OncInc

I just started using my first Android phone 2 weeks ago.  I can do the following basic
things right out of the unit without rom mod:
push gmail/e-mail
gps navigation with google navigate (it is in beta; only 2d map, but very responsive)
wifi hotspot tethering
google voice search is still a joke.  Don't know why.

Perhaps I have low expectation (My last phone is a 5yrs old palm os 5.2 phone.)
But I am pretty happy with my Android.  And I rack up 3 GB
mobile data already (lots of it is tethering)
Not bad for a low end smartphone.  
And yes, i am a lowballer

BiscottiGelato

The look and feel of Android (Samsung mainly, being the closest rival) out of the box is still inferior to iPhone. I was playing with a bunch (S2, a HTC one, and some Motorola thing) yesterday. HTC's interface is better, but their phones aren't really any better than iPhone short the screen size. Samsung's phone trump iPhone in spec, but their UI is very very bad. This includes the Nexus Prime. The interface just doesn't look 'personable', feels cold and feels not refined.

I am sure with enough custom stuff you can get Samsung tech + an interface as easy to use as HTC/iOS. And get all the icons/look and feel up to par. Samsung should have that right out of the box if they want to target mainstream audience (where the money is). Google might want to just clamp down on the look and feel across the board, and a more tightly controlled channel for Google blessed Apps on it's App store. In fact I think Google's online tool's interfaces are pretty user friendly. But once Android gets in the hand of Samsung and the like, it became cold with high perceived learning curves...

And the analogy of a stock race car vs a modded car is a very good one. Only that stock fast cars are generally priced out of the general public. Where-as an overpriced phone is still affordable by majority of the middle class. And if it's a matter of convenience vs slight additional cost, it's been proven that time and time again that people will pay for convenience if the value is there and they can afford it,

ricrick

yes. the build quality of iphone is the best amount of any android phones. android phones are always a piece of plastic, which i don't know why manufactures don't use any better material to make their android phones. to keep the cost low?

the UI of android is, yes, not friendly. if you are a 1st time user, u will need time to learn. however, it gives you the "freedom" to customize it. once it is customized for your own need, you will be able to work with it much faster and efficient. I can put widgets on desktop, like facebook, music player, news feeds, email etc..  access is instant. (no more searching icon and opening apps) i can overclock it, i can use different app launcher, different transition effects.. i can use use different themes (if u like iphone, i can use iphone theme.. every icon is changeable and be exactly like iphone's), i can use different kinds of "functional" lock screens (example: instantly access to phone, contact, sms or camera with different swapping gesture).. live wallpapers...  there are still a lot more to list.. i can make my phone so unique

again, if u are iphone fans.. its ok to say "I don't care"
but i am just having so much fun customizing my android

ricrick

these are examples how ppl mod their phone, these chinese ppl are actually doing great job