Buy HD7 now or wait for Mango?

BornStar

Diamond Member
Oct 30, 2001
4,052
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I'm up for a new phone on T-Mobile and I'm set on purchasing a WP7 phone but I'm trying to figure out if I buy a HD7 right now for $0.01 from Microsoft or wait for the Mango handsets to come up in a few months. I have a Blackberry Pearl 8120 which just isn't cutting it for me and I'd like to get a new phone as soon as possible but I don't really want to repeat my mistake with my Pearl and buy a two year old phone again. So, my question to all you WP7 fans is are the added hardware specs for Mango handsets really going to make a difference or is the HD7 going to be good enough to last me two years?
 

shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,081
136
I've just been asking this exact question in a couple other threads.

Since we dont know which future Windows phones are going where, it may not be good to get into a 2 year contract with anybody. In fact thats why I'm mad at verizon, cuz their unlimited data plans end in a couple days and they dont have any good WP7 devices on the horizon.

I'd say get just a SIM from tmobile, contract free. Buy a used HD7 from Amazon and slap it in. When a good phone comes along swap it out. Or go on contract and get a subsidy.
 

smartpatrol

Senior member
Mar 8, 2006
870
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I'm using an HD7 now and I love this phone. All WP7 devices will be getting Mango, and according to beta users, it runs even faster than NoDo on the same hardware. I'm sure there will be better phones later this year, but its not like you will be left out if you get the HD7.

Sent from my HD7 using Board Express
 

RedRooster

Diamond Member
Sep 14, 2000
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I think the new hardware is gonna add more hardware sensors(gyro) and a front camera and stuff. So if you think you'll be using apps that NEED that stuff, wait. Otherwise, faster processors and more RAM isn't going to be too apparent on WP7 since its so fast already on current hardware. The HD7 looks nice! I'd like that big screen.
 

Strk

Lifer
Nov 23, 2003
10,197
4
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I think the new hardware is gonna add more hardware sensors(gyro) and a front camera and stuff. So if you think you'll be using apps that NEED that stuff, wait. Otherwise, faster processors and more RAM isn't going to be too apparent on WP7 since its so fast already on current hardware. The HD7 looks nice! I'd like that big screen.

I would think the processor upgrade would help a bit in apps that need the GPU upgrade though. While WP7 makes great use of its current hardware, the original Snapdragon has a hugely crappy GPU.
 

note235

Golden Member
Dec 23, 2005
1,502
7
81
just wait
i have a focus and i love it, the 3rd party apps of android and ios are a lot better though...atleast the ones i use but im installing mango beta2 as we speak. The next set of phones will be a lot better (see rumor about SGII Wp7 )
 

BornStar

Diamond Member
Oct 30, 2001
4,052
1
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Well, I asked the question, waited for the answers, and then ignored the good advice and went ahead and bought it. I decided I'd rather pay basically nothing for the device now than wait a few months and spent close to $200 for a device with stuff that I'm not certain I'll need. I lived two years with the Pearl, I'll survive another two with a much faster (and better) phone.
 

smartpatrol

Senior member
Mar 8, 2006
870
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It's a great phone. I actually think it feels faster than any of the dual-core Android smartphones I've tried. Enjoy your new toy without regret!
 

dpodblood

Diamond Member
May 20, 2010
4,020
1
81
I picked up an HD7 a few months ago and honestly I love it. The screen leaves a bit to be desired over Samsung and Apple offerings, but that is a small concession with all the positives the phone has to offer. I was a bit skeptical of the WP7 platform at first, but I must say I'm really enjoying it. The UI is great, and the app/game selection is just getting better and better. And of course your HD7 will be getting getting the Mango update anyway, so no worries there. :D
 

ImDonly1

Platinum Member
Dec 17, 2004
2,357
0
76
I picked up an HD7 a few months ago and honestly I love it. The screen leaves a bit to be desired over Samsung and Apple offerings, but that is a small concession with all the positives the phone has to offer. I was a bit skeptical of the WP7 platform at first, but I must say I'm really enjoying it. The UI is great, and the app/game selection is just getting better and better. And of course your HD7 will be getting getting the Mango update anyway, so no worries there. :D

Can you tether through USB or wi-fi without the carrier knowing?
Do you need to "root" to do it or can you just install an app from the marketplace?
 

dougp

Diamond Member
May 3, 2002
7,909
4
0
Will it be coming in mango?

I read that samsung focus users were able to tether somehow, but only people with those phones.

Yes, but it will be a carrier-supported option. Just like on the iPhone, AT&T/Tmo/Sprint/etc.etc. will have to want it enabled.

Also, since MS will be supporting "jailbroken" devices via the Chevron method, I doubt we'll see a homebrew to enable it since MS wants to maintain carrier support.
 

hanoverphist

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2006
9,867
23
76
honestly, the tethering issue is the one thing keeping me from trying out WP7. i hope theres at least some options available for it sometime.
 

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
12
76
No tethering was kind of a kick in the delicates having gone from a Sony Xperia w/ WM 6.5 to a Samsung Focus w/ WP7. I guess I've just accepted that the web browser on the phone has come a long way, and I don't take my laptop on trips with me anymore.
 

dpodblood

Diamond Member
May 20, 2010
4,020
1
81
Thanks to WP7 gaming, Netflix, and Zune player I hardly ever use my laptop when traveling now.
 

rockyct

Diamond Member
Jun 23, 2001
6,656
32
91
Tethering would be nice on a WP7 device but carriers are starting to crack down on free tethering anyway. I guess they don't care much if you stay under 5 GBs but I'm sure they'll get stricter and stricter.
 

finbarqs

Diamond Member
Feb 16, 2005
3,617
2
81
yeah... easy tether kind of sucks now on Android... doesn't support https!

Well the free one doesn't... I need something like that "mytether" that was available once upon a time for the Palm Pre...
 

kyotousa

Senior member
Feb 2, 2006
320
0
0
wait for the Sea Ray?

It's really up to you...All the WP7 will get free Mango update anyway