It just may be the perfect STORM!!

I have both Storm1 and Storm2, and love them both. However, the Storm 2 is a definite improvement in terms of responsiveness, speed, and memory. I have never had to reset the Storm 2 at all, it has not given me any memory problems, battery life is fine, and the wi-fi is awesome! I have lots of music and videos loaded onto the media card in my Storm2, and it sounds as good as the iPod! I had the opportunity to try out the Droid, and after having apps and other screens opening all over the place (just from handling the phone normally!), I decided the Storm has a lot more control of itself than the droid --thanks to the "clickable" screen. I also make far fewer typing mistakes on my Storm 2 than I did on the droid. Also in comparison, the Storm 2's camera is great (unlike the droid's which is having major issues). The Storm 2 has tons of apps available, and plenty of memory to hold/run them!

Some comments I saw posted below are severely skewed, and most likely posted by one who hasn't had enough time to learn the advantages of the Storm 2. I can vouch that the Storm 2 NEVER requires a battery pull, as I have had to do on the Storm 1 in the past -- and that was only due to the massive number of apps I had installed. I now have tons of apps on my Storm 2, and NO memory issues, NO battery pulls. Not sure which "clunky app store" the post refers to either, as there are many app stores! I do not find the Crackberry app store clunky in the least, and their support is second to none. And as far as multitasking apps slowing the device down, once again, that is simply not true. I have at least 6 apps that run 24x7 in the background and I can open many more without any ill effects on my Storm 2. So "picking what 5 apps" you want to use must be the poster's personal preference, certainly NOT a limitation of the device. The 16GB app memory is fantastic, and I've calculated that I could probably load 100 apps on this new phone! In addition, I do have the GPS navigation, which does NOT require a subscription, and it works great. I am very glad I decided to upgrade my Storm 1 for the Storm 2, instead of the roid!!

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My First Touchscreen - BlackBerry Storm2 9550 Phone (Verizon Wireless)

This is my first touchscreen phone and I'm really having fun with it. In my line of work, I need to be able to access medical and hazard material data immediately and reliably, while being able to call any number of public and private agencies. The reason I say this is because my number one requirement is reliability, and that is closely followed by usability. I've had Palm PDAs for my reference books (no more bags of books needed) and progressed through the blessing of phone/pda combinations beginning with the Treo 700 and 755 to the Blackberry Curve and then the Blackberry Tour. I now have the Blackberry Storm 2 and have no regrets. I was quite nervous about making the jump to touchscreen because I was so used to a keyboard, moreover the history of the Storm wasn't stellar. I did my research, played with various devices, read the reviews (Amazon included) and bought the phone. In doing so, I bypassed the Droid, the Eris and LGs.

The good:
1)The BB9550 has been phenomenally reliable without a single glitch or hardware issue.
2)It is very fast and opens up my medical reference texts faster than my Tour did.
3)The bigger screen makes it possible for me to read attachments (big reason for switching to a full screen phone)

4)Email is blackberry awesome with multiple accounts managed easily
5)As a music player, photo album and video device is is excellent
6)Keyboard is great--I love the feedback "click". I cannot understand the whining about tired fingers...how does one type on a regular computer keyboard or use a pencil without some muscle? All I can say is that if you're tired from the miniscule effort of texting, perhaps the issue is wimpy fingers
7)Memory availability is fantastic.
8)Touchscreen is reliable, solid...the entire phone feels solid and well built.

The bad:
1)Learning curve using the keyboard configurations with my fat fingers--am getting quickly better and more efficient
2)Battery life does suck--I charge continually by habit (always have, regardless of device)

Bottom line, I really like this phone and am very glad to have gotten it. Am giving my excellent Tour away as a gift!

As you can see, the "bads" are relative and not really factors for such a powerful device.

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Right up there with the iPhone. Powerful and efficient

My wife's iPhone is the coolest thing around, or it had been, until now. Because of AT&T's pathetic coverage I have stayed away from the iPhone, but longed for something similar. The first Blackberry STORM looked like it would be perfect, but early reviews kept me away and we all know it turned out to be a disaster

However, I have taken the plunge with the STORM2 and it is not only my first Blackberry, but I no longer envy the iPhone. I've been with Verizon for more than a decade and was able to get the phone with a 2 year renewal for $49.95. That really is an insane price for what is Blackberry's most premium phone.

Let's get the bad out of the way. The touch screen is more prone to attracting fingerprints and skin grease than the iPhone. I am constantly cleaning it. The iPhone still cannot be touched as far as internet browsing with its easy and precise zoom feature. With the Storm2 you can zoom in stages and that is not all that hot. My only other gripe is when you flip the phone to landscape it sometimes takes too long for the keyboard to flip as well. A minor gripe.

What I do like is everything else. Net browsing seems faster than my wife's 3GS iPhone. The ease in which I set up my email was a surprise. Kudos to Blackberry for the simple interface and how easy it is to learn. The touch screen is different than any other on the market and I love it. Having to press down for applied pressure results in my not screwing up while typing or clicking the wrong buttons. It took some getting used to, but the learning curve was not long and hard. Nope, despite this being my first Blackberry, I am in love and no longer desire an iPhone.

Ringtones are a snap to move to the phone and the 16gig sized card means I will never run out of space. Picture quality for the camera isn't all that hot unless lighting conditions are perfect, but that is to be expected from any camera phone. Shooting video is a snap and yes, it's only YouTube quality, but again, no surprise.

I already called Verizon and had them unlock the phone for when I travel internationally. No need to pay Verizon's sky high foreign rates. Just slap in a local SIM and you are good to go. Awesome feature!

Because this phone would not survive a drop onto a hard surface I have purchased the Otterbox Commuter case. It's the best fit for me. Not too thick and certainly robust enough to protect the phone. I dropped the phone yesterday and it just bounced (corners of the case are all exposed rubberized). No harm done.

Battery life on phones such as this is always a subject of complaint, but seriously, for a power user, this phone will suffice. It's flat out superior to the iPhone. No, it won't last as long as a non-touch screen phone like the Razr, but how could it? I typically charge the phone at night and it lasts me all day. I have yet to run out before it's time to pass out at night. Not even close. In fact, if I don't go crazy all day with the Storm2, I can go two days without charging.

Over the next two years I hope Blackberry makes the few changes needed to be the complete iPhone killer. Fix the internet browsing issues and I truly do feel that this baby will be the bomb.

