Droid Doesn't? Why?

[ben.keen]

I've own my DX since the day it released on Big Red. For me, the hardest thing to adjust to coming from a BlackBerry Tour was of course the size of this beast. The overall size of the DX turned a lot of people off and made me nervous if I made the right choice to get the DX over the DI which was at that time on a back order.

After a few days of use, I did notice the battery life issue that was mentioned by others already but I found it to be along the same lines as other phones I've had including WinMo and BlackBerry based devices. And after one problem with my device which was related to SMS, my DX has been running great.

This is by far the best mobile device I've used to date both for personal use and work use. Yes, it isn't the device for everyone but then again I feel there will never be a device that fits the wants and needs of everyone looking for a device. I think the guy that wrote the article may or may not have been making a snap judgment of the device, maybe there are some reasons he hasn't talked about in the article but either way, I don't think the DX is as bad as he tries to make it out to be. The device is a good device for a lot of people and so if one guy trashes the device so be it, I think there are plenty of us out here that really like the device. The recent update to Froyo only added to the power of the DX and I think it will be interesting to see what Motorola has planned next after the D2Pro.

 

[jbjtkbw00]

maybe this guy should have gone with the Droid 2 if the X was too big.
if he took the time to read droidforums.net maybe he wouldn't have had so many issues.

I sometimes wonder if we need a subforum for discussing...how to put this...the more "psychological" side of ownership. For example, I think rooting is a big step for many people, and looks pretty intimidating. Then you do it, begin to feel comfortable with the process--go through a few recoveries :icon_eek:--and it becomes pretty easy. But from the beginner's side, I can understand the fear and hesitation.

The funny thing is...I ultimately decided to root my D1 and now I play with it all the time. And yet I can buy an entirely new device (e.g., Android tablet), and begin to feel that same "Oh, I don't want to mess it up!" anxiety.

-Matt

You know, as 'techie' as I can be, I don't root. Mainly, because I don't want to engage the non-believers in discussions where they say I justify everything because I rooted my phone. I stay stock and still prove to them that I can do just about anything without having to do so.

Still, I did put the 2.2 leak on prior to the official release last week, and I got that twinge of a feeling when I had to perform the procedure to roll it back to stock, but as you said, I did it, and it was cake. No issues at all. So, yeah, it just takes getting your 'cherry popped' to understand that these processes to root aren't difficult at all. Still, much like with installing an OS or flashing a bios, there are just some things that some people should NEVER be bothered with doing (and you know who you are). dancedroid

 

[Pandemic187]

If owning a Droid requires you having your hand held, then go ahead and get an iPhone (or WP7 phone in this case? Hmm...). The iPhone does plenty of things well, but it also limits users from doing some cool things. If you want to take your phone out the box, immediately start using it and never customize it, then again, go ahead and get an iPhone. But I know most of us on this forum would rather set our phones up exactly the way we want them. I think it ultimately leads to a better user experience. And barring much more restriction from Verizon, we'll continue to do that. Considering all the technology that can be packed into this one little device, it seems like a waste of said technology to just grab a locked-down device, never customize it and just take what you've been given.

But hey, that's just me.

 

[Icculus760]

Oh no he didn't!

"The first app I downloaded was a Task Killer, which I used to shut down all of the running apps (more than 20) that were starting by default on this phone, including Skype, which I don’t use. But within a minute or two, all of those apps restarted themselves. Gee, thanks, Verizon"

 

[kennyc]

but then you'll have to have an accessory belt-pack battery. :icon_eek:

 

[kennyc]

... For example, I think rooting is a big step for many people, and looks pretty intimidating. Then you do it, begin to feel comfortable with the process--go through a few recoveries :icon_eek:--and it becomes pretty easy. But from the beginner's side, I can understand the fear and hesitation.
...

yep, a bit like cleaning the sensor in a digital SLR....

 

[stealthgriffin]

Using the turn-by-turn GPS seemed to be a particularly big power gobbler. This was particularly inconvenient on one extended driving trip,

lol he was using the GPS on an "extended" trip without having that thing plugged in? Um dur?

 

[pc747]

D2 FTW, I was typing on the DX yesterday and I was really missing my d2 keyboard.

 

[gadgetrants]

I stay stock and still prove to them that I can do just about anything without having to do so.

Very, very nice point.

So, yeah, it just takes getting your 'cherry popped' to understand that these processes to root aren't difficult at all.

