Archive for November 3, 2008

Instinct vs. iPod Touch

November 3, 2008 by Greg Schuessler.

I was at a conundrum. My Sprint contract was up and I was looking forward to possibly buying the iPhone. Enter the Sprint Samsung Instinct (iPhone competitor).

I do not have an iPhone which is why I was considering buying one, however, I do have the iPod Touch, which is essentially the same device as the iPhone, minus the phone part of it, and a few other options like a speaker to hear your music or a camera to take a quick snap shot.

In this post I will not get into all of the differences between the iPod Touch and the Instinct, rather I’ll address the usability and design differences.

iPod Touch Pro’s

  1. Usability is exactly what I expect; actions are near seamless.
  2. Design is 5 star. Wonderful icons/color/apps!
  3. No “plans” to signup for.
  4. YouTube videos easy to search and watch.
  5. App store - tons of free and pay apps to download and use on your iPod Touch!
  6. Web browser Safari is almost identical to computer based version.  True, Flash and some drop down navigation (JavaScript) do not always work.

iPod Touch Con’s

  1. Must be connected to a free wi-fi spot to use any internet-based applications.
  2. Can’t use google maps in your car (see #1 above)
  3. A bit expensive for an “iPod”
  4. Limited Space (currently 32GB largest - I have 16GB model)

Instinct Pro’s

  1. Inexpensive (if you singup for a 2 year plan)
  2. GPS Navigation (No need for a Garmin seperate device)
  3. LiveSearch uses voice recognition to find businesses near your GPS location. Can then use GPS Navigation to drive you to the location.
  4. LIVE TV - CNN, Comedy Central, etc.
  5. Extra batteries (total of 2 batteries per phone included)

Instinct Con’s

  1. Battery life can drain quickly if you watch TV
  2. Touch screen not always responsive.
  3. Web browser functions but not very well on all sites.
  4. Mic quality not great but works.

All in all both proucts really have a lot to offer and there are more pro’s for each.  I have both and enjoy both for very different reasons.  Do you have an iPod Touch or an iPhone?  What about the Samsung Instinct?  Thoughts on the design and usability of these products?

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