Samsung Captivate or Samsung Focus? - General Topics

Short story: I'm up for an upgrade on AT&T and I can't decide between the Captivate and the Focus. I like Android and its massive amount of customization but WP7 looks amazing and I have a gut feeling it will be a pretty big success going forward.
Long story: So I signed up with AT&T on a family plan back in September of this year and, since I had just moved back to the US, I decided to save my money and use my own phone from abroad. I made this choice mostly because smartphones on AT&T were still kind of expensive and the only two options at the time were the Captivate and the HTC Aria. And they pretty much offered zero desirable free phones (before smartphones you could get some great phones for free).
About a month later, my phone started freaking out on me and still continues to do so. The phone restarts itself randomly throughout the day; this is an issue because it's a Sony Ericsson phone so it goes to the Phone Mode/Flight Mode screen before actually starting so I've missed quite a few calls. Over time the phone has also started to have issues picking up any signal at all, so I've been forced to restart the phone every time (and it temporarily fixes the problem).
This whole thing became a big headache and I got worried I would have to shell out $300+ for a decent off-contract or unlocked phone. Luckily, since I didn't get a phone on my line, AT&T is saying that I am eligible for an upgrade and I've been looking online and I've found some great deals.
Two deals in particular: the gorgeous Samsung Captivate for free and the drool-worthy Samsung Focus for $50 (both on Amazon). Both of these prices apply for an upgrade, so now I'm trying to decide which one I want. I love Android and its insane customizations (and the TouchWiz UI is not that bad tbh) and its awesome features (Navigation being a huge plus). But I am very tempted to get a WP7 device; gaming looks to be MUCH better and the whole UI is quite handsome in addition to being just blazing fast. And I know I'll be kicking myself if WP7 grows into a killer OS while I'm still stuck on 2.2 (and at that point 3.0 will probably be out and Sammy will have a new flagship Android).
Now I ask you XDA-ers: which one should I get?

I hate doing this but...bump.

I'm in the same boat. What decision did you end up making, and do you have any regrets?
For me the trade offs between the two are the Focus with the LED Flash, 8gb mem, and WP7. And tehn the Captivate with no LED Flash, 16gb mem, and Android
BUMP

Im an Android guy but go with the Focus, Ive used one many times and its wonderful, ive been using WP7 since february and its come a long way, also I know there are some cool features coming in an update next feb.

Related

Shopping...so many choices. Please weigh in.

