I think it is good that VZW finally got a good smartphone. The DROID doesn't interest me personally but it is about time Verizon got a phone to beef up their product line. It may be just what they needed to retain customers from flocking over to the iPhone.
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iPhone to Droid.. Hmm..Take the plunge?:D
- Thread starter pranavss11
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I agree with pretty much every thing you said. I just got my Droid a couple of hours ago and my very first thought was "Holy crap this thing is a tank!". I still have my iPhone 3GS activated with ATT right now because I wanted to see which phone/network I liked more. Now, I never really had too many problems with ATT in my area but I have had a few dropped calls here and there. I won't comment on VZW service though since this is my very first VZW and my first Android OS phone ever (I usually prefer GSM networks/phones).
The screen on the Droid is fantastic and I'd say that's mostly due to the resolution bump from my 3GS.
For what it's worth, the iPhone is a very polished phone that does everything it claims it does very well. I've probably owned at least 8 phones within the last 18 months but every time I've gone back to the iPhone. I've owned every version of the iPhone so it's safe to say I like it. In comparison to the Droid, I can say my iPhone feels like a toy compared to it. It's very simplistic and easy to use and that's probably why I'm tired of it. Don't get me wrong, the Droid is definitely not for everyone and if you like the iPhone, no harm, no foul.
I'm really trying to be as unbiased as possible because I've only had the Droid for 2 hours. Way too early to tell which phone I'll end up keeping but the next 30 days should be interesting.
Any questions?
I took the plunge on Friday, and activated a Droid with a new number. I forwarded my 3Gs to the new Verizon number, and turned the 3Gs off.
The Droid is nice, but I don't like having a physical keyboard. The feel of the phone in my hand reminds me of other Moto devices, with angled edges, battery door, etc. The 3Gs feels better in my hand.
I am no Apple fan boy, and I hate AT&T, so I was really hoping that I would like the Droid. That being said, there was enough I didn't like about the Droid, so I am returning it.
Likes:
1: Speed. The Droid is fast, and Verizon's 3g blows AT&T's 3g away.
2: Web Browser. Full width, and very snappy performance.
3: The ability to actually make a phone call. (mostly due to VZW's superior network)
4. New message LED
5. Battery life superior to the 3Gs
6. Nice, loud earpiece
Dislikes:
1. Form factor and weight (too squared off)
2. Address book (no easy way to jump to a specific alpha group
3. Email- need to scroll to the end of a message to reply
4. Physical keyboard, don't want or need one
5. App Icons are too small, with a lot of wasted screen real estate
6: No ringer/vibrate button
The Droid is nice, but I don't like having a physical keyboard. The feel of the phone in my hand reminds me of other Moto devices, with angled edges, battery door, etc. The 3Gs feels better in my hand.
I am no Apple fan boy, and I hate AT&T, so I was really hoping that I would like the Droid. That being said, there was enough I didn't like about the Droid, so I am returning it.
Likes:
1: Speed. The Droid is fast, and Verizon's 3g blows AT&T's 3g away.
2: Web Browser. Full width, and very snappy performance.
3: The ability to actually make a phone call. (mostly due to VZW's superior network)
4. New message LED
5. Battery life superior to the 3Gs
6. Nice, loud earpiece
Dislikes:
1. Form factor and weight (too squared off)
2. Address book (no easy way to jump to a specific alpha group
3. Email- need to scroll to the end of a message to reply
4. Physical keyboard, don't want or need one
5. App Icons are too small, with a lot of wasted screen real estate
6: No ringer/vibrate button
I find it hard to take honest opinions of the Droid, a phone I am interested to know more about, when people use comparisons such as calling the iPhone a "toy".
I know PC users who call the Mac a "toy".
I know PC users who call the Mac a "toy".
People will always think grass is greener on the other side, and new things will always appear more exciting than old. It's simply human nature.
I find it hard to take honest opinions of the Droid, a phone I am interested to know more about, when people use comparisons such as calling the iPhone a "toy".
