard, and was much more impressed with the build quality of the LG.
If you have any questions about the device, feel free to ask and I'll answer what I can.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't play with it as long as i wanted. But how is the keyboard, as far as a fast typer?. Example if you slide your finger across the keyboard. The asdfghjkl; how well does it pick up. Do it leave some letters out? Hope you can make out what im Trying to ask lol. I hope it has a better keyboard than lets say some issues with the epic 4g keyboard.
diego1985 said:
I didn't play with it as long as i wanted. But how is the keyboard, as far as a fast typer?. Example if you slide your finger across the keyboard. The asdfghjkl; how well does it pick up. Do it leave some letters out? Hope you can make out what im Trying to ask lol. I hope it has a better keyboard than lets say some issues with the epic 4g keyboard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only thing I can compare it to are portrait keyboards like a Treo - but it's good for a wider keyboard.
Here's a test by line for you:
Qwertyuiop
Asdfghjkl
Zxcvbnm
1234567890
@#$%&()-\
!;:'"?/
No issues it seems! =D
it picks up letters without a problem, but i find the keys a little too spaced and the FN/caps buttons don't illuminate, shows up on screen...Still very satisfied with the Quantum, it's very fast in comparisson to my 8925, but i like the tilt keyboard better.
Thanks well the keyboard seems nice. I still got 5 more months before i decide on getting one.
Doug,
Given that you first used the Focus, how exactly does the Quantum's 3.5" TFT display stand up to the Focus's 4" Super AMOLED?
The Quantum stands out to me for some reason and one of the only real concerns I have is how much I'm giving up on the screen front if I go with the Quantum. Did you feel like you downgraded on the display when you booted up the Quantum?
Appreciate it!
gillbell said:
Doug,
Given that you first used the Focus, how exactly does the Quantum's 3.5" TFT display stand up to the Focus's 4" Super AMOLED?
The Quantum stands out to me for some reason and one of the only real concerns I have is how much I'm giving up on the screen front if I go with the Quantum. Did you feel like you downgraded on the display when you booted up the Quantum?
Appreciate it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Short answer, I do not feel like I downgraded.
Long answer - while the SAMOLED's look great, they have their shortcomings. They're 16-bit only, so there is banding (noticeable, given the size.) Their battery life isn't spectacular, but that could potentially be due to the size of the battery. Since the resolution isn't different, things tend to look sharper on the 3.5" - also, brightness is all personal preference. I thought the SAMOLED was way too bright for me.
Thanks for your time, Doug!
Does the battery life on the LG compare to the Focus? The Focus seems to have great battery life so I don't to give that up if I switch. I am mainly concerned with the sound quality of the Focus. Also, I am worried they won't be able to find a good SD Card for the phone. I think the Focus is the only phone that can combine two different types of memory (NAND and SD-card). I am not sure the OS can handle the speed differential without a software patch to slow down the reads/writes of the NAND so there is no difference between it and the SD-Card.
I saw in the MobileTechReview.com review that the screen sharpness is not that good. What are your thoughts?
Also, how is the sound quality of the phone? Is the speaker loud? Does the earpiece have enough volume?
Thanks in advance for your time and answers. There are not too many good reviews of the phone.
JS
Tested all 3 AT&T devices
After reading many of the reviews on the at&t WP7 offerings I thought what I wanted was the Samsung Focus.
Last week end I spent a couple of hours playing with the phones in the AT&T store. I currently have an htc Fuze and I wanted to stay with htc, but after playing with the Surround I was disappointed with the speakers. The heft was not worth it for the sound.
There are many in my family who are of the iPhone faithful and I have played with their devices many times and am able to type with their on screen keyboards without much trauma. The reviews said the Focus keyboard was as good as the iPhone. The Focus was fun to play with; I liked the 4 inch screen, but my fat fingers could not work the on screen keyboard. I spent quite a while trying to type in both portrait and landscape and I had difficulty getting even one word right. Unfortunately, Focus is out.
At first the LG was of no interest because of the small 3.5 inch screen; I didn't even realize it had a slide out keyboard. I wanted an AT&T WP7 device and the first two, after playing with them for a while, simply were not going to work. When I picked up the LG Quantum the build quality was obvious from the first touch. It felt perfect! To my surprise, I pushed on the case and out popped this very smooth hard keyboard. I was hoping that I could graduate from a hard keyboard after using my kid's iPhones, but after sliding out the LG keyboard I easily typed out a paragraph with no errors! It even has arrow keys which I was unable to find on the soft keyboard which made the much needed editing even more frustrating. I loved the feel of the LG!
