Android Move.

At one point I did consider returning to AT&T and adopting the iPhone,
but my curiosity for Android has won me over and I have decided to
remain with TMobile to take on the Nexus One smartphone. After a
recent visit to a Verizon store, my impression of the Droid device had
gone down the toilet without any hope for redemption. The hardware
qwerty felt like a slab of stone to the touch with hardly any
feedback, and the responsiveness of the soft qwerty was not much
better. I then took the liberty to pre-judge the Nexus One and
concluded that Android was never to be in my destiny. I eventually
realized that it was wrong of me to do this when I was faced with the
prospect of leaving my affordable TMobile service for AT&T. This OS
from Google has never been used by me on a primary device, so I did
not have any justification to count it out just yet. Avoiding Android
without any opportunity to actually use it on a daily basis would have
been unfair and irresponsible on my part. I have been holding out for
a model with a hardware qwerty, but I am more lenient on such a
preference that doesn't appear to be taking fruition any time soon.
Upon accepting the touch-only form factor, I figured what better way
to be introduced to Android than with a gadget that has been made
specially for Google? I could have gone with other alternatives
manufactured by HTC, Samsung, and Motorola, but they falter for
various reasons. HTC Android models operate with the
not-so-revolutionary Sense UI that I had already used on the HD2 and
Touch Pro 2; Samsung simply cannot be trusted due to its track record
in previously-purchased devices; Motorola's Droid went down in flames
and the Cliq failed to keep my attention. According to listed specs,
the Nexus One is indeed a force to be reckoned with. Being able to
work with the 1GHz Snapdragon CPU once again without the overbearing
width of the HD2 and keeping TMobile's competitive rate seems to be
worth the risk.

To go through with this purchase of the Google phone, I have sold my
Nokia N900 and bid adieu to its Internet tablet ways. Yes, I am sure
that this will take a few people by surprise, but ridding myself of
the N900 is a very necessary evil. Despite its AMAZING hardware
features, I got to the point where I just wanted to be reunited with
all the conveniences of a smartphone; one-handed portrait mode use,
office suite document editor, and a RELIABLE mapping application in
Google Maps. I have to admit that thinness of dimensions and
pocketability also played a part as well, for I had been so accustomed
to thickness on past qwerty sliders. With the N900, I learned that no
advanced hardware feature could even begin to take the place of
everyday usability and efficiency for me. Lack of Google Maps
compatibility really tried my patience, especially when I had to rely
on the unstable and unfamiliar Ovi Maps. Writing with the hardware
qwerty was fine to a certain extent, but the virtual qwerty was better
off when used with a stylus if not careful fingertips. The N900 is
indeed an Internet machine that is made for extensive tweaking of
settings and features, and I have come to discover that I may not have
the desire to do such activities anymore. I basically just want to
return to a typical smartphone that can continue providing support for
all my preferred wants, like an average consumer. In addition to
dropping the strict guidelines of wanted gadget features like camera
quality and a hardware keypad, I still wished to have a speedy and
vivid touch interface. The iPhone did cross my mind before the Nexus
One in this regard, and this could be seen as a "selling out" move on
my part. Either way, I knew that the N900 had become too much (and in
some ways too little) for what I was willing to work with on an
everyday basis.

I am indeed looking forward to spending time with my first Android,
and shall say that I really have no plan B set in stone in case it
does not work out for me. I have to admit that I was looking to expect
an-iPhone like experience with the Nexus One qwerty, but it is best
for me to adopt it with an open mind. Clearing my expectations of all
previous phones is what I plan to do when I first slide in my SIM and
install that battery. Who knows, I may become a fan of Android
depending on how it can fit into my daily routine as an end-user. This
is all very exciting as I shall be waiting for the FedEx truck to
deliver the Nexus One right on my birthday...what a present! Some
features on the list for my perfect smartphone seem to be getting
erased as my personal usage continues to evolve with time. No longer
am I so hellbent on getting a Carl Zeiss with 30 fps video capture or
stereo speakers or a hardware qwerty. I am hoping that this will in
turn alleviate (if not eradicate) the frustration of having to
over-compromise for a phone's shortcomings.

--
Trentonn Smith
Sent from my MacBook Aluminum
TRENT SENSE blogger/netcast host
trentsense.com
youtube.com/absolon3