HTC TP2 or HTC Hero for web browsing?

ikkysleepy · #1 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 01:26 AM

I am debating getting the HTC TP2 or the HTC Hero. After months of thinking and doing research I am not sure the HTC TP2 web browsing will be good. I have an ipod touch 2g and I love surfing the web and having my multiple e-mails setup. I don't use exchange b/c that bogs down the battery. I don't use the calendar because I just don't. I don't text as much and even if I did again I have gotten pretty good at typing on the screen. I am windows person but I can do linux or mac. I love customizing windows and optimizing it for best performance, and think a windows phone would be just right, except for the fact that I think the web browser is pretty slow compared to the ipod touch's web browser.

The purpose of this phone, besides making phones calls, is to surf the web check my multiple e-mails every hour or so and to customize the phone. Yeah, a global phone is great but I only travel out once a year and am not talking on the phone when I travel, so having a global phone is not that much of a pro for me. I used my friend's TP2 on Sprint and I wasn't impressed by the jerkiness of surfing the web and zooming in and out. So my question to you guys is, can the TP2 web browsing experience be anywhere close to my ipod touch's web browsing experience on wifi?

I have read many reviews and it seem that the HTC Hero can do everything I want it to do and it can be just as good as my ipod touch's web browsing experience. Reading reviews and seeing videos hasn't really demonstrated that this too is possible on the HTC TP2 with stock ROM. So, after modifying your TP2 and tweaking it, will there ever be a point where your surfing experience closely meets that of an iphone/ipod touch?

Heinous · #2 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 02:02 AM

I have a Touch Pro 2, and previous to that a Diamond, and previous to that a Mogul. They all ran Windows Mobile and they all browsed the web better than any ipod touch or iphone that I have used. Of course, the screens were smaller on the Diamond and Mogul. Unfortunately the only android phone I have used (briefly) was a G1 on Tmobile, and that thing was useless for data/web browsing next to the Mogul I had at the time, so not a good comparison to a Hero on Sprint...

I don't know anything about the Hero, though, other than it didn't interest me at all. Maybe you should try them both out at a Sprint store?

ZX6RArcher · #3 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 02:23 AM

As a Sprint Tech Consultant and avid cell phone fanatic I've used quite a few phones' browsing features. I personally own/use a Blackberry 8350i, Touch Pro (/w Energy ROM) and Touch Pro 2 (stock ROM); yes I have three cell phones... Four if you count my I9 Nextel that is on Boost Mobile now. I've also have had a lot of personal hands-on experience with the Hero.

I hate the 8350i browser (even on wifi on my 12mbit home connection with Opera Mini) and absolutely love Opera Mobile on the Touch Pro 1/2. I have to give the TP2 the thumbs up over the TP because of the screen size and on the stock ROM it will quickly switch the display depending on the orientation of the device. The Pre browser is very good as well (too bad the phone itself is a POS). The Hero's browser is very good and I would put it on par with the TP2/Pre. It switches back and forth between orientations VERY quickly and is a breeze to operate. I would definitely rate it above the Pre. But when it comes to the TP2, I have to give the very minimal screen advantage to the TP2 because I am a screen-size *****. Plus the sliding zoom bar is nice and quick to use. One thing I like about the Hero is your push pages are displayed and updated so when you look at your bookmarks widget you see the most up-to-date snapshot of the actual page whereas on the the TP2 you just see a quick link on the browser tab in TF3D.

So in my opinion...
Curve browser > Touch Pro > Pre > Hero > Touch Pro 2

If you are in-between the TP2 and Hero you need to look at the other advantages of the phones. WinMo vs. Android... 5MP /w flash camera vs. 3.2MP w/o flash... physical keyboard vs. virtual keyboard and finally the price. Right now I have a line for both my TP and TP2. When my contract is up here in November I will for sure upgrade my TP line to the Hero since that's my employee line and get instant rebates on it. That way my TP will be a backup phone for my TP2, my I9 a backup for my 8350i and the Hero will be my work phone.

Again, this is just my opinion comparing the Hero and the software it was shipped to us with and my own personal devices with the most up to date software on the 8350i, WinMo 6.5 Energy ROM and the stock TP2 ROM. Take it or leave it, it's up to you.

AstronusX · #4 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 02:27 AM

Well write up!

**TheBundo** · #5 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 05:27 AM

Why would you need to surf the web to check email, when you can just set up email?

Heinous · #6 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZX6RArcher

So in my opinion...
Curve browser > Touch Pro > Pre > Hero > Touch Pro 2

I hope you meant:

TP2 > Hero > Pre > TP > Curve

**Noir** · #7 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 09:40 AM

bb rim browser (stock) sucks bad
so bad opera mini is a god send for that device

ducylowycz · #8 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 09:46 AM

I would suggest the Touch Pro 2. If your using it as a browsing device, Opera 9.7 will bring "TURBO" mode. From my understanding this allows Opera's servers to compress the web pages before they reach your phone...just like Opera mini. I think I have also read that you can enable/disable this mode.

I would think this is the speed that you would be looking for, I also believe that Windows Mobile has WAY many more customizable features than Android. Just remember that the good people over at XDA-Developers will soon adopt the Android system for the TP2.

Ultimately though, your the one that has to make that decision.

bryonp · #9 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 10:26 AM

opera 9.5 has turbo mode to and it does make it faster you have to open up the opera browser and in the web address bar like your gonna go to a website and type in opera:config just like i got here and it goes to hidden settings screen scroll down till you see user prefs click on it and in there it goes by alphabetical order first set max tabs to 5 and you can open up 5 windows in the browser instead of the stock 2 and then scroll down to the turbo mode check it on and then scroll down to the very bottom and click save and soft reset your phone,youll have more tabs and faster browser you might have to do the no push internet cab first so the changes take effect enjoy.

blueaudi18 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ducylowycz

I would suggest the Touch Pro 2. If your using it as a browsing device, Opera 9.7 will bring "TURBO" mode. From my understanding this allows Opera's servers to compress the web pages before they reach your phone...just like Opera mini. I think I have also read that you can enable/disable this mode.

I would think this is the speed that you would be looking for, I also believe that Windows Mobile has WAY many more customizable features than Android. Just remember that the good people over at XDA-Developers will soon adopt the Android system for the TP2.

Ultimately though, your the one that has to make that decision.

u sound so sure about the adroid on tp2... could i get a link.