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Perfect for work/personal use

I purchased this phone about 3 weeks ago, and I'm more than satisfied with its performance. I upgraded from the old bb worldphone, and wasn't sure if I wanted to go touchscreen, but since the vendor from whom I bought it allows returns within 30 days for any reason, I decided to take a chance on it. I will not be returning it. So far, I've found the upgraded surepress technology to work like a charm. Apparently they changed from having one mechanical button, to 4, located in different quadrants of the screen. Typing a message with this phone is just as fast as typing with my old keyboard-based blackberry. That's what I needed to switch to a touch-screen: typing capability that matched that of a keyboard-based phone.

The operating system is intuitive and fast. There is little-to-no lag time switching from one application to the next and switching from regular to landscape view. The browser is acceptable (better than my old bb's browser). BB has always had trouble with its web browsers, but from what I hear, RIM is coming out with a Webkit browser soon. Once that happens, I expect the browser to be superb.

Of course, the thing that sets this phone apart from other contemporaries, is its ability to handle email. My firm currently runs Office through an exchange server, and BB and Outlook are best friends. My firm's IT guy also prefers BB's because he feels (I don't know if this is true) that they are more secure when connected to a server. In addition, my gmail account was simple to set up, and sometimes emails show up on my phone before they do online. I did not get the Droid because of its trouble synching with Office, and particularly Outlook (I was willing to give up a little screen size and browser capability to ensure my emails were easy to get, read, and respond to).

I don't use the phone much for games, but I have watched some youtube videos on it and the visual and speaker are very good for a smartphone.

The phone and speakerphone are great: crisp sound, no echoes. Simply put, this is a great phone that will enable you to stay connected and message using any type of program at lightning speed.

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If you like BB, stick with the rest of the line

To each their own of course... but coming from an 8900 I was really hoping for more. I found the touchscreen to be very challenging to use for even casual messaging. (Why own a blackberry if you're not into data entry on your phone?)

I also was disappointed in the resolution of the screen, again being used to a razor sharp 8900 and after having test-driven the Droid in a store.

The OS clearly isn't built for a rotating touchscreen. Many apps don't support rotation or even touch input.

And the keyboard. You can't see what letter you're pressing as it illuminates UNDER your finger. I found the auto-dictionary slow and not nearly as quick on the Droid. I tried multi-press, suretype, everything to no avail.

And let's face it people. RIM's browser is poor. I returned the phone and got a Droid - which I'm using to post this review. That would have taken HOURS on the Storm.

If you're a blackberry user, stay with the fine Curve or Bold lines. Leave the touchscreens to Apple, HTC and Motorola. If only VZW had the 9700...

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USED THEM ALL - STORM2 THE BEST

I've used a lot of smart phones - as a technology professional, my career requires knowledge of several. I've used and owned windows mobile, palm, several blackberries - old 7XXX, 8XXX, then curve, and storm 1, an iphone, a stint with the moto droid, and now I've landed happily on the storm2. It is more than preference, it comes down to needs. If you need your email (calendar, tasks, and notes), and you need it reliably, a blackberry may still be the only game in town. If you have access to Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES), then you have no comparison in any other phone. They all fail in one way or another. Push services means your phone gets the email faster than your computer in most cases. Consumers may choose the icing other models offer, but the blackberry still takes the cake!

The storm 2 is a huge improvement over the storm 1, which was functional, but also frustrating at times. There is a learning curve to the surepress screen, but once you've learned it, even it makes other phones feel incomplete. The screen "click" is refined in this model, so much so I now hate the storm 1, and I used to tolerate it. I left the blackberry line for a brief time to see what the iphone and droid had to offer due to frustration with the storm 1. I played with some windows mobile phones, I considered the palm pre, remembering my treo days...I suffered through the immaturity of droid...in the end coming back home to blackberry knowing nothing compares. The storm 2 is rock solid, dependable, fast and feature rich. The additions of hardware graphics acceleration, a redesigned hardware "surepress" interface, more memory, and minor cosmetic changes to the case have made this 10x the phone of the original storm. Folks who bash the blackberry operating system don't understand it. It is built for function - it is one of the reasons batteries last twice as long on berries. The built in security is why blackberries are the phones you see used in government. The web browsing experience may suffer a little, but the ability to use (abuse) my phone all day into the evening beats running out of juice in under 5 hours on competitor's models. The droid wouldn't make 4.

Load Opera mini or Bolt if you need something better, you have options, many more than you might think. There is the official "app world", but many mobile application vendors have built their own catalog stores to run on the phone as well.

In the end, my storm2 just works where and when other phones might. I can have some fun with it too. Videos play without pausing, and music sounds great through regular headphones, or streamed via bluetooth to my car's audio system. Games and gadgets are abundant. You can also "theme" a blackberry in ways other phones only wish possible. Not only the front screen, but almost every element can be changed to look the way you want with hundreds (probably thousands) of themes out there, many free. It has a decent camera, and it will shoot video.

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It's smart alright

It's smart enough that it makes up it's own mind. It seems that most of the positive reviews I've read come from people who use Blackberries as business tools. The kind of people who can give their troublesome phone to their IT people. Unfortunately, I bought this phone as a consumer who wanted access to Verizon's 3G network. In my experience it is perversely obstinate, balky and weird. It ties itself in knots regularly and the only solution is to remove the battery and reboot it. I wish I could I describe some of my problems in more detail but they're never the same problems. Blackberry ownership is an endless game of " What is it now???" The over all impression it gives is that it is run by delicate mechanisms involving springs and gears that need constant readjusting. I am a little afraid that a valve might stick, causing the boiler to explode in my pocket.

Having said all of that I have to add I'm happy with the network. When I can trick the phone into doing something it can amaze me, only to leave me wondering how I can make it do that again. Please don't mention the words "learning curve". It's a phone, a troublesome phone.

Update: I've owned the phone for two months now. It continues to do things for reasons of it's own. The other day it decided to do a reboot of itself. Unfortunately I was trying to use it when it suddenly decided to do that. The browser is pretty much useless, unless you like reading weird error messages. You're almost never going to be able to use it to access the internet. There's always a problem loading the page or a problem with the radio or a problem with something.

I will concede that the phone itself, the physical object, is well made and sturdy. The software kind of reminds me of my first computer running windows 95. It's buggy and weird and absolutely no thought seems to have been given to the user.

Final update. Less than 3 months after purchase I've given up. Between the phone and Verizon's notoriously lousy web presence I spent two hours trying to pay my bill. Every time I pressed '3' on the keypad the phone hung itself up and opened the calendar. (not even on that day's date). At the end of this ordeal I turned off the Blackberry and reactivated my old phone. The Blackberry is for sale on Craigslist, unfortunately activating the Blackberry left me with a two year contract with Verizon. Because I bought a 'smart phone' it will cost me $340 to buy myself out of the contract. The worst money I've spent in some time.

