Motorola Droid- My Take

December 4, 2009 · Comments

Droid Report I purchased my own Motorola DROID (amazon affiliate link) on the day they came out, and have been using it as my primary (only) cell phone for weeks. I left behind the iPhone 3G primarily because of AT&T’s service. I just couldn’t keep a phone call up. My take, after a few weeks of intensive use of the Droid is that it’s a good phone and worthy of your consideration. Let me give you a bit more information.

Motorola Droid – The Good

I’m a Google kind of guy. My email is gmail. I use Google Apps. I use Google Calendar. The phone is built for this. Calendar, Google Voice, and all the other apps really integrate well. I make my calls via Google Voice. I schedule appointments with the same calendar I use on the web. So with that in mind, everything I used worked really seamlessly between the web and the phone (except, oddly, Google Wave, which says it’s not compatible with the browser).

The camera is 5 megapixels, and does stills and video. It’s pretty decent. The “hard” button is in a silly place, and using the soft button wasn’t very simple. But there were all kinds of 3rd party apps in the store to make this easy. The video is HD quality, by the way, which is nice. Oh, and there’s a flash for stills. Eat that, iPhone.

The app store had lots of apps that I was using on the iPhone, including Evernote, PixelPipe, SnapTell, Shazam, Pandora, and more. I’m using Twidroid right now for a Twitter app, though I’m hoping the Seesmic Android app gets better, as I’d like to support Loic LeMeur.

I love the maps feature, which is a lot more like a full function turn-by-turn GPS and blows away the iPhone built-in maps feature. It’s provided by Google and it’s really a threat to Garmin and Tom Tom and the boys.

The 3G network seems pretty darned fast. I have done some comparisons that showed the iPhone winning, and some showing the Droid winning, but in general, I feel like the Internet runs faster on the Droid. Might be a perception. You be the judge.

Motorola Droid – The Bad

The soft keyboard is silly. It’s messy, not very responsive, and requires a lot of patience. The hard keyboard isn’t as good as a blackberry, but after a while, I got used to it.

Battery life is a hair better than an iPhone, but not much. I like that I can buy replacement batteries and swap them out on my own. The guys at AMD told me a lot of the future wars around computer components would be around battery life. This makes me believe them.

Apps crash every now and again (but then, they did on the iPhone, too).

I have only 10,000 apps and iPhone has 100,000 or something. So, sometimes that shows. Now that everyone and their brother is making an iPhone app, I find myself hoping they’re also making Android apps. It’s never fun to be in the “B” category of software crazes. But so far, that’s not hurting me too bad.

I find there are lots of design elements where Apple did it better. The iTunes interaction is much better than the various entertainment products lopped into the Droid. Meaning, the App Store seems smoother than the Android Market. The iTunes part seems better than Droid’s Music app. So, it’s a little bit of what Robert Scoble said, about it not exactly being as ’smooth,’ but I’m holding out that there are more options for improvement.

How I think the Droid Compares

I think people who have a Blackberry should think about the Droid.

I think people who are considering the Palm Pre should think about the Droid.

I think people who are tired of AT&T dropping their calls should think about the Droid.

I think the other Android phones are good, but Droid is Android 2.0 and seems a little bit nicer.

So that’s it. That’s what I think. What about you? And are there any other questions?

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader.

Tagged as: , , , , ,

ChrisBrogan.com runs on the Thesis Theme for WordPress

Thesis WordPress theme

Thesis is the search engine optimized WordPress theme of choice for serious online publishers. If you’re a blogger who doesn’t understand a lot of PHP, Thesis will give a ton of functionality without having to alter any code. For the advanced, Thesis has incredible customization possibilities via Thesis hooks.

With so many design options, you can use the template over and over and never have it look like the same site. The theme is robust and flexible enough not only to accommodate a site like ChrisBrogan.com, but also to enable the site to run far more efficiently than it ever has before.

  • Frank
    To decide what is best for each individual, one must consider what the device was targeted for.

    Win mobile devices are intended for people that are professionals that need access to docs, spreadsheets, and presentation material. They also need a comprehensive contact list with sort functions, calender, task program, and note program. All this tied together in a cohesive package.

    Iphones and droid phones missed the mark at the higher business level. They both have powerful electronic platforms, but target their software to kids and younger adults that want music, games, web surfing, and simple hobby/utility applications.
    They are very weak in higher business apps, especial android phones.

    Blackberrys are effective communication devices, but don't have the extensive application apps as iphone or windows.

