1Q 2013...thinking of getting a Droid Bionic

[crucifixion]

Hello,

I've got a Galaxy Nexus and will be upgrading. However, all of the new phones are basically just the same as the current phones (especially after project butter) so I dont really see the incentive to spend $400 or so for the newest like S4 or HTC One since the difference in that phone vs my Nexus would be marginal to me. Sure the screen is bigger, but other than that, is there really anything that is a must have that you couldnt get right now on a Nexus with the latest OS?

So I've been looking around and the Bionic (mainly because of the Lapdock) has really caught my eye. I was actually thinking of the Atrix when it first came out before I got the Nexus as the Lapdock just seemed like a great idea. But the price for everything was just insane. Might as well get a new laptop.

But here I am, a quarter into 2013 and while the Bionic is what, almost 2 years old, I'm thinking of getting it as my new phone so I can get the Lapdock which right now is at a more reasonable price.

I would say the main attraction for the Lapdock is that I can keep all my personal files/pictures now on my phone and then can use the Lapdock as my personal computer at home. The only thing I use my actual PC for is to browse the internet and to save my pictures and to open word and excel files.

So if I am able to just keep all of that on my phone and then connect to the Lapdock, that would seem to be the best thing. So the question is, how is the Word/Excel feature on the Lapdock? Is it compromised? Or is it like working on an actual PC? I'd imaging the picture viewing and surfing the net would be the same as using my phone for the same, except on a larger screen. But my phone is too small to actually do Word/Excel stuff, so if the Lapdock can do that without strings, I think it would be perfect for me.

I know the Lapdock and stuff has been killed so basically this is it. But as long as the Bionic is still getting updates (and last I checked it seems like it got Jelly Bean), then if the latest Lapdock (LD Pro 500?) is pretty good to use, then I can see myself getting this phone and using it for at least the next two years?

Or is the Lapdock really crappy and if I want the laptop expirience with a phone, just get a BT keyboard and a cheap monitor and connect it to together with a dock and us that as my home PC?

 

[Mellimel22]

Hello,

I've got a Galaxy Nexus and will be upgrading. However, all of the new phones are basically just the same as the current phones (especially after project butter) so I dont really see the incentive to spend $400 or so for the newest like S4 or HTC One since the difference in that phone vs my Nexus would be marginal to me. Sure the screen is bigger, but other than that, is there really anything that is a must have that you couldnt get right now on a Nexus with the latest OS?

So I've been looking around and the Bionic (mainly because of the Lapdock) has really caught my eye. I was actually thinking of the Atrix when it first came out before I got the Nexus as the Lapdock just seemed like a great idea. But the price for everything was just insane. Might as well get a new laptop.

But here I am, a quarter into 2013 and while the Bionic is what, almost 2 years old, I'm thinking of getting it as my new phone so I can get the Lapdock which right now is at a more reasonable price.

I would say the main attraction for the Lapdock is that I can keep all my personal files/pictures now on my phone and then can use the Lapdock as my personal computer at home. The only thing I use my actual PC for is to browse the internet and to save my pictures and to open word and excel files.

So if I am able to just keep all of that on my phone and then connect to the Lapdock, that would seem to be the best thing. So the question is, how is the Word/Excel feature on the Lapdock? Is it compromised? Or is it like working on an actual PC? I'd imaging the picture viewing and surfing the net would be the same as using my phone for the same, except on a larger screen. But my phone is too small to actually do Word/Excel stuff, so if the Lapdock can do that without strings, I think it would be perfect for me.

I know the Lapdock and stuff has been killed so basically this is it. But as long as the Bionic is still getting updates (and last I checked it seems like it got Jelly Bean), then if the latest Lapdock (LD Pro 500?) is pretty good to use, then I can see myself getting this phone and using it for at least the next two years?

Or is the Lapdock really crappy and if I want the laptop expirience with a phone, just get a BT keyboard and a cheap monitor and connect it to together with a dock and us that as my home PC?

Haha the first sentence you said was in no disrespect crap. I had a zte score as my first phone upgraded to a nexus s 4g TOTALLY noticed an improvement. Then updraded to my duel core Gnex and my phone blows away the single core ns4g. My sis note 2 blows away my Gnex. I for one need a smartphone to actually be one which now days isn't possible on a low budget one Ymmv. But its definitely an improvement.

Sent from my Sprint Galaxy Nexus rockin 4.2.2 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Ry]

Hello,

I've got a Galaxy Nexus and will be upgrading. However, all of the new phones are basically just the same as the current phones (especially after project butter) so I dont really see the incentive to spend $400 or so for the newest like S4 or HTC One since the difference in that phone vs my Nexus would be marginal to me. Sure the screen is bigger, but other than that, is there really anything that is a must have that you couldnt get right now on a Nexus with the latest OS?

