My First Impression of a G1

So if you haven't heard, and a lot of people haven't... T-mobile is coming out with this phone that's made by HTC (hardware) and Google (software). They're calling it the T-mobile G1. It's also been known as Android (which is actually the name of the operating system on it), Dream, Google Phone and many other things.

Here's my take on this thing...

T-mobile is a small company (relatively). So this seems like a HUGE deal. One of those times when people line up at the door hours before opening. Kinda like when the PS3, Xbox 360, Wii and iPhone all came out. I'm pretty sure we'll be seeing these on eBay for way more than asking price.

A lot of people on the web think this thing looks ugly. And although I don't think it looks as good as an iPhone, it looks great in person. Although I can see what people mean, the pics on the websites aren't very flattering. No worries though, the phone feels solid when you hold it.

The screen. HTC thus far (and I know this because I work at T-mobile), has made crappy screens. Not in terms of brightness, color, size or anything... but they're weak and they crack easily. While I've never seen a cracked Blackberry screen in over 4 months there, I see a cracked Dash, Shadow, or Wing at least once a week.

Color. Everyone thinks this thing only comes in black. But it's also available in white and bronze. I'll take a black one though.

Ease of use. All my friends know that I used an iPhone for 6 months and hated it. I couldn't write an email or send a text with ease, and I'm often doing that from my phones. And when I switched to my Blackberry Curve, I missed the touch screen and missed having Youtube on my phone, but loved the ease of use with the trackball and full keyboard. Now, I can have everything!

When you first use this thing, you're like, "Wow, there's a keyboard AND a trackball... wait, I can touch the screen too?"

The things that'll annoy me about it (and this is getting realllllly picky);

1. I'm used to Blackberry's profiles, and how I can set it to "phone only" mode as I'm sleeping... so that every email and text won't wake me up. Only phone calls will. But there's no setting for that on a G1... yet.

2. I'll miss the tethering ability of Dash's and Curve's, where I can share my internet connection with my PC. But I rarely use that feature anyway.

3. No UMA calling. My Curve has the ability to make phone calls over a wi-fi internet connection. So if I'm in Ashford, Washington, where there's no cell service, I can log into my wireless network in order to make phone calls. And that feature has come in immensely handy during my trips out there.

4. No standard headphone jack. You need to use an adapter / dongle to connect to 3.5 mm headphones.

5. I've had bad luck with any phone that slides, pivots, rotates, flips. I like candybar phones with fewer moving parts.

6. This last one doesn't matter to me as much... but this phone ONLY works if you add the 3G internet feature to your account.

Anyway, I guess we'll have to wait and see how people respond to this phone! I know there are inevitably going to be those who think "It's just a phone, who cares? Mine works fine"... but if the goal of a phone is to make you more productive, and make it easier for you to stay in touch with your loved ones and even keep you entertained these days, then the G1 (at $179) is a great opportunity for T-mobile users to have an iPhone type phone.

Winter of 09... Bring it on!

I haven't looked forward to a snowboard season like this since 1999, when we had a record snowfall. But I may be even more excited this time around, because I'm a little older and wiser, but in a lot better shape. This is the first time I've ever worked out extensively and I'm hoping it will pay off on the mountain.

In addition, I'm also part of the Hump Sessions Crew, about 30 snowboarders who meet up at the park every Wednesday for some night boarding.

Which reminds me, though... my Acura with the summer tires is crap in the snow and on ice. And I sold my Audi earlier this year. So do I go get a cheap truck / SUV with 4 wheel drive and get nice winter tires on them? Or hope I can bum rides and pay for gas each time?

I definitely think Whistler and Mt Baker are destinations for me this winter. I'm already loading up my Zune!