Samsung is getting ready to unveil the Samsung Galaxy S 2, or Galaxy S II if you prefer, at this year's Mobile World Congress. And, as you might imagine, they're throwing plenty of features into the hardware department. Much like we saw with the original Galaxy S devices, it's hard to ignore the hardware. Large, vibrant screens. Epic processors. And fascinating design differences between each model released in the United States for the large wireless carriers. The result was enough to captivate consumers, and it lead Samsung to announce that they were selling millions of the handsets around the globe. But, it didn't stay cheery for Samsung, as the manufacturer became the center of attention for lack of updates, and seemingly not caring at all that purchasers of the Galaxy S devices were being left in the past. Now, though, Samsung's got the Galaxy S 2 around the bend, and once again the hardware is impossible to ignore -- but does that mean you'll buy it?

Let's take a moment and talk about the specifications. First, while the Galaxy S II hasn't been officially announced yet, this latest leak regarding specifications seems to be exactly what we should expect, so we'll take it for what it is. The Galaxy S 2 will feature a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus capacitive touchscreen display, with a resolution of 800 x 480. Under the hood, there's a dual-core 1GHz Exynos processor. Integrated WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, and 24Mbps HSPA+ connectivity. It wasn't mentioned in this leak, but we've heard that the Galaxy S II will have an 8MP camera on the back, and a 2MP camera on the front. And we know now that the handset will launch with Android 2.3 on board. The handset will also support NFC, and earlier rumors have suggested that the handset will feature 512MB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage.

So, the hardware is there, no question about that. But, even if the handset is launching with Android 2.3, should consumers be worried about the longevity of their device on the software side of things? Because, from the image above, we can tell pretty clearly that the Galaxy S 2 will once again feature Samsung's proprietary TouchWiz User Interface (UI). There's no telling what version it is, but it does look a little bit different than the current version we can see on devices like the Fascinate, Captivate, and Epic 4G. So, with the proprietary software on there, we can already start assuming that future updates to the Android platform probably won't come first to the Galaxy S 2, despite the hardware.

After Samsung launches the Galaxy S 2, I'm going to be curious about how well it does. Unlike the Galaxy Tab II, the 10-inch tablet Samsung plans on unveiling at MWC this year as well, it seems that the Galaxy S II will be hindered once again by the proprietary software. And, for me, that's just not going to cut it. I loved my Fascinate when I owned it. The Super AMOLED display was worth it, but then to throw in the Hummingbird processor was like icing on the cake. And then I started to realize that Samsung wasn't going to update the phone any time soon. And, I'll admit it, I want the newest version of Android on my phone. If Samsung was telling me that the Fascinate couldn't run Android 2.2, then that'd be a different story. But, that wasn't the case. Just like all the other Fascinate owners, I just wasn't getting updated.

I have no idea why Samsung can't --or won't-- update their phones in a timely manner. Yes, some Galaxy S devices out there have Android 2.2 now, but it's already too late. Android 2.3 is out and we know another version of the mobile operating system (OS) is coming sooner than later. So, here we are with Samsung getting ready to launch another high-end Android-powered device, and I'm sitting here staring at it, wanting it. I'm excited about the Galaxy S 2 just like I was the original device. Why? Because I want the hardware. I want the remarkably thin device. I want that 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, and the dual-core 1GHz Exynos processor.

I'm also excited because I feel like this is another chance for Samsung. Perhaps they can use the Galaxy S 2 to show that they do care about their customers after they buy their phones. This is a chance for Samsung to come out on stage at MWC, show off a high-end device running the latest version of Android, and not promise updates are coming right then and there. Just stay quiet, and update your devices when the time comes. Don't make promises. Don't tell your customers to just keep waiting, and certainly don't give us dates you can't keep.

But, I know what's going to happen. Samsung's not going to update the device again. They'll focus their attention on whatever else is coming down the pipe after they sell millions of this handset. And I'll be left with Android 2.3, while other handsets are having their fun with what comes next. That won't stop me from getting my hands on the Galaxy S 2, though. That may make me a glutton for punishment, but with a handset like this, I'm okay with that.

Are you one of Samsung's scorned customers? After the Galaxy S 2 is announced, are you going to find a line to wait in? Or are you planning on passing over this device because you aren't a fan of the manufacturer anymore? Or maybe there's just a better phone out there for you. Let me know below.