So I've been looking around and the Bionic (mainly because of the Lapdock) has really caught my eye. I was actually thinking of the Atrix when it first came out before I got the Nexus as the Lapdock just seemed like a great idea. But the price for everything was just insane. Might as well get a new laptop.

But here I am, a quarter into 2013 and while the Bionic is what, almost 2 years old, I'm thinking of getting it as my new phone so I can get the Lapdock which right now is at a more reasonable price.

I would say the main attraction for the Lapdock is that I can keep all my personal files/pictures now on my phone and then can use the Lapdock as my personal computer at home. The only thing I use my actual PC for is to browse the internet and to save my pictures and to open word and excel files.

So if I am able to just keep all of that on my phone and then connect to the Lapdock, that would seem to be the best thing. So the question is, how is the Word/Excel feature on the Lapdock? Is it compromised? Or is it like working on an actual PC? I'd imaging the picture viewing and surfing the net would be the same as using my phone for the same, except on a larger screen. But my phone is too small to actually do Word/Excel stuff, so if the Lapdock can do that without strings, I think it would be perfect for me.

I know the Lapdock and stuff has been killed so basically this is it. But as long as the Bionic is still getting updates (and last I checked it seems like it got Jelly Bean), then if the latest Lapdock (LD Pro 500?) is pretty good to use, then I can see myself getting this phone and using it for at least the next two years?

Or is the Lapdock really crappy and if I want the laptop expirience with a phone, just get a BT keyboard and a cheap monitor and connect it to together with a dock and us that as my home PC?

In all honesty, if you're dead set on getting a phone from the Bionic's generation, I'd go for a DROID RAZR or DROID RAZR MAXX. The RAZRs also work with Motorola's Webtop OS.

Starting with ICS, the DROID Bionic (and DROID RAZR and DROID 4) gained Webtop 3.0 - the last version of Webtop. With this version, the Linux-like environment was replaced with full-blow ICS tablet mode. Essentially when running a Bionic in a Lapdock, you get a non-touchscreen ICS tablet.

Word and Excel files open fine - just as they would on a phone.

The Bionic still hasn't yet received Jelly Bean, but it's supposedly on the way. It should work for what you need with the Lapdock 500, but I haven't seen anyone confirm if the front facing webcam on the 500 works on the Bionic.

 

[zachthebomb13]

Webtop is pretty much an ICS tablet without the touchscreen. I thought it was cool to begin with, but stopped using it many months ago. I actually sold mine a month ago. Word and excel really isn't that great, in my opinion on the webtop. Google Docs is better, but will slow your phone down a ton. I'd say go with the newer generation of phone. I'm sure there are better improvements than you realize now. Just my two cents.

 

[crucifixion]

Interesting. So as far as other RAZR phones, what about the DROID RAZR MAXX HD? Is that Lapdock compatible?

 

[Ry]

Interesting. So as far as other RAZR phones, what about the DROID RAZR MAXX HD? Is that Lapdock compatible?

For Verizon, only the DROID Bionic, DROID RAZR, DROID RAZR MAXX, and DROID 4 have Webtop.

I think if you plug in a DROID RAZR HD to a lapdock (if the ports line up?), you'll just get a blown up phone view.

 

[mjwalsh]

I agree, go with one of the Razr's if you are set on the webtop. No reason to go for Bionic as it is older (price must be pretty similar). That said, I have never used Webtop but from people I know who used it, it was not overly positive feedback...so I would not be so quick to limit yourself by going the moto route with webtop enabled phones. If you enjoy you galaxy nexus then for me the Nexus 4 would be a no brainer for you...IMHO...it kicks the bionics butt (a good friend has it and loves it).

 

[Mooncatt]

I agree, go with one of the Razr's if you are set on the webtop. No reason to go for Bionic as it is older (price must be pretty similar).

The processor and RAM specs are the same between the Bionic and regular Razr, so despite the age difference, they should perform about identically. The biggest functional difference IMHO is they use different screen technologies. The Bionic is Super LCD, and Razr is Super AMOLED. If you're looking for color quality, go with the Bionic (Razr will have a green tint, especially on a white screen). If you want battery life but not carry an extra one with you, go with the Razr (the AMOLED makes its own light, so no need for a backlight and the more black on a screen, the less power used as black pixels are unpowered).

Haven't personally used any of the other phones suggested to compare, but I love my Bionic and would take it hands down over a Razr due to the screen issue I mentioned (actually did own a Razr for about a week, so I speak from experience). Also with the Razr, check out their forum, because there have been issues with the new JB update and I would consider it risky move at this point to get it.

 

[crucifixion]

Thanks for the info this is very helpful.

Can't believe they would make Webtop 3.0 into just a tablet basically. That's pointless. The whole reason I was interested in the Lapdock was to have a small size screen of the phone and the rest of the screen to browse/use excel.

So if I got a Lapdock Pro 500, is there any way I can use it with Webtop 2.0? Or am i stuck with Webtop 3.0?

