Droid vs. iPhone (vs. Blackberry)?

[blm1219]

I currently have a Blackberry Bold 9650 and my NE2 with Verizon is coming up in a few months. I love my BB, but its only good for typing out emails and texts. The apps are limited and the browser is useless.

That being said, I love (love love love) the keyboard. I can slam out an email without even looking. I like the feel of a physical keyboard and pushing buttons. I had the Droid Eris for a month or two and hated typing on it. I know most Android phones are touch screen, so I've got my eye on the D2 (or D3, whenever that comes out) and its physical keyboard. The other thing is, my mom just got an iPhone, and she loves it. The keyboard seems a lot better than the Eris keyboard, and I can type on it without making too many mistakes.

Also, I've heard 4G/LTE thrown around a lot. What's going on there? Should I wait for more 4G/LTE phones to come out?

Summary:
What's the argument between Droid v. iPhone (and maybe v. Blackberry)? I've played with all of them at the Verizon store and still can't really tell which is right for me - I want a keyboard, and would like some fun apps and a solid browser.

And what else is on the horizon, and what's worth waiting a little longer for?


TIA - I know this is a long post

 

[ls377]

If you need a keyboard, then the D2 or D3 is definitely the way to go. The D3 won't be out for a bit, but it should be a serious step up from a D2 (which is still a good phone if you can't wait).

LTE/4G is great if you have it, except it kills battery life. If you live near an LTE area, then you might want to get one. If not, then it might not be worth it.

As for Android vs. iPhone, you'll obviously get a biased opinion here. But personally, I think if you've tried both and you're still split, then you'll probably like Android better, just because you can customize it and make it more of your own the longer you use it.

 

[nathanb131]

I've been using a BB Curve(9930) for about 9 months now for work but used it as my personal device too. Have recently got my first Android device (Continuum, got it for free on contract) because I'm anticipating switching jobs. I've been carrying both around for several weeks now.

I was using a Palm Treo/centro for the 3 years before that. So I've been an avid smartphone user for a long time. I care little about it entertaining me. I spend enough time in front of bigger screens and out in the real world for that. For me it's all about managing notes, lists, calendars etc in ways that are continuously evolving.

Now that I've lived with both, if I had to choose one I'd probably pick the Android phone. This is simply because I customize so much and I like to have a large selection of apps for any little thing you are trying to do. This is actually a departure for me, the best part about the Treo was quick access to everything via keyboard shortcuts. But I also like being able to evolve the device's function over time through apps, and right now I'd rather have a choice of 15 or so good apps for a particular solution over the 2 mediocre ones for blackberry, even if it means sacrificing a bit of keyboard-shortcut quickness.

I was excited to go from my ancient Palm OS which I loved to BB. I assumed would be an upgrade in every way. In some ways in was. But the lack of touchscreen wasn't good and I was really surprised that I couldn't find decent versions of some apps that I like on Palm OS. One example of that was a checklist program on Palm called Listpro.... For years it served as a very robust and quick way to manage shopping lists, routines, ideas, etc. BB has nothing even close to being a decent checklist app like Listpro. I'm sure a big reason is lack of touchscreen really limits interface options. You can find MANY great list programs on Android.

Several times a day I have the option to use either phone for the same thing, the best option isn't always the same. If I want to peek at anything quick like check email, messages, or weather. I reach for the BB. If I want to pass the time, it's always the Android with the bigger screen and infinitely better browsing/gaming experience. If it's something in between, like working intently in a calendar or sorting out a to-do list, it's the Android. Basically once you are engaged with the phone, Android's bigger screen and touching/swiping makes it way more fun and efficient to deal with. Yes it takes a little more to wake it up, unlock the screen, navigate to the program to get there...but once you are there it is SO much nicer... This is part bigger screen, part better apps. Much, much better apps...

Like you, I thought I always wanted a hard keyboard after rocking the Treo for so long. Yes, it is a little better to input something quick into BB, but the difference isn't huge. I think I'd much rather have a bigger screen and a more pocketable device than to have half a screen with keyboard or the thickness of a sliding keyboard. I never could understand the draw of the slide out landscape keyboard. To me, the point of hard keys is quick in and out. If you are going to go to the trouble of sliding out a keyboard and holding it in both hands to type... then the only advantage I can think of is if you don't like an onscreen keyboard taking up the screen. Because in landscape mode, the soft keyboard is great and I've talked to many 'droid users with sliders who never slide out the hard keyboard anymore.

Map navigation and web browsing are downright painful on my BB and last resort only! These are a dream on Android. The voice input is really something I'm starting to leverage as it continues to amaze me more. Even for very short typing it's very accurate and much quicker than any keyboard method. To be honest I haven't tried to use that on BB so can't fairly compare, just know it's great on Android.

This weekend I was going outside to do yard-work and wanted to listen to Pandora. I had that moment where I could choose either device. I chose the BB simply because it has those media control buttons on top. So if I wanted to stop the music for a few seconds I could reach in my pocket and push one button without getting out the phone or even looking at it. With the android, that would have involved taking it out, swiping the screen unlock, and pushing pause...then doing the same to restart. That reminded me how nice hard key shortcuts are. But that had nothing to do with typing sentences out on a soft vs hard keyboard.

