This is a major complaint among the uninitiated. The G1 is ugly and looks a little painful to use. It's colors are dull, buttons look cheap, in some ways breakable.

The Icons for the buttons are very clear and obvious.

The tackball is familiar and useful. There are times I've enjoyed scrolling with the track ball and using it as arrow keys.

The operating system is the most advanced for it's purpose in the world. The phone, arguably so.

...

Before I begin with my praise of the G1 and Android I need to tell the tale of the getting-the-dam-phone before I forget what hell it was.

Short version:
Problem
-Ordered online, fail
-took one full week to refund full price of phone
-had to call bank
-Punted to several tmobile customer service people before getting a resolution
-BUT, they answer quickly at the call center(s)

Resolution
-went to t-mobile store, paid...