• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Which droid is best for business?

Hello everyone,

My work is switching everyone to droids because of the fees associated with BB's. My choices are droid 2, droid x, and droid incredible. I really only use the phone for talk, text, email, and the occasional web search. I feel overwhelmed by everything that can be done on these powerhouse phones because I just don't need all that they have to offer.

Anyone have any opinion on which phone might be best for the simple business man like myself?

Thanks,
GG1
 
For business in general you need to type long emails. A physical keyboard is essential, that's why the Blackberries have been pretty successful.

I've been using a Blackberry with a physical keyboard for 10 years. For business.

The lack of one could be a huge hinderance in day to day business use.

I've been in the business world for close to 30 years now... and I, for one, absolutely hate physical keyboards on Smartphones. In my opinion it's honestly more dependent on the person then their function.
 
Upvote 0
I've been in the business world for close to 30 years now... and I, for one, absolutely hate physical keyboards on Smartphones. In my opinion it's honestly more dependent on the person then their function.
Honestly though, for business, it's better to have the option, that to completely NOT have it.

So in general, especially knowing a lot of people who are older and more traditional in business, a physical keyboard is important.

For the millenials and younger folks who have had iPhones as their first phone, a physical keyboard may not be so critical.

This is why I always recommend a physical keyboard as a first Android phone for people in business, because it's better to have it, than not have it and hate the phone.

Once someone has had an Android smartphone and know that they don't care for the keyboard, then they can make a decision in the future to get a phone without it. But it doesn't hurt to have the keyboard.
 
Upvote 0
Honestly though, for business, it's better to have the option, that to completely NOT have it.

So in general, especially knowing a lot of people who are older and more traditional in business, a physical keyboard is important.

For the millenials and younger folks who have had iPhones as their first phone, a physical keyboard may not be so critical.

This is why I always recommend a physical keyboard as a first Android phone for people in business, because it's better to have it, than not have it and hate the phone.

Once someone has had an Android smartphone and know that they don't care for the keyboard, then they can make a decision in the future to get a phone without it. But it doesn't hurt to have the keyboard.

Yup... I find it easier to not push prospective phone owners one way or another. Their own preferences will help them gravitate in the direction of the type of phone that they would be more comfortable using.
 
Upvote 0
Yup... I find it easier to not push prospective phone owners one way or another. Their own preferences will help them gravitate in the direction of the type of phone that they would be more comfortable using.
Here's the thing - it doesn't hurt to have a keyboard, and many deem it vital for business types of long emails, etc.

So why not get the phone with the keyboard, all else being equal, as a first Android phone? What harm does it do to have a keyboard, especially for a first phone, for business?

I'm not understanding what the resistance to this logic is...
 
Upvote 0
Here's the thing - it doesn't hurt to have a keyboard, and many deem it vital for business types of long emails, etc.

So why not get the phone with the keyboard, all else being equal, as a first Android phone? What harm does it do to have a keyboard, especially for a first phone, for business?

I'm not understanding what the resistance to this logic is...

Totally disagree. Again, it's a personal preference. I hate, loathe, despise and detest a physical keyboard. I use my phone for work. I often type emails on the phone using Swype. No issues there. I hate the physical keyboard because it adds extra bulk to the phone and it's one more thing that can get busted. However, if someone likes the physical keyboard it's certainly fine. There are pros and cons to every single one of the devices listed. I wouldn't go pick up the D2 just because it has a physical keyboard if you're someone like me who hates the physical keyboard.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Martimus
Upvote 0
Well, this is my crossroad at the moment. I like my BB keyboard, but i don't like the keyboard on the droid. I suppose the only thing to do is go to the store and play with them for a bit.

You might look at the Droid Pro. It's supposed to come out in late October/Early November. It has a BB style keyboard and actually looks like an Android and a BB got together and had some weird looking kid.
 
Upvote 0
Totally disagree. Again, it's a personal preference. I hate, loathe, despise and detest a physical keyboard. I use my phone for work. I often type emails on the phone using Swype. No issues there. I hate the physical keyboard because it adds extra bulk to the phone and it's one more thing that can get busted. However, if someone likes the physical keyboard it's certainly fine. There are pros and cons to every single one of the devices listed. I wouldn't go pick up the D2 just because it has a physical keyboard if you're someone like me who hates the physical keyboard.
The thing is you have had a phone with physical keyboard before, so you know you hate it.

For someone who is new to Android / smartphones, they have no idea what they want / don't want. So why not get a phone WITH a keyboard, and then they can decide if they need it or not? :thinking:

At least with a keyboard they can choose to use it, or not. Without a keyboard, they have no choice.

