Motorola Driod Phone

[Tasmen]

I'm also considering a Droid when my t-mobile contract is up in March. I was leaning towards getting an iPhone until I heard about the droid phones (and the Verizon exclusive disney parks service coming soon to a Verizon phone near you). Plus I have a friend that works for Verizon and she keeps trying to send me subliminal and NOT so subliminal messages to go Verizon

I've heard the screen is phenomenal. But talking to a co-worker that has a series 1 android phone (the t-mobile google phone), he says that there are serious issues with the memory and running apps. The amount of memory available in the phone is somewhat limited and you are not allowed to install apps to a memory card. You really can only use a memory card for music, media, etc. You end up having apps run off the same system memory that the phone itself has to run off of and that causes lag/delays when you have a ton of apps installed.

What I'm curious about is how folks are finding the memory performance of the new phones?

 

[PAcpl]

I've heard the screen is phenomenal. But talking to a co-worker that has a series 1 android phone (the t-mobile google phone), he says that there are serious issues with the memory and running apps. The amount of memory available in the phone is somewhat limited and you are not allowed to install apps to a memory card. You really can only use a memory card for music, media, etc. You end up having apps run off the same system memory that the phone itself has to run off of and that causes lag/delays when you have a ton of apps installed.

That was due to the device your friend was running, those issues didn't have much to do with Android. There are also task manager apps in Google Marketplace you can run to kill programs that are running in the background of your device.

Droid was built with the same processor and web kit as the iPhone. No speed issues here

 

[scrapquitler]

My husband got the Motorola Droid for Verizon on Tuesday evening. It crashed twice in the car between the store and home, and keeps locking up and randomly rebooting whenever it feels like it. We looked online, and this seems to not be an uncommon problem, but we read that Verizon will exchange it for a new one with no hassles. So this afternoon it's going back and we'll see if (hopefully) its just a buggy phone and we'll keep our fingers crossed that the new one will be working better. If not, that will go back and he'll get a different phone. Afterall, thats why they give you 30 days to exchange. Now if they try to charge me that restocking fee, they'll have a fight on their hands, but I doubt it will be an issue because we've got an obvious defective phone.

 

[mommykds]

We bought 2 Droids last Saturday. By Sunday my DH's kept shutting off for no reason. We checked the battery & could not figure out why it would keep shutting off. Mine just shut off & never came back on. I went to return both on Monday & was told they could not take them back because we did not have the box (we had mailed the rebates & used the UPC on the box) Anyway, I persisted as the phones were only 2 days old. Well they echanged my DH's phone. They gave me the phone but not the box which was fine. They would not exchange mine because there is a tiny scratch on the black part of the phone. Their district manager said the scratch was why the phone did not work so I explained that my DH's phone would not work either & his had no scratch of any kind. Well they just kept telling me I could not exchange it. So one of the verizon reps gave me a new battery & the phone went on..so I figured that would be that..well an hour later the phone started heating up. It was so hot I could feel in on my back from my backpack. So I brought it back & the Verizon rep said it was a manufacturers defect & should be able to return it but as she tried to the district manager (on the phone) said no. He actually threatened to fire her & she had to leave the store crying. It was nuts. After 2 hours of them calling other managers trying to get a straight answer I left (had to go get my kids). So my DH called up Verizon, got shuffled around but after much explaination we were told that it was a manufacturers defect & covered & a new phone would be shipped to us. That was the day before yesterday & no phone yet but yesterday was a holiday so I am going to give them a couple days more & then call them back if a new phone does not arrive.

By the way, there were 2 other couples in the store also returning/exchanging too. Maybe that store had a bad batch or something but I have never seen such chaos in a store before.

 

[Mommy2three]

I've had my android since tuesday and haven't had any problems with it. I downloaded the slacker radio app and that is a great app too. lots of different music to pick from. Haven't had any problems with my phone shutting down, over heating, etc. Can get on the web just fine and can use all the other apps that came on the phone just fine with no problem. I know an over the air update/bug fix will be available dec 11th they are saying and then another one in Jan. Bugs are expected as i see it since it is a brand new phone, and its just not a phone, but a mini computer. The days are gone where a person needs a laptop/cell phone/gps all seperate. This phone has it all in one!

 

[DeluxePrincess]

Those of you with problems, please post how they get resolved. I'm considering this phone when my contract expires in a few months. I've never owned a smart phone before, so if it is filled with constant hassles, I'll just stick to my regular cell.

 

[princessdi81]

It is a GREAT phone! I got mine on Friday 11/6 (debut day!) and am absolutely obsessed with it. I think it is well worth the money and easy to use! It has many great apps as well! I was hesitant about purchasing a phone that was just released, but I'm glad I did - I've had no problems thus far!

 

[FireDancer]

Any tech gadget will have an infant mortality rate (broken out of the box to some extent) but they will be replaced. I know no one that doesn't like their droid that has it but some had to get a quick do over from Verizon because they got a bad unit.

 

[HowlinNC]

Ohh man I really want one, but my contract isnt up till the summer.
But I do have a question, what do you have to do to be eligable for a upgrade without having to wait for your contract to be up (if u can even do that)

Pay the full amount is what I was told, something like $499.


This is the first phone that I can recall Verizon producing when customers were not permitted to upgrade and sign a new 2 year on the spot.


Doesn't make sense to me at all. I want it now.

 

[scrapquitler]

So I went the other day to exchange my husband's Droid...and there was no problem at all. They exchanged it, and he has been using it non-stop, with zero crashes or lock ups since Thursday. He is very happy. Thank goodness!

For the poster looking for info about upgrading before your contract is expired: I think that they do have some sort of upgrade discount available IF you are willing to renew your contract for the next two years...but there might be some kind $$ involved.

