Seriously you guys, what is wrong with the Thunderbolt?

[shortylickens]

Amazon now has it for 99 dollars.

Does it give you cancer?
Run over your puppies?
Steal all your credit card info?
What?

 

[shortylickens]

Holy Shit!

The Charge is 149!!

Thats cheaper than their Memorial Day sale.


The Inspire is 30 bucks, I think thats cheaper than any other sale too.

 

[dlock13]

I've heard it has awful battery life and that it's single core. I don't see a problem with the phone other than the proclaimed battery life. >_<

Purchase it if you want. It's a good phone especially for rooting.

 

[cronos]

I seriously don't get what's so hot about subsidized price. Even if it's $0.

 

[poofyhairguy]

The Charge should be $149. When the SGS2 hits the lineup in the fall that is a sub $100 phone (unless they make the SGS2 $300 off the bat, in which case I hate them).

 

[shortylickens]

I seriously don't get what's so hot about subsidized price. Even if it's $0.

Because the normal price is 250 with subsidy and at 0 dollars you would be saving 250 dollars.
And unsubsidized its 700. Since you would really want 4g service all the time anyway (and unlimited data for web browsing and such) you are going to be getting a service plan regardless.

I know people like to buy high end phones and just use wifi but since wifi hotspots arent that common and useless when you zip down the highway it makes more sense to go with a small laptop instead. Cheaper and more power for the money.
A smartphone is for portable, easy data. Navigating, email, and weather are actually important to some of us, thats why we have smartphones.
Others like advanced features when socializing such as Twitter, Facebook, multimedia messaging, and more. Again wifi is nice if you can find it but its not always there, and useless for navigation anyway.

 

[QueBert]

I've heard it has awful battery life and that it's single core. I don't see a problem with the phone other than the proclaimed battery life. >_<

Purchase it if you want. It's a good phone especially for rooting.

HTC is renown for their craptacular battery life, I could disable 3g/4g/wifi/bt and everything else on a Droid X and my Evo 4G, and the Droid will absolutely smash my phone. I play Angry Birds with everything phone wise disabled and in 20 minutes my battery's down 25%.

 

[Red Storm]

I seriously don't get what's so hot about subsidized price. Even if it's $0.

This.

I already have a smartphone with a data plan. I'm only interested in unsubsidized/craigslist prices.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Isn't it basically a Verizon EVO with LTE instead of WiMax?

I guess the main criticism is that since it's essentially an EVO, it's using relatively old hardware especially given the original price ($250, so $50 more than the EVO was a year ago).

But it's not a bad phone at all.

 

[gorcorps]

I don't know, but I kind of want to ditch apple and jump to Android.

 

[cronos]

Because the normal price is 250 with subsidy and at 0 dollars you would be saving 250 dollars.
And unsubsidized its 700. Since you would really want 4g service all the time anyway (and unlimited data for web browsing and such) you are going to be getting a service plan regardless.

I know people like to buy high end phones and just use wifi but since wifi hotspots arent that common and useless when you zip down the highway it makes more sense to go with a small laptop instead. Cheaper and more power for the money.
A smartphone is for portable, easy data. Navigating, email, and weather are actually important to some of us, thats why we have smartphones.
Others like advanced features when socializing such as Twitter, Facebook, multimedia messaging, and more. Again wifi is nice if you can find it but its not always there, and useless for navigation anyway.

I don't disagree with most of your points.

I guess my 'beef' is really directed towards the thought process (that has become pretty common) that ended up with the conclusion that you'll be 'getting a service plan regardless' (for two years), in which case getting a subsidy for a two year contract commitment seems to make perfect sense.

I think the customers are giving way too much to the carriers (two year commitment of ridiculous plan rates) for a mere couple hundred bucks of discount up front.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I already have a smartphone with a data plan. I'm only interested in unsubsidized/craigslist prices.

I don't get this concept what-so-ever.

From what I understand, only ONE company even has a plan for unsubsidized phones- TMobile. For everyone else- AT&T, Verizon, Sprint- you are paying the same price for the plan whether you got a subsidized phone or not because of uncompetitive practices in the market. And from what I understand, TMobile is trying to cut down on such plans (they surely will be gone once the AT&T merger goes through).

So those who DON'T get the subsidized phones are basically paying more in the long run for their service.

The only advantage I see is if you don't want to be locked in a contract, but most people want phone service and data service every month so you are going to be paying anyway. Why not get under contract and get $400+ back on the phone?

 

[shortylickens]

I don't disagree with most of your points.

I guess my 'beef' is really directed towards the thought process (that has become pretty common) that ended up with the conclusion that you'll be 'getting a service plan regardless' (for two years), in which case getting a subsidy for a two year contract commitment seems to make perfect sense.

I think the customers are giving way too much to the carriers (two year commitment of ridiculous plan rates) for a mere couple hundred bucks of discount up front.

