HTC (& Google’s) G1: First Impressions

Palm, which announced the very well-received Pre device this past week, isn’t the only smartphone maker hoping to crash Research In Motion and Apple’s party this year.

HTC doesn’t have the same legacy Palm does in North America but it has a much-vaunted partner in Google with which it hopes to steal share from the likes of RIM, Apple, and Nokia in North America.

Together, HTC and Google created the G1, which was introduced by U.S. carrier T-Mobile on its network in the fall. A Canadian release date hasn’t been announced.

It’s a good thing because many a Canadian will be truly disappointed with the device if my initial experience is any indication of what’s to come for G1 users north of the border.

(Before I launch into my first impressions, it should be noted the G1 has erroneously been dubbed the Googlephone. There is no such device. HTC’s G1 is powered by Google’s Android operating system. Despite rumours and speculation to the contrary over the past two years, Google hasn’t created a phone soup-to-nuts. Yet.)

In any case, I was able to secure a device for review purposes before the holidays. I was disappointed with HTC’s G1 for a number of reasons, most notably the fact I was shipped a faulty unit. However, the G1 was unimpressive for a number of other reasons. Here are my reasons to stay away from this device for the meantime:

• I wasn’t able to turn the device on – it appeared to be a defective unit. Despite repeated battery charges and attempts to power up the device, I was unable to boot up the G1. I have tested and reviewed dozens of devices in past. Not one of them has been faulty out of the box. I’m hoping the G1 upon return will work as advertised so I can write a thorough review. 
• Secondly, the keyboard, which is located under the sliding touch screen, was awkward to reach at the best of times. I was forced to lift my arm so I could (fake) type with my right hand.
• Lastly, the hardware itself looks and feels cheap. It isn’t an accessory for those looking for the next hip thing to hang off their belts.

I have been told by a number of parties, my experience was the exception. According to PC World, the device has excellent ergonomics and call quality.

For the sake of all HTC device users, I’m hopeful the defective G1 unit was a one in a million.

For the sake of contrast, read PC World’s review of a functioning G1, read this thorough and positive review.

[tags] Apple, RIM, Android, HTC, Google, G1 [/tags]