Hello everyone!
I'm Austin, and a new Android user. I just got an HTC Desire with US Cellular running 2.2 (Froyo). LOVE IT! I was not too impressed by the Samsung Mesmerize (sorry Mez users! nothing personal!) and love HTC's design.
However, I am on my second Desire as the first was what USCC called a DOA. The battery was horrendous, getting less than 12 hours with no use at all (standby), just on Standby and maybe 6 hours with moderate use. Also seems to me that the "bad" one was slower than my new shiny Desire!
A bit about me is that I'm 22, and a huge tech geek and am a computer repair tech, working out of home doing my own thing pretty much. I am both a fan of Mac and PC, and use both daily. I am what some may call an Apple fanboy (avid supporter of Apple) but I also use and love my HP Windows 7 notebook. The reason I got an Android phone instead of an iPhone (or any other phone for that matter) are for about 3 reasons.
1- I only get US Cellular reception in my area, and the rest of my family is on US Cellular and I really need the family plan and calling to each other and so I couldn't do the Verizon thing (which has 2nd best reception in our area). AT&T is non-existent where I live. I am a little worried about national coverage with USCC, but it shouldn't be that big of a deal as I don't travel out of the state much (IL). That said, I will be going to Florida on April 4th and have full intentions of traveling with my Device. But the relatives I'm going with have a Verizon Mifi which they have used in Florida sucessfully. They both have the older HTC Droid Eris (2.1) on VZW also. I plan to get my phone going through their Mifi for Data while I'm in Florida. But that still leaves voice calling and texting.
2- Customizability (my new word). I love the widgets and HTC Sense. Sense is probably one of the biggest deciding factors on me choosing an Android over USCC's other choices. USCC currently offers a Windows Mobile 6.5 device (BARF!) or the BlackBerry Bold (ok) in my store. I was deciding for awhile about the BB Bold, but honestly Android OS + HTC Sense wooed me over big time. I love the whole experience that Android offers and that lovely GUI that Sense has.
3- Experience. I love iOS. I do. I have it on my iPod touch and my WiFi iPad. I think its a good mobile OS and I can't wait to see what Apple does with iOS5, but as it stands RIGHT NOW, iOS 4.3 vs Android 2.2, I'm swayed towards Android. It seems to be faster and more updated to me. I like the whole experience. Now, there are some things I wish Android had that iOS has though too. The biggest is a better App Store and app selection. There is a lot of good apps in Android Market, but there are a lot of crappy ones too.
With that being said, I don't see myself leaving the Android platform any time soon. I should be able to upgrade hopefully next year maybe? I'm hoping in the meantime USCC will get a nice new HTC Android device. I'm sold on HTC for two reasons. Design and Sense. Plain and simple, Sense is the best I've seen on a phone. I know USCC isn't a big carrier, and is therefore the last to get new phones but I really hope that they get new ones soon. I hear the HTC Merge might be coming but if I remember right, it isn't as nice as the Desire and I don't want a "real" keyboard. Unnecessary space taken up for me I'm afraid.
So with that, I say Hello to everyone. I would like to ask the Android experts here one question. And this isn't by any means a dealbreaker, but will my CDMA USCC HTC Desire be getting 2.3 (Gingerbread)? I know the other countries are.
Austin!
I'm Austin, and a new Android user. I just got an HTC Desire with US Cellular running 2.2 (Froyo). LOVE IT! I was not too impressed by the Samsung Mesmerize (sorry Mez users! nothing personal!) and love HTC's design.
However, I am on my second Desire as the first was what USCC called a DOA. The battery was horrendous, getting less than 12 hours with no use at all (standby), just on Standby and maybe 6 hours with moderate use. Also seems to me that the "bad" one was slower than my new shiny Desire!
A bit about me is that I'm 22, and a huge tech geek and am a computer repair tech, working out of home doing my own thing pretty much. I am both a fan of Mac and PC, and use both daily. I am what some may call an Apple fanboy (avid supporter of Apple) but I also use and love my HP Windows 7 notebook. The reason I got an Android phone instead of an iPhone (or any other phone for that matter) are for about 3 reasons.
1- I only get US Cellular reception in my area, and the rest of my family is on US Cellular and I really need the family plan and calling to each other and so I couldn't do the Verizon thing (which has 2nd best reception in our area). AT&T is non-existent where I live. I am a little worried about national coverage with USCC, but it shouldn't be that big of a deal as I don't travel out of the state much (IL). That said, I will be going to Florida on April 4th and have full intentions of traveling with my Device. But the relatives I'm going with have a Verizon Mifi which they have used in Florida sucessfully. They both have the older HTC Droid Eris (2.1) on VZW also. I plan to get my phone going through their Mifi for Data while I'm in Florida. But that still leaves voice calling and texting.
2- Customizability (my new word). I love the widgets and HTC Sense. Sense is probably one of the biggest deciding factors on me choosing an Android over USCC's other choices. USCC currently offers a Windows Mobile 6.5 device (BARF!) or the BlackBerry Bold (ok) in my store. I was deciding for awhile about the BB Bold, but honestly Android OS + HTC Sense wooed me over big time. I love the whole experience that Android offers and that lovely GUI that Sense has.
3- Experience. I love iOS. I do. I have it on my iPod touch and my WiFi iPad. I think its a good mobile OS and I can't wait to see what Apple does with iOS5, but as it stands RIGHT NOW, iOS 4.3 vs Android 2.2, I'm swayed towards Android. It seems to be faster and more updated to me. I like the whole experience. Now, there are some things I wish Android had that iOS has though too. The biggest is a better App Store and app selection. There is a lot of good apps in Android Market, but there are a lot of crappy ones too.
With that being said, I don't see myself leaving the Android platform any time soon. I should be able to upgrade hopefully next year maybe? I'm hoping in the meantime USCC will get a nice new HTC Android device. I'm sold on HTC for two reasons. Design and Sense. Plain and simple, Sense is the best I've seen on a phone. I know USCC isn't a big carrier, and is therefore the last to get new phones but I really hope that they get new ones soon. I hear the HTC Merge might be coming but if I remember right, it isn't as nice as the Desire and I don't want a "real" keyboard. Unnecessary space taken up for me I'm afraid.
So with that, I say Hello to everyone. I would like to ask the Android experts here one question. And this isn't by any means a dealbreaker, but will my CDMA USCC HTC Desire be getting 2.3 (Gingerbread)? I know the other countries are.
Austin!
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