What Is The Droid And Does It Measure Up?

Considering that 100,000 Droids were sold the first weekend that it was released, it is clear that there is demand in the market for the phone, which is Motorola`s answer to the iPhone. Ever since the popular RAZR phone, Motorola has seemed to be somewhat quiet on the cell phone front, getting left behind in by the popularity gained by Nokia and others. Their introduction of the Droid may be what puts the company back on the map.

The Droid runs Google`s AnDroid platform which allows for many of the same features of the iPhone, some which run as well or better than Apple`s and some which do not. Ultimately, it is up to the consumer to decide which they prefer.

As far as aesthetics go, the Droid is quite pleasing to look at. Slim and narrow with a large touch screen, the phone also can be pushed upwards to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard. This is obviously a plus for those who are not comfortable typing on a touch screen. There are those with strong opinions on the matter and it seem that touchscreen typing versus keyboard typing is quite the hot topic. It may feel more natural to type on a keyboard and you can send texts with fewer typos.

Obviously, no one uses a Smartphone just for making phone calls and texting. If that is your sole reason for having a phone, you might as well just use the free one that you can get when you sign up for a plan with any provider. Smartphone users want to be able to check email and surf the web while they are on the go. The Droid seeks to provide a good experience for doing so.

Droid users are able to maintain multiple email accounts on the unit and can see the emails from each account consolidated in one place, a convenience that should not be overlooked if you happen to use multiple email addresses on a regular basis. The large screen and crystal clear display make viewing webpages a pleasure on the Droid.

Any busy Smartphone user also realizes the importance of having a camera on the phone. You just never know when you will need to snap a photo to forever memorialize something that is happening in front of you. Whether it is your child`s first steps or your friend`s bad hair day, it can come in handy to have a camera always at your fingertips. Unfortunately, the camera seems to be an area in which the Droid is slightly lacking. While it is possible to take decent pictures, the usability is not quite so easy.

If the phone is not being used as your primary picture-taking device then it is probably sufficient. To make up for the deficiency in terms of taking still pictures, the Droid is very adept in the video department. So if you forget your video camera at your child`s school play, the Droid could serve as a viable replacement!

Ultimately, it is not likely that the Droid will take many consumers away from the iPhone. Apple is likely to maintain its brand recognition and loyal consumers. But for those who are willing to try something new, the Droid may be the best option.