Frustrated. Need help in this decision :(

[kraze0g]

unfortunately im at a crossroads..
-- i love the android OS... however for every positive thing the eris does, it seems there's a negative also (in terms of bugs, etc, i mean c'mon youtube???).. i have until Jan. 13th or whatnot to return it and exchange for another phone - im just wondering, what do you guys ultimately think, MOTO DROID OR HTC DROID ERIS? are they both experiencing the same amount of bugs? whats the positives and negatives of each?

it seems like all i've gotten from the HTC ERIS is a slick looking phone that is filled with bugs.. yet i love the way the phone looks, but looks are not everything.

i only got one reply when asking this question and it was this..

Motorola Droid is running on 2.01 which is a better more stable OS than 1.5 which the Eris runs on.
Moto Droid packs a bit more power and it's provides faster web browsing
Moto Droid allows multiple G-Mail accounts, Eris doesn't.
Moto Droid comes with 16GB memory, Eris with 8.
Go for the Motorola Droid...

Anyone want to counter this argument? otherwise, back to verizon store i go and lose a very nice looking phone for something that won't frustrate me.

thank you for anyone that can give me some good insight, not biased but honest insight.

 

[BottledHate]

Spoiler

unfortunately im at a crossroads..
-- i love the android OS... however for every positive thing the eris does, it seems there's a negative also (in terms of bugs, etc, i mean c'mon youtube???).. i have until Jan. 13th or whatnot to return it and exchange for another phone - im just wondering, what do you guys ultimately think, MOTO DROID OR HTC DROID ERIS? are they both experiencing the same amount of bugs? whats the positives and negatives of each?

it seems like all i've gotten from the HTC ERIS is a slick looking phone that is filled with bugs.. yet i love the way the phone looks, but looks are not everything.

i only got one reply when asking this question and it was this..

Motorola Droid is running on 2.01 which is a better more stable OS than 1.5 which the Eris runs on.
Moto Droid packs a bit more power and it's provides faster web browsing
Moto Droid allows multiple G-Mail accounts, Eris doesn't.
Moto Droid comes with 16GB memory, Eris with 8.
Go for the Motorola Droid...

Anyone want to counter this argument? otherwise, back to verizon store i go and lose a very nice looking phone for something that won't frustrate me.

thank you for anyone that can give me some good insight, not biased but honest insight.

The Eris is prettier and simpler.. i'd recommend it to my mom. It will be upgraded to 2.01+ eventually....

The Droid has a Faster cpu and the latest android os... it has MANY faults as well... but there are alot more apps and things happening on the moto side... (i have a droid) i knew when i signed on that it is a beta os at heart and i would be a guinea pig for whatever.

Wait it out! There are alot of rumors and facts about other phones coming soon... you have till the 13th of 2010? i'd say see what the eris has to offer until then.

 

[4stars]

The Eris is prettier and simpler.. i'd recommend it to my mom. It will be upgraded to 2.01+ eventually....

The Droid has a Faster cpu and the latest android os... it has MANY faults as well... but there are alot more apps and things happening on the moto side... (i have a droid) i knew when i signed on that it is a beta os at heart and i would be a guinea pig for whatever.

Wait it out! There are alot of rumors and facts about other phones coming soon... you have till the 13th of 2010? i'd say see what the eris has to offer until then.

I also like the eris,but think the droid may really be better.
What faults do you find on your droid?? Do you really recommend waiting. Wont the price of the droid probably go up after Xmas? That's why I worry about waiting.

 

[tarponbeach]

I also like the eris,but think the droid may really be better.
What faults do you find on your droid?? Do you really recommend waiting. Wont the price of the droid probably go up after Xmas? That's why I worry about waiting.

I had the Droid and took it back after 2 days. I hated the slide out keyboard, and was not crazy about the form factor of the phone...not comfortable to hold. I came from a 3Gs iPhone. I picked up the Eris last week, and so far, I really like it. I wish the Eris' screen was larger, but all in all, it is a very nice phone. HTC's Sense UI is pretty incredible...better than the iPhone.

I'm hopeful that Verizon will release the Passion/Dragon/whatever, soon, and if they do, I'll trade up to that.

 

[kraze0g]

I had the Droid and took it back after 2 days. I hated the slide out keyboard, and was not crazy about the form factor of the phone...not comfortable to hold. I came from a 3Gs iPhone. I picked up the Eris last week, and so far, I really like it. I wish the Eris' screen was larger, but all in all, it is a very nice phone. HTC's Sense UI is pretty incredible...better than the iPhone.

