G1 google phone

[JMS]

So, for my business I thought it a wise idea to invest in a "computer" of sorts to store useful info such as schematics and manuals. I would also like the ability to search the web on site for parts ID and ordering. I considered the iphone as a possibility but I would have to change service providers, and since I get unlimited minutes for 60 a month plus taxes I don't think I want to switch from T-Mobile to AT&T for my cell phone. I went ahead and purchased the G1 and am awaiting its arrival, but now that I have purchased it, it now occurs to me that I should've asked the members here first what they thought of the G1 Google phone.


If you own one please critique it for me and offer me hints on useability.
I could care less about music features or other features that do not pertain to my business.

Thanks in advance

Mark

[bpave777]

I haven't owned one, but I've messed around with 'em. They seem great, and the android operating system is only going to get better. There is a newer G1 just around the corner. It'll be a bit slicker, and have GPS, but they'll both continue to share the operating system.

The touch screen is very responsive. The way the keyboard hinges is a bit fragile. If you don't take care of your cell phones you might damage it more quickly than some other phones.

If you have Gmail it's a very good emailing machine. If you don't, do yourself a favor and get an account. It's a Google phone after all.

[LX_Emergency]

I really wanted one but I don't buy first generation stuff anymore (I got burned a couple of times that way). However a colleague of mine has one and he loves it. The software you can get for it is all (kind of) open source meaning you can get close to all of it for free.

The OS looks really slick and seems to operate smoothly. And the system works perfectly with google mail, docs, calendar etc.

[JimR]

Oh my...


I hope it comes to Japan. I'm close to getting an iPhone myself, but iHate Apple.

[Slartibartfast]

make sure you get an unlimited data plan

[VeeDubb65]

Aren't we always telling newbies to ask questions before they buy?

lol. Sorry, Mark, couldn't resist.


If you find that the screen isn't up to snuff for schematics and manuals (which is a pretty common complaint about smartphones) you may be able to connect something with a bigger screen like a netbook to the internet using your new phone as a BT modem. Some companies have really great service plans for this, some really don't.

Also, you should really check out Brighthand forums

It is to smartphones and PDA's what SRP is to razors. I've been a member there for ever and a half, although I've fallen out of posting since I use a "regular" cell phone and a separate PDA, which puts me in a smaller minority than shaving with a straight. lol

[sensei_kyle]

I picked up a G1 after I lost my dumb phone. It's the first smartphone I've owned. Overall, I'm pleased with it. I usually just check e-mail & do minor web stuff, and have downloaded a few timekiller apps. The GPS functionality on the G1 sucks. Even with GPS satellite locating enabled (which uses extra battery), it doesn't appear to be real-time; don't even think about trying to navigate with it.

[Oglethorpe]

Don't let your iHate deter you from the iPhone. It's the best all-encompassing device available, and the next OS rollout will be open-source. That means (hopefully) tons of free, awesome 3rd party development. I have a friend working on some stuff now, as he got a beta version of the OS.

I do have minor gripes with some of the lacking "nice-to-haves", but apparently they are giving us a lot of them this summer:

1. Copy/paste
2. MMS and SMS forwarding
3. the ability to let Apps (besides iPod) run in the background (i.e. IM)
Among others...

My $.02.

[JMS]

Don't let your iHate deter you from the iPhone. It's the best all-encompassing device available, and the next OS rollout will be open-source. That means (hopefully) tons of free, awesome 3rd party development. I have a friend working on some stuff now, as he got a beta version of the OS.

I do have minor gripes with some of the lacking "nice-to-haves", but apparently they are giving us a lot of them this summer:

1. Copy/paste
2. MMS and SMS forwarding
3. the ability to let Apps (besides iPod) run in the background (i.e. IM)
Among others...

My $.02.

I actually wanted the iphone but I would have to change companies and pay 75 more a month. instead of the 25 more a month with my current company.

[TomSD]

I have a G1 and have been using it for some time now. Get a gmail account, first of all. If you have a regular business email you use you can forward your mail to it and have Google spoof it when you send mail. To all but the techies it will look exactly the same.

I love that I can use he gmail.com interface to send email, search my archives, update my clients/contacts, reorganize my calendar, etc and it will push almost instantly to my phone. Add to that tools like RTM Task lists (Remember The Milk is a website for managing tasks) and a bunch of other neat programs and you are set.

I hate the way it handles music/audio files. Or maybe I should say handled as the new version of the OS was pushed to me last night so it might've been improved.

THe GPS and tower location tools are spotty but decent enough (my understanding that has improved some in this version too) that I've used them to navigate around new areas or find directions to places. As mentioned though I wouoldn't expect to use it as a real time navigation tool like a Tom-Tom.

Overall I love it. I've used plenty of PDAs through my years in the tech field and this one comes out on top. Not a bad job for a first generation device.

Tom