Comments about the G1

So, I've had my G1 (T-Mobile Google phone) for almost two weeks and overall I'm quite pleased. I haven't used it as heavily as I will once I actually leave my house more than a few times a week, but I loved having it at chemo this morning. I could text, IM, check email, and browse. I've found the 3G service to be blazing fast. I know it is rolled out in only limited locations, but I've had great luck with it. I expect this will get better as T-Mobile continues to install this faster network around the U.S.

I read about 10 different reviews of the phone as it was released. I'm also subscribed to the developer's forum and follow the T-Mobile "Help" online forum. So, I feel like I'm a pretty educated consumer about this phone. A few observations:

Every single review compared it to the iPhone. You know what? I would have preferred an iPhone, but even last week two different friends could not get a consistent AT&T signal in my house. I live next door to a fraternity. You would think AT&T would rectify this. Since I knew an iPhone wouldn't work here, I've not played with one much. This means the reviews were partially meaningless to me. I don't care what the phone does and doesn't do compared to the iPhone. I only care what it does or doesn't do, period.

The Android Marketplace is really becoming interesting with good new apps being added daily. Unfortunately, I've only downloaded one app because the phone comes with a 1G memory card by default. If I want to go higher, I have to buy a different card. This is how T-Mobile keeps the price $20 under the iPhone (with a two-year contract). I don't want to download a bunch of stuff and then change cards. I'll get around to ordering a higher capacity card this week.

The most contentious thing about the phone is the battery life. I've had great luck because I keep some of the services turned off during the day. Why run WiFi when I'm home on my laptop and not using the phone for Internet access? I also keep the GPS turned off in the house. What's the point? You can't see the satellites from the inside anyway. But, I've also read about people having really, really terrible battery life and T-Mobile not releasing spare batteries yet. From reading the forums, it almost seems like there was a batch of bad batteries, because some people are doing what I do and getting only four or five hours battery life. I've had over two days (when I browse minimally) or an entire day when I'm on it all the time.

I love typing on the little keyboard and have become quite good at it. Opening and closing it all the time makes for a weird user experience, but I've gotten used to it.

There are also some other glitches on the phone where things don't behave consistently in every situation. However, marketplace apps have mostly made up for these shortcomings.

The camera, while 3.2 MP, is the slowest thing I've ever tried and terrible in low light. I'm not sure how much use it is going to get.

All and all, I'm really pleased. And getting happier as I continue to use it.

Comments

[Alex]

My phone just broke and I'm really considering getting the G1. It sounds like a great phone but it's more expensive than many other options. Would you say it's worth the pay for a kid without a job?

[Karla]

My husband got me the G1 for Valentine's 2009. I love it! I gps everything I get my work internet my banking Facebook games free music free. I prefer touch screen the flipping out part. Tends to break my G1. I returned it 3 times I longer use the flip out key board and a new battery and I love my G1. I'M DUE FOR AN UPGRADE I WILL MISS MY G1