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Droid will it work for casual phone users too?

roastedpepper

Well-Known Member
Nov 12, 2009
100
2
Hello all I wanted advice on whether or not I should get the Droid. I really like the device but to be honest it seems complicated and it would be my first smartphone. I was wondering would this be a good smartphone for someone who really just wants a phone for texting and surfing the web? I'm pretty tech savy with computers I suppose but I wouldn't want to be overloaded I guess I'm trying to say. I'm kinda nervous that I won't be able to handle it haha. Thanks :)
 
Well, I don't know how you are going to respond to the droid but I will give you some info that may add some perspective.

I am a big into "gadgets". I have a rooted droid running a 1 GHz overclock and a custom rom (Bugless Beauty). I dig the fact that I can do that with the phone and make changes. The keyboard is nice to have but not a great physical keyboard so I find myself using the on-screen keyboards most of the time for quick messages. I have had multiple smartphones ever since the original motorola Q came out and admittedly...I am a moto supporter. Despite the punches you see thrown here at the iPhone, it too is a great device and is designed for the novice as well as the connoisseur. AT&T sucks so that is the iPhone's biggest problem. Just saying that some people are perfect for the iPhone while others like me, would be bored out of my mind with it.

My wife is rocking a droid too but could care less to have it. She is not a techie so she doesn't play with it much, no games, doesn't use the internet, just talk and text (which it does well) so she would be better suited with a messaging phone (much cheaper too). She has said she might want to sell it and get something less "complicated" :rolleyes:

Bottom line: If cost is not a concern...you will LOVE the screen and if you are going to use data than you cannot go wrong with the droid.

If you want to save money but still plan on using data, the droid eris might be more your speed. It has a less capable processor, smaller screen, no physical keyboard, but many say the virtual keyboard is better than the motorola droid. It offers a smaller form factor.

If you don't think you will use the features of the expensive data plans, the env touch or env 3 might be best. the physical keyboard on those phones are great and as it is just a messaging phone, you could still have limited data features but you would spend a lot less over the course of the next two years.

Hope that helps. Happy shopping!:D
 
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I was surprised my mom could use the iPhone she couldn't figure out her old flip phone before lol

Thanks for the advice. Well I want a keyboard and touch screen I don't think I could live without a keyboard and something fast (and hopefully a good battery life). I'm still torn I was looking at the Palm Pre too but it seems so slow and junky for 50 dollars more I'd rather get something made out of metal not plastic. I've been so undecided for so long now!
 
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nah its cool, when i went to get a new phone from my lg chocolate, i went in thinking i was getting the bb storm or bb tour! i was set! i just wanted to be humored on droid and then just disappoint them and get a tour cause i thought it was better... dang i was wrong! i was sold on it when he said internet speed and apps!
 
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Let me keep it simple:

The droid is one of the elite smart phones available. It does a lot and has a lot of features that most phones don't have. If you are going to get a smartphone you are going to pay no matter what phone you go with...so get the most "physical" options you can.

Droid has a 5MP camera w/ good quality video capture, 3.7" Hi-Res screen (beautiful display on this thing), decent processor (same as iPhone and Palm Pre), physical and virtual keyboards...Build quality is fantastic and yes, it feels that way cause I know what you mean about the Palm Pre.

If you don't get into all the rooting and overclocking...it's still an awesome device and you don't get locked into the "apple packaged itunes bs", or the Pre which uses an operating system that is probably going to lack support...at least not the kind of support and developers that apple and android will have.

I've talked myself into buying another droid right now!:D Haha!
 
