My Review of the Droid

[makryger]

A little background: my first smartphone was purchased less than a month ago, an HTC Imagio. This is the only thing I had to compare it to. I found the Imagio to be a little slow, and it had some faults, but it was intuitive and an impressive (HTC TouchFlo) interface.

That said, I spent about 15 minutes with the droid at the verizon store. To be honest, I wasn't impressed. The hardware on paper looks great. The screen in person is beautiful. The hardware keyboard was impossible to type on without using fingernails. That is not a hyperbole- it was impossible. If I just used my finger, it would usually hit two keys at once. The onscreen keyboard was better, but it was still somehow less responsive than my Imagio. It was slow to hit two keys consecutively (like a double L). I tried taking some pictures, and despite the autofocus, it could not focus. The same picture with the Imagio turned out blur-free. (Is that why they call it MotoBlur?) I can't even fathom how the pictures look in low lighting. I tried out google maps w/navigation. It was not much time, but I could not myself navigate around the software to deal with the turn-by-turn directions. The three screen-swipe seemed to be fairly responsive, despite what I've read in other reviews. Although nothing much was loaded on it. Compared to HTC Touch Flo, the interface is just bland and boring. Not something that your friends will wow at. (Like people have done multiple times with the Imagio already). The browser loaded quickly, and fully, which I liked. But if you can't type into the phone, whats the point of having it load quickly? I found the screen difficult to swipe on the webpage. The "hard" buttons (which aren't really hard) were often clicked accidentally, and they weren't very intuitive. I didn't make any calls, so I can't comment on call quality, but the missing hard phone keys was also a drag. I also compared the screen size between the Imagio (3.6") and the Droid (3.7") It really is not a noticeably difference.

All in all, I was not convinced to get this phone. On paper, it looked great, and with time, I may even get used to it, but the moment I started using the Imagio, I could picture myself using it for the next year. The droid just didn't do it for me.

 

[Stangs55]

Do all verizon stores have them out for you to play with?

 

[makryger]

Do all verizon stores have them out for you to play with?

I called up mine beforehand. The sales staff were playing with it behind the counter, so its not out on display.

 

[NSXLA]

Thanks for the review, I'm glad you described why the physical KB is horrid, a lot of reviews didn't care to explain -
and the slow double L input might prove the keyboard isn't multi touch after.

 

[CRPercodani]

To each his own, but I have had Touch Flo on my last phone and it is doesn't replace WinMo which to me is horrible and outdated. Android doesn't need anything like that to make it great, maybe when 7 comes out I will give WinMo another shot but at this point it is dead. You really don't seem to like much anything about the Droid and it seems like you are just trying to see your Imagio is better. I will wait until the 6th and have my own review before I decide against it. On the dummy Droid I played with the keyboard seemed fine, it did have a bit of a learning curve but my G1 took forever to get used to and I hate virtual keyboards no matter how big the screen is.

And to stangs55 no this is the FIRST claim I have seen anywhere on the net of anyone seeing one in a VZW store.

 

[makryger]

To each his own, but I have had Touch Flo on my last phone and it is doesn't replace WinMo which to me is horrible and outdated. Android doesn't need anything like that to make it great, maybe when 7 comes out I will give WinMo another shot but at this point it is dead. You really don't seem to like much anything about the Droid and it seems like you are just trying to see your Imagio is better. I will wait until the 6th and have my own review before I decide against it. On the dummy Droid I played with the keyboard seemed fine, it did have a bit of a learning curve but my G1 took forever to get used to and I hate virtual keyboards no matter how big the screen is.

And to stangs55 no this is the FIRST claim I have seen anywhere on the net of anyone seeing one in a VZW store.

