The date upon which I can trade in my phone is rapidly approaching, and i’m seeing enough from the current crop of smartphones to at least look into getting one. I don’t want an iPhone, and WinMo is kind of a joke, so I’ve been investigating Android. Since I’m on Sprint, there are two options in the near future: the HTC Hero (out now) and the Samsung Moment (out November 1st).
Since the Hero is out now, I got to play with it a bit at the Sprint store. The Sense UI HTC developed for it is nice
. I enjoyed paging around and operating it – I haven’t liked many touchscreens before. It feels like a solid device, not plasticky or cheap. It’s got a nice 5mp camera. HOWEVER, it is without any sort of physical keyboard, and I do a decent amount of texting/tweeting. I feel like I could adjust to it, but having no fallback in case I can’t gives me pause.
That brings me to the forthcoming Samsung Moment. Also Android-based, but without the prettier UI HTC developed. It has a slide-out keyboard, although the layout is a bit odd compaired to my Rant. The one other thing that has me interested is the fact that the Moment has a more powerful processor – something you need when you are trying to browse with Flash or have a bunch of apps that are updating in the background.
I guess I’m going to wait for some reviews of the Moment, though it’s odd that I haven’t seen any previews out there yet for it.
I’ve heard pretty good things about the Hero, which is supposed to come to Verizon as well. I’m way overdue on a new phone, but I’ve been waiting for the Droid, Blackberry Storm2, and the Hero come out to decide.
Probably go with the Droid because the Blackberry browser is awful, but I want to test drive them all first…
I’m pretty locked in on Sprint, if only for the fact that the family plan I’m on is a ton cheaper than any other carrier.
The browser is a big deal for me too, it was visionary (if just a touch slow) on the Hero. The faster processor on the Moment might help too, which is why I prevaricate.
I didn’t make this, but I thank the guy who did.
It compares all new and upcoming phones, plans etc….
https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tIuLv6KThktwpCyNu5lbrWQ&gid=0
Hey… I’m with you. I like Sprint, and thats a lock. They’ve got great coverage in my area, great phones, roam with Verizon/Alltell, etc… Smart guys should be buying stock in Sprint right now. In any event I went to the Sprint Store in my area and tried the Hero. Sense UI rocks, but I like buttons, and while texting on it I made TONS OF MISTAKES. I could get used to it down the road I guess, but hell, I don’t want to. I like my keyboard on my current phone and I will not give it up.
For me, I really like the Palm Pre UI… it beats the Sense UI for simplicity and ease of use. Hero is a great phone for Techies, and I’ve noticed that a lot of these people writing into these forums are very technical types. The Palm Pre has a ton of potential too, but Google Android is growing at a faster rate just because there are so many more phones that are going Android. So… there is a great case for better app’s down the road vs. Pre. Plus the Pre has a cramped keyboard… but some people like it a lot. Have you seen this video? This guy can really type on the Palm Pre. This might be the phone for me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVmRuo8fsyI
Concerning the Samsung Moment: Great spec’s and a full keyboard… Woo Hoo! Love it, I think. I am anxious to go and check it out for myself, and I hope that the straight Android OS will work for me because everything else about that phone looks pretty darned good on paper. But like I’d discovered at the Sprint Store, it’s easy for a mind like mine to get seduced by spec’s and video’s and reviews and forums. Its another thing to go there and play with one myself.
God Bless you. Let us all know what you end up going with.
I was drooling over the HTC Hero when I saw it. Then I found the Samsung Moment. Same price from Sprint but with a QWERTY keyboard and a much faster processor. I was still hooked on the Hero because of it’s SensuUI but after thinking about it for a few days…. if I’m going to get a new phone I should get the fastest I can for the amount I want to spend. I’m thinking the Moment’s faster 800MHz processor should outweigh the Hero’s 528MHz processor.
The Hero has a better camera but I’m not too concerned with the quality of a phone’s camera. I have a digital camera for taking pictures. However, the Moment’s camera does have flash where the Hero’s does not. So the Hero may be able to take 5mp pictures but the Moment’s 3mp pictures can be brighter. I think anything over 2mp is pretty decent. I would never expect a mobile phone to replace a standalone digital camera or a film camera. I wouldn’t expect it to replace my MP3 player either but an expandable to 32GB flash memory is amazing especially considering the phone I’m using now can only support 2GB (ha!).
The Moment also has a Proximity Sensor. So when you put the phone up to your face to talk it disables the screen so you don’t accidentally activate anything. I can see my face hanging up on people with the Hero.
Another thing pulling me towards the Moment is the AMOLED screen. A newer more superior screen technology that is more flexible, durable and requires less battery power. I think the AMOLED screen alone would greatly increase battery performance. I’m not all that concerned with the QWERTY keyboard (though it might be nice at certain times).
Yesterday I was dead-set on getting the HTC Hero when my current contract is up.
Having given it some more thought I’m dead-set on getting the Samsung Moment.
We’ll see what tomorrow will bring. Haha!
Yeah, the camera is not a decider for me – as long as it takes good enough pictures that I can send pics of the kids around, I’m good. I think what I REALLY need to check is to see if the SenseUI mod can be loaded onto other phones…I’ve heard such things are possible.
Edit: One more thing…Hero is multitouch…so the Moment misses out on pinch zoom and other features like that.
I am sold on the Androd system and have been a sprint customer for years.
Last phone was the palm 800w windows phone.
