Satisfied with the switch?

[MisterMillz]

I’ve been diehard Apple since 2011 (used android prior to that). At that time it was a smoother, more secure, more premium experience. Lately, the software hasn’t been as top notch as the reputation preceding Apple, device costs are at an all-time high, and the software-while functional hasn’t really changed too much in look since the OG iPhone.

I’ve been dabbling in android for the last several weeks (Pixel 2 XL, Essential phone, S8). I prefer their level of customization. I can be simple one day and absurdly techie the next. I also prefer the ability to pay more or less for devices across a broad range of companies. The things holding me back are: "()" annotates the main reason for each point...

1. (No true iMessage replacement.) Idc about the extra features. I send a lot of media and knowing almost 10x out of 10 there will be no compression is awesome. Whatsapp’s limit is 16MB and FB messenger is 25MB prior to compression. Apple docs state 100MB and outside sources state closer to 220MB.

2. (My inner circle all use iOS) except one. See above reason.

3. (RCS is a mess.) Supposedly it should be unified across carriers this quarter but that’s been the argument for several years now.

4. (I am (kinda) concerned about the level of data mining) associated with Google. I’ve disabled a lot of settings but the other side of me wants to leave them on in order to enjoy all google and its assistant has to offer.

5. (Is chrome OS enough) for someone that uses a bigger device for document creation/edits, email, browsing the web, and streaming?

6. (Most apps really do look better on iOS.) They feel smoother and more polished.

7. (App exclusives.) I write a ton of notes on my iPad Pro using Notability. I haven’t found an app that is as smooth or easy to sync across devices. I’m currently looking into one note. Suggestions?

8. (I have everything Apple)...phone, tablet, laptop, watch, TVs, and even the router.

Has anyone switched from iOS lately that has spent more than a month with the system and sees him or herself staying with android? I’m pretty much on top of the fence and looking for a slight push to make the commitment lol

TL;DR: I want to switch to Android but am a little hesitant due to the reasons listed. Have you switched recently and see yourself staying with the droid life?

 

[cmiller4642]

I've made the switch back and forth 5 times since 2012, and every single time it's for features that Apple eventually gets, so I go back to try out Apple again

I went from my Motorola Droid 2 to iPhone 4S in 2012 (Verizon got the iPhone)

I went from an iPhone 4S to a Samsung Galaxy S4 in 2014 (Samsung had LTE and a bigger screen)

I went from a Samsung Galaxy S4 to an iPhone 6 Plus in 2016 (iPhone ended up with a bigger screen and LTE finally)

I went from an iPhone 6S Plus to a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge in 2017 (Samsung OLED and exciting form factor)

I went from a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge to an iPhone X in 2018 (iPhone OLED and exciting form factor)

Every single time I switch I miss the other phone. Right now I seriously wish I had a Pixel 2XL or a Samsung Galaxy S9. I miss the Google Assistant (much better than Siri there's no comparison), I miss my widgets, I miss the always on display, I miss Spotify integration, I miss customizing my phone to fit my use, etc...

But I also miss iMessage, continuity with my MacBook, I miss the better apps, I miss Apple Music's curated playlists, etc... when I don't have my iPhone

They are really like 50/50 in features IMO, and it sucks for a consumer that has tried both. Sometimes I wish I just picked up the Droid Razr in 2012 and never looked at an iPhone 4S just to stay blindly in Android (which I prefer to iOS). The geek in me wants to have Windows and Android exclusively, but Apple has allured me over with some of their really good features as well and it's hard to sever out of that fantastic ecosystem sometimes. I have a MacBook, iPad, and Apple TV to go along with my iPhone.

It's just really hard to explain honestly what I go through with tech when it come to Apple and Google/Microsoft.

