Motorola Droid or Eris?

[shopaholic426]

I have a BB tour and have had so many problems with it. I am on my third one and I'm tired of it. I was thinking of going to Android and can't decide if I want the Droid or the Eris. I need help!!!! 

Thanks!!!

[MrHost]

Eris is what I have. Not as thick as moto, because lack of physical keyboard which I like. I am responding on the eris right now. I love it. Half the price too. Got mine for $50, bit normal upgrade price is $100 half the price of the moto.

[oolie75]

I also have a Blackberry and have been holding out for the past year waiting for Verizon to get the iphone, but heard that is no longer happening, and am going to either get the droid or eris... having a hard time deciding and would like any info anyone can provide to help make a choice... one thing that is really important to me is oregon just passed a law that we can't talk while driving, so i need to get a bluetooth. i read one review from someone that said the bluetooth did not work at all with this phone and consistently ended her calls... does anyone have any info or comments on this subject? i've never had good success with bluetooth anyway, but now it isn't a choice... thank you so much for any tips anyone can provide!

[TheGreatOne]

Personally I would go with the Motorola Droid because it has a slider keyboard on it. Easier for typing (at least for me it would be!).

[PPC_Dude]

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shopaholic426 wrote:

I have a BB tour and have had so many problems with it. I am on my third one and I'm tired of it. I was thinking of going to Android and can't decide if I want the Droid or the Eris. I need help!!!! 

Thanks!!!

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My take on the comparison between the Moto Droid (Droid) and the HTC Eris (Eris):

• The Droid is faster, the Eris is not slow, but it does have an inferior processor.
• The Droid has an external keyboard, the Eris does not.  Not a big deal to some, others need it, some hate it.
• The Droid is not quite as user friendly out of the box.  With HTC's SenseUI interface, the Eris is easier to navigate from the start and will be less of a learning curve when coming from a different phone.  However, there are many home screen apps that help out with the vanilla interface on the Droid. Customizations are nearly endless.
• The Droid has a larger and higher resolution screen than the Eris.  Truly an awesome screen.
• The Droid has Google Maps with Navigation with TBT directions.  Very capable and easy to use, voice activated searches for directions (ie: navigate to Pizza Hut - it will find the nearest Pizza Hut and calculate a route to it).  It's not perfect, but it is still in Beta.  This capability will be added to the Eris with an upcoming update to 2.1 in Q1 2010 some say maybe as soon as the end of this month, others say closer to May or June.
• For the Droid, there is car dock  which is nice to have for navigation, and general use of the phone while in the car and a mutimedia dock which turns the phone into a makeshift alarm clock, weather station, MP3 player, slideshow viewer, phone charger just by docking the phone.  Obviously both of these docks are at additional cost.  About $30 a piece I think.
• The Eris is lighter, smaller and, I think to most, more visually appealing than the Droid.
• The Eris costs a lot less.
• The Eris has Flash Lite and can play some YouTube videos as well as other Flash content within the browser.  The Droid currently cannot do this, but Adobe is releasing Flash for Android soon and this will no longer be an issue for either handset.  Right now on the Droid you have to use the YouTube app to view the videos and you are out of luck for any other Flash content on webpages.

I have the Droid so I am probably a bit biased.  I invite Eris owners to add to the list.  Also, and I'm not looking to start anything it's just my observation, but it seems to me that there are more questions asked about issues/problems with the Eris than the Droid.  This could be because more people have the Eris than the Droid or maybe due to it's utilitarian appearance and higher specs, more "geeks" get the Droid or many other things.  Then again, I could be totally wrong about there being more posts about the Eris.  I haven't actually counted them.

[kenyu73]

Hey PPC_Dude.... firstly, very nice comparision and I didnt think that was very biased at all! You stated the black and white differences between the two and included what is upcoming with the Eris...kudos!

I have the Eris and I have it because, to me, it looked better and felt better in my hands. I lost half my hairline before buying the Eris as I WANTED the hardware specs of the MotoDroid, but wanted the size and looks of the Eris. I guess the hardware became less important to me because I didnt plan on playing games (much) and the Eris seemed plenty snappy screen wise. I also did a really quick typing test on the Droid and my fingers smuched to many typos on the hardware keys then the touchscreen on the Eris. I think the hardware keyboard for the Droid doesn't autocorrect.. but I may be wrong.

The Eris does have Voice activated Googles Maps for finding Pizza or other places, but not the full turn-by-turn naviagation of the Droid Android 2.0 OS.

