Before you get the Atrix....

[khalim]

Hi.. First post here. so be easy. I'm a pretty heavy tech guy (esp in open source) but fairly unfamiliar with android and related issues.
Considering the Atrix and read/watched lots of reviews (interfering with work and home now)
Anyway, questions: The Camera, being referred to as a "major disappointment" - Can this be fixed via firmware update?
Also, How much of the speed issues people complain about are related to the AT&T network limitations? The highest DL speed I got on speedtest.net was a smidgen over 3.1 Mbps. More consistent is the typical ~1.3 Mbps everyone talks about.

I LOVE the Atrix concepts - and 100% support Android's ability to HOST usb devices and run more desktop-py apps like Firefox... BUT I also love the consistent speed of >6 Mbps DL times on the Evo with Sprint's 4G.

Any chance that this will be possible with AT&T in the near future? ("Before I get the Atrix")

 

[lshuman]

Hi.. First post here. so be easy. I'm a pretty heavy tech guy (esp in open source) but fairly unfamiliar with android and related issues.
Considering the Atrix and read/watched lots of reviews (interfering with work and home now)
Anyway, questions: The Camera, being referred to as a "major disappointment" - Can this be fixed via firmware update?
Also, How much of the speed issues people complain about are related to the AT&T network limitations? The highest DL speed I got on speedtest.net was a smidgen over 3.1 Mbps. More consistent is the typical ~1.3 Mbps everyone talks about.

I LOVE the Atrix concepts - and 100% support Android's ability to HOST usb devices and run more desktop-py apps like Firefox... BUT I also love the consistent speed of >6 Mbps DL times on the Evo with Sprint's 4G.

Any chance that this will be possible with AT&T in the near future? ("Before I get the Atrix")

I would have to say yes. Once Android put an OS out to take full advantage of the hardware, also when ATT open their 4g network for phones other than the IPhone.

 

[khalim]

I would have to say yes. Once Android put an OS out to take full advantage of the hardware, also when ATT open their 4g network for phones other than the IPhone.

Thanks... but are you aware of any network changes? even "leaks" that may open up 4G for this phone?

Also, what's the point of streaming music, video, or even tethering if you can't do it without data limits?

If the Galaxy S2 drops at T-mobile any time soon, the Atrix's hope will be lost.

So frustrated with the choices. I suppose at some level that's a good thing.

 

[different2une]

I dunno ... this is my first android phone after coming from an iPhone 3G and Palm Pre 2 and I can say without a doubt that this is the fastest phone I've owned.

To each his own I guess.

p.s. call me crazy but I love the motoblur widgets ... simple and easily configurable! but maybe that's because i don't know any better

 

[MythrilFork]

I was going to try to use motoblur for a week to give it a solid shot at seeing how good/bad it was, and I couldn't even do that because it was so laggy and terrible. So I downloaded launcher pro, and phone has been great since.

 

[Nickles0n]

I use stock blur with my atrix, I think the definition of lag will be removed from the dictionary once everyone gets one of these phones. But really, I have had a half a second of lag this one time. Everything is instant and responsive. I only have force close issues with USA today but eh there's a news app.

 

[BrianTufo]

I returned an Inspire and picked this up... the Atrix runs much, much, much faster than the Inspire.. did you even really use the phone? Or play with it for 5 minutes in an AT&T store?

I also swapped out the Inspire for the Atrix and couldn't be happier. The Atrix IMO feels much more responsive, has a louder speaker, and the battery life is 100x better!

Opinions are like a**holes...everyones got one!

 

[BrianTufo]

I dunno ... this is my first android phone after coming from an iPhone 3G and Palm Pre 2 and I can say without a doubt that this is the fastest phone I've owned.

To each his own I guess.

p.s. call me crazy but I love the motoblur widgets ... simple and easily configurable! but maybe that's because i don't know any better

I've always read how people dislike Motoblur but I haven't wished it wasn't on this phone. I had the Inspire for a week and LOVE sense but the battery and other issues weren't worth it. To each his own I guess. I do plan on rooting though and installing ROMs/Themes though.

 

[Garz]

I started with the Inspire. I enjoyed it but jumped to the Atrix at release. I was very disappointed in qHD display. More like qVHS or qDVD display if you ask me. lol I was also very disappointed with battery life. Swiping to unlock the screen was very laggy as well. The camera was not that great of a quality for 5MP.

With all said and done, I went back to the Inspire after 1 week on the Atrix. Bigger screen and IMHO a more clear display. A better camera and overall I think Sense is a much better experience than Motoblur.

We all have our own preferences but these were my experiences.

 

[SoDev]

 

[GQ50]

^^^LMAO!!!!

Now that I know how to root and load custom ROMs I'm looking at Samsung differently. I won't rule out Sammy anymore. I want to see what the Samsung Infuse is like. I feel the Infuse specs are what my Captvte should have been. I like the Atrix but need some hands on time with it. I have friends with the phone and they swear its the best phone out...we'll see.

 

[Hardcore73]

FYI I just gave my wife my iPhone 4 and the Atrix is much much faster. Laggy, never saw that with my phone and its rooted with tons of apps on it.

 

[nomad005]

Coming from a long line of android devices, including (Droid, Inc. , Galaxy s, inspire , and Atrix) I have found the Atrix to be the worst of the bunch.

This thing is laggy. (now before the Tegra fanboys come out and cry and scream and say its the fastest phone ever, let me explain)

I feel Motoblur kills this phone. Also, The HTC devices are proven to have a more responsive touchscreen ( YouTube - HTC Desire HD Multitouch Test) Try doing this on the Atrix.


Until the Atrix can get loaded with stock android it will be laggy.


(Alright fanboys, your turn....)

Got launcherpro and things sped up for me.