 

[yui4]

I've made the switch back and forth 5 times since 2012, and every single time it's for features that Apple eventually gets, so I go back to try out Apple again

I went from my Motorola Droid 2 to iPhone 4S in 2012 (Verizon got the iPhone)

I went from an iPhone 4S to a Samsung Galaxy S4 in 2014 (Samsung had LTE and a bigger screen)

I went from a Samsung Galaxy S4 to an iPhone 6 Plus in 2016 (iPhone ended up with a bigger screen and LTE finally)

I went from an iPhone 6S Plus to a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge in 2017 (Samsung OLED and exciting form factor)

I went from a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge to an iPhone X in 2018 (iPhone OLED and exciting form factor)

Every single time I switch I miss the other phone. Right now I seriously wish I had a Pixel 2XL or a Samsung Galaxy S9. I miss the Google Assistant (much better than Siri there's no comparison), I miss my widgets, I miss the always on display, I miss Spotify integration, I miss customizing my phone to fit my use, etc...

But I also miss iMessage, continuity with my MacBook, I miss the better apps, I miss Apple Music's curated playlists, etc... when I don't have my iPhone

They are really like 50/50 in features IMO, and it sucks for a consumer that has tried both. Sometimes I wish I just picked up the Droid Razr in 2012 and never looked at an iPhone 4S just to stay blindly in Android (which I prefer to iOS). The geek in me wants to have Windows and Android exclusively, but Apple has allured me over with some of their really good features as well and it's hard to sever out of that fantastic ecosystem sometimes. I have a MacBook, iPad, and Apple TV to go along with my iPhone.

It's just really hard to explain honestly what I go through with tech when it come to Apple and Google/Microsoft.

This is me ^^^

Most years I switch between Samsung and Apple. Can never make my mind up which I prefer, I usually end up staying with the iPhone as it’s just easier but I miss the customisation and the extra bits that Samsung bring to the table.

 

[jpiszcz]

I’ve been diehard Apple since 2011 (used android prior to that). At that time it was a smoother, more secure, more premium experience. Lately, the software hasn’t been as top notch as the reputation preceding Apple, device costs are at an all-time high, and the software-while functional hasn’t really changed too much in look since the OG iPhone.

I’ve been dabbling in android for the last several weeks (Pixel 2 XL, Essential phone, S8). I prefer their level of customization. I can be simple one day and absurdly techie the next. I also prefer the ability to pay more or less for devices across a broad range of companies. The things holding me back are:

1. +No true iMessage replacement.+ Idc about the extra features. I send a lot of media and knowing almost 10x out of 10 there will be no compression is awesome. Whatsapp’s limit is 16MB and FB messenger is 25MB prior to compression. Apple docs state 100MB and outside sources state closer to 220MB.

2. +My inner circle all use iOS+ except one. See above reason.

3. +RCS is a mess.+ Supposedly it should be unified across carriers this quarter but that’s been the argument for several years now.

4. +I am (kinda) concerned about the level of data mining+ associated with Google. I’ve disabled a lot of settings but the other side of me wants to leave them on in order to enjoy all google and its assistant has to offer.

5. +Is chrome OS enough+ for someone that uses a bigger device for document creation/edits, email, browsing the web, and streaming?

6. +Most apps really do look better on iOS.+ They feel smoother and more polished.

7. +App exclusives.+ I write a ton of notes on my iPad Pro using Notability. I haven’t found an app that is as smooth or easy to sync across devices. I’m currently looking into one note. Suggestions?

8. +I have everything Apple+...phone, tablet, laptop, watch, TVs, and even the router.

Has anyone switched from iOS lately that has spent more than a month with the system and sees him or herself staying with android? I’m pretty much on top of the fence and looking for a slight push to make the commitment lol

TL;DR: I want to switch to Android but am a little hesitant due to the reasons listed. Have you switched recently and see yourself staying with the droid life?

Great review.

 

[cmiller4642]

This is me ^^^

I think that Android/Windows is probably going to win out in the long run with me. Apple is getting rid of Intel chips (which kills what little gaming I could do on my Mac), Siri is horrible compared to Google Now and Alexa, Spotify is better than AM, and honestly phones are getting to the point that I'm not going to upgrade them every single year. I would say that I will probably buy a Note 9/Pixel 3 XL/S10 and keep it for the next 18-24 months. The X is a fun phone, but I just can't get over losing functionality.

