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Is the Eris the same phone as the HTC Hero? My carrier only has the Hero, which is running Android 1.5 (maybe 1.6) right now. I figure if the Eris is getting 2.0 soon, the Hero will be getting it as well.

Yes, the HTC Hero and Droid Eris are exactly the same spec-wise (and some parts even physical-wise). It's just that the Hero is the version for Sprint and the Droid Eris is the version for Verizon.
 
I'd go for the droid if you feel comfortable spending the extra money. the keyboard is very nice (wish I had one like it on my iPhone) and the phone itself feels really solid.
 
Yes, the HTC Hero and Droid Eris are exactly the same spec-wise (and some parts even physical-wise). It's just that the Hero is the version for Sprint and the Droid Eris is the version for Verizon.

Cool. I knew the specs looked the same, and they even look the same physically, but I wasn't sure. I've been trying to hold off getting the Hero until it gets upgraded, but my carrier just made it more difficult by dropping the price $50.
 
Okay... I'm gonna play this by ear... although I wonder which phone would be easier to text with inconspicuously?
 
Yeah i Felt the Droid was way to bulky as well then saw the Eris and wanted one I was debating to get a iPhone come March but the Eris has me intrigued and Since the Eris is geting 2.1 it will keep me intrigued.
 
So I had a Droid for about a week - and I'm sending it back.

Well guys, I gave it a shot. I had a Droid for about a week - and I'm sending it back.

Why did I go Droid? Why would somebody who has become something of a Apple evangelist go Android?

Well, a couple things:

1. The promise of Google Voice - free texting !!! Hey, who wouldn't jump at the chance to shave 20 bucks/mo off your bill? I know I did. Problem was, it was flaky/buggy as all hell. The texts arrived fine, but my phone service was completely hosed up. Phones would ring that weren't supposed to. Calls would to straight to GV Mail. It was horrible. So bad that I had to change my number w/ Verizon to make it right again. So much for free texting, my plan went up 20 bucks.

2. 1 year contract. That's still a plus w/ Verizon btw - 1 year contracts are easier to swallow. Less duration for phone envy when the new sexiness comes out.

3. Verizon's network. I guess I'm going to find out how good or bad ATT really is. FWIW, I compared a Verizon BB and ATT BB signal strength in my home. ATT is actually a stronger signal. Not sure how that is going to translate at work though.

Why did I punt on the Droid?

1. User experience is still choppy/crappy. I have to search for podcasts and enter the URLs manually? And than pay for a decent app? C'mon. That's horrible.

2. MMS messages would not show up on other's phones 80% of the time. And that's if my Messenger App wasn't force closing on me. Frequently.

3. Apps apps apps. More of them, better quality, updated more frequently.

4. Just don't see the refinement. Especially since I'm paying iPhone money to Verizon for the service. If I'm paying for a Acura, please don't give me a Chevy.

Now I have to wait. I could get a 3GS and return it within 30 days (assuming the new iPhone actually launches before the end of June), or I wait each painstaking day for launch day.

Kinda sucks ... but here I am. Phoneless.
 
I agree the Lack of quailty apps i think is what makes the diffrence the Apps for the iphone is what makes the iPhone the better Phone

I personally think google doesnt really care about it even Joe Hewlit ( the Facebook developer) stated that the whole droid SDK is horrible
 
i just returned the droid incredible for much of the same reasons. For me I was mostly not happy with the quality of the apps, the keyboard, and the touch sensitive buttons under the screen. The android phones basically appeal to geeks who enjoy tinkering. They don't care whether a UI is streamlined or consistent as long as they can do things like customize widgets or change the color of the notification light. To them, an app store that actually holds apps to a high standard of design is blasphemous. If you would rather have a phone which is well built and designed with a consistent user experience, there isn't much out on the market right now other than the iPhone.
 
i just returned the droid incredible for much of the same reasons. For me I was mostly not happy with the quality of the apps, the keyboard, and the touch sensitive buttons under the screen. The android phones basically appeal to geeks who enjoy tinkering. They don't care whether a UI is streamlined or consistent as long as they can do things like customize widgets or change the color of the notification light. To them, an app store that actually holds apps to a high standard of design is blasphemous. If you would rather have a phone which is well built and designed with a consistent user experience, there isn't much out on the market right now other than the iPhone.

Agreed. My problem, right now, is that I'm not phoneless and even the 3gs is tempting even though I know in a week I'd be a horse's hind side for buying one. So I sit in misery for some time - purgatory I suppose.
 
i just returned the droid incredible for much of the same reasons. For me I was mostly not happy with the quality of the apps, the keyboard, and the touch sensitive buttons under the screen. The android phones basically appeal to geeks who enjoy tinkering. They don't care whether a UI is streamlined or consistent as long as they can do things like customize widgets or change the color of the notification light. To them, an app store that actually holds apps to a high standard of design is blasphemous. If you would rather have a phone which is well built and designed with a consistent user experience, there isn't much out on the market right now other than the iPhone.

Hm, that was a good explanation, thanks!
 
I had similar experiences. I have a link in my sig to one of my posts in this forum that talks about my experience switching to the Nexus One. Worth a read for anyone thinking of giving up iPhone because they think its boring or just wants to try something new.
 
this is the motorola droid you are talking about correct? not the incredible?

