Droid X: An Un-Review
By now, most of you have read the reviews, opinions and in-depth views on Verizon's Droid X by Motorola smartphone, so I won't bore you with the mundane.
I've had a preproduction version of the device for nearly a month now, and I have to say, I'm a bit impressed. The Droid X's multimedia features, in particular, are great: 8 megapixel camera; nice camcorder, and good set of speakers, HDMI capability, and easy-to-access Media Share and DLNA features. Oh, and it's also a phone. Verizon's service was reliable, calls were clear, and none dropped during testing. The Droid X has a large, 4.3-inch screen is perfect for capturing HD videos. I ditched my iPod for a few days to run videos while working out at the gym, and except for some brief moments of lag, I had no issues. It's a beautiful screen.
However, I was disheartened to discover that I could not download anything from the Android Market. So I watched as my unsuccessful downloads stacked up in the info bar. Occasionally, I would gaze at them forlornly, wondering if I would ever become Mayor of a Foursquare venue. Or translate that one, obscure Romanian phrase. Verizon acknowledge that the lack of Android Market access was an issue with some preproduction models. I queried a couple of other journalists who had similar problems–theirs resolved quicker than mine. I was finally able to access the marketplace last night, just a couple of days shy of the product return date. hmmm…
Aesthetics and Function: On the device itself, I wish there were dual-camera capabilities such as those available on the HTC Evo and the iPhone 4 (despite its reported tech issues and bad PR). And, let's face it, the Droid isn't exactly the cutest guy at the bar. It seems designed with "futuristic-masculine" in mind–from the wide screen to the Terminator droid eye, to the AutoTune-like "Droid" that sounds every time new Gmail comes in. In truth, it straddles the line. As a tech geek, I love it. But it can get a bit overwhelming. Are those slight quibbles? Probably. But I also think it's important that a device is suited to me both functionally and aesthetically.
I also wanted to be able to prop up the Droid to watch videos but there was no kickstand. And I don't like that I need to purchase the micro HDMI cable separately. Upsells really bug me. And, I'm cheap.
Additionally, the way the Droid X handles social networking is a bit awkward and confusing. I would much prefer to load my social tools myself .
One big plus with the device is the ability to share a connection with up to 5 wi-fi devices. Another is the 8GB of installed memory and pre-installed 16GB memory card. And I loved the ease with which I Bluetooth-ed my Blackberry contacts to the Droid. Nice!
Verizon's Droid X by Motorola is a solid device. Lot's of strong features that put it squarely in contention with the HTC Evo and Apple's iPhone. There are a few aesthetic and performance shortcomings, but I think the device is heading in the right direction in terms of multimedia capabilities that only add to the already great phone performance.
Priced at $199 with 2-year contract and data plan starting at $29.99/month.
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@Joe I agree. I'm typically not an early adopter anyway, though I love testing new tech. I think the Droid is a promising device but I also think there is room for lots of improvement tech-wise. I also think much of the hype has been generated by the notion of technology as a "X-killer"–the language that we use to talk about tech has a tendency to obscure facts of the devices.
Thanks for sharing, I've actually considered this phone but will definitely wait for the technology to catch up with the hype.
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