[PatrickTulskie]

The important thing here is that most of the Android ecosystem is like this. When you buy an iPhone, you're getting exactly what you paid for. No two Androids are sold the same though. Some have tons of crapware, some have an interface you can't change, and for someone who isn't looking to customize the crap out of their phone, hack it, uninstall things, none of that makes any sense.

The Nexus S is a great phone because Google sold it and it didn't come loaded with crap. Most of the other Android phones you buy from other carriers will be as crap filled as their average feature phones.

So the article could have been called "Why my Mom Bought an Android and Returned It." because the article is primarily about problems with the Android ecosystem.

[trotsky]

It seems like the author didn't have these problems with his phone (that he loves), his friend(s) didn't have those problems with the nexus s, I've had four Android phones and I've only had any serious problems with one due to design failures (and only one was a google experience phone). Sure, there are poor android phones out there. If you think you can buy _any_ android based device and expect an apple quality experience you're obviously in for disappointment. But attributing any failure of any device to the platform only makes sense if you see the world as stark black and white and couched in a constant two sided battle of google and apple.

[nextparadigms]

The same could be said about the Windows ecosystem, too. The same could be same about the "Blackberries", as well. I don't think all of them are very high quality, even for people who like Blackberries.

The only difference is that it's Apple who only makes a model per year, and soon 2 per year from what rumors say. But in thise case people should be more like "I'll only buy a phone from HTC", or whatever, if they care about the quality of their phone.

[yardie]

The same could be said about the Windows ecosystem, too

Which is why Microsoft changed the OEM model. Customers were complaining about a poor OOTB experience and blaming microsoft for it. As they should, since its MS on boot, MS on desktop, MS on start menu. If Acer's, Asus, or HP's poorly coded background widget is causing system crashes most users are going to root around for it if they barely got started with the thing.

Now, you can't sell a PC with a Microsoft sticker on it without verification now. (Notice how all the ads say Genuine Microsoft Windows 7 Premium). It's not because HP is slapping bootleg installs on there PCs, it's because they sent that model to Microsoft and they assure you you won't have a crappy experience the first time this PC boots.

[speckledjim]

> because the article is primarily about problems with the Android ecosystem.

IN THE U.S.A.

If you want better cellphones with better carriers who don't do stupidly intrusive things, move to Europe.

[MartinCron]

If you want better cellphones with better carriers who don't do stupidly intrusive things, move to Europe.

That's practical advice, but I still haven't unpacked after moving to Canada to get affordable medical care.

[speckledjim]

It seems like Canada is half way along the awesome scale to Europe.

[cmoscoso]

...or just get an iPhone.

[speckledjim]

That won't solve the abysmal coverage and dropped calls enjoyed in the US.

[KirinDave]

Disclosure: I recently switched to Android from iOS.

The dropped calls and coverage issue are overblown. It is not like any carrier has a magic cure to the vagaries of radio reception. CDMA phones might have some edge on reception, but those tend to be offset in the area of battery life. In any event, I think coverage is in a 'good enough' phase now.

The real problem is that so many android phones sold in the US are not running 2.3, they're stuffed with un-deletable space-wasting crapware, and they often have absurd carrier restrictions. I think it is very conspicuous how the most happy android customers seem to be the ones with phones that do not have carrier mods.

I could definitely recommend a Nexus S to my mom and expect her to be able to use it just as well as an iPhone _now_. I do not have the same feelings about the other phone I tried (and returned), the AT&T Samsung Infuse.

[allwein]

It will if he gets it on Verizon.