Three Possible Options?

[Mike J B]

Long time reader, first time poster. If this is the wrong forum, feel free to move it. If I'm breaking a rule, please be polite about it because this is my first post and I'm not doing it willingly.

I'm an AT&T user, not by choice (it frustrates me how they constantly try to push you on the iPhone or a dumbPhone, with no other options), but rather because I pay $0 a month for it (which mean's I'm on a family plan), and my family keeps getting locked into AT&T every time they renew contracts. So, at least for the next few years I'm in college, I'm going to be on AT&T's network.

Basically, I'm a "power user" of computers, a college student, and someone who tends to use Linux as my primary OS. This rules out dumbphones (frustratingly featureless), Blackberries (corporate-focused, and rather aged in OS and hardware design), and the iPhone (no Linux support unless you jailbreak it). I want an Android phone because I tend to use Google's services over its competitors, since it is the largest platform-agnostic vendor.

Last year, before I was knowledgeable about phones (again, AT&T offers the choices of iPhone or dumbPhone), my old phone broke. I replaced it with what I thought was the best non-iPhone that AT&T offered, a feature(less) phone called the Samsung Impression. Turns out it's practically a hardware protype of an OLED screen, with no good software -- Samsung uses its successor phones *this* year to have OLED phones with usable operating systems.

Basically, I find my phone intolerable in every way, except for the fact that I can use Opera Mini 5 on it to at least have a usable web experience on it. I really want an Android phone, I need it to be unlocked because I'm still on a contract, and was going to buy a Nexus One in late January until I read rumors of an AT&T-3G-using Nexus One. Well, no rumors since February 1st to follow on the Nexus One for AT&T, although I've checked Google News weekly. It could be months.

I just wanted to know the expert opinion of people who use/follow Android regularly because it's basically down to three options and I don't know which is best:

1. Buy a Nexus One today; don't use 3G.
2. Wait for the Nexus One to "properly" come to AT&T, with 3G.
3. Wait for another (unlocked) phone for AT&T that's even better than the Nexus One.

Considering that there's so many new Android phones announced in January and February, I may find myself choosing #3, but that would probably require more waiting than any other alternative.

Still, I don't want to pay over $500 for something if a few weeks later (just after the return deadline, with my luck) a Nexus One compatible with AT&T's 3G network is released.

Since you guys are probably more in tune with Android rumors and advice, what do you think?

P.S. I voted for the Motorola Droid in the Engadget poll because of this site. Hooray for Android victory!

 

[Maxx]

AT&T has not said much...it seems they still live under the Apple shadow, The motorola phone we are getting is a joke, but if the Dell Mini 5 is coming that is very promising. It's oversized, but as android as you can get. And powerful to boot.

And if by some MIRACLE we get the HTC desire than I'll jump into a contract with both feet first. Otherwise my wife's contract is up in November and I have to think about buying out.

I've been a WinMo fan for long enough I've developed applications for windows mobile and I've been generally happy with my AT&T Fuze, but I'm seriously ready to get a android phone and I hope AT&T makes good on their promise because I have generally good coverage in my area with AT&T, better than verizon so I hope I can continue for that reason.

 

[Mike J B]

The motorola phone we are getting is a joke, but if the Dell Mini 5 is coming that is very promising. It's oversized, but as android as you can get. And powerful to boot.

One thing bothers me about the Dell Mini 5 (other than the size): "custom interface" (I think it has a custom interface). It seems that "custom interface" really means "you get Android OS updates months late if at all," and if I have to choose cool interface or cool new apps, I'd choose cool new apps. If I had to use an interface, it'd be HTC Sense, since HTC has a close relationship with Google (faster updates, in theory) and the best Android interface (or so I've heard).

The HTC Desire would be awesome.

 

[Three]

um, Did you guys see this?
AT&T picking up HTC Desire, Sprint grabbing HTC Hero2 Boy Genius Report

If you can wait, there should be a AT&T 3G capable Nexus One sometime in the next 3-5 months. A long time to wait if your ready to get a phone but still...if you can wait, it may be worth it.

 

[Maxx]

that is still just a rumor Three...While I hope it's true. We won't know for a little while yet.

As for the custom interfaces delaying android updates you basically have to pick the phone that has a level that you are ok with. Dell Mini 5 seems to be going with 2.0 or a modified version of it so that you can pinch zoom and other stuff with their programs.

And I agree Sense UI seems the best overlay (though the X10 looks interesting) There are plenty of modders out there who often times can port the important stuff from a rom to fix most HTC phones.

xda-developers.com is a good site if you want to see what is possible.

 

[Three]

that is still just a rumor Three...While I hope it's true. We won't know for a little while yet.

As for the custom interfaces delaying android updates you basically have to pick the phone that has a level that you are ok with. Dell Mini 5 seems to be going with 2.0 or a modified version of it so that you can pinch zoom and other stuff with their programs.

And I agree Sense UI seems the best overlay (though the X10 looks interesting) There are plenty of modders out there who often times can port the important stuff from a rom to fix most HTC phones.

xda-developers.com is a good site if you want to see what is possible.

Very true and I should have been more clear, thank you.
...Still, at this point, it may be better to wait and see what else AT&T rolls out as well as what Google has in the works (I believe Google has already states that they would be offering more phones)

 

[Mike J B]

So wait rather than buy a non-3G-compatible Nexus One right now?

 

[Yoshiofthewire]

I have been thinking either a Backflip or hacking a Tilt2
Downsides:
The Backflip is SLOW and and MotoBS
The Tilt2 rom is maybe 60-70% of the way there at best, but as it doesn't require flashing your phone, worse case is your stuck in WinMo 6.5 land.

 

[Mike J B]

I have been thinking either a Backflip or hacking a Tilt2
Downsides:
The Backflip is SLOW and and MotoBS
The Tilt2 rom is maybe 60-70% of the way there at best, but as it doesn't require flashing your phone, worse case is your stuck in WinMo 6.5 land.

If those are the two options, if those options lock you for 1.5 to 2 years, and if there is a high chance that later this year a better option arises, I guess waiting is the only non-gamble us AT&T users can do.

EDIT: Assuming, of course that a solution happens sometime before the summer. 10 months would be a difficult wait...

 

[Yoshiofthewire]

I am tired of waiting for at&t to let a HTC Android phone out.
Can you say Lanacster?

 

[Maxx]

Yes, AT&T has been sucking on the Apple teet for too long and they are afraid to offend the huge company (Apple = the New Microsoft except with devices?) how ironic...

Getting a nexus one would not be a huge deal if you had access to wifi in most places you would use it...but personally I'm waiting for a 'good' android phone (not that motorola rubbish) Here's to hoping!

 

[Mike J B]

I went with option #2.

Android phones through AT&T will probably be just as bad as the Backflip in the software sector, and even if I root and modify them, AT&T will still be sent a clear message that their crapware still sells the phones. I want to send a message that it does not.

I want the Google experience. Not the Yahoo-AT&T-OEM experience. I will pay $200-300 more for the Google experience just to cut a little bit into AT&T's profits because of its stupidity.

 

[ZRock]

Nexus one is now made for AT&T as well, new radio, same device. Purchase it up!