Oh no I agree 100 percent. Whenever someone tries to save 10 or 20 dollars someplace on the phone itself I have to remind them that over a two year period they will end up spending 2 grand or more, so they should just get what they want.

My point here is the Thunderbolt is normally 250 and now 99 so you are actually saving real money. On top of that if you dont get a plan you are restricted to wifi, in which case 700 dollars would be better spent on a small laptop. More power for the money.
The point of a smart phone is truly mobile data, which can only be achieved with a wifi AND cellular connection. Unless your workplace allows you to connect your phone to their wifi network and you only go back and forth between home & work, nowhere else.
OR, if you go to school full time and the school lets you use their wifi. Mine does not. The wifi connection itself is open but you cant do anything until you get a login and password for the schools network and set up a bunch of custom connection settings, which can only be done in Mac and Windows, not on a phone.

I think for me the reliable 4g data on the Thunderbolt may be worth it. Even at 88 dollars a month.
I was gonna go with Virgin and an LG Optimus, but their 3g is spotty cuz its only Sprint (no Verizon roaming) and even then not so great. Of course at 25 dollars a month its a little easier to swallow.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I don't disagree with most of your points.

I guess my 'beef' is really directed towards the thought process (that has become pretty common) that ended up with the conclusion that you'll be 'getting a service plan regardless' (for two years), in which case getting a subsidy for a two year contract commitment seems to make perfect sense.

I think the customers are giving way too much to the carriers (two year commitment of ridiculous plan rates) for a mere couple hundred bucks of discount up front.

Of course it's a common thought process, it's the only option available for virtually all smartphones in the US. That is how things work now and it will never change. Your argument is a philosophical one that does not apply to any real-life situations.

I'm not saying that signing a 2-year contract in exchange for a phone subsidy is necessarily a good deal, but that's how things work.

EDIT: Like shortylickens alluded to, contracts in exchange for a subsidy is the reality now, so you just have to make the most of the system. Which means you want to get the best possible smartphone. Don't cheap out, you won't get an upgrade for two years. If the subsidized price of a phone that you were going to buy anyway goes down, it can only be a good thing. You're still saving money. What you want to avoid is cheaping out on a subsidized phone because you're essentially wasting the subsidy.

 

[podspi]

I don't disagree with most of your points.

I guess my 'beef' is really directed towards the thought process (that has become pretty common) that ended up with the conclusion that you'll be 'getting a service plan regardless' (for two years), in which case getting a subsidy for a two year contract commitment seems to make perfect sense.

I think the customers are giving way too much to the carriers (two year commitment of ridiculous plan rates) for a mere couple hundred bucks of discount up front.

Can't wait for my contract to be up. Smartphones are quickly approaching the point that computers hit years ago, where most are "fast enough". Once that happens, I am going to pick up something fast enough but used, and keep my plan forever (I have an original D1 with unlimited data). Heck, if I could somehow solder on an additional 256mb of RAM on my D1, it would be fast enough for what I do with it. But ugh when it hits the swap forget about it...

 

[Red Storm]

I don't get this concept what-so-ever.

From what I understand, only ONE company even has a plan for unsubsidized phones- TMobile. For everyone else- AT&T, Verizon, Sprint- you are paying the same price for the plan whether you got a subsidized phone or not because of uncompetitive practices in the market. And from what I understand, TMobile is trying to cut down on such plans (they surely will be gone once the AT&T merger goes through).

So those who DON'T get the subsidized phones are basically paying more in the long run for their service.

The only advantage I see is if you don't want to be locked in a contract, but most people want phone service and data service every month so you are going to be paying anyway. Why not get under contract and get $400+ back on the phone?

I go through many phones in one year, always buying and selling, so getting a new phone out of contract for me only ever costs $100 or less (selling offsets buying cost). Plus I just don't like the idea of willy nilly extending another 2 years. Freedom from ETFs and generally not being tied to down to a carrier is important to me, so I go hunting for deals whenever a phone I want is released.

 

[shortylickens]

Can't wait for my contract to be up. Smartphones are quickly approaching the point that computers hit years ago, where most are "fast enough". Once that happens, I am going to pick up something fast enough but used, and keep my plan forever (I have an original D1 with unlimited data). Heck, if I could somehow solder on an additional 256mb of RAM on my D1, it would be fast enough for what I do with it. But ugh when it hits the swap forget about it...

I have The Droid and its not fast enough. I dont even have too many widgets running and the thing always takes several seconds to show me my desktop whenever I leave a program. It also chugs along when doing app updates, even over wifi. Cant even use the phone then.

 

[trmiv]

I have The Droid and its not fast enough. I dont even have too many widgets running and the thing always takes several seconds to show me my desktop whenever I leave a program. It also chugs along when doing app updates, even over wifi. Cant even use the phone then.