 

[jyar727]

I quit this place. I get warned for being a troll because I called this person a troll for starting a thread only to bag the atrix? w/e

 

[BrianTufo]

I say all us Atrix owners go into other sub-forums and tell people not to buy the EVO, the Droid X, the Thunderbolt etc. Lets all be total tool bags like the OP. Oh wait that's a waste of time and no one cares what our opinions are. We all buy whatever phone we want not based off the opinion of a troll who doesn't like it.

Was I too blunt about my thoughts on this thread?

 

[Duvi]

sorry to hear that you are disappointed with your Atrix.

i've actually had the opposite experience with both devices. my boy has allowed me to play with both devices, BNIB and there was/is a big difference in which the Atrix (device speed) was noticeably faster than the Inspire.

it's been over a month and i went back to the store and tested it out again, with my Atrix being a month old and a brand new Inspire that he was about to sell to a customer and my Atrix still came out on top.

data speeds... i did test and the Atrix came out on top in store the first time. the second time, i didn't get to run tests as i wasn't able to install apps on the customer's device.

i did install ADW EX by the time I ran the second test, measuring the device's speed.

i'm loving the Atrix and this was the 2nd android device to ever catch my eye... the first being the nexus one.

to me, the 4' screen is the perfect size. the device doesn't feel too wide and it's the first device that feels as comfortable in hand like my iPhone 4 does.

my biggest gripe is how quickly the screen gets messy... since i rock my devices naked, i will not be putting a screen protector on either, so the micro-fiber cleaning cloths i got from the a/c store will just have to do.

 

[stiunit]

good point

 

[MaryMR]

I've been with AT&T for over 10 years and have had many different phones. I've had an iPhone 3G since January 2009, and have been pleased with it in spite of the fact that is has become slower and slower (I don't have music on it nor do I have a lot of apps, just some basic ones). I use it primarily for GMail, Google Calendar, Google address book (nothing is on the iPhone itself, it's all in Google) as well as maps when driving, etc. I'm trying very hard to stay with AT&T for a variety of reasons and so have been eying the Atrix. I had such high hopes and am amazed at how the manufactures put out these items and expect us to pay hundreds for them only to find they don't work as intended.

I've been looking forward to an Android phone because I thought it would free me from iTunes (I'm a Windows user). However, it seems that I'm hearing a lot of negative things about the Androids due primarily to the fact that the computer/phone manufacturer loads them down with programs/apps that cannot be deleted but only blocked.

After all is said and done, do you all recommend going to Android or sticking with the "devil" I already know?

 

[attweco]

....it seems that I'm hearing a lot of negative things about the Androids due primarily to the fact that the computer/phone manufacturer loads them down with programs/apps that cannot be deleted but only blocked.

After all is said and done, do you all recommend going to Android or sticking with the "devil" I already know?

You will find a number of threads on this forum which tells you how to delete much of the "crapware" without harm to the Atrix. It's really not much of an issue with the Atrix.

As far as the Android OS, this is an Android forum, so you will not find too many Android haters, here. Myself, having been a Palm OS user(beginning with the HandSpring Visor) since about 1998, the Atrix was my very first Android phone. It was a bit of a shock to get used to, but now I'm totally hooked on Android OS.

On the other hand, there is no such thing as the one OS which is perfect for everyone.

I suggest that you get an Atrix(or some other Android handset) and give it a try. You have a 30-day "buyers remorse" period in which you can return it, if you find you don't get along with Android. You can get all the opinions you want from forums like this, but there is no substitute for jumping in and seeing for yourself. The more opinions you get, the more confused you will become.

Finally, be mindful that, with the exception of the Nexus, each Android handset manufacturer "skins" the Android OS. So, for example, the experience with the Atrix(skinned with "Moto Blur") will differ from an HTC handset, which is skinned with "Sense". Some folks violently dislike Blur, while preferring Sense. Others prefer the so-called "pure" Android OS experience, which you get with the Nexus series of handsets, which are un-skinned.

 

[fernandez21]

I've been with AT&T for over 10 years and have had many different phones. I've had an iPhone 3G since January 2009, and have been pleased with it in spite of the fact that is has become slower and slower (I don't have music on it nor do I have a lot of apps, just some basic ones). I use it primarily for GMail, Google Calendar, Google address book (nothing is on the iPhone itself, it's all in Google) as well as maps when driving, etc. I'm trying very hard to stay with AT&T for a variety of reasons and so have been eying the Atrix. I had such high hopes and am amazed at how the manufactures put out these items and expect us to pay hundreds for them only to find they don't work as intended.

I've been looking forward to an Android phone because I thought it would free me from iTunes (I'm a Windows user). However, it seems that I'm hearing a lot of negative things about the Androids due primarily to the fact that the computer/phone manufacturer loads them down with programs/apps that cannot be deleted but only blocked.

After all is said and done, do you all recommend going to Android or sticking with the "devil" I already know?

Seeing as you have everything on google, you should give it a try your self and see what you think. I myself and new to android after being an iphone and palm pre plus user. The "problems" you hear on this sites are just really overblown by a hardcore niche audience. All of the "crapware" can be uninstalled in the application manager, and motoblur really isn't too bad, though I did end up replacing it with launcher pro that's available in the market place. Speaking of which, yeah you are limited to googles android market, but if you don't plan on doing any sideloading (like me) its fine.

You have 30 days and if you don't like it just return it and wait for the iphone 5. Ill tell you this, I carry two phones and will be getting an iphone 5 as my personal phone, however for my work phone im thinking about just keeping this one instead if switching out for the pre 3 like I had originally planned. And I was a complete android hater before, only reason I got this phone was because of the amazon sale I got pricematched at best buy and the hardware just seemed so good.