When did you first come to Android?

[gateway]

I thought it would be nice to start a thread where we can come and tell each other how you came upon android. It's been two years now since Android's release and lots of phones have come and gone. What your first phone is/was and why. If you are planning on staying with future android phones or move on after you contract is up. Kind of like a a big sit around just shooting the $%$^.

I will start, I jumped on the the G1 first day of release and and it's been a fun ride since. I didn't root till a year in and it became a new phone. I thought about the Samsung Moment, Mytouch and Droid as my next phone but waited till my contract was almost up and made the switch to the Droid X and Verizon. It is still a great ride and I just got my wife an Incredible and daughter a Fascinate on the BOGO. My twin brother went from his iphone 3gs to a Palm Pre + to get on Verizon and the free Hot Spot feature to a Fascinate.

So this is me and my story, what's your?

 

[Deleted User]

I saw the G1 and had compared it to iOS and WebOS. Because Android wasn't as flashy at the time and iOS was out of the question I only knew of WebOS's ability to multitask. I had seen the G1 on person and two of my friends got it, and I didn't like it's shape and size. But I was impressed with how it ran.

Eventually when the Droid promo's came out, I started looking into it and learning about Android. I found out about it's awesome notification system and multitasking. So I researched, the one thing I that stopped me from buying the Droid was the slight wobble when the keyboard was closed and the lack of multitouch.

Back then, I didn't know the difference between resistive and capacitive. I just knew Multitouch screens were a different technology then resistive. I tested it by using a pen tip on the screen to see if it reacted (Capacitive wouldn't)

By the time the multi touch rumors for the Droid were revealed to be true, the Nexus One was announced with 2.1 and the Snapdragon. This is when I got really obsessed, the thought of if coming to Verizon had me hooked.

When it got cancelled and they announced the HTC Incredible would replace it I started saving money to pay for the renewal. When I had purchased it I got stuck on the watiing list and finally got it over the summer.

Because I had bought to Dinc for it's similiarity to the N1 I rooted and looks for Vanilla themes, and got hooked on Skyraider Vanilla. Then I Virtuous, and eventually found AOSP and flashed Cyanogen (because it was the most popular) and the rest is history.

Now I plan on saving up in hopes of the next Nexus

 

[Guamguy]

Mine was the MyTouch 3G, aka HTC Magic. Been looking for one for a while before that. During that time though, the HTC Magic sold rather well. I was able to come upon an slightly used example where the previous owner had unlocked it.

It definitely confirmed my theory that T-Mobile HTC smartphones do have Euro/Asian 3G support built in as an option in addition to their 1700 AWS band.

I feel the hardware design of this phone is near perfect. The five buttons are a joy to press, compared to the capacitive buttons of later Androids. Having a physical call button is one big advantage over other touchscreen phones. The trackball feels big and meaty, compared to the smaller trackball introduced with the Hero and inherited on the Nexus One.

Waiting for the official Froyo update to it. Its the only phone now I have with Android 1.6, which I use to study Market differences with Android 2.1 and 2.2. Which I have to conclude, in a practical sense, not much.

In my opinion, the G1 and the Magic are designs that are more Google aka Andy Rubin, than HTC. Ironically, the Nexus One is more HTC, since you can see its design heritage all the way back to the HTC Touch. The G1 design smells of Rubin's previous works, mainly the Sidekicks. The fact that there is a Google inspired design is the way the HTC Magic has a design that over arches to other phones like the first Samsung Galaxy and Galaxy Spica, even to the present day Huawei Ideos, while looking nothing like any HTC phone before and after.

 

[Nessa D]

ummm, about 4 weeks ago, lol. NEWBIE!

 

[chrlswltrs]

I tried the Eris and was hugely disappointed, then got the Droid instead 2 weeks later. Did it last november when they launched.

I did it because it was the first alternative to the iPhone that wasn't on AT&crap

I had the iPhone since I waited in line on the original launch day in the hot TX sun for it. The Droid got me into Verizon because it was actually as good as the iPhone 3GS, I got the Eris first because I HATE physical keyboards, they became obsolete in 2007.

Now I LOVE my Droid X!!! Looking forward to my next LTE Android early next year

 

[clutchy]

I saw the G1 and my wife wanted it b/c it was white... go figure but it didn't happen. At that point i hadn't heard of android and i was just looking at phones as... well a phone w/ a keyboard.

I think i may have had the iphone 3g at that point and i ended getting my wife a nokia e71x...

then the droid hit and i started doing some research. It looked pretty awesome and it was OPEN!!

i'd never had an apple product before b/c i despise the way they lock things down and do business but it was the best at the time. I ended up doing some more research and i canned my 3g back in january and get more for it than i bought it for which was crazy.

i picked up the t-mob nexus one and ran it on att for awhile but then a week later the att version came out so i exchanged it. and i've been using the N1 since. I really have enjoyed it and nothing has really tempted me to switch at this point, although i'd REALLY REALLY like an open motorola phone. they're my preferred company. High quality handsets and i think they look the best.

I wish more phones integrated the LED light for notifications it's a hugely overlooked option that really is great to have. I like the trackball too.

did i mention i got an iphone 4 and sold it which b/w the two paid for nexus one almost 2 times over... lol apple suckers...

 

[chrlswltrs]

although i'd REALLY REALLY like an open motorola phone. they're my preferred company. High quality handsets and i think they look the best.

If Moto made the Nexus 2 that would be a dream come true

 

[mauiblue]

I was getting bored with my Samsung Intensity and the Iphone was looking good to me after a buddy of mine bought one earlier this past summer. I did a little research and found that there was more to the smartphone world other than Apple. The more I read about android phones the more I wanted one. Finally I settled on the HTC Incredible. I ordered one in late June and finally received it in the middle of July. I just rooted my phone and life is good. Looking forward in upgrading next summer and seeing how far android phone tech has progressed.

