Slider vs. Slate?

If you've had several different smartphones over the years, perhaps you've owned a slider (slide-out QWERTY keyboard) and a thin slate that only offers an on-screen keyboard. We're seeing fewer candybar designs like the Palm Treo or BlackBerry that includes a smaller screen combined with a small QWERTY keyboard on the bottom.

So, slider vs. slate? If you're a Verizon customer and you're thinking about getting an Android smartphone, that decision could boil down to:

Slider: Droid 2
Slate: Droid X or Droid Incredible

If you do a significant amount of typing on your device, then it's imperative that you test the keyboard on each of the devices and physically try them out. Before I picked up the Droid 2, I thought I'd be relatively happy with the QWERTY keyboard. After playing with it for 5 minutes, I realized that I'd probably end up using the on-screen keyboard over the physical QWERTY buttons. So, if that's going to be the case, then why should I get a slider?

The large on-screen buttons on the Droid X are easy to use because the screen is so large. The Droid X is larger (wider and taller) than the Droid 2, but it's actually lighter.  5.47 ounces for the Droid X vs. 5.96 ounces for the Droid 2.

Motorola Droid X vs. HTC Droid Incredible

If you're on Verizon, are you struggling to decide between the Motorola Droid X vs. the HTC Droid Incredible? Both of these devices run Google Android. Both have 1 GHz processors, so they're really fast. They're both slates. No hardware QWERTY keyboard. They both have 8 MP digital camera capabilities.  So, which device should you get?

What's important to you? Size? Multimedia? Web browsing?

If you don't mind the relatively large size, then the Motorola Droid X is a great option. The large 4.3" screen makes this device a great tablet for web browsing and multimedia. The Droid X could be a great little movie player while you're camping out in your call room (but who has time to watch TV when you're on call?). The Droid X will also get that "what's that?" reaction from everyone around you. Why? Because it's so large.

The HTC Incredible is a better option for those who want a "normal" size smartphone. The Incredible is a great size, but the battery may run out if you're constantly synchronizing your account information and if you're heavily browsing the web. Fortunately, you can purchase an extended battery for the Incredible, but then you'll lose the slim form factor.

So, which device is right for you?

My wife got her HTC Droid Incredible

I probably had more fun setting it up for her. The more I spend with the HTC Droid Incredible, the more I realize that Android will quickly emerge as the dominating smartphone OS. I am really impressed by the way Android integrates elements of your Gmail/Google account, Facebook, and other elements of social media. Given that my wife and I both actively use Gmail, Google Contacts, and Google Calendar, the Android OS is a true winner for people like us.

The HTC Droid Incredible is a very fast phone. The browser opens web pages very quickly compared to most older smartphones. It's a great size and you won't be disappointed by this device. The Motorola Droid X is also a very fast smartphone, but the Droid X may be too big for some people.

After I pulled the HTC Droid Incredible out of the box, I went right to the Android Marketplace so that I could download and install some medical apps for my wife (who's a family physician). What apps did I download and install?

I started with these free medical apps:  Epocrates, Skyscape, and QuantiaMD

I'll be installing a few more apps for her over the weekend.

Motorola Droid X vs. HTC Droid Incredible

My entire family is on Verizon Wireless. So, even if I really wanted the new Apple iPhone 4, I won't be switching to AT&T.

My wife recently ordered the HTC Droid Incredible. She hasn't gotten it yet, but I'm sure she's going to like it. I'll be due for an upgrade in 3 months, so I'm trying to wait patiently. If my current device had a faster processor, then I really would not mind using it a bit longer. Given that newer smartphones are so much faster, it really is getting painful to use my current smartphone. However, I will be patient.

So, should you get the Motorola Droid X or the HTC Droid Incredible? If you have small hands, try holding the Droid X before you make any decisions. The Droid X is a very LARGE smartphone (even though it's very thin). The Droid Incredible is a very nice size and still has a very fast processor.  So, which one is right for you? As long as you don't mind the large size of the Droid X, that's the one to get. However, if you don't want the "biggest" device out there, then choose the Droid Incredible.

Droid X review by PC Magazine

The Motorola Droid X has gotten the PC Magazine "Editors' Choice" award. The Droid X is a very large (but very slim) smartphone running Android. If you want a smartphone that has a large screen, then this is the one to get.  The Droid X does NOT have a slide-out QWERTY keyboard like the original Motorola Droid. As a result, the Droid X is very thin (except where the camera and flash protrude from the body).

I think I'd prefer the HTC Incredible just because I don't need a device that has a 4.3" screen. Then again, the large screen is nice if you're watching movies or playing games, but who has time for that?

If you're on the Verizon Wireless network, you probably won't go wrong if you choose the Motorola Droid X or the HTC Incredible.

