Does T-Mobile suck as much as I’ve heard they do when it comes to call droppage? Because $60 a month for unlimited texting and data is far cheaper than anything else I’ve seen while browsing around lately.
You can still get a T-Mobile G1/HTC Dream, the very first Android phone (now two years old). It runs Android 1.6, but does pretty much all the stuff the cutting edge ones do, but it costs about a third of the price, and there are a million satisfied customers.
As scr4 notes, it is a little slower than, say, an iPhone 4 for web browsing. Makes up for it in other ways, though; the GPS unit, for example, is more accurate than any dedicated GPS system I’ve ever seen.
ETA: I’ve never had any complaints about T-Mobile coverage, call quality or droppage, but my mother lives on the coast and had to get rid of her T-Mobile phone due to problems with all three. Weirdly, I get perfect reception at her house.
I second the Swype recommendation. I have the G1 (w/ Tmobile) which was the first Android phone. I love it but am ready for an upgrade (I’m a gadget freak). My hold out has been needing a phone with a physical keyboard.
I finally upgraded to the MyTouch Slide. It came pre-installed with Swype. I used the physical keyboard only twice in the 2 weeks I had the phone, and that was only to test it out. Swype is that good.
I returned the MyTouch not because I didn’t like it (it was a pretty good phone), but because I want the Vibrant (Samsung Galaxy S) phone when it comes out this month. My new requirement for a phone isn’t a physical keyboard, but Swype, and the Vibrant will come with it pre-installed.
I pay $24.99/month for unlimited data plus 400 text messages through T-Mobile. I share a $49.99/mo for 400 minutes talk plan with my SO.
I haven’t had much problems with dropped calls with T-mobile, but their network isn’t as extensive as Verizon’s. It works for me, though. I have good coverage most places I frequent.
No way. If you’re going for old, cheap, but great, go for the Motorola Droid. It currently runs 2.1, and it will be the second phone to get Android 2.2, as well as possible future updates, since along with the Nexus One was/is a “Google Experience” phone (straight Android, no added vendor software/interfaces that screw things up for OS upgrades). I have the Moto Droid, and love it. I got it several months ago on Amazon for $19.99 with a contract. For a physical keyboard, which I rarely use for typing any more though I think it’s essential for playing Sonic, Mario, etc. with the available emulators, one could also wait for the Droid 2.
For voice typing, by the way, press the microphone button on the on-screen keyboard.
I love voice texting. I don’t text much, mostly to my wife to tell her I’m on my way home, and doing it by voice is a lot faster and less frustrating than typing it. And it is almost always right in reading my not very clear words.
I found it when I downloaded another texting app which said it featured it - which is when I found out that the standard one had it too.
I second this. The keyboard was a must have when I got my Droid, but now I seldom use it. The biggest advantage of the touchscreen keyboard is word completion, which is a bit timesaver and doesn’t appear to work when using they physical keyboard.
I’ve been on T-Mobile for something like 10 years, and dropped calls are very rare. I’m in South Florida FWIW.
Correction: July 15.
I ordered an HTC Desire. I will have it tomorrow. 
The Uber Keyboard app adds word completion to the physical keyboard. It’s also a replacment touchscreen keyboard as well.