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"Considering Captivate over iPhone? Yeah, me too." on by Soapboxhothead
Pros: Lovely screen. Surprising build quality. Snappy response. Solid call quality. "iphone like" UI (skin). Notification tray & customizable user experience. Choice of input keyboard options. Not in the hands of every tweener & dying-to-be-cool gork.
Cons: Almost total lack of Mac software support for loading & backup. AT&T bloatware. Weird combo power/sleep button. Slightly confusing interface. Lack of camera flash (small complaint)
Summary: Like maybe many of you, I'm a longtime Mac guy (my first was a IIc & actually still have my Newton!) & I've of course owned the original iPhone & more recently the 3G. All have been trusty companions that I dearly loved and still love using, BUT, it's time to upgrade the handset. Of course, I wanted the iPhone4, no brainer right? Well ... not so fast. Perhaps like many of you, I was a little underwhelmed by what the "4" had to offer. Sure, Apple made some improvements but in my final view, FaceTime just isn't enough to wow me besides being nearly unusable & the other changes, let's face it, were mostly about catching up to other smartphone offerings, no real game changers. THEN "antenna-gate" hit ... and along with it, very real concerns about call quality and inexcusably, more dropped calls than my 3G, which is bad enough as it is. AT&T's network issues notwithstanding, Apple just didn't do enough with this phone, so, it became time to rethink my next smartphone. A helpful young lad at my local "T" store suggested I await their upcoming GalaxyS phone. I'm glad I did. Believe me when I say I'd prefer to stay with Apple & preserve my investment in apps but it says a great deal when a very loyal customer decides on an alternative product and foregoes that investment. (Are you listening Cupertino?)
UPDATE: It's been 2 weeks and I'm thrilled! So for those of you considering this phone alongside the iPhone4, I can give it a solid recommendation with a couple of caveats. Firstly, it's not an iPhone so if you're used to the Apple iOS then it will be familiar but nonetheless a little funky. Previous reviews are spot on when the say Android could use a little more polish. Setting up email accts was a little funky (with the exception of GMail) but expected, otherwise email works well. On the plus side, the phone works great. Syncing with Google services is carefree & a snap. Loading app's is a breeze but it seems Android doesn't vett all apps in the market to the same standard as iTunes, I've had a couple of apps that keep crashing/force quitting. Finally, I HATE the AT&T bloatware! This is the biggest complaint I have. If I don't want or need Navigator, Music, TV etc then I want the option to delete them & I certainly don't want 'em running in the background. Are you listening AT&T?
It bears noting that I rarely make technology decisions without researching the bejeezus out of my options so trust me when I say I've read just about all there is to offer on the Captivate. It's not perfect but it's also pretty damn close to being so & it's easily on par or better than the iPhone 4, truly. I've held both in my hands and messed with them for perhaps an hour at that same local "T" store. It's been a tough choice but I'm gonna go with the Captivate & Android. (I will post a follow-up review after a week or two of using the handset so stay tuned.)
Why I chose the Android powered AT&T Captivate over the iPhone4 ... in no particular order: I just can't get past the antenna issues & dropped calls with the i4. I just can't. This is supposed to be a highly engineered & evolved communication tool & you inexplicably botch something as rudimentary as it's antenna? There's no excuse for that & a free plastic bumper is NO solution. It just isn't. Moreover, Apple & AT&T claim to have closely collaborated on this phone to ensure maximum performance on the network and dropped calls are WORSE?! How is this possible? Yes I know it's a radio & subject to the vagaries of obstacles, terrain, humidity & bird flocks but c'mon, you couldn't even make a modest improvement? Hype aside, the i4 just isn't that compelling an upgrade from the 3GS. Sure iOS4 adds "multitasking", unified inbox and folders but you can run that on your old 3GS. Yes the Retina display is stunning & a 1Ghz A4 processor is welcome but again, these just keep pace with the market, nothing game changing. In the end, the i4 is just too much like other iPhones before it & it's my opinion it's best to sit this one out & wait till next year's effort.