Back story - I have a HTC Fuze (Raphael) and it was my first advanced smart phone. Been on those little grey screen nokias until this phone. So I totally got into the whole fuss and fury of hacking the heck of phone. But as time has progressed it seem I may have gotten one of the worst HTC phones made. For a bit I even decided to dislike all HTC's on that basis alone. Anyway, I finally settled on just a basic ROM and a few addon's. The most important for this phone (and AT&T service) was the ability from Advanced Config to lock my phone to Edge. (Yep been on Edge now for 1.5yrs as 3G would never hold on this phone. )
This past weekend I was THIS close to putting this thing into a wall. I have rebooted at least 10 times in last week for lost TOWER (not just signal), non-responsive screen, and complete freezes.
Went window shopping today. Here are the results and hoping to get feedback of all kinds. (I need more than the sales person's comments...) Please talk about service and phone if you feel like.
HTC Aria (AT&T) - Small, well tiny actually. Almost as small a screen as my Fuze. It is Android so that is a plus as I think I am burnt on WinMo. Very nice screen and decent functionality [in store]. Heard a rumor about bad speakers on this.
iPhone 4 (AT&T) - I actually tried the 3G but hated it so much I returned it for the Fuze. This was before the OS release that allowed landscape keyboard and MMS. (No need for nekkid pics of GF to be on AT&T site and me not to be able to download.) The 4 looks interesting, but not sure I like the iPhone premise really. I do not want a zillion aps to waste time. I just need about 4...map/weather/....ok two I can think of... The screen is freeking incredible though and the sales guy was right, you can read a web page without zooming with the letters basically at a 2 font size...that is good.
HD2 (T-Mobile) - HUGE screen and this is one of my top request for next phone. I want lots of real estate. I am 6'1" 240lbs and a power lifter, I have thick fingers and a big head... Small phones are like me on a Vespa. The TMo version of this phone 'sounds' like it is very limited (according to threads here). Also heard stuff about that pink stripe in pics. I like that camera is 5megapixel but really want the pics to look ok. It is still a WinMo phone and that is a bummer, but not a deal killer I guess. (Is it 6.5 or 6.1? The ladies in store were clueless.)
Evo (Sprint) - Again with the giant screen, love it. This is the top of my list for phone choices at moment, but there is one non-phone related issue here. No international coverage for a CDMA phone and I tend to travel once in a while. (Have to find out if worth it to get a second pre-paid or whatever next time I travel.) The Evo is Android and I think it is time for me to try that out. The camera is EIGHT megapixels and I basically use my camera as a back up to my point and shot. Like for real...when on a motorcycle sometimes the camera is out of reach...the phone substitutes when I am not ready to park and dig in saddle bags. 4G is not really a yes/no for me as I probably won't have it in my neighborhood and will most likely go to 3G for most of my use of phone (Dude in store said you can set phone to not use 4G.)
So my wish list is....big screen, good software, great camera, good reception, decent costs. Weighed in that order for me.
Thoughts? Help a confused shopper out.
(ps...I am just guessing this a good forum for this post. Mods let me now if it needs moved.)
Has to be HD2 great pice of kit yes its 6.5 and there are a lot of good roms in the hd2 thread that get the best out of the device IMO
Evo4 and HD2 are basically the same phone with different radio chips. Only issue I have with the Evo is the battery life is supposed to be rated in minutes not hours. LOL being a little sarcastic but I heard its not good at all. I personally think the tmo HD2 is better then the unlock int version. Has more memory and says tmobile on it and all. By far my vote is the HD2. Plays any video I download on the internet thats under 2GB with sound in sync and no dropped frames, touch screen rivals the iphone, they just cracked the linux kernal for it so we should see a usable port of android within months. Plus I'm not sold on winmo7. I think like XP we may see cooked roms taking peices of WINMO7 and cooking them into 6.5. But anyways think back with Winmo first came out and how buggy it was. If WM7 is a true rebuild then all our cool players, and mods won't work on it so even if WM7 comes out in Oct 10 I could see holding off till 2012 to make the switch. At least till the software catches up. I think when WM7 comes out your going to find were actually quite spoiled when it comes to apps and phone stuff. Also I signed up for Tmobile Flex pay plan with 500 daytime minutes, unlimited TXT and unlimited data for $68 total tax included. Service has been great! Faster then Verizon and ATT but doesn't tower hop as well. Occasionally I will run through my buffer before the next tower really takes over. This just results in 5 seconds of silence or blacked out video ,then it comes back.
Ok, so two votes for the HD2. Wanna hear the emotional/silly arguement I am having with self...HD2 already old tech.
Yep, do I want to miss out on 1ghz and 8 megapixels....grrr.
Done....money laid down...sexiest phone I have had is now mine. I couldn't decide. I was even thinking about waiting for the new Samsung or Droid X.
I let fate decided. First one avail I was taking.
I know have the Evo!!!!
All I can say...(and I have)...is Giggidy giggidy!!!
3 votes for Leo
Leo is a great device, super screen and fast enough to run smoothly WM6.5.3
I am sure Chefs and Devs @XDA will manage some how to port WP7 on it
For what its worth I heard the Evo4 is BA! Only gripe I've heard is battery life and this can be minimized by settings and an extended pack. You'll enjoy it. Hell its the same phone as the HD2 but different radio.
Go with the Samsung Galaxy S on T-Mobile.
Leaked pictures have shown that it will be sold at retail for 329.99 USD.
Super AMOLED + a kickass GPU that blows (currently) the GPU used in the iPad and the iPhone4.
With the 1 Ghz hummingbird chip currently besting the Snapdragon (until Qualcomm releases their dual-core update later this year through Project Emerald?), it is the best bang for your buck money can buy right now.
However, the HD2 has the sexiest shell-design you'll ever see in a phone. The Galaxy S will feel a little plasticky and cheap compared to the HD2. Even the EVO looks subpar against the HD2. That's how much love we're talking here with regards to the HD2's shell design.
i wish i had the freedom to change networks whenever i wanted, the evo looks like a beast of a phone and the epic 4g looks pretty sweet as well.

