Conclusion
While the Samsung Fascinate might have a cheaper (but lighter) feeling chassis than the Droid alternatives, definitely don’t write this slim Samsung phone off as a non-starter. If you’re considering a top-end Android phone from Verizon, the Fascinate definitely be included in the running. It could benefit from a little Android 2.2 love to add flash and push the performance bar up a bit. We found some annoyances in the software, but overall if felt better (and snappier) than Motorola’s software on the Droid 2 and Droid X. If I was recommending one of Verizon’s phone’s to a friend, I’d definitely make sure that they give the Fascinate a thorough look-over.
Great review. I like the Fascinate’s hardware and screen size but I would really like a directional trackball/optical pad to make website navigation easier (ie. clicking small links surrounded by other links).
I like the directional controls on other Android devices too. It also lets you easily activate mouse over elements on many sites.
I also prefer hardware buttons for those bottom keys as well. What I don’t want are those dedicated call/answer and end buttons. Don’t really want a call getting answered while the phone is in my pocket.
Looks like good phone, but i’m still waiting for the iphone from Verizon mbecause ky mom told me that she talked to Verizon and they would jailbreak it for us if we brought it to one of their stores so that’s what i’m going to do instead of getting this one.
So you can switch from Bing to Google on the Verizon Fascinate? I thought that Verizon permanently locked out Google.
Perhaps by altering the default software imagine. For the less tech savvy, “switching” between the two is as simple as finding a Google search bar from the Marketplace and downloading Google maps. The only caveat being that when you tap the Android Search button on the homescreen, you’ll be taken to Bing search. This and I suppose that a few applications that normally use Google Maps to externally map some info might open up in Bing, but again, getting around that is relatively simply (a little cut and paste would do the job).