There I am, having recently changed my cell from an iPhone to a Sony Ericsson X10a (US version), and having purchased a Cruz Reader from Velocity Micro (also available from Borders). Both devices need some TLC to get them up to a level that one could call them useful:
1) The Sony Ericsson phone runs Android 1.6, somewhat outdated, but still useful. However, the smart engineers at Sony Ericsson (or was it the even smarter marketing department or even the 'branding' guys) decided to cut out the ability to install Apps from sources other than the Android Market. This seems to be true for the US version. It is not disabled in the menu, the menu entry is missing on the US X10a!!! Who knows what will happen with the long awaited (and longer delayed) upgrade to Android 2.1.
http://www.xperiax10.net/forum/applications-f7/installation-from-unknown-sources-not-showing-t961.html
2) The Cruz (Borders) Reader does come with the CruzMarket, and you can install SlideMe, but the Android Market and Google apps are missing (because the marketeers 'position' the device as a reader, not a tablet or so! Nice work, again.) You have to hack the device in order to get Market installed. I tried and succeeded as shown here:
http://www.slatedroid.com/velocity-micro-cruz/7581-cruz-reader-specific-howto-root-device-6.html#post65894
Conclusion: Well done Android devices companies! How do you intend to further handicap your hunt for market-shares, this certainly makes people think twice and potentially decide in favor of an iPhone, an iPad, or both...
Someone should make a device where GoogleApps are missing and installing from other sources is disabled (or wait, that IS an iPhone!).
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