I know PC users who call the Mac a "toy".
Well that's the way the iPhone feels to me after using a Droid. The iPhone, while a fairly expensive and well made device, it extremely simplistic and with the least amount of flash present. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this in any way, shape, or form. I can't predict which phone I may end up keeping at the end of the month since I still have both my iPhone 3GS and the Droid active right now.
Really, I'm no "fanboy" to any manufacturer but given the site that I'm on, it's expected to have lots of people that are devoted (for lack of a better word) to Apple. I'm not one of those people unfortunately.
Android has a long ways to go but if anything it will definitely push Apple to innovate their iPhone even more. Competition is good for the consumer.
Spent a few minutes with the Droid yesterday and a small local Verizon store.
Nice screen.
Browser on 3G was fast.
Multi-touch was missed.
Form factor and weight really not a factor
Virtual keyboard is very good, almost wish that the Droid did not have a physical one.
Google Voice Search worked perfectly without any training in a noisy showroom.
All the docks were sold out, so wasn't able to see them together.
Batteries are priced the same as other Moto units, with a reg and hi capacity.
Nice screen.
Browser on 3G was fast.
Multi-touch was missed.
Form factor and weight really not a factor
Virtual keyboard is very good, almost wish that the Droid did not have a physical one.
Google Voice Search worked perfectly without any training in a noisy showroom.
All the docks were sold out, so wasn't able to see them together.
Batteries are priced the same as other Moto units, with a reg and hi capacity.
I just got the Droid.
And I must say, it is pretty awesome. There are a couple of things I don't like.
The physical design of the phone is not very good. It's kind of bulky and sqaure-ish, and I hate how the USB/charger port kind of sticks out. I agree with everyone who says the keyboard isn't that great. In fact, I would love this phone a lot more if it didn't have the physical keyboard. However, it's touch screen is great.
The phone's screen is clearly more colorful than the iPhone's. Voice-activated Google search is simply awesome. Just say "pizza" into the phone, and voila- you have a list of the nearest pizzerias. Not to mention the call quality on this phone is amazing. My cousin called me and she sounded so crisp and clear. Internet is super fast and I just love Verizon's network.
However, I'm not sure if I'm ready to be away from my iPhone full-time. I may return the Droid. But this phone does not disappoint, except for the design.
And I must say, it is pretty awesome. There are a couple of things I don't like.
The physical design of the phone is not very good. It's kind of bulky and sqaure-ish, and I hate how the USB/charger port kind of sticks out. I agree with everyone who says the keyboard isn't that great. In fact, I would love this phone a lot more if it didn't have the physical keyboard. However, it's touch screen is great.
The phone's screen is clearly more colorful than the iPhone's. Voice-activated Google search is simply awesome. Just say "pizza" into the phone, and voila- you have a list of the nearest pizzerias. Not to mention the call quality on this phone is amazing. My cousin called me and she sounded so crisp and clear. Internet is super fast and I just love Verizon's network.
However, I'm not sure if I'm ready to be away from my iPhone full-time. I may return the Droid. But this phone does not disappoint, except for the design.
I took the plunge and bought the droid on Friday while still keeping my iPhone 3gs with AT&T.
The droid is nice and fast, the screen is fabulous and the navigation is incredible for a beta product. However, I'll be taking the droid back tomorrow and cancelling the line, the phone is clunky, the keyboard it's bad, too flat and the overal design doesn't feel good in your hand like the iPhone.
The droid is nice and fast, the screen is fabulous and the navigation is incredible for a beta product. However, I'll be taking the droid back tomorrow and cancelling the line, the phone is clunky, the keyboard it's bad, too flat and the overal design doesn't feel good in your hand like the iPhone.
I only have my girlfriend's 3GS to compare my Droid to, but for my personal use the Droid seems a much better fit. Before I purchased the Droid I was almost certain I'd return it during the 30 day period, but after 3 days I know I'm keeping it.