Me too on an OG Droid. Some of the newer ones may be "fast enough" but the OG Droid is showing its age big time. One thing that drives me nuts is doing a lot of internet browsing when my wife drags me to a store with her. The phone heats up like crazy even if I turn the overclock down to stock, starts slowing down and eventually the browser crashes. I got mine as a freebie and I've only had it year, but I'm so ready to dump this thing.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Me too on an OG Droid. Some of the newer ones may be "fast enough" but the OG Droid is showing its age big time. One thing that drives me nuts is doing a lot of internet browsing when my wife drags me to a store with her. The phone heats up like crazy even if I turn the overclock down to stock, starts slowing down and eventually the browser crashes. I got mine as a freebie and I've only had it year, but I'm so ready to dump this thing.

x2

I love my D1, but it's showing it's age. Also it's in need of a very good SD card cleaning. It was great at first, but now it's definitely slow at times (even OC'ed).

I'm going to hold off on upgrading (also I'm on a family plan so Amazon is still ~$200 for the Charge) until VZW makes more of an announcement about unlimited data going away. I know it is, but am holding off until it is announced when it takes place.

 

[SP33Demon]

Oh no I agree 100 percent. Whenever someone tries to save 10 or 20 dollars someplace on the phone itself I have to remind them that over a two year period they will end up spending 2 grand or more, so they should just get what they want.

My point here is the Thunderbolt is normally 250 and now 99 so you are actually saving real money. On top of that if you dont get a plan you are restricted to wifi, in which case 700 dollars would be better spent on a small laptop. More power for the money.
The point of a smart phone is truly mobile data, which can only be achieved with a wifi AND cellular connection. Unless your workplace allows you to connect your phone to their wifi network and you only go back and forth between home & work, nowhere else.
OR, if you go to school full time and the school lets you use their wifi. Mine does not. The wifi connection itself is open but you cant do anything until you get a login and password for the schools network and set up a bunch of custom connection settings, which can only be done in Mac and Windows, not on a phone.

I think for me the reliable 4g data on the Thunderbolt may be worth it. Even at 88 dollars a month.
I was gonna go with Virgin and an LG Optimus, but their 3g is spotty cuz its only Sprint (no Verizon roaming) and even then not so great. Of course at 25 dollars a month its a little easier to swallow.

Yeah being here in NOVA, you gotta go with the 4G Shorty. No reason to go with anything 3G. I'm wondering if there's a way I could get my family plan revamped through amazon so I could get this $99 phone. Could I just do a new 2 year contract through amazon w/out paying an ETF?

 

[xSauronx]

I have The Droid and its not fast enough. I dont even have too many widgets running and the thing always takes several seconds to show me my desktop whenever I leave a program. It also chugs along when doing app updates, even over wifi. Cant even use the phone then.

im mostly happy with my desire
thing is...sometimes playing audio it gets pretty slow, so doing something else is annoying. its rare that i want to do both, and does not happen 100% of the time

otherwise its great unless im going between several apps in a few minutes, then it starts to slow down. thats also rare, and generally the only gripe i have is the 512mb of onboard memory: before it got froyo i was ready to kill someone over that

 

[Pliablemoose]

What's wrong with the ThunderBolt?

Bought one on launch day, and I wasn't expecting to, and I don't do impulse purchases... And I love my ThunderBolt.

What's wrong with it?

1.) GPS isn't great, not like I've come to expect, think Samsung GPS issues kinda stuff...
2.) It's big, bigger than the EVO, and the extended battery is pretty massive, it's a flipping brick with the extended battery.
3.) Locked bootloader
4.) Stock tethering app sucks major balls, keeps dropping the connection, the unofficial tethering app is rock solid though. (but you have to root it, which is a PITA since it has a locked bootloader)
5.) Battery life s horrid. You need an extended battery, a charger or a second battery if you're mobile...


To sum it all up this:



It's typically 3X faster than my EVO, and look at the ping times, ping times are like torque in engines, it's what you perceive when you're using the thing, it's very fast. (faster than 83&#37; of the US on my phone...)

Think of the ThunderBolt as an old school Detroit street rod, goes like a bat outta hell in a straight line, but cornering is a PITA.

 

[Bateluer]

4.) Stock tethering app sucks major balls, keeps dropping the connection, the unofficial tethering app is rock solid though. (but you have to root it, which is a PITA since it has a locked bootloader)
5.) Battery life s horrid. You need an extended battery, a charger or a second battery if you're mobile...

Rooting is pretty easy, just requires ADB.

Battery life is a step down from my Droid 1, but I can still get 16-18 hours pretty easily. But thats locked to 3G and using a low voltage kernel. :/

 

[tonygeor]

I got a G2x for 50 bucks from costco, that's a steal

 

[Bman123]

I gotta find this $99 deal so my incredible can be replaced, my incredible has less talk time then the t bolt lol, that's bad...