Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: What smartphone to get right now?

news.ycombinator.com

101–110 of 146 posts

Re: Ask HN: What smartphone to get right now?

#101
post #87

Get an N900. I've had an iPod touch for close to a year and a BB curve 8900 for 1.5 year. I still use the former for music, but no longer for browsing or apps and I've entirely replaced the latter. As a developer there are just layers and layers of goodies to be found. Hint: forget about the Ovi and Maemo Select pointers pre-packaged on the phone and go straight to maemo.org for apps, that's where the interesting stu…

The N900 is an interesting beast. If my father called, and asked me what smartphone to get, I'd suggest an Android device. If an old friend called, who happened to be familiar with Linux, I'd advise the N900 with no reservations. The N900 is more open than Android in that it uses the traditional APIs used on the Linux desktop. You can install pidgin, irssi, otr, asterisk, and just about everything else that is popula…

> Both Skype and SIP work very well over 3G on T-Mobile US.

Interesting, where? I have an N900 on T-Mobile in Boston and it's been very disappointing. I had visions of a "data only" relationship with the phone, but neither Skype nor SIP over 3G are of acceptable quality. Over wifi, works pretty well, though.

How have you set yours up? I tried Google Voice -> Gizmo5, buying a skype number, and some other things and nothing worked. For instance, the phone can't seem to handle an incoming SIP call and phone call at the same time -- so I couldn't forward my Google Voice number to both my actual cell number and SIP, and answer with either depending on the situation.

Then, I have general issues with the phone -- no good maps solution (the Nokia program is terrible, and can't use Google Maps), email is painfully slow to open and inconsistent about polling every 5 minutes like I want it to, I've hung up on incoming calls several times because the "Answer" button gets replaced by the "Hang up and send a text message" button when I'm taking it out of my pocket, etc.

All in all, I've been somewhat disappointed with the phone.

Re: Ask HN: What smartphone to get right now?

#102
Do you like to tweak things? If so get some variety of Android. If you don't get an iPhone. The iPhone will "just work" but it won't do nearly as much as Android.

I have had both (+ win mobile) and prefer android by a long shot.

Re: Ask HN: What smartphone to get right now?

#104
post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What would you have chosen? Java is popular, featureful (have fun allocating memory with objective-c while working on iOS apps!) and fast. I'd bet that it got more people interested than turned off.

> Java is popular, featureful (have fun allocating memory with objective-c while working on iOS apps!) and fast. More importantly, it's the most popular VM to target for new language implementations. You can use Rhino, Python, Lua, Scala, Scheme, Clojure, Fantom, Frink, and others on it.

With a substantial speed penalty on Dalvik.

Re: Ask HN: What smartphone to get right now?

#106

I've been an iPhone fanboy (I admit it) since the first generation. I even waited in line for 13 hours for the iPhone 3g. I've spent over $1000 on iPhones and accessories now (I've probably made most of it back considering I sell the old one when I get a new one). I was completely dedicated to Apple and its magical phone. But one day I got a little curious. A friend of mine got the Droid and was in love with it. I fi…

Where do you set the trackball color for events?

Re: Ask HN: What smartphone to get right now?

#107
post #106

I've been an iPhone fanboy (I admit it) since the first generation. I even waited in line for 13 hours for the iPhone 3g. I've spent over $1000 on iPhones and accessories now (I've probably made most of it back considering I sell the old one when I get a new one). I was completely dedicated to Apple and its magical phone. But one day I got a little curious. A friend of mine got the Droid and was in love with it. I fi…

Where do you set the trackball color for events?

Phone needs to be rooted with cyanogen mod.

Re: Ask HN: What smartphone to get right now?

#108

Nexus One. I'm surprised you're even asking. Fully Linux-friendly, hackable, powerful and doesn't have any crapware from carriers or hardware manufacturers. Buy it at full price and sign up for a $59/mo month-to-month plan from T-Mobile. Enjoy built-in tethering and guaranteed upgrade to the latest version of Android. I own N1 and iPhone 4 and I believe that N1 is a superior phone. It doesn't need to be plugged to a…

I have an N1 and T-Mobile also and totally agree. My T-Mobile no-contract unlimited everything (minutes + text + internet, including tethering) is $79, not $59. It's listed on my bill as "FPEvenMorePlusUnlTTW." T-Mobile coverage does have weak spots but in the good areas tethering speed is > 4Mbps.

The Individual Plan is $59/mo and the family plan you're on is $79/mo.

Re: Ask HN: What smartphone to get right now?

#110

Get an N900. I've had an iPod touch for close to a year and a BB curve 8900 for 1.5 year. I still use the former for music, but no longer for browsing or apps and I've entirely replaced the latter. As a developer there are just layers and layers of goodies to be found. Hint: forget about the Ovi and Maemo Select pointers pre-packaged on the phone and go straight to maemo.org for apps, that's where the interesting stu…

Both of my officemates got the N900 right when in came out in the US. They were very happy with it for the first month or so. They are now very jealous of my Nexus One. I think mostly because of the app selection and overall phone quality.

I have been running Linux exclusively since the late 90's and considered a Maemo phone, but decided to go with Android because I thought that it would have much more momentum and my phone using life would be easier.

Post reply on HN