Planning to buy a Captivate

I recently had an AT&T Tilt die on me. Fortunately, I had warranty on it, so AT&T sent me a refurbished Pure. Its awesome and all, but now I am eligible for an upgrade on one of my lines. So, I'm planning on getting the Captivate from Amazon for $99, and sell the month old refurbished Pure on ebay or something.
What do you guys think? Good idea to swap a Pure for a Captivate? And would I be able to get around $100-200 for the refurbished Pure on ebay?
What about features? I know the Captivate has Android. Is it as customizable as WinMo? Anything I should keep in mind before I take the plunge?
Thanks in advance.
I used to have a winmo phone a couple years ago, and I loved how customizable it was, but then I got the iphone because it was skinnier perfermed a lot nicer and had a lot more features.
now im going to be getting a captivate because it performs better than an iphone and just as much customization (or more) then winmo.
I had an original tilt (tynt2) up until the aria came out. I had been running an android rom on it for a few months and decided to switch. 30 days after getting my aria I returned it to Best Buy and got the captivate on release day.
I am loving the switch. My android fulfills the work, personal, and entertainment needs my winmo just couldn't get.
I will be checking out phone7 when it releases but I am not sure if I will be switching away from android. I suggest you go for it. Experience something new!
Selling rooted captivate or will trade for att banded nexus one, I don't care if its a step down. I miss trackballs, and fastboot.
sent from a 42 node T.I. 89 cluster
Interesting. Its nice to see different opinions. Keep them coming. I need all angles before I make my decision.
If you on at&t the captivate its the best option. The only drawback I find over the iPhone its the appstore. The 3rd party apps on the iPhone are just way more Polish.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
That's why i kept my AT&T branded Nexus One. I mean I love my Captivate, but it just isn't there yet like the Nexus One and plus the dev community behind the Nexus is second to none. It will get there, but for the time being the SIM card with my unlimited data plan and main number is in my Nexus One again, but i wont be getting rid of my Captivate either. I wish i could take the two phones and frankenstein me a nexus two. Nexus One body style with the 4" super AMOLED and MaxTouch sensor, 1 ghz hummingbird and PowerVR, and best of all Vanilla Android with Froyo. I guy can wish can't he. Until then i am happy with both just not ready to retire my loyal Nexus One, but i feel that when i do it will be for the Captivate. We just need the end of September to hurry and get here bringing us Froyo and we need Samsung to hurry with a GPS fix while the developer community grows.
I bought the captivate on release day. I have to say it's a great phone but it wasn't for me. There are a few issues with the phone that should be fixed by Samsung soon (major is just gps) but other than that its a good phone, it's more technical thats for sure. I had to return it for an iphone 4 instead, music is a big role that is a factor for me when i purchase a phone and although the stock player was ok it was nothing compared to iphone. Thats one thing no one can beat apple in...media. There is also a little bit of lag (launcher pro takes care most of it). If you buy it I would suggest you root it and make sure to back up the At&t apps...i forgot to do that lol, good thing best buy doesn't check
The only problems i have are some software issues that i assume samsung will fix - things that their skinning affected - like not being able to dial a number in a calendar invite. Not a show stopper, but an inconvenience.