 

[Scurvy]

I activated mine on Friday and I've been very happy with it so far. I haven't had any real problems, except for the camera autofocus issue. But since the December software update is supposed to address that I'm not too worried about it. I was having a few glitches that I thought might be problems which turned out not to be. For example, the buttons on the bottom of the screen kept flashing on and off. But it turns out that's because I have the brightness set on auto and the light was turning on when a shadow fell across the phone and off when light hit it. I think many problems that I've seen mentioned elsewhere are probably things like that, where the user just isn't familiar enough with the phone yet to know what is normal or how to set everything to get the best performance from the phone. Obviously some phones do have real problems, but Verizon seems to be good about replacing the ones that have actual hardware issues. So far mine seems not to have any of those types of problems. Hardware-wise I am very happy with the phone. It is a little bulky but it's worth it to me because I really wanted a physical keyboard.

I have not added any apps yet simply because I suspect that some of the problems I've been hearing about on other forums are caused by apps that are not fully compliant with Android 2.0 yet. I'll probably start adding some today, but I intend to take it slowly so that I'll be able to tell what is causing any problems I might start having. Anyone have any recommendations for good apps that are worth adding?

 

[sorcerormickey]

My BF ordered his over the weekend, just waiting for it to ship. I am keeping my fingers crossed for no problems - he is hard enough on phones as it is.

 

[golfgal]

Not even close. The price of the monthly plan will be $30 + whatever plan you have and the phone will be $199 ($299 - $100 mail in rebate).

I have a Palm (which I hate but have to have for work) so I already have the unlimited data plan on my phone, will I have to pay another fee for a data plan if I get DS17 a Droid? Can you get the Droid WITHOUT the data plan since he never uses email anyway? He will use it for the games, phone, texting.

Also, is there a difference between the Droid and Android or are they the same thing? If there is a difference, what is it?

 

[Scurvy]

I have a Palm (which I hate but have to have for work) so I already have the unlimited data plan on my phone, will I have to pay another fee for a data plan if I get DS17 a Droid? Can you get the Droid WITHOUT the data plan since he never uses email anyway? He will use it for the games, phone, texting.

Also, is there a difference between the Droid and Android or are they the same thing? If there is a difference, what is it?

You have to pay the $30 for each phone with the data plan, so $60 for two. It is required for the Droid. It seems they are moving that direction for most phones (at least those other than the little flip phones) because as of last week even the EnV Touch has started requiring one of the data plans, though not the full $30 one at least, and it isn't required if you have one of the "Connect" plans. (ETA - The $30 plan is still required for the Droid whether you have the Connect plan or not.)

I'm sure Firedancer can explain better, but Droid is the name of the specific phone. There are lots of Andriod phones, and many more should be coming out soon. Andriod is the operating system the phones run on, which is based on Linux (as opposed to Windows or an Apple system.)

 

[FireDancer]

I have a Palm (which I hate but have to have for work) so I already have the unlimited data plan on my phone, will I have to pay another fee for a data plan if I get DS17 a Droid? Can you get the Droid WITHOUT the data plan since he never uses email anyway? He will use it for the games, phone, texting.

Also, is there a difference between the Droid and Android or are they the same thing? If there is a difference, what is it?

If you get the Droid it will need its own data plan. Data isn't only email but web surfing, streaming, etc. If you get the phone without it save the money and just buy a "dumb" phone. You DO NOT NEED the $45 corporate plan for email, even if you do get exchange mail though. The $30 will suffice. There might be a way to do a family plan and share data but I doubt it and that would have to be a question for a Verizon Wireless rep.

Android is the operating system and Droid is the model of a phone from Motorola. If you buy a Dell Dimension computer that comes with Windows 7 the analogy would be:

Android = Windows
Motorola = Dell
Demension = Droid

Android is currently available in 3 versions. 1.5(Cupcake), 1.6(Doughnut), 2.0(Eclair). The Droid is currently the only phone in the US running 2.0. The main differences are with the UI and Map integration but more will be coming in the future. The Droid has a better processor (the same one as the iPhone actually) to take advantage of the upgrades to 2.0 and th future proof the phone a bit.

 

[golfgal]

I went and looked at the Droids at Verizon. DS can upgrade his phone in February so I think we might do that for Christmas-he will just have to wait to get it until Feb.

 

[shirleyb]

I'm due for new phones on our plan, but I've been holding off.

I've been considering the Samsung Rogue, and also the HTC Android. How does this Droid compare? Anyone have any insight?

 

[shirleyb]

I'm due for new phones on our plan, but I've been holding off.

I've been considering the Samsung Rogue, and also the HTC Android. How does this Droid compare? Anyone have any insight?

Anyone?

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Anyone?

DD just got the Rogue. She loves it. It is only $9.99 more a month vs $29.99 for the Droid Data package. That's all I know! She can check her email on it easily. I have heard good things about the Droid. I would get one if it was not $29.99 extra a month!

 

[FireDancer]

I'm due for new phones on our plan, but I've been holding off.

I've been considering the Samsung Rogue, and also the HTC Android. How does this Droid compare? Anyone have any insight?

The biggest difference is that any phone running Android will have a larger ecosystem. The Rogue will be limited in functionality compared to any Android/Blackberry/iPhone/etc phone simply because of the operating system.

If the Rogue fits your needs than the cost savings may be worth it. If you want the added functions of an Android phone and the cost justifies it than it is the choice.

The HTC Eris (I assume this is the one you mean) comes with Android 1.5 and not 2.0 which is an older version of the OS. 2.0 has a different UI and improved maps. There are other differences that you can find with a Google search. The Droid also has a more powerful processor making applications that are processor heavy run better.