To read the PC Magazine review, click here.

HTC Droid Incredible vs. Apple iPhone 4 vs. HTC Evo 4G

The other day, someone asked me to compare the HTC Droid Incredible to the new Apple iPhone 4. Then, another person said, "what about the Sprint Evo 4G?" So, let's take a brief look at these top 3 smartphones:

First, they all have super-fast internal processors. Whether you've got the A4 or the Snapdragon, you're going to have a very fast smartphone.

• Droid Incredible: Very fast, still using the 3G Verizon Wireless network, allows tethering (including Wi-Fi hotspot), great camera, and runs Android. Expandable memory (up to 32GB microSD) and you can remove the battery.
• Apple iPhone 4: Still using a 3G network, great design, only on AT&T, video conferencing appears to be limited to Wi-Fi for now so that front-facing camera may not be that useful, and AT&T to offer tethering sometime in the future (when?). Can't expand the memory or change the battery yourself. How will AT&T's network improve? Will we continue to see all those dropped calls?
• HTC Evo 4G: First (and currently the only) smartphone on a 4G network. Limited to the Sprint network (which is currently the only 4G network). Very large screen and running the Android OS.  Expandable memory (up to 32GB microSD) and you can remove the battery.
  

So, is there a verdict? If you can't switch networks, then I think it's easy to say that you should have an easy time choosing your next smartphone. If you're open to switching, then it gets much more complicated.

If you want the fastest smartphone with 4G data speeds, then the Evo 4G is your clear answer. However, if you want to stay current on the Apple iPhone OS which currently offers the widest selection of medical apps, then go with the new iPhone 4. The Droid Incredible is a great phone for Verizon customers and the Verizon Wireless network has been rated as one of the best wireless networks in America. My family has been with Verizon for over 10 years and we've been happy with their coverage. If coverage is important, then go with Verizon.

Ordered an HTC Droid Incredible for my wife

I ordered an HTC Droid Incredible for my wife.  It was time for her to upgrade and she saved $50 thanks to Verizon and their "new every two" plan. I think she's going to like this smartphone. The Droid Incredible is probably the leading smartphone on the Verizon Wireless network, but that could change as Motorola updates the Droid and releases a new model soon that has a much better keyboard.

What makes the Droid Incredible so great? It's very fast, it's very thin, it runs Android, and it has a great camera for a smartphone. It also includes all those other smartphone features like a built-in GPS with audible turn-by-turn directions (thanks to Google Maps), a built-in Wi-Fi hot spot, etc.

Given Android's increasing popularity, it should be interesting to follow the smartphone wars over the next few years. Since the Apple iPhone 4 is still only available on AT&T's network, we're not going to see too many Verizon customers make the switch if they're stuck on long-term contracts or family plans where everyone else has a Verizon phone. That's us: our entire family is using Verizon and most of our friends are also on Verizon.


So, I'm sure my wife will enjoy her new smartphone when it arrives. It looks like we'll have to wait a few weeks because the Droid Incredible is so popular (and sold out at the moment).

Droid Incredible by HTC earns Editors' Choice from PC Magazine

PC Magazine has given the HTC Droid Incredible the Editors' Choice stamp of approval. In fact, they remark that the HTC Droid Incredible is one of the highest-rated phones in the past year.

Let's jump right to the conclusion:

The Incredible is the best smartphone on Verizon, and the second-best smartphone in America; it would outpace the iPhone if it weren't for all of those great iPhone apps. The Incredible renders the upcoming Nexus One for Verizon's network totally irrelevant, although it may yet be outmatched by Sprint's upcoming, WiMAX-based Evo 4G.

Click here to read the review on PC Magazine.

Droid Incredible by HTC - Product Video

Verizon has released a product video for the HTC Droid Incredible:

Verizon HTC Droid Incredible could beat the Motorola Droid

I'm a fan of HTC phones. I'm also a fan of Motorola phones. So, which will be better? The HTC Droid Incredible or the Motorola Droid? If the Droid had a better hardware keyboard, then I'd vote for the Droid. However, given that the hardware QWERTY keyboard on the Droid isn't that great, perhaps the HTC Incredible will become the new #1 Android smartphone on Verizon Wireless.

I guess we'll have to wait until April 29. You can preview the Droid Incredible here:
http://phones.verizonwireless.com/htc/incredible/

HTC Droid Incredible coming to Verizon April 29

The HTC Droid Incredible could beat the Motorola Droid as the "best" Android powered smartphone on the market. I suppose we'll just have to wait and see. I got this image from Engadget, where they're reporting that the HTC Droid Incredible will be coming to Verizon Wireless on April 29.

If the HTC Incredible is going to be a CDMA version of the HTC Desire, then you can read up on the specs and the features by visiting this HTC page.