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Not perfect but better than many say.

Hi I got my Storm 2 last weekend. Beautiful little phone. My hands are always dry and the phone IS a little slippery.

Now to issues I've read in other reviews--

Battery life- Lith Ion batteries need to be drained completely before recharging and gradually build up a longer charge. The battery recharges very quickly but charging overnight is best.

Reception- I'm in a sketchy area-- lots of bluffs and valleys, many poor signal areas. I had some trouble in the beginning and called my service provider. They reprogramed my phone with great results. On the other side I realized I was blocking the microphone with my little finger-- lol. Also, I needed to hold the phone with the mic away from my face.

Keyboard- OK-- well that's something I'm still getting use to. It doesn't help that I'm a LOUSY typist!

Email- One commentary liked the single mail box on the Storm 2. I did NOT. However- I called my phone provider who connected me to [...] and showed me how to set up my own mailboxes so my outgoing email would be from the person they thought they were emailing instead of "MY Blackberry--"

Hope this helps some folk. CED, WI

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BlackBerry Storm2 9550 Phone (Verizon Wireless) Just $49.99 Save: $450.00 (90%)

Stay connected to the people, places and things that matter most with the BlackBerry Storm2 from Verizon Wireless, the second generation of RIM's innovative and award-winning touchscreen smartphone. Featuring the BlackBerry OS 5.0, the Storm2 is enhanced with an improved touchscreen platform, larger internal memory (now 2 GB), Wi-Fi networking capabilities (802.11b/g), and hundreds of hardware and software enhancements. And whether traveling to Europe or Asia, the Storm2 provides globetrotters the freedom of reliable global connectivity with the reliable Verizon Wireless high-speed 3G CDMA network here in the United States and compatibility with GSM and 3G UMTS networks abroad.

The BlackBerry Storm2 offers an enhanced SurePress touchscreen display, Wi-Fi capabilities, and a solid BlackBerry smartphone messaging experience.

Enjoy fast cellular connectivity with the reliable Verizon Wireless 3G network and global GSM/3G connectivity when traveling abroad.

The Storm2 significantly improves the touchscreen interactivity with new SurePress technology, which is based on an electronic system that provides the user with tactile feedback when the touchscreen is pressed. The new system responds equally to gentle pressure applied anywhere on the surface of the screen and makes clicking the display practically effortless. It also offers multi-touch support, allowing you to type a letter with one thumb even while their other thumb may still be touching or resting on another letter, thus enabling faster typing and multi-key actions such as Shift or Alt -key combinations. This mobile multimedia powerhouse is compatible with the V Cast Music with Rhapsody service, which enables you to purchase songs through your phone and download them via the fast Verizon Wireless 3G EV-DO data network, and the V CAST Video on Demand service that enables you to watch full-length TV shows plus news, sports, weather and live entertainment video clips.
You'll stay on course thanks to the VZ Navigator GPS turn-by-turn direction service, as well as be able to find your way in foreign destination using the VZ Navigator Global service. And with the optional Visual Voice Mail service, you'll be able to quickly and easily scroll through your messages and pick the ones you want to listen to. See more details on optional Verizon Wireless services below.
The elegantly designed Storm2 offers a smooth design and premium finish with sloped edges, chrome accents, glass lens and stainless steel backplate. Other features include a 3.2-megapixel camera/camcorder, Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free devices and stereo music streaming, included 16 GB microSD memory card (with 16 GB maximum expansion), support for up to 10 personal and corporate email accounts, easy access to favorite social networking and instant messaging services, support for BlackBerry App World, and up to 5.5 hours of talk time.

Key Features

• Fast 3G connectivity thanks to the reliable Verizon Wireless EV–DO, Rev A network
• Global roaming capabilities with data access in more than 185 destinations
• 3.25-inch, high-resolution capacitive touchscreen with multi-touch support and integrated functions including Send, End, Menu, Escape (480 x 360 pixels, 184ppi)
• New SurePress technology makes clicking the display practically effortless and provides greater consistency with tactile response across whole screen. Use natural gestures such as pointing and clicking to interact with the features and applications.
• BlackBerry OS 5.0 includes typing accuracy and selection improvements, as well as usability and visual enhancements such as inertial scrolling, spin boxes that make it easier to set dates and times, gradient shading on buttons, and more use of animation.
• Support for BlackBerry App World featuring a broad and growing catalog of third-party mobile applications developed specifically for BlackBerry smartphones. Categories include travel, productivity, entertainment, games, social networking and sharing, news and weather, and more.
• BlackBerry Internet Service offers easy access to up to 10 supported personal and work email accounts and one BlackBerry email account.
• Compatible with BlackBerry Enterprise Server for advanced security and IT administration features within IBM Lotus Domino, Microsoft Exchange and Novell GroupWise environments. Customers running BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 will gain the ability to set follow-up flags, manage e-mail folders, access remote files (Windows Shares), forward appointments, view calendar attachments, and more.
• View attachments including JPEG, Adobe PDF, and Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Social networking apps include Facebook for BlackBerry, Flickr Photo Uploader for BlackBerry, and MySpace for BlackBerry
• 3.2 megapixel camera with 2x digital zoom, autofocus, Image Stabilization (IS), flash and video recording capabilities
• Digital audio and video playback
• BlackBerry Media Sync is built right into your BlackBerry Desktop Software and lets you sync your desktop iTunes or Windows Media Player music files with your BlackBerry smartphone. If you're a Mac user, just choose the "media" option and you're ready to sync your iTunes music collection from your BlackBerry smartphone onto your Mac.
• Integrated GPS for use with the BlackBerry Maps applications as well as other location-based applications and photo geotagging.
• VZ Navigator and VZ Navigator Global capable for voice-guided turn-by-turn directions and location services both in the United States and Western Europe.
• Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g) for accessing home and corporate networks as well as hotspots while on the go
• Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity with stereo music streaming (A2DP) capabilities as well as hands-free headsets and car kits and tethering with your PC (with optional tethering plan). (Learn more)
• Full messaging capabilities including SMS text, MMS picture and IM instant messaging (via popular services)
• 2 GB of onboard media storage
• Included 16 GB microSD card and compatibility with optional microSD cards up to 16 GB in size
• Improved BlackBerry Browser with faster JavaScript and CSS processing as well as support for Gears and BlackBerry Widgets.
• Voice dialing capabilities
• Airplane mode allows you to listen to music while the cellular connectivity is turned off
• Speakerphone for hands-free conference calling

