The T-Mobile Smartphone Community
A Review of the G1 from a WinMo Power User
There are many G1 reviews out there, but just one that I can think of that covers the G1 experience from the perspective of a Windows Mobile power user. It’s written by Adam Lein from pocketnow.com, our sister site, and includes a lot of great pictures and screenshots. Essentially, he contends that from his perspective, the G1 is fraught with limitations. On page 3 he racks up a huge list of things the G1 can’t do: no word completion when typing, no file manager, no Exhange sync, no sync with anything except Google, no video recording, and so on.
I think many would agree with his claims. That said, the G1 has so far been well received from anyone not fitting into the category of “Windows Mobile” power user – the prospect of an open source operating system with a plethora of great applications that we’re already seeing (and that Mike has been writing about) – is exciting.
That said, there are some among the AllShadow community that are WinMo power users – those that modify ROMs and create theme and registry hacks. And to be honest, those fitting into that category may be disappointed by the G1. But you already knew that. For the average “Shadow Enthusiast” (new term!) that comes to this site, you’ll probably find the G1 to be a really fantastic device with many capabilities that your Shadow doesn’t have.
So – G1 converts, tell us, are you happy you made the switch to the G1, or are you at all disappointed by its limitations in comparison to Windows Mobile?
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about 1 year ago
I’m quite happy with my G1. Anything it’s missing will most likely be added later, Android is in it’s infancy.
about 1 year ago
Touche.
about 1 year ago
I totally concur with maverick. The G1 has been fantastic for me so far. Besides, I still have my shadow to fall back on if I have the urge. Though I do wonder if they will develop some sort of extended battery for the G1…. you guys should do an extensive battery test like you did for the shadow
about 1 year ago
My G1 shipped from KY today! I am so excited. I should have it by monday. I am a software developer, and with G1 being open source (and backed by GOOGLE) I think we are going to see many applications for this device. If anything, I would possibly attempt to play with the SDK
I am excited to see what the future has to offer for Android (and me).
about 1 year ago
This is exactly the reason I didn’t get the G1. After holding it’s over heating body in my hand and using it for about 20 minutes in the t-mobile store, I opted to get a shadow for $50. My first concern was the limited operating system. Maybe they will make all the apps we want and need later, but it probably won’t be up to snuff until my next contract is up and by then I’ll re-evaluate and pick a new phone based on needs and availability just like I did this time. Maybe it will be the G3 that I get next time. Even if I turned a blind eye to the lack of applications for the G1, I couldn’t overlook the heat. I think it is a flaw in design, they crammed so much into the phone along with the keyboard and touch screen. It was simply uncomfortable to hold while using in my case. Anyway, I love the shadow, it does everything I want/need. It is small, I don’t mind the extended battery sticking out a bit and it never heats up.
about 1 year ago
I am happy with the G1. It is missing quit a few things that Windows Mobile can do but it will get better over time with firmware upgrades and applications. Remember, most of the applications currently in the market were developed prior to the phone being released. Now that software developers have the phone in their hands, they will be more motivated and capable of perfecting this phone via 3rd party apps. The market is constantly being updated with new applications and revisions of current applications. This is just the beginning of a line of Android handsets. I expect to see great things from theses handsets down the road.
about 1 year ago
I’m a longtime WinMo user who’s had a G1 for a few weeks now. There are definitely some things that would prevent some users for using an Android based device.
Personally, don’t need Exchange for work and moved my personal domain from a Hosted Exchange service of to Google Hosted Apps. I much prefer the inbox management over Outlook. I really like the PC web-based Google Calendar, though on the G1 itself, the Calendar is to basic, lacking the same functionality as the web one. The Contacts application on both the web and device is an afterthought, no birthday and anniversary fields that integrate into the Calendar — you have to maintain all that stuff separately in the Calendar.
While there is talk of Exchange sync coming, that’s great, but as the same fields don’t exist in the Calendar (no categories in the Google one) and the Contact app — that info just won’t sync, or it’ll sync into the comments field.
From a sync perspective, WinMo is clearly a better choice when teamed up with Hosted Exchange vs a G1 with Google stuff.
