[Merged] Samsung Galaxy S / Captivate Android Phone

[maflynn]

the very notion of a phone "winning" is silly..

Agreed, this iPhone vs. world stuff is getting pretty old. There is no iPhone killer and each phone has its strengths and weaknesses.

You get a phone that fits your needs.

With that said sounds like the OP went in with some preconceived prejudices and based the phone's strengths on a scant 10 minutes. Clearly too short to fully measure the phone's strengths/weaknesses.

 

[PerfSeeker]

I went to AT&T store today and tried out new samsung Captivate. Some reviewers described it as good iphone 4 alternative.

Well, after playing about 10-15 minuets, I was very disappointed with the phone. The touch screen was not as responsive as apple and the phone was harder to use than iphone 4. Maybe, I am used to iOS 4, but Android OS wasn't as great as I hoped to be. Samsung also put their custom designed touch Wiz 3.0 on it and yea... it sucks. The phone was lagging with video wallpaper.

I mean these website reviewers are AWFUL! Why would they even call captivate as iphone 4 replacement? It's no where near iphone 4'. Besides antenna issue on my iphone 4, (Solved by bumper) I like my iphone 4.

The funny thing is I was in the T-Mobile store on Saturday to try and get my account # for pre-paid phone. They asked me why and I said I was buying the IP4. So the sales lady in a headscarf tried to direct me towards a Captivate saying that THIS phone won't drop calls when you hold it. Well I just saw a video demo on Youtube where the Captivate has the same "death grip" issue as the IP4!

 

[The General]

I messed around with one at the AT&T store and it seemed alright. The skin was actually an improvement over vanilla Android in my opinion. The keyboard is garbage, though, and so is the display. The scrolling wasn't painful to watch, it was actually kinda smooth.

The phone is still a LOLdroid peasant phone, though. Nothing they can do about that, and nothing they can do to get me to switch from my iPhone 4.

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

Who cares? Some people like stupid things. So what?

 

[maflynn]

Well I just saw a video demo on Youtube where the Captivate has the same "death grip" issue as the IP4!

Yes but is it in a location that you don't normally hold the phone? That is under normal usage will the issue show up like what happens with the iPhone.

 

[samcraig]

correct me if I'm wrong - but the kid in the video completely covers the back of the phone to lower the signal but also says that when holding the phone normally, he doesn't press his whole hand against the back but cradles the phone.

So to condemn the Samsung for reception issues just points out how biased towards the iPhone you really are regardless.

But no matter - different phones for different folks. If anything - people should be glad there's a CHOICE.

 

[PerfSeeker]

The point is the public will be conducting proctology exams on every phone's antenna now.

 

[aluren]

Why does someone need to spend more than 10 min to get a feel for the phone? The things I look for in a smartphone nowadays are:

1. The screen brightness/resolution/responsiveness
2. How fast does it run/load apps?
3. The types of apps available
4. Play with all the settings
5. How good is the web browser?
6. The feel of typing on the device
7. Weight and size
8. Reception

I can't imagine spending more than 10 min to do all that. I mean, what else is there to do at the store?

 

[Ferris23]

I'm confused by those saying one shouldn't have to pick a winner. I mean how did you end up with the phone you have?

I went to check out the Captivate because if I liked it better than I was going to return my iPhone 4 for it. So I chose a winner, I chose iPhone 4. Sometimes one thing is not as good as another thing so in essence there will be a winner in every individuals mind and that thought process will be what we base our decision on.

So yeah, for me iPhone 4 won my comparison of the two devices and as a result I'm still on iPhone 4 not the Samsung Captivate. In a perfect works I'd own both.

 

[samcraig]

I'm confused by those saying one shouldn't have to pick a winner. I mean how did you end up with the phone you have?

I went to check out the Captivate because if I liked it better than I was going to return my iPhone 4 for it. So I chose a winner, I chose iPhone 4. Sometimes one thing is not as good as another thing so in essence there will be a winner in every individuals mind and that thought process will be what we base our decision on.

So yeah, for me iPhone 4 won my comparison of the two devices and as a result I'm still on iPhone 4 not the Samsung Captivate. In a perfect works I'd own both.

That's a personal win. Not a marketplace win. If you found the captivate or any other phone the best for you - you would win. It's about you - not anything else. Understand?

The iPhone is BETTER for YOU

 

[samcraig]

Why does someone need to spend more than 10 min to get a feel for the phone? The things I look for in a smartphone nowadays are:

1. The screen brightness/resolution/responsiveness
2. How fast does it run/load apps?
3. The types of apps available
4. Play with all the settings
5. How good is the web browser?
6. The feel of typing on the device
7. Weight and size
8. Reception

I can't imagine spending more than 10 min to do all that. I mean, what else is there to do at the store?

At the store - maybe not a whole lot more. But to actually evaluate the phone as a phone - I think it would take maybe at LEAST a day to a week maybe more before you truly have a firm experience in how it fits into your life on a daily basis. Not just new shiny toy basis.

 

[topmounter]

If you're new to Android, It takes a couple of weeks to get the hang of it.

The Captivate is also shipping with an older version of Android. Hopefully Samsung and AT&T will see fit to update it to Froyo in the near future.

