For those of you on the Droid/Eris fence

[phanberry]

First off I'm new to this forum and I just wanted to say thanks for all of the very useful information. I just wanted to offer a little insight from a former blackberry user to anyone who is thinking of making the switch. I say take the plunge and never look back. I couldn't be more happy with my Eris. It is fantastic and kicks the crap out of my storm..The browsing is excellent, very fast...typing is great, much much better than the storm even after the recent update. The phone is very intuitive in my opinion and within a short time you will have it figured out. There is a small learning curve jumping from a blackberry, much like switching from any phone, but the blackberry tends to remain somewhat the same when it comes to settings and menu options. I've also noticed that the typing takes some getting used to just because the storm required me push down a bit more but now just a light tap with any part of my thumb does the trick and I have large hands. You can't even compare the app selection not even close. I don't think blackberry will ever change, and not because they can't but because they will still cater to their biggest market which is the corporate world.

And for those of that are stuck between choosing the droid or the Eris. I have played with both and I am still very impressed with my Eris. There is no denying the display on the droid, but I honestly didn't notice a huge difference. The keyboard is not as bad as some have described on the droid, but I didn't care for it, and found it to be just as easy as the Eris screen keyboard. The sense UI is great, and I actually ran the stock android for a couple days, and went back to sense. Browsing was relatively close between the two. The droid is snappier, but the Eris is VERY close behind. Plus the pinch and zoom is fantastic. The phone is very very responsive coming from a blackberry. Plus Im not doing a battery pull all the time. The battery on the Eris is pretty bad, but is has vastly improved from a few setting changes and without heavy use I can easily get through a day. Plus I think we will see some aftermarket extended batteries down the line.

Now I guess the big question. I talked to a verizon rep today at corporate store and they said it is not a matter or IF the Eris will get 2.0, but a matter of WHEN. Maybe just blowing smoke, who knows. That would be my only reason for going to the droid. I wouldn't want to be 2 or 3 software updates behing. Well anyways sorry to ramble. Hope this helps anyone who is stuck.

 

[csiguy1]

I agree, I had the Droid and had to exchange it for a Eris. The Droid had some problems. When they come out with a extended battery, this Eris will be close to everything I want in a phone.

 

[DaveTheRealtor]

I switched from the Eris to the Droid. Battery life being the main reason. However, the other key for me is the fact that the Droid with 2.0 can handle multiple Gmail accounts, within the Gmail app. Eris cannot. You have to configure though exchange or POP/IMAP. Droid is also MUCH more responsive, and with 2.0 you really don't need the sense UI. The screen is HANDS DOWN much better on the Droid especially when compared to the Eris. Let alone the iPhone I came from.I wish I just sucked it up and got the Droid first.

 

[Jeremy]

The resolution on the Droid makes it worth it alone. It makes the Eris screen look blurry. Both are still nice devices though.

 

[phanberry]

There is No denying the screen on the Droid, it is amazing. Motorola did a fantastic job. Dave how has the switch from the I phone been? How do you think the Droid stacks up.

 

[Jeremy]

There is No denying the screen on the Droid, it is amazing. Motorola did a fantastic job. Dave how has the switch from the I phone been? How do you think the Droid stacks up.

I'm not Dave but I do own a iPhone 3GS currently along with my Droid.

If you are looking to pick up a device and use it with ease. The iPhone wins. If you want to go a bit deeper and like more customization among other things, Android will win hands down.

 

[talltubatom]

I am thinking about getting an android device now that I am using google voice. I have two questions one HW and one SW:

1) Is the Eris screen diamond coated like the Hero? I know the two devices are similar, but I am not sure on this feature.

2) does android (1.6 or 2.0) Fully suport Imap? I have grown very frusterated with the lack of Imap on my BB. It seems to only do 1 way sync so emails read in the browser never show up as read on the device.

Thanks in advace for all the help. This will really make my BOGO decision easier.

 

[orangepeel#AC]

Thanks for the run down Rich,I'm also a very unhappy Storm user.I mean I have tried to like it for 8 1/2 months...added an app here and there to make things better,and it did to a degree,but the bottom line is the phone shuts off,it lags like crazy when texting,it has to have paper under the battery so it can type descent,and don't get me started on the vibrate mode...the phone is so durn heavy you can't feel it,especially if it's in a case.The browser is complete garbage,and the apps are expensive,and most aren't very good.

I have a couple of questions. Is the Eris good when set to vibrate mode,and is the alarm clock loud? This is a couple of things I didn't check on at the Verizon store when playing with the phone.

