As a person has used Windows Mobile/CE devices for over 6 years and been developing for the mobile platform for over 4 years, I think I can offer some perspective...
First, regarding G1 availability, costs and restrictions (since to date anything else is largely vaporware or just launching)... Users always can choose the grey market (purchasing from a source other than T-Mobile). Today, you might be required to purchase for $180 from T-Mobile with a 2 year contract, but you can get a phone without a contract for somewhere from $210-280(street price). T-Mobile service is required to activate (T-Mobile seems to be doing a good job of closing all efforts to jailbreak), and although no pre-paid plan is supported, you can get on a month to month contract (requires both a voice and a data/messaging plans). So, it might be more expensive than pre-paid but not necessarily tremendously moreso unless you never plan to use the phone in a "normal user" way. Usually, with hardware you get what you pay for. Ever actually get your hands on a Sciphone (with its supposedly "android-like interface")? You're not getting nearly the same thing... Features like slide-out keyboards are expensive. I haven't compared to the iPhone 3GS yet, but earlier models had their warts compared to the G1, too... Like lack of support for multi-tasking applications, poor camera picture quality. Support for multi-tasking might be desirable but it also can be demanding... drawing down power quickly, maxing out resource utilization. Whatever model of hardware and software you might want to compare, you'll likely find feature advantages or lacking every time. So, it's whatever floats your boat which should determine whether you choose an iPhone, Blackberry, G1 or anything else. BTW - That's some trick running J2ME on Windows Mobile. There's only one phone that supports that configuration with decent performance(not the one you mention) which severely restricts that market (unless performance is not an issue). IMO, Tony ----- Original Message ----- From: A <[email protected]> Sent: Thu, 6/11/2009 5:56am To: Android Beginners <[email protected]> Subject: [android-beginners] Practical questions Hi all, I have some practical questions. I might be interested in coding for Android. I have some J2ME programs that I could port that are very useful. But I am wondering, why bother? Consider: 1. Looking at the documentation for Android it seems to me that the learning curve for working with Android is large. 2. Looking at the available phones they are all about $500 without a contract. We're in a Recession and $500 is a lot of money. Compare that to my 3-inch touch screen Sciphone i68 which was $100 and has MIDP support. 3. I don't do contracts. I have heard that Android phones are hobbled by the requirement that I'd have to have a contract. I use prepaid exclusively to keep my phone bills down. 4. No contract means no data plan. 5. I can get a Windows Mobile phone for $260, called the CECT M88+. It will run native apps and J2ME. That's half the cost of an Android phone. 6. Regular consumers know we're in a recession. They are going to avoid expensive phones and long contracts more now than ever. Will $500 luxury Android phones take hold? I'm skeptical. 7. I am not someone who is easily impressed by Google. There is no "wow" factor for me in using Android. I'm entirely pragmatic. Thanks. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Android Beginners" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-beginners?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
