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?

**razorloves** · #3 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heinous

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.

Dude...please tell me you are joking? That is really funny to make a claim like that. If you are serious, then I'd have to say that you've never surfed the web on a touch or iphone. They are superior and what everyone else strives to be like.

budney · #4 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 01:49 AM

Moved to proper forum!

**bikeandestroyx** · #5 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by razorloves

Dude...please tell me you are joking? That is really funny to make a claim like that. If you are serious, then I'd have to say that you've never surfed the web on a touch or iphone. They are superior and what everyone else strives to be like.

I agree 100%, if i have my itouch with me, i usually just tether so i can browse on it. Its so much more smooth and faster. Webkit browsers render faster.

Matrix · #6 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikeandestroyx

I agree 100%, if i have my itouch with me, i usually just tether so i can browse on it. Its so much more smooth and faster. Webkit browsers render faster.

I agree. Ever since I got my iPod Touch (3G), I enjoy just how nice mobile browsing can be. It was shocking - as I stood there in the Apple store, I realized, *I can actually use this*. Had it not been for their amazing browser, and beautiful & functional GUI (minus multitasking sadly), I would have never bought one. And what surprised me the most, I was able to type so much faster on a virtual keyboard compared to the TP's mushy slab of keys. I keep grabbing my Touch to send a text, before realizing it's not a phone. lol

It's gotten to the point where I drag my Touch with me just to tether it, and browse the web/check Twitter, etc. Windows Mobile is so far behind in terms of web browsing, it's astounding. Then again, it seems WinMo is generations behind on everything, and I'm really getting tired of that. :/

ikkysleepy · #7 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matrix

It's gotten to the point where I drag my Touch with me just to tether it, and browse the web/check Twitter, etc. Windows Mobile is so far behind in terms of web browsing, it's astounding. Then again, it seems WinMo is generations behind on everything, and I'm really getting tired of that. :/

I agree with you and I also take my ipod touch everywhere just to surf the web. I want to multitask, surf the web and not have many devices with me so that's why I think the N900 will satisfied my needs. In addition the camera is great so I will be replacing my phone/laptop/camera for daily on the go use. I think the successor of the N900 will be great for the mass consumers of smart phones but for now this is as good as it gets. Hopefuly the web browser will be just as good as my touch otherwise it's going back.

F.Y.I. (Web Browsing on N900)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnfeT...layer_embedded

ZX6RArcher · #8 (**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 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 02:27 AM

Well write up!

Heinous · #10 (**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