    Every smartphone platform has its strengths and weaknesses. They each must be evaluated separately. Good luck with your hunting.
  • jeff
    how about taking contacts from apple macbook to Droid. I have read both apple and moto. web pages on it and I am lost. I am not up to date on a great number of features and I am hoping to actively learn with these two tools being my method to have no one in the office and do it all myself. To do this I need easy communications between the two platforms. Fluid is my goal. As a separate issue has anyone had success with antenna boosters. I have heard Wilson is the best supplier. Home has marginal but functional outside reception. I would love to booster for truck and home.

    Jeff L.
  • AF
    Not as happy with this device as you are. Email downloading is SLOWWWWWW! Takes 5 minutes or longer just to download a few emails and than another 5 minutes or so to view if there is any attachments. Half the attachments can not be viewed. This is a technophilic phone..not a work serious phone. I can't even get anyone from Motorola to explain why my email disappears off the phone once the email is downloaded to my Outlook file on my PC, as soon as the next download occurs on my phone all my email on the phone is automatically deleted. The button position for getting the phone out of sleep mode is incoveniently positioned it seems to me the phone should automatically "awaken" when the home key or some other key on the front panel is hit. My phone has timed out after a call is made while trying to dial an extension number. The web based apps are fast, but not sure that is worth the troubles. Have had the same trouble you have had with the keyboard. Wishing I had kept my Blackberry! I say wait for the next version!
  • Living in Indiana, I have to say Verizon Wireless has the best coverage of the carriers (and far exceeds ATT’s coverage) and so I was ecstatic that they came out with the Droid, since I really wanted an iphone.

    The one major question I have for you Chris (since Jon says you’re the tech expert – and would be a heavy software user), is, from your perspective, how well does the Droid operate with Microsoft Office software – mainly Outlook (of which I am a diehard fan) and the ability to create/edit/view Microsoft Word and Excel? Or do I need to find a conversion software/tool in order to continue my use of these products.

    Thanks for your insight,
    chuck
  • kemae27
    Zhu zhu pets are at the top of my daughter’s Christmas list and I got lucky to find some at retail price. I used http://www.amzpricesniper to do it. It works pretty well. 2 pets for under $20 bucks!
  • Hi Chris,

    Thank you. Your review is really helpful. I'm a BlackBerry user who has resisted the iPhone (if AT&T is bad in Boston, the network has people roaming in their own homes here in DC) and been eyeing Android 2.0. Your experience might just push me to make the switch.

    Best,
    Daria
  • As a loyal Verizon customer, I really appreciate knowing the pros and cons of the Motorola Droid. I'm looking to upgrade from my BlackBerry Curve 8330 in the next few months. I'm not sure how app-savvy I would be on such a device, but I like having the options. I will never downgrade from a smartphone, but I need to decide how smart my phone should be.
  • I really want a Droid, but my concern is the fragile-ness of the screen. I have an LG Voyager right now and well I've been through 5 of them their screens keep cracking.

    So dare I buy a Droid? Or should I head over to RIM and get a Blackberry? Such decisions.

    Chris thanks for your review of this device.
  • Have been using three phones over the past month - Nokia N97, Apple iPhone, and Motorola Droid. Also have b een using them in both US and UK (not the droid which is still US only)

    While I continue to believe that this war is still in its early days, I have to say that Apple is still clearly in the lead in the most important qualities -- usability and user enablement.

    There are more things which can be done more easily with an iPhone than with either of those two other devices.

    You can take potshots at AT&T (please do!) or complain about the lack of a flash on the iPhone, but this is small time compared to the substantially harder issues around user experience and richness of 3rd party apps

    Competitors to apple have a long way to go!
  • destardi
    Hm. I'd say not having a network that's reliable is 'harder' to deal with, vs. a higher learning curve than a 5 year old's, and with Android being available on multiple phones, and multiple carriers.

    By default, this will *quickly* lead to new, better, and 'richer' apps.

    Grab a seat Ted: we're in for a ride with Android.
  • I am biased with a pretty nice ATT network in Charlotte, NC. I don't get dropped calls. And maybe I am lucky, because when I travel, I never have issues with signal. The one exception being in the belly of the iPhone flooded beast like SXSW.

    I have played with the Droid. It is nice. My main complaints are UI. Just does not seem intuitive to me. And I don't need the hard keyboard. But I would definitely agree it is the perfect next step for blackberry users.

    I stand by the iphone. But driod is nice.
  • I'm probably going to need a new phone in the next few months since the plastic over the on/off button on my Motorola Q just started chipping. I want to stay with Verizon, so was very excited to hear about the Droid.

