I think I prefer the T-Mobile G1, the Google Android phone introduced today, over the iPhone.  Seriously.  WSJ’s Walt Mossberg has posted his first impressions after playing with a prototype.

Since the G1 won’t be available for the masses until October 22, it’s too early for a head-to-head comparison with the iPhone.  But I can still mention some key points:

• Both are around the same price: the G1, with 1 GB of memory, costs $179, $20 cheaper than the 8GB iPhone.  (Given the difference in memory, I know I’m guilty of comparing — pardon the expression — apples and oranges.)
• Both feature a touch screen, GPS, and wifi.
• The G1 has a real, slide-out keyboard, while the iPhone has a virtual one.
• You can run more than one app at the same time on the G1.  The iPhone doesn’t do multi-tasking.
• The G1 requires a Google account; you need iTunes with the iPhone.
• Android is open source, the iPhone is a walled-garden.

That last bullet item is the key, for me.  I love Apple’s stuff.  We have 2 Macs and 3 iPods at home.  I’m a believer.  But I also recognize how much they control they wield over me.  I can’t tinker with my Mac — it’s locked-down.  Can I easily change a battery in one of our iPods?  Nah.  If I get an iPhone, I’ll only be able to download the apps they approve.  How does the approval process work?  Who knows?

Now I know Google’s not perfect.  But I think I’d rather take my chances with an Android marketplace for free, open source apps, than  the iPhone App Store.

If you read only one review of the Google phone, read this one.  Succinct and well thought-out.

Update, September 24 – Two more articles with a common theme: from now on, consumers are going to expect that their cellphones will be powerful, compact computers.

Submitted by: Dan Giancaterino, Education Services Manager
on September 23, 2008 - 2:10 pm

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