The Captivate captured me (sorry) for a couple simple reasons ... larger and none too shabby AMOLED screen. The extra real estate DOES make a difference. Android OS. It's making huge strides in improving user functionality and innovation and if Apple isn't extremely careful & ups it's game, it will slip into also-ran status quickly. Yes, the funky skins mfg's place over Android can be clunky, cumbersome & a little confusing but in the end, you have many more options to customize & change your user experience to your liking vs. iOS4's locked-down approach. Moreover, the pace on innovation seems to be accelerating with Android, I sense we are reaching a real tipping point. Samsung has long made some excellent mobile phones & it shows in the simple yet crucial aspect of this phone ... call quality. Data scarfing and game playing aside, let's remember these are communication tools & the fundamental function of calling people is still a big deal. Call me old-school but I kinda like my phone to make calls without sending my blood pressure thru the roof.
Finally, maybe this is trite & a little arrogant but I'm tired of seeing the same iPhone I carry around in the hands of tweeners & gorks with their heads buried in text messages, twitter & facebook. If the phone you choose says something about you then what does it say when spoiled brats & loners desperate for attention are toting the same tool you use to run your life? Frankly I'd like to see Apple re-invigorate the aspirational image of the iPhone & raise the barrier of entry by bumping the price.
Updated on Aug 13, 2010
Updated on Aug 13, 2010Additional info: Here's the things I dig. Can't say enough about that beautiful SuperAMOLED screen! The camera & video work well. I love the choice of keyboards & I find the Android kybrd works best for me, & I dig the haptic feedback option. It's silly but I enjoy "live wallpapers". The notification tray is terrific! Helpful info at a glance as well as be able to turn things like wifi, BT and vibration on & off from the tray. Email is a little funky but I manage 5 separate accounts no problem. The OS is snappy & switching between apps is a breeze, nearly instantaneous (this will only improve with Froyo 2.2) and I think Samsung's TouchWiz interface is quite good. Finally, I love that I can load docs, music & other media directly onto my microSD card and manage them all from there. In the end, the iPhone may be easier to adopt but if you've had a couple smartphone's by now, I think you'll really enjoy the flexibility & the power of Android. Sorry Apple, I may not be coming back. -
"Fast, powerful, *great* screen, fun and easy to use" on by okmft
Pros: Absolutely beautiful screen
Smooth (Touchwiz) interface
Camera works great and takes clear pictures
Solid build, yet very light and pocketable
Battery life is comparable with other smartphones including iPhone 4 (which I returned and got Captivate)Cons: GPS had slow signal acquisition at times, even with clear view of sky
Problems syncing with MS Vista (looped into MTP mode when connected to PC)
Can't see buttons unless screen is active
AT&T duplicates stock Android apps with their own useless appsSummary: I stood in line and got an iPhone 4, returned it for obvious reasons (as well as a desire to use Google Voice in an integrated manner), and now am the satisfied owner of the Samsung Captivate. Overall, this is a very nice device and I am extremely pleased. Calls are clear, speaker is loud, lots of care has been taken to make this device and interface really great.
The weak GPS is a deal-breaker, and I will have to return the device if no solution is forthcoming. I have tried all the tweaks on the forums, and finally got fairly strong GPS speed and performance late this evening (until I plugged in my AT&T car charger, when the signal would disappear again). I will keep experimenting until I either get consistently great GPS performance, or until I return the device.
This is coming from someone who has owned many incarnations of PDA and smartphone from the original Palm devices, WinMo devices, and every version of iPhone including 4 (although this is my first Android device). The Samsung Captivate is light, fast, and beautiful,and I am happy to recommend this device for anyone who has a clue on how to use a smartphone, as this powerful hardware + Android 2.1 = lots of power and customization.
I would still recommend the iPhone 4 (or 3Gs) for someone who is not as "tech" oriented, as the Captivate occasionally slowed down if I didn't manage background tasks myself with "ATK;" until I cleared out unneeded widgets and tweaked settings, there were occasional stutters and button feedback lags (but I don't let stuff run willy-nilly and unchecked on my PC either, so I have no problem monitoring this myself).
So yes, I am very glad I sweet-talked that AT&T employee into selling me one of these on Friday. This phone may not yet be as famous or coveted as the iPhone, but I wonder if there will be a quiet revolution of these Galaxy S phones (since this series is now available on all major US carriers, and throughout the world). This is a very powerful phone, is fun to use, and can make and receive calls no matter how I hold it.