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Hello all I wanted advice on whether or not I should get the Droid. I really like the device but to be honest it seems complicated and it would be my first smartphone. I was wondering would this be a good smartphone for someone who really just wants a phone for texting and surfing the web? I'm pretty tech savy with computers I suppose but I wouldn't want to be overloaded I guess I'm trying to say. I'm kinda nervous that I won't be able to handle it haha. Thanks :)

If I may ask....What phone do you have now? My sister just bought a Droid...and she is technologically challenged. haha. She loves her Droid mainly because of the keyboard and the internet. That's basically what she uses it for. However, she has no idea what this Droid can do. I tried telling her but she just gave me a :thinking: so I showed her my rooted Droid then she was like :eek:.
I'm sure once you get your Droid and read up on some of the neat things you can do...then you'll probably end up with the same expression. From this :thinking: to this :eek: and finally to this :D
 
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I have a samsung trance which is as basic you can go lol. I'm used to just using a phone for sending texts and calls. I did hear the Droid is great that you don't have restrictions that other phones have. I'd love to set my music as a ringtone and not have to buy a 30 second clip for 3 bucks.

I am really being sold on the Droid right now lol.
 
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nah its cool, when i went to get a new phone from my lg chocolate, i went in thinking i was getting the bb storm or bb tour! i was set! i just wanted to be humored on droid and then just disappoint them and get a tour cause i thought it was better... dang i was wrong! i was sold on it when he said internet speed and apps!

I was getting the BB Storm next...then news that Android was coming to Verizon (did you hear that Apple...you AT&T loving morons!). Once I saw the specs on the Droid...I was sold and it does not disappoint!

I've heard iPhonians gawk at the fact that Droid users have to tinker with our phones to make them work right...no, we just CAN tinker to continually improve them. Stock is impressive so don't let that kind of BS persuade you.
 
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To be fair, WebOS is amazing and the Pre is a decent device. If the Android OS and it's devices weren't as matured as they are now I'd probably have bought a Pre with Sprint last November. In fact, I basically made my mind up. What kept me from getting it was the fact that I was locked into another contract for a few more months, which gave me ample time to find out about the Hero, and then the Droid. At that point my search was over.

Reasons I chose the Droid over the Hero, and would've chosen the Hero over the Pre:

- Screen real-estate. A larger screen means better video playback, picture viewing, and web browsing. What's the point in having a web browser on your phone if you have to scroll a dozen times left and right to read anything?

- Google. I use many of their services, and so anything that has to do with mobile integration of a Google service should be handled best on google's own platform.

- Superior hardware. Software elements can be modded with the proper tools, but the hardware is something you'll have to live with for the life of the phone.

- 2 year happiness. Sure, the Pre is cheaper than the Hero, which is cheaper than the Droid, and Sprint is cheaper than Verizon, but which phone + carrier will be still be happy with 2 years from now when I'm nearing the end of my contract? I loved my Helio Ocean when I bought it and couldn't wait to get rid of it around the 1.5 year mark.

- Market. The Android Market is so far out of Palm's league it's a shame really.

- App Development. Considering I'm a developer, it's nice to have an open mobile platform for when I decide to stop being lazy and give it a go.
 
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Just wanted to point out that you are in the Motorola Droid Forum at Androidforums.com! We are not exactly unbiased ;)

Let's not confuse bias with fanboyism. I may own a Droid but I still don't recommend it to everyone. It's only worth it if you're gonna use most of the features.

P.S. has anyone heard of the Motorola Devour I discovered it online a few days ago and that it's supposed to be released in March. Would that be a better option for a mild user?

The general consensus is that it looks and feels more toyish. In my personal opinion I think it looks fine. The keyboard definitely looks better than the Droid's, and MotoBlur would be a bonus for people who like their Twitter/Facebook/Myspace and aren't likely to be using home replacements or custom ROMs.

I haven't seen the specs on it, but I'd imagine it's a more than capable device.
 
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Let's not confuse bias with fanboyism. I may own a Droid but I still don't recommend it to everyone. It's only worth it if you're gonna use most of the features.

Agreed, but based on features and hardware...the droid is hard not to recommend. Granted there is personal preference but the android platform has advantages to every other platform because personalization is unmatched.
 
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Haha I guess I did expect it from most. To be honest I went on a Palm Forum for help as well but they didn't reply to me at all. I like the Android community much better lol.

Yeah, I have had Windows mobile devices in the past and always got on to forums (as a guest usually), never commented...just took the roms or hacks and left. This is the only place I ever felt compelled to really join. People on this forum are great and willing to help...not just talk about how great they are!
 
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