How relevant are all these "super-specs" today?

[ctychick]

I ask because after following threads on both the Vigor and the Prime for weeks and assuming I'd go with one or the other from my current DInc, I can't shake my curiosity about the Stratosphere. Go with me here...

The rumored specs (and hype!) for the Prime (and Vigor) are amazing for sure. I've always been one to pay up for the most current technology and that has served me well so far. I'm a graphic designer and buying the most powerful desktops has alwas paid off in capabilites and lifespan. But I think phones are a different story, mainly because you can reasonably expect to upgrade with greater frequency.

I've always been tempted by the physical keyboard, but have done my best to go with virtual and make it work for me. But in reality, I hate the virtual keyboard. So when the Stratosphere specs started making the rounds, I took notice. I never really took it seriously because it has been panned for it's "dated" technology. But as I learn more about ICS, dual core, etc., I wonder if all these latest breakthroughs are all that relevant this early in their lifespans. If I understand correctly, apps will have to "catch up" with ICS and dual core - and ICS might not even get to some other phones before we're on the heels of the next great OS. Until the Android environement matures enought to meet up with ICS, these "super specs" aren't going make a major impact immediately. So...

I'm thinking that I might just stop getting caught up in the promised glitz of the Prime and give a physical keyboard a try (Stratosphere) for 18 months or so. Worst case senario is I get the physical keyboard thing out of my system and buy up next time around. Yes - I know there will be something bigger and better around the corner when that time comes too, but I can cross that bridge when I get to it. Am I really going to be in "phone hell" with the Stratosphere over the next 18 months? I'm not convinced.

I hope this makes sense. I'd be curious to hear some rational - not fanatical - thoughts on my "plan."

Thanks!

 

[japhule]

I believe one of the rumors is that there is also a version of the Nexus with a physical keyboard, so why not wait and see if this comes to fruition if keyboard is that important.

 

[anon(512898)]

the stratosphere is still a decent phone and probably one of the best sliders on verizon. It should serve you well for the first year, but by the time you get to your second year of ownership it will likely start to show its age (considering it's already a year old device). It's a shame verizon no longer offers 1-year contracts, it really does limit the viability of second tier devices.

edit

I wouldn't worry too much about quad core processors, they won't be as big of a jump as people seem to think they will be. I also wouldn't worry too much about the gpu, it has the same gpu as the nexus s and the next nexus (albeit clocked lower) so hardware acceleration in ics should work just fine on the stratosphere if it gets it. this brings us to what will likely be the weakest point of the stratosphere, as a second teir device it will probably get shafted as far as updates but if you are fine with rooting you should still be fine. the 512MB of ram should be more than enough for now but who knows if it will remain so as android evolves. the single core processor will still be good but you may be limited in apps as time progresses.

Again nothing will happen to make the device too out of date for the next year but after that it will depend on your usage.

 

[SpaceHippie]

Specs only go as far as the os itself. Im using a lg revolution and the specs are just as good as the TB and Charge. Yet this phone is crap. Laggy, reboots often, and freezes. the LG skin is just bad news. If your using a good smooth os, the phone can last a long time. Nexus one users are happy with there almost 2 year old phone because they have been able to get cm7 and rock gingerbread. That OS alone makes that phone still relevant. I'll tell you i'd take that phone over the charge, revo and tb if it had 4g.

So i guess what im saying is specs are a big deal, but there not the biggest priority. The OS itself make the phone. Specs just help make the experience better.

 

[kvlt]

Truthfully as much as i enjoy the spec game, performance is the unity of hardware and software. Google develops Android specifically for these Nexus devices. Dual core phones 6 months ago didnt have an os that was really meant to handle that extra core. You can bet things are more optimized with the next Nexus.

 

[descendency]

Image stabilization of pictures being taken at the speed they are today is pretty much only because of the increase in performance. This also means video stabilization. Then you have head tracking and other stuff rumored in ICS... which requires a fairly large amount of processing (especially if you want to do it on a 2+ MP camera).

If you give a developer more power, some (most?) will find uses for it.

 

[estebancam]

its basically a samsung epic. And let me say this: the Samsung Epic was the best phone I have ever had by a longshot. I stopped using it because I moved to Verizon due to their LTE network. I wanted to get Unlimited data before it went away because I just cannot imagine using LTE with a 2GB cap.

The EPIC is a major reason to why I am waiting to sign a contract with verizon (used an old phone) for the Galaxy Nexus. The Samsung epic showed me that Samsung doesn't play games.

WIth that said, I think the stratosphere will be just fine for you. It's a great phone.

 

[Tripsyk]

Specs aren't as big of a point as the OS version is. My DInc is rocking 2.3.7 with CM7.1 and the ability for me to keep up with the times with the OS is the only reason I still have that phone. Even then I still have no intentions on selling it once the Prime comes out, but I do plan on purchasing the Prime shortly after its release.