After reading many online reviews and a couple of hours of utube videos, I ordered the LG Quantum for $80 from CellularDeals.com. I am now eagerly awaiting its delivery...
is there an app on the quantum that'll let you use the camera flash as a flashlight?
I saw a comment somewhere that indicated there was, but didn't specify if it was homebrew or not.
Quantum Screen Response
gillbell said:
...how exactly does the Quantum's 3.5" TFT display stand up to the Focus's 4" Super AMOLED?...Appreciate it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I now have my Quantum; the screen is the same size as an iPhone and not many iOS users complain about its size.
It seems that sometimes the screen is unresponsive, tap, tap, and nothing happens. I didn't notice it in the att store, but I do now. It may be my inexperience with a full capacitive touch screen, but, for example, if I touch the little arrow on the Home screen to access the app list, nothing happens. I have to swipe the screen to the left instead. The other arrow works intermittently also.
If anyone else has experience a similar unresponsive touch screen, please comment. I could be my unit needs to be replaced.
hey all! i thought id throw in my .02, as i won a quantum, and it arrived the other day! FWIW; i have worked for at&t for well over a decade, and couldn't begin to list the devices that i've had in my posession. however i can say that in 3 years i've rotated through an iphone3g, htc tilt 2, htc aria (which i still am using), samsung captivate, and now the lg. let me state for the record that i'm not a fan of lg phones. in fact i was rather disapointed to find that the quantum was the device i "won", as it was not my first (or second) choice if i were to purchase a wm7 device new. that opinion changed the moment i held, and fired, this beauty up. its nothing short of solid, well built, and highly functional.
this device is as responsive as any other capatacitive screen device ive owned yet...and maybe more so. typing on this device screen is accurate, and percise, even without the haptic feedback some devices offer. i do miss this option, but its not a deal breaker. the color is richer than i expected, considering its not the samoled screens some other devices offer. its size seemed to be a draw back at first glance, compaired to the smasung and htc, but has quickly become a non issue. the coating on the screen is oil phobic, like the iphone3gs, and cleans up quickly. summary: very impressed!
the keyboard...oh the keyboard...
ive never really liked having a physical keyboard. maybe ive become spoiled over the years; maybe since my first "smart phone" (htc sx66), nobody seemed to make one that felt solid. well, ive changed my tune. from the first solid "snap" of the board for service to my fingers, ive been a convert. this is not the crap lg keyboard they have loaded in their other devices. this one is clearly their way of stepping up to the plate, and showing that lg can, in fact, compete in the highly competitive smartphone device market. IMO, the addition of the function and caps buttons away from the main board body seem to make sense, and were a welcome addition. it seems mine dosent have the issue ive read here of a uneven back light. i was able to text in the darkness of my favoriate tavern last night without fuss. all the buttons lit evenly and just bright enough for my aging eyes to see without being over saturated, or needing to squint. granted, it darkenes a bit quick for my liking, im sure future wm7 updates will open more posibilities to adjust this. summary: quite impressed.
call clairity, speaker volume, bluetooth connectivity and battery life are all (mostly)exceeding my expacations. i say "mostly" because the battery seems to not quite make it a full day yet on a full charge. but to be fair, none of the devices i listed above ever really made it on a full charge from bell to bell. ive noticed its network strength is as strong as my aria is, and better than my iphone was (shocker). mulitiple bleutooth devices were added, and used without so much as a wimper. i would like a bit more sound volume (because im a touch deaf in one ear), or at least some sort of equalizer function...but thats more wm7 than lg. summary: really damn impressed!
the size, weight and build quality have (obviously) made me change my mind about lgs ability to produce a viable device that will likely see much use from me before it gets replaced...or should i say "upgraded"? good, solid and dense; it dosent feel like a toy that will crumple under my usage, or break if i get a bit carried away. it feels like a productivity tool...which is exactly how i intend to use it!
I hope this helps provide some perspective...and slightly more than .02!
ciao!
I went from a Tilt2 to a HTC Surround... HATED not having the slide-out keyboard, got an LG Quantum... LOVE IT!!!