Very, very nice metaphor. ROTFLMAO funny. :biggrin:

-Matt

 

[HamDog]

Hold on folks, Ed makes a very good point. Here is an important quote from his article: "But the last thing I want is a device that requires constant babysitting."

Some people would rather have Steve Jobs be their babysitter. They just don't have enough time to spend with their kids, so they want a babysitter. I love my D1, but I can also understand that many non-techies would rather have someone look out for them and their best interest rather than discovering it themselves.

The iPhone is simpler to use. Since they can't be customized, everyones looks the same. You literally can't screw it up since it's so protected. I don't hate the iPhone and think there's a place for it in the hands of the sheep.

The Android is a much needed device (ok, software) for techies like us who don't want a controlled platform like the iPhone (or anything else from Apple). I don't see one replacing the other. Just like Macs and Windows will always co-exist and they each have their own place.

Personally, I love my Droid and sure, I do make fun of my friends with iPhones, but there really is a place for both. It's just a personal preference.

 

[gadgetrants]

Hold on folks, Ed makes a very good point. Here is an important quote from his article: "But the last thing I want is a device that requires constant babysitting."

I hope this isn't hair-splitting (I agreed with every issue you raised) but I flat out don't like the phrase "constant babysitting." That is a pretty strong overstatement. A more moderate view might be that Android phones often perform better when customized by the user. Since rooting and FRG22, my phone has been more-or-less 100% set-it-and-forget-it. No handholding. No babysitting. Just Droid function and fun.

I also feel tempted to pull out the iPhone history book (it's only a few pages long) and start to list many of the bugs and issues that iPhone owners have experienced along the way. A good example is the iOS4 upgrade:

Apple Knew iPhone 3G Owners Would Run Into iOS 4 Upgrade Problems, Customer Claims - Softpedia

The only meaningful way to arrange this pissing contest is not to have owner testimonials, but instead to look at hard data: returns, refurbs, repair data, etc. Firmware updates, bug fixes. Both iPhone and Android phones work, both have problems, etc. No one really knows which one is the more reliable user experience (i.e., reality distortion field).

For the time being, I think it's reasonable to assume that (1) the iPhone has the more polished-but-closed OS, and (2) Android phones are well-suited to those who like to tinker. Peace!

-Matt

 

[NVash]

I personally hate the Droid X. I think its a giant black brick. I dont understand why it had to be so huge and once I got to messing with it I hated it even more. Maybe it was just the one at the kiosk but I notice they never seem to have them able to use the Market or even the internet. When I used to have my Dare I would go to the kiosk and play with theirs then even download games onto it, figuring out which ones were worth buying on my own. You cant even get online with the X. So you tell me. You check out a Droid X and get to hold it and everything but it cant access the internet or the Market. They stripped it of what makes it a Droid to begin with.

Oh, and I have a personal preference of having a physical keyboard.

Another note, every Droid they have for display has Advanced Task Killer on it for some crazy reason. I do not understand why but I know this to be a fact and know they also ask people to put it on their phones.

 

[jroc]

^lol....that was the kiosk fault or that particular X fault for not getting on the internet....

Android phones dont need constant baby sitting. U just have to know your phone, how it works. Its like a HDTV. If u dont take the time to adjust the settings, u wont get the best from your HDTV.

 

[Bxrider117]

I personally hate the Droid X. I think its a giant black brick. I dont understand why it had to be so huge and once I got to messing with it I hated it even more. Maybe it was just the one at the kiosk but I notice they never seem to have them able to use the Market or even the internet. When I used to have my Dare I would go to the kiosk and play with theirs then even download games onto it, figuring out which ones were worth buying on my own. You cant even get online with the X. So you tell me. You check out a Droid X and get to hold it and everything but it cant access the internet or the Market. They stripped it of what makes it a Droid to begin with.

Oh, and I have a personal preference of having a physical keyboard.

Another note, every Droid they have for display has Advanced Task Killer on it for some crazy reason. I do not understand why but I know this to be a fact and know they also ask people to put it on their phones.

I understand your point of not being able to access the internet or the market on android phones at the kiosk or stores. I was faced with the same problem when making the decision on upgrading to the Droid X. However, this phone is tough to hate. I didn't like the original droid when it first came out and took the Eris over it. My feelings quickly changed once I purchased the phone. I bet you would feel different if you owned the Droid X.

 

[jroc]

And the most battery life I got outta the X was 29 hours. Thats with moderate use which included 3D games, calling, web browsing and a blue tooth file transfer of a big file.

At work in a bad reception area it wont last a day...There are variables that can drain the battery.