My Captivate is going back but....

[jas2k9]

I don't know if I will get a replacement Captivate or an iphone.

I have read a lot the last few days, and I enjoy the phone for what it's worth.

I don't have a lot of terminal problems, likely have used almost nothing of what the phone can do, but....

It gets warm/hot to the touch

It does not lock in quickly on GPS - not the end of the world as it does lock in eventually.

It has other, smaller minor glitches.

So, do I wait for the so called next update to the OS and hope that somehow helps things out?

Do I get a new one (I am in the 30 day window), and hope it performs better?

Any and all input is welcome.

I like the product, but I wonder if the OS is not still in need of enough refinement that if I go iphone now, I could move over to Android later (18 months) and get a MUCH better product in terms of both hardware and software?

It helps that a 32 gb iphone would sell on craigslist for around $300 or more at that time versus the Captivate selling for around $100?!

Thanks!

 

[Gardenpapaya]

I took mine back ( original purchase on launch day ) because it was laggy and slow .

I got a new one and it flies , very responsive and quick .

I suggest return for a new one and see what happens ...

 

[Sharkonwheels]

Can you post the info on yours in this thread:

http://androidforums.com/samsung-captivate/138297-so-i-returned-my-captivate-today.html

As I did? Leave the last 4 digits of the IMEI off...

Maybe we can start finding a pattern of first-run vs later units...

T

 

[jas2k9]

I got a lock on signal today, but I found several times that the phone had me on roads there were near where I actually was (side roads) and thus started issuing 'commands' to correct - is that a part of the overall problem? Or something new?

 

[jmreed97]

I got a lock on signal today, but I found several times that the phone had me on roads there were near where I actually was (side roads) and thus started issuing 'commands' to correct - is that a part of the overall problem? Or something new?

That is my issue... I get a lock... It's just inaccurate.

 

[alphadog00]

I don't know if I will get a replacement Captivate or an iphone.

I have read a lot the last few days, and I enjoy the phone for what it's worth.

I don't have a lot of terminal problems, likely have used almost nothing of what the phone can do, but....

It gets warm/hot to the touch

It does not lock in quickly on GPS - not the end of the world as it does lock in eventually.

It has other, smaller minor glitches.

So, do I wait for the so called next update to the OS and hope that somehow helps things out?

Do I get a new one (I am in the 30 day window), and hope it performs better?

Any and all input is welcome.

I like the product, but I wonder if the OS is not still in need of enough refinement that if I go iphone now, I could move over to Android later (18 months) and get a MUCH better product in terms of both hardware and software?

It helps that a 32 gb iphone would sell on craigslist for around $300 or more at that time versus the Captivate selling for around $100?!

Thanks!

you have to decide, but if you have followed the iPhone 3G, 3GS, and 4, you would know that it has bugs too. Complaints of apps crashing and getting hot are nothing new. I had an iPhone 3G for 2 years, it worked fine, but was by no means flawless. Apple just makes crashing software look prettier.

In 18 months, the iPhone 5 will be out and 50 more android phones - whose to say what hardware will be best.

As for resale value, if you buy $400 phone and it sells for $300 later, is that better then a $200 phone selling for $100? Either way, if you buy them on a subsidy, you have a $350 early termination fee, so that 32GB phone will be 1 or 2 years old.

Besides, we can put a 32GB card in the captivate and have a 48GB phone.

I am happy with my captivate - i can customize it without worrying about a new jailbreak every time a software upgrade comes out.

 

[jas2k9]

Please, give me more reasons. I want to keep the captivate, I like the swype and screen that much. But messed up GPS (and a promise is not a guarantee), or a GPS that misses roads (as I said in another thread, it has/had me on roads near where I was and proceeded to offer up corrections). The overheating is a concern - not sure if I ought to be overly concerned or not.

I can tell you this, if it interfaced with the computer better (ala itunes) it would be a no brainer for me.