    My problem is that I've been using Outlook for my email, contacts and calendar for years, and need to be able to sync with my phone. I'm just not ready to switch to something web based...I've got too much on my plate to switch everything over and learn a new system.

    So, I'm hoping a future upgrade will allow syncing with Outlook, or that a Droid-like smartphone comes out soon!
  • I have been loving the Droid since I got one a few days after they came out. I agree on the keyboard as it was tough to get use to at first but I got use to it now and its just fine.
  • thanks Chris for willing to support me, it's only a first version of our app, what would you like by order or priority for us to add?
  • Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on the DROID. This post is very helpful for someone like me who's been debating between an iPhone and the DROID. You've just confirmed what I've been reading and hearing from others - go with the DROID!
  • GreenSmithC
    It's always intriguing to me to hear people trash AT&T, I've had it for years, taken it many different places, and haven't had all the dropped calls issues people often talk about. Maybe I'm lucky?

    I recently bought my first iPhone and have really loved how well it's worked, how everything integrates, and, using a Mac with all IMAP emails, how seamlessly it functions with that. Chris, I can see your point, being Googlecentric, that the Droid would nicely fit the bill for you. Me, I use Google indirectly, hosting my email and using Reader via Feedly (Reader is fugly on it's own!) there's not an advantage for me there. I can definitely appreciate the innovations that are likely to come from Google on the Android platform, but being both a fan of good aesthetics and a large community of developers, I'm with iPhone.
  • Marki Conway
    This is a great post for anyone who is in the market for a new smart phone and would like to compare. However, I think there should be some sort of a explanation about AT&T and your dropped calls. It may be the area in which you live that causes your dropped calls. I have used AT&T for almost seven years now and have consistently loved their service. I am not affiliated with AT&T in any way, other than being a satisfied customer. I cannot even remember a dropped call I have ever had, though I am sure it has happened at some point in seven years. Personally, I love their service, and the iPhone. Also, I have always received excellent customer service when I am in the market for an upgrade. The Droid is of course an excellent phone, but I wouldn't recommend AT&T users switch services for it. The iPhone is an amazing product and let's be honest - it's made by Apple and I think we all have a certain level of trust and respect for Apple's innovations in technology.
  • josephdepalma
    I really think a big aspect of me not liking other phones is the keyboard... I use an iPhone, and i've become so accustomed to being able to type quickly, it's very hard to switch to something that isn't heat-sensitive.
  • I like my iPhone. I'm a long-time Apple fan, but I have to admit, this looks like the 1980s and early 90s all over again. Back then Apple came out with the Mac and could have owned the world. Microsoft came out with Windows (yuk and more yuk) but they have ruled the world in that area since then.

    With the phone? Same thing except this time it's Google. Though I like my iPhone, I'm not stupid about it and would definitely consider something else if it worked better.
  • jonnyangel44
    I also ate the cancellation fee with AT&T, on the very day the Droid was introduced but not because of AT&T. I stood in line, in the MN cold, to grab a Droid; like a thirsting man in the desert crawls toward a mirage because I was jumping through impossible hoops to sync my calendar with Mobile Me through BusyCal through Mobil Me to Google, my contacts, in short - my life. Why? Because Apple is once again doing what it did "in the beginning." People ask me, all the time, why I work with a pc system instead of Apple's, especially since I started and stayed with Apple until I was convinced it would wind up back in Wozniak's garage. It is precisely because Apple has marginalized itself, yet again. Yes, I can get 100,000 apps but that would cost about $100,000, so it's not as good as it sounds. Yes, I loved my iPhone and it is hands down more beautiful than my Droid but no, I can't live with the constrictions that make my iPhone limited. This isn't the first time I cheated on Apple, I even tried a Windows based Samsung phone and Microsoft sent me back, screaming, to Apple as fast as Tiger expressed undying love for his wife and once again 'longed' to seek solace and loving with none other than the mother of his children, paying some reported $55,000,000 for just two more years with a lady who once loved him for free. I've now paid three cancellations to AT&T but the bright side is that three ladies can now call 911 from the coolest thing on the planet because I recycled them. Too bad, that Apple and AT&T needed a prenup to keep me. Enjoy the millions Elin, you will earn every penny.
  • Thanks for the review! Glad you brought up the "Blackberry users should consider a Droid" point. I'm kinda weary about giving up my Blackberry...that just might have been my tipping point.
  • odiextian
    I like my Motorola droid a lot. I got it at http://www.amzpricesniper.com at its best reatil price.
  • Thanks for posting the review, I will consider your take when I shop for a smartphone this season.
  • farhatyemoneyhuntercom
    Thanks for the review. As much as I've wanted an iPhone, I've refused to use AT&T as my carrier. I now feel a little bit more confident about giving the Droid a try when I get my next phone

    http://www.emoneyhunter.com
  • dragonblogger
    Nice review of the Droid, currently I am still using a Blackberry on Verizon network, but was interested in the Droid. You wrote a thorough pro's and cons of the device, droid will probably catch up on apps eventually.