I'll admit, I was skeptical about the Android OS when I first heard about the droid. But after reading the reviews, I was ready to return my Imagio tomorrow and buy the Droid on the 6th.... until I played with it in person. I agree, different people have different opinions/experiences with the OS, but having used both OSes as a newbie, I found Android just less intuitive. It may be more finger friendly, but I was still stumbling around the software to find stuff. Just to re-emphasize what Droid does better, so I'm not completely one-sided: it played videos easily, (imagio would stutter), google maps was a lot more advanced, the google night view was cool, google voice support is much better. The browser was SIGNIFICANTLY faster than the Imagio.

 

[Jon Nale]

I agree, different people have different opinions/experiences with the OS, but having used both OSes as a newbie, I found Android just less intuitive.

I think "intuitive" is a really tough word to use when speaking about something.

For example, a lot of people like using Windows operating systems because they find it easy to use, easy to navigate, easy to install software, etc. They might say "I like Windows because it is intuitive".

However, as a software developer, I CANNOT stand using Windows (XP, Vista, etc.). Linux makes it so easy to manage windows, write code, compile code, etc. I would argue that when it comes to writing code, Windows is not "intuitive", but Linux is (at the very least, I would say both are intuitive, but Linux is more intuitive).

I guess the point I am trying to make is that "intuitive" seems very subjective. I am not trying to say it is a bad criticism, I just hope other people understand that what is intuitive to one person, might not be intuitive to another.

Thanks for the review!

 

[makryger]

I think "intuitive" is a really tough word to use when speaking about something.

That's a valid point. To me, intuitive means that I can navigate around the software, and find the programs/functions I need without effort. For example, If I need to add an attachment to an email, can I easily figure out how to do that?

 

[SlaveUnit]

Were you able to "reboot" the phone before using it? I find most phones in stores to be quite abused. People jam them up and go nuts with them and just leave them screwed up. I know you said it was behind the counter but I still dont think that changes too much. Even the workers there are going to want to push it to its limits and be impatient.

 

[makryger]

Were you able to "reboot" the phone before using it? I find most phones in stores to be quite abused. People jam them up and go nuts with them and just leave them screwed up. I know you said it was behind the counter but I still dont think that changes too much. Even the workers there are going to want to push it to its limits and be impatient.

I did not reboot the phone. The only thing I would imagine this changing was my experience with the double-letters on the virtual keyboard, if it was indeed a performance issue. Even rebooted, everything else I noticed was not memory-dependent (camera, physical keyboard, general layout, etc.)

But hey, that's why there are 30 day worry free guarantees, aren't there?

 

[CRPercodani]

Well for attachments with Gmail on Android you just hit the "menu" softkey (that 3 or 4 line icon on the Droid) and when it pops up hit attachment. Pretty simple I think but I suppose it could be easier. I will say WinMo is more.....expansive as in it has more to it, but Android his layed out much friendlier. I do love TouchFlo but what it comes down to is that it doesn't fix WinMo. You have 6.5 right? That is a better version then 6.1 but they still have some work to do. You said your new to both phones so possibly you just haven't gotten bored with WinMo yet like many users like myself who have been stuck with it for 2 years or more. I had 4 different WinMo phones and I definitely liked them, but, when Android started coming around I was ready for a change and I got the G1. Right off the bat I noticed how much more responsive it was and how everything was put together to be just a few touches away, it is great for a complete beginner and a expert.

I re-read my first post and sorry if I sorta bashed you, didn't mean to at all. I just think a review takes more then 15-20 minutes to really review a phone or OS for that matter. Did you know everything you hated or loved about WinMo and your Imagio in 20 minutes? Haha so you see what I mean, enjoy whatever phone you keep and if you need any WinMo tips PM me.

 

[knickerbocker]

The physical keyboard on the first try almost had me walk away from the phone. But I gave it five minutes and I was flying.

As for the interface, it is totally customizable. Out of the box - it does look bland. But if you look at my interface two weeks from Friday, you will think it is pretty solid because I will have it just the way I want it.

The Droid is more of a phone for people who want total control of their phones and are more tech heads.