Resale is a very VERY minor thing. The 32 GB model would cost me $299, and I could flip it later (if craigs list is accurate today - with 3g and 3 gs models selling for crazy prices) for at least what I paid. The Captivate, Probably due to 3 million different droid phones and other things would not come close - but I got enjoyment/entertainment and business/phone value - it would not matter at all.

I have not indicated that I came from a freaking razr - so I am totally information overloaded with these things!

 

[TDQuiksilver]

Android alone is a perfect reason to keep it. And the fact it is capable of running Gingerbread.

 

[jas2k9]

Android alone is a perfect reason to keep it. And the fact it is capable of running Gingerbread.

That's all well and good, I guess, but I have no idea what your response means. As I said, I come from a razr phone and an ipod touch.

I want to see both consolidated. And I want to be able to use the features that make life easier - no need to stress over a phone correct?

So, what makes android and gingerbread (that I assume is the 2.3 version of the OS?) that still is waiting for the next update to make them work - and we don't really know for sure.

I am happy to try (and am leaning to it already) a replacement Captivate - but I will soon run out of time -so I don't really know what is best.....

I need someone to speak to me in plain engish (sort of) to explain why I ought stick with it or jump ship with the rest of the rats - so to speak.

 

[DontMindMe]

But messed up GPS (and a promise is not a guarantee), or a GPS that misses roads (as I said in another thread, it has/had me on roads near where I was and proceeded to offer up corrections).

The overheating is a concern - not sure if I ought to be overly concerned or not.

I can tell you this, if it interfaced with the computer better (ala itunes) it would be a no brainer for me.

So, what makes android and gingerbread (that I assume is the 2.3 version of the OS?) that still is waiting for the next update to make them work - and we don't really know for sure.

I need someone to speak to me in plain engish (sort of) to explain why I ought stick with it or jump ship with the rest of the rats - so to speak.

Those are a compilation of your questions that i understand, ill see if i can help.

Its a phone, its not a GPS, its allowed to make mistakes. From what i hear, its better than my friends GPS in that it doesnt mix up underpasses and highways. If directions are really an issue, Im fairly certain it depends on the phone, its not a entire carrier wide thing. As for with the iPhone, i was using my moms iPhone 3GS the other day and my lock was slower (not by much) but it was more accurate. It had me down the same room, where my moms was saying i was in the neighbors house.

The overheating means nothing. Well nothing serious. My old Blackjack 2 would get a lot hotter, to the point where it was hard to hold it, but only on calls. To my knowledge the overheating on this phone only occurs while charging. Its fairly normal, nothing to worry about.

There are apps that let it sync to iTunes, but why pay 4 dollars for an app when you just have to plug it in and drag your music to a folder you created? I didnt find it that hard for music, but then again i also only tried one album so im not completely sure for this one. But what it seems is you just plug it in, create a folder in media or something called Music, and then open iTunes and drag all your music into that folder and it should come up in your media player thing.

Gingerbread is the next one after Froyo, whatever number that is. Other than that im not really sure i understand your question. Could you rephrase it?

 

[Shelbster]

jas, I am kind of in the same boat as you. Although I am coming from an Iphone 3G and 3GS for comparison sake.

I have had an opportunity to play around with the Iphone 4. I have also had my Captivate for about a week. I think I am going to have to take my Captivate back because of the battery. I am trying to decide whether to get another Captivate or to get the Iphone 4.

I really like the Captivate. It does have some issues that I am trying to resolve, namely terrible battery life and poor gps. However, I know there are good and bad aspects to the Iphone 4 as well.

I can't really say one thing that the Iphone 4 does better than the Captivate. It's just a nebulous sense that the Iphone 4 is a little smoother and a little more "finished".

