Help Me DroidForums, Your My Only Hope...

[ChevyNexus]

I have a problem guys,

Early this month (around the third i think) my droid stopped working the screen went dead. (RIP) I have since then been using a flip phone. Why, you may ask, well i was waiting for the bonic to release an thought i could go a month or so no smartphone an i have. I didn't see the point of using insurance an then turning around an buying the bonic. (Plus with my phone being rooted i didn't wanna take any chance with Asurion.) I thought of picking up a smartphone from a private seller as a way to just hold myself over, a-last the prices people want for them are RIDICULOUS. So now I just use my flip phone an act like i'm stuck in the past.....Well ladies an gent's... that's when the Prime hit. Now I'm not about latest an greatest but a NEXUS device on Verizon...i'd be stupid not to wait. So i was hoping that maybe you guys could help me re-affirm my decision to stand strong an wait or to forgo the Prime an just get the Bionic. Also if anyone knows of a site to pick up cheap off contracts phone, I'd love you for the link in a pm.

 

[dezymond]

I have only recently heard of the Prime and that release could be anywhere from the est fall release to whenever, I mean look how long it took for the Bionic to get a release date.

Also the Samsung Galaxy 2 was believed to have headed to VZW but that was recently shut down.

If I were in your position I'd probably get a used smartphone that way you don't use an upgrade. Head to the store when the Bionic drops and check it out, and if it's not to your liking, you still have an upgrade available and a smartphone to hold you over til whenever the Nexus comes out (if it does). However, if you're into the latest and greatest, you'll never win. The lifespan of a smartphone today is only a handful of months and to this day I am still very happy with my Inc which I got last Nov.

Just my .02

 

[googlelover]

Wait, you went from smart to feature? Didn't you lose your unlimited data? or did you not have it in the first place/didn't care?
And I would just get the Bionic, who knows how long it will be before the other phones get released, it could be delayed, or the rumored date could be wrong, because, well its rumored.

 

[cupfulloflol]

I suggest not waiting for hypothetical phones. The Thunderbolt was rumored to come out in October or November of last year, and 6 months later it hits shelves. The Bionic is a couple months late too from it's original rumored date. It could be sometime in 2012 before the Prime hits shelves for Verizon, if ever. Perhaps they scrap it, since they have something better by Samsung coming out later (Function anyone?).

Also what if whatever device comes out has some deal breaking flaw? GPS in it doesn't work properly, the battery life is terrible, it randomly reboots..... each have been problems with various phones on Verizon. What if it doesn't have the rumor'd specs, and isn't as high end of a phone as rumors say it may be? What if the size of the device is too big to be comfortable to carry around with you or hold? There are a lot of things that won't be known until it gets closer to hitting shelves.

There is always going to be something bigger, better, and shinier coming out soon. Don't get caught up in the hype, get a device that will make you happy. If that means you wait for the Prime, so be it. But don't ignore all devices until that comes out. You could be waiting a while, and by then the DX3, DInc3, D4...etc all will be rumors and probably better than the Prime. And this cycle repeats.

 

[Beka27]

I think you'll be better off using your upgrade now (as in: next Thursday) and buying something else retail when it comes out (if you want). Then your current phone (which will only be 6 months old) can be sold for a few hundred dollars to recoup some of the cost of the new phone.

 

[b-jammin21]

I feel somewhat fortunate that my upgrade isn't until November. It forces me to wait, but at the same time, gives me time to see what other newer/better phones may be out (i.e. htc vigor and nexus prime...?).

If I were you, I'd check out craigslist or ebay and pick up a cheap D1 or something to tide you over til the end of the year. I've seen them go for around 80 bucks and even cheaper. Then, sell it when you use your upgrade. Just pretend you don't have an upgrade until, say, December.

After all, these other smartphone manufacturers like samsung (nexus prime) and htc (vigor and others) would be stupid not to release their phones before the holiday season, and just yield to the bionic to take the stage...

 

[chadmanx]

This happened to my phone. First time dropping it in 2 years. I really can't afford another phone, and screens are covered by the extended warranty, but will they be able to find out that my phone was rooted? Is there no way to wipe the phone without using the screen?

 

[ChevyNexus]

Wow so many replys yet i knew of none of them as i dont have a phone that pushes email notifications...ANYWAY, To Respond to you each in kind.


dezymond- I understand the whole never have the newest/greatest. I've been on this forum awhile like you an have seen all the hupla(sp?) these new phones cause. I decided a Bionic way back when because of its DUAL core....now though I don't want the latest an greatest, but i would LOVE a Nexus device on Verizon. Thats honestly the only thing that could of torn me away from the Bionic, an low an behold here it is haha. OR....atleast rumored.


googlelover- No i did not loose my smartphone data plan, I actually carry a spare line with just a feature phone incase of an emergency


cupfulloflol- I can understand where your coming from, an you are very rational with your statements. My only thing is if the PRIME is indeed a Nexus Device, i'm gonna be kind of disappointed with my bionic, though, i hoping its nothing a good rom wouldn't fix haha. Also i'm now concerned about the Dev Community around the device. Awhile ago it seemed like a good amount of people were going to ge the Bonic, now I see alot of people trashing the device. I miss when all we had was one droid haha.


Beka27- Very good idea, i feel kind of slow witted for not thinking of that myself. though, going in 300 on a phone one month then selling it for maybe 200 when the phone comes out that will most likely cost me oh...500 off contract is still a 300 dollar blow haha.


b-jammin21- I was thinking of this more an more as i found some cheaper droids. I found a few on craigslist, though of those sellers four refused to meet me in a verizon store, which my relpy to that was "Your trying to pull somthing here aren't you" lol.


chadmanx-This i dont know. An honestly, thats my fear with sending this phone in. I may try to RSD it to stock again, but i don't know if that would seem fishy. My screen is completely out, an i'm rooted. Flashed to Cyn, with root manager. I think the deductable is now 90ish which i wouldn't mind, but i dont want any issues with them saying i'm rooted. So anymore help on this would be great. Weither they care that i am, or if they're is a way to flash me back to stock.

 

[googlelover]

Nicee, but if you sell the bionic when the prime comes out off contract its still gonna be worth 300-400 maybe even 450, the Bionic on release day is gonna be 580 off contract so expecting the price to drop 380 a few month after is kind of extreme isn't it? And a 300 dollar blow would still be like buying it on contract remember?
Edit: and if you SBF your droid to stock there is no way for them to know it was rooted so yeah you could send it in and they won't care, they would probably think you just wanted to wipe your personal data off the phone before you sent it in
Edit again: I've sent in my Droid after SBFing it to stock and they didn't have a problem so I know your fine.

Sent from my Droid

 

[chadmanx]

Googlelover - I looked up SBF wipe, but all the instructions involved using the screen to factory reset the phone. How can I do this without the screen?

 

[googlelover]

How does it involve the screen...? Only thing you need to do is turn off the phone, turn it on holding the up on the Dpad on the keyboard, then it'll be in the bootloader and you can use RSD phone completely restored cant/don't remember any other thing I've had to do on SBF that has required the screen...

 

[chadmanx]

I'm using this guide http://www.droidforums.net/forum/dr...-using-rsd-lite-flash-sbf-file-correctly.html

I've never used RSD lite, but in step 9 he talks about "catching the bootloader." How can I catch the BL if I can't see it? Just guess? Sorry for all the questions, definitely new to all this.