My Switch to the HTC EVO 4G and the Sprint Network
This last week I switched from an iPhone 3GS to an HTC EVO 4G. Bottom line, I am impressed, and happy with my purchase. I will try to explain why and where the decision to switch came from.
For the longest time I had been a die-hard Blackberry user, and I still think the Blackberry Bold is one of the best phones I’ve ever owned. I switched to the 3GS when it was released for two primary reasons. First, the idea of having my phone and my iPod in one device was appealing. Second, the app store was a huge draw with so many options. Most developers were, and for the most part still are, developing for iPhone first – RIM and Android were afterthoughts. So, if I was happy with my iPhone so why did I switch?
- I have kept an eye on the development of Android ever since Google announced it. Android is gaining momentum at a pace that has been much faster than I expected. The geek in me wanted to be part of it and see what the excitement was about.
- Apple was starting to tick me off. Many of their tactics are heavy handed and it rubbed me wrong. Apple has every right to run their business any way they want, and they do so to protect their interests. But they are leaving a wake of collateral damage as they tell people how they should consume technology, I prefer a choice.
- I am not invested in iTunes, I have purchased a few apps, but no music. In fact, I never really cared for iTunes functionality or its performance. The draw to this platform was the phone and the app store, not the app in the middle.
- The HTC EVO 4G spec sheet is impressive to say the least, and I was drawn to it as soon as I heard the first review. The more I read, the more I wanted it. Even after seeing the new iPhone 4 with it’s killer screen, I am not regretting the purchase one bit.
- As an IT professional, part of my job is knowing what is going on in the tech industry and making recomendations to my employer. I needed to evaluate the Android platform for this purpose.
- The Spring 4G network is launching in Salt Lake City on July 11th.
- The iPhone is mature and the iPhone 4 and iOS 4 is an evolutionary step, the rapid innovation momentum is behind Android.
- After some recent travel, I ran into coverage and saturation issues with the ATT network. I actually like the ATT network but feel it has become a victim of its own success.
- I have a data plan for my laptop, one for my iPad and one for my phone. The idea of using my phone as a hotspot, is very appealing from a cost perspective and much more convenient than tethering via Bluetooth or a cable.
I have had the EVO since the Friday launch, when I picked up the last unit the local Sprint store had in stock. I loved the form factor as soon as I picked it up. I was worried that the 4.3″ phone would be too large for single hand operation or not feel comfortable in the pocket, but it has not been an issue. The screen is huge, and I love watching media on it, especially with the kickstand. The OS seems snappy and I cannot wait for 2.2 to be released (I was told July or August). I love the fact that I can customize the UI with icons, widgets and folders.
One possible complaint, the battery life is not great, but it is not bad either. I am at the TechEd conference in New Orleans this week with several members of my IT department, many of whom are on Blackberries and iPhones. We are all using our phones heavily all day long, and they are returning to the hotel at night with similar battery resserves to my EVO 4G (3G ON – GPS ON – 4G OFF – WiFi as needed). With 3rd party companies coming out with larger batteries and the ability to swap batteries, I am not too worried. I also enjoyed the speed and reliability of the Sprint network while iPhone users all around me were struggling with connectivity issues.
The bottom line is that I am happy and impressed with the phone. I am still playing with apps and getting it setup just the way I want, but I have found the same app or an alternate app for everything I used on the iPhone, so I really feel like I have given nothing up. I do not wish I had a screen with pixels too small to see or a gyroscope, but who knows. I would still recommend an iPhone to people who struggle with technology or are highly invested in iTunes, but I am also now evangelizing the Android platform and the HTC EVO in particular. At the end of the day I love seeing the competition - exciting times ahead for sure.
