Verizon customers - Recommend a phone please

[pixiewings71]

We got new phones in November...now we wish we had waited because we both want Droids. LOL OP I'd get a Droid, I won't be waiting for the iPhone to come to Verizon, when/if it does then I'll get one but until then I'll go with what they have.

 

[golfgal]

I bolded the important part there. If you're waiting for the iPhone on Verizon, there's no way to tell how long you'll be waiting.

If you want a new phone now, get one.

For what it's worth, I know quite a few people with Droids and quite a few with iPhones. I've heard nothing but good things from both groups.

Personally, even though I'm a tech guy (software developer) and even write apps for the iPhone, I have little interest in a smart phone of any kind. I use my phone to call and text and that's all I need it to do. So I was rather annoyed that Verizon has started requiring data plans for almost all of their phones with QWERTY keyboards. They just recently started requiring it for the Envy's. I think they are down to 2 or 3 QWERTY phones that don't require a data plan.

I think the data plan has more do to with kids, texting images, accessing the internet on their phones not understanding that mom and dad did not pay for the data plan and having these HUGE bills Verizon (and other companies) were then expected to write off.

 

[2girlsmom]

If you are getting a Droid, and I highly recommend one, I would rank them in this order.

1. Droid 2 (Not available until next month)
2. Droid X
3. Droid Incredible
4. Droid
5. The other Droid models are under powered and run much older software, there is a reason they are giving them away.

If you do not need a physical slide out keyboard, then you can get the Droid X now as the keyboard is the main advantage of the Droid 2. (Droid 2 is also smaller if that matters) Droid X and Incredible are in very short supply and won't ship until August if purchased online. You may be able to find a Droid X at the store, but after this weekend you probably will have to wait until August for new supply to arrive.

Bolded is not accurate, I have HTC Droid Eris, dh has Incredible, they have the SAME software, they did start out with different, but got the upgraded software a couple months ago. DH's has a flash and more memory for storage of music, pics, etc. And it is a LITTLE bit faster processing on internet than mine, not a significant difference in speed though. I love my Eris, so much that 2 months after I got mine, my best friend and her husband got them too.

 

[vettechick99]

Droid!!

 

[creativeamanda]

Bolded is not accurate, I have HTC Droid Eris, dh has Incredible, they have the SAME software, they did start out with different, but got the upgraded software a couple months ago. DH's has a flash and more memory for storage of music, pics, etc. And it is a LITTLE bit faster processing on internet than mine, not a significant difference in speed though. I love my Eris, so much that 2 months after I got mine, my best friend and her husband got them too.

Thank you. That's the phone I had and I knew that information was not accurate. All of the Droid phones have upgraded software.

I love my Eris and the op can probably get it at no cost.

Oh, and my battery life on my Eris is a LOT longer than my friend who has an iPhone.

 

[arminnie]

As for Droid vs i-Phone, I work with folks with both and Droid seems to be the winner.

I don't know know about the Droid but I despise my iphone. Well maybe not the iphone but the AT&T service. I have dropped calls SO often that my friends just expect it.

My contract expires in about a month. I'm not sure about Verizon or going with Sprint (who I had for years and years before the iphone). I can't wait to get rid of AT&T.

My sister is a MAC consultant and is absolutely a fanantic about anything made by Apple. She gave me the iphone for a birthday present when she was really in bad financial shape so I really appreciate her sacrifice to give me the iphone. Which is the ONLY reason I kept it for two years.

 

[disney11fan]

I'm due for a new phone under the new every 2 yr plan.

What should I get?

I have an LG Dare right now and it is OK, nothing special.

I'm considering getting one of the Droids. My DH thinks I should wait to see if they come out with the I-Phone soon, but I don't want to wait b/c my LG Dare is not holding a charge like it used to.

I get a $100 credit for the new every 2 yr, plus I get a discount through work so I'm not really concerned about $$$$. I just want a phone that is easy to use, mostly used for talking, texting, and internet. We have the premium family share plan w/ the VZ navigator, etc.

Also, if you recommend the Droid, which one and tell me about the data plan I have to purchase. Is that a one-time deal or a monthly fee?

TIA!

Do you have to text and use the internet. If you don't have to get a tracphone. Phones are dirt cheap and the minutes for both local and long distance run about .09 cents a minute. Tracphone is also offering unlimted minutes but I don't have that information in front of me. We use tracphone and it works great.

 

[maciec]

just a heads up on the $100 credit. if you're referring to the "new every two" credit, it's changed. as of march, i think, those that in the past received $100, will get $50 towards a new phone. I was up for my new every two and they only gave me $50. just double check. hopefully you'll still get the $100, but don't be surprised if you don't.

Yup, same for me. They no longer give the $100 credit. And if you have a family plan, only the primary on the account gets the credit.

 

[bonoriffic]

Bolded is not accurate, I have HTC Droid Eris, dh has Incredible, they have the SAME software, they did start out with different, but got the upgraded software a couple months ago. DH's has a flash and more memory for storage of music, pics, etc. And it is a LITTLE bit faster processing on internet than mine, not a significant difference in speed though. I love my Eris, so much that 2 months after I got mine, my best friend and her husband got them too.