I see people posting "I hate physical keyboards" and it makes zero sense to me. Most phones with keyboards are a little thicker than ones without. If that tiny .mm of a thickness pisses you off, you must be living a grand life.
 
Upvote 0
The thing is you have had a phone with physical keyboard before, so you know you hate it.

For someone who is new to Android / smartphones, they have no idea what they want / don't want. So why not get a phone WITH a keyboard, and then they can decide if they need it or not? :thinking:

At least with a keyboard they can choose to use it, or not. Without a keyboard, they have no choice.

I see people posting "I hate physical keyboards" and it makes zero sense to me. Most phones with keyboards are a little thicker than ones without. If that tiny .mm of a thickness pisses you off, you must be living a grand life.

What's amusing here is that you are adopting the exact same mindset as you accuse others of having. You tell others that we're closed minded to not consider recommending a smartphone with a keyboard first... yet you apparently believe it's wrong to let people choose for themselves what type phone they prefer.

We're all friends here... and this is simply a friendly discussion of phones. If Grey Goose prefers a BB-style phone with a physical keyboard then that's what he'll gravitate towards. If he prefers the keyboards found on a Droid 2 or Fascinate then that's what he'll gravitate towards... and if he prefers using Swype or a virtual keyboard then that's what he'll gravitate towards.

This whole decision is for Grey Goose to make... since Grey Goose is the one considering a new smartphone. You and I have already made our choices...
 
Upvote 0
No. I've never had a phone with a physical keyboard before. I can tell by picking one up in the store that I hate it. The thing is the OP is familiar with smart phones. He's currently a BB user. He knows what he wants a physical keyboard and that's fine.

My issue is you basically saying that everyone should get a phone with a physical keyboard. To me that's ludicrous. Some people don't like physical keyboards. What is wrong with not liking a physical keyboard?
 
Upvote 0
If you've never tried or owned a phone with keyboard, how can you honestly say you hate it?

Makes no sense to me.

And listen to this video review: Motorola Droid 2 vs Samsung Epic 4G Dogfight!

Noah says right now he's grooving "physical slide out keyboards" but he may change his mind in the future.

So people may get into a mood to like keyboards for a while, and then not so much later.

With a phone with a slide out keyboard, you can ignore the keyboard when you're not in the mood, or have the choice when you are needing a physical keyboard.

How can it be wrong to get a phone with the options as a FIRST phone??? Rather than write it off, off the bat altogether and lock yourself out of that choice??

Makes ZERO sense to me.

I started with the Moment - physical keyboard. I have the Evo and Epic. If I was forced to use the Epic, I'd be thrilled, because I often ignore the slide out keyboard when I don't need it. But the moment I need it, BAM I slide it out and it works.

WTH are we goinig round and round in ridiculous circles about this for?

Unless there is something DRASTICALLY better about the DX or Incredible that the D2 doesn't have, there is nothing to argue about.
 
Upvote 0
What's amusing here is that you are adopting the exact same mindset as you accuse others of having. You tell others that we're closed minded to not consider recommending a smartphone with a keyboard first... yet you apparently believe it's wrong to let people choose for themselves what type phone they prefer.

We're all friends here... and this is simply a friendly discussion of phones. If Grey Goose prefers a BB-style phone with a physical keyboard then that's what he'll gravitate towards. If he prefers the keyboards found on a Droid 2 or Fascinate then that's what he'll gravitate towards... and if he prefers using Swype or a virtual keyboard then that's what he'll gravitate towards.

This whole decision is for Grey Goose to make... since Grey Goose is the one considering a new smartphone. You and I have already made our choices...
Of course Gary has a choice. We are all providing him relevant information from our points of view.

But the fact is, for a FIRST time user, it does not hurt to have a physical keyboard.

If Gary is unsure, then he should get a phone with a keyboard because he is SOL if he decides later that he needs a keyboard, by going with the DX or Incredible.

You can't weld a keyboard onto the DX or D2, but you can certainly ignore the keyboard on the D2 if you don't like it and just use the touch screen. Much more flexible to get the D2 in this case.

Make sense?
 
Upvote 0
Of course Gary has a choice. We are all providing him relevant information from our points of view.

But the fact is, for a FIRST time user, it does not hurt to have a physical keyboard.

If Gary is unsure, then he should get a phone with a keyboard because he is SOL if he decides later that he needs a keyboard, by going with the DX or Incredible.

You can't weld a keyboard onto the DX or D2, but you can certainly ignore the keyboard on the D2 if you don't like it and just use the touch screen. Much more flexible to get the D2 in this case.

Make sense?

