I am a Sprint user, it’s not because I think their network is better than everyone else it’s because up until last October my cousin worked for Sprint. Because of the fact that she worked for Sprint I was able to get onto her employee plan which was a really sweet deal that could not be beat. I am still on a similar plan, discounted because I know a Sprint employee, but unlike the plan I was on it’s no longer dependent on employment. It’s also more expensive, although cheaper than comparative plans from other companies, and when I get a new phone I’ll be locked into a 2 year contract, so my next phone choice needs to be a careful one.
My current phone is the HTC Mogul, while I do like the phone and it was great for when it was released it’s starting to really show it’s age. Not only that but it’s options for backing up my contacts and information on the phone are laughable. It is a Microsoft Windows Mobile phone and thus uses Microsoft Active Sync to sync files and contacts between a computer and my phone. This piece of software was the biggest piece of crap software I’ve ever had the displeasure of using. First off I had problems getting it set up on my computer and then not once but twice it’s deleted contacts. The first time I barely even noticed, it had erased all my business contacts on my work computer and replaced them with my personal contacts. It wasn’t a big deal because I didn’t have that many contacts but the second time it erased all of my personal contacts from my phone and replaced them with my work contacts from my office laptop. That was the thorn in my side that made me never use it again and wish for a phone that was not based on the Windows Mobile OS.
Not long after is when Google’s Android OS first starting coming about, and because I am in love with all things Google i knew that this would be the OS for me. So my initial reaction to Sprint’s CEO stating that he did not believe the Android OS was ready for prime time and would not be bringing it to the Sprint network had me up in arms and ready to leave. I’m glad he changed his mind, he no doubt saw the huge potential Android based phones have for bringing in new consumers and getting existing users to buy new phones.
Now that brings me to my current situation where I’m left having to decide which Android based phone I want to go with. Like so many people out there when the HTC Hero was announced I was ecstatic. I would finally have an Android phone on the sprint network, could seamlessly integrate my phone contacts with my Google contacts and never have to worry about loosing my contacts again. Well then on October 7th, 3 days before the official release of the Hero sprint announces another Android phone by Samsung called the Moment. Now I’m left with a decision and a short amount of time to make it in, which phone should I go with. HTC has 2 other Android phones already out on the market and the Hero has already been released in the UK for several months now. Whereas this is Samsung’s first Android phone so they have less practice and it may not be a great implementation. On the up side the Moment has a slide out qwerty keyboard which is what I’m used to now versus the Hero’s on screen keyboard which I’m not so sure that I’ll enjoy.
| HTC Hero | Samsung Moment | |
| Price | $180 ($429.99 – $150 – $100) |
$180 ($330 – $50 – $100) |
| Screen | 3.2-inch TFT-LCD | 3.2-inch AMOLED |
| Keyboard | On Screen Qwerty | Slide out Qwerty |
| Camera | 5.0 Mega pixel | 3.2 Mega pixel |
| Memory | 512MB/288MB ROM/RAM | 512MB ROM/256MB RAM |
| Processor | 528MHz | 800MHz |
| Storage | 2GB microSD included expandable up to 32 GB |
2GB microSD included expandable up to 32 GB |
| UI | Sense UI | |
| GPS | yes | yes |
| 3G | yes | yes |
| WiFi | 802.11b/g | 802.11 b/g |
It’s a tough call still after looking in detail at all the specifications. I am planing on taking a closer look at the Hero tonight and either deciding if I want to pick it or wait for the Moment to be released. So more on that later.
I had a hero for about 2 weeks and ended up going and trading it in for the moment. The hero was a good device but I have to say that the moment is a better one. I found I liked the screen better, and the QWERTY keybord on it was great to type on (oh and I found an app that gives you the same keybord you get on the hero to use on the moment}. The big reason that I even took the hero back to test out the moment was the faster processor. I recently read that google and sprint were going to be puting out the 2.1 upgrade for both phones, and after much research about verizons droid because it was the first phone to be releases with 2.0 I found there to be a lot of complaints about it’s sluggish speeds and it turns out it is being run by a 500 mhz proc (it’s actually like 550 or 575 something like that) where as I doubt that it is the same proc htc is using in the hero. I can’t see performance being that different. So the 800mhz should make the moment a little more upgrade friendly. (Oh and google must think it needs a faster proc too considering that they made htc put a 1ghz proc in the nexus one htc made for them} Where as both these phones have certain perks over the other and niether one of them are by any means bad phones, I would have to say that the samsung moment is the better of the two.
hey so i have a blackberry tour in veryy verry good condition Ive had it for like two weeks is it possible for me to trade this in so i may get a sprint htc hero??
where did you find the app to for the keyboard.. ?? what is called??
This is true. I did extensive research on both phones and I am a big texter, and the Qwerty board was a must have for me, as I was accustomed to it via the Samsung rant. I use the online keyboard as well and have found there are way more errors when using the online keyboard as it is extremely easy to hit the wrong keys. Plus, I know Samsung is a solid company and they make excellent products and I stand by them. Not sure who HTC is or how long they have been around.
My wife has the Moment and she LOVES it. I just got the Hero yesterday. Her issues are: the camera is SLOW. Good luck taking action pics. Buildings will be fine but anything moving….. The Hero takes much faster pics but the quality I would say is slightly below those taken on the Moment. As for the flash. I’ve lived w/o it. Nice to have but I guess it’s not a deal breaker for me. I have not had the Hero long enough to comment on battery life but on the Moment it’s my wifes single biggest issue. It sucks but it’s the cost of doing business with a smart phone. My issues with the moment is it’s size. My wife has a purse but I’m looking at summer when I have shorts on….where do I put that beast? The hero seemed much more pocketable. And..the slide keyboard worries me…the sliding mechanism is just another thing to break or become lose. I don’t need a physical board so long as the on-screen one is well done and on the Hero so far it seems to be just fine.
Honestly,unless the camera flash is a MUST have I can’t really see any reason why one is THAT much better than the other. I liked the sleekness of the hero. I wish the Hero had the optical pad instead of the ball but I guess really what we need is the best of the Hero + the best of the moment into one phone. I would say my wife gives her Moment a 98/100 with camera lag and battery life being her only 2 issues. So far I love the hero,wish it had an optical pad and a flash would’ve been nice. Like I said earlier…the size of the moment was my biggest issue being a guy. I don’t want to have to carry a backpack around all summer just for my phone.
I picked up the Moment a few months ago and it is rock solid. Easily the best phone I’ve ever had. I didn’t go for the hero because I owned a HTC Touch Pro and couldn’t stand it.
I actually gave the HTC touch up after only a year for the moment and it was certainly a good decision.
how do you just go in trade in phones i have a brand new blackberry tour can i trade this in or what to get the hero????
Does the moment have a group setting for the contacts
How do you get your phone go silent when you receive a text or email. my phone want stop
you have 30 days with a 35$ restocking fee from when you get your phone -sorry
I always wanted a Mogul but it was that extra $100 I didnt want to spend. I went from a Rumor to a Htc Touch from that to the Diamond Touch and now I have the Moment. My problem is that it doesnt play videos on websites and it seems like all of the phone are like that. The moment has its flaws but I dont think I can deal with a camera without a flash again!
I was going to go for the Hero since I had 30 days to return it and trade it in but I think I’ll keep my Moment for the moment untill I find a phone better that plays videos other then face book or youtube. I say these phones should play everything on every website considering how much we spend on them. Hero has No key board and thats what sucked on my Diamond touch. Envying my sisters HTC Touch pro over my Diamond led me to the Moment. So far so good!
Sprint probably needs to get the iPhone on the line now or should I get on the line of the iPhone lol.