Good Battery Life
DamnageD said:
...summary: quite impressed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
DamnageD said:
...call clarity, speaker volume, Bluetooth connectivity and battery life are all (mostly) exceeding my expectations. I say "mostly" because the battery seems to not quite make it a full day yet on a full charge...
ciao!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My Quantum was delivered on 7 December and last night, 20 December, was only the fourth charge including the first one out of the box. Last night I talked with my brother in Oregon for about three hours and the little battery icon was pretty small.
My wife is using the Quantum most of the time and her usage is lower than mine, but she makes and receives calls all day, does a few text messages and when we are driving around, every time she sees blue lights or hears a siren she goes onto her favorite websites, the sheriff’s scanner and fire rescue site. She has her favorite websites pinned to the home screen at the bottom and can logon in seconds anytime with a slid and a tap.
Because of a posting mishap, it is now after 11pm 22 December and the battery icon still says the Quantum has about 1/3 charge after two days of use.
rossi32s said:
I went from a Tilt2 to a HTC Surround... HATED not having the slide-out keyboard, got an LG Quantum... LOVE IT!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so, did you notice phone get too hot when charged ?
I did not have the HTC surround long enough to charge it more than 2x. My LG Quantum does not get hot during charging.
I had to charge my Tilt 2 every day since I use outlook with exchange and the connection is always open. I have the same setup with the Quantum and only charge it every 2-3 days.

Nexus One or G2 --- Worth it?

Currently using a Nexus One, actually have 2 of them. Have the opportunity to make a straight trade for a G2 for one of my N1's.
Other than the keyboard and "4G" connection, is there anything that really is different about these hardware wise?
I know the N1 will get updates faster, but with the use of custom roms this does not affect me. Also, dont have much use for a keyboard, so would this even be a beneficial trade in anyway?
Guess i am just a little confused, any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
G2 is pretty much better in every way except the screen. I have both.
I had a Nexus One and then got a G2 in a BOGO offer at T-Mo. I find myself using the Nexus more. The G2 has some weird issues, like updates to Google Apps that are pre-installed causing force closes (Google Earth, for one, and I can't install the new version of Maps because it constantly runs and shows up as 80% on battery usage when I check to see why it's draining). I also hate how bulky/heavy it is (and it's more annoying since I don't use the keyboard). I have small hands so I find it more comfortable to hold my Nexus. If you use a case (which I need, I tend to drop phones) the phone doesn't stay fully closed due to how the cases snap on.
I guess it depends on your usage. Since you'll be keeping a Nexus, then maybe it'll be fine. If you won't miss the second Nexus, then go for it.
Thanks for the input so far.
I think one of the unknown factors that i am trying to decide is....will the N1 get updates as long as the G2 will? I know the N1 is a developers phone, but with the NS coming out, do any of you think the N1 will stop getting updates although the hardware may very well still support it? With the G2 being 6-8 months newer, will it get updates longer in the future than the N1?
I know we really dont know the answer to this, but it would be interesting to see what you guys think.
Also keep in mind that the G2 is SIGNIFICANTLY heavier than the nexus one. i think it's almost a half-again heavier and that can be a big deal.
If you are going to have a N1 extra I say do it! I have a N1 and have used a G2 before. I hate keyboards built into a phone but that is just my preference. I would not worry about the N1 loosing support because of the NS the N1 I think will always be supported and updated if not always at least until the N1 can not handle newer Android OS. Only then will I upgrade to what ever Nexus is available at that time.
Trade and if you hate it find someone who will trade you for a NS or a N1 again!!
In contrast to Carlos' opinion, I would actually say the screen is BETTER than our N1s. My gf has a G2 and its screen is much sharper than mine. If you're into gaming, I'm guessing the multitouch would be better too. On the downside, it's bulkier because of the unnecessary keyboard.
uansari1 said:
In contrast to Carlos' opinion, I would actually say the screen is BETTER than our N1s. My gf has a G2 and its screen is much sharper than mine. If you're into gaming, I'm guessing the multitouch would be better too. On the downside, it's bulkier because of the unnecessary keyboard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the keyboard is what really makes it the G1's successor.. people were waiting for that.
this is a tough decision. i love the G2 because it's build quality and materials are just like the nexus one, which i love. but i never use a physical keyboard, so that's wasted space to me. but the g2 has the better snapdragon CPU and better GPU, but the nexus one has a better form factor.
since you will still have a nexus one after the trade, go for the g2.
uansari1 said:
In contrast to Carlos' opinion, I would actually say the screen is BETTER than our N1s. My gf has a G2 and its screen is much sharper than mine. If you're into gaming, I'm guessing the multitouch would be better too. On the downside, it's bulkier because of the unnecessary keyboard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The screen is sharper because it is a SLCD like some of the newer N1's, but it uses a back light so the blacks aren't as deep as our AMOLED N1s. My Co-Worker has one and I like it.... but would I trade it for my N1... no.