I'm hopeful that Verizon will release the Passion/Dragon/whatever, soon, and if they do, I'll trade up to that.

those phones ur referring to are not going to be cdma (specifically the passion), which means ur going to have to switch carriers to att or t-mobile that uses gsm.

also i heard from a vzw person that they are going to hold out on any new model android os phones until after the january 15th (i think thats the date) holiday return date so that they don't get a rush of people trying to exchange their 'buggy' phone for a new android.

 

[kraze0g]

The Droid has a Faster cpu and the latest android os... it has MANY faults as well... but there are alot more apps and things happening on the moto side... (i have a droid) i knew when i signed on that it is a beta os at heart and i would be a guinea pig for whatever.

Wait it out! There are alot of rumors and facts about other phones coming soon... you have till the 13th of 2010? i'd say see what the eris has to offer until then.

well i was wondering about what faults you have? because the eris is getting pretty ridiculous, when the youtube function no longer worked after an update to make the phone better i just about had enough of this.

the other problem is with "waiting it out" is that i already swapped my bb tour 2 months AFTER i bought it to the eris (this was thru a manager friend of mine and they would no way allow it if it was anyone else).. so it'd be pretty obscene to wait for a NEW phone to come out RIGHT BEFORE the deadline for me to exchange to get another phone.

-- and as a side note, a vzw person told me that if (big if) there is a new phone, they will not release it before the jan. 15 (i think thats the date) holiday return date because of the rush of "droid users" that would come to exchange because of bugs. (which makes sense)

so i need to make a decision here.. it seems like those who own a moto droid are very happy indeed and put me down when i say i have an eris. then i hear eris users say they are very happy. i also hear things about cutting the eris out of a lot of things because they are offering it at $0.00, while putting so much money into the Droid. blah.

 

[ryanc2]

Spend some time over on the Droid forums and see if you can live with all the issues they are complaining about. Go to the store and play with a Droid for a while. Ask an associate to get one out of the box so you can put it in your pocket and feel the weight. Turn off Sense UI on your Eris and see if you still like the "Android Experience". Not quite the same, but get used to it, it is the same as the Droid.

I had the Droid for a week before swapping out for an Eris and have never thought twice about it.

What do you get in a Droid? Bigger screen, faster browsing, a physical keyboard that most say is cheap and worthless (my experience as well), a great video camera, and a boring interface.

You have to weigh out the things that can be fixed with a software update (youtube problems, gmail limitations, lack of voice nav, etc.) with the hardware issues you'll be stuck with (outdated processor, small screen).

Sure, I wish I had better battery life, a little bigger screen, and a snappier processor (come on PassionC!), but I'm looking forward to having 2.1 on my Eris to hold me over. And once Seidio produces their high capacity battery for the Eris...

Just my .02

 

[kraze0g]

im just worried that the droid will way outlast the eris because the eris is going for so cheap (i mean free ?) .. also does the droid have more apps or something to choose from that the eris doesn't?

 

[Podivin]

RyanC has the right idea, go to a Moto Droid forum and read their complaints about that phone - it's not all wine and roses there either. Then decide which batch of problems you'd prefer to live with. Personally, I'll stick with my Eris.

 

[kraze0g]

Just wondering... especially for those who have used a moto droid and returned it - how much of a difference is that faster processor? how much better is the web experience?

 

[ttran97]

im just worried that the droid will way outlast the eris because the eris is going for so cheap (i mean free ?) .. also does the droid have more apps or something to choose from that the eris doesn't?

The only reason the Droid has more to choose from is because it has Android 2.0+. But the Eris will get that in like a month.

If the Droid is a 10, which it really isn't, but let's just say...then the Eris is a 9. You can do almost everything the Droid can but you either paid half as much as the Droid, or you paid nothing at all (like I did with my BOGO). That's quite the bargain!

I remember my crappy Motorola W755 dumb phone cost me over $100 last year. I HATED that thing, and it cost me $100. I LOVE the Eris and it cost me nothing! (I know, I know...stupid data plan...etc.)

Verizon is making the Eris really cheap so they can get people hooked on smartphones and make money with the data plans. It has worked...look at all the newbies joining once they got the Eris, and have no idea what a smartphone is or what to expect of it.

If my phone was having as many problems as yours is, I would be frustrated and disappointed as heck, too. If you exchange your phone now for the Droid, would you be able to switch back to the Eris in like a week if you don't like it? Maybe that is your best bet. All this frustration is not worth your time...

