Now that the official specs are out, it does leave a good deal to be desired. No Exchange support, no desktop sync, all contacts and email via Google ONLY?

I wouldn't buy this phone if they paid me, and threw in free bbq. This is going to be the first high profile epic fail on Google's teflon record (no one ever remembers fiascos like Froogle).

Sure is fun reading the blogs and watching the Apple fanboys and the Google fanboys whine at each other however.

Well, but different does not need to be... UGLY! :D

I think that's what they're going for... different.

The top area looks like the iphone and the bottom looks like some cheap knock off toy controller. I agree Frank, it's kinda ugly.

Damn, what an ugly phone. I really hoped that those leaked pics were of some kind of a test model but as it seems i was mistaken.
In order to use this ugly phone they would have to give it to me free of charge. Was looking forward to seeng android based phones (the more competitors in mobile os industry the better) but this is just plane ugly phone. Why didn't the just use HTC Hermes design or Wizard for that matter, they are both old devices sure but comaref to G1 they look like a artist masterpiece while g1 looks like kids drawing.

I agree. My point is that if you are going to hit the market with something to compete against Apple you have to come out with something a lot better designed. And let me tell you one more thing, I have tested the Android using the SDK and it's not that impressive.

The phone is surprisingly plain and not like recent HTC designs at all. I am not at all fond of it either, though the screen is very pretty.

I get the impression that was by design, since Google very much wanted to showcase the software, and not the hardware of the phone. One thing that has been very clear about Google for some time now is they don't want anyone stealing their thunder. The phone itself, in their view, should be generic, just a container for their impressive, "game changing" software.

Of course, it would have changed the pre-iPhone game. Now, I don't think Android will have much of an effect on the market. Like with Chrome, there will be a flurry of interest on release, then not a lot else.