The G2 is noticeably heavier and thicker. The optical sensor works and supposedly it has a "trackball light" notification around it but I haven't seen it in action. While I dislike keyboard phones, it is comparable to the Nexus. They truly look like brothers.
I don't know if a G2 could replace my Nexus, but if you have 2 N1's and looking for something different then it might be worth a trade.
You guys have been really helpful. Some really good points have been made about both the N1 and G2.
Now i gotta sleep on it and figure out what i decide to do. Will let you guys know!
Leaning towards keeping the second N1 right now....
The G2 is Free on T-Mobile right now if that helps your decision.
yes free G2 and call 611 and say cancel and if you have been a long time customer and paid your bills on time you can ask for the $20 data plan.
I have both phones and I'm thinking about going back to my Nexus one. Few bugs with the G2 have been bothering me. GPS takes awhile to start up and some map issues, which is a big deal for me.
Rooted, they both run very smoothly. I like the weight and the size of the N1 compared to the G2. Less obvious in the pocket and easier to slide out. [Rooting on the N1 was a cake walk compared to the numerous steps and complications with the G2.]
I only use the keyboard while driving (ya, I know it's a bad habit that I need to break) but I can feel that over long uses of the keyboard can lead to future problems more specifically in your thumbs. The hinge gets loose, I've dropped the phone a few times and the screen always snaps open.
What makes me want to use the N1 more is the trackball alerts. G2 is only limited to white and I get tired of checking to see if it's something important or if it's something I can ignore. Also the screen on the N1 seems to be better than the G2 along with the auto brightness sensor.
Girls seem to like playing with my N1 more... just saying
Same dilemma
Well I have the same question. First off, I appreciate this post in general, everyone definitely seems to have good input and good opinions that they back up well. I have kind of the same "issue" so to speak. I am getting a new G2 tomorrow, but I know someone who is willing to give me 100 dollars plus a mint condition n1 for it, what do you guys think I should do? I'm just afraid that in terms of day-day function, the n1 will be slower. Any info is much appreciated!
I considered getting a G2 for a while as well. A few things turned me off:
1. The size of the thing compared to a N1 - this thing is a hefty brick!
2. "Pure" Google, not really...seeing how TMobile conveniently removed tethering, but this can be solved through root
3. The MMS bugs
4. The N1 Car/Home dock are just too slick to give up.
omgdwong said:
I have both phones and I'm thinking about going back to my Nexus one. Few bugs with the G2 have been bothering me. GPS takes awhile to start up and some map issues, which is a big deal for me.
Rooted, they both run very smoothly. I like the weight and the size of the N1 compared to the G2. Less obvious in the pocket and easier to slide out. [Rooting on the N1 was a cake walk compared to the numerous steps and complications with the G2.]
I only use the keyboard while driving (ya, I know it's a bad habit that I need to break) but I can feel that over long uses of the keyboard can lead to future problems more specifically in your thumbs. The hinge gets loose, I've dropped the phone a few times and the screen always snaps open.
What makes me want to use the N1 more is the trackball alerts. G2 is only limited to white and I get tired of checking to see if it's something important or if it's something I can ignore. Also the screen on the N1 seems to be better than the G2 along with the auto brightness sensor.
Girls seem to like playing with my N1 more... just saying
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah i just cant stress enough how excellent the color trackball is on the n1. having color blink in succession, so when i'm at work and i see it blink from red to green to blue to yellow to cyan, and instantly KNOW what each of my 5 messages are, is truly useful. its more useful then anyone without it could ever understand, and its highly under rated i think by many. it may sound cheesy to say "i like colors", but talk about functional and cool at the same time. the perfectly centered nipple just looks classy.

Long road from Inspire to Atrix

Good morning all,
I created this thread in the Inspire forums and thought I'd bring it over here too. It's just my experiences as a daily carrier of both of these devices. It's aimed at people torn between the two handsets, and also to help me ultimately choose which I prefer to keep. Only one will survive.
