Samsung Galaxy S2.

[Riverman]

It does have Personal Hotspot which I am using all the time to create myself a wireless hotspot for the laptops.

That's a good feature which I use when staying at travelodge hotels. However it does drain battery quite a lot but fine if you connect it. Then again, connecting it almost defeats the point of it.

Also take a look out for what's coming next . Therefore remember to look after your S2 so you can sell or recycle it and upgrade cheaply when the next installment of the series comes along.

And a couple of wise worse...Do not use it until you get a screen protector.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Do not use it until you get a screen protector.

Also take a look out for what's coming next

Yeah, I started that way with my iPhone, but it came off after a while and I never bothered after that, but I think with the size if the screen on this bugger I'll make sure I keep it protected

As for what's coming next, I think there comes when a point when you just have to bite the bullet. If you decided to wait for the next big thing we'd all still be using one of these

 

[Riverman]

Yeah, I started that way with my iPhone, but it came off after a while and I never bothered after that, but I think with the size if the screen on this bugger I'll make sure I keep it protected

As for what's coming next, I think there comes when a point when you just have to bite the bullet. If you decided to wait for the next big thing we'd all still be using one of these

That's great! I'd buy one of those just to see what looks I get from people when I pull it out and make a phonecall. tee hee hee

 

[dodgy]

I think the S2 is substantially bigger than an iPhone 4, check this out http://socialcompare.com/en/tools/c...axy-s2-vs-samsung-galaxy-s-vs-iphone4-ow26quc

That's the difference between easily slotting into a pocket (or a jersey back pocket) and stretching the fabric to busting point.

 

[smokeysmoo]

I think the S2 is substantially bigger than an iPhone 4. You may think this, but the truth is that in reality it's not

Well I'm now the owner, correction, proud owner of a Galaxy S2. Yes it's bigger than the iPhone, but not vastly bigger than myiPhone IMHO. My phone lives in my shirt pocket all day at work, and this fitsin there beautifully, and it's considerably lighter than my iPhone 3gs which isa bonus for the time I
spend gabbing on it.

I've been playing with it all day and I have to say, early signs are that I should have converted to an Android phone a long time ago, but perhaps the OS has only really found its feet over the last year or so, I don't know, but I do know the Galaxy S2 is phenomenally quick at everything it does.

If anyone is considering leaving their iPhone and going over to Android, you cannot be more worried than I was, but rest assured, you'll wonder why you
didn't do it sooner.

So I'm sorry Mr Jobs, but you have lost another customer to Android, and I'll guarantee I won't be the last

 

[mark barker]

That's great! I'd buy one of those just to see what looks I get from people when I pull it out and make a phonecall. tee hee hee

Then look no further.... linky

 

[smokeysmoo]

Well, after about 10 days I've blagged my iPhone back and given the Galaxy S2 to Mrs S!

I don't like Android and I really don't like Samsung Kies, (thought iTunes was bobbins but Kies is trash!), and while the iPhone will never win any battery life contests even my 2 year old iPhone 3gs beats the Samsung for battery life!

Each to their own, didn't think I would but I really missed my iPhone, roll on iPhone 5

 

[smokeysmoo]

Oops, tried to edit earlier post from the day I got the Samsung and ahd my rose tinted specs on, but it won't let me?

 

[Archie_tect]

...and there's me thinking it was a bike.

 

[xxmimixx]

Very useful thread as I am/was in exactly the same dilemma, great feedback, the sort that I was after on my thread

 

[bryce]

I've had a S2 for a few weeks now and it's a fantastic phone. Came from a HTC Desire, which crashed a lot (think because it wasn't powerful enough). This one just does everything you ask of it, and quickly. Definitely better than an iPhone in my view if you like to customise your phone the way you want it (not the way Apple wants it). No syncing with iTunes or not watching flash etc. 8mb camera is excellent. Huge amount of memory, extremely light and thin etc.

Would definitely give it a 10/10 - really can't think of any faults.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Would definitely give it a 10/10 - really can't think of any faults.

I can - Kies software! Makes iTunes feel wonderful IMO, and the battery life is appaling.

My S2 is now on Ebay and I'm back on my iPhone. Each to their own

 

[Seigi]

As for Kies - It's diabolical, my girlfriend has the Samsung Galaxy S and trying update the firmware on it is a nightmare as you've got to go through the Kies software and it's a massive annoyance (It doesn't even function properly on 64bit).

On the other hand - Android is very good, I have the Nexus One, so I'm a bit of a Googlefag (And therefore my opinion might be biased), but Android allows you to use your phone to it's fullest without limitations, even more so when you install something like Cyanogenmod (You can even overclock your phone :3). Android is a lot more barebone than iOS and is suited more to those who are technologically minded, but there is skins ontop of android which make it more bearable to the non-techy (Such as HTC Sense, Samsung's version (Which looks stupidly like iOS), being the technophile that I am I enjoy Android a lot, and the fact that it integrates all my Google media (Gmail, Picasa, Calender, News, Books, and now Google+) seamlessly, it's also open source.

I personally find the iPhone is far too restrictive, they only just introduced multitasking, they're trying to big up 'FaceTime' aka video chat, the marketplace is very restrictive, on the other hand it's an all right phone for the average Joe, but when marketing it to the mass market I feel that the price of it is far too high, they seem to price it more in the specialist/niche range.

 

[bryce]

I've used Kies once to update the firmware, other than that, you don't need it. Unlike an iPhone, you can drag and drop any file using windows explorer without converting them. I've copied all my mp3s and movies over onto the memory card and the stock video player/ poweramp play them all perfectly.

Personally I find the iPhone and general Apple experience very claustrophobic. They definitely did set the trend with the original iPhone but now their phones are pretty average in comparison to the competition. Too much marketing, too little innovation (witness the hoohaa over facetime, which is really a very simple upgrade to video chat) - can't be long before the zombie-like aura that they permeate wafts away.

 

[smokeysmoo]

I've used Kies once to update the firmware, other than that, you don't need it. Unlike an iPhone, you can drag and drop any file using windows explorer without converting them. I've copied all my mp3s and movies over onto the memory card and the stock video player/ poweramp play them all perfectly.

Personally I find the iPhone and general Apple experience very claustrophobic. They definitely did set the trend with the original iPhone but now their phones are pretty average in comparison to the competition. Too much marketing, too little innovation (witness the hoohaa over facetime, which is really a very simple upgrade to video chat) - can't be long before the zombie-like aura that they permeate wafts away.

I didn't have a memory card in mine, just the internal memory, and while I know you can drag and drop to a card, you can't to the internal memory which is a bummer as it forces you back to the Kies software

I found Android to be quite scattered, I was constantly having to move icons around so things made sense and were instantly accessible as opposed to pressing into other menus, (bit Nokia Symbianish in this resppect).

I don't use facetime or video chat or any form of social network, so none of that stuff bothers me in the slightest.

I know there's a lot of anti-Apple people, and a lot a of people jump on that bandwagon, (my Son included, not suggesting you are though ), but Apple products are simply unrivalled in their design, and as my iPhone does everything I want I'm perfectly happy.

I did want to like the Samsung, and indeed I did, (for about 48 hours anyway), but alas, it's a case of each to their own.

I'm glad you like yours though