Help : Time For A Upgrade

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#428928 19-Jan-2011 18:55

I got my HTC Desire HD 2 months ago after weighing up carefully a choice of the standard desire, the SGS and an iphone.
It cost approx $1000 and I have not rooted it. It does everything I want it to with stock senseUI. I love the huge 4.3 inch screen and the fact that the ability to add widgets means I can read the time without having to put on my reading glasses. Add in what is available from the market, a lot of it free. Android 2.2 gives me the ability to use the phone as a wifi hotspot, which I did on holiday. I guess what I'm getting at is the phone is perfectly adequate straight out of the box.
I rejected the other phones for the following reasons.
SGS, plasticky and cheap feeling, great specs let down by details like the GPS and memory lag and a clunky UI.
Desire, same hardware as the HD, but the bigger screen and 2.2 out of the box put the HD ahead.
Iphone, $200 dearer, couldn't actually walk out of the shop with one unless I went on a plan, handset if locked down hard. There is much more but it will sound like a fanboy rant.
The nexus s had only just been announced and was way too expensive.
The DHD is not without limitations. The main one us battery life but I can easily get a full day, and sometimes more, depending on whether I use it as a phone or a laptop replacement.

Sent from my Desire HD using SlideIT.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

Damager

2125 posts

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#428933 19-Jan-2011 19:06

Dingbatt

I rejected the other phones for the following reasons.

SGS, plasticky and cheap feeling, great specs let down by details like the GPS and memory lag and a clunky UI.

Sent from my Desire HD using SlideIT.

That's the reason I bought the Captivate, it's not plasticy and cheap feeling like the SGS. The GPS is fine, and the clunky UI, well it's a no brainer to change. Never really experienced any lag, and I have over 100 apps loaded, though installing a lagfix definitely improves the speed.

- Telstra HTC Touch Pro2 - Energy ROM WM6.5.5 20 Oct/Cyanogen Mod Froyo 2.2 - R.I.P
- AT&T Galaxy S Captivate 16GB on XT (now with brother)
- Samsung Galaxy S2 on XT- Runs ICS 4.0.3 Resurrection Remix 9.2
- Business Hours - Work In The Electricity Industry, After Hours - DJ/Turntablist - Will Scratch Vinyl For Free'
- What's next??? S3?

ArtooDetoo

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#428943 19-Jan-2011 19:45

"The nexus s had only just been announced and was way too expensive."

$600 US equates as $750 NZ. Add shipping (or get somebody here to pick one for you when they're in the States...) at ~ $15.

That phone is a cool piece of kit. Except for the lack of external SD that is. Gingerbread? Awesome.

Count the Nexus S out at your peril. But it's not a starter for a Dev's phone.

Cheers,
R2D2

Galaxy S has gone to its new owner. HTC Sensation has gone to its new
owner. Galaxy S3 has gone to its new owner. Now using Galaxy Note 3. Skipping Note 4 I think...

ArtooDetoo

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#428947 19-Jan-2011 20:09

Damager:
Dingbatt

I rejected the other phones for the following reasons.

SGS, plasticky and cheap feeling, great specs let down by details like the GPS and memory lag and a clunky UI.

Sent from my Desire HD using SlideIT.

That's the reason I bought the Captivate, it's not plasticy and cheap feeling like the SGS. The GPS is fine, and the clunky UI, well it's a no brainer to change. Never really experienced any lag, and I have over 100 apps loaded, though installing a lagfix definitely improves the speed.?

Dingbatt hombre...

I don't really get your 'plasticy' and 'cheap' vibe from the SGS. But each to his own. Having done a month in Canada, US and Mexico, the SGS's GPS was more accurate than the rented Garmin dedicated item that came with the rental car.

So would I bet my life on it? Way better than nothing and it was surprisingly, reassuringly accurate.

Buenos nochos compradres...
el ArtooDeetoo

Galaxy S has gone to its new owner. HTC Sensation has gone to its new
owner. Galaxy S3 has gone to its new owner. Now using Galaxy Note 3. Skipping Note 4 I think...

Damager

2125 posts

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#428949 19-Jan-2011 20:15

ArtooDetoo:
Damager:
Dingbatt

I rejected the other phones for the following reasons.

SGS, plasticky and cheap feeling, great specs let down by details like the GPS and memory lag and a clunky UI.

Sent from my Desire HD using SlideIT.

That's the reason I bought the Captivate, it's not plasticy and cheap feeling like the SGS. The GPS is fine, and the clunky UI, well it's a no brainer to change. Never really experienced any lag, and I have over 100 apps loaded, though installing a lagfix definitely improves the speed.?

Dingbatt hombre...

I don't really get your 'plasticy' and 'cheap' vibe from the SGS. But each to his own. Having done a month in Canada, US and Mexico, the SGS's GPS was more accurate than the rented Garmin dedicated item that came with the rental car.

So would I bet my life on it? Way better than nothing and it was surprisingly, reassuringly accurate.