As for customization - it is more customizable then WinMo mostly. WinMo was more wide open you copied files and futzed with the registry, nothing would stop you. Android, you have to root first - so an extra step. But compared to the iPhone much easier to customize. Rooting after an update is much easier then jailbreaking.
As far as other comparisons - I like the captivate better then my iPhone 3G, and passed on the iPhone 4. I think the media player in the captivate is superiour to the iphone - the interface is nicer, and easier and sound is just as good if not better then the iphone. More video and music formats are supported too, and even though the screen may not have the pixels of the iPhone 4 it is bigger and better looking. Blacks are black and that is what i wanted.
Android is not perfect, but it is catching up to the iPhone fast. iPhone has at least a year jump on Android, but I think the feature list will put Android on top soon.
I haved had phones of every OS, and Android is my favorite so far - the extent of the widgets is amazing.
I switched over from a BlackBerry Bold 9000, phone is night and day difference. The call quality is better, web browsing, youtube and the screen is awesome. The only downside I find with the Captivate is the lack of push e-mail scheme except with gmail but the plus side is no more truncation and actually get to see all of the html e-mails like looking at them through thunderbird. I will add that I love Android over Palm, BB and Windows Mobile, I have not owned the iPhone but I dont think I can because I prefer the 4 inch samoled screen.
HTH,
Charlie
You probably know already since you've been doing research, but the compass and GPS on the Captivate are totally busted at the moment. Otherwise, it's a fantastic handset, and as customizable as you could want.
I got the Captivate on release day, and previously used a Tilt.
The Tilt was running the stock WinMo ROM for most of it's life, but I got bored and flashed Polymod's 2.1 ROM to it at some point.
That's what made me get the Captivate.
The Captivate beats the Tilt and Pure in nearly every way possible. I don't think you'll regret the upgrade at all.
My only complaint is that the battery isn't the best on the Captivate, but it's not a big deal unless you go multiple days without access to a charger.
I say go for it.
Thanks for all your opinions, guys. Yeah, I've been doing a lot of research, and am disappointed that the GPS on this phone sucks. Its not a huge deal breaker, but something to think about nonetheless. By the way, is the GPS/compass totally busted or is so-so?
I'm looking forward to the switch to Android, because I'm a programmer by heart and like to tinker with my devices, so iOS is out of the question.
My compass is completely busted, but my GPS is fine if I'm outside. It just takes a while to get a lock. Others have reported GPS being way off.
Sent from my Samsung Captivate.
ashoooo said:
Thanks for all your opinions, guys. Yeah, I've been doing a lot of research, and am disappointed that the GPS on this phone sucks. Its not a huge deal breaker, but something to think about nonetheless. By the way, is the GPS/compass totally busted or is so-so?
I'm looking forward to the switch to Android, because I'm a programmer by heart and like to tinker with my devices, so iOS is out of the question.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never had an issue with the compass unless it gets too close to a magnet. a few figure eights in the air resets it.
The GPS is a software issue, and will eventually be officially fixed. It also seems to be a hit and miss for some people that could be due to bad phone batches, times of day, location, or a million other variables. There are a few GPS fixes currently floating around that should improve any GPS issues at least marginally. they do not fix the underlying issues, but do help mitigate them.