I have been going back and forth trying to decide which I like better. I have this nagging worry that 6-8 months from now, Samsung is going to essentially abandon the Captivate for a newer phone. One thing about apple is they do maintain updates and support for at least a year or more on their phones. (IOS4 worked flawlessly with my 3GS). At the same time, I love the 4" screen on the Captivate as well as the google voice, navigation, etc....

Basically, I think I want the Captivate but I am being drawn to the IPhone 4 because it feels "safer" and more "comfortable". But I am afraid that which ever phone I end up with, I'll always have that grass is always greener feeling.

Sorry for the emo diatribe about choosing a phone. I think I am just hoping for a moment of clarity here. Any thoughts about either phone are appreciated.

 

[jas2k9]

Shel, I think you have really stated it for me.

I am not a big techie, so while the android phones clearly do a crapload of stuff - and do it well, I have minor battery issues, the GPS issue, heating issues. I am afraid to wake up one day and have 90 MB of use while I was sleeping (see other thread). I think the Androids have more potential, but the iphone is more polished.

I REALLY REALLY like swype. And I will likely take this one back for another and cross my fingers that things work better this time around, if not, I will go the iphone route on my last day of the 30 trial.

If the iphone had swype I'd likely do it tomorrow.

I like the swype feature enough to give the captivate another try.

To the other poster - DontMindMe, if you - or someone could just give a course in introductory Android, what apps people ought to have - heck, I'm going to start a new thread on just that - thanks for making me get the brain engaged.

 

[ranjo]

This will, no doubt, be of absolutely no use to either of you, but here we go. I just came from the iPhone (first a 3g, then a 3gS), and I made the switch for one reason alone: Android. Android is open, iOS is not. With Android YOU control the experience, it is (for all intents and purposes) YOUR OS. With the iPhone, Apple controls the user experience, it is THEIR OS, not yours. Sure, there's the possibility of a jailbreak, but it's a shame that something like that has to exist just in order to exert some sort of control over your own user experience.

As for the Captivate itself, yes there's at least one important issue: GPS. But do you really think that Samsung is going to let a Flagship Phone languish without a fix? Not a chance! They'll fix it and probably sooner rather than later. Why? Because it's in their best interest. I don't mean to make light of the issue, but are you really that reliant on your phone's GPS to get around that you can't hang until a fix is made available? Maybe you are, I don't know. As for the battery, well, if it's getting excessively hot then you need to get it replaced.

When all is said and done I think it comes down to this: If the thought of Android and the freedom that comes with it doesn't do it for you, then i4 would be the way to go. Just my opinion.

 

[jas2k9]

No, it does help. But is that freedom valuable if it's not used? If the user is just downloading apps and using them and maybe putting a wallpaper on their screen - is one or the other much better.

I have no doubt that Samsung will correct the problem with GPS, the question is why so quiet on it, how could the release 3 different phones that share the same problem and not know it in advance and, from what I have read Samsung does have a lackluster record with things like this.

Look, I want this phone, and I like it, for the most part, but why should I pay for the priviledge of MAYBE it'll get fixed and in the mean time, cross your fingers.

Good or bad, Apple has a record of addressing problems - blaming them on the user - then eventually releasing a fix.

If I had something concrete from Samsung I'd probably have no concerns, but my trial period ends on 21 Aug, I don't have the luxury of just hope - so to speak.

 

[teeth]

I can pretty much echo everything in this thread, except my craptivate seems to be in even worse shape than the others who are disappointed. Just did a factory reset and still the soft buttons just seem to have stopped functioning. Still locks up for good two to three taps away from home screen. Can't believe others have returned the phone as many as five times and now are able to trust that they finally have a good one. I think I will go with either Iphone or possible even Palm Pre plus...

 

[poohbear99]

I know people that have replaced their iphone 4 five times too but they still haven't given up! Hell, my own iphone 3g silent button fell off and I had to get a new one. If you love something, you keep trying until you get it right! Samsung acknowledged their phones have a problem and will fix it. It might take a minute but I'm going to give them a chance.