Truthfully, being limited to a small non-touch screen was more challenging than I thought. Aside from the glorious times I spend writing up a frenzy on these keypad buttons, I've been frustrated with the web browser and Google Maps performance of the BB OS. The Bolt browser appeared to be a godsend from one aspect, but it can never measure up to what I grew accustomed to on the Nexus One. Scrolling my thumb to death on the trackball to scale an entire website was bothersome, and I then realized the importance of a large, capacitive touch screen. Google Maps was a total nightmare in navigating to a new location for a doctor appointment. I missed the turn-by-turn directions being spoken aloud on Google Navigation with such amazing visuals on the Nexus 3.7 inch display. Since I avoided the Facebook for BlackBerry app, I was limited to posting status updates via SMS. Twitter for BlackBerry was a wonderful app to use, but still couldn't shake my yearning for the touch version.
These and other factors leading to my decision may not be fair to mention since the Bold 9000 is a device meant for a totally different market. While a part of me fits that market of messaging connoisseurs and writers, there is another part that somehow dominates it. This is the part addicted to UI graphical eye candy, multimedia, and the connectivity of the web and social networks. Despite the awareness and certainty of being able to do these same things on the BlackBerry, I just like how Android gives its polish on a large touch screen. This could be a product of the iPhone generation when it seemed that hardware qwerty keys and small non-touch screens were suddenly deemed obsolete for a majority of the public. I may have been sucked into the hype of the touch screen and lost total sight of my want for a tactile keyboard. There is still a fraction of that desire to write on physical buttons, for I wouldn't be on the wait for an Android device equipped with the same. However, I do realize that compromising with a device that cannot at least grant me a touch experience is worse than having touch without tactile keys. This is why I am due to exchange my Bold 9000 for an Android touch device as soon as possible.
This situation is made interesting with the fact that I am limited to AT&T devices since I cannot afford an unlocked phone at full retail value. Even though it looked like I was at a disadvantage at one point with AT&T's paltry lineup, the Samsung Captivate had been announced and my interest was piqued! Once again, my hands were tied to go ahead and take a chance on this network-locked version of the Samsung Galaxy S. Honestly, if the Captivate wasn't available I probably would have figured out some way to get the Nexus One for AT&T, but I'd be lying if I claimed to not be intrigued by the Captivate's 4inch screen.
I can recall the 4inch display of the Sony Ericsson X10 and how much I liked it in comparison to the Nexus One. Aside from its issues, watching movies, using Google Maps, browsing websites, and navigating UI menus just felt better on its larger screen. I am hoping that initial reviews of the UI performance on the unlocked Galaxy S will bring success to the Captivate model.
Of course, there is always the risk of AT&T tarnishing the Android experience with its onboard software. For instance, I cannot understand why AT&T would want to provide its own apps for GPS navigation and web-based contacts management when it has already been taken care of by Google apps. Either way, if I cannot delete or hide the AT&T app icons, I had still better have access to Google Maps/Navigation and the typical Google services that come stock on Android devices. Being unable to download apps outside of the Android Marketplace is not an issue for me, but being forced to use AT&T definitely is. If necessary hacking and voiding of the warranty won't fix being in this potential problem, I would most certainly have to consider alternative options at that point.
Something else that could bring an issue to getting the Captivate could be the overall build quality of the handset. Samsung insists on using flimsy, lightweight plastics in the build of its devices, and this can only make them feel horribly cheap. However, to have an Android device that can finally stand up to the iPhone 4 may be worth me swallowing my pride and getting off my high horse. At the end of the day, as long as Android works in the way it was intended that may be all that matters.
TRENT
Sent via BlackBerry Bold 9000
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