Google's G1 Takes Aim At IPhone

In the exciting new category of modern hand-held computers - devices that fit in your pocket but are used more like a laptop than a traditional phone - there so far has been only one serious option. But that will change Wednesday, when T-Mobile and Google bring out the G1, the first hand-held computer that's in the same class as Apple's iPhone.

I have been testing the G1 extensively, in multiple cities and in multiple scenarios. In general, I like it and consider it a worthy competitor to the iPhone. Both devices run on fast 3G phone networks and include Wi-Fi. Both have smart-touch interfaces and robust Web browsers. Both have the ability to easily download third-party apps, or programs.

Tampa buyers should beware, however. T-Mobile does not yet have 3G service in the area, so surfing the Web will be extremely slow compared with the iPhone. The company says it will provide local high speed service soon.

But the two devices have different strengths and weaknesses, and are likely to attract different types of users.

If you've been lusting after the iPhone's functionality, but didn't like its virtual keyboard, its user interface or its U.S. carrier, AT&T, the G1 may be just the ticket for you. But it does have some significant downsides.

By far, the G1's biggest differentiator is that it has a physical keyboard, which is revealed by sliding open the screen. The keyboard proved only fair in my tests, and is complemented by a BlackBerry-like trackball for navigation.

The G1 has a removable battery and uses removable, expandable memory cards. And it's even a bit cheaper than its Apple rival: $179 versus $199. Its data plan also costs less - $25 a month versus $30 - and includes 400 free text messages, which cost extra on the iPhone.

The G1 has a slick, clever touch interface to go along with its keyboard, and it includes a powerful new operating system, called Android, which was built by Google.

It's much easier to place a phone call on the G1. You can just start typing a contact name or phone number while on the home screen, sparing the need to enter the phone or contacts program.

This first Android phone, which was largely designed by Google and built by Taiwan-based HTC, also includes some key features Apple omitted. These include a limited ability to copy and paste text, and the ability to send photos to other phones without relying on e-mail. And, unlike AT&T, T-Mobile will even allow users to legally unlock the phone after 90 days and start using it on another carrier, provided you pay a hefty early-termination fee.

In my battery tests, the G1 lasted through the day, but I had to charge it every night.

However, the G1 also has downsides. It's a chunky brick of a device. While it's narrower than the iPhone and feels OK in the hand, it's almost 20 percent heavier and nearly 30 percent thicker. It also has a smaller screen.

The G1 also skimps on memory. It comes with only 1 gigabyte of storage, just one-eighth of what the base iPhone offers. To increase the G1's memory, you have to buy a larger memory card.

The G1 also is a greatly inferior multimedia device when compared with the iPhone. Its music player, while adequate, isn't as nice as the built-in iPod on the iPhone. And it lacks a video player altogether.

And then there's the network. T-Mobile offers 3G in just 20 U.S. metro areas.

Overall, the G1 is a good first effort, and a godsend for people who prefer physical keyboards or T-Mobile but want to be part of the new world of pocket computers.