Vital Statistics
The BlackBerry Storm2 weighs 5.5 ounces and measures 4.4 x 2.4 x 0.53 inches. Its 1400 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 5.5 hours of talk time, and up to 269 hours (11.2 days) of standby time while on the Verizon Wireless CDMA/EVDO Rev. A network (800/1900 MHz). When accessing GSM networks (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) while abroad, the Storm2 offers up to 5 hours of talk time and 305 hours (12.7 days) of standby time, and up to 6 hours of talk time and 281 hours (11.7 days) of standby time when running on a 3G UMTS network (2100 MHz). What's in the Box
BlackBerry Storm2 handset, 16 GB microSD memory card, rechargeable battery, microUSB international charger with international clips, USB cable, wired 3.5mm stereo headset, pre-installed SIM card, quick reference guide, documentation kit, global support kit

Verizon Wireless Services

• Global Roaming Capabilities: With this mobile phone, you can connect to wireless networks from Europe to South America to Asia thanks to its quad-band GSM/EDGE/GPRS connectivity as well as high-speed 3G HSPA compatibility (2100 MHz networks). It comes pre-installed with a SIM card, so customers who plan to travel abroad can activate global service at the time of purchase or by calling Verizon Wireless prior to leaving the U.S. For those who travel abroad frequently, the Verizon Wireless Global Value Plan offers discounted roaming capabilities with data access in more than 185 destinations.
• VZ Navigator with Global Capability: With this GPS-enabled phone, you'll be able to access the Verizon Wireless VZ Navigator service (additional charges applicable) for voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions, heads-up alerts, local search of nearly 14 million points of interest in the US (such as landmarks, restaurants and ATMs), and detailed color maps. Additionally, this phone is compatible with the VZ Navigator Global service, which enables you to find locations and access turn-by-turn directions in North America and Western Europe, including Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom (with more being added). Helping to alleviate stress or confusion caused by reading road signs or directions in an unfamiliar language, VZ Navigator Global allows you to choose either English or Spanish as the default language, and miles or kilometers to mark distances. You'll also be able to find restaurants, gas stations, banks/ATMs and other popular spots in these countries using Local Search.
• V CAST Music with Rhapsody: Access this exclusive digital music service for RealNetworks and for MTV Networks, which delivers unlimited monthly access to music on up to three Rhapsody-compatible mobile phones and players and online on multiple PCs and Web browsers. For a monthly fee (billed on your Verizon Wireless bill), you can load and reload your subscription songs from your PC to your V CAST Music with Rhapsody phone as often as you want, and take your music on the go. On PCs running the Windows XP or higher operating system, you can also browse, preview and purchase music using the V CAST Music with Rhapsody software, which is available as a free download from the V CAST Music with Rhapsody download website. Additional subscription charges applicable.
  
• V CAST Video on Demand: This optional service enables you to watch full-length TV shows plus news, sports, weather and live entertainment video clips. It features more than 100 full-length programs from leading broadcast and cable networks, ranging from highly-rated drama and comedy series to reality programs and children's programming. V CAST Video on Demand also delivers live sporting events, including NHL hockey games and an upcoming slate of college football games The service offers unlimited viewing of Basic Videos and the ESPN MVP channel. You can choose from 14 categories, including Entertainment, Kids, Music, Sports, Comedy, News, Pop Culture, Information, Women, Latino, Home & Leisure, Multicultural, Cutting Edge, and Hollywood. Additional subscription charges applicable.
  
• Visual Voice Mail: This innovative service enables you to delete, reply and forward voice mail messages without having to listen to prior messages or voice instructions. Visual Voice Mail is the ideal tool for the busy mobile professional who may need to prioritize which messages he or she listens to first. Features include on-screen access to voice mail message status, save up to 40 messages for 40 days (or archive permanently), create up to 10 different caller ID-based greetings, and reply via call back, text or even voice mail.
• Mobile Broadband Connect: Use your smartphone as a modem for your notebook when you connect the two using a USB cable--or open a Bluetooth connection--enabling you to access the Internet or your company intranet. The Mobile Broadband Connect tethered modem capability is ideal when you're traveling and need to use your notebook to check email, access corporate networks, or download large files like presentations and reports. And with Mobile Broadband Connect, you won't have to buy an extra PC Card or other devices.

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Only one word needed to describe the Moto Droid: Awesome!

I bought my Moto Droid from a well known price club about a month ago, and can honestly say it's the best electronic device I have ever owned! I have owned at least a dozen cell phones in as many years, including Blackberries and the like, and the Droid beats them all hands down! This phone does so much so well I don't even know where to begin.

It's a phone, a texting device, a PDA, a GPS NAV, an MP3 player, a video player and so much more. I have tethered it to my laptop with great results (even better results when phone is connected to a fast WiFi network vs Verizon's 3G network, but the speeds with 3G are still much faster than dial up). And the LCD display on this device is incredible. It puts the iPhone and many other phones to shame. I have ripped mp4 movies and copied them to the included 16GB micro-sd card to entertain my toddler at lunch time and the picture looks like a high def plasma TV, no exaggeration.

And before I forget, the glass on the Moto Droid is "Gorilla Glass" made by Corning and is extremely durable and wear resistant, so no need for a screen protector. Gorilla Glass can crack (or even shatter) if the phone is dropped and lands just right, but it's basically scratch proof (see Youtube video for droid glass scratch test). So why do they make screen protectors for the Droid, you ask? Because a sucker is born every minute. It's an easy sell to people who don't know any better and have been buying them to protect inferior phone screens for years now. Ever buy rustproofing for a new car? It's the biggest and longest running joke in the new car industry, but they still offer it don't they? Like I said...

Getting back to what the Droid can do, there are 10,000+ apps available in the "Market" (built in shortcut on apps page, so very easy to get to) and more are being developed every day. I currently have 47 apps (some are apps, some are games) of various kinds installed from the market that I like and use on a regular basis (I have installed more than 47 to date, but some apps I tried and didn't like or need and uninstalled not long after

installing, and you too will experience this "trial and error" process of finding new apps). Some of the pre-installed apps are very basic with very few customization options, and you may want to find apps in the Market to replace these. Others are great right out of the box. The voice recognition capabilities of this phone are great. I use the Droid as a NAV unit and search for destinations by voice with great results.

Bottom line is the Motorola Droid is one powerful device and you won't be sorry if you decide to buy this phone. Be prepared to play with it a lot in order to learn as much as you can to get the most out of it. The more you use it the more you will like it, I promise you. Motorola and Google did a great job getting this phone right the first time around. iPhone users can keep their iPhones. They don't know what they're missing!