Buenos nochos compradres...
el ArtooDeetoo

I should retract my own cheap and plasticy comment actually.. I Bought the Captivate firstly as I needed to be on XT and it was cheaper outright than the Telecom I9000T. The phone is very light and it probably exagerrates the "cheap and plasticy" feel. But seeing as there have been over 10 million Galaxy S handsets sold worldwide... it can't be that cheap or plasticy.. the phone is still a winner in many many respects.

nofam

1094 posts

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#428950 19-Jan-2011 20:16

ArtooDetoo:
Damager:
Dingbatt

I rejected the other phones for the following reasons.

SGS, plasticky and cheap feeling, great specs let down by details like the GPS and memory lag and a clunky UI.

Sent from my Desire HD using SlideIT.

That's the reason I bought the Captivate, it's not plasticy and cheap feeling like the SGS. The GPS is fine, and the clunky UI, well it's a no brainer to change. Never really experienced any lag, and I have over 100 apps loaded, though installing a lagfix definitely improves the speed.?

Dingbatt hombre...

I don't really get your 'plasticy' and 'cheap' vibe from the SGS. But each to his own. Having done a month in Canada, US and Mexico, the SGS's GPS was more accurate than the rented Garmin dedicated item that came with the rental car.

So would I bet my life on it? Way better than nothing and it was surprisingly, reassuringly accurate.

Buenos nochos compradres...
el ArtooDeetoo

R2!! I was starting to think you'd fallen off the face of the earth! Welcome back! :-D

ArtooDetoo

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#428953 19-Jan-2011 20:40

nofam: R2!!? I was starting to think you'd fallen off the face of the earth!? Welcome back! :-D

Gracias se?or nofam.

Canada's cell network it positively archaic. So is the USA's. And don't get me started on Mexico's. If it's not locked to a contract, data is out of the question. Roaming is usurous for data. None of the collect call numbers I was given worked. Poo.

My advice is if you hit Nth America, Skype is your best bet. Didn't fail, but sometimes took some goes to get connections. BestBuy in major centres have good deals on batteries, memory cards, cases, cables blah, blah, blah...

And it's nice to be driving on the "proper" side of the road again.

Cheers,
R2D2

Galaxy S has gone to its new owner. HTC Sensation has gone to its new
owner. Galaxy S3 has gone to its new owner. Now using Galaxy Note 3. Skipping Note 4 I think...

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ArtooDetoo

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#428959 19-Jan-2011 20:59

Damager: I Bought the Captivate firstly as I needed to be on XT and it was cheaper outright than the Telecom I9000T. The phone is very light and it probably exagerrates the "cheap and plasticy" feel. But seeing as there have been over 10 million Galaxy S handsets sold worldwide... it can't be that cheap or plasticy.. the phone is still a winner in many many respects.

You know dude, I handled every Samsung Galaxy variant there is in the US and Canada and Mexico in AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Rogers, Fido, TelCel ad infinitum. Some handsets looked like mine, some subtly different with different buttons, others quite different in look and feel. The Int'l SGS is imho the best looking, best feeling smartphone on the market. Except for the Nexus S. Get Sammy to allow Micro SD expansion and that phone'd be the mutt's nuts.

Rumour has it that Apple are finally going to allow Micro SD expansion with the CDMA version for Verizon and in June, the GSM variant. Most iPhone folks I know would say "About time". Some day Apple will catch up with Android. Maybe.

R2D2

Galaxy S has gone to its new owner. HTC Sensation has gone to its new
owner. Galaxy S3 has gone to its new owner. Now using Galaxy Note 3. Skipping Note 4 I think...

Itr0nic

94 posts

Master Geek

#429048 20-Jan-2011 02:18

So iv been been at work for the last 9 hours and before i got home i was thinking about getting a iphone but i dont think i will im going with my gut here and going for a Android phone have have some questions

Where are the best places to get the phones below that will work on the XT network and not have carrier crap on it and that everything on the phone that will work

-HTC Desire HD -Galaxy S -Nexus One

And is there any versions i should avoid ? Like a version of one of these phones that will work on vodafone or 2degrees and not on the network im using ( Telecom XT )

I don't mind tinkering , but is there any chance i could end up with a costly paper weight ?

Are there any ROMS that wont work on XT ?

lokhor

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#429072 20-Jan-2011 08:49

Make sure it supports 850mhz 3g and you will be fine on Telecom. For the Galaxy S there is a particular model the I9000T I think that supports Telecom.

All comments are my own opinion, and not that of my employer unless explicitly stated.

Dingbatt

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#429077 20-Jan-2011 09:11

Sorry when I bought my Desire HD the shop had vf/2d only. May have led a false trail as I don't know where to source an xt compatible handset.

As for some of the feedback from my post, I was only offering food for thought, not maligning others choices.
The SGS felt cheap and plasticky, not that it was C and P. I have high hopes for the SGS2 should it ever be produced because the amoled screen is great.

I have to be able to hold a phone in my hand and look at the display before buying, which I know is limiting, but the DHD had reports of some quality control problems with components fitting into the aluminium unibody.