Look at the Google Pixel 2 XL's always on song identification. The parent company that owns Shazam should have that on the lock screen of iOS 11 right now, but they don't. Cook and company I think are stuck back in 2008 while a lot of these other companies are in 2018. But that's just my opinion.

If you take a look at tech as a whole you can really see that Apple has good products, but the functionality of those products can be gotten for much cheaper with better tech in some cases

iPhone X vs Pixel 2 XL/Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
Macbook Pro/iMac Pro vs High end PC's
iPad Pro/MacBook Air vs Surface Pro (really a 2 in one replacement)
Homepod vs Amazon Echo or Google Home (absolutely ridiculous price on the Homepod IMO)
Beats/Airpods vs all kinds of wireless headphones

Even if you look at the most ridiculously overpriced Android phone IMO (The Galaxy Note 8) it has a bigger and better OLED display, has better voice controls with Bixby (Hardware) and Google Assistant (software), Is more compatible with other tech products, and it's STILL cheaper than the iPhone X!

Apple Watch is the best smartwatch on the market, but the Fitbit or Gear are just as good for what you need.

 

[MisterMillz]

I'm in a similar boat in going back and forth testing devices lately. Hands down, the first thing that made me really consider Android again was the fact that the 256 X w/AC+ is just south of $1500. I bought it because I wanted it, but it doesn't change the fact that I think it's an absurdly high price regardless of margins. I also like that the Pixels are the "iPhones" of Android-the best chance at experiencing what pure Android is all about nowadays. There are days when I want the ability to dig deep and change the whole look and operation of my phone and there are days when I barely want to look past my sms and phone app. I like having the option to decide. I also like the wide variety of manufacturers available. I also think Google is more in position for AI advancement than Apple. It's hard for me to choose one over the other now that I have them both. For me, it's about how these systems do things rather than can they do things. I see convincing benefits to each side.

 

[jpiszcz]

I'm in a similar boat in going back and forth testing devices lately. Hands down, the first thing that made me really consider Android again was the fact that the 256 X w/AC+ is just south of $1500. I bought it because I wanted it, but it doesn't change the fact that I think it's an absurdly high price regardless of margins. I also like that the Pixels are the "iPhones" of Android-the best chance at experiencing what pure Android is all about nowadays. There are days when I want the ability to dig deep and change the whole look and operation of my phone and there are days when I barely want to look past my sms and phone app. I like having the option to decide. I also like the wide variety of manufacturers available. I also think Google is more in position for AI advancement than Apple. It's hard for me to choose one over the other now that I have them both. For me, it's about how these systems do things rather than can they do things. I see convincing benefits to each side.

What’s your opinion of battery life? The iPhone 8 Plus lasts forever (days-week++) whereas two androids I have used (Nexus 6p) and Samsung S9+ the battery dropped very fast.

All of the YouTube tests generally show battery drain when using the phones what about when it’s idle?

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

What’s your opinion of battery life? The iPhone 8 Plus lasts forever (days-week++) whereas two androids I have used (Nexus 6p) and Samsung S9+ the battery dropped very fast.

All of the YouTube tests generally show battery drain when using the phones what about when it’s idle?

Android has many energy saving settings. They are usually not activated by default.

Regarding the OPs question: I use Android since 2015. Have a S5 Neo (Android M) and Windows 10 Pro on a Lenovo IdeaPad 710s Kabylake laptop. I can install OS X / macOS on this computer. At home I use a Mac mini 2012 i7 with El Capitan.

I'am happy with Android.

 

[MisterMillz]

What’s your opinion of battery life? The iPhone 8 Plus lasts forever (days-week++) whereas two androids I have used (Nexus 6p) and Samsung S9+ the battery dropped very fast.

All of the YouTube tests generally show battery drain when using the phones what about when it’s idle?

In my opinion/experience, the Pixel 2 XL battery is WAAAAAAY better than any iPhone I've ever had. Ive had every model from 4 through X. I can literally go a day and a half without a charge and fairly moderate usage. I love it. Quick charge is a godsend too. But it has only been 2 weeks with this phone. Typically android devices are notorious for slowing down after a few months. Hoping to avoid that being this is a "pure android" device.