 

[zachthebomb13]

Thanks for the info this is very helpful.

Can't believe they would make Webtop 3.0 into just a tablet basically. That's pointless. The whole reason I was interested in the Lapdock was to have a small size screen of the phone and the rest of the screen to browse/use excel.

So if I got a Lapdock Pro 500, is there any way I can use it with Webtop 2.0? Or am i stuck with Webtop 3.0?

It actually runs smoother than the old version, 2.0. 2.0 was great, but slow, and you ran out of memory and resources pretty quickly. I'd say 3.0 is better. But, ever since I bought an ultrabook the lapdock just didn't seem like it added anything. If I needed web browsing, I'd just tether my phone to my computer. There were a few good applications with the webdock, such as watching movies on airplanes on a bigger screen. But, again, I didn't use it much at all after my new laptop.

 

[Tom in Bristol]

It actually runs smoother than the old version, 2.0.

To my knowledge, 3.0 cannot be displaced by installation of 2.0...enough partition change between ICS and JB to preclude that?

BTW, zach...with use of Ry's 'best link ever' I sure don't see much action over there in your 'special' JB ota thread!

 

[zachthebomb13]

To my knowledge, 3.0 cannot be displaced by installation of 2.0...enough partition change between ICS and JB to preclude that?

BTW, zach...with use of Ry's 'best link ever' I sure don't see much action over there in your 'special' JB ota thread!

No one has posted on it at all. Looks like there weren't any important JB questions that needed it's own thread. It's almost as if people have survived with what we have already been using...

 

[Ry]

It actually runs smoother than the old version, 2.0. 2.0 was great, but slow, and you ran out of memory and resources pretty quickly. I'd say 3.0 is better. But, ever since I bought an ultrabook the lapdock just didn't seem like it added anything. If I needed web browsing, I'd just tether my phone to my computer. There were a few good applications with the webdock, such as watching movies on airplanes on a bigger screen. But, again, I didn't use it much at all after my new laptop.

For me, I'm way more productive with Webtop 3.0 than I ever was with the previous version. Using more than one tab in the Firefox Webtop browser made everything crawl.

 

[crucifixion]

OK so last thing:

You noted that a plugged in Webtop compatible phone will basically make the Lapdock a non-touchscreen tablet. But then you also say if I got a RAZR MAXX HD and plugged that in, then all it would do is show the phone's screen but bigger.

Since I haven't seen an Android tablet, what exactly is the main difference in a screen with Webtop 3.0 phone (Bionic/RAZR) vs a RAZR MAXX HD being used?

 

[zachthebomb13]

OK so last thing:

You noted that a plugged in Webtop compatible phone will basically make the Lapdock a non-touchscreen tablet. But then you also say if I got a RAZR MAXX HD and plugged that in, then all it would do is show the phone's screen but bigger.

Since I haven't seen an Android tablet, what exactly is the main difference in a screen with Webtop 3.0 phone (Bionic/RAZR) vs a RAZR MAXX HD being used?

First, I really don't think plugging a RAZR HD or MAXX HD is going to do much at all. If it does work it will just duplicate the screen. The lapdock has a micro usb and micro hdmi plug in it. So, the video MIGHT get duplicated. But there probably won't be a mouse, like if you plugged a regular razr or bionic into it. So, with all that said, don't plan on using a lapdock and razr hd together. The homescreen on a tablet is much like a cell phone. Just allows for more room to put widgets and shortcuts on it. Just do a google image search of "Nexus 7 homescreen," and you'll see lots of examples.

 

[Ry]

First, I really don't think plugging a RAZR HD or MAXX HD is going to do much at all. If it does work it will just duplicate the screen. The lapdock has a micro usb and micro hdmi plug in it. So, the video MIGHT get duplicated. But there probably won't be a mouse, like if you plugged a regular razr or bionic into it. So, with all that said, don't plan on using a lapdock and razr hd together. The homescreen on a tablet is much like a cell phone. Just allows for more room to put widgets and shortcuts on it. Just do a google image search of "Nexus 7 homescreen," and you'll see lots of examples.

Mouse (touchpad) works on the RAZR HD when connected to a Lapdock.

 

[zachthebomb13]

Mouse (touchpad) works on the RAZR HD when connected to a Lapdock.

Really? Interesting. Does it just blow up the screen, or does it go into tablet mode?

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

 

[Ry]

Really? Interesting. Does it just blow up the screen, or does it go into tablet mode?

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

Blown-up screen.

 

[zachthebomb13]

Blown-up screen.

Does the keyboard work too?

 

[crucifixion]

So I looked at pictures of the Nexus 7 and I can't tell the difference between that and my phone. Unless I'm missing something completely. Otherwise I'm still confused as to what kind of screen I get with a Webtop phone (Bionic) vs non-Webtop phone (Razr Maxx HD) when using Lapdock Pro 500. To me, they both look like a blown up screen?