    Apple made a poor decision by making the iPhone exclusive to AT&T it would be much more prevalent and dominant had they licensed it to Verizon, Sprint and other networks.
  • That is great Chris. I am thinking about a Droid in the future so your review helped quite a bit.
  • You should try Waze on the Droid m.waze.com great turn by turn navigation with audio, and free!
  • The real question, Chris, is which games on the Droid are the best? Ha! Nice review here. I'm considering the Droid as my next phone since I can't stand AT&T either. Verizon is far superior.
  • Yeah, I heard the keyboard wasn't too great but like to hear the other good stuff about the Droid. Christmas present maybe? We'll think about it Mike...
  • I'm glad you shared....I've been looking at getting an iPhone bur heard a lot of bad stories...I'll have to check this on out...thanks for sharing.
  • josephnamzoff
    I was just about to go out and get an iPhone, partially because my company only allows access to corporate access to iphones and blackberries and I am done with my blackberry! Are other folks having issues with iPhones dropping calls? I am mostly in the Northeast, is it a regional thing? And does the iPhone not work well with google apps? I am definitely looking to use gmail and would love to use google calendar as well...
  • I'm in Massachusetts. And lots of people love the iPhone.
  • mattstubbs
    Thanks Chris. I'm actually a little behind the curve in that I'm still using a 2G iPhone, but after the latest drop and subsequent killing of a few lines of my screen it is past time to be looking for a replacement. I actually left Verizon and switched to the iPhone and AT&T for work. This looks like a good excuse to get a new phone and switch back to a much better network.
  • Chris,

    Thanks man. Great critique on the device. I've just about had it with AT&T as well, and have a ton of rollover to burn before I switch. Been considering a move to one of the two you mention.

    Here's a question. I use Batchbook, Freshbooks, Showboxed, Jott, etc to run my business and love it. One of the main reasons is the iPhone apps.

    Do you by chance know if the Droid or Android 2.0 have supporting apps for these services? I know you used some of these tools a while back. If so, how are they?

    Just curious. Thanks for the review :)
  • No idea, but a great question. They SHOULD, but I hear developers are slow to get to it.
  • Andy Samler
    Twidroid is simply one of the best clients on any platform. Just b/c Loic is your pal doesn't mean you have to promote his app. He's got 6 mill. in the bank whereas Twidroid is built by an army of two. Would have expected a bit more vision from you.
  • I said I was using it, Andy. I also said I hope Seesmic can get theirs in order.

    I can pick whatever app I want and for why I want. Seems like a dopey thing to be disappointed about. A bit more vision? Supporting the little guy just because they're little? So far, I'm supporting them because they're the best app for Twitter. That's vision. Vision is giving people a choice I think works.
  • I opted for the Droid Eris because I had a physical keyboard for a few years on my i760 and frankly, I can type quite a bit faster on the virtual keyboard. I am considering switching to the Motorola Droid but will play around with it in the store for a while first. The first time I liked the feel, size and weight much better with the Eris. The screen is only slightly smaller but there is something to be said about that huge screen on the Droid.

    As for the keyboard on the Droid, you can get an app that gives you the same keyboard that is on the HTC Eris, which I think is pretty darn nice and much easier to type on than the iPhone.
  • TomRoyce
    My favorite app is the one that extends my battery life, Advanced Task Killer "Free". Use it regularly and it kills all the apps I have opened.
  • Bridget
    Thank you bunches for this information. I've downloaded it and it is working great!
  • I use that app all the time!
  • Greate review man....I love my hero and the sense UI is very Iphone esque...being a former ATT guy I hated the coverage and the over charging and while Sprint foot-print is smaller it offers 3G everywhere and where I can't get pure Sprint I use Verizon towers so coverage is really a non-issue and the price is awesome simply everything 99.99....I anxiously await the Android 2.x upgrade but only if it includes the sense updates...best UI experience I've had across all platforms and I've owned them all!
  • I agree with all your assertions. It took me a couple of weeks to untrain my iPhone ways, but now I really love this phone. I even gushed about it here: http://smartic.us/2009/11/30/the-motorola-droid...
  • Thanks for the review! I've heard a lot about people buying the Droid, but I haven't heard much about it's functionality. It's good to see that there's a contender for the iPhone and the Droid is living up to the hype.
  • Chris,

    Interesting take on the Droid. The google stack integration makes the Android platform a solid choice. This blog post appears to offer some relevance to the meaning behind my latest blog posts. I've tracked back to this post to enhance the conversation.