The biggest annoyance right now (until the Eris gets 2.x) is the fact that we cant download apps made for any Android OS greater then v1.5 that the Eris currently has loaded... big annoyance! (=

[PPC_Dude]

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kenyu73 wrote:

Hey PPC_Dude.... firstly, very nice comparision and I didnt think that was very biased at all! You stated the black and white differences between the two and included what is upcoming with the Eris...kudos!

I have the Eris and I have it because, to me, it looked better and felt better in my hands. I lost half my hairline before buying the Eris as I WANTED the hardware specs of the MotoDroid, but wanted the size and looks of the Eris. I guess the hardware became less important to me because I didnt plan on playing games (much) and the Eris seemed plenty snappy screen wise. I also did a really quick typing test on the Droid and my fingers smuched to many typos on the hardware keys then the touchscreen on the Eris. I think the hardware keyboard for the Droid doesn't autocorrect.. but I may be wrong.

The Eris does have Voice activated Googles Maps for finding Pizza or other places, but not the full turn-by-turn naviagation of the Droid Android 2.0 OS.

The biggest annoyance right now (until the Eris gets 2.x) is the fact that we cant download apps made for any Android OS greater then v1.5 that the Eris currently has loaded... big annoyance! (=

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Thanks kenyu.  I wasn't thinking about the base Google Maps ability when writing about the voice search, just the Nav functions.  Thanks for clearing that up.  The hardware keyboard does have some minimal auto correct ability for common mistakes (ie adn = and), but it's pretty limited.  It also has Show Suggestions and Auto-Complete, but I don't recall ever seeing either one work and I do have them enabled.  Like you, I was turned off by the physical keyboards small flat keys to start with and still only use it mainly for posting to this board and other times when I need to be in landscape mode, but I've gotten pretty used to it now and it's not that bad.   I use the Shapewriter and Swype keyboards for most of my input needs.  I don't think I've used the default soft keyboard since a day or two after I got the phone.

I had actually thought about the apps issues that 1.5 users are having now that 2.0 - 2.0.1 are out, but forgot to include it.  Glad you mentioned it , even though that will hopefully be fixed SOON.

[javajo]

I purchased an Eris in November.  I debated between it and the Moto Droid.  Big mistake buying the Eris !!  I downloaded a ringtone from VerizonWireless site, and wanted to upload it to a contact person.  There is no option to attach a ringtone from the website to a contact person as the manual (only available online) shows step-by-step how to do.  I took it into the local corporate store and even the tech there couldn't attach it to a contact.  He shrugged his shoulders and gave me the phone back saying, "I don't know what to tell you."  That's help !?!  My Eris will not play YouTube videos at all.  Error message says, "Videos can not play on this device."  It's a preloaded app !!  Let's talk cameras...... Eris has the best 5 megapixel camera on the market.  It takes awesome photos...... but don't try sending them in a text.  The tech told me you have to crank down the settings to one of the lowest resolutions, since the phone is incapable of sending a high resolution pic.  Why have it on this phone then ??  OK, let's talk about it as a cellular phone........ a call is coming in and you are supposed touch and slide the lock-screen down to answer.  Only, it won't slide down.  The phone keeps ringing and ringing and I can't answer it.  I have to wait for it to go into a missed call, then go over to my call history, and do a re-dial from there.  The tech at the store said to stop using the touch part of the process and just answer the phone using the button.  I was at the Verizon store 7 times, trying to get these issues resolved.  I am on my 2nd phone (Eris).  I've talked to customer service and tech support and no one is authorized to put me into a different phone.  So I am stuck with this Eris with an awesome camera, but can't send a pic in a text, a ringtone that can't be attached to a contact, YouTube App built in that won't play any videos, and a touchscreen I was told not to use, just hit the button to answer.  The technology on this Eris is just not up to any standards.  HTC pushed this through to the unsuspecting public, way before it was fully capable, and tested.  Stay away from this Droid.  It is not up to Earth's expectations !  My next stop on this journey is to the Better Business Bureau !!

