Is there a way to put contacts into an Android phone and NOT have them sync with Google? Even if Auto-Sync is turned off on my G Nexus, entering a contact brings up a screen alerting me that the contact will be synced with Google. Is that warning real, or is it there "just in case"?

I don't use the default Google mail definition under Accounts and sync. I have gmail defined as a regular imap mail account. My contacts do not sync with Google.

I am looking at switching from an iPhone to an Android phone and have been worrying about syncing contacts and calendars. I currently sync both with Outlook on my laptop, but I hear conflicting views as to whether this is possible / easy with Android. Does anyone know for sure if it's an easy thing to do, or whether it's a several stage process?

I'll look into that. My objection is placing all my contacts on Google's servers where they can be mined (and thus providing Google personal information about me and my contacts). They just don't need that. Not at all.

On an iPhone I can upload contacts that are not force-fed to the Apple servers.

As far as I can tell, with the exception of the suggestion that cheltzel made, those contacts & calendar will end up on Google servers. I am becoming more convinced each day that Apple is less evil.

I'm not sure if I care very much if they end up on Google servers - I'm merely looking for something that is both easy and reliable.

However, I'm inclined to agree about Google - I used to regard Microsoft as money-focused but trustworthy, Apple as money-focused and ultra aggressive in its money-grabbing ways and Google as being fairly benign. But I think it's changing, with Microsoft appearing more and more benign, Apple as being ok as long as you hold onto your checkbook very tight and Google as being the company which will sell you down the river.

I couldn't agree with you more. I am a little late to the smart phone space. But am actively investigating rooting my phone and doing a custom ROM load. Hopefully I can minimize the intrusion into my privacy that way.

Here is where I disagree with you.

I agree that Google is more blatant about it. But Apple, Amazon, etc, etc are all into the same thing. Look at how your browsing affects what the "other things you may be interested in" list is on Amazon.com

Also do some web searches on the data mining built in to Siri. And look at Apple's outsourced manufacturing facilities in China (and their labor abuse practices),

I am not trying to say that one organization is better or more moral than another. Just that they are all pretty dirty.

Just offering data points and not going to get into debate on companies' operating philosophies:

My HTC android phone with HTC Sense 4 interface can save contacts and calendar appointments on the phone "locally" without Google account association. You would use HTC Sync Manager to synchronize with Outlook, etc.

My older phone with CyanogenMod 9, which is built from the open source android, must associate contact with an account, which may be Google, Yahoo or Hotmail. I would expect Nexus devices to behave similarly.