I didn't want to get too technical so I made a generic statement, but in a few days it will be an accurate statement. Droid Eris and Motorola Devour are the other Android phones for Verizon. Both are under powered, which is the reason they will NOT be getting Android 2.2 software. The Android 2.2 software will ship with Droid 2, and Droid X and Droid 1 will be updated in August. Incredible should be updated soon as well. Android 2.2 is a major update that adds many new features and significant performance increases. LG Ally is also a low end phone but it is too new to know if it will be getting the update.

 

[creativeamanda]

I didn't want to get too technical so I made a generic statement, but in a few days it will be an accurate statement. Droid Eris and Motorola Devour are the other Android phones for Verizon. Both are under powered, which is the reason they will NOT be getting Android 2.2 software. The Android 2.2 software will ship with Droid 2, and Droid X and Droid 1 will be updated in August. Incredible should be updated soon as well. Android 2.2 is a major update that adds many new features and significant performance increases. LG Ally is also a low end phone but it is too new to know if it will be getting the update.

And just what is the difference between 2.1 and 2.2?

 

[LoraJ]

And just what is the difference between 2.1 and 2.2?

I *think* it's supposed to have flash support in web browsing? 720p video recording and not sure about the other stuff.

 

[AshleyW]

Here's a good overview, straight from the horse's mouth, about the Android 2.2 platform:

http://developer.android.com/sdk/android-2.2-highlights.html

If it were me, I'd hold out for the Droid 2 so I could get a physical keyboard. If the physical keyboard isn't a priority, I'd hold out until they update the Droid X with Android 2.2 and then upgrade to that one.

 

[ndelaware]

I don't know know about the Droid but I despise my iphone. Well maybe not the iphone but the AT&T service. I have dropped calls SO often that my friends just expect it.

My contract expires in about a month. I'm not sure about Verizon or going with Sprint (who I had for years and years before the iphone). I can't wait to get rid of AT&T.

My sister is a MAC consultant and is absolutely a fanantic about anything made by Apple. She gave me the iphone for a birthday present when she was really in bad financial shape so I really appreciate her sacrifice to give me the iphone. Which is the ONLY reason I kept it for two years.

The problem is the phone, not the network.

 

[daisyx3]

You don't have to upgrade just because your phone is 2 years old (unless you are my DD#2, who's phone died almost exactly at the 2 year mark, almost as if it wa planned that way ). I've upgraded a couple of times and regretted not having my old phone. I have a voyager now and can upgrade in the winter, but have no plans to. Every time we upgrade for "free" we get a boatload of charges, etc. and usually it costs more (oh you "have" to get an internet plan for this phone, it's required).
Of course, I'm old and just use it for texts, calls and the occasional photo.
Daisyx3

 

[sunlover13]

Again, thanks for all the suggestions.

I thought I put in my original post I need to upgrade b/c my phone is no longer holding a charge so it is slowly dying........So, it's not a matter of upgrading just b/c my 2 yrs is up. It is b/c my phone is not as good as it used to be and I'm ready for something new.

I might try to hold out (if I can) until the new Droid is out and then see which one I want to get. I have the VZ navigator on mine right now and when coming the 3 droids out there now, only 1 of them has VZ navigator which I find kind of strange. Do these other phones have their own navigation system or application for navigation????

Also, some have questioned the $50 or $100 off for new every 2. When I go online to Verizon, it is giving me $100 for the new every 2, not $50. You can see how much the phone will cost, etc. online.

Thanks again for the suggestions.

 

[jlmarr]

I don't know know about the Droid but I despise my iphone. Well maybe not the iphone but the AT&T service. I have dropped calls SO often that my friends just expect it.

We had such problems with the AT&T service that we switched to Verizon a few years ago and still have "dumb" phones. I don't want to lock in another two years by accepting a cell phone refresh, and am anxiously awaiting iPhone being available on Verizon - I suspect there are a lot of others like us.

 

[bonoriffic]

I have the VZ navigator on mine right now and when coming the 3 droids out there now, only 1 of them has VZ navigator which I find kind of strange. Do these other phones have their own navigation system or application for navigation????

Android provides built in turn by turn navigation as well as current position GPS map view. You can also see real time traffic as well as location of anyone else with a Google Latitude enabled phone.

 

[creativeamanda]

Android provides built in turn by turn navigation as well as current position GPS map view. You can also see real time traffic as well as location of anyone else with a Google Latitude enabled phone.

This is an excellent advantage of the Android network, making a GPS or Garmin totally unneeded. I think VZ Navigator costs like $9 a month? Then take that amount off of your increase for having a Droid.

THis is just me, but I prefer having a phone that's been out for a while. When I traded up to the Eris, I had had a Blackberry Curve that would not hold a charge. The battery for the Curve was $40. The Eris was free. I researched it and the Incredible, because it was coming out at the same time (which I also could have gotten for free--I don't know why Verizon likes us so much). I finally settled on the Eris because I knew the reports of problems and knew problems have been corrected. I would personally let a phone be out at least 2 months before I get it to work the bugs out.

Others don't feel that way--that's why there is such a wide range of choices.

 

[golfgal]

Can original Droid users do a download of the 2.2 or is it just for new phones?

 

[creativeamanda]

Can original Droid users do a download of the 2.2 or is it just for new phones?

It's just for new users. YOu should have had an update to 2.1 this past week.