 

[Fanaticalism]

In my opinion/experience, the Pixel 2 XL battery is WAAAAAAY better than any iPhone I've ever had. Ive had every model from 4 through X. I can literally go a day and a half without a charge and fairly moderate usage. I love it. Quick charge is a godsend too. But it has only been 2 weeks with this phone. Typically android devices are notorious for slowing down after a few months. Hoping to avoid that being this is a "pure android" device.

Generally speaking pixel phones get better with updated. This last April patch feels like a new phone

 

[Dr.Ravencroft]

I’ve been diehard Apple since 2011 (used android prior to that). At that time it was a smoother, more secure, more premium experience. Lately, the software hasn’t been as top notch as the reputation preceding Apple, device costs are at an all-time high, and the software-while functional hasn’t really changed too much in look since the OG iPhone.

I’ve been dabbling in android for the last several weeks (Pixel 2 XL, Essential phone, S8). I prefer their level of customization. I can be simple one day and absurdly techie the next. I also prefer the ability to pay more or less for devices across a broad range of companies. The things holding me back are: "()" annotates the main reason for each point...

1. (No true iMessage replacement.) Idc about the extra features. I send a lot of media and knowing almost 10x out of 10 there will be no compression is awesome. Whatsapp’s limit is 16MB and FB messenger is 25MB prior to compression. Apple docs state 100MB and outside sources state closer to 220MB.

2. (My inner circle all use iOS) except one. See above reason.

3. (RCS is a mess.) Supposedly it should be unified across carriers this quarter but that’s been the argument for several years now.

4. (I am (kinda) concerned about the level of data mining) associated with Google. I’ve disabled a lot of settings but the other side of me wants to leave them on in order to enjoy all google and its assistant has to offer.

5. (Is chrome OS enough) for someone that uses a bigger device for document creation/edits, email, browsing the web, and streaming?

6. (Most apps really do look better on iOS.) They feel smoother and more polished.

7. (App exclusives.) I write a ton of notes on my iPad Pro using Notability. I haven’t found an app that is as smooth or easy to sync across devices. I’m currently looking into one note. Suggestions?

8. (I have everything Apple)...phone, tablet, laptop, watch, TVs, and even the router.

Has anyone switched from iOS lately that has spent more than a month with the system and sees him or herself staying with android? I’m pretty much on top of the fence and looking for a slight push to make the commitment lol

TL;DR: I want to switch to Android but am a little hesitant due to the reasons listed. Have you switched recently and see yourself staying with the droid life?

A week ago I switched from my iPhone 8 to Note 8. While I was more or less happy with the iPhone 8, I felt that I was paying for something that is not as advanced/new as I would have liked it to be... maybe it's because I had 6, and 6s plus, and the design/functionality hasn't really changed since.
I must say the first day of using the Note 8 was quite bumpy, but when I managed to set everything up as I wanted, I started liking it more and more. Considering that my last Android phone was HTC Sensation, I was quite surprised how far Android has come.
Yes, there is still minor lag every now and then (not sure if this is due to Sammy's UI, or Android in general), and yes, you don't have the "easiness" of an iPhone, but I can do so much more with my Note 8. And I do miss the Handoff and Continuity with my Mac, and the iCloud syncing (if someone has a solution to how to sync notifications to my mac, that would be much appreciated).
To sum up, I don't really have any regrets so far... Maybe it will change when Sammy will stop updating the phone.
Overall, I think it's a nice experience leaving the "walled garden" and seeing what's out there.

 

[cmiller4642]

I have pros and cons of both systems. But when I look at the iPhone vs Android, I will give you my pros and cons of iPhone, and they can be pretty significant for my lifestyle.

iOS pros (iPhone X):

Integrates with other Apple devices
Ease of use (unlock phone and just tap icon)
Pretty much every casual non techie person in my circle has an iPhone so I can use iMessages
App support is much better
Seamless updates
Audio sound amazing (although I believe Android has caught up with this)

iOS Cons:

