Why so acclaimed?

[DMXXX]

First of all I am a happy Desire owner and don't regret my purchase. I was just wondering why the device is getting such glaringly good reviews. It's a great phone but it has a number of problems (limited multitouch, screen is hopeless in sunlight, no dedicated gpu etc). I understand that nothing is perfect but why all the near perfect to perfect reviews fail to mention these issues or quickly brush them off as minor is beyond me (well ok, the screen usually gets mentioned). I'm not saying I wouldn't have bought the phone if I had known about all the issues beforehand but atleast I would have reasearched further, had a better look at other android phones and thought twice before making the purchase.​

 

[Wardogz]

The multi touch issue is not an issue for 99.9% of people and same can be said for the your gpu issue.

I agree with you on the screen though.

 

[Yenzehn]

It does have a dedicated GPU.

The "limited multitouch" is not noticed because.. the end user does not notice it, seriously, in the three months that I have had the phone, I never experienced the issue (I guess you mean the "finger switch" thing) unless I was intentionally causing it just to see it.

I think the main reason for the popularity was that that the HTC desire was the first "next generation" android phone aimed at the public at large, in contrast to the Nexus One.

It was launched in all of Europe with a lot of operator support so the public interest was large.

In that effect, it was the Motorola Droid of Europe, being:

1: High end in terms of specs
2: Having a huge, colourful screen
3: Substancial operator backing and advertisement
4: A well-designed phone that received good reviews and word-of-mouth

 

[loveandroid]

Multi touch issue??
GPU what?

Agree with the screen in sunlight but no biggie, just go to the near shadow.

 

[anoniemouse]

The only issue i have found is the screen in sunlight, but there again every screen i have looked at in sunlight has been the same.
As most people have by now worked out just get in the shade a bit, problem solved

 

[jabtas]

To be fair, the bright sun issue hardly affects us UK users

 

[DMXXX]

My point is not that the phone is bad in any way but that the reviews are misinforming.

Oh and the multitouch thingy does affect gaming (not a biggy for me but, still, this from a high end device?).

 

[jabtas]

Actually I've just become aware of another issue that could be affecting use on bright sunlight
If you happen to be wearing sunglasses with polarising lenses, the screen appears to change brightness depending on the angle you view it
This is also true of other LCD/LED screens, such as TVs and laptops

 

[anoniemouse]

To be fair, the bright sun issue hardly affects us UK users

Good point lol.

Actually I've just become aware of another issue that could be affecting use on bright sunlight
If you happen to be wearing sunglasses with polarising lenses, the screen appears to change brightness depending on the angle you view it
This is also true of other LCD/LED screens, such as TVs and laptops

I wear reactolite glasses thats why i find no screen to be brilliant in sunlight.

 

[grainysand]

If it doesn't have a dedicated GPU, what do you reckon it uses to run Dungeon Hunter/Nova/Exzeus et al with? Thin air? Magic? Unicorn blood?

 

[Pryomancer]

If it doesn't have a dedicated GPU, what do you reckon it uses to run Dungeon Hunter/Nova/Exzeus et al with? Thin air? Magic? Unicorn blood?

The latter.

 

[grainysand]

Horrors. How many unicorns died for each Desire unit (and Nexus for that matter), do you think?

 

[lekky]

First of all, a phone doesn't have to have a dedicated GPU to run games...


However, the Desire does have a separate GPU. But it is not as good as the one found in the moto droid or galaxy s. I believe the Desire still relies more heavily on clock speed than the other two.

But it will run every game out there right now well enough (tested this myself)


And the amazing reviews are because this phone is currently tied in top spot of the best phones available in the UK.

Tied with the Nexus one and the galaxy s btw.

 

[JsT]

The sun is not big issue from day to day users and neither is the multitouch. The only issue really is battery and the amount of fiddling required to gain even half decent battery life.

 

[DMXXX]

Didn't know about the dedicated GPU. That's cool. Anyway I'll say again that I'm not complaining. It just feels that the Desire gets a pass for some things other phones get scrutinized for

OT: As far as best phones go I'd say it's tied with SGS and Iphone 4. I also hear that Droid X and EVO 4G are pretty good. N1 just seems like a slightly inferior Desire if you ask me.

EDIT: @ JsT: Suprisingly enough I feel that the battery life is pretty good on the Desire. It's not like other smartphones are any better.

 

[Phenomenological]

The sun is not big issue from day to day users and neither is the multitouch. The only issue really is battery and the amount of fiddling required to gain even half decent battery life.

I'd say an hour of fiddling is a pretty small price to pay to get an excellent phone with good battery life. I went on holiday for a few days this week, used GPS and 3G for navigating around the city I was in for about an hour a day, plus 3G for browsing information on places online for a while and downloading news articles etc, and didn't drop below about 60-70% battery either day. Have a play around - It's worth it.

 

[JsT]

If it was just an hour I wouldn't mind but I've read every faq going and still can't get decent life out of it!

I think once I can get decent battery I'll have no complaints!

 

[nx1977]

The sunlight isn't am issue is you take your sunglasses off

 

[anoniemouse]

The sunlight isn't am issue is you take your sunglasses off

Can't take mine off as they are my normal glasses as well, thats why i find all screens the same in sunlight.

 

[beyond]

homerun 3d baseball, let's golf and sparta of heroes (iirc) run pretty decent on my desire. however, there is very noticeable lag on something with lots of background detail like assassins creed..

saying that, my copy isn't exactly legit. how does other ppl's phone runt he game?

it's still very playable but definitely not smooth in the larger game area scenes.

 

[Eugene's Mac]

It was made clear that 2.1 has FPS lag. In the demo's on Android 2.2 they show that the FPS, especially for gaming, has been dramatically increased. I am currently in India and throughout the 45'C blaze I had no real issue with the screen in sunlight. Found it similar to previous phones. Battery life is good for minimum 1 (lots of gaming etc) to max 4 days ( general use as a phone ). I have never experienced the Multi-touch issue. so to me - no issue. At least my phone gets great reception all the time, better that my previous iPhone.

 

[mattjuk]

It was made clear that 2.1 has FPS lag. In the demo's on Android 2.2 they show that the FPS, especially for gaming, has been dramatically increased. I am currently in India and throughout the 45'C blaze I had no real issue with the screen in sunlight. Found it similar to previous phones. Battery life is good for minimum 1 (lots of gaming etc) to max 4 days ( general use as a phone ). I have never experienced the Multi-touch issue. so to me - no issue. At least my phone gets great reception all the time, better that my previous iPhone.

4 days really i went on hols recently and didn't touch my phone and just managed 2 1/2 days!