[MrHost]

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javajo wrote:

I purchased an Eris in November.  I debated between it and the Moto Droid.  Big mistake buying the Eris !!  I downloaded a ringtone from VerizonWireless site, and wanted to upload it to a contact person.  There is no option to attach a ringtone from the website to a contact person as the manual (only available online) shows step-by-step how to do.  I took it into the local corporate store and even the tech there couldn't attach it to a contact.  He shrugged his shoulders and gave me the phone back saying, "I don't know what to tell you."  That's help !?!  My Eris will not play YouTube videos at all.  Error message says, "Videos can not play on this device."  It's a preloaded app !!  Let's talk cameras...... Eris has the best 5 megapixel camera on the market.  It takes awesome photos...... but don't try sending them in a text.  The tech told me you have to crank down the settings to one of the lowest resolutions, since the phone is incapable of sending a high resolution pic.  Why have it on this phone then ??  OK, let's talk about it as a cellular phone........ a call is coming in and you are supposed touch and slide the lock-screen down to answer.  Only, it won't slide down.  The phone keeps ringing and ringing and I can't answer it.  I have to wait for it to go into a missed call, then go over to my call history, and do a re-dial from there.  The tech at the store said to stop using the touch part of the process and just answer the phone using the button.  I was at the Verizon store 7 times, trying to get these issues resolved.  I am on my 2nd phone (Eris).  I've talked to customer service and tech support and no one is authorized to put me into a different phone.  So I am stuck with this Eris with an awesome camera, but can't send a pic in a text, a ringtone that can't be attached to a contact, YouTube App built in that won't play any videos, and a touchscreen I was told not to use, just hit the button to answer.  The technology on this Eris is just not up to any standards.  HTC pushed this through to the unsuspecting public, way before it was fully capable, and tested.  Stay away from this Droid.  It is not up to Earth's expectations !  My next stop on this journey is to the Better Business Bureau !!

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I send High res pics all the time. I just checked what you meant. MMS has a size limitation, and full 5MP pics are to large, so yes it downgrades it. I post the original pics to facebook and twitter with no problem. I can email them too, and I think it ask me what quality I want it sent in. Photos are sent via MMS not txt. Txt is for TXT only. I don't understand how people are having trouble with the Eris. It works great for me. I haven't had any lock ups and I install games outside of the market too. I have 83 different apps and it is running great. I installed spare parts today, and it has an option to speed up the screen animations. They get laggy from time to time, when I have a lot going on. Youtube, built in Apps sucks. I use tubedroid and donwload the vidz I want from youtube and then watch it. I agree, that shoudl ahve worked from the get go. The facebook, integration could use a tweak here and there, but not to bad overall. For me at least.

[beaucphus]

I had the same prob with the youtube videos but if you go through the browser to youtube.com it worked fine I think its a problem with the widgett

[beaucphus]

oh also I have had no problems sending picture texts or sending pics through various instant messenger apps, also you can answer the phone by pressing the menu button, and my suggestion about the youtube issue is to just make a youtube bookmark in your browser and watch vids that way the app does not work on mine either but other wise I like the phone

[Ndroidnut]

Wow, poor javajo,so sorry you're not happy! My wife and I have had our Eris phones for over a month now. No complaints at all, just takes a bit to get used to the technology. Tons of great apps, phone works great once you get it customized to your liking. I too agonized over which way to go, I have an ipod touch so was used to touch screen keyboard, I even like the Eris better than the ipod because of the little vibration when I touch a key. I know people who have the Moto Droid and they love it too, I just figured I would save a little cash and get the Eris - no regrets. There will always be "The Next Coolest Phone" , I say pick one you like and quit watching. I don't think you can go wrong with either Verizon Droid offering.

[kenyu73]

 * My Eris will not play YouTube videos at all.  Error message says, "Videos can not play on this device."

Huh? Are you playing from YouTube directly using the YouTube app or from random websites? Are you using the default HTC browser? I can easily go to any website that has a youtube video, click on it and it launches the Eris' YouTube player flawlessly. However, if your using Dolphin, then it will not work as Dolphin doesn't support YouTube(Flash) integration. If your having errors using the app or while using the HTC Browser, then you have a corrupted OS install and you need to do a reset.

* Eris has the best 5 megapixel camera on the market.  It takes awesome photos...... but don't try sending them in a text.

Again, huh? I'm taking full 5mp pictures and I just tested this. I go to my picture app, tap "menu->share", choose "Messages". The Eris states "Picture to large", "compessing...". I can MMS the picture just fine with the stock messaging app. You can also attach a picture in the Message app and it still compresses fine and sends.

* OK, let's talk about it as a cellular phone........ a call is coming in and you are supposed touch and slide the lock-screen down to answer.  Only, it won't slide down.

All you have to do it hit the Green phone key to answer, no sliding is required. Also you need to grab the grey bar next to the time to slide... you cant grab above it (which is an annoyance since the 12/11 patch). You can also hit Menu.

None of your issues are read issues at all and it appears you just need some help getting though this. Please, follow up with this thread or create new thread for each of your issues... I think the Eris is great and I'm a super techy users.