With all that being said, when I turn on my HTC Touch, or HTC Touch cruise; I turn them right back off. The G1 is a pleasure to use, the screen touches just plain work — no tapping something, then waiting, thinking it didn’t work, tapping again, and then having all your taps catch up and closing of all those things you didn’t intend to tap on. No waiting in general as with WinMo — the G1 is just plain fast. What OS you’re using is transparent, you don’t really care as you’re not constantly waiting for it to do something.
I’ll take a look at WM7 when it comes out, and will either go with that or the G2… or maybe 3 or 4 by then, but I definitely won’t be using WM6.x Pro.
about 1 year ago
I’m sure it won’t be long before there’s a software library that’ll rival that of winmo and the iphone. Writing apps for stuff like this is what programmers love to do. It’s fun, exciting, not overly complex and rewarding because there’s tons of people just waiting for the stuff.
about 1 year ago
I have no doubt that the G1 will come into it’s own before long, with all the devs finally getting thier grubby hands on the source code. I had considered upgrading from my Shadow or Wing, but they are more than adequate for my day to day needs (I don’t have the tap and wait problem that Benji described, my devices are stripped and overclocked). I think that by the end of the year the G1 could be a huge contender, and with the possibility of the G2 and G3, I will definitely rethink and research once my contract is up.
about 1 year ago
Ok so when i first got the g1 it lacked alot of things that the shadow can do. every day there is something new in the market for me to try. After having it about 3 weeks when I grab my shadow and use it no offence im like wow this is a slow pos. ( dont tell my wife that i gave it to her) I remember when I first got my shadow There wasnt much it could do or any ways to make it look much different than around say march april of this year it exploded and the shadow became fantastic well until the g1. Everything its missing , flash, streaming radio. exchange server synce, apps 2 storage card will be developed and probably sold. Give it til Feburay and the shadow will eat the iphone and any other wm device alive.
about 1 year ago
****g1 will eat the iphone or any wm device alive
about 1 year ago
Ok, this may not be as deep as the previous writings. I don’t get into all of the business stuff. I’m a trucker that enjoys games and internet and passing time until I get home again. Saying that, the Shadow is a great phone but the G1… well let’s just say time passing is not much of an issue anymore. The couple of things I definatly miss are voice command and tethering. Other than that G1 all the way!
about 1 year ago
definately going to keep the shadow as a back up right now because i love playing with the windows mobile stuff and also tinkering with manila and 6.1 themes. the g1 is far more useful in my day to day though with the built in youtube app, gps capabilities, and open source-ness. mine will be here monday.
about 1 year ago
G1 does have activated stuff.
about 1 year ago
Voice dialing g1 has it
about 1 year ago
dose the G1 have internet sharing feature on it? didn’t see it posted anywhere
about 1 year ago
g1 does not currently suport teathering (internet sharing) i hope it can be achieved soon
about 1 year ago
Working Android Tether Application Here are the instructions
it is a start http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=443025
about 1 year ago
Thanks Kron. I checked it out ill have to wait til I have more time to set it up but great find.
about 1 year ago
I like the g1 but there are so many let downs like others were stating. I am personally
Dissapointed, maybe I have just been spoiled with my shadow… yea the programs are
Neat on the g1 but I used lots of the wm programs. I can’t modify it like my shadow. Here’s the
Dilima, if I change from the g1, whose to say my next phone I won’t run into the same
Problems? I loved the syncing capabilities, modification, flash, streaming videos… none
Of that, very surprising…
I’m looking @ another tmobile phone, but I have to do major investigating…
about 1 year ago
Love it!!! I couldn’t do most of the those shadow mods anyway. Besides….Every program I added, except everynote was doing what the g1 does for me as is. I love it. I love that I can make my own apps for it. I’m a Mac user anyway. Now I don’t have any any problems. The G1 is limited to your imaginations and lack of ability. Give it some time. You’ll convert. COME TO THE DARK SIDE………we have cookies!
about 1 year ago
i frekin hate the G1 what the hell y would u even think of liking that piece of crap
about 1 year ago
Does the G1 support stereo bluetooth? I mean i know it has bluetooth but just wanted to know it if supported stereo bluetooth as well…