I am sorry you did not like the phone, but I have played with the Imagio and I hate it based on the fact that is Windows Mobile. Each person has their own preferences.

 

[MicroNix]

One thing I've found with smart phones is that there is no way you can accurately judge them in 15 minutes. When I first got a HTC TF2 at work and used the HTC interface for the first time, I was ready to give it back. I thought it was horrible and clunky. After giving it a chance and working with it for a week, it was the best work device I ever had! And I've had a few BB and WinMo devices before.

The Droid has the potential and those *who have spent time with it* really really like it. Not to mention there is bound to be updates to it which will improve it. The hardware specs sure don't need improvement!

Since I'm on Verizon, I'll get one of the first to grab the Droid on the 6th. For Verizon users, it simply doesn't get any better at this time.

 

[danrube]

Well for attachments with Gmail on Android you just hit the "menu" softkey (that 3 or 4 line icon on the Droid) and when it pops up hit attachment. Pretty simple I think but I suppose it could be easier. I will say WinMo is more.....expansive as in it has more to it, but Android his layed out much friendlier. I do love TouchFlo but what it comes down to is that it doesn't fix WinMo. You have 6.5 right? That is a better version then 6.1 but they still have some work to do. You said your new to both phones so possibly you just haven't gotten bored with WinMo yet like many users like myself who have been stuck with it for 2 years or more. I had 4 different WinMo phones and I definitely liked them, but, when Android started coming around I was ready for a change and I got the G1. Right off the bat I noticed how much more responsive it was and how everything was put together to be just a few touches away, it is great for a complete beginner and a expert.

I re-read my first post and sorry if I sorta bashed you, didn't mean to at all. I just think a review takes more then 15-20 minutes to really review a phone or OS for that matter. Did you know everything you hated or loved about WinMo and your Imagio in 20 minutes? Haha so you see what I mean, enjoy whatever phone you keep and if you need any WinMo tips PM me.

Hello I have verizon droid and have gmail email with pdf attachment when I press open says fetching attachment after says attachment can not be displayed? when I press menu button shows delete forward reply reply all mark as read ( no attacment action to do) any advice

 

[quixand]

To OP, or anyone else for that matter that continues to bash the physical keyboard.

Do you have sausages for fingers or something?

Cause I have big hands, and I actually have NO complaints about the keyboard. Would I like a better one? Sure. But you wouldn't hear me bitch and moan about it, as it fits the phone well, and functions just fine.

 

[ratchetjaw]

To OP, or anyone else for that matter that continues to bash the physical keyboard.

Do you have sausages for fingers or something?

Cause I have big hands, and I actually have NO complaints about the keyboard. Would I like a better one? Sure. But you wouldn't hear me bitch and moan about it, as it fits the phone well, and functions just fine.

I agree 1000%

 

[mooshu47]

The hardware keyboard was impossible to type on without using fingernails. That is not a hyperbole- it was impossible. If I just used my finger, it would usually hit two keys at once.

It does take getting used to and I'll admit that it's not the best keyboard out there, but it's a compromise. The phone is very thin (I don't know if I've seen a slimmer phone with a hardware keyboard at all) and that's what some people want. The software keyboard is just as good or better than other phones, so you have a choice. After typing on the droid for a day or so, I can use the hardware keyboard with minimal errors. If I'm typing a quick sms reply then I just use the on-screen.

I tried taking some pictures, and despite the autofocus, it could not focus. The same picture with the Imagio turned out blur-free. (Is that why they call it MotoBlur?) I can't even fathom how the pictures look in low lighting.

I had a difficult time figuring out the camera but once I did I was fairly impressed with it. It is slow, but I think the reason for that is the "double flash" that it does. when you push the button you'll see an initial flash, which I believe is for focusing purposes. Then you will see another flash and hear the fake shutter sound. I think maybe what you did was move the camera while the image was being captured. I took quite a few pictures yesterday in low light and normal light, and they were all pretty impressive considering it's a phone.

