Motorola's Droid Is Smart Success for Verizon Users

[lights]

"It's the best super-smart phone Verizon offers, the best Motorola phone I've tested and the best hardware so far to run Android."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704013004574515644074742728.html?mod=rss_Today's_Most_Popular

Geez, even the WSJ is jumping on this. Call me crazy but with all that they spent on developing this fun, that little multi dial pad rocker thing has got to be one of the ugliest things ever to make it on an electrical device. It's like something out of the 60's when Magnavox was still making TV's...

Anybody picking one of these Droid's up?

[Prngr44]

Doubtful.

I'll probably wait for the new iPhone when ATT's exclusivity contract runs out.

[Cheesypuff]

i'm thinking about getting the droid...i was fixated on the samsung moment...but the droid is all around a better phone. I was hoping the HTC passion would peek it's head out for a few reviews. I'm definitely liking the android OS tho.

[Airencracken]

I'm going to look at the droid. I love my blackberry, but I'm not impressed by what RIM is doing with UI these days. It'll come down to the keyboard. If the keyboard on the droid sucks, I'll probably get the Tour.

[Devhux]

The keyboard on the Droid is very "flat" - so if you like a fair bit of tactile response, you just might be going back to a BlackBerry.

[Airencracken]

The keyboard on the Droid is very "flat" - so if you like a fair bit of tactile response, you just might be going back to a BlackBerry.

Yeah, that's what I'm worried about. I need a bit of give to my keys. We'll see, we'll see.

[nate el bueno]

Naturally, I switched from Verizon to T-Mobile to get the android mytouch about 2 weeks before this phone came out. As disappointing as this is, I love my android phone. The real winner is the android market, where I have yet to pay for one of the hundred apps I have.

[clutchy]

I'm getting tired of my iphone, this phone looks pretty cool and i like google's approach to business better than mac.

I'll continue to watch the development of these android os phones.

[Markel]

The Droid sounds interesting. Unfortunately, Verizon has a history of locking down options, which I think is still the case on the Droid.

[Airencracken]

The Droid sounds interesting. Unfortunately, Verizon has a history of locking down options, which I think is still the case on the Droid.

I don't think so. What in particular were you looking at that was locked down? As far as I can remember I don't know of anything that is disabled because of Verizon's draconian business practices.

[Devhux]

I'm pretty sure most (if not all) smartphones are fully functional on Verizon. It's more the dumbphones that they were locking down.

[Markel]

I don't think so. What in particular were you looking at that was locked down?
I was looking at this cnet review (http://www.cnet.com/8301-19736_1-10392484-251.html?tag=mncol;txt), which states, "Verizon has a deserved reputation for stripping functionality from its handsets and this appears to be no exception."

[mojo]

I was looking at this cnet review (http://www.cnet.com/8301-19736_1-10392484-251.html?tag=mncol;txt), which states, "Verizon has a deserved reputation for stripping functionality from its handsets and this appears to be no exception."
i had to hack my razr as well as my q to get them the way i wanted. i have no doubt that i would have to do the same for the droid.

all the same, i'd love one :D

[Airencracken]

I was looking at this cnet review (http://www.cnet.com/8301-19736_1-10392484-251.html?tag=mncol;txt), which states, "Verizon has a deserved reputation for stripping functionality from its handsets and this appears to be no exception."

Ah. That's about the multi-touch. No one is quite sure why it isn't enabled, but the native google applications don't support it so it may be a patent issue or some kind of agreement between google and apple.

[Cheesypuff]

Ah. That's about the multi-touch. No one is quite sure why it isn't enabled, but the native google applications don't support it so it may be a patent issue or some kind of agreement between google and apple.


yah, it pretty much sucks not to have the pinch and zoom option. they do have another zoom option called tap zoom, but nothing like iphones pinch and zoom. I'm thinking about rolling hard with the droid this week if no other news of the HTC passion or the sony x10 come out. i have read that black friday should come out with a new android phone for verizon.

[lights]

"But even though I’m eager to ditch my iPhone and eighty-six AT&T, I’m not going to switch to Verizon for the Droid,"

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/11/no-droid-for-me/

some interesting points,... and then another guy references this article and posts his own review.

[lights]

"Some critics, such as my friend Dylan Tweney at Wired, have remarked that the Droid's slide-out keypad seems like an afterthought, an unnecessary appendage given that the phone's on-screen keypad is adequate for most tasks. I agreed initially."

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/181702/my_first_weekend_with_the_moto_droid.html

hmm....

[lights]

I'm going to look at the droid. I love my blackberry, but I'm not impressed by what RIM is doing with UI these days. It'll come down to the keyboard. If the keyboard on the droid sucks, I'll probably get the Tour.

make sure you get one that doesn't have all of the early production issues... holy moly. i thought the first gen storm was bad,...