Boring design (grid of apps only)
Limited functionality with other hardware (Echo, Google Home, Windows PC's, VR headsets etc....)
Lack of functionality in the OS itself (can't use widgets, can't set default browser, etc.... It's my device Apple, I want it to be personalized for the money I paid for it)
Much more expensive hardware (Apple tax is real)
Much more expensive add-ons that should be included in the box of your already expensive device (*cough fast charger cough*)

And finally the biggest con of all:

Google is not integrated directly into iOS like it is with Android. Say what you want about privacy, but having Google assistant, Now on tap, Gmail, Youtube, etc... built into the core of the phone makes the experience much better than what Apple is offering at the moment. Google's products are the best in the business, and if you want to use other products, Google allows you to set a different default. I use Chrome on my MacBook not Safari, so why can't I set Chrome as my default on my iPhone like I could on my S7?

Like I said it all depends on your lifestyle, but as a techno geek that like to try different products out.... Android is just better for me.

 

[kaielement]

I have both an iPhone 7 and a Pixel 2 that I use on a daily bases. While I do prefer iOS for the most part and use it as my primary phone that isn't to say that the my Pixel 2 is't fantastic too. I just feel that iOS is still more stable. I find my apps run much smother on my iPhone 7. I got the Pixel 2 for work and I been very happy with the camera (no really it is top notch). They bother have good battery life and handle everything I throw at them. I guess I am saying they are both good in their own ways.

 

[chagla]

I’ve been diehard Apple since 2011 (used android prior to that). At that time it was a smoother, more secure, more premium experience. Lately, the software hasn’t been as top notch as the reputation preceding Apple, device costs are at an all-time high, and the software-while functional hasn’t really changed too much in look since the OG iPhone.

I’ve been dabbling in android for the last several weeks (Pixel 2 XL, Essential phone, S8). I prefer their level of customization. I can be simple one day and absurdly techie the next. I also prefer the ability to pay more or less for devices across a broad range of companies. The things holding me back are: "()" annotates the main reason for each point...
4. (I am (kinda) concerned about the level of data mining) associated with Google. I’ve disabled a lot of settings but the other side of me wants to leave them on in order to enjoy all google and its assistant has to offer.

7. (App exclusives.) I write a ton of notes on my iPad Pro using Notability. I haven’t found an app that is as smooth or easy to sync across devices. I’m currently looking into one note. Suggestions?

TL;DR: I want to switch to Android but am a little hesitant due to the reasons listed. Have you switched recently and see yourself staying with the droid life?

6. subjective.
4. you can control permissions. typically in settings. with android, you can be informed and educated but ios won't even show. you just have to take apples word for it. if you happen to "root" (completely optional) your phone, you can install a firewall app and block internet access for other apps. i think there are also non-root firewall apps too.

7. microsoft onenote is the best of all. use it on the web, android, and ios device and sync. Evernote is also very good. Google Keep is for simple note taking.

the best part of ANdroid is you can personalize almost everything to make it really unique. you and i could have same phone model but each will be unique.

some apps i recommend you try - Z launcher, airmore, microsoft launcher, gboard

 

[MisterMillz]

6. subjective.
4. you can control permissions. typically in settings. with android, you can be informed and educated but ios won't even show. you just have to take apples word for it. if you happen to "root" (completely optional) your phone, you can install a firewall app and block internet access for other apps. i think there are also non-root firewall apps too.

7. microsoft onenote is the best of all. use it on the web, android, and ios device and sync. Evernote is also very good. Google Keep is for simple note taking.

the best part of ANdroid is you can personalize almost everything to make it really unique. you and i could have same phone model but each will be unique.

some apps i recommend you try - Z launcher, airmore, microsoft launcher, gboard

Thanks for the response. I'm all for gboard-have been using it since day 1. I have one note but haven't given it a solid try yet. That will be my task for the rest of the week. Is z launcher a custom launcher? Right now I'm using Nova and waiting to get my 5 Google pay transactions in so I can use the $10 credit to purchase Nova Prime lol

 

[chagla]

Thanks for the response. I'm all for gboard-have been using it since day 1. I have one note but haven't given it a solid try yet. That will be my task for the rest of the week. Is z launcher a custom launcher? Right now I'm using Nova and waiting to get my 5 Google pay transactions in so I can use the $10 credit to purchase Nova Prime lol

Yes. Z launcher is simple looking but incredibly fast gesture based unique launcher. I like to change every few month. Launcher is what can determine your experience for the most part. there are a lot of them that are very similar. the ones i mentioned are totally unique. There's another one called "Smart Launcher Pro" (~4). Try them out.