I've included my running updates in the OP.
___________________________________________________________________
Hello all!
I've had the daunting task to pick between these two phones for the last couple days. I went into the store to actually get the devices in my hand and fully expected to walk out with the Atrix. I've always had a soft spot for HTC, ever since their WoMo phones. I saw the Inspire and was super impressed at how solid the phone felt in my hand. The phone felt very responsive, and I already knew the XDA Inspire team was cranking out some awesome stuff.
I then grabbed the Atrix and was not nearly as wow'd as I had expected to be. I've been following the phone since it's announcement, and pretty much had made up my mind on the spot to pick it up. After spending a half hour goofing around with both phones, I decided the Inspire really won my heart.
Then it happened... The cold sweats... The tossing and turning in bed at night. Images of the Atrix's Tegra 2 laying waste to the earth and doing vile things to my Inspire. My horrid indecision had struck. I decided that I had obviously made the wrong choice, so the next morning I headed off to the store and bought an Atrix without returning my perfectly set up Inspire. I wanted to play with them both side by side and just return whichever one didn't make me happy.
That was a bit over 24 hours ago. After spending the last day with both of the handsets, I am closer to a decision, but it's damn tough. My overall thoughts and struggles follow:
Motorola Atrix:
-Pros:
- Bright, higher resolution screen
- Dual Core processor (even though I thought the experience was pretty weak)
- Battery (theoretical, as I haven't had it long enough to fully experience)
- This goes to the hardware again, but this phone is quite a bit more future proof.
- The handset is light enough to not remind you it's in your pocket at every step.
- GPS (This is the most rock solid phone GPS I've ever used)
- Incredibly loud speaker
- Tons of ram
- HDMI out
-Cons:
- Cheaper build quality (I feel like I need to qualify this. The phone feels solid, but the battery door is, for lack of a better word, brittle)
- Very poor color representation on the otherwise beautiful screen.
- MotoBlur - This is just a very inelegant, unrefined overlay...
- Strange compatibility issues with certain apps
- multiple force closes
- Weak social media integration
- Odd bouts of lag when least expected
- Locked Bootloader (most don't care about this, but it matters when you have a primary developer that has a history of slow patches, feature adds, and os releases.
- Chicklet keyboard is a touch small for me and requires some focus to not miss type.
**FOLLOW-UP**
- I've removed the call quality knock from the Atrix device. It turns out it was entirely my own fault, and while some people, including Motorola, are reporting issues with sound quality on some devices, mine isn't one of them.
HTC Inspire:
-Pros:
- Excellent build quality (the aluminum uni-body is a joy to hold, and has the extra added benefit of being able to be used to fend off an attacker)
- Beautiful 4.3" screen (Yes, it is big, but I'm a fan)
- Sense (I'm not a fan of these proprietary UI's, but Sense shows that HTC can offer up an experience that is easy to like, and provide an attractive interface for a phone OS that is sometimes described as clinical looking)
- The brilliant development community (currently running CoreDroid /drool)
- Very snappy performance from the second gen Snapdragon CPU
- Tons of ram (Not as much as the Atrix, but enough to be a "ton" in my eyes)
- Lovely camera (I used to not care, but I have a new son, so suddenly a camera climbed up the ladder of important features)
- Fantastic out of the box social media integration
- Has that "Just works like it should" feel to it.
- Very clear call quality
- Second best phone gps I've used
-Cons:
- The screen washes out to a grey slab in direct sunlight
- Stock battery life is horrid
- "Electric Razor" ear screen can have some jagged edges and chafe your ear
- Battery door was a ridiculous design decision
- Very current gen hardware (doesn't mean a whole lot if you're not going to be riding this phone for the next two years, but a new day has dawned and it's name is "Multi-core")
- Stock external speaker/notification volume super weak
- odd placement of the number button on the keyboard (thanks iPhone for etching that into my brain)
- recessed power and volume buttons can be a bit tough to find.
- No internal storage (this is just ridiculous)
- Relatively weak GPU
There you have it. That's what I've come up with so far. At the moment, I'm leaning toward the Inspire, as so many of those issues can be (and have been) corrected through roms. In the end, I just don't really get the warm fuzzies from the Atrix. I feel like it's a brilliant set of components tied together with a really sorry software suite, and a manufacturer that doesn't really understand the strengths of their chosen platform, or the customers that choose it.