I tried out google maps w/navigation. It was not much time, but I could not myself navigate around the software to deal with the turn-by-turn directions.

The moment I walked out of the store I told my droid to navigate to my destination, never having seen or used the nav feature before. It was one of the simplest things I've ever done. the phone guided me with images and voice to where I was going. Digging into it a bit further I didn't have any problems either. You can go to a specific turn and get a street view, you can go to your home page, come back, continue navigating, mute the voice etc. For a beta app I thought it performed wonderfully.

Not something that your friends will wow at. (Like people have done multiple times with the Imagio already).

All of my friends are, like me, completely soured on any phone using Windows Mobile. Even Microsoft admits that it's subpar. Maybe it is better now than in the past, but my experiences with that OS will keep me from ever even trying it again. yecchhh.

The "hard" buttons (which aren't really hard) were often clicked accidentally, and they weren't very intuitive.

I totally agree on the "clicked accidentally" part, it is frustrating sometimes. But not intuitive? You have back, menu, home and search. Which one of those do you need help figuring out?

I didn't make any calls, so I can't comment on call quality

It sounds really nice to me. Much better than the AT&T & iPhone combo

The droid just didn't do it for me.

Perhaps you're not in the target audience?

 

[Da_Coynul]

To the OP:

No offense, but how exactly are you reviewing a piece of hardware you played with briefly in the store?

The hardware keyboard was impossible to type on without using fingernails. That is not a hyperbole- it was impossible.

I would have to totally disagree about the hardware keyboard. It is DIFFERENT but not difficult to use or to get used to (coming from another hardware KB).

On a side note, before I got my Droid, I thought the dpad looked odd and potentially not useful. But as it turns out, it looks fine. The distorted closeup pics on the net did not give an accurate visual representation. Read about perspective distortion here: Perspective distortion (photography) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Plus it is really nice to have the dpad for accurate cursor placement when entering text on such a hi-res screen.

Just my 2₵

Da_Coynul

 

[joscon]

A little background: my first smartphone was purchased less than a month ago, an HTC Imagio. This is the only thing I had to compare it to. I found the Imagio to be a little slow, and it had some faults, but it was intuitive and an impressive (HTC TouchFlo) interface.

That said, I spent about 15 minutes with the droid at the verizon store. To be honest, I wasn't impressed. The hardware on paper looks great. The screen in person is beautiful. The hardware keyboard was impossible to type on without using fingernails. That is not a hyperbole- it was impossible. If I just used my finger, it would usually hit two keys at once. The onscreen keyboard was better, but it was still somehow less responsive than my Imagio. It was slow to hit two keys consecutively (like a double L). I tried taking some pictures, and despite the autofocus, it could not focus. The same picture with the Imagio turned out blur-free. (Is that why they call it MotoBlur?) I can't even fathom how the pictures look in low lighting. I tried out google maps w/navigation. It was not much time, but I could not myself navigate around the software to deal with the turn-by-turn directions. The three screen-swipe seemed to be fairly responsive, despite what I've read in other reviews. Although nothing much was loaded on it. Compared to HTC Touch Flo, the interface is just bland and boring. Not something that your friends will wow at. (Like people have done multiple times with the Imagio already). The browser loaded quickly, and fully, which I liked. But if you can't type into the phone, whats the point of having it load quickly? I found the screen difficult to swipe on the webpage. The "hard" buttons (which aren't really hard) were often clicked accidentally, and they weren't very intuitive. I didn't make any calls, so I can't comment on call quality, but the missing hard phone keys was also a drag. I also compared the screen size between the Imagio (3.6") and the Droid (3.7") It really is not a noticeably difference.

All in all, I was not convinced to get this phone. On paper, it looked great, and with time, I may even get used to it, but the moment I started using the Imagio, I could picture myself using it for the next year. The droid just didn't do it for me.

I had the Imagio for 3 days. I really wanted to like it, but so happy I returned it.