So, I've had my EVO for a week now, and I'm extremely impressed! 9.7/10 easily, and although it's not perfect, I prefer it to ALL other smartphones out right now.
Hardware
Despite the hardware problems that seemed to plague the earlier hardware versions, the newer revisions seem to be just fine. I purchased a white HTC Evo (HW003) and have absolutely ZERO hardware problems. No light leakage, no screen separation, no loose/squeaky parts, etc. The Evo feels nice and solid and has a nice weight to it. The back feels a bit too plasticy, but it's nothing major. The HUGE 4.3" screen is absolutely stunning and takes advantage of the entire "slab" of hardware rather than leaving a big annoying bezel around it. There's no way I could ever go back to a screen smaller than 4". As others have stated, the only problem I have with it is the way the camera isn't flush with hardware and risks getting scratched whenever the phone is resting on its back. However, I have a 1mm thin case on my Evo that is enough to keep the camera off of the surface, so it's not an issue for me. Overall, I love the design of the Evo!
Software
Coming from BB OS and iOS, the Evo is my first experience with Android. I would definitely say that Android is by far the best. It's very snappy, has true multitasking, and is simply a great operating system. I feel like I'm on a computer OS, although simplified. iOS 4 is competitive, but it seems to cater to a different group of people, and I think Android would be better for most. Not only do I think it looks the best (especially with Sense), but it also offers the most customization options (ie. a new "feature" of iOS4 is wallpapers,seriously?) and it's an open market so you don't have to worry about Google deciding what apps you should be allowed to run, unlike Apple. This is great for people who love "sketchy" apps such as emulators. Some may prefer the simple and straightforward, although restricted, interface of iOS, but most would be better of with Android, especially with the attractiveness of Sense. And as for BB OS, it doesn't even compare.
Battery Life
I was a bit nervous about the battery life of this phone before I bought it, but after receiving it I concluded that the issue was blown out of proportion. Before rooting, I was able to make it through an entire work day (about 8 hours) using auto-brightness, at least an hour and a half of wifi, browsing the internet through wifi and 3G, using GPS navigation for at least 2 hours, making a few phone calls, having a live wallpaper active, and just messing around with random apps. I don't see any reason to complain about having to charge a phone once a day/night. I just charge it while sleeping and I'm good to go! For those that need a longer daytime charge, there are higher capacity batteries available, and some still fit flush with the Evo's casing! There's also the option to root (see below.)
Camera
I'm very satisfied with the picture quality of the camera! It's great, especially for someone who isn't a real photographer and who would prefer to not have to carry around both a camera and a phone. The only annoyance I have is with the video camera. Although it's satisfactory, and definitely better than most video cameras on phones, it could be a bit better and is clearly inferior to the iPhone 4's video camera. That being said, it's still great, especially for a phone. It just needs a slight improvement in audio quality.
Root, ROMs, Customization, etc
What I like most about my Evo, other than the huge screen, is it's customization options! The homebrew/developer community is excellent and is growing! Odds are, if there's something you want to change/install, it's available. It seriously feels like the options are limitless!
Although most people will be very happy with the many customization options are available out of the box (especially when compared to other smartphone OS's), others who want to take things a step farther have the option to root, opening up practically limitless customization options. In addition to creating more personalized interfaces, the developer community has drastically improved the performance of the Evo. They have managed to greatly improve the battery life and graphical performance, both of which are very noticeable. I was one of the few people who didn't think that 60fps vs 30fps would make that big of a difference, but after installing the custom kernel, I noticed the difference immediately, and I love it!
Conclusion
Overall, I love this phone! The minor faults (video capture quality, possibly battery life) are easily overshadowed by the advantages (huge screen, customization options, open app market, developer support.) I see myself keeping this phone through the full 2 years of contract I signed up for. The only phones I consider on-par with the Evo are the Droid X and possibly the upcoming Droid 2 and Samsung Galaxy phones.
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