I love sleeping in – up until the point when I wake up over an hour late because my Samsung Fascinate froze overnight, rendering the alarm clock useless. On top of that, the phone switched permanently into airplane mode for the fifth time since I bought the Samsung Fascinate last December. With no signal, I had to frantically scramble into the office for a mid-morning conference call since I had no working phone of my own.
We won’t get into the technicalities about how this might have happened. The great thing about Android, though, as I have raved about for months, is its open platform. Some modifications developed on this platform can apparently interfere with radio firmware and otherwise cause instability and glitches. The frustrating part is that without these modifications, the Samsung Fascinate just isn’t that appealing when compared to a phone like the iPhone, which was not available on Verzion last December when I bought the Fascinate. Lucky for me, the iPhone 4 is available on Verizon now.
The problems with the Verizon iPhone 4 are evident, including problems with its antennae. Android is otherwise extremely flexible, and I have even trashed the notion of using the iPhone on Verizon. When it comes down to it, the attractiveness of an Apple product compared to an open platform is its sheer stability. I didn’t intend to walk into Verizon this afternoon and leave with an iPhone 4, but when Verizon said they couldn’t warranty replace my Samsung Fascinate without waiting up to two days for a replacement phone, I needed an alternative. As the Fascinate was the closest competitor to an iPhone on Verizon at the time I purchased it, I knew I only had one other choice if I was going to stay on Verizon – the iPhone 4 itself. After a few key questions to seal the deal, including that the details of our family plan would remain the same and I could use one of the upgrades available to grab the “new customer pricing” for the iPhone, I walked away from my short-lived addiction to Android.
And after only a few hours, I can see how many others do the same. With a simple and intuitive interface, iTunes integration, and a front-facing camera many Android phones lack, the iPhone is just easier to use with advanced functionality. After having to change so much about my Fascinate to do what I wanted it to do, it’s refreshing to finally have a phone that was designed with these desires in mind. I could also rave about iPhone 4 notifications, music, and apps for days – but I’d actually rather go play with them.
Did the Verizon iPhone 4 cause you to switch phones? Or are you happy with the phone you own?
I actually walked away from AT&T frustrated by constant glitches and overall slowliness of my iPhone 3G. So far I’ve been happy with my Droid X, love its large screen, functionality, choice of keyboards and browsers as well as seamless integration with Google services (contacts, calendar, maps/navigation, etc).
I still use iPhone at home, but now mostly as a remote control.
The iPhone 3G is not a good example of what the iPhone brand represents. It’s an outdated model and very slow by today’s standards.
Well, the thing is that any iPhone becomes outdated within just one year. And even iPhone 4 is not 4G, so it’s “slow by today’s standards”. That being said I don’t mean to say I don’t like iPhone or “what the iPhone brand represents” (although I’m not sure what you mean. Innovation maybe?). iPhone and other Apple products are forever changing the ways we communicate and compute. There’s no other company that did more in that space in such a short period of time. What I don’t like is the way loyal customers are treated by Apple. I personally like a more open platform, where I can chose what should be my default browser (Firefox, Opera, Chrome or Maxthon), what should be my default MP3 player, etc. But then again I’m a geek.
P.S. Verizon’s network is way overhiped in my personal experience. I hardly get 1 or 2 bars at home or at work. And no, I don’t live in the forest. I live at the intersection of two major interstate highways, close to the offices of several major IT companies (ex Oracle). AT&T was the only reliable provider in many places I’ve been and I had their service for over 10 years.
I actually walked away from AT&T frustrated by constant glitches and overall slowliness of my iPhone 3G. So far I’ve been happy with my Droid X, love its large screen, functionality, choice of keyboards and browsers as well as seamless integration with Google services (contacts, calendar, maps/navigation, etc).
I still use iPhone at home, but now mostly as a remote control.
ITunes integration is not a good thing. I hate iTunes and have gone to great lengths to avoid ever syncing my (AT&T) iPhone.
Had a blackberry on verizon before the iPhone was released. Couldn’t stand it, and as soon as the iPhone came to Verizon I used another family member’s upgrade and got the iPhone for the reduced price. Great decision.
The antenna “problem” isn’t a problem, its a design choice and a physics limitation.
Bah, Android all the way … My Droid2 is far and away the best phone I have ever had (or even used). Can’t wait to slip into an LTE + IPv6 equipped Bionic!
I’m sorry, but where’s the trick? You couldn’t wait ‘up to’ two days to get a replacement phone?
I haven’t switched yet. I am still using the BlackBerry Curve 8330. I was up at 3am for the preorder and didn’t order it. I can wait.
I would love to get the iPhone but Verizon says I have to wait until my current contract is up or pay full price for it. So I think I will wait.
I am happy with my iphone but I am with AT&T and I don’t have those crazy charges like Verizon does… You can jailbreak your iphone and get a better WiFi with your phone and more apps find out from Chris and he will show you how to do it. It is very easy to do. Then you will love your iphone.
I don’t understand how you can hate a service which provides 1 click purchase of almost any music, tv show, film, podcast etc.
Huzzah!