Over the past couple of years, I have slowly, but surely, become part of the MacNation – armed with a MacBook, MacBook Pro and iPhone3.
And while the iPhone is terrific, I have come down with a bad case of smartphone envy after spending some time checking out the Legend HTC, which features Google’s Android operating system.
The Legend HTC impressed me with its functionality, features and, most important, its speed. All of of its applications opened and worked quickly, and the Web browser was impressively fast. This was a contrast to my iPhone3, which has become old and slow even though it’s less than two years old.
For anyone who might point to the strength of the iTunes store as a differentiator, the HTC Legend came with a variety of applications – Facebook, Twitter and YouTube – that met most of my needs. It also came with a GMail app, which performed quickly – again, a contrast to the iPhone’s sluggish Mail application.
I was also impressed with the Legend’s keyboard, which performed well for a touch-screen, although the keys are fairly small. The device itself is sleek, well-designed and comfortable to use.
If I wasn’t an iPhone user or tied into a contract for another 18 months, I would seriously consider getting an HTC Legend or, for that matter, an Android-powered smartphone.
After using the HTC Legend, it is easy to see why Android has gained some much traction in the smartphone market. The bottom line is the smartphone market now has three strong players: Android, the iPhone and the Blackberry.