I not only tested the Hero in the store but purcased it and have used it now for a few weeks. All the applications, widgets and shortcuts are amazing.
Google sync with email and calendar is great for business as well!
The only pitfall is if you are a texter and email user you will be re-typing often. The touch screen is big enough to get use to but sensitive and it will take some time and effort to avoid making spelling errors.
Now, with the new Moment, having the keyboard, it becomes a no brainer!
With the faster processor I think you will reduce the number of times you experience a “force close” when using an application. (It only happened a few times)
Off to the Sprint Store to make the exchange!
Enjoy!
Well im going with the Moment. I have friends that work at the Sprint store and they warned me that the Hero ( which was originally my first choice ) has a lot of bug issues with it. Plus Im not crazy about on screen keyboard either. I checked out the Moment and that will be my choice. Mind you, I currently have a Bk Storm so my phone is no slouch either but I want a bigger screen and better internet browser.
LOL correction, I have a Blackberry TOUR, not Storm. lol
It seems to be a matter of preference: if you are new to Touch interfaces, want a consistent user experience, or don’t prefer a keyboard, get the HTC Hero. If finding your way around a UI isn’t an issue for you, you need a keyboard, or aren’t a stranger to Android, go with Moment.
Picking one over the other is largely preference: they both are similar phones with specs leading in different directions. If you are comparing Motorola Droid to HTC Hero, now you have real differences. (Or maybe not: Both Hero and Moment are rumored to be developing an Android 2.0 upgrade sometime soon.)
FYI, I ended up with the Hero, and am very happy with it.
What is a UI?
UI = User Interface.
I just purchased the hero because the salesman in best buy said it was better than the moment. After playing with it for a few hours, I am taking it back and getting the moment. I text alot and the texting is not good on the hero.
Fair enough, it’s not for everyone. I installed Handcent SMS, which I like better than the built in texting app.
I purchased the Samsung Moment and used it for 20 days or so… Even-though it has an OLED screen the battery life is not good and no one is making extended batteries. The interface gets jerky often and the bluetooth connection to my Plantronics 925 dropped at least once per day. The bigest problem is it will not talk to a windows 7 (32 or 64but) machine! So, no synchronization possibilities.
As with other Samsung phones (Black Jack II, can’t upgrade to Win. Mobile 6.5) I have owned if there are bad reviews, which the Moment is receiving, then Samsung doesn’t try to improve the phone OS they seem to walk away.
I exchanged the Moment for the HTC Hero, what a difference. HTC supports the Hero and it shows. No problem synchronizing with a Win. 7 machine and since HTC is maintaining it’s android apps the slower processor performs just fine. Oh, and I can get a 3rd party battery that is twice the capacity of the stock battery. I love the Hero. HTC is a mobile phone company, Samsung is not and it shows in their on-going support.
Glad to hear it worked out for you. Still loving my Hero.
I have the samsung Moment and I’m returning it for the hero. HTC is the prefered providerfor google and its obvious. IT is so much better in the software, its unbelievable. For all you rooters out there all the support is for HTC phones not samsung. I will miss the keyboard, but not the weight choppyness and oh the proximty sensor does not work at all. I mute calls all the time and called people randomly. The battery also sucked.
I got the HERO when it first came out… HOWEVER, the keypad had me boggled, when it came to a texting freak….. HEHE… I messed up all the time… NOW, I have the moment…. BUT, I don’t like how large it is…. What should, I do… Go back to the HERO ???? Help…
I’m a fairly frequent texter, and I’ve gotten used to the on-screen keyboard on the Hero. I am not a crazy 50+ a day guy, though. The one thing that gets me (and this is my fault) is the autocomplete, especially since swear words aren’t in there. Oops.
ok…um everybody is saying the oposite!! lolzs
i need yur help ppl!! idk which one to get the Hero or the Moment….i really dnt care about the keyboard but i like big screan to navigate! and to edit background ,colors musik and pics =). Before i had the Palm Pre adn i loved it,,,but i couldnt record or zoom. So yeah……plz tell me which one should i get,,,!!?!!
Sorry i meant to say the HTC sprint or the palm pre..!!??!!!
any suggestions! plzz
Outta the palm pre and HTC hero? HTC hero no question. Moment or hero? Same answer. Sure the internet can be a little slow and laggy but what the phone can do is just amazing. Moment and hero are both getting Android 2.1 soon so its up to you. Texting at first with the hero can be at first difficult but you’ll get used to it. Hero all the way.
thnk-u!!! i got the hero =)!! and im luvin it xD
thnx again =)
byeeeee *.*
I have the Hero but did not REALLY like it until I bought and extended battery. The stock one just sucks. Now that my phone can last all day without constant plugging in I love it. I am way too far past my 30 day trial but I would like to try the Moment, probably wouldn’t switch for good though. Can anyone download ahome on Hero?? I can’t.
Does anyone know which sort of video information are supported? I remember the Intuition only may dl 3gp using opera mini. I downloaded the twist ap, maybe that is the problem? How can I watch videos from websites other than youtube? Which file sorts? Normally I’m given the option of 3gp or mpeg4. Can’t get both to work. Thank you for your time! Rattling I wish I was eligible for the improve to EVO!
While I like a physical keyboard, after handling the Samsung Captivate for roughly 15 minutes, it’s arduous to go back. At this time I am debating whether or not to visit Verizon for the Droid X, go to Sprint for the EVO, or stay with AT&T for the Captivate…selections, decisions.
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