Pays for itself IMMEDIATELY

I'm about to step on the toes of what I'm sure are the lurking forms of all the iPhone users out there when I say the following (but keep in mind that I say it with complete sincerity, and no animosity):

The iPhone is better than the DROID in the same way that a calculator is better than a desktop computer system.

You can hand an iPhone (calculator) to just about anyone, and they'll be able to figure its intuitive functionality in no time at all. This was proven to me when a friend's daughter took hold of my iPhone and proceeded to show me how she'd mastered it in only ten minutes. Likewise, however, if you give that same six year old a computer, she MAY be able to find the calculator application if she's lucky. Maybe.

That being said, the DROID is a fantastic device, created with powerusers in mind. It may lack a lot of the shiny smooth corners that the iPhone touts, as well as its inherent ease of use, but it more than makes up for these... "shortcomings" with raw power. Compared to the things that the DROID can do (which are only AMPLIFIED by the level of synergy with Google), the iPhone is... well, it leaves a lot to be desired.

Getting to the title of this review, the DROID absolutely does pay for itself almost immediately. Taking advantage of Verizon's New Every Two deal, I was able to get my DROID at the discounted cost, and enjoy all the features it had to offer.

Included in those, of course, was the navigation service (beta), absolutely free.

Already, I've paid for this device. No longer do I have to go and spend $100.00 to $200.00 on a GPS, and then $70.00 or so each year after that to maintain an updated set of maps. Now, I've got a GPS that gets updated whenever Google Maps does. And on that note, I'm stoked to mention that I mentioned my apartment was missing to the Google Maps staff, and within a month, the entire complex was mapped out. Compared with waiting for a YEAR for my complex to MAYBE be added in the next GPS revision, this was absolutely magical.

And that's only ONE SERVICE.

The DROID brings so many more to the table. As does the iPhone, I'll grant you that.

Ultimately, it comes down to taste. Apple boasts something to the effect of over 100,000 apps on the App Store. Compared to whatever number that the Android Marketplace has, I'm sure that Apple has the iPhone beat.

Numerically.

But what does the app count matter when the apps you have don't matter to me, the consumer? Who cares if you have 99 law apps, when I'm not a law student? Who cares if you have 101 dalmations, when I'm a Husky man at heart?

I'm sure you get the picture.

The DROID is an incredible device, very stable, and very elegant. Again, it DOES lack the curves of the iPhone, but it's most definitely not lacking its own inherent sense of beauty and elegance. There was definitely a lot of thought put into the design of the DROID, and the only part of the phone that really brings me a cause for pause is the "chin". I don't really get that, but I suppose that's neither here nor there.

Back to the stability issue: I owned an iPhone for four months. In those four months, my iPhone was constantly crashing, taking upwards of five minutes to start up, and I'd constantly have to reload my apps. With the DROID, I've loaded each app once, and they've remained intact the entire time I've had the phone.

Integration with other services. Major plus here.

In addition to pulling contacts from my Gmail account, the DROID goes and takes it a step further: it siphons contacts from my Facebook account. I was more than just a little amused when I had one of my friends text me outta the blue (first time ever).

Person: Hey, Terrance, it's me, Person.
Me: I know.
Person: How do you know, are you stalking me or something?
Me: No, but apparently my phone is.

...Maybe you just had to have been there, but it was incredible to actually have their face from their Facebook account displayed next to their name in the MMS, when I'd never texted or talked with them via phone prior to that.

They even let you replace the generic home app with another app of your choice to replace how your DROID experience is, well... experienced. Everything on the phone can be replaced with another app of your choice. The only limit is the developers' imaginations.

The only real problem that I've encountered with the DROID is with connectivity. I'll switch on Wi-Fi, and it'll show that it's connected, but I won't be able to browse the web or download apps or anything else involving any sort of connection. Disabling Wi-Fi and then re-enabling it will solve this every time, but it's a problem they should address with some haste, I think.

In the end, the DROID is, again, a solid device. A beautiful device. An elegant device that blurs the line between... well, just about everything. If you've got a contract with any non-Verizon carrier, wait it out, then jump ship. If you're with Verizon, you know what you have to do.

Not perfect yet, but it's getting there

Well, it's been six months with my Droid and here are my observations:
In general, the phone has been pretty solid. It works WONDERFULLY as a phone, which is the primary duty. Internet and 3G performance are fast and never seem to lack coverage. I've had no problems connecting to several different types of Bluetooth devices. I took excellent footage at a recent concert, so the cameras (video and still) are pretty good. The app developers are doing a lot better and I'm starting to see more quality apps emerge on par with the offerings from iTunes (although, the Android Market still has a ways to go). The difference is that more established developers are cross-developing for both platforms now. If I had to make a phone purchasing decision all over again today, I'd probably get the Droid X or HTC Incredible (obviously, this Moto Droid is now dated unless they offer it for nothing or next to nothing. The point is, I'd still choose an Android phone. More on that later...)

It can't all be peaches and cream, so here are some shortcomings I've encountered:

Software updates are slow to come. It's not even so much that they're slow to release so much as slow to release for all Android phones. Imagine if Microsoft released new versions of Windows based on your computer manufacturer. Different manufacturers get different dates. HP gets the latest Windows in January, Dell gets it in March, Acer in September... That's what it feels like to watch newer Androids or the Nexus (more on that later) get the updates first and the rest of us wait our turn. I waited forever for Flash 10.1 for Android, only to discover it only works with Android 2.2. And Moto Droid doesn't have it and won't for the foreseeable future. So much for the so-called "Flash advantage". This thing digests Flash about as well as an iPhone or iPad right now.

There are some glitches that have stuck around for an alarmingly long time. One of the biggest is the random disappearance of contacts from both my device and online contact list. A contact (or several) will just randomly disappear from both places. Other people have complained of this and I've had the problem since first purchasing the phone in February. I thought it was me until it started recently occurring again. This alone caused me to bump a star off. I needed to contact someone in a hurry, only to find them deleted from my phone and online contacts. This could be catastrophic if you're not around a backup contact list. Another long-lived glitch is the inability to properly clear your tracks in the market. Every search you ever make in the market is saved, FOREVER. So if you, or someone fiddling around with your phone, makes a search, the search term remains in the history, with no way to clear it other than a third-party app that I'm reluctant to try. I can't believe they haven't fixed this yet. Just imagine if EVERY web search you've ever made was saved, with no way to clear it. All someone had to do was hover over the search field and every search ever made by you appeared. That would kinda stink of lack of privacy, wouldn't it? Well, there you go.

