Blackberry Storm user looking to make the jump to Andriod... Have questions.

[ragingray]

Hey everyone.

I'm a Verizon blackberry storm user that's looking to make the switch to Android. I haven't settled on a phone to purchase, but I'm thinking about, perhaps, the Nexus One or HTC Incredible (any chance the HD2 can be flashed to work on VZW? ).

Basically, I'd like to know what things to expect were I to switch to Android. What I may miss, what I will love and anything else that I would need to know from all of you experienced Android users.

Is Android 2.1 awesome? What's bad about it?

How're the email, contact, calendar and SMS capabilities of Android 2.1 compared to the Blackberry?

Anything and everything will help as I'm fairly ignorant of the OS.

Thanks and looking forward to joining the ranks soon...

Ray

 

[nx1977]

Have you considered the HTC desire?

 

[normanb20]

The best thing about android is that if you don't like the default email, contact, calendar and SMS capabilities, you can download amazing apps like Handcent sms or pure calendar widget to heavily customize it to your liking.There are also apps like acontacts to differently, sometimes more efficiently manage and search contacts.
The fact that you have been able to use a blackberry storm is astonishing, that was the most user-unfriendly p.o.s. I have ever laid hands on.

 

[ragingray]

Have you considered the HTC desire?

Isn't the desire basically a Nexus One with an optical pad?

 

[ragingray]

The best thing about android is that if you don't like the default email, contact, calendar and SMS capabilities, you can download amazing apps like Handcent sms or pure calendar widget to heavily customize it to your liking.There are also apps like acontacts to differently, sometimes more efficiently manage and search contacts.
The fact that you have been able to use a blackberry storm is astonishing, that was the most user-unfriendly p.o.s. I have ever laid hands on.

Well that's great news about the ability to customize. I like that.

Does that mean that the core apps aren't marvelous?

 

[normanb20]

I don't know if I would describe them as marvelous, they work. As with anything else someone just wanted more out of it and shared it with others. Handcent for example lets you change the visual feel of the conversation style of sms, also lets you change the led color, even make your own vibrate pattern, Pictures in the background and you can even customize everything for every person. I guess the way I see it, is if you wan a phone that looks the same on day 1 as day 730 go with a Blackberry or Iphone. Android is ever-chameleonic.

 

[willwjr]

If you are attached to the the notifications profiles in Blackberry, you will be very frustrated with the Android OS. On my Droid I cannot even get it to stop notifications for my default GMAIL account without turning off syncing every night. And it is my personal email, do I need to know every time I get a message? It is hard to believe with all of the apps available out there there is not one that will fix these issues. I know there are a lot of posts about this issue already, but it is an issue if you are coming from Blackberry...

I am sure I will get a bunch of responses about this app or that app. I have tried so many now I cannot even count. None of them can do 100% of what the blackberry profiles do. I am not sure why this is so hard, but there must be something.

Other than that I am a very happy convert from Blackberry.

 

[xjestersdeadx]

I'm a happy convert from Blackberry, the Droid is great. However, if you had a Blackberry because of email, especially for exchange use or BIS, and I mean you really depend on that each and every day, MOST of the day, then you might reconsider. Blackberry is known for being good at email for a reason- that is what they have really concentrated on, and they do it really well.

If you can use gmail for your email needs, push your pop email to your gmail account, or possibly take the chance that a paid app will take care of your exchange needs, then you will LOVE just about everything else on the droid. It's a great phone. The camera needs a little work in speed...but I think that would be my only real complaint in terms of day to day use.

Let me make clear about email - my experience with the Droid has been that gmail works just fine. If you can sync your contacts to a gmail account, and use the gmail account as your primary, you most likely won't have any problems.

I can't compare the screen to the storm, but I love the Droid screen. Let me divulge that I switched from Blackberry, which I used for maybe 5 years? The last two were with the Curve. I use email extensively for work, and have had no problems switching. I sync a gmail account and a pop account through my own server. Still, the email is not quite the same as having a device that will sync with exchange almost perfectly.

Hope this helps you make your decision.

 

[BiGMERF]

Welcome top the forum, glad to have you aboard.

 

[takeshi]

How're the email, contact, calendar and SMS capabilities of Android 2.1 compared to the Blackberry?

Depends on who you talk to. For some, the stock apps are fine. For others, they aren't. As mentioned above, generally you can find a replacement for most things you're unhappy with.

I'll echo the sentiment above that I miss the profiles from the BB world. Profiles by egg n stone has been ok but not quite the same.

Let me make clear about email - my experience with the Droid has been that gmail works just fine. If you can sync your contacts to a gmail account, and use the gmail account as your primary, you most likely won't have any problems.

My primary email account is an Exchange account and I've had no problems (after I started using Touchdown anyway).

 

[ragingray]

Thanks for the insights, everyone.

How good are the apps to Synch with my MS Outlook? I have everything currently synched there (Contacts, emails, notes, dates, reminders, etc).

I would consider that important as I've put just about everything there.