[Touch HD General] ryaninuk:
Fair enough that battery drains fast on any phone with GPS and 3G use. However when I was using my iPhone 3G on a trip in my car, if you leave the map open and let GPS run you get no more than 4 hours. I didn't get the impression it could go longer because that was it. it was drained. I turned it off and let my laptop recharge it.

The GPS is only useful for finding a route and then using it only during critical parts for directions. I just gave my opinion so the guy that wants to use location services and whatever constantly on an app for golfing doesn't get the impression that he will be able to use it until the end of the day without charging.

If you get more battery time than I did that's cool but I am just relating my experience. The fact that GPS sucks more power than a car charger can supply and still drains makes the GPS on the iPhone rather worthless.

The same can be said of the work around for tethering on the iPhone. It will still drain more than it charges with it plugged in.

I love my iPhone and had the original one and the 3G about a week after it came out. The reason I am now on this forum for an HTC is because obviously there was something about the iPhone that didn't meet my needs.

Battery life is one of my main reasons. I will be going to a remote location and there is only power for a few hours a day. I won't have net access so want to tether. The reports I have gotten from other sites where people obsess about the iPhone suggest that even plugged in I will get around an hour of use tethering.

So when we fire up the generator it means that I can't use it tethered because it won't charge at the same time even while the power is on. So I have to use this window of opportunity to merely charge the phone and nothing else. This means I have to leave it off to charge and when it is finished I can tether for maybe another hour. I have used the iPhone in areas with out reliable power supplies so I think I am able to realise more than most people would about battery life. You really notice such things under such circumstances. Every minute counts and every setting counts at that point.

Anybody that needs tethering should consider what I mentioned in the past paragraph.

I am not saying that the iPhone has terrible battery life or anything but in regards to the guy that was asking if he can use 3G and GPS and make calls and maybe run some music. The answer to that is no IMO.

Even if the HTC doesn't get better battery performance (which preliminary reviews suggest it does) you can swap out the battery and life goes on. That is a very big deal. That fact alone makes the Touch HD superior in every regard to power management.

If the bluetooth on the iPhone wasn't a crippled nightmare and the battery was replaceable it would crush the Touch HD in most things. If that were the case I wouldn't be on this forum and I wish it were the case honestly.

I guess if I had things to do over again I would get the HTC touch HD and an iPod touch. I won't be throwing my iPhone 3G out but will be content to have the best of both worlds. :)

Sorry that my post was a bit off topic and rambling but was also venting a little bit.