Smartphone conundrum: which to get?

YantorYantor Denver
edited January 2011 in Science & Tech
So in the next few months I'm planning on getting a smart phone (I'm what, 3 years behind on that bit of geek cred?) ...however, because I am a poor post-collegiate, I want to just tack the data plan onto my parent's family plan so I don't have go broke paying for this thing. Which brings us to the issue- the plan is through T-mobile. So whatever phone I get has to work with T-mobile.

Based on their website, I've narrowed my indecision to between the Samsung Vibrant and the T-Mobile G2... which of these phones would you suggest? Or would it be better to try to jailbreak something else onto T-mobile (if that could even be done to stick it into an existing plan)?
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Comments

  • fatcatfatcat Mizzou Icrontian
    edited January 2011
    G2>Vibrant times 10
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited January 2011
    The G2 is the single coolest device I've ever owned. I've had it for 2 or 3 months now and I can't get over how powerful it is. It is a spectacular device that you will find no end of wonderment with. It's pure magic in a tiny stainless steel body.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited January 2011
    The T-Mobile G2 blows the Vibrant out of the water. It's probably the best size/performance Android handset out there. You'll dig it.
  • YantorYantor Denver
    edited January 2011
    Nice. Thank you.

    One more question! When I was poking over the specs I noticed that the G2 does not have "International Capability", which is the ability to access the web on compatible data networks throughout the world (copied straight from the website) ...is this likely an issue in Canada? Don't want to be wandering around SIGGRAPH '11 without a tether to the internet, after all.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited January 2011
    The T-Mobile G2 is compatible with WIND Mobile and Mobilicity in Canada and T-Mobile (dur) in the United States.

    The Canadian variant, known as the Desire Z, is compatible with Bell, Rogers and Telus in Canada, and AT&T in the United States.

    These compatibility statements assume a carrier unlocked handset. Your carrier must also have a roaming agreement with a compatible carrier in a foreign country for roaming to function.
  • YantorYantor Denver
    edited January 2011
    So...it will work in Canada, if I parsed that right.

    For my own future hunting, where did you dig up this knowledge please?
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited January 2011
    I follow smartphones religiously. Some of the sites I read include Engadget Mobile, MobileSyrup, BoyGeniusReport, PhoneScoop and Ai.rs. The short answer is: I didn't get the information from any one site, and I pick up most of my knowledge just by farming links every day.

    If you get a G2, ask T-Mobile if it has roaming agreements with any Canadian carriers before you buy. Just because the G2 is technically compatible with WIND and Mobilicity in Canada does not mean that their networks will admit you with a T-Mobile SIM card. You might need to buy a prepaid WIND or Mobilicity SIM card if you intend to use your G2 there.
  • ColgereColgere Cincinnati, OH Icrontian
    edited January 2011
    Just for reference, here is the T-Mobile International Roaming page.
  • mas0nmas0n howdy Icrontian
    edited January 2011
    Only real advantage the Vibrant has over G2 is the 4" SAMOLED. IMHO, there is no better display in the mobile space right now.

    I love Samsung's hardware but can not overstate how much they suck at the software side of things. That's precisely why I dropped my Vibrant for the Nexus S. Samsung's hardware and they don't get any say in the software.

    I think you should also consider the NS as an option.
  • TushonTushon I'm scared, Coach Alexandria, VA Icrontian
    edited January 2011
    I'm going to a nexus S sometime in the next few months from my LG Shine ........
  • UPSLynxUPSLynx :KAPPA: Redwood City, CA Icrontian
    edited January 2011
    The Vibrant comes with AVATAR preloaded on the device.
  • fatcatfatcat Mizzou Icrontian
    edited January 2011
    UPSLynx wrote:
    The Vibrant comes with BLUE ALIEN PORN preloaded on the device.

    fixt

    yes, watching movies on your phone is why YOU should buy a phone. the Vibrant also includes Sims3
  • UPSLynxUPSLynx :KAPPA: Redwood City, CA Icrontian
    edited January 2011
    Hey, Yantor works in the VFX industry. It's relevant :)
  • YantorYantor Denver
    edited January 2011
    UPSLynx wrote:
    The Vibrant comes with TINY BLUE ALIEN PORN preloaded on the device.

    Half the value of Avatar was how awesome it is visually, something that wouldn't be conveyed on a 4" screen, in my humble, biased, and stubborn opinion (imhbaso?)

    Definately appreciate all your suggestions, and I've been looking over specs and reviews on the mentioned devices...but I think i gotta get them in my hands to really decide.
  • UPSLynxUPSLynx :KAPPA: Redwood City, CA Icrontian
    edited January 2011
    IMHBASO. I like it.
  • mas0nmas0n howdy Icrontian
    edited January 2011
    Yantor wrote:
    Half the value of Avatar was how awesome it is visually, something that wouldn't be conveyed on a 4" screen, in my humble, biased, and stubborn opinion (imhbaso?)

    Avatar's inclusion is to show off the device display and not showcase the film itself. In this regard, it serves its purpose well.
  • ins4n17yins4n17y Cabanatuan City, Philippines Icrontian
    edited January 2011
    samsung all the way
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited January 2011
    Samsung has a proven track record of significantly postponing, or altogether canceling, firmware upgrades, particularly for their Android handsets.