I will continue carrying both of the devices for the next couple days, but at the moment, the winner is most definitely the Inspire in my eyes. It just feels like it's been polished to a wonderful android flavored candy shine, and with the community behind it, there's really nothing I feel the device won't be able to handle for quite some time.
**Update 1**
The inspire's build quality is top notch. The screen is perfectly alligned and allows no notable give for me. There is also no more light bleed than you expect from an lcd panel, and none to the touch. The battery cover is a pain. Its actually so well fitted that you have to break it in over multiple removals in order to confidently take it off without breaking it. The sim cover fits nicely, and doesn't pose the same pain that the battery cover does. There is a slight raised edge in the center of the sim cover that takes it just out of flush. Its nigh unnoticable. Viewing angles on the inspire's slcd are fantastic. I can see it clearly in a near complete 180 degree angle, with little to no noticable color bleed. It obviously dims as you move from dead center.
The atrix is in the same boat with build quality for the most part. The phone has a good weight, metal rails down the side, well alligned screen, and mostly tight fitting components. I do have some issues here, though. Mainly with the back cover. As noted in my initial post, its very brittle, thin plastic. If you think I broke a sweat taking the inspires battery cover off, you should have seen me trying to get the battery on the atrix. I pulled the top clip free, and almost bent the cover in half fighting the mid phone clips. Also, the back cover on my atrix doesn't line up flush on one side. The last couple issues are the "creakynesss" of the handset. When I grip the phone tightly I can feel the plastic components giving, and settling into place. Not terribly bad, but noticable. The last issue is the fingerprint scanner. It's been pointed out in some reviews, but the scanner is off center on some devices and just looks shoddily thrown together and misalligned.
The atrix beautiful qHD screen also washes out and tints yellow when viewed at extreme angles.
**Update 2**
I've been using the Atrix today as my primary carry handset, and I must say PROPS to Motorola on this battery... I've been beating on it for all I can muster and with almost two full hours of HSPA+ web surfing, Angry Birds while waiting for my food, poking around in the marketplace, and trying out apps, the phone has dropped 25% of the battery in 7 hours of heavy use. I'm pretty damn impressed with that. My focus would be on the charger right now. I'll be going through the exact same process on the Inspire tomorrow to see how everything shakes out.
**Update 3**
I've been carrying my Atrix for the last two days, and I have to admit... It's amazing... I don't mean to sound disappointed, quite the contrary, but I was coming closer to making my decision, and now I'm struggling again.
New Revelations/Findings:
- The little hitches you sometimes see in games like Angry Birds, when scrolling and pinch zooming are all gone... Like, completely gone. That goes for every game/app i've played that is relatively intensive with animation or processing. The Inspire is definitely no slouch, but the performance edge is fully in the Atrix's court.
- The external speaker of the Atrix is LEGEND-(Wait for it)-DARY! I hopped on a conference call last night and it was right on the edge of being as good as the dedicated conference speakers at my office. Really outstanding.
- The screen is also really pretty. I, once again, had to run from hospital to hospital yesterday and while outside was able to see every color, icon, and word on my screen. It made me secure in the fact that no matter where I took the device, i would be able to rely on it 100%, and it would perform as well as I could ever ask for.
I've been using the anti-glare/anti-fingerprint Case-Mate screen protectors on both of the devices since i've purchased them, and these things just destroy the fidelity of the screen. I will be getting my Realook protectors tomorrow, and will get to experience a bit more vibrance from both screens.
I'm still fairly disappointed with the color reproduction of the qHD screen. It's really in your face when you have the two devices sitting side by side. The SLCD screen of the Inspire is much more natural looking.
MotoBlur is still a disappointment, but after setting up LauncherPro Plus and getting Beautiful Widgets, and exploring LauncherPro's new facebook widget (think FriendStream). It's become nearly a non-issue. I've been using ADW as well, and it's great, but the Atrix seems to love LauncherPro, and I love LauncherPro... Guess that's a match made in Android heaven.
My experience, for most part mirrors yours. I went from the Captivate to the Inspire to the Atrix. I kept the Inspire for about a week and immediately missed the screen on the Captivate.
The Inspire's screen is definitely sharp, but I like the contrast on the captivate. The black text sharpness on the Atrix is really good and very comparable to the Inspire and both beat the pants off the Captivate.
