BestBuy.com has dropped thier price $80 on the HTC Hero for new Sprint customers to $99.99 including Free shipping. It is still $179.99 for current Sprint customers.
johnny98 said: Any good reason to buy this instead of the much cheaper Verizon Droid Eris?
Sprint's service plans are generally a little cheaper if you factor in text messaging. The Sprint HTC Hero also includes a free Sprint navigation application while the Eris does not (that's only in the Android 2.0 OS for now).
Another question is why even consider buying an Android 1.x phone when Android 2.0 is already shipping with much nicer features. I would not be surprised to see a bunch of Android 2.0 phones on the market before Christmas. All of the Android 1.x phones appear to be significantly underpowered compared to the top rated phones on the market, which could be a reason they are using an older OS.
cdubneeddeal
Senior Member - 1K
posted: Nov. 15, 2009 @ 3:18p
johnny98 said: Another question is why even consider buying an Android 1.x phone when Android 2.0 is already shipping with much nicer features. I would not be surprised to see a bunch of Android 2.0 phones on the market before Christmas. All of the Android 1.x phones appear to be significantly underpowered compared to the top rated phones on the market, which could be a reason they are using an older OS.
I wouldn't consider the Hero to be underpowered in the least bit. Runs just dandy for me. What are these "Nicer" features you speak of?
To the OP: That's a great price for the phone. Kind of urks me that I paid so much more being a Sprint customer..
cdubneeddeal said: johnny98 said: Another question is why even consider buying an Android 1.x phone when Android 2.0 is already shipping with much nicer features. I would not be surprised to see a bunch of Android 2.0 phones on the market before Christmas. All of the Android 1.x phones appear to be significantly underpowered compared to the top rated phones on the market, which could be a reason they are using an older OS.
I wouldn't consider the Hero to be underpowered in the least bit. Runs just dandy for me. What are these "Nicer" features you speak of?
To the OP: That's a great price for the phone. Kind of urks me that I paid so much more being a Sprint customer..
The most hyped new feature is Google Maps Navigation. If you read the reviews of the Verizon Droid, they do talk about a bunch of other new features in Android 2.0.
johnny98 said: The most hyped new feature is Google Maps Navigation. If you read the reviews of the Verizon Droid, they do talk about a bunch of other new features in Android 2.0.
I thought Google Maps Navigation is still kind of primitive? Tell me I am wrong and it is as good as a Garmin. Thanks.
hkgfnt said: johnny98 said: The most hyped new feature is Google Maps Navigation. If you read the reviews of the Verizon Droid, they do talk about a bunch of other new features in Android 2.0.
I thought Google Maps Navigation is still kind of primitive? Tell me I am wrong and it is as good as a Garmin. Thanks.
There are plenty of professional reviews in the various tech magazines. You should read them and decide for yourself instead of trusting anonymous forum posts.
IMHO - Garmin makes a wide range of products. Google is probably better than some and not as good as others.
The HERO is a great phone and certainly capable of running Android 2.0. The problem is that Sprint's network does not make Over the Air upgrades possible. You would have to download and upgrade the phone yourself or you may be able to get an upgrade in the Sprint store. The Droid Eris is very similar on a better 3g network with OTA possible. Personally, I'm sticking with Tmobile because the price and customer service is far superior to Verizon and Sprint. I get nice 3g coverage where I am although on the rare occasion that I travel very far, I suffer from lack of Tmo coverage.
I'm currently running a CyanogenMod firmware on an HTC G1 (Dream) but I'm drooling over the Moto Milestone (GSM DROID)
@johnny98: here's why someone would want the Hero over the Droid or Droid Eris.
First and foremost, Sprint's plans are SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper than Verizon's. Example: you can get on a Sprint Everything Plus Referral Program plan with 500 anytime minutes plus unlimited calls to any mobile number, unlimited data, and unlimited text for $60 a month. Verizon's pricing is slightly confusing but I believe something fairly comparable would cost you at least $90 with them. So over the long term, this deal on the Hero would cost you way less than any smart phone on Verizon, including the Eris.
Yes, the Hero runs on Android 1.X like the Eris, but both phones also have HTC's Sense UI which is their generally highly regarded "rework" of the stock Android interface. Some reviewers have stated Sense on 1.X is arguably better than the vanilla Android 2.0 on the Droid. In addition, HTC has explicitly stated that 2.0 will come to the Hero (and presumably the Eris) in the future anyway.
The Droid comes with Google Maps Nav (the Eris does not), but the Hero on an Everything plan would have free access to Sprint Navigation. Google Maps Nav may come to the Hero/Eris with the Android 2.0 update.
The Droid is no doubt a more impressive piece of hardware (the screen is amazing, and the Hero and Eris are running slower processors) and Verizon obviously has the best network, but there are still several compelling reasons to get the Hero at $99.
cdubneeddeal
Senior Member - 1K
posted: Nov. 15, 2009 @ 6:16p
kaveh2k said: one word: SERO
Sero would be awesome but you can't activate the Hero via Sero.
