CPU and GPU rendering of images is what is making the difference. Same thing at your home PC - take an old (say a Pentium D) machine and load a webpage using the same browser (and same OS so no one complains). make it a 2 or 4 GB machine.

Now, build a machine with 12 GB, core i7 CPU and same OS and load it again.

Internet speeds dictates how fast the info is delivered to your device. Hardware dictates how fast your delivered info is displayed.

(I know you know this already, but I'm stating it for other people's benefit)

 

Wait, I've been streaming NetFlix, Pandora HQ and SiriusXM over 3G for many months now. no issues at all.

OK, SiriusXM has an issue - it keeps cutting the bitrate down (I think), or something - it's extremely noticeable how the quality degrades for periods of time, and then will kick back into better quality.

it happened on Thursday with my Bionic too, so it's not my DROID that was the problem, it's SiriusXM that is the problem....

NetFlix - never had a problem since may(?) when I first got the hacked version onto my CM7 nightly build.

 

I have to say that I'm very impressed with the 3G as well. We've been getting terrible 3G in our area for quite a few months now, and it's super frustrating. The dreaded 1X looms over us at all times. It was never just my phone, it was every phone on my plan, each of my fellow WSEs, and even the display units at the VZW store (which I spent an awful lot of time in this summer).

I'm not experiencing any of these issues with the Bionic. I have consistent 3G. The only time I see 1X is immediately after hanging up a call, and that's on any Verizon device. I'm getting terrible speed test scores, but my DLs are fast, and internet is smooth.

I suppose this could be because of the internals, but it really seems like there's an improved antenna or something.

 

I would probably say the same but my phone rarely goes to 3G. It's always 4G. I love the radio on this Moto phone! So I wouldn't be surprised if 3G data speeds are also great.