[mealiusarses]

I just want to start this as a general discussion on mobile operating systems.

What do you prefer, and why?

I start this topic because,

A) I'm a tech junkie
B) I'm a phone junkie
C) I just picked up my Samsung Galaxy Nexus (first phone to be offered with Ice Cream Sandwich, aka Android 4.0)

As an addendum, I've owned a Nokia 3300x series (my first phone), Samsung Instinct, Palm Pre, OG Droid (aka Motorola Droid), Iphone 3GS, Iphone 4, Droid 2, HTC Hero, HTC Rezound, HTC Incredible and now a Samsung Galaxy Nexus and I have to say the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, though only released today, is by far the best phone I've ever owned. ICS (Android 4.0) is quite possibly the best OS i've ever used, mobile or standard.

[tretcheenia]

I've had a couple of android phones. Really like the pure Android available on the nexus phones and mods. My first android phone was the lowly Eris, I ran mod firmware after about 8 months, amazed at what the mod community could do with that phone, there is a port of ICS for it already. Now using the Evo3D, like it, anxious for the ICS upgrade, but happy with it. I like iphones too, generally it seams like the apps are a bit more robust, though some android apps outperform their iphone counterparts. I think the smaller screen of the iphone stinks, I know some like it, and it feels good in the hand, but I like the larger screens. Never used a Windows phone.

[joe-salton]

I prefer iOS. I've got an HP TouchPad that I bought during the 'fire sale' and have put Android on it. I really don't see how people can use Android everyday. The Android Marketplace is a mess and it's not very easy to find apps. I've also found that most apps are more expensive on Android (than iOS) or don't exist at all on the Android platform. And don't even get me started on the web browser in Android (who thought it was good enough to ship?).

That being said, I've got an iPhone and an iPad and I'm beginning to use my iPad more than my laptop. The only thing I use my laptop (and desktop) for now are editing photos (RAW files) and other processor heavy things.

[myspacepro]

from what I hear, HP touchpad sucks big ones. Maybe its the version of OS you're running on that pad, or something, but I personally, am an apple lover and I dont care for the Iphone. I LOVE android. I have the droid pro, and I have to say that the best part of it is the physical keyboard, but after the update to gingerbread, i'm ready for something new...I hate this version, its stupid, its buggy and its ridiculous. I really cannot stand the mass amount of problems I've had since the gingerbread update. I dont think i could EVER go to apple, ever. I really want that nexus, because of the screen size and ice cream sandwich, but otherwise, I dont care for samsung, had more problems with my samsung phone than I ever have with my droid....and my ex husband has a samsung thats a big ole piece of poop too. SOOOO, I would stick with android any day...but I cant really give you a good explanation as to why, other than i dont care for iOS

[Nppracph]

You have to understand the difference between gingerbread and a themed skin based on underlying gingerbread code. Gingerbread, itself, was very stable-but then oems change everything, often making it slower, bugger and just, well, worse.

I honestly don't see how the marketplace is hard. You search, you find. Pretty simple. If your experience with Android is not a certified Google OS, you're really unfairly comparing iOS to Android.. Also depends on what version of android you're using to compare here.

[Toivaluadiora]

The android market has definitely evolved. I also use Amazon appstore and check for the free app of the day everyday which is great, a good one comes along now and then.

I like pure android, wish that the manufacturers would treat there skins more like optional apps. HTC Sense 3 is pretty good though.

iOS/Android is, like Mac/everything else, a contrast in curating. Apple curates really well. You take what they give and think "this is really beautiful, this is done really well". And they do it skillfully enough to keep most Apple users from ever asking "why aren't you letting me see everything".

[DialOne]

I absolutely love OS X as I have a Macbook Pro, but just do not like iOS in the least, despite it basically being the same. What I absolutely loathe is them melding the two and basically making OS X just a ******* child of iOS.

And you're right, it's about curation-but if we're speaking in terms of ICS (ice cream sandwich, Android 4.0) versus iOS, then I prefer the openness and ability to do what I want with my interface through ICS. Just like Apple allows me to install a Windows GUI through bootcamp, I wish they'd allow me to install Android on their mobile hardware.