1. Browsers are equal in essentially every regard, I like double-tap zoom just as much as pinch/pull
2. Navigation is free, this is huge for me because I use GPS for directions frequently
3. More customizability. Minor, but the fact that you can't change backgrounds or SMS tones on the iPhone really irks me.
4. Camera with flash: I take pictures in bars and at parties, they don't need to be good quality but they do need a flash. No more carrying around a point-and-shoot.
5. Physical keyboard: Awesome for games, which brings me to the next point...
6. Emulators: I could be wrong, but I don't think you can get emulator apps on the iPhone without jailbreaking... I have fully functional SNES, NES and Genesis emulators and hundreds of games to play now on the Droid. Reliving childhood ftw
Having options is good for everyone, and the competition should lead to better products on both ends.
1. Browsers are equal in essentially every regard, I like double-tap zoom just as much as pinch/pull
2. Navigation is free, this is huge for me because I use GPS for directions frequently
3. More customizability. Minor, but the fact that you can't change backgrounds or SMS tones on the iPhone really irks me.
4. Camera with flash: I take pictures in bars and at parties, they don't need to be good quality but they do need a flash. No more carrying around a point-and-shoot.
5. Physical keyboard: Awesome for games, which brings me to the next point...
6. Emulators: I could be wrong, but I don't think you can get emulator apps on the iPhone without jailbreaking... I have fully functional SNES, NES and Genesis emulators and hundreds of games to play now on the Droid. Reliving childhood ftw
Having options is good for everyone, and the competition should lead to better products on both ends.
This phone will be forgotten in 3 months, when the next iphone killer comes around. It will be forgotten just like the Palm Pre which had all the hype a few months ago and the HTC Hero, and the Blackberry Storm, and the G1, and the Samsung Instinct, and the LG Voyageur and countless others.
Think the carrier quality issue while relevant, is not substantive to the actually handset opinion. AT&T where I am blows Verizon away and for once since switching recently, I have all bars after living with very spotty Verizon service. As far as the actual phone, I did see a Droid this weekend and thought it was probably Verizon's best choice to date, but in my brief look, lacked the finish, smoothness and overall simplicity of the iPhone. I think many are tailoring their analysis on the carriers quality where they live and thereby some hopefulness colors their hardware review.
If you like Verizon as a carrier, then the real question may be which phone to get if they BOTH were available on Verizon OR if the Droid was offered on AT&T along with the iPhone GS, which phone to get?
If you like Verizon as a carrier, then the real question may be which phone to get if they BOTH were available on Verizon OR if the Droid was offered on AT&T along with the iPhone GS, which phone to get?
How many times are you going to post this? Do you mean the Droid will be forgotten in 3 months by fanboys and brand loyalists?
No it will be forgotten by iphone haters like yourself who will move onto their next iphone killer.
When the droid came out, I was tempted to take the plunge as well. It sounds like an awesome phone. I tried it out at a local verizon store and was impressed with the quality. So then I decided to check into moving my family plan over to Verizon just to see the cost difference.
On AT&T I get my family plan and Iphone data plan for $90 a month.
$40 for voice - 650 minutes
$10 additional line
$30 Iphone data plan
$5 texting
I also have a FAN code that knocks a little more off and adds some minutes to my plan.
On Verizon, my plan would be $107.97 for the same plan and features. Sorry, I just couldn't pull the trigger. I would if I had crap 3g service in my area, but it works just fine for me.
On AT&T I get my family plan and Iphone data plan for $90 a month.
$40 for voice - 650 minutes
$10 additional line
$30 Iphone data plan
$5 texting
I also have a FAN code that knocks a little more off and adds some minutes to my plan.
On Verizon, my plan would be $107.97 for the same plan and features. Sorry, I just couldn't pull the trigger. I would if I had crap 3g service in my area, but it works just fine for me.
It's normally $40 for 450 minutes on both ATT and Verizon.
That accounts for your difference in amount of minutes above, and your overall price. Sure, it'd be hard to leave discounted service.