 

[kraze0g]

Well i'm hearing things that are making me want to keep the eris (but then again im in an eris forum, but if i say anything in the droid forum all i get is biased answers that the Droid is way superior to the eris and i better trade it in)

just a few more thoughts / questions::

1. how much of difference does the faster processor make on the droid?

2. is the web experience that much better on the droid?

3. will htc/verizon/google continue to support the eris or will the moto droid oulast this phone?

4. what about flash that is coming to Droid from Adobe? will eris get this too?

----
thanks for all the help guys - u really are coming through for me here in making a decision.

 

[Doheny]

I feel your pain; just scroll through the pages here and you'll see people having numerous problems and bugs. I agree about them giving aways phones; I've been w/ VZ for a long time and it's usually a sign that another phone is coming out soon.

My 30 day trial is up on Jan 6th. I'll likely return my two phones; if the update comes out and fixes most of the phone's issues, I may buy it again. I'll likely wait a while to see what issues the update has and if a new phone is close to being rolled out.

 

[Bswartz95]

Just wondering... especially for those who have used a moto droid and returned it - how much of a difference is that faster processor? how much better is the web experience?

I returned my Droid. I don't notice that much of a difference. The Moto Droid may have loaded a little snappier, but it wasn't much quicker. The HTC interface makes the Eris so much more appealing. Not to mention the shape of the phone. The Moto Droid was like having a suitcase in your pocket.

Coming from an Omnia, the keyboard drew me to the Moto Droid. That thing is garbage. I couldn't even type on it.

 

[Patmos]

As far as the UI goes look at the Droid Forum http://androidforums.com/motorola-droid/26470-post-your-droid-screens.html
You will see it's anything but boring and dull. As for the Keyboard, I have no problem using it at all although I prefer the touch most of the time. I just see it having a longer user life span, if you will, than the Eris.
Just MHO.

 

[nekoki]

OP, I feel your pain. I had a Moto and traded it in for the Eris. There are drawbacks to both phones unfortunately. Although I have been called indecisive in my thread, I think it's completely reasonable to fret over the choices because you are locked into the phone for a pretty long period of time unless you pay the new (heftier) ETF or pay full price. Plus I have no desire to leave Verizon as their service is better than any other I have tried over the years and I have been with them for 7 years now.

 

[jjr1968]

My ERIS is my 1st "smartphone" and I probably don't use it for as much as many people do. But, I enjoy it none the less...I've figured out how to customize it to do Everything I think will keep me happy. I'm doin all the trix to work on battery life.(can't make full comment yet). And if it keeps getting software updates, I don't see anything truly "bad" about it.

 

[kraze0g]

i started this thread and i figured i'd put my 2 cents here also.. because i believe i made up my mind. i just got done at the verizon store thinking i was going to make the change, but i stopped myself. the moto droid is NOT what i thought it was going to be. i am not going to post this in the droid forum because i'll get bashed to all hell.

first off - processor speed? hah. i thought i was gonna notice some nice difference in speed but was i wrong. in fact, the eris is so much smoother on the home screen especially (w/ the senseUI) that i was amazed how much slower the home screen was on the droid. yes that is only the home screen, but other things too - is it really worth getting a brick of a phone for a .003 second difference in changing screens? no. not in my opinion.

secondly - web experience. i thought i was gonna see something worth noticing but no, it might load an image a wee bit faster, but noticable? no.

thirdly - i actually sat down with the moto droid, put in my pocket, etc.. it just does not feel right. it feels like a cheap toy from toys 'r us (personal thoughts here mind you)

the slider keyboard? cheap and not worthy to be on the phone. i'd much rather use the virtual keyboard on my eris.

lets see what else am i paying for in the brick.. oh 16 gigs of space.. 16 gigs? do i need 16 gigs? i guess some people do but 8 gigs is way sufficient enough for me and 16 is NO reason to get that phone. if i want more space, put some of your stuff on your pc.

brand name -- motorola by all accounts and people in the business have been going downhill, htc on the otherhand is on the up and up.

looks aren't everything and thats what my aim was, i thought i was going to get a true droid experience by going with the less sexy and slick looking moto droid, but no. i didn't get anything out of it.

i was planning on walking in the store box in hand and exchanging, but after playing with it for 2 hours and my experience with the htc, i am staying with htc. it just feels right.

as a side note for all those that say "just return them both and wait for the newer one".. how long are you going to wait? when you do get the 'newer one', what happens 2-3 weeks later when a 'newer and better one' comes out? your gonna kick yourself again? your going to wait your entire lifetime to be satisfied with your phone. constantly looking for something better because there always will be.
if your going to exchange for the moto droid, think about what htc is doing. they will fix the bugs no doubt, they will also give us a brand new upgrade to 2.x OS with senseUI. this will be very interesting and i bet many will be kickin themselves in the behind again for not staying with the htc.

those are my thoughts, take what you will, good luck to those who move to the moto droid or leave both behind. but i am now satisfied with what i have. technology moves faster than we can keep up, and if you want to wait, wait. but when will you be satisfied? Eris for the win

just remember - dont look for perfection, there is no such thing.