Battery life seems to have gotten shorter as the apps increased, even regularly using a task killer.

Skype, Yahoo, and other apps break when wi-fi is enabled (skype - wi-fi = what's the point?...)

I'm also tired of Google being more focused on their own branded Nexus than other Android phones. It almost seems as if Google only cares about the Nexus and the other Android phones are an afterthought. I understand The Nexus is their phone and all, but if that's how they choose to treat other phones, then they should have kept their OS to themselves. They're trying to have their cake and eat it too.

So, with all this said, why would I still buy another Android? Because it's the only option on Verizon right now and I'm hopeful they Google will get their stuff together. Google really needs to quit trying to match iPhone sales with Android devices and focus on tweaking the OS and improving the update system. My disdain for AT&T prevents me from ever returning to them, but if Android doesn't get some of these annoying issues resolved in the near future, I'll definitely go my previous iPod Touch/Blackberry/regular phone route again. Yes, it stinks to have to carry so many devices to make sure stuff gets done correctly, but my patience is wearing thin. On second thought, make that a TWO star drop....

not very good? - Motorola DROID A855 Android Phone (Verizon Wireless)

Bought the Droid and used it for 3 weeks and I was not impressed. Just for the record, I have owned previously an iPhone 3g. Here is the breakdown Pro's:

- After upgrading to the current Android OS version, the GPS application is STELLAR! Outperformed my Garmin Nuvi, and the voice input for addresses and for destinations is really cool. GPS data was very accurate (as long as you maintain a data connection with Verizon. If receiving a voice call, GPS doesn't work too well.

- Substantial feel (due to weight) of the device far outweighs the lightness of other "plastic" phones.

- Google Voice. Did I mention Google Voice? Really cool, really handy and works really well (as long as you have a data connection.

- The screen is just flat out gorgeous. Nice sharp, clear text. Brilliant colors, and wonderful brightness and contrast. Does get washed out somewhat in the sunlight.

- Contact list integration with social sites. Facebook contact information will automatically update, assuming that you have entered the person's name exactly as they have on Facebook. While this is really neat, you cannot edit the Facebook information on your device.

Con's:

- Phone construction is whacky. Keyboard slider won't stay closed while in your pocket. Power on button just floats. Volume up/down button is always in the wrong place and inadvertantly gets bumped, changed, etc. I found that my phone would go from full volume to mute without me knowing it through the course of doing different things on the phone.

- Touch screen glass is a fingerprint, face print magnet. This is a key point where Apple has gotten it with their special coatings to eliminate or to reduce smudges. The Droids glass front also has too much friction which makes swiping on the screen difficult or inaccurate at times.

- Ear piece. On mine, I could hear the static that you would typically hear in old radio broadcasts. Very annoying.

- Half of the calls I made or received, the other party only heard a mumble, not me.

- Apps. The Marketplace is a total and utter joke. Can't find what you need when you need it. Too much junk loaded in there. A good majority of the apps won't work properly or will crash the phone. Even verizon "recommended" apps crashed the phone.

- Applications running in the background. Nothing like having to force quit applications 3-4 times though out the day. If you don't, be prepared to charge your battery a couple times through out the day

- Sync. No good options here, unless you use GMAIL. Even that is limited. I was able, however, to get my calendar to sync natively with my Macbook Pro. Cool! There are some half baked options out there for sync, such as missing sync. I am sure they will get better over time.

- Android. The operating system is not intuitive and has the feel of being just slapped together, much like the Pontiac Azteck car. Tap here, swipe there, pull the shade somewhere else. It is customizable... sort of. The operating system is also laggy in spots, and fluid in others. This is where I truly miss the Apple iPhone experience, where everything worked as it should, and wasn't laggy in the least. Other issues are with screen elements disappearing (swipe to answer) at times, calls not able to be answered or hung up.

- Phone cases... at least the Droid case I had, it would interfere with using the slide out keyboard, interfered with the car windshield mount, and prohibited you from selecting items that were near the edge of the screen.

- Micro USB is not a good solution for power on a device that may need to be charged while in the car. you have to really pay attention to be able to plug it in. The car windshield mount doesn't power the unit, so you have to plug in the micro USB to the phone before docking it in the mount. It would be nice to have a powered dock to just snap the phone into, like most GPS units.

Overall, I feel this phone should never have left the drawing board, as it is painfully obvious to me that it is not complete. It has promise, but still has a long way to go for me to want to try again.

To be fair to Motorola, most of the big issues are not with the handset, but with the Android platform. With that said, the Droid is NOT a sexy design in the least, but that should not be the basis for a "bad" functional review. It isn't streamlined, it looks clunky with the sharp corners and the not quite the same size top slider as the bottom slider.

Does whatever you want it to do

This is a spectacular phone... out of the box for new users it may initially underwhelm or intimidate, especially if you are not really "needing" the extra features it has. For simple people, but a non-smartphone, and for business users who don't want extra features, buy a blackberry.

I have had the phone for 3 weeks. It has spectacular battery life, especially if you tweak it right: Add the power widget, turn off wifi when not needed, and get an overclock manager to downgrade the cpu speed when not in use.

I highly recommend putting some time into this phone before judging it. Whereas I found the touch screen a bit difficult at first, I am now much faster and more precise with it. The keyboard is fine for long typing, but the blackberry curve I upgraded from was easier (the curve's only true advantage).

If you want to do something that you initially can't, just find the right apps and ways to modify.

I suggest rooting with the various instructions out there--it's worth the time, and will make your phone MUCH faster and more flexible. But that's not for the casual user. Bugless beast rom is a great place to start... I am already running the 2.1 rom weeks before it's actually released, with pinch-zoom maps/browser.

Navigation is great--we used it for a trip and ended up going to places we wouldn't have bothered to visit otherwise.

The browsing experience is good, but requires a bit of tweaking and learning to get slick. Speed is great. Pinch to zoom with 2.1 rom is great, or try dolphin if you don't want to root--though 2.1 will roll out officially soon for non-root users.

Very little about the phone is flat-out intuitive, but it's not hard either.

I am much happier to have this on verizon, and like it much better than my brother's iphone. iphone is fine, but if you want to do something that apple doesn't "prefer", you're pretty much SOL unless you jailbreak, whereas you can do a crazy amount with a droid even without rooting.

The phone quality is great, as is the screen, in agreement with what everybody else says.

blah, blah, just buy it unless you don't like phones, then buy something wimpier.

My Droid rocks my socks

Before I proceed to gush about how much I love my Droid, I'm going to give my one caveat to this phone.