I got the upgrade offer from Verizon a few weeks ago,but the gave me a choice between the Droid,and the Storm 2.Well I wouldn't take the Storm tounless they put a gun to my head.I like the Droid a lot,but it's bigger than what I like,and I hate slide out keyboards.So I like the form factor of the Eris,and I'm wondering how hard it will be to get them to let me "upgrade" to that phone.

 

[spgiva]

The vibrate on the eris is a little on the soft side (for my taste). I feel it about half the time (I keep my eris in a hard holster on my belt). That being said somewhere in the notification settings you can set different vibrate patterns so if I was willing to sacrifice some battery life I could have a longer vibrate that I might feel with more regularity.

The alarm is plenty loud enough for me, but I might not hear it if there was loud music playing or something.

Since the Eris is in fact a less expensive phone (but uses the same data plan as the Droid) I would imagine that Verizon would let you upgrade to the Eris.

good luck
-spg

 

[phanberry]

The vibrate could be a bit stronger, but def better than the storm, I could never feel it. I haven't used the alarm yet so I can't comment on that. I'm pretty sire if you call Verizon they should let you get the eris. I got an early upgrade offer and they let me chose any phone. So call them up and see what they say.

 

[xliderider]

An FYI for anyone on the Moto Droid vs. HTC Eris fence: I got an Eris for my wife with the BOGO offer this past weekend. We live in a marginal signal area, and the Eris keeps dropping calls. I checked the signal strength on the Eris and it actually cycles between about -97 dbm to 0 on signal strength. I thought it was a defective Eris, so we got the phone exchanged for a new one today, and it is doing the same thing.

My Moto Droid has about -86 to -89 dbm signal strength when side by side with the Eris and does not drop calls, but the EVDO signal goes in and out. The Eris gets basically no EVDO signal.

Does anyone know what the asu value is to the right of the dbm value on the left for signal strength? Is it the EVDO signal strength?

Here are a couple of pics of the Eris' screen showing the signal strength at both 0 dbm and -97 dbm.

I'm going to be calling Verizon customer service later and inquire what they can do about getting us a Network Extender so we can use the Droids over VOIP on our wireless network on cable internet. I'm definitely not paying the $250 retail price for the Network Extender though. If they don't give it to me with a hefty discount, the Eris is going back and Verizon is going to lose out on the extra $30/month email/data plan that we had to add to the line for the Eris.

 

[johncihak]

I had to get an extender as well. They had been giving $50 discounts (down to $200) for it. I'm very happy with it. Its on the first floor of a 4000 sq ft house (including basement rec room). 5 bars within 15 feet. 3-4 bars on the first floor. 2 bars everywhere else. No problems with call quality or dropped calls since I got it almost 6 months ago.

BTW, I got a Moto Droid for myself and an Eris for my daughter (my wife loves her BB Tour and didn't want to switch). Both Droids are awesome in their own way. They Eris battery life is not as bad as I thought - its average for a smart phone.

The biggest drawback I see for the Eris is the lack of backward compatibility of many apps to 1.5. Even the newly released Google Goggles needs 1.6. Hurry up HTC!!

 

[occfan]

ive had both the DROID and the ERIS .i love the droids screen and power management which makes the phone run so smooth ! i love the eris shape and size !! the droids battery last me a day and 1/2 ,and the eris only last about 6-7 hrs with out any tweeks . i made a few adjustments to the eris to get me through the whole day. i turned off auto sync and dont use the sense ui ,just the stock 1.5 android ui.if the eris had the droids os and power management,it would be perfect.i hope the passion/bravo is the droid in the eris body !!

 

[cingray]

I just got the Eris and love it. Thing I dont love is the lack of info on how to's. such as, how to text multiple people with one message, or how to change the font size on the gmail ap. Figured out how to do it on the mail ap, but i have 2 email accounts and it will only show one as mail, and the other as gmail. I stare at a computer screen all day, and my eyesight when I'm tired is not so great, so I would greatly appreciate any suggestions.

 

[cingray]

Alarm

I have used the alarm, and it's all about the sound for me. I use the annoying "SNOOZ" sound and it you can use your level buttons on the side of the phone to adjust the volume when you set the sound on the alarm. It can be very loud or very soft.

 

[MasonMI]

I just got the Eris and love it. Thing I dont love is the lack of info on how to's. such as, how to text multiple people with one message, or how to change the font size on the gmail ap. Figured out how to do it on the mail ap, but i have 2 email accounts and it will only show one as mail, and the other as gmail. I stare at a computer screen all day, and my eyesight when I'm tired is not so great, so I would greatly appreciate any suggestions.

I have to agree i recently purchased the Eris and the Tips Hints and Shortcuts really doesn't help much on some features of the phone would've been nice if they added a larger manual which included what the phone can actually do, i love the Eris its just taking a bit longer to figure out how it works.