[Q] Cheap AT&T Phones

Dear all, a long time lurker, reader, and occasional poster. I am about up on my 2 years with the Samsung Captivate. I have replaced every piece of software I could .. until it got unusable and now am pretty much stock ... but she is tired from the journey an is slowing down on me ... In particular, problems seemingly linked to hardware are annoyingly getting in the way - my Wifi is completely down and charging (on my multiple batteries is intermittently frustrating) and GPS never worked- ever. anyhow... I am starting to look for a replacement. The phone is in the way of me just functioning.
That said, I am not excited about the offerings, high or low, so I decided to lok for something cheap, cheerful, and reliable. Not the hottest, newest, flashiest (I really do not want a 4.8" screen!!) instead looking for some older, or lower end models.
The thoughts are:
1) Best Buy has Nexus S for FREE with contract - I am attracted to it, because it is a Nexus, but otherwise close to hardware specs of the Captivate.
2) ATT has Pantech Burst - dual core, LTE, on Gingerbread, from a budget manufacturer
3) Refurb iPhone4 - the non "S" iPhone can be had for $50 ... it is not exciting, but it works ...
4) Samsung Focus Flash - I have been planning to make the jump to WP eventually to try it ... the Focus 2 is coming out in a few days. I am nervous jumping into the frey before WP8 comes out.
Thoughts, feelings emotions? I feel the Nexus of the WP phone may be the safest bets, but people may disagree.
Thanks for the help.
dozyaustin said:
Dear all, a long time lurker, reader, and occasional poster. I am about up on my 2 years with the Samsung Captivate. I have replaced every piece of software I could .. until it got unusable and now am pretty much stock ... but she is tired from the journey an is slowing down on me ... In particular, problems seemingly linked to hardware are annoyingly getting in the way - my Wifi is completely down and charging (on my multiple batteries is intermittently frustrating) and GPS never worked- ever. anyhow... I am starting to look for a replacement. The phone is in the way of me just functioning.
That said, I am not excited about the offerings, high or low, so I decided to lok for something cheap, cheerful, and reliable. Not the hottest, newest, flashiest (I really do not want a 4.8" screen!!) instead looking for some older, or lower end models.
The thoughts are:
1) Best Buy has Nexus S for FREE with contract - I am attracted to it, because it is a Nexus, but otherwise close to hardware specs of the Captivate.
2) ATT has Pantech Burst - dual core, LTE, on Gingerbread, from a budget manufacturer
3) Refurb iPhone4 - the non "S" iPhone can be had for $50 ... it is not exciting, but it works ...
4) Samsung Focus Flash - I have been planning to make the jump to WP eventually to try it ... the Focus 2 is coming out in a few days. I am nervous jumping into the frey before WP8 comes out.
Thoughts, feelings emotions? I feel the Nexus of the WP phone may be the safest bets, but people may disagree.
Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like the nexus s but that is my opinion
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda premium
dozyaustin said:
Dear all, a long time lurker, reader, and occasional poster. I am about up on my 2 years with the Samsung Captivate. I have replaced every piece of software I could .. until it got unusable and now am pretty much stock ... but she is tired from the journey an is slowing down on me ... In particular, problems seemingly linked to hardware are annoyingly getting in the way - my Wifi is completely down and charging (on my multiple batteries is intermittently frustrating) and GPS never worked- ever. anyhow... I am starting to look for a replacement. The phone is in the way of me just functioning.
That said, I am not excited about the offerings, high or low, so I decided to lok for something cheap, cheerful, and reliable. Not the hottest, newest, flashiest (I really do not want a 4.8" screen!!) instead looking for some older, or lower end models.
The thoughts are:
1) Best Buy has Nexus S for FREE with contract - I am attracted to it, because it is a Nexus, but otherwise close to hardware specs of the Captivate.
2) ATT has Pantech Burst - dual core, LTE, on Gingerbread, from a budget manufacturer
3) Refurb iPhone4 - the non "S" iPhone can be had for $50 ... it is not exciting, but it works ...
4) Samsung Focus Flash - I have been planning to make the jump to WP eventually to try it ... the Focus 2 is coming out in a few days. I am nervous jumping into the frey before WP8 comes out.
Thoughts, feelings emotions? I feel the Nexus of the WP phone may be the safest bets, but people may disagree.
Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also vote for the Nexus S. But expect similar type of experience though. If you want it to just work like you said (but boring) iPhone 4 does that and does it really well. If it wasn't for itunes, i may consider it myself.
hope that helps.
-D

Am I being too overly fearful?

