Lets be serious....4g really isnt that great

[meballard]

Small things I like about 4G: lower latency, so loading of pages and response times are snappier, I don't really care about switching to WiFi anymore since the speed is plenty high, and better than many WiFi connections, and I no l longer bother to restrict streaming, if I want to watch a video or listen to music online, it just works.

Huge thing I LOVE about 4G - in places where the network runs under much higher load due to density of people (such as Disneyland), 4G is still fast. The 3G networks often get bogged down and are slow to the point that I don't want to use it, but 4G still zips along.

Battery life - hasn't been much of an issue. I almost always use 4G exclusively, and rarely need to do more than one battery swap (using non-extended batteries) anymore (currently using the Das BAMF 1.6 Remix ROM), and that's only on days that I am out most of the day. When at work I just plug it in while at my desk, and don't do any battery swaps. I've gotten used to battery swaps with previous phones, so it doesn't bother me. The only time I make a point of charging while not at my desk is when tethering, but I don't even bother for just short periods of tethering anymore.

 

[lippstuh]

the lag in twitter or fb is not based on 4g its the app that's not efficient in transmitting data.

honestly people don't know how bad 3g is until they have 4g on a good provider. go to att or tmo and check out their services, use it for a day and i bet you that you'll notice a difference in service.

 

[imprezu]

I mean, for downloads its faster - loading flash pages and stream video....but for checking facebook, looking at pictures, updating twitter, it really only seems a LITTLE faster, if that.

At the same time, it kills battery. 3G just seems like an allaround better technology, will run most of my every day apps at nearly the same speed. What are yall using 4G for that makes it worth it to you? Im cool with it because its no additional cost, but doesnt seem worth it to pay extra unless you're using a laptop or something.

 

[kalopsia]

battery technology hasn't really kept up with 4g. that's the only downside.

 

[SF DINC]

I wasn't arguing that 4G isnt fast, it just isnt really applicable to most people. Most people seem to be buying 4G because of the marketing.

I just leave my 4G off all the time now, there isn't anything that I find it really helping with except downloading files - even streaming video from watchESPN seems to be crystal clear on 3g - why bleed the battery??

That is like buying a Gulf Stream Jet, then "turning off the jet engines (4G)" and "Turning on the turbo props (3G).....why even buy a 4G phone in the first place then if you are worried about battery....buy a (3G) phone (prius) if your worried about a battery intestive phone....Those that are buying the 4G are using it, I know I am.... I sure as hell did not buy a 4G phone to turn off the 4G capabilities to enjoy 3G, I could have done that with my Dinc.

 

[SF DINC]

Not hating or anything but for those of you who bought a Thunderbolt (especially those in the 4G area) but turned off the 4G just to save battery, you guys should've just bought a Verizon phone that's good on battery instead. No point of buying the Tbolt if you're not gonna use its 4G.
And if you're worried about battery problems, either buy an extended or external (I got a 11000mah one) battery, otherwise, the thunderbolt is not for u and get something else that's good on battery. Just saying.

Sent from Outer Space.

Amen, it's like buying a high performance vehicle, (lambo, ferrai, porche) that uses premium fuel only, then ***** about gas being so damn expensive.....you might have made the wrong purchase for your needs.....just a thought!

 

[jwoodsoniv]

I just love the ideal with 4g that allows the ability to surf the web while talking on the phone.

 

[delco714]

so here's a good questions.. I have a stock 2.2 OG Droid.. it is slow as hell and I'm tired of it. If I updated to X2 wouldn't the internet be a little faster just because of the more RAM and much better processor? I live in NY, and we have great 4G, but I am getting really sick of the Bionic bs being slung around. Being, a medical student, it would be nice to have my online-based medical apps load lightning fast.. that'll save me a lot more than "1 minute a day" like above said!

 

[oxeneers]

WiMAX is great. It's got a long ways to go, but at its infancy, it sure is taking care of business. Thanks Sprint.

 

[Mortiel]

so here's a good questions.. I have a stock 2.2 OG Droid.. it is slow as hell and I'm tired of it. If I updated to X2 wouldn't the internet be a little faster just because of the more RAM and much better processor? I live in NY, and we have great 4G, but I am getting really sick of the Bionic bs being slung around. Being, a medical student, it would be nice to have my online-based medical apps load lightning fast.. that'll save me a lot more than "1 minute a day" like above said!

I'll be frankly honest, I hear about Motorola Android devices more than any other Android devices. Take that however you want it, but I'll put it out there that I went with HTC because I previously owned a Samsung Continuum and was fed up with Samsung's slow updates (and the Continuum is STILL on Android 2.1).

When I watched carefully, I noticed less people calling Tech Support the HTC Eris/HTC Incredible over the Motorola Droid/Motorola Droid X. Thats not accounting for the Droid 2 (R2D2)/Droid 2 Global, as I see it as an unfair comparison (4 Motos vs 2 HTCs). I went with comparable models.

This could be due to poor quality, or it could be just because a higher percentage of people have Motorola. I chose to be on the safe side and go with Thunderbolt rather than wait for the Bionic (whenever it actually gets released), and I have not been disappointed.

I will say that the moment you hear Bionic and MotoBLUR in the same sentence, run! Thats why all us Techs cringe whenever the Devour is mentioned...

 

[jtwildman1]

I think 4G is awesome, however the trade off in battery life is not... and went with the DINC2. To each his own I guess...maybe a little down the road with some device improvements on handling the speeds/drains better I'll be interested. I mean who doesn't want faster??? For now though I'll stick with slower but longer!!!!