I'd have to disagree with the build quality of the Inspire. Yes, aluminum feels solid compared to the plastic on the Atrix and does give you that solid quality feeling, but I had the same plastic alignment issues with two Inspires I went through. The plastic parts just doesn't line up evenly with the aluminum. The battery door was never a problem with me because of the gaps were plastic met aluminum. I was always able to get my finger nails in two places to pull the cover off easily and without destroying the soft touch cover.
Call quality on the Inspire's headset speaker always sounded tinny and lack the volume of the Atrix. The loudspeaker is really, really weak on the Inspire. The Atrix's loudspeaker has surprisingly good range, I hear a semblance of bass when playing media.
Security wise, the fingerprint scanner is a really good feature on the Atrix, makes me wonder why no one has done it before on a mobile phone. So much faster to unlock securely without a passcode or drawing.
The camera on the Inspire is better than the Atrix. The Inspire's pics come out with more contrast and better color. The Atrix has sharp images, but the color look a little washed out and there way more noise. Seems like Motorola wanted sharper images and turn down the noise reduction. Noise reduction is a big killer when it comes to image sharpness.
+1 just for referencing Barney Stinson.
Haha no, but really, this is a good comparison of the Inspire and the Atrix. I agree with most, if not all, of your pros and cons. I really can't help but emphasize the battery life though. I usually end up having to buy a spare battery and charger set for my smartphones, but it seems really unnecessary for the Atrix. If you're a power user, that's reason enough to pick the Atrix over the Inspire.
I agree almost 100%
I sit here with both phones still. I love the Inspire, and Gingerblur on the Atrix makes me love the Atrix.
The interwebz speed is what is forcing the Inspire as my daily driver at the moment.
I have gone through 3 atrix's already, when i have it, i want to sell it, as you can see in my signature, and when i sell it, i want one. thus #3....
I almost NEED to wait and see 4g... and this backhaul att speaks of....
And then there is the Samsung infuse/enfuse? idk... But they say when its dropped, it will most certainly have the capable speeds, as will the 2 other flagship "4g" phones.
I treat my phones with utmost care, as i usually am selling them for the new and next best thing, and want to ensure they can be purchased as a 10/10 quality. That being said, I will say the case-mate case i have on the inspire gives GREAT protection, but makes a big phone even bigger, the atrix with the bodyglove feels tiny in my hands after 2 weeks of driving the inspire... I recently sold another iphone4, and it reminded me of the atrix in my hands, not build quality, as you mentioned above, but size...
4.3 qHD would be a perfect mix for me, and I am sure is what is in store for future HTC devices... but for now, I am in the same dilemia many are.
to Inspire, or not Inspire and Atrix my way through the rough of it...
to the avg user, hdmi out is no biggie, but to the ub3r geek in me who likes to VPN home, CIFS mount shares, and stream, hdmi is a big deal....
oh woe is me.....
Today Inspire still drives me to and from.... CM7rc4 battery gets me through the day, even as an Exchange Admin with more email on touchdown then most people, including gmail push...
But that said, i come right back with the atrix could get me past a full day!
like the good old Blackberry days..
theres my 2 cents, thrown into the pot, both heads up...
~killster
I'm so sick of these threads.
Man_of_Leisure said:
I'm so sick of these threads.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then don't read 'em... Problem solved.
Divinedark said:
Then don't read 'em... Problem solved.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just like you have the right to create threads, I have the right to respond to them. If you don't like that, you want a blog, not a forum.
Man_of_Leisure said:
Just like you have the right to create threads, I have the right to respond to them. If you don't like that, you want a blog, not a forum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are absolutely correct. I appreciate your need to contribute completely unrelated, and pointless reflections on your own worthless personal opinion in my thread. So many others that are trying to decide between these two devices will find your additions to the subject of this thread invaluable. I truly hope that you will continue to follow that urge to spout your own polished, self-important drivel in the rest of the threads on this forum. If you don't, you will effectively be robbing us of your wisdom.
I'm sorry that I wasted your time reading my relatively well researched and thought out comparison between two close competing devices on the same carrier. From this point forward I'll be sure to continue adding to the typical device war crap like "TEH ATRIX IS A$$" and what not. That should sate your thirst for informative and entertaining topics on this forum.
Again. I'm very sorry.