So the choice isn't clear but I would be fine using a keyboardless Android phone as my sole device. I'm not sure if I'd want a monster screen either, btw. My Continuum is a 3.4" screen and is perfect for me, both typing and viewing whatever. I'd rather have pocketability than a more luxurious pseudo-pc experience.

Since almost all of my communication is still on the BB, I've essentially been using that as my utility device of basic calling and communicating and my Android has served as essentially a tablet where I'm slowly building up a way cool collection of apps that I love to use every day but work best when I'm solely focused on the phone with both hands on it. It's actually got me thinking about Palm's upcoming tablet/smartphone ecosystem where the apps are cross-device. I think a Veer/Touchpad combo would rock. Well, I guess BB does have the playbook which is the same idea... Grass is always greener right?

 

[blm1219]

If you need a keyboard, then the D2 or D3 is definitely the way to go. The D3 won't be out for a bit, but it should be a serious step up from a D2 (which is still a good phone if you can't wait).

LTE/4G is great if you have it, except it kills battery life. If you live near an LTE area, then you might want to get one. If not, then it might not be worth it.

As for Android vs. iPhone, you'll obviously get a biased opinion here. But personally, I think if you've tried both and you're still split, then you'll probably like Android better, just because you can customize it and make it more of your own the longer you use it.

Thanks for the tips, I'll probably wait out the D3 since my upgrade isn't until August anyway!

 

[blm1219]

I've been using a BB Curve(9930) for about 9 months now for work but used it as my personal device too. Have recently got my first Android device...

I can definitely anticipate all those things you listed about Android as awesome and much needed departures from BB. The browser is always a last resort! And the minimal app selection for a family of smartphones makes me feel like I'm not getting my money's worth.

My main concern is that, like you said, I use my BB primarily for weather, emails, messages, etc. Apps come in handy when all of that is done. BB excels at messaging - can a Droid keep up? From what I've experienced, the touch screens don't even compare to BB keyboards. Just curious, have you typed out long emails on your Continuum? Which feels more comfortable, Droid or BB?

Also, screen size isn't too much of a worry, because I've always got a purse or coat pocket I can throw my phone into. I'll worry more about dimensions when the D3 is released.

Thanks for your post btw, really informative and helpful!

 

[zzzvariety]

I had a Curve until it absolutely couldn't take another call. Not that I liked the phone -- I had a Treo before and so the Curve felt like a huge step down -- but with all the energy and precious resources that it takes to make these phones, I felt a moral obligation to Earth and my fellow man and species to use each device as long as possible.

 

[takeshi]

What's the argument between Droid v. iPhone (and maybe v. Blackberry)?

A lot of subjective preference, really.

I know most Android phones are touch screen, so I've got my eye on the D2 (or D3, whenever that comes out) and its physical keyboard.

Have you actually tried out the physical keyboard on the D2? I chose the Droid because I preferred physical keyboards, coming from a BB 8310 but I never use the Droid's physical keyboard except for gaming. Don't assume that you'll like all physical keyboards out there. Also don't discount the keyboard apps. Swype makes the virtual keyboard on my Droid tolerable. That said, I have no problems with the iPhone's virtual keyboard. YMMV.

I never could understand the draw of the slide out landscape keyboard. To me, the point of hard keys is quick in and out. If you are going to go to the trouble of sliding out a keyboard and holding it in both hands to type... then the only advantage I can think of is if you don't like an onscreen keyboard taking up the screen

To me the point is being able to touch type. This clearly demonstrates that even those that prefer physical keyboards don't all have identical preferences. Test out any device's physical keyboard for yourself when shopping.

BB excels at messaging - can a Droid keep up?

That's blindly parroted across the intertubes but Android and ActiveSync > Blackberry and BES IMO. BB's always pushed and reconciled but never offered true sync which ActiveSync does. How well email is handled will depend on the types of email accounts you're using. Push accounts are push on either platform. It's the pull accounts that may suffer as there's no BIS equivalent outside of the BB world to automatically adjust polling intervals (without killing your battery).

From what I've experienced, the touch screens don't even compare to BB keyboards. Just curious, have you typed out long emails on your Continuum? Which feels more comfortable, Droid or BB?

Again, this is a highly subjective matter. I've used Swype on my Droid for long email. Neither is really more comfortable. The BB 8310 had a much better physical keyboard IMO but that's not a deal breaker in that I'd never switch back. YMMV.

 

[nathanb131]

It's about leveraging the predictive text

I can definitely anticipate all those things you listed about Android as awesome and much needed departures from BB. The browser is always a last resort! And the minimal app selection for a family of smartphones makes me feel like I'm not getting my money's worth.

My main concern is that, like you said, I use my BB primarily for weather, emails, messages, etc. Apps come in handy when all of that is done. BB excels at messaging - can a Droid keep up? From what I've experienced, the touch screens don't even compare to BB keyboards. Just curious, have you typed out long emails on your Continuum? Which feels more comfortable, Droid or BB?