 

[Needsdecaf]

Well i'm hearing things that are making me want to keep the eris (but then again im in an eris forum, but if i say anything in the droid forum all i get is biased answers that the Droid is way superior to the eris and i better trade it in)

just a few more thoughts / questions::

1. how much of difference does the faster processor make on the droid?

2. is the web experience that much better on the droid?

3. will htc/verizon/google continue to support the eris or will the moto droid oulast this phone?

4. what about flash that is coming to Droid from Adobe? will eris get this too?

----
thanks for all the help guys - u really are coming through for me here in making a decision.

1. In my experience, it eliminates a good bit of the Eris' lag. But IMO, it's not a night and day difference.

2. None.

3. Of course they will. They are releasing 2 updates in the first two months of the phone being on the market. Also, they are (significantly) upgrading the O/S within the first 4 months of the phone being on the market (2.0/2.1). This is unheard of support.

Also, HTC is MUCH more of a player in the smartphone world than motorola. This is NOT an issue.

4. Eris already supports Flash lite. And will support moible flash when that patch is released.

IMO, it comes down to personal preference.

Sense UI, IMO, is much nicer than standard Android.

The Droid's keyboard, IMO, sucks.

The lag on the Eris can be annoying.

The screen on the Droid is really, really nice.

The form factor of the Droid, IMO, is lacking, even compared to an iPhone.

The processor speed doesn't help it with multiple apps, IMO.

The Droid has Android 2.0, but the Eris with have 2.0 or 2.1 within 3 months.

The Eris is $100 cheaper.

Both phones are good. Both have their pluses and minuses. IMO, you can't go wrong with either.

But please do not believe anything about the phone being dropped, not supported, abandoned, whatever because of the price.

 

[nekoki]

1. In my experience, it eliminates a good bit of the Eris' lag. But IMO, it's not a night and day difference.

2. None.

3. Of course they will. They are releasing 2 updates in the first two months of the phone being on the market. Also, they are (significantly) upgrading the O/S within the first 4 months of the phone being on the market (2.0/2.1). This is unheard of support.

Also, HTC is MUCH more of a player in the smartphone world than motorola. This is NOT an issue.

4. Eris already supports Flash lite. And will support moible flash when that patch is released.

IMO, it comes down to personal preference.

Sense UI, IMO, is much nicer than standard Android.

The Droid's keyboard, IMO, sucks.

The lag on the Eris can be annoying.

The screen on the Droid is really, really nice.

The form factor of the Droid, IMO, is lacking, even compared to an iPhone.

The processor speed doesn't help it with multiple apps, IMO.

The Droid has Android 2.0, but the Eris with have 2.0 or 2.1 within 3 months.

The Eris is $100 cheaper.

Both phones are good. Both have their pluses and minuses. IMO, you can't go wrong with either.

But please do not believe anything about the phone being dropped, not supported, abandoned, whatever because of the price.

Well-said! Matches my thoughts almost point by point.

 

[kennyidaho]

Have you tried installed Dolphin on your Eris for a better web experience? It walks all over the included Android browsers.

As far as space goes remember that you can upgrade your Eris, if you want 16GB then go buy a 16GB card.

 

[Needsdecaf]

Have you tried installed Dolphin on your Eris for a better web experience? It walks all over the included Android browsers.

As far as space goes remember that you can upgrade your Eris, if you want 16GB then go buy a 16GB card.

Why do you say that it walks all over the stock browser? I have had both and honestly disagree.

 

[ryanc2]

Agree with Needsdecaf on the browser. My main complaint with the browsing experience on the Eris is the way it renders pages zoomed in - unlike the Droid that opens them up in Overview mode.

 

[Squirrel]

My main complaint with the browsing experience on the Eris is the way it renders pages zoomed in - unlike the Droid that opens them up in Overview mode.

And this should change when the OS upgrades I think. I think the browser is fine.

 

[Podivin]

Kraze, thanks for the review. It's good to hear from someone who's spent time with both phones. Especially someone who was 'sure' (s)he was going to like the Droid better when walking into the store.