Yes, the Moto Droid. I didn't want the incredible because it seemed flimsy and at the time I wanted a physical keyboard. I quickly discovered that my screen is smeared with grease, phys. keyboard or not, VERY quickly so now I figure what the hell.

The physical phone itself was nice - not flexible and seemed very well built.
 
Agreed. My problem, right now, is that I'm not phoneless and even the 3gs is tempting even though I know in a week I'd be a horse's hind side for buying one. So I sit in misery for some time - purgatory I suppose.

The new iPhone certainly looks like it is worth waiting a bit....
 
The new iPhone certainly looks like it is worth waiting a bit....

Yeah I'm basically waiting to see how the iPhone 4 turns out, before buying my next phone this summer. I've been looking at Android phones as well. This will be my first smartphone actually. :)
 
this is the motorola droid you are talking about correct? not the incredible?

These are not the droids you are looking for [/hand motion]

these_are_not_the_droids.jpg
 
I spent a couple hours yesterday hacking android 2.1 onto my girlfriends g1. Made me appreciate my 3GS more I couldn't imagine using android day in and day out.
 
Well guys, I gave it a shot. I had a Droid for about a week - and I'm sending it back.

Why did I go Droid? Why would somebody who has become something of a Apple evangelist go Android?

Well, a couple things:

1. The promise of Google Voice - free texting !!! Hey, who wouldn't jump at the chance to shave 20 bucks/mo off your bill? I know I did. Problem was, it was flaky/buggy as all hell. The texts arrived fine, but my phone service was completely hosed up. Phones would ring that weren't supposed to. Calls would to straight to GV Mail. It was horrible. So bad that I had to change my number w/ Verizon to make it right again. So much for free texting, my plan went up 20 bucks.

2. 1 year contract. That's still a plus w/ Verizon btw - 1 year contracts are easier to swallow. Less duration for phone envy when the new sexiness comes out.

3. Verizon's network. I guess I'm going to find out how good or bad ATT really is. FWIW, I compared a Verizon BB and ATT BB signal strength in my home. ATT is actually a stronger signal. Not sure how that is going to translate at work though.

Why did I punt on the Droid?

1. User experience is still choppy/crappy. I have to search for podcasts and enter the URLs manually? And than pay for a decent app? C'mon. That's horrible.

2. MMS messages would not show up on other's phones 80% of the time. And that's if my Messenger App wasn't force closing on me. Frequently.

3. Apps apps apps. More of them, better quality, updated more frequently.

4. Just don't see the refinement. Especially since I'm paying iPhone money to Verizon for the service. If I'm paying for a Acura, please don't give me a Chevy.

Now I have to wait. I could get a 3GS and return it within 30 days (assuming the new iPhone actually launches before the end of June), or I wait each painstaking day for launch day.

Kinda sucks ... but here I am. Phoneless.

This is really a predictable thing for android because they are still in the starting process, compared to iPhone that is tested and proven.
 
This is really a predictable thing for android because they are still in the starting process, compared to iPhone that is tested and proven.

Android haven't perfected the system yet, compared to iPhone that is already tested and proven by the consumers :)
 
Well guys, I gave it a shot. I had a Droid for about a week - and I'm sending it back.

Why did I go Droid? Why would somebody who has become something of a Apple evangelist go Android?

Well, a couple things:

1. The promise of Google Voice - free texting !!! Hey, who wouldn't jump at the chance to shave 20 bucks/mo off your bill? I know I did. Problem was, it was flaky/buggy as all hell. The texts arrived fine, but my phone service was completely hosed up. Phones would ring that weren't supposed to. Calls would to straight to GV Mail. It was horrible. So bad that I had to change my number w/ Verizon to make it right again. So much for free texting, my plan went up 20 bucks.

2. 1 year contract. That's still a plus w/ Verizon btw - 1 year contracts are easier to swallow. Less duration for phone envy when the new sexiness comes out.

3. Verizon's network. I guess I'm going to find out how good or bad ATT really is. FWIW, I compared a Verizon BB and ATT BB signal strength in my home. ATT is actually a stronger signal. Not sure how that is going to translate at work though.

Why did I punt on the Droid?

1. User experience is still choppy/crappy. I have to search for podcasts and enter the URLs manually? And than pay for a decent app? C'mon. That's horrible.

2. MMS messages would not show up on other's phones 80% of the time. And that's if my Messenger App wasn't force closing on me. Frequently.

3. Apps apps apps. More of them, better quality, updated more frequently.

4. Just don't see the refinement. Especially since I'm paying iPhone money to Verizon for the service. If I'm paying for a Acura, please don't give me a Chevy.

Now I have to wait. I could get a 3GS and return it within 30 days (assuming the new iPhone actually launches before the end of June), or I wait each painstaking day for launch day.

Kinda sucks ... but here I am. Phoneless.

Sounds like you got a bad unit. Google Voice works fine on my wife's Droid but you have to change settings in your GV account to get certain phones to ring or not to ring. She gets free texting through GV as do I on my iPhone.

The major problem with her Droid is the voice quality she sends out to her receivers. She sounds robotic and muffled. I have tried dozens of work-arounds to no avail so I am working my way up the Motorola/Verizon chain to get some resolution.
 
Every time my iPhone drops a call in NYC I think about grabbing a Droid on Verizon... but I don't want to end up posting a thread like this.
 
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