We didn't even mention that the G1 is a standalone phone - it does not sync contacts or schedules with your PC or Mac, and it doesn't even include any desktop software (in your face, Microsoft).

But let's be clear about this: the G1 would have taken over the world in 2005. It is an outstanding phone, and Android is highly extensible, intuitive to use, fast, and very powerful. We're not going to rank mobile operating systems, but let's just say that RIM, Nokia, Palm, and Microsoft should all be really nervous right about now.

And here's the final assessment: we'd buy the G1 if the iPhone didn't already exist and we'd certainly be first in line if our chosen carrier was T-Mobile. If you really need to type fast, okay - Blackberry models have the G1 phone beat in terms of hardware keyboards. The iPhone is still the champ. Yet, as they say in the Visa ads, for everything else, there's the G1. It is a top mobile performer.