He's not a first time user. Did you miss that or are you just ignoring it? He's migrating from BB. And no I would not tell a first time user, "Go get a phone with a physical keyboard." I'd tell them, "Go down to the store and find out if it's something you like or not." That's what I did. I played with a phone that had a physical keyboard. Hated it. Absolutely hated it. Wanted nothing to do with it. That's my opinion. If you like a physical keyboard that's fine. You can't just make a blanket statement like "all first time smart phone users should pick a phone with a physical keyboard." That's just wrong.
 
Upvote 0
He's a first time user with a touchscreen.

Playing with a phone in a store is NOT enough for a business user. He needs to use the phone for a while to figure it out. Owning it should give him enough experience to figure out how much emails he types, whether the virtual keyboard is something he can deal with longterm or not.

Are you trying to waste time here now?

I'm done with this debate. It's easier to talk to a wall.

I was genuinely trying to be helpful to the OP on this topic. I am sorry that it has derailed into something of a pissing match about hating keyboards. Good luck on whatever phone you get.
 
Upvote 0
I think this should get back on topic, keyboards have been discussed enough already. ;)

As for the "arguing" above, well, I think we can all say that it's up to the OP to decide. Yes, he might want a physical keyboard, no he might not want one. The safe bet probably would be to get the Droid 2 because of that, but if it's not so important he should look into the two other phones as well, as they all have different specs (do they? :p).
 
Upvote 0
I came from BB and chose the Droid 2. The last BB I had was the Storm 2. I am self employed and had the choice of any android phone. I chose the Droid 2 because it was made by Motorola and I had very good luck with motorola years ago. I personally didn't want an X because of the size. Don't watch many videos on my phone so no need for the screen size. I am use to a phone with no physical keyboard but in long e mails with larger fingers I find it easier to hit the right keys on the physical keyboard. The best advice is try which you think your more comfortable with and if you find you don't like it take it back within your 30 day period and get another. Only you can decide which is right for you. To quote Patrick Swayze in Roadhouse " opinions vary".
 
Upvote 0
I migrated from BB to a Droid 2 a couple of months ago, and I would definitely recommend that you do the same. The keyboard on the Droid 2 is not the very best, but it's pretty good, and for me, I'd much rather have a physical keyboard for texting and emailing as against not. I don't like the onscreen keyboards because I can't feel my way to the right keys, and because they take up space on the screen leaving less room to see what you're trying to type. I haven't used Skype though, so that might be a different thing, but I HATE all kinds of autotype going all the way back to MS Work on the desktop, so I can't imagine myself enjoying that.

That said, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with your Droid as compared to the Blackberry no matter which one you get. The business functionality is 90+% there (and getting better all the time), but the "fun" parts of the phone will suck you in soon enough, guaranteed.
 
Upvote 0
I'm a business user. I don't want a physical keyboard and I didn't have to use the phone every day to know that I didn't want a bulky keyboard. Apparently I'm an extremely strange person that way. Weird that I can play with a phone and know whether I like it or not.

Anyway, I'd still go back to my suggestion of waiting for the Droid Pro if the OP likes the BB keyboard. The thing looks like a BB, but runs Android on it. Personally I'm not completely sold on enterprise support for Android though.
 
Upvote 0
Anyone have any opinion on which phone might be best for the simple business man like myself?
"Business" is really too vague to use as any sort of criteria. I mean, not all business people are identical despite the stereotypes. Not all businesses are identical either. I really don't see anything in your other criteria that really makes one option stand out from the rest. That means it's pretty much up to your subjective preferences for each option. If you can, try them out in person. A lot of people have very specific preferences when it comes to size, weight and "build quality".

For business in general you need to type long emails. A physical keyboard is essential, that's why the Blackberries have been pretty successful.
Again, not all business users have the identical needs/wants. This is a subjective preference.

BB's have been successful in the corporate world for many more reasons than just keyboards. Built-in centralized device management (with BES, of course) and the ability to granularly lock down features via IT policies are both huge reasons. It's not all about the keyboard despite what forum users like to parrot around as the reason for the success of the BB. That's why you can't just name anything with a keyboard a "Blackberry killer".

I'm not understanding what the resistance to this logic is...
It's not logic for one thing. It's your preference presented as some sort of universal truth.
 
Upvote 0
Thanks for all the help guys.

I didn't mean for this to turn into a pissing match. I just wanted to hear from business users who have android phones. (with and without physical keyboards)

I was told that the samsung fascinate is also an option. I am going to stop at my local verizon store after work today and check them all out. I may regret asking, but does anyone have an opinion on the fascinate?
 
Upvote 0

BEST TECH IN 2023

We've been tracking upcoming products and ranking the best tech since 2007. Thanks for trusting our opinion: we get rewarded through affiliate links that earn us a commission and we invite you to learn more about us.

Smartphones