Also, screen size isn't too much of a worry, because I've always got a purse or coat pocket I can throw my phone into. I'll worry more about dimensions when the D3 is released.

Thanks for your post btw, really informative and helpful!

I've found that typing on a soft and hard keyboards is a very different experience. It's not just the feeling of hard keys vs smooth glass. Like accurately hitting the right letter every time is what I was concerned with but it's a whole different ballgame than that. The difference is the predictive software that keeps guessing what you are trying to type. For years I loved treo/bb keyboards because I could type messages with one hand, many times not even having to watch closely. You'd just feel your way. So if I wanted to type a 30 character message, I'd be pressing 30 keys plus spaces and maybe a couple of backspaces because little keyboards are easy to make mistakes on. With a soft keyboard I might only have to press half that many soft-buttons because I'd be typing the first two or 3 letters of every word and selecting the word from the group it continuously offers as guesses. You can't do that without a touch screen and its nice when your finger only has to travel a fraction of an inch from the soft keyboard to the predicted word. It's very efficient if you LET the technology help you and stop insisting on typing every letter.

I'm still getting used to doing it that way and leveraging the predictive software the best way. I have a hard time getting away from the old way of finding and pecking every single letter and often catch myself doing that on the soft keys and yes that's way worse than with BB hard keys. Also I find that the more often I can use voice-to-text, the more I like it.

So to answer your question, I actually don't type out many long emails on a mobile either way. One of the nice things about that 'sent by bb' line they put in there means you can get away with being extra brief without coming across as an a-hole. However, if I really wanted to bang out a few paragraphs, I would pick the android in landscape mode and really pay attention to the type-ahead suggestions. I'm convinced I could type the most words per minute that way and save A LOT of stress on my poor thumbs. But getting into that message interface isn't a quick, one-handed operation like you are used to.

If I'm primarily going to be texting and quick messaging all day long, I'd rather do it on a bb. For most other things its Android.

On an unrelated note, one more PIM-related activity which sucks on bb is the calendar. This is perplexing to me. I like to use multiple outlook and gmail calendars for various things (kids activities, work, personal, etc). Along with not being able to find great task/list managers for bb, I tried very hard to get the calendar to be nice to deal with. I failed, over and over. On Android, I can find several better options for that then the best BB has to offer.

Also, I love the widgets and how you can make your multiple home screens show you anything you want with endless options.

Again, if I KNEW that I'd be spending 98% of my time doing a small set of activities that WEREN'T lists, calendars, mapping, or web surfing; then BB would save me time because I just map those activities to hot keys and can one-hand operate with most things. Like the windows phone commercial, in-out then get on with your life.

But now that I have access to unlimited awesome apps that continue to re-invent how we can leverage a pocket computer... it feels like it did when I got my first Treo and really started to explore what it meant to have a true digital assistant in your pocket. The BB feels like an evolution of what I've always done, Android feels like a gateway to help me figure out new and potentially better ways of doing things I haven't even thought of yet.

One more anecdote. A few weeks ago I was going to pick up something I bought off craig's list in another town so I needed to use mapping. So I opened up gmaps on 'droid and checked that email from my bb to start typing in the address. Once I typed in the first number, the ENTIRE address popped up in the suggestion box. Awesome, apparently it mines that data from my gmail and knew what I was trying to do the instant I tried to do it. So the old way was nice; get to email in the same device, copy-paste, etc. But this new way renders that completely archaic.

I'm sure BB has 'smart' integration like that, but the only similar experience I had like that was it's excellent World-mate travel assistant where it automatically imports itineraries from email. That's available on android too.

 

[Tre Lawrence]

I transitioned from Palm/Treo to BlackBerry and then on to touchscreen Android. I am more productive now than I was in the past. I am able to type much faster (with a non-stock keyboard, to be fair).

 

[RazzMaTazz]

The voice-to-text synthesis on most Android phones is so amazingly good that I find keyboards almost irrelevant. I can dictate emails and text messages faster than anyone can type. (Heck, you can even speak the punctuation marks and they will be correctly synthesized to text.) Furthermore, the Swype on-screen keyboard is faster than a physical keyboard once you get used to it, and Swype has an excellent on-screen editing keyboard (with arrow keys, and keys for cut, copy, paste, page-up, select-all, etc.) that quickly lets you type or edit anything that you've dictated.

When I switched from Blackberry to Android, I bought a phone with a slider keyboard because I didn't think on-screen keyboards were as good as physical keyboards and so I thought physical keyboards were a huge advantage. But the voice-to-text synthesis on Android, and the Swype keyboard are so much easier to use than the physical keyboard that I ended up NEVER sliding out the physical keyboard on my phone. Ever. So I traded in my slider keyboard phone for a candybar-style phone (which has a Swype keyboard) within the 30-day exchange period. I am so glad that I did. I don't miss having a physical keyboard at all. And I really appreciate having a slimmer phone.

IMHO, physical keyboards aren't worth the space they take up if you have good speech-to-text synthesis and a good on-screen keyboard.