[faither]

My Droid will be delivered tomorrow. I've been using the BB 8830 and while I really like it, I was intrigued by the Droid. If the keyboard turns out to be a problem, I'll go to the BB 9960.

[guiseppewv]

I got an Android phone last week. It is a great phone so far.


i had to hack my razr as well as my q to get them the way i wanted. i have no doubt that i would have to do the same for the droid.

all the same, i'd love one :D

:stupid:

The RAZR had to be hacked to get the same functionality that you could get on other networks.

[Markel]

Nate said one of his Marine buddies got the Droid and "it is smoking".

[lights]

so i decided to stop by a local verizon store to see what the hubub was all about...

and my own personal opinion is that although the screen is a whole another sexy, the keyboard on the touchscreen is like the one on the LG dare,...while the physical keyboard is pretty.... lame.

[Cheesypuff]

well now... so overstock.com was having a sale on the droid...i caved...and i bought one. :)

[Airencracken]

I though the physical keyboard was okay. I plan on getting one.

[lights]

well now... so overstock.com was having a sale on the droid...i caved...and i bought one. :)

ah coool... do report back and tell us what you think.

i would be curious to hear from someone in our forums.

[guiseppewv]

I though the physical keyboard was okay. I plan on getting one.

What did you like about it? What did you dislike? Inquiring minds want to know. :)

[clutchy]

we need a review Puff.

[Airencracken]

What did you like about it? What did you dislike? Inquiring minds want to know. :)

It needed to be raised a bit more and they keys needed a bit more separation, but it was loads better than any virtual keyboard. Didn't get much time with it, but overall it felt responsive and pretty solid.

[Cheesypuff]

so yesterday, I got home from work and there it was in all its glory...sitting in front of my door (kinda sketch for fedex to do but oh well...i have it).

First impressions of the phone I give it 2 thumbs up. The definite *WOW* factor is the screen. the colors and precision of the screen is shockingly sharp.

The keyboard isn't the best, but it surely isn't the worst. I kind of like the flat keys, they let me slide around the keyboard with ease, the tactile feel of pressing down is kinda weird, but i don't hate it. the only thing i really don't like is the alignment of the keys on the keyboard, it's not the off center alignment like an actual qwerty keyboard, but again, that'll take some getting used to.

the OS is pretty, really easy to use and highly customizable. In regards to lag, there are some points when going through menu's that there is initial lag, but once it gets going, there is essentially no lag.

the best part of the OS is its integration with all your google products. I'm thinking of getting rid of my texting plan and using my google voice exclusively for my texting and voice needs.

so far, the apps aren't anything to jump up and down for, but there are some nice apps. I'm just waiting for the apps to explode since android phones are getting more popular.

if y'all have any questions, do ask. I'll update my likes and dislikes in this tread as time passes. But for now, great phone!

[brainsmile]

Droid is a heavy phone!

[Cheesypuff]

this is true...i do notice it in my pocket a whole lot more than my other cell phone. small price to pay tho for a nice phone =)

[guiseppewv]

What phone did you have before?

My HTC Hero is significantly bigger than my last phone but I had a "dumb" Sony phone before.

[Cheesypuff]

i had this little slider samsung phone, which was also dumb. I would be texting people, and randomly it would cancel the txt and go back to the home screen. Or i'll be scrolling down my address book, and it would also go back to the homescreen at random times.

all in all, the droid is good times...the onscreen keyboard is kinda flaky, but the physical keyboard is starting to grow on me.

[Airencracken]

I'd still rather have a Nokia N900, but no CDMA version. ;_;

[kimchicowboy]

while the droid intrigues me, i'm not too keen with all the google-ness of it.

i'm still hearing rumors the Pre is coming to verizon. i like it's size and heard good stuff from people i know who use it.

[ray]

i'm still hearing rumors the Pre is coming to verizon. i like it's size and heard good stuff from people i know who use it.

It is hitting Verizon Q1 of 2010.

[nate el bueno]

Rumor has it Verizon is releasing a new Android phone on BF. It's supposed to have a 1ghz snapdragon processor, as opposed to the ~525mhz on the Droid.

I believe it's called the Passion. If this happens, you should be able to swap out the Droid for the Passion minus the restocking fee.

[Cheesypuff]

i've heard rumors for that the htc passion also, but it's been lacking news lately, which is why i got the droid instead.

[attgig]

whatever happened to verizon's open network?

[Airencracken]

The passion also lacks a physical keyboard. Which is a deal breaker. For me at least.

[ray]

The passion also lacks a physical keyboard. Which is a deal breaker. For me at least.

agreed

[bachviet]

I'd still rather have a Nokia N900, but no CDMA version. ;_;
I am so tempting to get the Nokia N900 but Amazon still has it on pre-order.

[Winston]

Unlocked Nokia N900 $449 after $100 instant rebate and $50 MIR at Dell

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Phones_with_Carrier_Plan/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&cs=19&sku=A3076016