My cellphone history:
Cell phone - Bought for - Sold for - Used for
Nokia X6 - 250 $ - 180$ - 2 months
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10i - 250$ - 220$ - 2 months
Apple iPhone 3gs - 300$ - 100$ - 1 year
HTC Incredible S - 250$ - 180$ - 1 month
I have had other cell phones in the gaps but I don't remember them, the prices or the time used for.
So here is my story, I have had the need to buy a cellphone in the recent days and I have been following the market too. I first wanted an HTC Sensation which was for 320$, 3 months earlier, but now, I can find the same one for 210$ or something. I then wanted a Samsung Galaxy S 2 which was available for 380$ 2 months before but now I can find one for 260$ or less. The same goes with other cell phones I have been following (much of stalking).
Living in a country where I get 15$ a month for my pocket money, you can understand the importance of even 1$ for me. 10$ here means a lot for some people. I can get a Nokia 1280 or a Nokia 1202 for 10$, so, that explains the story. Being the guy who loves new technology, I want to get the best technology around me and get one which can get me through a period of 1 - 2 years without being called outdated or old. From the above history, you can know that I have used the iPhone 3gs for 1 year or even more time than that due to the fact that Apple gives update to most of it's devices (starting from 3gs), I was happy with it but that's the time when the iPhone 4s came to the market and I had to bear a loss of 200$. That loss meant a lot to me. It brought down to the earth from the sky. There aren't any companies which offer contracts which are good. I then think that I should wait for the next model to release because I want to buy an older model because it would fall cheaper.
This is being too big, long story short. Any cellphone that comes to the market losses it's value within a new cellphone from that company. Since I want to buy a phone and not bear a big loss the next time and have the best technology at the same that, I can't decide to buy a cellphone because I am being fearful because if I buy a cellphone, it might loss it's value tomorrow when a better one comes to the market and I will have to bear a great loss again. I was just wondering if I am being too fearful regarding this matter.
Can anyone advise me what to do because I am confused a LOT?
Note: All the phones talked about above are second hands because I can't offered new ones.
Thats the way it is with technology, especially in the fast paced mobile market. New models are always coming out and devices depreciate very quickly. You want a phone that can work for your needs, it doesn't have to be the lastest and greatest if your needs don't require high end hardware.
iPhones do get supported quite a while in new OS versions, but for older devices the OS can be stripped of new features like Siri. iPhones are also more expensive because you are paying for the brand name. If you want an Android device that stays up to date for a while, get a Nexus device. But you don't need to be on the latest and greatest phone with the newest version of Android. Find something you like and can afford and buy it. Don't assume it will get any OS updates if its an older or uncommon device. And don't pay attention to its resale value, technology loses its value fast.
I kinda wonder why it is more important to you what your phone costs than what it can do for you. Personally, I don't care at all about value loss. I list the features I want and then go for the cheapest model that has them. The phone then gets used till it either breaks down or is lost.
spunker88 said:
Thats the way it is with technology, especially in the fast paced mobile market. New models are always coming out and devices depreciate very quickly. You want a phone that can work for your needs, it doesn't have to be the lastest and greatest if your needs don't require high end hardware.
iPhones do get supported quite a while in new OS versions, but for older devices the OS can be stripped of new features like Siri. iPhones are also more expensive because you are paying for the brand name. If you want an Android device that stays up to date for a while, get a Nexus device. But you don't need to be on the latest and greatest phone with the newest version of Android. Find something you like and can afford and buy it. Don't assume it will get any OS updates if its an older or uncommon device. And don't pay attention to its resale value, technology loses its value fast.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry but the talk isn't about getting an iPhone or an Android. Not that you are provoking a war or something. I just liked the way it was, simple and stable. I can't recall any crash on the OS or anything. Anyway, the topic is being turned away. The basic meaning of getting an update is that most of the new applications are supported by the latest OS. Having OS 4.3.3 won't get you the Facebook application because it isn't supported, likewise, you can't get Google Chrome application on anything below 4.0.4 on Android, that's where it starts to suck.
I have to agree that technology loses a lot of value in a very short time. I was just wondering if I was being too fearful. I can't even decide on something.
onyxbits said:
I kinda wonder why it is more important to you what your phone costs than what it can do for you. Personally, I don't care at all about value loss. I list the features I want and then go for the cheapest model that has them. The phone then gets used till it either breaks down or is lost.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In my case it does, specially with the case that I want an upgraded chipset model when it becomes cheaper.
I recommend purchasing a device second hand if you haven't decided that already, but with fairly good dev support and a large community.
EDIT: that way ROMs running latest firmware which would be delayed or discontinued on your handset, will come your way in just a matter of time
Galaxy nexus, or S2 would be smart options imo
Sent from my GT-I9300
Yea, would agree with 23Six. Galaxy Nexus or SGS2 (if SGS2, try to get the I9100 as there are a couple of variants and the I9100 has a wider dev base). With the Nexus, OS updates are pretty much as soon as Google releases them AFAIK. The SGS2 should be at a relatively good price point and shouldn't depreciate too much further since the SGS3 is out and SGS4 sounds to be in the pipeline.
It's a lot of money - but it's up to you if it's worth it.
One thing I think that's keeping you back is that you are looking at price to determine value. Price doesn't tell you if something is still a good phone, if the phone can still do what you need.
"Keeping up with technology" is an expensive hobby - but it's just a hobby, it's not necessary. You can buy a phone and keep it for two years, no problem - and it will probably be just fine unless you lose it or break it. Your iPhone 3 was still just fine and wasn't a $200 loss when the iPhone 4 came out. You had the phone for a period of time before the price dropped - it will ALWAYS be cheaper to wait, and you can wait literally forever.
I agree with onyxbits - figure out what you really want from a phone and then figure out which model best meets your needs for a price you're okay with. Setting a budget can help you narrow it down instead of feeling pressured and unsure.

