Now the questions begin!

[cjacobs]

I finally received my phones today! So far I am very excited and impressed. I got the phones online with VZW but I skipped through the G-mail set-up. Should I set up the G-mail or do something different? Will it affect other Google stuff on the phone if I do something else? The screen that has all the icons on it like facebook, u-tube, corporate calendar, etc. how much of this stuff that is preloaded should I use because it's good or do something else because it's garbage? Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[XtremeAaron]

Definitely want to set up a gmail, as its a google phone, google will back up your contacts, apps, any app you buy will go off google checkout which is tied to your phone etc.

As for the preloaded apps, thats your call. You cannot remove them however.

 

[cjacobs]

Thanks ExtremeAaron. So I can just use G-mail for my E-mail and not need any other E-mail? What does text work through? On my BB storm, for purchasing apps, a person had to have a Pay-Pal acct. How do paid apps work with this system? Thanks for all your help. Any specific suggestions on the preloaded stuff. Things you have maybe tried and think are junk, or are super good?

 

[XtremeAaron]

Yes you can, Gmail has been my main email since a few months after it went live. What do you mean by "what does text work through?", I dont quite follow. Paid apps go through your google account/google profile.

 

[cjacobs]

Squared away on the G-mail.........Thanks much. As for the text, for some reason I was thinking that text was different than what I am used to and I had to set it up through G-mail as well or some other provider. For paid apps. I pay on G-mail with a credit card or does it get billed through vzw to my phone bill? Sorry guess I wasn't very clear on that.

 

[XtremeAaron]

For the paid apps you pay through Google Checkout which is tied to your Google account (gmail etc), it goes right off your credit card, VZW has nothing to do with it.

 

[cjacobs]

Thanks much for your help ExtremeAaron. I guess I'll start setting the phone up and see what I can find.

 

[gadzooks]

Congratulations! I came from Storm to Moto Droid in Nov. What's good, what's junk is a little hard to answer.

Some people prefer native Messaging app for texting. I use chompSMS & Handcent is a popular alternative. Both are free in Market.

There's a web site, appbrain.com, that lets you browse the Market from a workstation, & there's a corresponding app for syncing phone, AppBrain. Free.

There's an app you won't need here -- one that lets you schedule regular reboots. Android on this device rocks.

Have fun!

 

[Thefoodman52]

Actually, it's still good to restart every once in a while.

 

[takeshi]

The screen that has all the icons on it like facebook, u-tube, corporate calendar, etc. how much of this stuff that is preloaded should I use because it's good or do something else because it's garbage?

That's all a question of personal preference. It's not a one-size-fits-all world. Use what you find useful. Don't use what you don't find useful... Spend some time in the Applications subforums if you're looking for other apps to use. Some people use the stock apps, some don't. Don't be afraid to try out things. You can read up all you want about how other people like or dislike something and still have no clue how well a solution works for you. You can't beat first hand experience IMO.

FYI --if you're only on gmail then the corporate calendar (for Exchange) isn't even relevant to you.

So I can just use G-mail for my E-mail and not need any other E-mail?

Again, personal preference/based on your particular needs. I use an Exchange account and that's it. Gmail is set up since it's required but I don't use my gmail account for anything other than buying apps and backing up. How you use your Droid is up to you.

Some people prefer native Messaging app for texting. I use chompSMS & Handcent is a popular alternative. Both are free in Market.

I use the Google Voice app but mainly because I use Google Voice anyway.