 

[Zwhaler]

Switched from iPhone 4 to Note II back in late 2012. Note 4 in 2014, S6 edge+ since late 2015. Haven't looked back. I've spent a considerable amount of time playing with other iPhones since then, including the 4S, 5, 7, and X. iPhone and iOS continue to do things I don't like such as...

-can't hide apps from home screens (no app drawer)
-no real live wallpapers
-no proper local user-accessable filesystem
-annoying dots when you update apps
-weird bugs that keep popping up
-Siri / crippled Google assistant
-nagging OS updates
-iCloud (not a fan)
-Apple Maps as default maps and map tile app for 3rd party apps such as real estate
-sometimes can't manually change quality on YouTube when on cellular (AT&T)
-hard time getting certain files on and off the phone as easily as Android
-no hard-press quick settings to jump to settings menu (wtf? plus the "fake" WiFi and Bluetooth toggle on iOS 11)
-can't fully customize dock or home screen app layouts
-4 years late to wireless charing
-Lightning (ugh...)
-NO headphone jack...
-no expandable storage (not actually a big deal to me)

I mean jeez you can see why I use Android.

 

[convergent]

I’ve been diehard Apple since 2011 (used android prior to that). At that time it was a smoother, more secure, more premium experience. Lately, the software hasn’t been as top notch as the reputation preceding Apple, device costs are at an all-time high, and the software-while functional hasn’t really changed too much in look since the OG iPhone.

I’ve been dabbling in android for the last several weeks (Pixel 2 XL, Essential phone, S8). I prefer their level of customization. I can be simple one day and absurdly techie the next. I also prefer the ability to pay more or less for devices across a broad range of companies. The things holding me back are: "()" annotates the main reason for each point...

1. (No true iMessage replacement.) Idc about the extra features. I send a lot of media and knowing almost 10x out of 10 there will be no compression is awesome. Whatsapp’s limit is 16MB and FB messenger is 25MB prior to compression. Apple docs state 100MB and outside sources state closer to 220MB.

2. (My inner circle all use iOS) except one. See above reason.

This is by far the biggest pain about the switch. All of my family and close colleagues use iPhones and I'm the green bubble guy. For photos isn't not really that big of a deal. Videos is sucks. With my family and closest friends, we use GroupMe for group messaging. I tried FB Messenger for a while and it works great, except my wife is anti-FB so I switched back to regular messaging. Since I am not in large groups of other people, its easy for us to get by. We use a family share on Google Docs for anything we care about quality... quite easy to use. So this is the main negative, and we make it work. I'm hopeful there will be pressure on Apple to adopt something other than SMS/MMS as fallback in the future. Until then, I've accepted the annoyance. Frankly it just makes me dislike Apple even more.

3. (RCS is a mess.) Supposedly it should be unified across carriers this quarter but that’s been the argument for several years now.

4. (I am (kinda) concerned about the level of data mining) associated with Google. I’ve disabled a lot of settings but the other side of me wants to leave them on in order to enjoy all google and its assistant has to offer.

There is nothing in my data that I really think that Google is going to take which bothers me. If I hear that they are somehow hacking into my financial matters then I'd reassess; but until then I like the convenience I get with both Google and Amazon's "mining". Like when I hope in the car at the airport, open Google Maps, and it prompts me with my hotel and I can just hit one button and be on the road. I like the mining in that case.

5. (Is chrome OS enough) for someone that uses a bigger device for document creation/edits, email, browsing the web, and streaming?

I use a Surface Pro and love it. My daughter uses a Chromebook and for her purposes its fine. My needs are a bit more challenging at this point.

6. (Most apps really do look better on iOS.) They feel smoother and more polished.

On my Note 8, everything I use is smooth... so people keep saying this but I'm not seeing it in the apps I use. They are all nearly identical.