[javajo]

Thanks for your helpful tips on each one of my issues, however, you shouldn't have to go through all those steps when this phone is supposed to be a good counterpart to the iPhone.  I am a sophisticated tecky myself, having an iPod Touch 3GS 32 Gig.  Love it ! And guess what....... all pre-loaded software and apps are touch sensitive and work right from the loaded app. Back to my Eris:  I was trying to view YouTube videos right from the pre-loaded app.  The tech at the Verizon store was trying to do the same thing and couldn't bring them up, either.  We also tried to go through Google.com and search YouTube video, to view them that way, and the error message still said the device can not play this video.  We tried 9 different videos.   As far as sending a pic in a text message: I was able to send a pic as an attachment in a text with my Motorola Razar.  I could also receive avatars on the Razar - the Eris can not receive avatars.  I was wanting to get this phone replaced with the EnV3 Touch.  Several friends have one with no issues.  I want to stay with the Verizon service (been with them since 1980's) - none of their "customer service" personnel seem to be able to make this decision.  There are pro's and con's on every piece of technology toy out there.  I'm voicing that the con's override my expectations on this toy. 

[kenyu73]

I went from the Env3 to the Eris and have never looked back. Beside the ringtone issue and "avatar? " issue, which I have no clue what you mean here (like emo-cons?), I dont see any issues with what you initially stated.

YouTube does work fine, so you must have a bad Eris/ OS install (get a replacement)

Sending pictures are just as easy... New Message --> menu-attach --> Choose Camera (or browse saved pics) ->snap --> send. It automatically compresses the pic. This has never failed.

Verizon should have repaired your phone if it didnt work right in front of them.

[supitsmike]

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javajo wrote:

Thanks for your helpful tips on each one of my issues, however, you shouldn't have to go through all those steps when this phone is supposed to be a good counterpart to the iPhone.  I am a sophisticated tecky myself, having an iPod Touch 3GS 32 Gig.  Love it ! And guess what....... all pre-loaded software and apps are touch sensitive and work right from the loaded app. Back to my Eris:  I was trying to view YouTube videos right from the pre-loaded app.  The tech at the Verizon store was trying to do the same thing and couldn't bring them up, either.  We also tried to go through Google.com and search YouTube video, to view them that way, and the error message still said the device can not play this video.  We tried 9 different videos.   As far as sending a pic in a text message: I was able to send a pic as an attachment in a text with my Motorola Razar.  I could also receive avatars on the Razar - the Eris can not receive avatars.  I was wanting to get this phone replaced with the EnV3 Touch.  Several friends have one with no issues.  I want to stay with the Verizon service (been with them since 1980's) - none of their "customer service" personnel seem to be able to make this decision.  There are pro's and con's on every piece of technology toy out there.  I'm voicing that the con's override my expectations on this toy. 

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The Eris is not, by any means, a counterpart for the iPhone. Apples to oranges, here. To address your issues:

Some Videos can not be played on mobile devices. For example, take Lady Gaga's Bad Romance and try to play it on your phone. It won't work. Why? I don't know, it might have to deal with the codec with the specific video that the Eris doesn't support. Try going to the YouTube app and playing the first thing you see. If it's not working with anything then I suggest:

• Clearing the cache from your YouTube app.
• Doing a Factory reset.
• If all else fails, return it.

I can recieve picture message, and send them just fine. So I agree with Ken that you may have a defective device.

[tim600sl]

One of the biggest reasons why I got the Droid was becuase of the physical keyboard.  The reason I switched to verizon in Dec. of 2005 was becuase of the qwerty keyboard.  It was LG VX9800 I believe that got me.  So, all these years I had to have a qwerty physical keyboard. Now, to my surprise, I have the Droid for  11 days now, and I find it very hard to use the physical keyboard, in fact I only open the phone to play snake, that's it! I'm so used to virtual keyboard now, I'm just surprised. I thought I would never be able to live without physical keyboard.  So now my question is, how good is the Eris?  Now I really wish that Moto. Droid didnt have the slide out keyboard.  I still can make one exchange becuase I'm in the 30 day period right now, but I'm not sure.  I really love the Droid, it seems the more I own it, the more I love it with the exeption of my dissappointment in the physical keyboard.  I see that most people say that Droid is better than Eris.  Anybody here that owned BOTH devices?

