Reluctantly returning my VIEW- and a Review

[marksr#AC]

okay- so I'm returning my Evo view and stylus today-
thought I'd give my review.

1) I really like it- convenient and portable- just the right size however - it really does need a kickstand (or a case with a stand)- without the stand it's too small to lay on a desk and too tiring to hold in your hand for its purpose- with a stand that criticism is eliminated
2) I have an EVO 4G (since last June)- which I love- and the view is faster and less lag- not sure what the lag complaints are- I have none- I have no regrets about being "stuck" with Gingerbread or single core- I've used it mostly for browsing and have watched videos through Qloud App- and it plays as if the video is on the tablet rather than the server- i.e. perfect and trouble free
3) Love the new SENSE
4) I'm not sure, not being a hard core gamer, that I would notice much of an improvement with Dual Core- but I suspect I would notice the a decrease in battery life- the battery on the View is far superior to my Evo 4G phone.- for my general browsing use etc- less is more- I had no problem- and I'm usually pretty picky about my browsing experience-
5) Sprint customer service knows NOTHING about the tablet. I called them to get my MSL to the EVDo fix from XDA (if you get the tablet -do this first to browse properly over 3G- it will HARD RESET your phone- when I spoke to SPRINT- both the tech and her supervisor didn't have any idea what I was talking about, they didn't even know that you enter the codes to get to the hidden menu by typing into the calculator (because there's no dialer)- if you need support- call HTC directly- they actually know the producet
6) There's no Hands Free profile for Bluetooth- if you plan on using skype, etc over bluetooth- according to HTC tech -it appears to be an oversight, hopefully correctable in the near future with a maintennance release- not a big issue for me

All in all- I think it's great- if you get some sort of case/stand- and if they get HBOGO to work on it (it doesn't)-
So -you ask- why am I returning it?

I got it at EPRP sale for 199.99 plus free stylus- a great price- but I can't justify the monthly sprint bill to myself- when I already have an EVO 4G- I find that when I need to browse quickly throughout the day, I pull out my EVO 4G rather than the view - it's just more convenient- I'm paying the Sero plan on 2 phones- one of which I never use- that second one is eligible for an upgrade and they won't let me activate the tablet as a replacement "phone" on that line- I would have to give up the sero and just get a $5 discount on the 3GB tab let plan- Financially it makes more sense (no pun intended) to get a new 4G phone on that line with unlimited data, keep my SERO discount, and the ability to make calls over sprint (I never go over minutes- not much of a phone talker) than to pay for 3 GB of data- worry about going over minutes, and not having the use of an extra phone when needed

It's a shame really-
Sprint should allow regular monthly phone pricing on the device-

If the monthly bill is worth it to you
and you do the 3G fix (see XDA link above)-
and you get a stand-
it is a GREAT device- I wish I could justify the monthly bill- I would love to keep it-
and best of all- it kicks IPAD butt- sure is nice to click on a video without seeing "please download the latest version of flashplayer", and having to pull out my EVO 4g to watch it- How those Iphone fanboys can justify and tolerate tech decisions based on temper tantrums is beyond me-
oh well....

 

[marksr#AC]

Change of plans...keeping it..
Was about to hit erase all data on my way to store to return the thing...decided to give sprint CS one more call...they put my eprp phone on SERO (Even though the previous guy said it was impossible)
Saving me 20 bucks..
Then they checked my data usage on my EVO 4G for the last year and I have never gone over 3gb so I downgraded to 3gb max from 5gb, saving another 10...I dumped the 8 dollar Total protection on my old SERO line that is never used..all told I am now paying a few dollars more a month with the 3gb data plan on the view than I was previously...and if I decide to dump the old SERO 500 plan finally, I will save even more...
So...Things are fine in EVO view land...need to get a stand/case and hope HBO GO starts working..

 

[abcalvinchan]

Damn. I would keep it as well if i could get it for $200.

Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk

 

[Visual360]

Yup, got mine for $399, and I'm still keeping it. LOL.

 

[frh1]

I was also on the fence about taking my View back. For me, the 7" form factor is a no brainer. It's big enough to see what you are doing, but small enough to take everywhere. Because I spend a lot of time in my truck, it has to be easy to use while dash mounted.

I started with a Samsung Galaxy Tab. It's screen totally locked-up at full brightness twice in the first 4 days. Seems it couldn't handle Google's Browser, Dolphin, Opera, Google Navigate, Gas Buddy, 4 email accounts updating every 10 minutes, a book open in Adelko, opening a Solitaire, Backgammon or MaJong game every time I have a few minutes to kill, etc. My second one just crashed a lot when multitasking overloaded it.

But (and I didn't realize these things until after I returned it), I could use a bluetooth headset for speach to text to do things like jotting down notes to myself and replying to emails while driving. And it wasn't terribly distracting to do these things while driving because it's screen was very easy to read when mounted on the dash in the car.

But it didn't multitask well, so I replaced the Galaxy Tab with a HTC Flyer (and turned on mobile hotspot on my phone). One of the first things I realized (probably because the default fonts are smaller), reading email messages, browser screens, and just about everything I did while driving is more distracting with the Flyer. But the biggest annoyance was that Navigate would be taking me to an appointment, the phone would ring, and I would be driving around in circles for 1/2 hour... So as I saw it, my choice was to buy a MiFi device or replace the Flyer with a View.

The View's 3G radio solved the Navigation problem, it's processor speed and working memory allows it to multitask with ease. And it's black case is more businesslike. But it has two flaws that put me on the fence about taking it back. First, using it while driving is a lot more distracting than the Galaxy Tab was. Second, it's lack of the bluetooth Hands Free Protocol (HFP) makes speach to text nearly impossible without a wired headset.

My 30 days was up on the 3rd. Instead of taking it back, I bought the charging dock and the car charger. I figure (hope) rooting will make it possible to add the missing bluetooth profile and make whatever screen adjustments are necessary for it to be as readable as the Tab.

 

[Jeffmac]

I also traded up from a Samsung Tab before my 30 try it period was over. The View was a BIG step up in capabilities and power.

I posted a full review here HTC View 4G Review ? Restless Tech

The portability over my iPad was the big thing for me (well, along with the 4G). The pen thing...meh. I use it occasionally but I am not bowled over by it.