T-Mobile G1
After years of putting up with crappy freebie phones I decided to get myself something I really wanted when I needed to upgrade. I’d been hearing bits and pieces of information about Google’s new mobile OS and since Google already owns a good chunk of my life I decided to look into the G1. After salivating over the promotional videos I decided to check out the demo handset when I heard that they were on display at T-Mobile locations. On that fateful day at the T-Mobile kiosk at the mall, while on my lunch break from work, I fell in love with an ugly little chunk of black plastic. On release day, October 22nd 2008, I took the morning off from work so I could get a G1 as soon as humanly possible. Oh HTC, how I love your masterful creation, so aptly named the Dream (in markets where it is sold by operator other than T-Mobile).
I know that my choice is poo-pooed by iPhone users. Sure it’s not as pretty as the iPhone, sure it’s bulky, sure there isn’t as much quality software in the Android Market as there is in the App Store, but to quote Rhett Butler “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” Let me tell you why.
First and formost, I actually like the fact that it’s big and brutish. The damn thing is solid as a brick and the spring mechanism looks like something designed by the Soviets. I have an iPod Touch and I’m scared shitless of breaking and/or losing the little bugger, it’s like 20% tiny, 55% fragile, and 25% glass. I’m sure I would feel the same way about an iPhone. Now the G1, there’s a phone that’s rugged and functional, like a lumberjack or a tractor or anything from the Northern Tool and Equipment catalog. If it were a person it would shake hands like a sonuvabitch, not give you the clammy limp fish you’d get from an antrhopomorphic iPhone.
Second off, using an G1 means that I don’t need to have AT&T as a service provider. T-Mobile might not be the best carrier but I’ve been much happier with them then I ever was with AT&T. Also, T-Mobile’s 3G network is full of teh wins.
Thirdly, I like the fact that Android is open source. Sure there may not be as many developers working on it as there are developing for the iPhone but once more handsets start using the Android OS I’m confident that will change.
Finally, and most importantly, I heart Google like whoa. Gmail, Google Docs, Google Analytics, Google Reader, Chrome, for serious, me and Google go together like peas and carrots. Even if I were to have bought an iPhone I would be on Google all the damn time. With the G1 I’m eliminating the middle man.
Everyone I meet that owns a G1 absolutely loves the damn thing. It’s not flashy, it’s not fancy, it’s just a damn good phone. And to all you iPhone users out there that are smirking while you read this, feeling all superior and stuff, I have four words for you: physical keyboard, bite me.
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