    Trackback is listed below the comments.
  • Cool! What'd you write about?
  • Chris,

    My trackback below is about how AT&T's failings is good news for Android and the Open Handset Alliance.
  • I've been seriously weighing Droid vs. HTC Hero; from reviews i've read the edge on the actual hardware (phone) goes to Droid, but Sprint def seems to offer a more reasonable plan.

    Anyone have experience w/ both Sprint and Verizon? Thoughts?
  • I used to use Sprint years ago, so no new news. I hear they're good, network wise. I think the HTC phones are pretty good.
  • Thanks for thoughts - much appreciated!
  • pdilly
    I think you left out a group of people. The people who are happy with AT&Ts service.
  • Well then awesome. : ) Keep with them. I've had nothing but dropped calls all over the US.
  • Thanks for the review. As much as I've wanted an iPhone, I've refused to use AT&T as my carrier. I now feel a little bit more confident about giving the Droid a try when I get my next phone.
  • rbrianforrester
    Thanks for the review. I left Verizon after 15 years for the iPhone, only to be really disappointed w/ AT& T (as sooo many others are). Now, whenever any asks me about my iPhone, I'm prone to saying "Love my iPhone, Hate my AT&T". I've been thinking about going back to Verizon for the Droid. Honest reviews like your are always a big help.
  • Chris, been an Android guy since the G1 launched last year. Apple will always have a leg up on aesthetics and sleekness, it's just what they do. However, I think the functionality of Android will eclipse the iPhone soon if it hasn't already.

    Great review!

    AJ
  • Nice follow up Chris. I agree with you on the majority. I guess here's some follow-up points from my perspective as I know I added my thoughts on your other post.

    - I can't get the Evernote app to work.
    - As my work email is with a Microsoft Exchange server and I use Outlook to manage my email and contacts, I've found that the Touchdown app from NitroDesk is a better option to connect there.
    - While it's cool that you can run widgets, they suck the life out of the battery
    - I don't like that I have to pay extra for the visual VM. They should have just rolled it into the plans somehow.
    - I do think there are plenty of apps to satisfy my hunger, and look forward to more. d
    - I also anxiously wait for a better music integration app that can possibly sync my iTunes playlists.

    For the most part I recommend the phone for all the reasons you do. It's a really great device, and Verizon service has always been good to me.
  • Oh that's interesting about Evernote. Works fine for me.

    I don't use Exchange. I meant to talk about that.

    Ohhhh! Good feedback about widgets. I'll kill the 3 I added.

    And yes about music.
  • Bought a Droid three days ago ... beginning to like it better today, but it was a learning curve. Frustrated with the current Twitter apps ...seems like there should be better options.
    But all in all ... its working well.
  • I've tried Swift and Twidroid and Seesmic. So far, I'm liking Twidroid.
  • what did you not like about Seesmic? No search etc? We are adding search and lists right now. Tell me! We will do it
  • Thank You ... will try them.

    And I'm still confused, is there a way to get itunes on the droid and/or what app will do that?
  • TomRoyce
    My favorite twitter app for the Droid is the XeeduTweet.
  • Thanks ... will try it out.
  • I've been looking at the phones that have the Android OS and while the Droid looks ok, I'm probably going to go with the HTC Eris, because of price. I have a friend w/ an HTC T-Mobile phone and he gives it and the Android OS high marks. I want to stick with Verizon, so I'm glad I held out. Now, if my new every two deal discounts the Motorola Droid heavily, then I might head that way. But the Droid Eris will probably be mine.
  • scottbauman
    Thanks Chris. I continue to like my Droid and your comments are helpful.

    Scott
  • TomRoyce
    What is the camera app that you are using to make the Droid work better? Fight with the buttons all the time.
  • andreapegg
    Chris, thanks for the review! I was just researching these this past week and literally walked into Best Buy this morning with more questions. I should have checked my Twitter feed first. :)

    Thanks,
    A
    @_wordgirl
blog comments powered by Disqus

Previous post:

Next post: