I replied to a similar post from another flister recently - with the suggestion that she consider a Nexus 4. I love my Nexus 4, and given that you can buy one outright for around $250 (the price recently came down a lot, which signals a possible new model, but the current one is brilliant, so I wouldn't fret about that really).
I've had iPhones - well, my iPhone 3G, which I loved, and which I then ended up hating when Apple crippled it with updates to the OS that it simply couldn't support. I was totally disenchanted with the whole idea of smartphones for several years. I had had a couple of android phones, but they didn't please me (Samsung, who add their own bloatware over the OS and who don't keep up with issuing OS updates or fixes on existing models - they are all about the new shiny).
I bought my Nexus because 1) the cost - even when first out they were just SO inexpensive, 2) raw Android direct from Google and always up to date, with no bloatware, 3) really nice size and balance between tech power and capacity for money.
My partner has an iPhone 4 which he was given - and frankly, there's things both platforms do well, and most things they both do, just slightly differently. If the OS can't do it, there's an app for it. Yes, you can run multiple email accounts using the generic email client (not the gmail client - which you don't have to use) - I run five which are a combination of gmail a/c and my own private email a/c. Yes, there is an Outlook app from Microsoft for Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.outlook.Z7&hl=en_GB - which I believe will handle what you want without using google products.
Setting up the Nexus was pretty straightforward (as opposed to my brothers Galaxy S4 which was a nightmare - yes, Samsung load MASSES of their own stuff over the top of android - some of it is nifty, most of it is useless and just gets in the way, and see note above re updating) - it will try and direct you googlewards, but you can avoid a lot of that with some pre-planning. You will need to use a google account to use the play store, but you can lock down what it tracks and how much information it has.
The screen is beautiful, the battery could be better, but I think that applies to all mobile devices, really. I can get a busy day out of it, or more than a day if I'm not busy. Pick your apps wisely, some are way more juice hungry than others. It's a great size and I find the 16Gb is more than enough storage (and if I remember rightly you can import iTunes content over to Google Play, which is quite a good system).
If you're also using a Nexus tablet, you will be able to sync things between them if you choose to - depending on the apps you prefer to use, which can be handy.
There's loads of other stuff I could ramble on about - I've been pretty picky about which apps I use - browser, reader, etc, and I'm really happy with the functionality I have with mine. I also had a 7" Samsung android tablet, but frankly, I've given it to my partner as I do all my reading on my Nexus 4 now, and his iPhone is too small to read comfortably on for any length of time.
So - there's my two dollars' worth. I can't say it's perfect, I don't think any device is. But personally? I love my Nexus 4, and am just a bit ridiculously attached to it. I get angry about the continued bias in some major organisations producing content / apps solely for the iphone, but I think that's dying out slowly - and it's remarkably shortsighted of those organisations to be alienating a huge section of the market. I wouldn't go back to an iPhone - I hate now having to try and do things on the lad's - I find navigating around my Nexus ever so much easier. And I don't like the new iphone's screen shape and format any more - too tall and narrow.
Thanks for all this info! Sorry it took me so long to reply; I've been in phone-choosing denial for the last month, but now I'm back to thinking about it again.
The Nexus 4 does sound good, and I generally like my Nexus 7, although I'm starting to think I should look for a better e-mail app. I'm so glad you've had experience with both Samsung and the Nexus--the Samsung bloatware horror stories I was seeing really put me off.
Of course, AT&T doesn't offer the Nexus 7, so I need to see what my options would be for actually getting one.... Why does this all have to be so complicated???
Anyway, thanks for the helpful comment! It's great to see you around!
I've had iPhones - well, my iPhone 3G, which I loved, and which I then ended up hating when Apple crippled it with updates to the OS that it simply couldn't support. I was totally disenchanted with the whole idea of smartphones for several years. I had had a couple of android phones, but they didn't please me (Samsung, who add their own bloatware over the OS and who don't keep up with issuing OS updates or fixes on existing models - they are all about the new shiny).
I bought my Nexus because 1) the cost - even when first out they were just SO inexpensive, 2) raw Android direct from Google and always up to date, with no bloatware, 3) really nice size and balance between tech power and capacity for money.
My partner has an iPhone 4 which he was given - and frankly, there's things both platforms do well, and most things they both do, just slightly differently. If the OS can't do it, there's an app for it. Yes, you can run multiple email accounts using the generic email client (not the gmail client - which you don't have to use) - I run five which are a combination of gmail a/c and my own private email a/c. Yes, there is an Outlook app from Microsoft for Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.outlook.Z7&hl=en_GB - which I believe will handle what you want without using google products.
Setting up the Nexus was pretty straightforward (as opposed to my brothers Galaxy S4 which was a nightmare - yes, Samsung load MASSES of their own stuff over the top of android - some of it is nifty, most of it is useless and just gets in the way, and see note above re updating) - it will try and direct you googlewards, but you can avoid a lot of that with some pre-planning. You will need to use a google account to use the play store, but you can lock down what it tracks and how much information it has.
The screen is beautiful, the battery could be better, but I think that applies to all mobile devices, really. I can get a busy day out of it, or more than a day if I'm not busy. Pick your apps wisely, some are way more juice hungry than others. It's a great size and I find the 16Gb is more than enough storage (and if I remember rightly you can import iTunes content over to Google Play, which is quite a good system).
If you're also using a Nexus tablet, you will be able to sync things between them if you choose to - depending on the apps you prefer to use, which can be handy.
There's loads of other stuff I could ramble on about - I've been pretty picky about which apps I use - browser, reader, etc, and I'm really happy with the functionality I have with mine. I also had a 7" Samsung android tablet, but frankly, I've given it to my partner as I do all my reading on my Nexus 4 now, and his iPhone is too small to read comfortably on for any length of time.
So - there's my two dollars' worth. I can't say it's perfect, I don't think any device is. But personally? I love my Nexus 4, and am just a bit ridiculously attached to it. I get angry about the continued bias in some major organisations producing content / apps solely for the iphone, but I think that's dying out slowly - and it's remarkably shortsighted of those organisations to be alienating a huge section of the market. I wouldn't go back to an iPhone - I hate now having to try and do things on the lad's - I find navigating around my Nexus ever so much easier. And I don't like the new iphone's screen shape and format any more - too tall and narrow.
:D
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The Nexus 4 does sound good, and I generally like my Nexus 7, although I'm starting to think I should look for a better e-mail app. I'm so glad you've had experience with both Samsung and the Nexus--the Samsung bloatware horror stories I was seeing really put me off.
Of course, AT&T doesn't offer the Nexus 7, so I need to see what my options would be for actually getting one.... Why does this all have to be so complicated???
Anyway, thanks for the helpful comment! It's great to see you around!
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And if you do consider the Nexus, you can buy it direct from Google Play, unlocked, and get away from the whole contract thing.
:D
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