Motorola Cliq (titanium, T-Mobile)

Pros: Great access to social networking sites, good camera, Android runs much faster than on G1, Size and weight are much better than G1, 5 home screens is great, Works as advertised for the most part, LOUD external speaker

Cons: Very few customization options on the MOTOBLUR software, some apps do not run well, Camera pixelates on close-up shots, might not get Eclair update for a while longer than normal due to BLUR software, keyboard doesn't always light up in dark areas

Summary: My wife and I got this phone during the pre-order time. I got the White one, she got the Titanium. I kind of like the titanium one more, but it's not a big difference to me. The phone opens and closes with ease. Touchscreen is vibrant. The system is still Android, though, and it is not an iPhone-killer by any means. The MotoBLUR software allows you to lump together your social networking sites and your messages (such as e-mail, texts, etc) and give you constant updates. They even include some widgets for popular sites like Facebook. However, I don't really use Twitter often, and definitely want to keep my school e-mail separate from my regular messages. This isn't an option, yet.

The keyboard is supposed to have a sensor which can tell when it needs to be lit or not. However, it's not always functioning properly, and I sometimes have to blindly text on it. Some people LOVE the keyboard. I personally don't. This is one area where the G1 totally dominates the CLIQ. I don't like sharing the number keys with the top keyboard row (although a concession can be made). The keys on the physical keyboard "jut out" like little keypad bumps, and it causes me with bigger fingers to CONSTANTLY press other buttons. The virtual keyboard is not as nice as the iPhone's, but it works. This is more of an Android issue, than a CLIQ one.

I really don't like losing the Call and End call buttons. You now have a slider bar to answer calls, and more than once, I've been unable to answer calls because the software was too bogged down with BLUR information. However, I do like that it is a capacitive touchscreen like the iPhone. You can put it up to your ear and it will pause the menu so you don't "cheek dial". The G1 didn't have this feature.

I love having the physical switch to go to silent mode or regular mode. I like having a 3.5mm headset jack, but it's placed awkwardly on top of the phone. I would have figured it was the perfect spot, but alas it's not.

So.. Big topic.. BATTERY LIFE. Every review I've read tells me that the battery is terrible. Here's what the truth is.. If you use Wi-Fi, or leave it on all the time, you will have less than a day's use. I don't normally browse, I just like to scroll through facebook maybe once or twice a day, and I text an average 25 year old's amount. I use about 800 minutes a month in talk time, so average that out. I leave my GPS on, and I leave my 3G on all the time, although GPS is only used sparingly, and when Google Latitude uses it. I get a full day's charge, usually without coming close. This battery, at its worst, is much better than the best my G1 ever had. Do not let the battery issues worry you. The BLUR software I use pushes me 2 email accounts, Twitter, Myspace, Google, Facebook, and Last.fm every 15 minutes. The battery is not that bad.

Another big topic.. CALL QUALITY.. I guess this is, after all, a phone. I have had no complaints. I did have perhaps 1 or 2 phone calls that sounded like there was an echo, but I was driving and so was my calling party. It hasn't been a complaint of mine or my callers. Take it as an isolated experience, but for what it's worth, I have had little to no problems.

Last talking point.. WIDGETS.. The major widget is the Happenings widget. It's pretty much where your updates are put. Not your e-mails or texts.. Those are in the Messaging widget. You also have a Facebook widget, and a Music Playlist widget. Minor annoyance to me is that the Facebook widget and the Happenings widget will not notify you of when your status has been posted on, or when you've spoken on anyone else's and someone has responded. You have to go into the browser and access mobile Facebook to see anything like that. Would love to get that changed. Anywho, they update pretty regularly, and I enjoy having them. I would just like to be able to customize them a bit more.

Bottom line - This phone is not for people who do not use social networking. I see it doing really well with teenagers to young adults. Although it has wonderful features, and is a significant upgrade from the G1, it's pretty much a MyTouch3G with a physical keyboard and a few extra widgets if you want them. If you are using a G1, it is worth it to upgrade, if you can handle the keyboard. I don't believe the G1 can get the full Eclair update, which you will be wanting so badly when it comes out, you'll upgrade then. Might as well get the CLIQ now. It doesn't beat the 3GS, and I'd put it at a close second to the N900 and new Xperia for potential phones on T-Mobile. Still, not too bad!