Help me feel good about my decision

[jsarche]

Hello everyone. This is my first post here, though I've been lurking for a while.

My employer soon will be changing the way it handles cell phones for employees, and for the first time in 10 years or so, I will be buying my own phone and plan. I've made two decisions: first, I definitely will be staying with Verizon; second, I really like the HTC Incredible.

So here's my question. Reading through posts here and on the new incredibleforum.com, it appears as though there are many, many people having a very wide variety of problems with the phone. I'm interested in your thoughts: Is this just because forum messages generally tend to be posted by people seeking some kind of help for a problem?

In other words, does the Incredible at this point have some serious hardware and/or software and/or firmware problems, or is there a silent majority of Incredible owners out there whose phones are working just fine and doing exactly what they're supposed to be doing?

I have probably four weeks or so before I will be making a final decision, but I have to admit, reading these forums has made me a bit leery of getting such a new phone.

Really, I'm curious in people's opinions on this. I'm coming from a BlackBerry Curve, and would love to make the switch to an Android-based phone, but don't really like the idea of having a slider.

Thanks in advance for your comments.

 

[r7av7en7]

There isn't a device out there that doesn't have it's fair share of problems. The Incredible is no different. What you read on here will be the people with the problems seeking solutions, far less people get online just to talk about how perfect their device works (although there are some). I can say, honestly the incredible is my favorite phone I've ever owned, I've been through winmo iPhones palm devices, the whole nine yards and to me the incredible stands above all of them. If you are having doubts from what you are reading on here, go in a store and toy with a display model, it won't take much and you'll be sold.

 

[Backnblack]

I have zero issues with the DI

 

[The Droid Lion]

I've had my share of problems with the Incredible, but given that I had the original Storm (Before any update) This phone in my mind runs perfect. I would say that the biggest flaw is the glare when used outside. Plus Verzion gives you 30 days to decide if you like it. If you do choice to not get the Incredible I would recommended Motorola Droid.

 

[kmo]

Hey, you can look at all the negative's posted here, but keep it in perspective. That's what these forums are for, solutions for the problems that some have. That's why you will see more of what people's issues are as opposed to how GREAT this phone really is. There's always room for improvement, but overall this is one really good device to own. Between the hardware and it being very user friendly, (at least IMO) this is a device that keeps me connected to everything I need and want in a smartphone. This is a platform that will get support because of it's recent market popularity which is another big plus. It also has Google on it's side which is a good thing too. If you're like me you will LOVE your new phone... Enjoy.

 

[ksfrogman]

I had only 2 issues with the Incredible:

(1) My power button was a little sticky, but I resolved this by very mildly filing the plastic case opening bigger. This must be a rare, isolated problem.

(2) Battery life was very poor until I disabled a few mobile always on settings. Now battery life is poor to fair. Coming from a Blackberry Curve, RIM's device had me spoiled.

The Blackberry had some freeze and reboot issues, and the Internet browsing was always terrible. I am so happy with the Incredible, and I have owned an iPod touch since it came out.

 

[R24D24]

I went from HTC mogul, to BB, to iphone, to moto droid, to Inc, and I can say it's by far the best of the lot IMO.

 

[Serialkilla]

You're coming from a curve - there's no comparison. This in my opinion, is the best Android phone out yet. Android in general,completely blows BB away. I was a long time BB user, so I know first hand. PEARL,CURVE,CURVE,STORM1 & STORM2. None of these hold a candle to android. I started with the Moto Droid, and graduated to the Incredible. Both amazing devices, hands down.

 

[Frankie]

Good stuff about my Incredible:

• connects to all of my email & calendaring (desktop, Google, MS Exchange)
• full-featured GPS voice navigation at no extra cost
• kicks Blackberry's ass at being fun
• does 99% of what I wanted an iPhone to do, on Verizon

-F.

 

[hookbill]

I think that the biggest issue people really have is trying to understand that this is a Google phone and that if you set it up properly, using gmail for your contacts you will have far less issues. If at all you can make your gmail account your main email then do that too. It just works so much smoother that way.

 

[jroc]

There isn't a device out there that doesn't have it's fair share of problems. The Incredible is no different. What you read on here will be the people with the problems seeking solutions, far less people get online just to talk about how perfect their device works (although there are some). I can say, honestly the incredible is my favorite phone I've ever owned, I've been through winmo iPhones palm devices, the whole nine yards and to me the incredible stands above all of them. If you are having doubts from what you are reading on here, go in a store and toy with a display model, it won't take much and you'll be sold.

This.

I researched the Moto Droid, and it may or may not have a showstopping mute issue. I wasnt scared tho, I got it anyway. Know what happened? The mute issue is not happening to my phone. All I can say is get the Inc., and if it works good for you, then you made a good choice.

 

[Mark_Venture]

While the Incredible has its good features (screen rez and clarity, nice on screen keyboard, good size/weight, nice camera), it has its negatives... I have a few things happen that i need to keep rebooting my increidble.

And there are features I miss on the incredible.

Coming from blackberry, I feel its menus and the way it handles emails (reply/forward on popup menu for gmail, delete prior, delete on hand held only, mark prior read or unread, etc) are better than my Android devices (which doesn't have that).

 

[jsarche]

Thanks for the comments, everybody. I learned today my employer will support Android-based phones on its Exchange server, and I am going to make the leap and order up an Incredible. I can't wait to get started with it.

Thanks again.

 

[spurscar]

Once the battery life improved after a handful of discharge/recharge cycles I have zero issues with the Droid Incredible - honestly.

Zero. You'll love it. It may very well be the best piece of electronics I've ever purchased it's so cool. DI's wipe their ass with iPhones it's so cool. haha.

 

[DaDroidDude]

I have the Droid.
My Boss has the Incredible.

So far I've had virtually no issues with my Droid.
We both have the same Verizon service and were on a call to each other.
I was in a car 100 feet behind him and his Incredible dropped the call
My Droid did not.

He had someone bump the back of his phone and knock it out of he Verizon holster onto the ground and it cracked the screen... all the way from top to bottom! He had to use his insurance to replace it.

Would the Droid have held up better to this kind of fall? I don't know but the Droid seems much more robust than does the Incredible.

His phone drops calls a LOT in places that we've NEVER had phones drop calls. And there is definitely something not right with the light sensor.
With the Incredible on a desk and the backlight timeout set to 10 minutes, the screen goes dark (sleep) after a few seconds of starting a call.
My Droid, sitting on the same desk, goes to sleep per the backlight timeout setting. Are these problems due to the fall and subsequent screen breakage? Perhaps.

I set up his Incredible for him.
There are several niggles with the Incredible UI that I don't like.
It takes 5 presses (clicks? touches?) to get from the home screen to the favorites screen in the phone book; one or two on the Droid.

Someone remarked that these both are dumb smartphones. I concur.
There are quite a few glaring oversights on both these phones, imo.

Having said all that, the Droid is still far and away the best phone I've ever had and I can't wait for OS Version 2.2!

The Incredible is noticeably faster and lighter than is the Droid.
But it's also probably wimpier too!
I'll stick with my Droid thanks.

C'mon bluetooth dialing and more home screens!!

B