Any other non Dev buy multiple phones a month? If so how did it start and why... A br

I'm 37, and have made my living in Mobile for the last 8/9years. I was part of a team that grew a Verizon Franchise from 2 to 37 stores in 3 states over the course of 7 years. At that time I would swap phones every time a flagship would release, but besides my first Droid(a Droid X) I didn't root(Howard Forums was all I knew then) and before my droid I had a few Treo's but hated them and would always go back to an LG 8100 or 8300(right before the droid I had the LG Dare, does anyone remember Verizon touting it as an iPhone Killer?, lol.) And while it killed many things, ie my patience, my respect for Verizon, and ultimately a little bit of my soul... An iPhone killer it was not.
Rooted the droid X, only to over clock(before my phone addiction, I would build a gaming rig every January and constantly upgrade it during the year)
Droid X, then droid 2 global(had to have the first 1.2Ghz phone), incredible 2, thunderbolt, Continuum(lasted 5 days M-F) X2, Bionic, xperia play, droid pro, droid charge,
At this point the iPhone came out, and I was in Love withe that until Last Summer(save for a brief but intense affair with the Galaxy Nexus)
Rezound... Then we sold the company and I signed a noncompete, and took a year off... That's when it started. I kept buying devices I had 5 lines and it was just my wife and I. And I used every single upgrade my parents/sister/brother had, that's why I swapped out. They kept flip phones for years, and when they were broke or wanted something new, they were cheap compared to data phones.
After 8 months I knew I wanted to open some stores, I love sales, I love the business, and its all I know, but I had time left till "I could" so I got a easy job as a "BigBox" manager in the town i bought a place in during my 8 month retirement. and this is where my phone addiction took root.
I have Transferred over the contractual liability for 2 lines to 2 family members so they could have unlimited data. So my wife had a phone and I had two.
Well fast forward 7 months, and I own every flagship device released on att and Verizon(besides the razrs)I thought moto made crap up until last week(but we know who had the major hand in that)
And of course as a BigBox electronics manager I took the discounted att manager plan, and now have fun buying world wide phones. Like my Padfone's, the xperia Z Ultra(should arrive Friday) 808 pureview, and now the 1020. And I root anything and everything. any free time is spent flashing and modding, on a perpetual search for the perfect ROM.
I am by no means anymore tech savvy than the normal poster on XDA, and far less than any Dev, but I live in a town thats the final pitstop to heaven for the elderly.
So this is the how and why, I think owning 13 unique types of phones(more overall, size, GE) in the last year is excessive.
Besides devs building Roms for multiple devices, anyone else like this. Right now there is no product that excites me and that sucks, I hope the ZU is that type of product with the s800, and 6.44 FHD display. And if not I hope something game changing gets announced soon and shocks us, because April is a Long way away, so while the edge is awesome by "right now" standards. Who knows then.
As I re-read this I can't help but see a pattern of insanity, all the phones(save for a few) are 95% more similar than different, and I'm trying to think when any of them felt different.
I'll tell u what though. I must like the HTC one, as I use that more than the nexus 4, S4, opti G pro, Nok1020 or find 5.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
This, my good sir, sounds like an expensive hobby you have here.
But I certainly do not blame you. I'm a flashaholic as well. And if I could afford to own and tinker with every phone released, I would in a heartbeat.
I hope the S800 blows your mind. It sure seems like a solid improvement over the S600, which is already exceptional. I'm with you though—hoping for some groundbreaking products. I'll cross my fingers for the both of us.
It's cool to love phones, no problem there. But you're right, each of them, especially each new one released every few months, is going to be pretty similar.
Maybe the trick is to get involved with your phones in a different way? Like beta testing new apps, perhaps. That would have you getting bleeding edge stuff that other people don't get, but you would be more INVOLVED, writing notes back to the developers and stuff. This would let you keep getting new stuff, but on the same physical device, and the fact that you were contributing to something would probably be very satisfying.... which might keep you too busy to buy another phone.
Anders

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