 

[Phokus]

Why does someone need to spend more than 10 min to get a feel for the phone? The things I look for in a smartphone nowadays are:

1. The screen brightness/resolution/responsiveness
2. How fast does it run/load apps?
3. The types of apps available
4. Play with all the settings
5. How good is the web browser?
6. The feel of typing on the device
7. Weight and size
8. Reception

I can't imagine spending more than 10 min to do all that. I mean, what else is there to do at the store?

I notice "OS Features" isn't part of your list. Typical iphone fanboy. If you included that, then android blows the iphone out of the water, and you know it.

 

[solarein]

The funny thing is I was in the T-Mobile store on Saturday to try and get my account # for pre-paid phone. They asked me why and I said I was buying the IP4. So the sales lady in a headscarf tried to direct me towards a Captivate saying that THIS phone won't drop calls when you hold it. Well I just saw a video demo on Youtube where the Captivate has the same "death grip" issue as the IP4!

I suspect you may be making the whole thing up as the T-Mobile version of the phone isn't even called Captivate.

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

At the store - maybe not a whole lot more. But to actually evaluate the phone as a phone - I think it would take maybe at LEAST a day to a week maybe more before you truly have a firm experience in how it fits into your life on a daily basis. Not just new shiny toy basis.

I had a G1 for a few months before the iPhone was even announced. I know my hardware is old but the OS just doesn't compare. Even with a fast processor, there is lag. It's not smooth and fluid like iOS. It's clunky to say the least. The OS was designed with engineers in mind not the average consumer. Until Androids UI improves and is optimized, iOS will run all over it.

 

[mgamber]

the very notion of a phone "winning" is silly.

People have different wants and needs from their devices. While an iPhone might be perfect for one individual - it might be overkill or whatever to someone else.

Why does the iPhone have to "win"? To make the user feel better about their purchase. Just enjoy the phone you have. You don't have to knock others down to feel superior.

Shhhhh! Don't use your "logic" and "fairness" on this site! Are you trying to give people an aneurysm? Take it outside...

 

[whsbuss]

Just got back from AT&T store where I spent 30 mins with the Captivate. Is it an iPhone 4 killer? Not really but it sure is a great alternative, especially with all the problems the IP4 has.

It really was quite fast processing screen swipes, open apps, etc. Definitely love the widgets that you can'tg find on the iPhone. Calendar layout is not as good as the iPhone.

Before everyone poo-poos the new captivate, I suggest stopping by AT&T and see what you think.

 

[mutantblack]

Why does someone need to spend more than 10 min to get a feel for the phone? The things I look for in a smartphone nowadays are:

1. The screen brightness/resolution/responsiveness
2. How fast does it run/load apps?
3. The types of apps available
4. Play with all the settings
5. How good is the web browser?
6. The feel of typing on the device
7. Weight and size
8. Reception

I can't imagine spending more than 10 min to do all that. I mean, what else is there to do at the store?

Yes. Some people will judge the phone in 10 mins of what you just listed but to really tell how useful or good a phone needs way more than 10 mins. You really have to load up all the right apps you need for your daily life and actually using it to a period amount of time. I have been using iphone since 2g to now ip4, went through a bunch of winmo and still using nexus one along side with my ip4. What I like about android is freedom. I can load/modify anything to my needs. But I use iphone due to the front facing camera and more polished apps etc. To each its own.

 

[futbalguy]

I suspect you may be making the whole thing up as the T-Mobile version of the phone isn't even called Captivate.

He just said she directed him towards the Captivate, not that she called it a captivate. Maybe he already knows what it is called on a different carrier. Why would he make that up?

 

[JoJoCal19]

Not saying that it is a good alternative as I wouldn/t know but 10 minutes of a store demo unit is NOT a good way to get a feel for how good a phone is. Store models are the worst phones. 10 minutes is not enough time.

 

[samcraig]

Shhhhh! Don't use your "logic" and "fairness" on this site! Are you trying to give people an aneurysm? Take it outside...

You're right. My apologies

 

[tomashi]

hilarious at all these people saying that 10 minutes isn't enough. if you don't like it in the first 10 minutes why would you give it 10 days?

 

[Ferris23]

That's a personal win. Not a marketplace win. If you found the captivate or any other phone the best for you - you would win. It's about you - not anything else. Understand?

The iPhone is BETTER for YOU

That's what I was talking about, I didn't think people actually had that much care who sells more. Maybe I missed it, where was it being discussed that this thread was referring to marketplace vs. personal opinion of a device?

 

[Kevio]

Ok, lets just be completely honest here. Owning an iPhone and then switching to another phone is always a downgrade. Everyone hates switching at first, and some can't switch at all. It's subliminal messaging in iOS

 

[mgamber]

hilarious at all these people saying that 10 minutes isn't enough. if you don't like it in the first 10 minutes why would you give it 10 days?

Because you can? Because cell companies give you at least two weeks to return a phone for any reason or no reason at all so why wouldn't you? I do it all the time, AT&T never says a word and I actually get to learn how well or poorly many phones work instead of making nonsensical blanket judgements based on 10 minutes in a store using a phone I'm not familiar with and probably didn't like the idea of when I picked it up.

Sorry samcraig...I either had to post or walk to the nearest living thing and kill it.