Updated on Jul 24, 2010 -
"Time to step up Apple! Android is slowly taking over!!" on by lanedek
Pros: -Amazing Super AMOLED screen
-Very fast (Going to be even faster when Android 2.2 is released for it)
-ANDROID: COMPLETE CUSTOMIZATION
-One of the most powerful gaming phones
-Great battery life (if you know how to keep up with it)Cons: -no flash
-no front-facing camera
Couldn't care less about them anyway.Summary: I was so excited that Samsung realesed their Galaxy S phones the time that they did. I was up for an upgrade from my crappy Samsung Eternity and ALMOST bought an iPhone 4.
I had been always been proud of the fact that I have NEVER owned an iPhone. I tried my best to get around it but I almost couldn't because the iPhone is AT&T's best phone. (Not to mention I hate everything Apple) For months, I have been very intrigued by Samsung's new line of phones called the Galaxy S. Weeks before my upgrade, I keep reading that AT&T's version of the Galaxy S was hitting the day before my upgrade date. I was so excited!!
This is seriously the best phone I have ever gotten. You can customize EVERYTHING on this phone. It runs Android 2.1 and it is not locked-down like the iOS. It is literally a PC in your hand. The Google Voice Search is amazingly accurate. Samsung's Super AMOLED screen makes colors stand out. It's something you have to see for yourself to tell the difference. The battery life is really good especially if you put the Advanced Task Killer on the phone that kills programs running in the background. I highly recommend you download that app because you will be amazed on how many AT&T bloatware opens up when you turn on your phone and there is no way to delete them off the phone.
I would gripe about the phone not having flash and a front-facing camera but I won't. I have lived this long without either of those features and couldn't care less about them. (Not to mention that it has Nightmode for the camera and that works just as good and sometimes better than a flash.)
If you don't want to be a tool like everyone else who has an iPhone, the Samsung Captivate is THE alternative of the iPhone 4. Not only is the Captivate faster than the iPhone 4 now, once Android 2.2 Froyo hits this sucker, there will be not contest between the phones. iOS 4 will be obsolete in a couple of months. BUY THIS PHONE!!! -
"A very worthy competitor with the iPhone." on by shidagirl
Pros: It feels very well-made...the display is beautiful...but most of all, I am in love with the customization of the phone and with the Swype technology!
Cons: There is some attenuation with the signal, yet I can send and receive text messages without error and I have yet to experience a dropped call. There is a slight lag when switching between home screens, opening apps, and pressing the home keys.
Summary: Overall, I'm so glad that I decided on the Captivate over the iPhone 4. It's a beautiful device and so far I am very impressed. Although I have noticed a little bit of lag, it hasn't been enough to be a deal-breaker.
Although there is some AT&T bloatware, the customization that comes with an Android device is phenomenal, and I finally realize what I've been missing while owning an iPhone 3G. However, Apple's App Store is still superior to the Android Market.
Swype takes some getting used to but it is such intriguing technology and can only get better with time, and with the upcoming Froyo update, I know that the phone's overall performance will be boosted even more. -
"THIS PHONE IS AMAZING!!!!!!" on by bden72
Pros: Great Screen
Android Operating System 2.1
Thin and Lightweight
Voice to Text
Android Market (Better That Apps on Apple In My Opinion)
Very Good Battery for All It DoesCons: Apps Run Even If You Think You Have Closed Them (Just Download Apps Killer for Free)
Summary: This is of course just all my opinion, but here it goes . . .
This phone is a must have. Why would anyone want an iPhone 4 instead of this as this is pretty much open source and has very similar features. I personally don't get the love affair with Apple. My wife has an iPhone 3Gs and my Galaxy is a way better device. Also, Apple dropped the ball on the iPhone 4 and offers a free case to make device work properly? How about recalling the device and fixing it. If I bought the device and was later told that I will be given a free case to make it work, I would return it to the store. In the past, there were limited alternatives, but Samsung and Google have produced a winner. I have had a Treo, two Blackberrys and use my wife's iPhone and it is no contest.
This is the best handset/PDA I have ever seen and used. This is a grandslam. Even though the flash, FM radio and forward facing camera have been disabled, this is still a winner!
PLEASE READ THIS -- IF FOR SOME REASON YOUR BATTERY APPEARS TO NOT BE HOLDING A CHARGE, YOU MAY JUST HAVE A BAD BATTERY. THIS WAS THE CASE WITH ME. SWAPPED OUT THE PHONE AND BATTERY LASTS A LONG TIME. ALSO, DOWNLOAD FOR FREE FROM THE ANDROID APPS MARKET "APPS KILLER" IT WILL SAVE YOUR BATTERY LIFE A LOT.
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