[supitsmike]

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tim600sl wrote:

One of the biggest reasons why I got the Droid was becuase of the physical keyboard.  The reason I switched to verizon in Dec. of 2005 was becuase of the qwerty keyboard.  It was LG VX9800 I believe that got me.  So, all these years I had to have a qwerty physical keyboard. Now, to my surprise, I have the Droid for  11 days now, and I find it very hard to use the physical keyboard, in fact I only open the phone to play snake, that's it! I'm so used to virtual keyboard now, I'm just surprised. I thought I would never be able to live without physical keyboard.  So now my question is, how good is the Eris?  Now I really wish that Moto. Droid didnt have the slide out keyboard.  I still can make one exchange becuase I'm in the 30 day period right now, but I'm not sure.  I really love the Droid, it seems the more I own it, the more I love it with the exeption of my dissappointment in the physical keyboard.  I see that most people say that Droid is better than Eris.  Anybody here that owned BOTH devices?

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I have. I had the Eris for a week before returning it, and I had the Hero before. I at first didn't like the keyboard either, however it takes a learning curve. My best suggestion is to keep using it.

The Eris's OS is fantastic, and I wish I could have the SENSE UI (Well, in a legal way anyway) on my Droid. The Droid does have better hardware, and that's why I stuck with it.

[Dangerous_Dave]

Very ironic, but I was in a similar dilemma.  I was coming from an LG Dare which was touch screen only, and although the functionality was excellent, the keyboard was terrible.  So when I started phone shopping again I was certain that I needed a physical keyboard...until I played with the virtual keyboard on the Eris!  I was equally torn because ALL the Verizon reps were pushing Moto Droids like they were getting a hundred dollar kickback for every one they sold!  But in real world useage, I couldn't get warm and fuzzy with EITHER keyboard on the Moto Droid...physical or virtual.  Both were too cramped and lacked the functionality provided by the HTC Sense, which just flat rocks.  No diss to the Moto Droid, but I generally carry my phone in my pants pocket and the Moto Droid is a brick compared to the smooth, slender, feathery Eris.  I haven't regretted this decision for a moment, but it took me FIVE hour long trips to the Verizon store to make up my mind.

To poor Javajo who can't get any help from the Verizon mothership, I STRONGLY suggest that you call HTC tech support at (866)449-8358.  Sadly, it's just such a new phone that the Verizon guys aren't necesarily all up to speed on it yet.  I gave up on calling Verizon for help with this phone and just go straight to the source.  No diss to you either JJ, but I think at least some of your problems may be due to "operator error".  Don't feel bad, I've already made my fair share of calls to tech support on this phone just to find out the answer was something really simple, and I work in the tech industry.  It's just a REALLY feature packed phone, and although I consider it to be EXTREMELY user friendly, it's just tough to figure it all out yourself.

You couldn't pay me to trade my Eris for a Moto Droid, but that's just personal preference.

D Dave

[jsh1120]

My wife upgraded her first gen "ENV" to the Eris when I got the Droid. Tried for two weeks to get used to the keyboard and finally gave up. When we returned it, the tech at the Verizon store found the keyboard was faulty and offered to exchange the phone. But you seldom get a chance to make a good first impression the second time around and my wife went back to her original phone.

She's now trying to decide whether to wait on the Nexus at Verizon or to move to a Palm Pre Plus (to be introduced in a week) or get a Samsung Omni II.

I worked with both phones for quite some time when she had her Eris. Apart from the faulty (unpredictable) keyboard, I thought the Eris was a nice phone but nowhere near as flexible as the Droid. Unless the weight and size of the Droid are dealbreakers, I'd have to say it's by far the better choice.

But that's all a matter of preference. Here's some advice that isn't. Whatever you decide to get, plan to spend some serious time learning the ins & outs of a new smartphone. My wife purchased her Eris in December and it was a major pain to devote the time necessary to learn its features in the weeks just before Christmas. For someone who hasn't used a smartphone before, the learning curve is even steeper than for those moving from one smartphone to another. Recognize that smartphones are more like computers than phones. And what seems "intuitive" is very likely whatever you became accustomed to on your last phone.

In short, if you're looking for the features of a smartphone, especially an Android phone where the capabilities are near "bleeding edge," be prepared to invest the effort required to learn and utilize those features.

[tim600sl]

One more thing I forgot to mention, maybe it's been answered, sorry if I missed it.... Is there a way to send MMS with sound? I could easily do it on any dumbphone, but I have trouble finding that option with droid. I hope it's a matter of update, or maybe I just don't know how to do it.  Can Eris send a sound?  There is an option to record a sound and send it, but that's not quite what I'm looking for, midi file would be a good example. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.