7. (App exclusives.) I write a ton of notes on my iPad Pro using Notability. I haven’t found an app that is as smooth or easy to sync across devices. I’m currently looking into one note. Suggestions?

OneNote is a big part of my daily life. I have business and personal Microsoft OneDrive accounts and I can open and edit notes back and forth quite easily. I can also edit pen based ink with both my devices - Surface Pro and Note 8 in near real time.

8. (I have everything Apple)...phone, tablet, laptop, watch, TVs, and even the router.

Has anyone switched from iOS lately that has spent more than a month with the system and sees him or herself staying with android? I’m pretty much on top of the fence and looking for a slight push to make the commitment lol

TL;DR: I want to switch to Android but am a little hesitant due to the reasons listed. Have you switched recently and see yourself staying with the droid life?

I left all Apple stuff in 2017... there is a thread about that called something like - 2017, the year I left the walled garden. I had Mac, iPhone, Apple Watch, Apple TV, Airport Extremes and Time Capsules, and within the all Apple family iPads too. I now use nothing Apple, but the rest of the family is still all iPhone and my wife still has an iPad she uses daily.

What started me on the split were a couple of things 1) letting products just flounder and/or die - Airports, Mac Mini, Macbook Air, etc. 2) Apples instance that you will have 3 devices - computer, tablet, phone, when the rest of the world gives you the option of covering the same use cases with 2, and 3) the announcement of the X - expensive, no FPS, no plus size, and oh that notch. I had already become delighted with the Surface Pro when the X announcement took place. I ended up moving to a Note 8 and Gear S3 to replace my iPhone 6S+ and Watch. Love the combo.

Apple's lost me for now due to the product limitations. I have a 2in1 and a phone, and can use a pen on both of them to create and edit OneNote files. Apple has no ability to use a pen on the computer and phone... only the tablet. I don't want to carry a "separate" tablet, as I travel quite a bit. Apple is completely out of sync with what I want.

I travel quite a bit on long haul trips with a colleague that is all in on Apple. In the airport he's trying to charge up his Macbook, iPad, iPhone, and work issued Dell laptop. I am charging my Surface Pro and Note 8. Since the Surface Pro's tiny AC adapter has a built in USB port, I need only find one outlet. He's dealing with 4 things if he wants fast charging. And his Apple Watch usually dies during the trip and that's hard to charge in an airport. My Gear S3 can go several days without charge. Then on the plane, I've got one computer I'm using for movies, work, etc.... that has really good battery life; and I can use it for takeoff and landing. He's got two computers and a tablet to cover all of what he wants to do. Its literally "not even close" how much better my experience is.

Really the only negative for me is the iMessage crap and I'm hopefully there will be an interoperability solution in the next year. All depends on if Apple wants to play nice with others or not.

 

[koigirl]

Convergent, what configuration did you get on your Surface Pro? I'm considering Lenovo 920 or Surface Pro to replace my 11" MBA.

 

[convergent]

Convergent, what configuration did you get on your Surface Pro? I'm considering Lenovo 920 or Surface Pro to replace my 11" MBA.

i5, 8G, 256G, which is fanless. There is a huge price difference as you get into the higher end Surface Pros. The only time I really wish I had more power is when I'm into a huge batch of RAW images to process in Lightroom. But that is not very frequent, so for me I'd rather have what I have.

 

[MisterMillz]

This is by far the biggest pain about the switch. All of my family and close colleagues use iPhones and I'm the green bubble guy. For photos isn't not really that big of a deal. Videos is sucks. With my family and closest friends, we use GroupMe for group messaging. I tried FB Messenger for a while and it works great, except my wife is anti-FB so I switched back to regular messaging. Since I am not in large groups of other people, its easy for us to get by. We use a family share on Google Docs for anything we care about quality... quite easy to use. So this is the main negative, and we make it work. I'm hopeful there will be pressure on Apple to adopt something other than SMS/MMS as fallback in the future. Until then, I've accepted the annoyance. Frankly it just makes me dislike Apple even more.


