HTC TP2 or HTC Hero for web browsing?

[saecrow]

well, i'm not sure how helpful this will be but i actually picked up the hero on friday the 9th (best buy reward zone pre release) and returned it on saturday the 10th. obviously, this was not a thorough test, but i was able to determine very quickly that i could not do without the hardware keyboard, and i tried! i even found replacement apps for android to replace what i need/use most in winmo, kept trying to improve my accuracy with the software keyboard, and kept wavering back and forth. from what i could find, orb is only supported by the browser (which makes it nearly impossible to use. . . also found a program called Androrb which is no better) and is a must for me, also fired up sprint navigation and it had a pretty good delay as in the past. These few other issues could have possibly been overlooked had i had better luck with the software keyboard, but i was not willing to give up everything for the admittedly very cool / and fast OS. others will say that i did not give the phone a fair run, and i would agree for the most part. however, it's one of those things you just know immediately, and that phone wasn't for me.
on the other hand, the samsung moment with android and hardware keyboard is coming next month, so that may be something to look into. . . for me, love it or hate it, i'm apparently a winmo guy and will be looking for the touch pro 2 (i'd consider the leo if it comes even though it lacks the hardware keyboard, because it has everything else i want/need) this was probably no help. . .

[slopokdave]

I think it mainly comes down to can you deal with the on-screen keyboard of the Hero. Go try it out in the store.

The capacitive screen helps with using the software keyboard because it has multi-touch; I found you can type faster on a software keyboard on a capacitive screen compared to the same sized screen of a resistive screen. The system doesn't get "confused" when you go too fast and leave off a key and begin punching your next letter.

Then again, the TP2 keyboard (for ME) is waaaaaaaaaaaaay faster. And the real estate is not something I am willing to tradeoff. YMMV.

[heydjbobby74]

This has been said a million times, but it really depends on what you like... I dumped the TP2 for the Hero, and do not regret it so far. Yes I miss the hard qwerty, but I am VERY surprised by the ease of use of the on screen keyboard. You can calibrate it to your finger touches and recalibrate if needed. Once I did that, I have NO problems with using the keyboard. Again, not bashing the TP2, cause I loved it, I just don't need it anymore and I don't believe in having something you don't use. It is up to you dude.

Everyone you speak with in here is going to have a different opinion, or experience with each device they have. So you just need to try it out for yourself... Best!~

[budney]

Threads merged!

[quid246]

Thanks for the input, I am still leaning towards the TP2... the screen real estate is a big factor. The bulk of the TP2 may no longer be a non-issue, as I have often walked around with a Gamin 750 GPS in my pocket... and it's huge.

Will go and try both out today and make a decision.

[aman1127]

Wirelessly posted (Opera/9.7 (WindowsMobile; PPC; Opera Mobi/35267; U; en; Presto/2.1.1))

i have a TP running the new NFS rom. I just got the hero.....holy cow. this thing is fast and intuitive, the only llag i got was the keyboard swithing from portrait to landscape; better than the TP sliding out the keyboard. Im very against the TP2 because it is essentially the same phone with a bigger screen and a bit more ram. the dealbreaker for me was the lack of a d-pad. remember, the hero has the same harware specs as the TP2 with a more memory friendly OS. the one to wait for is the newly speculated android handset running snapdragon....if you can wait. so overall, the os makkes way better use of the hardware, the radio is better and the battery lasts for a day after heavy use. what do you have to lose, 30 day trial anyway.

[saecrow]

Originally Posted by aman1127

Wirelessly posted (Opera/9.7 (WindowsMobile; PPC; Opera Mobi/35267; U; en; Presto/2.1.1))

the only llag i got was the keyboard swithing from portrait to landscape; better than the TP sliding out the keyboard.

yeah, i forgot to mention that. . . that lag was crazy which was another thing that factored in for me, i couldn't believe that. with as fast as everything else flies around on that thing, to have a portait to landscape switch lag like that just doesn't seem right!

[sew3521]

I am in the same boat floating between the TP2 and hero. I got my TP from Best Buy and have their insurance on it. My sensor on my TP is jacked up to where it constantly thinks it is either opening or closing and has made the phone nearly impossible to use. Does anyone know if I can possibly go through Sprint because my phone is a year old or will I have to use BB's warranty where they send the phone out. Also anyone know why BB is not carrying the TP2?

[spiritcrusher33]

I say get a pre,lol

[notzy]

i think its because so many people had problems with TP for one reason or another , they lost tons of money with previous owners getting new phones(i did it b4 new policy). its a shame cause who can really afford to give up there only phone for more than a week or so while some guy takes apart the phone to try and solder together a quick fix. i know they offer you a temp is you leave a deposit, which now means when you go take in your phone you will need 150 to 200 WTF BESTBUY i used to praise your service cause sprint insurance had done me wrong so many times .....what are we talking about again....sorry got of topic .for browsing owning a TP i still wonder what browser the hero(android) is using by default(chrome) and can you install skyfire+opera+fennec.and now you have to consider samsung moment .....decisions decisions