LG Dare is tempting me

I understand the need for basic features like a background wallpaper and customizable UI myself. But honestly, you have to take into consideration that the Dare will have as much problems as the Instinct is having. It will have it's own bugs and brain farts.

I find the Dare's interface very smooth and stylish. I would get it actually. BUT when you look over the plans, what you get for 70$ at Sprint, you get 80$ at Verizon. Not sure about you but that 10$ is alot to me especially monthly. Also, the Instinct is 129$ after rebate, while the Dare is 200$ after rebate. You might as well get an iPhone and spend the 80$ at AT&T.

If you ask me, the Dare, while a bit more creative than the Instinct, shouldn't even be in the running. In my opinion, when deciding between phones of this calibur, it's either the iPhone or the Instinct. The Dare has a better camera than the Instinct and as mentioned, a more stylish UI and an actual background wallpaper, but it's not so important that I'd waste money for it. Besides, what I like about the Instinct is that it has room for growth. There are already updates planned and one of the things they want to implement soon is a better UI. The phone probably won't get that background still but at least we would be able to customize the menus.

But I'm not an Instinct owner, nor am I a Dare hater. I'm merely observing. The Instinct seems like it does what Dare can do slightly better besides some minor things. Not to mention the Dare is smaller, making it a less desirable widescreen-type viewing device for movies, tv, websites, etc.

Overall, if you're on a budget, the Instinct with the 70$ plan is the best deal out of all three touch screen phones. If you're rich however, then obviously the iPhone is the winner. That phone afterall is a money magnet, or rather, a ploy for Apple to take your money. I mean seriously, 10$ apps? Anyway, good luck with whatever you decide. Don't forget to do extensive research. I believe Phonedog has an LG Dare review on Youtube.

If I wanted an Iphone I'd have one. I have had issues with Apple and their business practices for decades, which they continue with the Iphone (example: non-removable battery forcing the owner to turn to them for replacement). But the Iphone isn't the topic.

The Dare shows more polish than the Instinct. I'd love to know which manufacturer spent longer developing their phone, Samsung or LG. The Instinct has more potential in the long run, provided Sprint gets their thumbs out (customizing the keyboard interface programming was a stupid business tactic). I don't speak programming well enough anymore to look at their SDK to know the full capabilities or potential of the phone. But in all appearances it looks like Sprint intentionally released the phone with minimal development, banking on 3rd parties to enhance the product.

Price... With my corporate discount, the Dare would cost $139 out the door at a Verizon store (already confirmed in the store) and $63.99 monthly. The Instinct will cost 83.99 2 or so months from now and $55 monthly. When talking satisfaction with the product I own, the cost differences aren't a factor.

The Dare's camera smokes the Instinct. Even if they were equal in mp, just the addition of a flash and its lens causes the Dare to come out on top. That's something the Instinct physically cannot match.

I'm not entirely sure if the Instinct is capable of new themes or how customizable any theme on it could be. I can say, as have others, forcing list mode for some things made absolutely no sense. Like the speed dial.

Groups have always been KEY to keep large address books organized. I've only got about 70-100 contacts at any one time. But when I've got 4 "Kat"s in my address book knowing I'm about to dial a coworker, my allegeded gf, the girl I met at the bar last night or Kat's Pizza is vital to my survival  .

I'm trully not looking at bugs here. The bugs I've encountered aren't as many as others and are expected being an early adopter. I'm looking at the polish of the alleged finish product and the mindset of the people that released it. The Instinct feels raw, potentially very valuable provided someone invests the effort to polish what should have already been polished. The Dare lacks the potential but has had more effort invested in the polish before being released as a finished product. And yes, I realize both phones aren't really finished and will undergo further development. But the question I'm asking myself, how the Dare is tempting me, is can I trust Sprint to essentially finish the phone when they sold it to me unfinished in the first place?