Motorola Droid Phone Review – PC World
As an active and generally happy iPhone user who will probably switch to Droid, here are my reasons, most of which start with Apple iPhone negatives:
1. No keyboard on iPhone.
Keyboard on Droid.
2. Poor sound quality on iPhone–the iPhone speaker is optimized for music, with strong base. Very poor for voice, especially outdoors.
Reportedly, excellent voice quality on Droid.
3. Very poor battery life on iPhone, must be Apple-replaced.
Droid has long battery life, open battery is user replaceable.
4. Numerous software lock-ups on iPhone, requiring resets. Most common thing that the Geniuses suggest to iPhone users having trouble.
Droid has the Android operating system, which is multi-tasking and a modern architecture–my bet it is more stable, as well.
5. Poor attitude, stunning arrogance, and general lack of knowledge of the iPhone Geniuses in the Apple store when I have a question or a problem.
Motorola and Verizon can only be better.
6. Limited number of really compelling and technically sophisticated apps on the iPhone (100,000 fart machines does not an ecosystem make).
The Droid Google nav system is an example of a very compelling app, that is not available in the iPhone ecosystem, and that trumps most if not all of its species.
As a developer, I like the idea that I and my friends can develop AND DEPLOY Droid apps freely. This allows custom apps of sophistication to be constructed by enterprises, for their own and their customers’ and partners’ use–a very very powerful capability, and a key to business smart phone usage.
7. Lack of features on the iPhone. While the columnist is correct that Apple plays fast follower on features, for a current user the upgrade cost can be horrendous if you have already upgraded once–which many of the most loyal customers have done. I was just told it will cost me $400 to upgrade to the GS unless I wait till next April..
8. iPhone only on the AT&T network. Actually, I am fine with AT&T per se, but most of my family and friends are on Verizon, and with special plans that favor all of being on the same network. Droid is on Verizon, the most popular US network.
To summarize, I am sick of my iPhone. The only thing I like is the iPod functionality. So here is my likely solution: use my iPhone like an iTouch, as an iPod, and happily buy a Droid smart phone.
