To nexus one or not to nexus one

[gatorsmash]

I came here about 2 weeks ago knowing nothing other than i was done with sidekicks and wanted to go android maybe. Now all i can do is lurking androidandme, here, phandroid, etc for info on the nexus one!

It seems like a awesome phone and like im coming into this thing at the right time, but my main concern is the keyboard. Any heavy texters on here can help me out maybe, just by letting me now if the switch from keyboard to non keyboard was too terrible getting used to it or what.

Also, not sure if this info is out there or not, but if the phone is SOLD by google does that mean no retail store will carry it and ill have to order online? Or do you think electronic stores / phone stores will also carry?

[Scythe]

I came here about 2 weeks ago knowing nothing other than i was done with sidekicks and wanted to go android maybe. Now all i can do is lurking androidandme, here, phandroid, etc for info on the nexus one!

It seems like a awesome phone and like im coming into this thing at the right time, but my main concern is the keyboard. Any heavy texters on here can help me out maybe, just by letting me now if the switch from keyboard to non keyboard was too terrible getting used to it or what.

Also, not sure if this info is out there or not, but if the phone is SOLD by google does that mean no retail store will carry it and ill have to order online? Or do you think electronic stores / phone stores will also carry?

I think it'll be joint, like it is now with the G1/MT3G. Basically google sells the Dev phone, Tmo sells the non-dev version.

But, Google might also sell a version of the phone which receives ADs and isn't a dev phone.

Everything right now is rumor, prices are rumored on Tmo between $200-$99 on subsidy. Follow tmonews.com for more info

[Jarhead]

Listen, the nexus one is just a HTC passion running Android 2.1, nothing more. Don't get caught up in all the hype around here. If you like the passion, then get one. Any android phone will have all the same software "goodies" as the nexus one once they are upgraded to 2.1. Thats the bottom line. the software is software, what one has they all will have in time. It's all about the hardware.
With that said, I can say the passion is the phone I wanted before I bought the droid and would have bought it instead of the droid just because its a great looking phone. Unfortunately it looks to be GSM only so Verizon won't have it and I wont switch to the garbage at&t just for a phone.

[extorian]

To answer the keyboard question... I have a G1 and hence have the ability to use its physical keyboard or a virtual keyboard.

On the plus side, there are a number of keyboard replacement apps on the Market. By far the biggest problem of a virtual keyboard is the fact you do not get physical buttons, so you can't properly tell when your finger is over a key, or when you've pressed it. Sure, virtual keyboards can beep or vibrate when you press a key, but it's not the same at all.

Some replacement virtual keyboards on the Market try to address this issue. See post #5 on this thread for more details: http://androidcommunity.com/forums/f...-coming-29201/

To be quite honest, I don't think I'd ever get a phone that doesn't have a physical keyboard. I can always type way faster and way more accurately on a physical keyboard, and I don't have to have half of my screen covered up by the virtual keyboard. A real keyboard also offers other advantages, such as easy and quick quick key combinations (such as Alt+B, or whatever) which can be assigned as shortcuts to load applications, or useful if you use remote desktop apps like Remote VNC, and you can set the phone to decide if it's in portrait or landscape mode by whether the keyboard is out or not. I personally really hate the automatic mode, because as I'm walking around with my phone it constantly gets it wrong, and I have to wait what feels like half an hour (5 seconds maybe?) for it to rotate back.

[Fare]

What will be interesting is how much it costs unsubsidized by t-mo. I have not been impressed with the t-mo network, so i have been contemplating leaving next october. However, i have been dying for a new phone between now and then. If i can get the "passion" for <$401 and still have the possibility of switching in october, i'd be game.

[mgs991099a]

According to TMoNews, it should cost (subsidized by a 2 yr contract) about $199. I'm guessing UNSUBSIDIZED price to be around 400-500 bucks. The latter is an opinion, the former is from TMoNews. That was my disclaimer.

[mgs991099a]

Apparently the Nexus One has a proximity sensor/light sensor, FM radio, and a magnetic compass. The first 2 sound like great ideas for an Android phone!!!

[extorian]

Of course, the Nexus One is just a Google branded version of the HTC Passion (was called the HTC Dragon).

Proximity sensors I've experienced on other phones. They detect when your face is next to the phone and locks the screen. It could allow the phone to automatically unlock when you pull your phone away from your face too. Useful if it's used well.

Light sensor is great for automatically setting the screen brightness. My last phone had that, and I miss it a bit.

FM radio - not sure I'd use it personally, especially not with internet radio stations. Also it's unlikely to be a DAB radio, which is a shame.

The magnetic compass... do any Android phones not have that? I know at least most do.

[Jarhead]

Apparently the Nexus One has a proximity sensor/light sensor,

So does the droid.

FM radio,

Really?? does anyone even listen to FM anymore? Not needed. My opinion of course.

and a magnetic compass.

I second the "which phone doesn't?"

The first 2 sound like great ideas for an Android phone!!!

Droid!

[djunio]

imo all android phones r good, there should b no android on android beef lol, our enemy is the icrap