I also took the plunge on Tuesday and using it along my 3GS. Primary reasons for me was Verizon network AT&T really never gives me issues but when it does it is beyond frustrating. Seems to happen more frequently too. I like the tighter Google integration which I'm doing more and more with. Google Voice is a plus. Lastly is the App Store. Whilst I love the apps, the whole closed policy of 
wears thin. Plus I want to see the competition as if anyone could compete with it would be Google.
So far the experience is good. Still carrying around both phones, but one day I'll do the experiment and just use the Droid. There are some apps not on Android yet which keeps me from 100% switching, but I just have a feeling that those apps or equivalents will make it on Android. The phone/OS isn't as polished as and the comments on a geek phone is correct. Kinda fun to find these things out too.
For bashers or Verizon customers, I'd definitely recommend the Droid to them. But to each their own.
wears thin. Plus I want to see the competition as if anyone could compete with it would be Google.So far the experience is good. Still carrying around both phones, but one day I'll do the experiment and just use the Droid. There are some apps not on Android yet which keeps me from 100% switching, but I just have a feeling that those apps or equivalents will make it on Android. The phone/OS isn't as polished as
and the comments on a geek phone is correct. Kinda fun to find these things out too.For
bashers or Verizon customers, I'd definitely recommend the Droid to them. But to each their own. 
Here are my questions though after reading most of the comments on this thread:
1. Build quality? I feel like the iPhone is built very poorly. The Screen has dust, dead pixels, and the back plastic has cracked on all my phones since the 3G. What is the initial build quality of the Droid like after 1 week?
2. Multi-touch? How bad is this missed?
3. Apps-There is no list of Android apps on the internet anywhere. I use about 15 apps for the iPhone and I feel like google is still behind on this feature.
4. Music? How difficult is it to get music and videos on the phone? What platform should a Mac user use?
I also want to say great impressions on the Droid so far. I decided to wait awhile because there are so many Android 2.0 phones coming out in the next couple of months plus im sure the next iPhone is going to have to be a significant upgrade not like the 3GS. I would love an andriod 2.0 phone with the snapdragon processor and no keyboard.
2010 should be an exciting year for phones!
1. Build quality? I feel like the iPhone is built very poorly. The Screen has dust, dead pixels, and the back plastic has cracked on all my phones since the 3G. What is the initial build quality of the Droid like after 1 week?
2. Multi-touch? How bad is this missed?
3. Apps-There is no list of Android apps on the internet anywhere. I use about 15 apps for the iPhone and I feel like google is still behind on this feature.
4. Music? How difficult is it to get music and videos on the phone? What platform should a Mac user use?
I also want to say great impressions on the Droid so far. I decided to wait awhile because there are so many Android 2.0 phones coming out in the next couple of months plus im sure the next iPhone is going to have to be a significant upgrade not like the 3GS. I would love an andriod 2.0 phone with the snapdragon processor and no keyboard.
2010 should be an exciting year for phones!
Posts like this are not needed in this thread. Who cares about an iPhone killer? If anything phones like Droid will make Apple do two things:
1. Finally create a truly next generation iPhone. The 3 year iPhone cycle has been a joke, with such minor differences Edge, to 3G, to a faster processor. Apple truly needs to innovate the design of the phone (better screen, get rid of the cheap plastic, etc).
2. Innovate the software. The software for the iPhone has also gotten very stale. The biggest changes were the App store which I love, but again no multitasking or easy way to launch apps. No home screen customization, etc.
I think the Droid and Android 2.0 are the best thing that could ever happen to this competition. I want Android to be VERY successful because it will only make the iPhone improve. I think it may also be time for Apple to go to a 6 month window for phones. Things change so quickly these days that 1 year is an eternity for cell phones.
Yes you do have to JB.
How are you getting around the supposed 256MB limit to installed apps (you can't install apps on the SD card)? Are your Emus on the phone and your ROMs on the card?