From: mariasophia@comprehension.com   
      
   Andy Burns wrote:   
   >> I ordered the Pixel 256GB for the extra 100   
   >   
   > I considered whether I would likely need more than 128GB within the   
   > lifetime of my Pixel 8a, and decided against.  I still own the only   
   > phone that Google ever sold with an SD slot, and it certainly needed it.   
      
   Hi Andy,   
   I knew you were a pixel owner as you had helped me understand the A/B OTA   
   stuff, so I was hoping you'd respond to my plea.   
      
   I'm thinking the advantages of the Pixel would be the same as the Samsung   
   in terms of they're the only brands that everyone has so it's easy to find   
   instructions and hacks for them, but the Pixel, I'm thinking, is a lot   
   closer to stock Android so there may be more chances for rooting.   
      
   Do you think a Pixel is more rootable (given all US Samsungs nowadays come   
   with a locked bootloader). Being more rootable, after the two years are up,   
   I'll be able to fix more things by being root, I'm thinking, with a Pixel.   
      
   As you know, I'm doing fine with a 64GB storage where I have over a   
   thousand packages on it (at least half of which were added by me), so with   
   my 128GB sd card, I'm doing just fine on storage also.   
      
   But the whole point of an OEM not putting the fifty-cent sdslot is we have   
   to guess what storage we will need three, four, and five years from now.   
      
   So I can get the 128GB Pixel 9A free at the T-Mobile store since that's   
   what they stock, but I have to order the 256GB (which costs me an extra   
   $100) because they don't stock it.   
      
   Is 128GB enough for a person like me? I think not. I test software.   
   That takes up storage. Lots of storage.   
      
   But, I am doing fine with 64GB + 128GB even now, so I still need to make a   
   decision 'cuz I cancelled the T-Mobile order (due to the privacy   
   violations).   
      
   If I get it, I'll get it at the store where all they ask for is your ID.   
      
   >> I'm likely to end up with an Android 15 Pixel 9A   
   >   
   > Why not android 16?   
      
   I don't really know what Android version it will come with, as the Android   
   15 is what I found by googling the Pixel 9A specs, but I'm not worried   
   since it comes with the standard Google/Galaxy 7 years of updates and   
   support. Plus, I can test that A/B OTA update stuff you told me about. :)   
      
   However... I have found that as Android gets newer, it gets harder to   
   tweak, so in many ways, I pine for Android 9 which was easier to do stuff   
   on. :)   
      
   >> What do you think of the Pixel 9A?   
   >   
   > Minimal difference from the 8a, and likely the 10a will be the same, no   
   > flagship for sure, just a good phone with long support.   
      
   Thanks. I am comparing to the Galaxy A32-5G which was fine for me, so I   
   don't need "flagship" speeds (given I use the phone, um, er, as a phone).   
      
   To me, storage matters more than speed, and any camera that is decent, is   
   good enough for my Vine Amazon reviews and photos of the grandkids.   
      
   The Pixel 9a must faster than the Galaxy A32-5G but I can't, for the life   
   of me, think where that matters in my non-gaming use model. Does it?   
      
   Of course, camera quality and display quality are better, but again, do I   
   care, since the 48MP camera in the Galaxy and display were just fine.   
      
   Interestingly, in both those two areas, the A32-5G has a larger screen and   
   higher-megapixel (but lower-quality) cameras. But, as with your assessment,   
   my current daily drive is just fine (except that I broke the charging   
   port).   
      
   I'll let you know what I get as I canceled the 9A order because of the   
   onerous electronic signature garbage, but I still need to get a phone.   
      
   My biggest need, in all truthfulness, is simple portable storage,   
   which is why I was asking how people fare when that option is gone.   
      
   Also, I might just buy a phone on Amazon, which gives me more freedom   
   since T-Mobile's free stuff is limited to the A35/A36 or Pixel 9A.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)