 

[grainysand]

Nexus One: my first Android and first smartphone. Never regretted it--the phone's still holding its own against today's top-end cutting-edge choices and continues to have a thriving developer community. Life's good.

 

[Frisco]

Eris, coming off a Samsung Instinct. Easy transition. Plus, my Eris was flawless in performance and reliability (as opposed to the plethora of complaints posted here, there and everywhere - I think OTD and I were the only two Eris users issued perfect phones ).

My Fascinate is the same, only better.

 

[JevyJav]

I like having things that not many other people have; especially when those things are under rated. I originally switched to helio because of this I had both the Ocean 1 and 2. The Ocean 1 was a ground breaking phone in my opinion and really did not get the credit it deserved. Eventually I ran into the g1 and at the time everyone had an iphone, the g1 seemed so different and revolutionary yet was destined to live in the shadow of apple... I wanted one! At the same time I also wanted to see what else google was gonna do because that they were onto something and I was looking for a true under rated gem. Low and behold the nexus one came out and I knew this phone was gonna be a beast destined for commercial failure... I was right. I bought it on tmobiile a week after it came out and later bought an at&t version. Best investment i've made and im so happy its not sold anymore. Im glad to see how well android has progressed and am glad i waited before jumping aboard i've had money to upgrade to supposedly "better" phones but in my opinion the nexus one IS android and I look forward to my next os update(gingerbread) either coming today(11/11) or later this month. In some ways I wish many more people jumped on the nexus bandwagon it really is a awesome phone but more than that I really wished google suceeded in undermining the carriers also it would have meant that much less people would have to cimplain about lack of os updates. After this experience I dont think I could ever buy a contract phone again or any android phone with a manufacturer skin over the os. Long live android!

 

[dlads]

The first day the hero came out, never looked back.

 

[speedracer68]

I just came to Android this year. I was actually planning on buying an iPod Touch when the thought occurred to me, "Why should I carry an iPod and a phone around all day?"

A girl at work had just purchased an Eris and, on impulse, I went to the Verizon store and bought one, which is pretty atypical of me because I like to research major purchases before taking the plunge.

Needless to say, the phone turned out to be crap, but rooting it made it usable. Now I'm staying on top of everything Android phone related so I'll be ready when my 2012 upgrade date rolls around.

And yes, I do plan on sticking with Android mainly because I use Google for everything and I like how integrated the OS is with Google, and secondly because I like having the option to change...well...practically anything I want.

 

[reinbeau]

I had wanted a Droid of some sort for a long time, and about six weeks ago someone posted about the Captivate on Facebook, since my contract was up and I could get a discount I jumped on the chance. So, like Nessa, I'm an Android newbie, still learning. My former phone was a Nokia 6126, so the Captivate is a quantum leap!

 

[Bnice]

I pick up a sprint htc hero the day it came out. Never own an iphone or a windows phone and i never will.

 

[PinkMirrorKirby]

I picked up a cheap Huawei Android phone to test it out, and I really like Android so I've managed to bought the HTC Aria, which manages to hold on against the higher-specced phones like the HTC Desire. (mine still scrolls smoothly throughout the home screen when compared to my friend's HTC Desire running Android 2.2 with HTC Sense when mine were running on Android 2.1 with HTC Sense.)

 

[EmoTonyB]

samsung moment. about 9 months ago. KNEW i wanted android based on seeng my friends with the g1 and mytouch. had tmobile and didnt want to stay witht hem. sprint had the best priced data plans and i went with the moment cause i like the keyboard.

 

[jroc]

Droid 1 April of this year. I tried out the X to see if it was better and now the X is my main phone. The Droid 1 is not really a back up phone. I still use it from time to time, I just cant make calls on it.

 

[k0smo86]

Was with a design firm that was developing a no texting while driving app back in '08, not sure what phone it was on, but it was android. After that I always had android in the back of my mind, the developer always talked about how much he liked it. Fast forward to about 1 month ago and I decided to get the Droid X. Loving it!

 

[Joe Dirt]

Got my G1 11/08. Had to have it as soon as I played with it. G2 now.

 

[Benjie]

I moved over shortly after the Evo made its appearance. I hate the on-scream keyboard and basically hated the device until I found an alternative keyboard. The Bluetooth implementation sucks, but I have gotten use to everyone hearing the phone ring and notifications sounding instead of only going to the headset. Other than that, it is fast. I wish the Touch Pro 2 came with the Evo hardware. It would be nice and it would be fast and the Bluetooth implementation would be far superior. In other words, no one around me would have the slightest idea the phone was doing its thing.

 

[toomuchgame441]

Well my first taste of android was with the Sprint htc hero. I loved it and i fell in love with android. I knew my next device had to be android. Just a stronger faster device and then came along the Evo, one of the best Androids out, cannot complain. And ill most likely stay with android when I'm do for another upgrade.

 

[andygu3]

Well my first taste of android was with the Sprint htc hero. I loved it and i fell in love with android. I knew my next device had to be android. Just a stronger faster device and then came along the Evo, one of the best Androids out, cannot complain. And ill most likely stay with android when I'm do for another upgrade.

And the Hero has flash 10.1 now, lol haha toomuchgame441

 

[saberhack]

bought the G2 because the did not have the iphone form t-mobile and i was not switching to ipay&pay

 

[dlads]

And the Hero has flash 10.1 now, lol haha toomuchgame441

The hero?? No it doesn't. I've still got mine here with froyo 2.2, no flash support i'm afraid.