Just bought at the old price on Friday. Does BB mobile pricematch to themselves? Anyone have experience with this. I'd hate to have to return it and rebuy. Bleh.
Stubtify said: Just bought at the old price on Friday. Does BB mobile pricematch to themselves? Anyone have experience with this. I'd hate to have to return it and rebuy. Bleh.
Best Buy does price match purchases with in 14 days.
The Samsung Moment is also $99 for new customers / 2 year plan. For those who want a keyboard on their Android phone (ie comparable to the regular Droid)
pitflyer said: The Samsung Moment is also $99 for new customers / 2 year plan. For those who want a keyboard on their Android phone (ie comparable to the regular Droid)
The keyboard on the Samsung Moment blows the one on the Droid away. Droid, HTC Hero/Eris, and the Moment all have their ups and downs. It's actually making me hold out to see what's around the corner. The Droid and Moment are both noticeably faster than the Hero and have physical keyboards. Droid and Hero are much sexier than the Moment (it's not the ugliest phone, but yeah...it's ugly). Hero and Moment don't require Verizon's bloated price structure. Basically, you can have phone with a ridiculous screen and Android 2.0 at a premium (Droid), a phone with a usable keyboard (Moment), or a slower phone with the HTC Sense user interface (Hero). Hopefully someone gets it all right soon and puts it on Sprint. I can deal with a $60 phone bill.
Just spent a frustrating time on hold to find out best buy does not pricematch mobile phones. Wow, I'm frustrated off this one. Need to know who to call on this, they said that it isn't their company (3rd party does the mobile sales).
ahreno
Member
posted: Nov. 17, 2009 @ 1:37p
why did you call bestbuy to pricematch? This is from bestbuy. (edit: i now realize you want to pricematch the phone you already bought - my bad)
I just did some researching, and I could be wrong here, but it seems to me like you can't qualify for the EPP ($60 unlimited everything plan) if you buy this phone from bestbuy. The phone is available for $179 (after $100 mail in rebate) through the EPP site Details at this thread. So if you're getting an unlimited plan, it might make more sense to spend the extra $79 on the phone in order to get a cheaper plan...
Stubtify said: Just spent a frustrating time on hold to find out best buy does not pricematch mobile phones. Wow, I'm frustrated off this one. Need to know who to call on this, they said that it isn't their company (3rd party does the mobile sales).
You have 30 days to cancel the sprint service. Go with that line to the store where you bought it and see if they will help you out with the price match. Now whether it is worth it or not is up to you to decide.
johnny98 said: How do you get a $60 phone bill? The only plans that I see on the BestBuy web site are $70, $90, and $100/month.
Get it through the Sprint EPRP program and pay more upfront for the phone, but less in the long run due to a smaller month bill. Save $80 now and be stuck at a $70 plan or save $160 over the course of 2 years and have a $60 plan.
Want to add a HERO but seems like the BB $99 deal can't be had if you add it as a new line. Only as a new plan.
Was thinking: Can i get the $99 BB HERO by purchasing a new EDP Shared plan & then transfer every1 from my old plan over to the new line? Every1 else is still in contract.
ahreno
Member
posted: Nov. 17, 2009 @ 6:49p
ProppaT said: johnny98 said: How do you get a $60 phone bill? The only plans that I see on the BestBuy web site are $70, $90, and $100/month.
Get it through the Sprint EPRP program and pay more upfront for the phone, but less in the long run due to a smaller month bill. Save $80 now and be stuck at a $70 plan or save $160 over the course of 2 years and have a $60 plan.
I called up a sprint store and they told me that if i'm a member of a credit union (which I am) that i can get a 10% discount on my plan. So I took the $70/month plan which will end up being $63. I got the phone at bestbuy for $99 which saved me $80 from the EPRP price of the phone... so I'll make up the difference in the price of the plan by saving the $80.
Granted, I lose the 50mins since the sprint plan is 450 mins and the eprp is 500... oh well.
tyana777
New Member
posted: Nov. 18, 2009 @ 11:41p
Best Buy did a price difference refund for me when they had a sale on the Blackberry a week later. Just bring in the receipt - painless process. =)
Drakken14
Broke Member
posted: Nov. 19, 2009 @ 12:07a
I have done an in-store price-match on my Hero twice since I bought it. First time for the BB coupon and then once again yesterday for the price drop. No problem either time.
bennie222
Happy Member
posted: Nov. 19, 2009 @ 8:34p
I'm looking to get a family plan with 2 of these, can I buy them at best buy, saving me $160, and then switch my contract over to EPRP after by calling customer support or something? If I buy the contract at BB, I'll have to pay 4 activation fees though right? What is the activation fee these days on Sprint?
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