It's really not a very good phone to actually use as a phone.

Now this is fine with me, as I don't actually like talking on the phone and therefore I don't make a whole lot of phone calls. Surprisingly, I've had no problems with the call quality itself (the most common complaint about this phone)--people's voices sound crystal-clear. But when I do use it as a phone, actually holding the phone up to my face has been a bit problematic. There's some sort of distance sensor that detects when it's close to your face and turns the screen off. I have long hair, and apparently this can play havoc with the sensor, because the screen is constantly turning on during calls and then my cheek hits buttons on the screen, causing calls to be muted or disconnected. These aren't issues while using a bluetooth headset. Even when using a bluetooth headset, however, I find that having to hit a separate button to turn on a virtual keypad (for things like "press 1 to speak to customer service") is kind of irritating.

Good thing I don't use the phone much.

OK, now the awesome things.

1.) Full Google Voice integration. I use GV for all calls and texting, and I love that when I make an outgoing call, it prompts me to choose GV or Verizon. And I can text through the GV app or through the native texting app (although I use neither--I use a third party app I downloaded from the Android Market.)

2.) The web browser on this thing is gorgeous. I've had friends with iPhones drool over it. I use a third-party browser (again from the AM) that supports tabbed browsing and pinch-and-zoom, and it's wonderful.

3.) Apps!! The Android Market has so many neat apps--I find myself using this phone for more and more every day. Personal and work (Microsoft Exchange) email and calendars, note-taking, to-do lists, travel plans, music and podcasts, keeping tabs on my bank and credit card balances, taking and post-processing pictures, emergency flashlight, e-book reader, tuning my guitar... the possibilities are almost endless. Seriously.

4.) Google's Android operating system is infinitely more tweakable than Apple's. Unlike the iPhone, the Droid supports multitasking and running programs in the background, and this opens up so many possibilities for what this phone is capable of. For example, google "Locale for Android" and check out that app--it's amazing!

5.) I know a lot of people like that it has the built-in keyboard... I actually don't, and it's because I would have had to use a qwerty keyboard that I held off so long on getting a smartphone (this one was my first one.) I can T9 like no one's business, but put me on a tiny qwerty, and I'm down to something ridiculous like 11 words per minute. Fortunately, it's possible to download other virtual keyboards aside from the stock one that the phone comes with. I used a T9 one for a while and wasn't all that impressed (I tried several, actually) but now I use a beta version of Swype (google it if you're not familiar with it) and it rocks. DEFINITELY an improvement over either the physical or virtual keyboard for me.

6.) One word: TETHERING. There's a tethering app called PDANet available for free on the Android Market. This means that when I'm traveling within the US, I can hook my phone to my laptop and get high-speed internet on my laptop through my phone. This has already saved me hundreds of dollars in airport and hotel wifi fees, and as an added benefit, my phone charges while it's tethering! It's win-win. :-)

7.) I'm a serious amateur photographer, and I love the camera on this thing. No, it's not perfect, and I'd much rather have my DSLR, but there's an old saying about the best camera being the one you have with you, and even by that adage, this is a better than average cell phone camera. But what really bumps my camera's awesomeness up is the ability to post-process pictures with one of the numerous programs available on the Android Market (I favor PicSay Pro and Vignette, personally.) I've taken a number of pictures where people have been shocked that they're actually cameraphone pics--being able to post-process pictures in the phone quite nicely compensates for common cell phone camera issues like incorrect white balance (when your pictures end up tinted blue or green or something odd like that.) Speaking of Android Market apps, there are a couple that you can download that you can use to create and send postcards straight from your phone using pictures you've taken. It's a bit more pricey than the average tourist postcard, and you don't get the nifty postmark from a different city like you would sending a postcard on vacation, but I can't think of a more personalized postcard than taking a picture of something and sending it to someone. So neat! Which leads me to my next point...

8.) This thing is awesome for travel. I already mentioned the tethering thing, so I'm not talking about that. I travel internationally as well as within the US, and while I can't use my cell phone/data plan overseas, I can still use the wifi whenever I find available wifi, a process aided by a free app called WifiScanner, which will display all available wifi networks and their signal strengths, and you can use it to pinpoint where the signal is the strongest. When I can find a wifi connection internationally, I'm able to do most of what I already do with my phone. I can't make calls with it (although I'm looking into the logistics of that) but I can text (through Google Voice), instant message, check email, use the phone's apps, upload pictures, and do anything else I can do with a data connection. Last month I was in Costa Rica, and where I was staying charged for an internet connection. I paid for a week's connection using my phone, since that was the most convenient to use most of the time, but when I wanted to use my laptop, I just tethered through my phone rather than paying for a separate connection for my laptop. Wonderful! I've also done this on airline flights that have for-fee wifi, since if I just want to check my email or send a text, it's easier (and uses less battery) to do so than having to get out and fire up my laptop.


All in all, I really really love this phone. I probably should dock a star from my review for the fact that using it to actually make calls is somewhat problematic, but since (like I said) I don't really use it for making calls, that's not a big deal for me.

Now if only this came with a dual CDMA-GSM option so that I could put in a SIM card and use it for voice and data overseas... Hey, a geeky gal like me can dream, right?

Droid Lives Up to All the Great News!

This phone lives up to all the great news!
I am not tech savvy and was a little nervous about getting such a "techy" phone.... but it is easy to use and highly advanced! First of all... DEFINITELY buy from Amazon. I was also nervous about buying from Amazon because everyone said it is better to buy directly from Verizon... but WRONG! I bought from Amazon and they offer better tech advice than Verizon does!
Here is what Verizon gets wrong:
* They said I cannot download ringtones to my DROID - not true... I downloaded (from the verizon web site) and the first few took a couple hours to come through and after that... they come through in seconds. Press and hold the text message when it comes through and then when asked - press save. Then go into your ring tones and it will be at the bottom. The only thing I could not seem to do was save it with a title - so I had to remember them by the number that they auto save as.
* They said that they could not help me set up my corporate email, They tried to say I had to go through my company IT dept who is closed on the weekends - but I had all of my corporate email info and just kept telling them to "elevate" my call and finally got to someone who handled it in seconds.
Also, be sure to [...] lots of cool info. But their "store prices" are twice as much as on Amazon... so don't shop there.. just read up there.
I gave my husband my GPS system to use because my DROID is better.
I gave my husband my IPOD because my DROID is better.
I gave my daughter my brand new Blackberry ($300 I paid for that phone) because my DROID is better.
I was concerned that email would be difficult because everyone said that blackberry is best.... not true.
For work I use my PDA non-stop. I am on the road constantly so I bought the following accessories:

* Kensington Car Mount - I live in California and went off another users recommendation
* Wired ear buds for when my bluetooth battery runs down
* Motorola H680 because it has 8 hours of talk time
* Backup battery
* Backup battery charger
* Car Charger
* Rubber case
* Backup desk charger (for my office#
Things I love about Verizon:
* Verizon has the best customer service on the planet and I forgot how wonderful that excellent customer service can be!
(Had AT&T and left to go to Sprint for the Simply Everything plan where I could save money. But HATED Sprints horrible customer service and dropped calls. It is worth a little more to avoid the constant dropped calls.)
* Verizon has the best cell coverage nationwide and it is definitely worth a few extra bucks a month
Things I love about Amazon:
* I opted to "take a chance" with buying my phone thru Amazon and I am soooo glad I did! The $49 price tage is much better than the $200 Verizon price! (as of yesterday the price is now $25 on Amazon)

* Amazon has the best tech advice for the Droid
Things I love about my DROID:
* Email is fast and easy and I love it!
* Links all my contacts with those who have facebook so that their facebook picture shows up for all their calls, texts, emails, etc! Very cool!
* Even typing with my nails is easy - I use the edge of my thumb pad and it is spot on!
* Bar code scanner - I travel a lot and love being able to find where to buy something!
* GPS thru google maps is easier to use than the GPS in my car!
* Easiest PDA I have ever used
For a technically challenged female... this phone is very simple and user friendly!
Well gotta sign off... but I will update periodically!

the initial "wow" factor wore off within 3 days

I was SO excited to give up my iPhone 3GS for the droid to have more customization options, a physical keyboard, "better" battery life, no to little dropped calls, louder speaker, etc.

I get the phone in the mail and it's pretty much fully dead, lovely. This already leaves a bad impression in my mind. There are hardly ANY syncing options for music and photos with a mac and the droid. PROBLEM 1: syncing options aren't great. The battery life is just NOT good, especially if you leave auto-brightness on. I turned off GPS, bluetooth, turned the brightness all the way down, and exited programs frequently and still barely made it through the day with medium usage. PROBLEM 2: the battery is lackluster for 1400MAH with a 6.4 hour estimated talk time. The facebook app, and apps in general, are AWFUL; completely and utterly awful and sloppy. Even after a year Android is still fragmented and unfinished and UGLY. PROBLEM 3: Android is still unfinished and just bad. did I mention how cheap the screen feels? It had this clicking problem even though it's SO close to the keyboard. with how heavy duty the phone as a whole feels it sucks that the screen slider feels cheap. PROBLEM 4: hardware is "meh" at best.

I wanted the Droid with it's 2.0.1 operating system to work better than the G1 I had so so long ago and help me replace my iPhone 3GS, but it did the exact opposite. This phone is SO BAD that I will never leave apple ever again. Even with the 2.1 update coming, Android still feels unfinished and the Droid suffers massive problems. Problems including (but not limited to): battery life not meeting the mark, cheap hardware, sucky apps, and complicated/slow syncing options.

Two thumbs down for me. I give the Droid 2 stars instead of 1 because the speaker IS quite loud and clear and speaker phone is good. Using the phone itself on calls though resulted in a buzzing sound in the background that bugged the hell out of me.

iPhone 3GS, I have never missed a piece of technology so much in my life, thank you for taking me back.

A Great Utility Phone, March 30, 2010

I got the Motorola Android about 2 weeks ago, and I'm very happy with it.

I came from a BB storm that was fairly dependable, but sluggish and basically good for emails and phone calls. I had hoped the iPhone was coming to Verizon but since it didn't, I checked out the Droid, and I think I got a fair amount of the things that I wanted from an iPhone, and some things that aren't currently available on an iPhone.

I'm not saying it is better than an iPhone, or even as polished. But it definitely works for me.

I now have a phone that runs lots of useful apps (most of which cost nothing), integrates well with Google services, and is something I'd be unhappy to leave at home.

I use Gmail for my primary email account (and forward other email to my Gmail account), and checking, navigating, searching, categorizing, etc. my email from my phone is convenient and easy.

Google Voice integrates very well with this phone, even if you just want to use it to transcribe your voice mail and send the text to your email. I rarely have to sit and listen to dozens of voice mails anymore, just read through them and play the audio only when necessary (yay!).

Maps for navigation is outstanding, at least as long as you have a connection. I've used it several times on trips and gotten great results. While streaming music through Pandora, the turn by turn navigation would pop in and give the next set of directions, then go immediately back to the music :)

Voice recognition is usually amazingly good. I downloaded an app that made voice input available anywhere, but I understand that the upcoming 2.1 OS update is supposed to take care of this anyway.

Using the browser (I actually use the third party Dolphin browser, with multi touch support), is something I do many times a day. It is fast and quite usable - on my old phone I avoided using the browser except in rare circumstances.

Video is beautiful and performance makes viewing vids in hi def a feasible choice - I usually do this unless I'm somewhere with a weak signal (and that happens pretty rarely in my area luckily).

Recorded video looks and sounds pretty darn good for a smart phone, in my opinion. The camera interface is pretty basic, but I'm hoping for an update soon to take better advantage of the hardware.

I sometimes use the physical keyboard, but I find the on-screen keyboard more convenient usually, in landscape mode that is. In portrait mode I just can't hit the little on-screen keys reliably enough.

Apps - this is the one thing I missed the most on my old phone, and there are enough available for the Droid to soothe my iPhone envy. The ones like Shazam, barcode scanners, keyrings, that sort of thing that my iPhone bearing friends constantly showed off - there are versions of many of those apps for the Droid. With a nice bookreader app, a few games, fast browser etc. , I'm much less impatient waiting for the Dentist and such these days.

I mostly listen to Pandora for music, so I can't specifically speak to the complaints about the music player - it really does seem pretty basic though. I haven't really looked for a third party app for that yet, which is the first thing I would do if I started playing a lot of purchased music.

Battery - yeah, if I use the phone heavily without charging I will find myself low on power before the day is done. Usually it isn't a problem because when I'm at my desk or in my car I just plug in. But at some point I might consider an extended life battery or maybe just a backup.

Another point in favor of this phone is that my wife, who is kind of impatient with technology and really insisted that she just wanted to stay with her basic phone, is pretty hooked on her Droid too (I got her one at the same time that I got mine).

Bottom line is, if in a year Verizon gets the iPhone I'll actually have a decision to make - that is pretty surprising for me considering how badly I'd been hoping for that to happen.