Man_of_Leisure said:
Just like you have the right to create threads, I have the right to respond to them. If you don't like that, you want a blog, not a forum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 I'm pretty sure there's already at least fifteen threads about Inspire vs Atrix. I thank you for taking the time to compare both and noting their strengths and weaknesses but like I said, there's already a ton of these threads and they just repeat the same opinions/info.
Clienterror said:
+1 I'm pretty sure there's already at least fifteen threads about Inspire vs Atrix. I thank you for taking the time to compare both and noting their strengths and weaknesses but like I said, there's already a ton of these threads and they just repeat the same opinions/info.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's true that there are a lot of posts that contribute this kind of information, but this one in particular was well thought out and written, and that helps provide a better reference for those interested. I also value those posts that say good things about devices. A lot of posts tend to complain about whatever device they're talking about. It's nice to have some good things to say in order to balance out the amount of user feedback.
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk
Yea... the majority of threads you see with this same general topic are basically just "The Atrix BLOWS!!!! I'm going back to my Inspire" blah blah blah. He was polite enough to explain his thoughts on the phone thoroughly, and go through his overall opinion on the phone over time, showing what has changed in his mind about each phone. Can kinda think of it more as a "phone review" than a "disgruntled customer".....
There are many Inspire / Atrix threads I've read but this one is a good, unbiased, well written everyday user experience. +1 for op.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Divinedark said:
I do have some issues here, though. Mainly with the back cover. As noted in my initial post, its very brittle, thin plastic. If you think I broke a sweat taking the inspires battery cover off, you should have seen me trying to get the battery on the atrix. I pulled the top clip free, and almost bent the cover in half fighting the mid phone clips. Also, the back cover on my atrix doesn't line up flush on one side. The last couple issues are the "creakynesss" of the handset. When I grip the phone tightly I can feel the plastic components giving, and settling into place. Not terribly bad, but noticable. The last issue is the fingerprint scanner. It's been pointed out in some reviews, but the scanner is off center on some devices and just looks shoddily thrown together and misalligned.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The battery cover design is one of the things I really like about the Atrix. It is flexible on my phone, not brittle at all. It fits well and is a breeze to get on and off -- after the first time. The first time I was also a little scared and it caught at the middle a little. Since then, it is trivial to do. Of course, it spends most of its time covered by two layers of Otterbox Commuter in my case.
I have not noticed any creakiness -- seems very solid to me. It's reinforced by the Otterbox, so I might not ever notice anyway.
My fingerprint scanner doesn't seem to work at all. I get nothing but too short a swipe messages (works for me about 1 time out of 20). I have been assuming this is due it being placed down in a little hole by the Otterbox. I'm perfectly willing to give that up to get the extra protection and reduced slipperiness. My last unprotected phone (BB 9000) only made it a year before I dropped it many times including into 2 feet of water (don't ask, I need to be drinking to talk about it).
Yea.... i had the Defender for a day or so before i returned it for that one reason. Made it a bit more tricky to use the fingerprint reader. Found that too many times when i went to swipe (almost typed Swype in there... and no, not even on my phone. haha) my finger, it would wind up getting stuck with the outer soft casing of the Defender and either stop mid-swipe or skip part of my fingertip.
fingerprint scanner works great for me; when i first got it i thought it would be a useless novelty.
Slade8525 said:
fingerprint scanner works great for me; when i first got it i thought it would be a useless novelty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not saying it doesn't work great. It works phenomenally. The issue is that some cases.... or mostly the OtterBox Defender, has quite a large hole where the fingerprint scanner resides.... and part of that hole is surrounded by the soft silicon/rubber of the outer shell of the case, which can make trying to get a solid swipe across the fingerprint reader a bit of a pain.
This is a pretty good review. I too left for an inspire and couldn't be happier, but I can see why people like their Atrix. Having cm7 was the deal breaker for me but if roms aren't a big deal the Atrix might be a better fit. I also had two phones with extremely bad call quality issues but I hear that's more of an isolated thing.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App
I came from the captivate...to the atrix to the inspire and back to the atrix ...the only thing I miss from the inspire is htc sense
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
slimslim said:
There are many Inspire / Atrix threads I've read but this one is a good, unbiased, well written everyday user experience. +1 for op.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 great unbiased and amusing post. I was about to moan when I saw how long your post was, Divinedark but your well thought out/written comparison made me finish it without realizing it.
Well written OP. It's actually like two reviews of both phones and not just which beats which.
Thank you.

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