Droid. Does anybody have one?

[Dogmama]

I'm a sucker for gadgets and this one really looks cool. Anybody have one? I've heard this is Verizon's answer to the Blackberry. My Verizon phone - which I LOVE - is finally dying. Just in time. <insert evil laugh>

[Medianox]

No...not yet, but I will by next Monday.
I drooled over my friends iPhones, but held back buying one(not loving AT&T service for one thing). A few months ago I heard the rumblings about what motorola was doing and was intrigued...since then I have become slightly obsessed with the droid....my poor DH has had to listen to me go on about it, and I sent him links to a whole bunch of reviews. I admit, I'm geeky enough that a good techie gadget can set my heart to racing and make my palms sweat-droid does that to me for sure. :D

I still have my original verizon flip-type phone, and havent really upgraded anything in over 5 years so I think the time has come!

[OakLeaf]

I'm not eligible for a new phone 'til February... just enough time for the problems in the Droid to shake themselves out and let me decide whether I want one or not. ;)

Is it as huge and heavy as it seems from the specs? That's not so much of a problem for me - since if I get one, I'll be replacing a flip phone and an iPod Touch and a compact camera - but it seems like a "big" issue for people wanting to switch from iPhones.

[ny biker]

I don't even know how old my phone is, and I'm not planning to get a new one until I have to. But I did see this review of the Droid on Friday.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/06/AR2009110600959.html

I've learned a lot from reading this guy's columns -- he helped me buy a new TV and laptop this year.

BTW re: qualifying for a free new phone every 2 years, if you don't get a phone after 2 years and you just remain a satisfied Verizon customer without a contract to force you to stay with them instead of switching to a new provider, they won't let you get a free phone when you need one. They're willing to give expensive incentives to people who like new gadgets whether they need them or not, but loyal customers can f*** off.

[Flur]

It might be Motorola and Google's answer to the Blackberry, but Verizon carries Blackberries, and is the sole carrier with the BB Storm 2, the closest BB competition to the Droid - I'm sure they'd be more than happy to to sell you either phone :)

I'm intrigued and am interested in getting into a Verizon store to look at one. They do look really big, but it's hard to tell without handling one in person. I didn't realize how tiny the Palm Pre was until I saw in person (and couldn't put it down).

[Becky]

BTW re: qualifying for a free new phone every 2 years, if you don't get a phone after 2 years and you just remain a satisfied Verizon customer without a contract to force you to stay with them instead of switching to a new provider, they won't let you get a free phone when you need one. They're willing to give expensive incentives to people who like new gadgets whether they need them or not, but loyal customers can f*** off.

Even if you sign a new contract at the time that you choose to upgrade? :confused:

(I don't have Verizon for my personal phone, just the work one, so I don't know anything about their terms and conditions.)

[OakLeaf]

Hmmmmm. That must be a new policy with Verizon, because the only time I got a new phone within my "new every 2" upgrade period was last time when I dropped my old one in a portajohn... The two times before that, I've gotten the upgrade discount no problem.

[OakLeaf]

I didn't realize how tiny the Palm Pre was until I saw in person (and couldn't put it down).

Which is exactly why I never wanted any Palm phone. The screens are so tiny as to be useless. I was a loyal Palm PDA user for years, but their phones have never interested me. If/when I get a combination phone, it'll be iPhone or Droid (or the next "big" thing ;))

[Flur]

Which is exactly why I never wanted any Palm phone. The screens are so tiny as to be useless. I was a loyal Palm PDA user for years, but their phones have never interested me. If/when I get a combination phone, it'll be iPhone or Droid (or the next "big" thing ;))

Actually the Pre's screen is almost the same size as the iphone. The pixel count is the same, but the screen is just a little bit smaller, so the text and images are much more sharp. It's the overall size of the phone that's noticeably smaller - less physical space around the screen. This is a big deal to me as I carry my phone in my pocket when I'm going from meeting to meeting at work and a big phone makes my pants look funny. LOL!

BTW, if you're on Verizon, the iphone is scheduled to make its appearance on Verizon this spring.