There is nothing in my data that I really think that Google is going to take which bothers me. If I hear that they are somehow hacking into my financial matters then I'd reassess; but until then I like the convenience I get with both Google and Amazon's "mining". Like when I hope in the car at the airport, open Google Maps, and it prompts me with my hotel and I can just hit one button and be on the road. I like the mining in that case.


I use a Surface Pro and love it. My daughter uses a Chromebook and for her purposes its fine. My needs are a bit more challenging at this point.

On my Note 8, everything I use is smooth... so people keep saying this but I'm not seeing it in the apps I use. They are all nearly identical.


OneNote is a big part of my daily life. I have business and personal Microsoft OneDrive accounts and I can open and edit notes back and forth quite easily. I can also edit pen based ink with both my devices - Surface Pro and Note 8 in near real time.




I left all Apple stuff in 2017... there is a thread about that called something like - 2017, the year I left the walled garden. I had Mac, iPhone, Apple Watch, Apple TV, Airport Extremes and Time Capsules, and within the all Apple family iPads too. I now use nothing Apple, but the rest of the family is still all iPhone and my wife still has an iPad she uses daily.

What started me on the split were a couple of things 1) letting products just flounder and/or die - Airports, Mac Mini, Macbook Air, etc. 2) Apples instance that you will have 3 devices - computer, tablet, phone, when the rest of the world gives you the option of covering the same use cases with 2, and 3) the announcement of the X - expensive, no FPS, no plus size, and oh that notch. I had already become delighted with the Surface Pro when the X announcement took place. I ended up moving to a Note 8 and Gear S3 to replace my iPhone 6S+ and Watch. Love the combo.

Apple's lost me for now due to the product limitations. I have a 2in1 and a phone, and can use a pen on both of them to create and edit OneNote files. Apple has no ability to use a pen on the computer and phone... only the tablet. I don't want to carry a "separate" tablet, as I travel quite a bit. Apple is completely out of sync with what I want.

I travel quite a bit on long haul trips with a colleague that is all in on Apple. In the airport he's trying to charge up his Macbook, iPad, iPhone, and work issued Dell laptop. I am charging my Surface Pro and Note 8. Since the Surface Pro's tiny AC adapter has a built in USB port, I need only find one outlet. He's dealing with 4 things if he wants fast charging. And his Apple Watch usually dies during the trip and that's hard to charge in an airport. My Gear S3 can go several days without charge. Then on the plane, I've got one computer I'm using for movies, work, etc.... that has really good battery life; and I can use it for takeoff and landing. He's got two computers and a tablet to cover all of what he wants to do. Its literally "not even close" how much better my experience is.

Really the only negative for me is the iMessage crap and I'm hopefully there will be an interoperability solution in the next year. All depends on if Apple wants to play nice with others or not.

This was a beautiful and thoughtful response. I pretty much align with you. I haven’t quite made the switch yet. I dabble with a phone for a couple of weeks and then return it out of fear that I’ll like it less than my iOS experience. Eventually I’ll just have to pull the trigger and commit if I ever want to get rid of the itch. I totally love the idea of carrying around a phone and a 2-in-1 versus a phone, tablet and laptop in some instances.

 

[Dr McKay]

I switched shortly after the iPhone 5 launch because I desperately wanted a larger screen, the iPhone 5 was my "last chance" with iPhone but it ultimately proved too small still.

Hopped from android phone to android phone and ultimately grew to love the platform, iMessage and facetime don't matter to me since outside of the USA people are far more likely to use multiplatform apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. By the time the even larger iPhone 6 came out I had gotten too used to the freedom android offers.

 

[Dodgeman]

I had Samsung about 6 years ago and switched to Apple simply because they were more polished and had apps I wanted that android did not have.

Stayed with Apple for about 5 years.

Switched recenetly and the switch has been fine but I do miss Apple at times. I actually want to own a MacBook Pro and have the Apple watch again and probably go for an 8 Plus maybe... but the prices & features you get with Apple is the only downside.
I have a Note 8 now and nay just stick with it and get an android smart watch and a 500 Lenvo laptop.
My other option is buy a $600 apple watch, $1100 Mac, and another $900 phone...