So no nexus s because its not available from a bricks and mortar store here. And yes I know people have successfully imported phones, and all credit to them, I just prefer being able to eyeball the vendor and have a counter to thump if something goes awry.

If htc are true to form their next world phone should be announced about March/April which will make my DHD obsolete so don't fret your purchase too much because the next ' best phone in the world ' is always just around the corner.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

ArtooDetoo

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#429092 20-Jan-2011 09:47

Dingbatt: As for some of the feedback from my post, I was only offering food for thought, not maligning others choices.
The SGS felt cheap and plasticky, not that it was C and P. I have high hopes for the SGS2 should it ever be produced because the amoled screen is great.

I have to be able to hold a phone in my hand and look at the display before buying, which I know is limiting, but the DHD had reports of some quality control problems with components fitting into the aluminium unibody.

So no nexus s because its not available from a bricks and mortar store here.

Fair enough, and my comments were intended to point out that "cheap and plasticky" is a rather subjective measure. Coming as I have from a Nokia E63, the SGS certainly feels much less "c&p" than that device. And frankly, the SGS feels no less premium to me than the market leading iPhone 3Gs, plastic back notwithstanding. But that's also subjective.

I totally agree that importing has its risks which is why I own a locally sourced SGS. I took the opportunity while in the States to check out the Nexus S and might have taken the risk had it been the perfect phone for me, but I knew before going that it wasn't so it was never a real consideration.

I really like this SGS and have no regrets over its purchase, and subsequent 'sorting'. But another smartphone will appear that is better, more desirable, more innovative and no doubt I will buy one, regardless of its manufacturer and provided it runs Android, as that's the OS I'm developing for.

Cheers,
R2D2

Galaxy S has gone to its new owner. HTC Sensation has gone to its new
owner. Galaxy S3 has gone to its new owner. Now using Galaxy Note 3. Skipping Note 4 I think...

dclegg

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#429098 20-Jan-2011 09:53

ArtooDetoo:
Fair enough, and my comments were intended to point out that "cheap and plasticky" is a rather subjective measure.

It certainly is. I think I need to see a Galaxy S in its working state in order to make a definitive judgement. I've only seen it in dummy form in retailers such as Dick Smith and Vodafone stores. Where is the best place to see one in action in Auckland?

I'm also comparing build quality to that of my wifes iPhone 4, which is a sturdly little bugger, and that may not be an overly fair comparison to make. But when I'm looking at a phone of a similar price, I expect a similar level of build quality.

nofam

1094 posts

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#429104 20-Jan-2011 10:07

dclegg:
ArtooDetoo:
Fair enough, and my comments were intended to point out that "cheap and plasticky" is a rather subjective measure.

It certainly is. I think I need to see a Galaxy S in its working state in order to make a definitive judgement. I've only seen it in dummy form in retailers such as Dick Smith and Vodafone stores. Where is the best place to see one in action in Auckland?

I'm also comparing build quality to that of my wifes iPhone 4, which is a sturdly little bugger, and that may not be an overly fair comparison to make. But when I'm looking at a phone of a similar price, I expect a similar level of build quality.

"Build Quality" is a rather meaningless factor to be honest; it comes back to how you treat your device. I have a back protector, but no screen protector for my SGS. I look after it, and it still looks mint.

My brother-in-law has an iPhone 4 with a screenguard but no case, and he thrashes the hell out of it. It looks like dog-tucker on all sides, and is starting to have call-quality issues.

And yes, pictures of the iPhone and Galaxy S screens really don't do them justice; and you can't really make a call on the OS until you've seen how customizable Android is, and how convoluted iOS is!! :-P

ArtooDetoo

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#429106 20-Jan-2011 10:12

dclegg:
ArtooDetoo:?
Fair enough, and my comments were intended to point out that "cheap and plasticky" is a rather subjective measure.?

It certainly is. I think I need to see a Galaxy S in its working state in order to make a definitive judgement. I've only seen it in dummy form in retailers such as Dick Smith and Vodafone stores. Where is the best place to see one in action in Auckland?

I'm also comparing build quality to that of my wifes iPhone 4, which is a sturdly little bugger, and that may not be an overly fair comparison to make. But when I'm looking at a phone of a similar price, I expect a similar level of build quality.

DSE, Bond&Bond, Noel Leeming and Parallel Imported all sell the SGS. Others also but can't tell you off the top of my head. To see a working one will require you go to a Vodafone reseller like the Sylvia Park outlet.

The iP4 certainly feels sturdy and is absolutely top class in fit and finish. Its screen is also smaller than the SGS's, it's arguably more vulnerable to breakage and it's noticeably heavier than the Galaxy, as you'll see. And the Samsumg's screen is really excellent - compare the two phones side by side in the shop and outside if they'll let you.

The SGS will set you back around $800, the iP4 around $1100 (depending on where and when you buy). I doubt though that you'll be able to buy an iP4 without signing up to a plan.

Cheers,
R2D2

Galaxy S has gone to its new owner. HTC Sensation has gone to its new
owner. Galaxy S3 has gone to its new owner. Now using Galaxy Note 3. Skipping Note 4 I think...

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