Is the HTC Inspire 4G the best hidden secret or is it my imagination?

[ReuvenNY]

I keep reading all the hype about the Thunderbolt. Everyone is excited and can?t wait for this phone. Some Thunderbolt threads here are 3000 postings long. And that is for a phone that didn't sell one unit yet... What an excitement! People pre-order it at unannounced prices; $249? $299? $329?

And then there is the Inspire 4G. For $99 at AT&T, for $69 at Amazon and $49 at Costco.

True, it?s on a different network, each with it?s nuances and quirks, but in my view more similar than different.
True, there are differences in the phones, but essentially they are very similar: both the same HTC quality, 4.3 inch screen, 8 Mega pixel camera, HD video etc. etc. Yet there is hardly any excitement here.
Am I missing something??

 

[frogstofall]

I feel ya. This is a pretty good phone but I guess since its basically just a rebranded HTC Desire HD, the hype has already been had.

 

[Shempster]

No, I don't think your missing anything.

Got mine at Costco for $50. ATT works pretty well for me in my city (which is a Verizon 4G city already). The phone & the network are already fast enough for me without the added back haul or whatever. $50 vs $250 or $300 according to BB... duh...

If ATT isn't working good enough for someone, then get excited about the TB.

As for a lack of excitment on this forum, I agree with the above post plus the fact that we are just talking about a phone here, not a cure for cancer or something. Its a feeding frenzy on the TB forum - misery loves company.

 

[bstmstrxellos]

There are enough differences that make the thunderbolt stand out beyond the inspire. The Thunderbolt is the worlds first LTE phone. That alone is enough to get early adopters excited because they will be on the cutting edge. Also verizon lte modems are usb only, there is currently no mi-fi for LTE and the Thunderbolt will be able to do that. On top of that with the front facing camera, kickstand, and more memory (40 gbs) makes the inspire seem like a base model of a car and the thunderbolt has all the bells and whistles.

Another reason that the Thunderbolt forums have so many more posts is that a lot of people on those forums got suckered into buying Blackberry Storms 2 years ago when Verizon was promoting it as the answer to the iPhone and now they want something better and the Thunderbolt is the one that they set their eyes on.

 

[homescrub]

lol, Blackberry is losing steam...almost evaporating.

 

[Shempster]

Also, the phone has been out around a month now & wasn't advertised like the TB.

Verizon is wanting to make a big deal of their new fruit produce & first LTE phone – I don't blame them.

These things are getting out dated faster & faster. I think the clock is ticking on the TB's opportunity window. Seems like the number of posts is slightly declining with each "release date" missed.

To me there's nowhere near enough difference between the two phones to negate the price difference & “which carrier works better for you” thought process. If, & that can be a big if, all things are equal then I'd take the money, if not, I'd spend more for the TB – no second thoughts.

As I said above, for me the network coverage & speeds are adequate and the phone is plenty fast. I don't need a kickstand. If I do come to want one I'll just buy a case with one. I don't need 32gb of storage. I doubt I'll ever use more than 1 or 2 gb. I have several mp3 players includung an iPad for music/movies if I have the want or need. Most people say that FFCs are a gimmick. I don't know or care. I have a PC/ PS3/iPad for gaming.

It all comes down to individual wants & needs. I'm sure the TB will be a great phone for a person who wants/needs all it's functions.

Were lucky to live in a time & place where we're afforded the options we have.