 

[rosser]

If my Inc1 had 4G it would be the best phone IMO

Sent from my Incredible Evo using Tapatalk

 

[FrankXS]

I'm with you, let's be serious...

[WHY?]

-Frank

 

[TC_Mits]

3G streaming is fast enough?

I wasn't arguing that 4G isnt fast, it just isnt really applicable to most people. Most people seem to be buying 4G because of the marketing.

I just leave my 4G off all the time now, there isn't anything that I find it really helping with except downloading files - even streaming video from watch ESPN seems to be crystal clear on 3g - why bleed the battery??

This seems wholly nonsensical to me. Clarity isn't the issue with streaming video. Of course 3G video is "clear". The problem with streaming video in 3G is the long pauses to load the buffer. With 4G LTE the pauses vanish and one gets uninterrupted streaming. The stubborn refusal to see the obvious advantages of LTE strongly suggests a hidden agenda behind these posts.

Everyone knows that the providers would be foolishly negligent to their shareholders if they did not have people -- I refer to them as shills -- monitoring and influencing these discussions. It's just good business. But it's up to those of us reading these forums to keep that in mind and make allowances for the sort of spin-doctoring that leads to posts like this -- that simply make no sense, but still seem to have a purpose. Now, I am not suggesting -- certainly not accusing -- this poster, brb198, of representing anyone but himself. But the thoughts expressed and the stubbornness with which he expresses them are suggestive of the kind of thing I might resort to if I were being paid to accomplish the impossible task of boosting 3G sales on my network -- in a 4G world.

Yes, there are battery issues with 4G, especially in weak signal areas. But people have found good effective work-arounds for them. There are reliability issues with 4G -- and other concerns; the whole system went down, I understand, a week or two ago. It's a new technology; these things will be worked out. But disparaging the technology for its newness alone, and based on that to suggest it isn't a true and tremendous advantage over 3G ignores the obvious fact that 4G will improve and become the next generation -- a whole new generation of superior performance. If 4G isn't really better than 3G, then maybe 3G isn't any better than 2G, either. All those who want to go back to 2G transmission rates please raise your hand.

 

[CharlotteJacket]

I went with a DINC2 because of the global phone capabilities (a must-have for me at this point), and I'm really, really pleased with the phone and the speed (home and abroad). Anxious to see VZ vet the Incredible S GB update so we can get it, but I'm very happy with this phone.

But, I must say, based on these comments, I'm looking forward to the first globally-capable, VZ-LTE phone now. Maybe it'll hit when the network is fully deployed, the batteries step up a notch, and mobile hotspots are part of our data plans.

 

[TC_Mits]

Battery issues can be managed -- read the forums

I think 4G is awesome, however the trade off in battery life is not... and went with the DINC2. To each his own I guess...maybe a little down the road with some device improvements on handling the speeds/drains better I'll be interested. I mean who doesn't want faster??? For now though I'll stick with slower but longer!!!!

JT -- Fear not, the battery issues associated with 4G have been worked-around by those that still have their TBs. I returned mine, partly because of battery issues, but more because it just wasn't the right phone or the right timing for me. I need a keyboard and I have never rooted a phone. Too many problems to resolve during a two-week trial period.

Without LTE. the Droid 3 will not be "THE ANSWER"; at best it could be a stopgap that might cost you your NE2. It will be a great 3G phone for those who see no chance of 4G LTE arriving in their area before 2014.

But, if you seek out the right TB threads you will see that there are a number of techniques that you can use to control battery drain. Don't despair, you, too, can have 4G today! Well, this month maybe if the Revolution holds to its (revised) schedule.

Actually, I liked my TB. It's also a pretty good phone if: (1) you can get it cheap; (2) you believe HTC will keep working out the software kinks with frequent updates; and (3) you don't need a KB.

 

[zero neck]

with lte you don't have to wait a minute for every webpage to load, that alone makes it worthwhile for me.

never get another phone without 4g if you live in lte areas.

 

[the one and only M]

I only notice the speed difference when downloading large files (mostly roms), downloading apps and watching YouTube videos. There's really no difference when I visit webpages.

But would I give it up and go back to 3G? Hell no!! I like faster.

 

[bucrepus]

4G to fast for CAP

Ok, so 4G is much faster than 3G. But what worries me (and no one seems to care, just hype about new speed.. I could be wrong)..I would think when VZ tiers data in a month or two this will become a BIG problem. If the data is much faster, it will be hard to stop from streaming video and stuff like that (overusing the phone's data limit too quickly). I saw netflix was mentioned.. How much data is pulled down to watch this stuff(youtube / netflix stuff)?????.. Anyone know???

 

[canesfan44]

I believe netflix is designed to not count data against your monthly limit.

I'm not quite understanding what you're saying about tiered pricing. If they go to tiered pricing in a month, it won't be a problem to those of us that already have a TB on contract, it's unlimited. Being able to get unlimited LTE data, knowing that tiered pricing is soon to come, was a big reason I bought the TB. I didn't think it would still be around by this time, I thought the TB would be the only phone to get it. Clearly I was wrong. When they do start tiered pricing, there's a good chance that 3g will be tiered also.

I just downloaded a song on LTE in 5 seconds. I downloaded another song using wifi on my apartment's net and it took about 30-40 seconds, and on 3g it took well over a minute.