[ny biker]

The last time I got a new phone they told me I was not allowed to have a discount because I had been without a contract for several years. And yes I had to sign a new contract with my full-priced new phone. That contract expired a long time ago. A few months ago I got an offer in the mail saying I could get a free new phone, but that offer had an expiration date on it. And since there's nothing wrong with my current phone and it meets my needs, I didn't get a new one.

[Possegal]

I just got a new phone in August with Verizon, a good couple years after my 2-yr contract was up. I got a rebate/discount on the phone I bought.

[Flur]

The last time I got a new phone they told me I was not allowed to have a discount because I had been without a contract for several years. And yes I had to sign a new contract with my full-priced new phone. That contract expired a long time ago. A few months ago I got an offer in the mail saying I could get a free new phone, but that offer had an expiration date on it. And since there's nothing wrong with my current phone and it meets my needs, I didn't get a new one.

Have you tried threatening to leave? I'm on Sprint, and if you're unhappy with something they do you can call and ask to be transferred to the Retentions dept. to get what you want. They'll do just about anything for you if you threaten to leave. I also like them b/c I get full discount on a new phone every year if I want one.

[MomOnBike]

I find it interesting that the reviews don't say much about the phone function of these phones. I can find out all about the apps, etc., but not a word on how well I can hear my daughter's voice. (Sigh.)

I do think the GPS-like function the Droid has is interesting. I couldn't help but wonder if I could use it on a bike tour.

In any case, I don't have the money to get one in the near future - I'll just have to wait until the technology matures a bit more.

[OakLeaf]

I can find out all about the apps, etc., but not a word on how well I can hear my daughter's voice. (Sigh.)

It's Verizon. 'Nuff said. (And if you mean audio output quality rather than the network, music is much higher resolution than voice - anything that's a half decent music player won't be an issue in voice conversations.)


I couldn't help but wonder if I could use it on a bike tour.

That's been addressed here w/r/t the iPhone several times, and the short answer is no - unless maybe you plan to carry at least one and possibly two spare batteries, plus the capacity to charge all your batteries at overnight stops. By all reports the Droid's battery life is about the same as the iPhone's (which is only a few hours when it's being used for navigation). The Droid's big advantage in that department is that its replaceable battery lets you carry a fully charged spare or two.

Bottom line is for navigation without a way to charge your device on the road, it's Garmin or nothing.

[Irulan]

BTW re: qualifying for a free new phone every 2 years, if you don't get a phone after 2 years and you just remain a satisfied Verizon customer without a contract to force you to stay with them instead of switching to a new provider, they won't let you get a free phone when you need one. They're willing to give expensive incentives to people who like new gadgets whether they need them or not, but loyal customers can f*** off.

no such problems with ATT. My contracts been out for several years now and I've got tons of free phones to choose from. just haven't decided what to get, yet. I second the "call and tell you what you want" department.

[MomOnBike]

anything that's a half decent music player won't be an issue in voice conversations

True, but only if the words come through. My old phone (a Motorola, FWIW), picked up every word. With my new one, it sounds to me like the reception is fuzzy. The phone's sound quality is good, I can hear every crackle and pop, and about every other word. I think it's antenna problems, or something.

That still kind of misses the point I was trying to make (whine about). Phone reviews seem to be all about the neat apps, not about whether or not you can hold a conversation. I take my phone to some fairly iffy places, reception-wise, and would like to know if it has the antenna power for me to, you know, use the thing as a phone. /rant

As far as using a Droid as a GPS, the review I read talked about it having a special docking port to put on the car's dash, which would presumably take care of the battery issue. This struck a cord, as DH's Garmin has this cute little habit of running out of battery about halfway through rides and car trips to see relatives.

For myself, I'd probably use the GPS function only when needed, like trying to navigate in an unfamiliar town. I hope I have enough confidence in my navigational abilities to make it down a long straight road all by myself. :)

[OakLeaf]

As far as using a Droid as a GPS, the review I read talked about it having a special docking port to put on the car's dash, which would presumably take care of the battery issue. This struck a cord, as DH's Garmin has this cute little habit of running out of battery about halfway through rides and car trips to see relatives.

For myself, I'd probably use the GPS function only when needed, like trying to navigate in an unfamiliar town. I hope I have enough confidence in my navigational abilities to make it down a long straight road all by myself. :)

Yeah, that's basically it, you're fine if you have a vehicle you can plug/hardwire it into. Not so much on a bici.