    Samsung doesn't offer anything that Motorola or HTC don't offer with the promise of better software support.
  • AlexDeGruvenAlexDeGruven Wut? Meechigan Icrontian
    edited January 2011
    Samsung has the hardware advantage, for sure. But as Thrax noted, their software support leaves a lot lacking.

    At this point, Galaxy S devices (in the US) will see Gingerbread (2.3) from the hacking community before the powers-that-be determine us mortals worthy of FroYo (2.2).
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited January 2011
    And then there was the Samsung Galaxy (original), which Samsung promised and promised would receive an upgrade to Android 2.x... then it never did.
  • ardichokeardichoke Icrontian
    edited January 2011
    Then again, even Google itself is failing to deliver on the firmware updates... I'm still waiting on 2.3 for my Nexus One despite them saying it would be out "in a few weeks" back in early December.

    Moral of the story: don't buy a phone counting on software upgrades. Buy a phone because you like where it is right then and there.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited January 2011
    Unless your Nexus One is a developer model received directly from Google at a conference (or similar), you're still at the mercy of your carrier for N1 updates.
  • ardichokeardichoke Icrontian
    edited January 2011
    At the mercy of the carrier to push out the update, yes, but Google hasn't even released an official image yet.

    Back when they updated to 2.2, Google put official images up for download regardless of whether or not the carrier pushed an OTA update.
  • SnarkasmSnarkasm Madison, WI Icrontian
    edited January 2011
    From Computerworld:
    So who can you trust to provide timely Android upgrades, and whose track record is less than impressive? I set out to find that answer. I compiled data on all Android phones released in the U.S. between 2009 and 2010. I looked at which phones were upgraded to Froyo by the end of 2010, and which were either still waiting or being left behind. I calculated exactly how many days it took for each phone to receive its upgrade, then used that data to generate overall upgrade reliability scores for all the major manufacturers and carriers....

    ... When it comes to sheer number of upgrades, HTC is the best by a long shot, with 50 percent of its Android phones having been bumped to Froyo within 2010. Its average upgrade time is also relatively impressive, at 56 days.

    ... Motorola comes in second for number of upgrades, with 15.4 percent of its Android phones having tasted Froyo before the end of 2010... Motorola's average upgrade time was the best of any manufacturer, at 54.5 days.

    ... Samsung swings into third place in terms of both overall upgrade numbers and average upgrade time. Samsung so far has upgraded only one out of nine Android phones that fit the criteria for our comparison, giving it an upgrade score of 11.1 percent. That phone -- the Samsung Intercept -- was on the market for 159 days before getting its upgrade. Its rollout also encountered some serious problems -- so all together, this score is not one to be proud of.

    Emphasis mine.
  • RootWyrmRootWyrm Icrontian
    edited January 2011
    Something to be aware of on Samsung. I lost the link, but an inside source at Samsung basically said that they're fighting with the carriers over the cost for Android upgrades. Verizon only got one due to an existing contract. All other Android devices from Google will not receive any upgrades under any circumstances until either the carriers pay Samsung (apparently a ridiculous sum) for vanilla Android builds or Samsung agrees to a lower delivery price on Android upgrades.
  • SnarkasmSnarkasm Madison, WI Icrontian
    edited January 2011
    It was on XDA, Jared and I tweeted it. Samsung contradicted that, though. The difference was between maintenance updates and feature updates, but Samsung says that's not the case.
  • RootWyrmRootWyrm Icrontian
    edited January 2011
    Snarkasm wrote:
    It was on XDA, Jared and I tweeted it. Samsung contradicted that, though. The difference was between maintenance updates and feature updates, but Samsung says that's not the case.

    Ah, right. Yeah. Either way, it boiled down to Samsung wanting a lot more money than the carriers were willing to pay. Frankly, I wouldn't trust any official "clarification" or such from Samsung at this point, either. They're entirely alone on this one. (Others look to be simply employing the standard "if we don't update it then they'll have to buy a new phone" strategy.)
  • AlexDeGruvenAlexDeGruven Wut? Meechigan Icrontian
    edited January 2011
    A supposed Verizon rep chimed in as well to state that Sammy is still the issue. Reportedly, they'll ship a 2.2 build to VZ, and then come back and pull it a couple of days later because something is broken.

    I think most of it boils down to Samsung's developers sucking.
  • GooDGooD Quebec (CAN) Member
    edited January 2011
    I read many complaints about the "Z" opening design of the G2 Keyboard that wont clip when it's open so its kinda "free" to close easily.

    I'm in for a new phone soon so i'm interested in the G2 too :)

    So... Any of you have experience frustration with the keyboard of the G2 ? :P

    Btw i've read about the HTC Desire Z, not the G2... but it is the same phone as the G2 but here in Canada, if i am right ;) Seems like it got the G2 naming only in the US.
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited January 2011
    I have had the G2 for a few months now and I have experienced exactly none of the issues that I have seen around the web about the hinges or keyboard problems.

    The keyboard is way, way better than the G1 and I got used to it in about 10 minutes (it's much "wider" than the old keyboard). The hinges are tight and my phone closes just fine. I really don't know what people are talking about.
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