Decision time

[LostArtist]

okay, verizon contract about to go to that new every two deal. I don't have a smart phone of any kind right now, just a messaging phone, which is totally fine for my personal usage. I could either stick with verizon and get a more or less free droid phone +/- $50 I really like the LG Ally and I like physical keyboards. I want a droid phone to start getting used to the droid platform. I'm a digital media studies major, that's a graduate program at my university that takes on basically general studies about new media, web 2.0, and more current types of media like that. Anyway, I want to start getting familiar with Droid platform, and I'm more interested in the rumored droid tablets than droid on a phone, but droid phones are real and tablets seem to keep being rumored, and a $50 to $100 phone won't kill me being able to buy a contract free droid tablet if they come out like that. I could switch to Sprint and save like $5, I only get the most basic plans I can cause I don't do a lot of stuff on my phone, I'm almost always in front of a computer. I like the Sprint Samsung Intercept, but the Verizon LG Ally has a much much better screen and seemed to work better in the store than the Intercept.

so the choice is, LG Ally on Verizon or Samsung Intercept on Sprint, coverage seems to be good in my area for both phones and I don't travel a lot, the Samsung Transform is coming out soon too so that might also be an option.

another option is, get a feature phone which would be fine for my personal usage and just wait for an Android tablet to come out sometime

the cost of a data plan is kind of a bummer, but I plan on changing jobs after I graduate in a year and a half but I could always upgrade my phone then but then I'd be a total newb to the droid or other smartphone stuff then. also I might get ambitious and try to do something with developing something for a droid phone in my master's degree capstone for my degree.

sorry that was so long, so whatcha all think?

 

[dan330]

1.. samsung intercept.. i have heard a lot of bad things.. i would recommend you do a little more reading on that phone!

2.. you said you would save $5 with verizon vs Sprint.. but on sprint, you will have a full service subscription.. with all bells and whistles.. like data and internet!!!

3. any android phone will make you use some data! and once you get a little taste.. like potato chips, cant stop at just 1!

4.. with an android tablet.. dont you want it to get some data access? will you buy data service for it? with an android phone that is rooted, and with free data services. You can share your unlimited (on Sprint) data on phone with your tablet... anywhere!!!!

5. go play with the phones in hand.. pick a few you like.. then come back here and read up on them.

 

[falkner09]

I just got the Ally, its pretty good but sprint had more affordable plans. I was very seriously considering sprint, if I had switched I would have gone with the Samsung Moment though. i tried the intercept, but reviews and my testing showed it wasnt that good, very unresponsive and slow. The sales rep I talked to said that he had the Intercept, but switched to the Moment because of all its problems. the screen is really good on the moment too.

 

[Thefoodman52]

If you're going to go with Sprint, for god sakes, DO NOT GET THE INTERCEPT. It is the digital equivalent of trash, along side with the Moment. The Moment's AMOLED screen, well yes, it is AMOLED, but it's got a blue hue in it, making everything look super weird if you're used a normal screen. It also locks up, has radio issues, GPS sucks on it, battery life is half that of the Evo or the Epic, and it's just all around general garbage. I don't know why Sprint still sells it to be frank with you.

The Ally, I've not heard or read anything majorly bad with it, or anything that makes it borderline un-usable like the Moment. The Intercept, it works, but you'll be so frustrated with it, it might as well not work.

In sound mind, I can only recommend the top 2 Android phones on sprint, because they're the only ones that really work like they're supposed to out of the box. Again, the Ally isn't bad if you're looking for a cheaper one.

 

[dan330]

the top 2: EVO and Epic.. they are great.. but they require $10/month extra fee.

there are 2 new phone for Sprint.. android..
it was just released today. go look..
they should be better than: Hero, Moment, and Intrepid

 

[nitsuj17]

id say if you're gonna be shelling out for a data plan every month then buy a top-tier smartphone. The ally may be free (or $50 on contract) but if im paying several hundred bucks a year then the Droid 2 is an insanely better phone. Just my thoughts anyway.

 

[LostArtist]

anyone have hands on experience with the Samsung Transform?

 

[Kabob]

id say if you're gonna be shelling out for a data plan every month then buy a top-tier smartphone. The ally may be free (or $50 on contract) but if im paying several hundred bucks a year then the Droid 2 is an insanely better phone. Just my thoughts anyway.

My thought exactly, if a physical keyboard is what you want the Droid 2 is by far your best Android option (on Verizon at least). If you have some time to spare and can look around and wait a few days/weeks you might be able to pick up a Droid 2 on sale.