Merge v Droid 2 Global

[aweber1nj]

So now that we know the Droid Pro and Droid 2 Global Ed. are actually two different phones (which went back-and-forth for months), I'm wondering which is going to get my $$$ - assuming slider + Global Phone is required.

Droid 2 GE is actually being pre-release advertised in the "On Hold Message" if you call VZW right now, so I'm guessing it'll be released ahead of the Merge.

IF the Droid 2 GE has the same or better h/w specs as the Droid 2 (and that would be logical) plus the extra GSM capability, it would seem to put the specs ahead of the Merge. Which means, AFAIK, only the kbd difference is apparently in HTC's favor (though I haven't actually tried the HTC kbd, all reviews give it the nod). Everything else appears "equal" or better on the Droid 2.

Am I missing anything?

-AJ

 

[Menno]

The specs on the merge look better.

Remember, the Merge is using a next generation chip which makes it better than current gen 1ghz processors.

it also has a MUCH better keyboard, and doesn't have Motorola Blur which has quite a few serious froyo issues.

Also, being basically a G2/Desire Z, so expect full developer support if rooting is your thing

 

[aweber1nj]

Appreciate the reply. The kind of feedback I'm looking for.

-AJ

 

[Comineeyeaha]

The merge is looking like it'll be a lot better than the D2, which has never really impressed me. The only drawback with the merge is bing, but that's overcome easily enough.

 

[Phil Nickinson]

No contest. Unless the D2G has a radically different keyboard (which I doubt), the Merge wins.

 

[Bushido Brown]

The specs on the merge look better.

Remember, the Merge is using a next generation chip which makes it better than current gen 1ghz processors.

it also has a MUCH better keyboard, and doesn't have Motorola Blur which has quite a few serious froyo issues.

Also, being basically a G2/Desire Z, so expect full developer support if rooting is your thing

Mysteriously enough, the Froyo issues that Blur is having are exclusive to the Droid X. I don't know what Moto did with the DX that they apparently didn't with the Droid 2 which (supposedly) runs virtually identical software save a few variations to accommodate HDMI and 720p recording. So I doubt the D2G will inherit any of those problems.

With that being said, and all things considered, I'm gonna switch. I miss using Sense, and the keyboard looks easier to use. I wouldn't split hairs over benchmarks, as both phones perform more than adequately. I will say I'm impressed with the type of performance the Merge is able to accomplish with lower clock cycles. Hopefully that leads to better battery life, which has always been my beef with HTC Android phones.

It'll either be this phone, or the elusive Incredible HD-but that phone still hasn't exited rumor status yet.

 

[Menno]

Mysteriously enough, the Froyo issues that Blur is having are exclusive to the Droid X. I don't know what Moto did with the DX that they apparently didn't with the Droid 2 which (supposedly) runs virtually identical software save a few variations to accommodate HDMI and 720p recording. So I doubt the D2G will inherit any of those problems.

With that being said, and all things considered, I'm gonna switch. I miss using Sense, and the keyboard looks easier to use. I wouldn't split hairs over benchmarks, as both phones perform more than adequately. I will say I'm impressed with the type of performance the Merge is able to accomplish with lower clock cycles. Hopefully that leads to better battery life, which has always been my beef with HTC Android phones.

It'll either be this phone, or the elusive Incredible HD-but that phone still hasn't exited rumor status yet.

Some of the issues are in the Droid2 as well (my brother has one). Unless they push the D2Global out with these bug fixes, it will have the same proglems.

Thing I want to see with the Merge is if it will be better on the battery. The more I read up about sense the more I'm impressed with it.

 

[Bushido Brown]

Some of the issues are in the Droid2 as well (my brother has one). Unless they push the D2Global out with these bug fixes, it will have the same proglems.

Thing I want to see with the Merge is if it will be better on the battery. The more I read up about sense the more I'm impressed with it.

I have one sitting in front of me right now, and while the phone isn't flawless, it doesn't suffer from any of the reported rebooting or instability that the DX has. Verizon even issued an official statement regarding the X, and the X only. Anything is possible, but there is no real evidence to assume the D2G will be problematic.

The Merge definitely has its drawbacks as well. I have yet to use, or have heard of any Sense UI phone with good battery life, HTC seems to think that green is the only notification light needed, and although Sense looks very nice, it gives devs fits, and normally new app releases will need another update to fix an issue caused by Sense UI. Not to mention Bing is confirmed, and it will potentially employ the same security as the Desire HD, Desire Z, and G2 which overwrites root permissions upon reboot.

The last issue is a big one, because I'd hate to have to DeBing my phone everytime I reboot.

 

[nateap87]

htc vs motorola. htc wins.

 

[Swavek]

why can't verizon just make two versions of the phone: one with bing and another one w/o bing. i really like my droid 1 (modded with CM6), but i would love to have a phone with a little more pep and better slide-out keyboard. the merge seems to be the answer, but having bing on it makes it near useless. i haven't been following the bing debacle on the samsung galaxy s phones, but the de-binging fixes for it still didn't sound as smooth as a stock android experience.

 

[icu]

It is the only drawback, but the major difference is that one is from Samsung and the other is HTC.

 

[dbasham]

Enterprise features on HTC Merge vs D2

So the Droid 2 Global spec sheet indicates that there are several Enterprise features that I find desirable. For example, you can lookup users in the GAL (Global Address Book) for Exchange and you can also match up calendars with other users so that you pick only free time for meetings. The D2 Global sheet also indicates that you can remote wipe the phone.

My question is whether these are features of Android 2.2 Froyo or are some of these items that ONLY Motorola has? I think that the remote wipe is a Froyo feature but I am not sure about the rest. Can someone that has tested the phone enlighten us on the HTC Enterprise features?

I think I need to hold BOTH of these phones in my hand and compare them. Hopefully the Merge goes official soon because I am REALLY itching for a new phone and was ready to upgrade in August.
--Denny