Which Garmin does your DH have? And how long does he ride? My 301 and 705 have always been good for 12 hours, and if I won't be near a power outlet or computer overnight, I can recharge them with a AA battery pack. I'll bet if he isn't getting good battery life, he can get a replacement. Garmin customer service is top-notch. (As long as you call... forget about trying to contact them by email. One rep I talked to on the phone said they get like 40,000 emails a day.)

Personally, I don't have the navigational abilities to make it down a long straight road... :rolleyes:

[Medianox]

Personally, I don't have the navigational abilities to make it down a long straight road... :rolleyes:[/QUOTE]

LOL-:)OMG I'm glad I'm not the only one....
A few years ago when I worked in a large hospital (I had worked there close to 10 years), they were doing some remodeling in the basement and I got lost taking a patient to the cath lab-darn good thing it wasn't urgent!
Like I always tell my friends, everyone has a gift...mine is a gift for getting lost.

Thats one reason I'm interested in the droid, surely can't hurt, if I have it in my jersey pocket at least I can consult it for directions while I'm out riding.
Believe me, I'll be getting the car mount also if I decide to get the phone.
Earliest I can go play with one is next Monday.:(

[MomOnBike]

Oh, I'm not necessarily blaming the Garmin. I suspect the problem is that DH does not do preventive maintenance, so the Garmin runs out of battery in the middle of rides. Still, 12 hours is kind of pushing it for the drives we take to see relatives - more so now that I'm under orders to take frequent breaks.

I'm pretty proud of my navigational abilities. That's one thing my dad did right. He'd saddle up a couple of horses, take me to the top of a mountain, and then it was my job to get us home. We often took the "scenic route," but I always got us back. It was good practice.

So yeah, I want a phone that will work in areas with spotty reception, and help finding what I need in strange towns. I'm looking hard at a Droid.

[OakLeaf]

12 hours is kind of pushing it for the drives we take to see relatives

Office supply stores and electronics stores carry adapters so you can plug a USB charging cable into a cigarette lighter slot.

Oh, and on our ride yesterday in darkest Fairfield County, Ohio (and not the suburban end of the county), we rode by a SUV with signs on the doors saying "Motorola" "Mobile Phone Testing in Progress." Now, I resisted the temptation to shake him down for his Droid, so I don't know which phones they were testing, but it was interesting to see it being done by the manufacturer, not the service provider.


OT: I wonder if directional sense isn't more innate. I actually attribute my poor directional sense to childhood experience. When I don't know where I am, my first instinct is to panic like a five-year-old trying to protect her two-year-old sister :rolleyes:, and that's definitely no help as an adult. Even when I don't panic, I'm not good at parsing out the "big picture" around me. In my favor, I'm really good at reading maps...

[GLC1968]

OT: I wonder if directional sense isn't more innate. I actually attribute my poor directional sense to childhood experience. When I don't know where I am, my first instinct is to panic like a five-year-old trying to protect her two-year-old sister :rolleyes:, and that's definitely no help as an adult. Even when I don't panic, I'm not good at parsing out the "big picture" around me. In my favor, I'm really good at reading maps...

I'm the same way. Give me a gander at a map and I'm good to go using only my memory ... but without one? I can get lost in a paper bag. Seriously, I get confused getting off elevators in department stores (where I used to work!) if the displays were changed/moved. I rely on landmarks - innate sense of left/right/north/south does NOT exist for me and never has.

And more on topic - I dont have a Droid, but I'd like to encourage everyone go buy one. Get a Droid from MOT or go get the 3G iphone - both will make me and my company very happy. Thanks! ;)

[Dogmama]

I'm the same way. Give me a gander at a map and I'm good to go using only my memory ... but without one? I can get lost in a paper bag. Seriously, I get confused getting off elevators in department stores (where I used to work!) if the displays were changed/moved. I rely on landmarks - innate sense of left/right/north/south does NOT exist for me and never has.



OMG - that's me!! I'll ALWAYS take the wrong turn off of an elevator. I have zero sense of direction.

I wish the Droid/Garmin/Whatever would work in malls, department stores, etc. Like - "go to Banana Republic, turn left..."