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I was an android early adopter who switched in 2012 - and I'll explain why. At the time I had a T-Mobile G2 which was approaching the end of its natural lifecy
by Aloha 9y ago
I was an android early adopter who switched in 2012 - and I'll explain why.
At the time I had a T-Mobile G2 which was approaching the end of its natural lifecycle, I was also dissatisfied with the software quality of android overall - at the time I was looking for another android phone running stock android with a keyboard (something that didnt exist effectively), because the android on screen keyboard at the time was so awful - so I started looking at the iPhone - at the time I expected the same difficulties with iOS that I had with android (android always felt like it was half-done, for example non-scrolling context menu's that scrolled off the screen) - but I found overall that the software quality was just better with iOS - and added benefit is, my iPhone largely 'just works' - I spend all day repairing and building technology, the last thing I want to do is have to invest cycles to keep my own kit working.
With iPhone when it doesn't work (or has an issue), I take it back to the 'fruit store', and they make it all better, without me having to be much involved in the process - however with iOS this has happened precisely twice (once for a software bug, the other for a hardware issue), versus in two Android phones, I was performing a factory reset of the device about once a year due to software bugs (text messaging DB, apps that wouldnt uninstall, having to perform space management with a SD card and internal storage, email that would just stop syncing randomly, digitizer would stop working, etc), as well as a lack of updates to still new-ish hardware. While I realize with Google I have much more control and flexibility with how I can use my device, for me at least this added control is largely unimportant for my use case - yes there have been a few cases I wish I could do things with my iPhone that it doesnt do, but these are mostly edge cases, when I want to use my phone in a non-typical use case.
In addition with Apple, I know what the product they're selling is - and its not me. With Google, I've got a sneaking suspicion that I'm the product - don't get me wrong, I use Google, I like Google, but the relationship between Apple and I is much more clear cut. I also trust Apple as more likely to keep my data secure, and to stand at my side if someone (specifically the government) wanted at it.
- iamatworknow 9y agoThis mirrors my own experience. As a Samsung Note 2/4 owner I used to give myself a lot of excuses as to why iPhones were "bad" -- non-expandable storage (even though I never maxed out the storage that came built in with my Android phones), non-user replaceable battery (even though my battery hardly ever dips below 50%, as whenever I'm in a place where I can plug it in, it's plugged in), a more restrictive ecosystem (even though I barely use more than the web browser and a few other common apps on any phone). My tipping point was visiting Canada one time with data roaming turned off. Despite this, Sprint decided overnight that my Note 4 needed to download the Sprint NASCAR app that I did not request or have any intention of ever using. The download, since I was roaming in another country, cost me about $20 on my next statement. Shortly thereafter I got an iPhone 6S Plus and haven't looked back. I'm still with Sprint, but thanks to iOS's restrictions I don't have to have any of their junk installed on there, which couldn't be removed from my Note 4 without rooting it. I will say, however, that I'm still not a fan of iPhones killing the headphone jack, so I don't intend to upgrade until it becomes strictly necessary.
- Aloha 9y agoI only use the headphone jack for a wired headset telephone style headset, I only very rarely listen to music on my phone. For my use case, getting a charging headphone adapter dongle and leaving it hooked up to the headset I use, will serve my needs perfectly.
- iamatworknow 9y agoAnd that may be how I go, but for now I have no need to upgrade. iOS 11 hasn't given me any of the issues on the 6S Plus other people talk about (perhaps because I use my iPhone in a more limited capacity than many other people).
- Aloha 9y agoIt's clear to me that the RAM limitations of my 6S are present, I'm more often then not seeing apps starting fresh rather than resuming state.
- BatFastard 9y agoAndroid is much tighter these days
- matwood 9y agoI'm in a similar boat as you. I was an iPhone user who switched to the HTC One for Android, and had problems. I then went to a Nexus 5 thinking it would fix my issues, but still had various problems. When the large screen iPhones came out I gave up my experiment, switched back, and wondered why I ever left. People tell me Android has improved since then, but it always felt not quite done. I'm still happy with the iPhone. Meanwhile, a co-worker in the office received his new Pixel 2 XL and RMAed it the same day because the proximity sensor doesn't work.
- Aloha 9y agoI consider hardware quality to be about equal across smartphone vendors, aside from obvious bugs in new hardware.
- beezle 9y agoThe LG G2 was released in September of 2013, even allowing a year for life cycle would be late 2014?
- Aloha 9y agoIt wasn't an LG G2, it was an HTC Desire Z rebranded as a T-Mobile G2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTC_Desire_Z https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTC_Desire_Z