Uh oh.

[Foxster]

I recently ordered and just recieved my new Droid Charge.

I figured I'd check online to make sure their aren't any caveats I should be aware of before beginning the setup and transfer process from my old phone.

So I find these forums and based by the topic titles alone, I'm quite worried that I made a mistake in buying this phone (and I haven't even turned the dang thing on yet!)   LOL

So... did I make a mistake with this one?   Should I send it back and get a new 4g phone?   I don't want to have to spend twice as much for a different one.

Is the new operating system the solution to the problems people are having, and WILL that actually be released any time soon, if ever?

[namstol]

 Never get a Samsung in the future...that is my new rule.

I am sure there are some happy, but I am not.

[mblent]

No matter which phone you get you will find annoying problems. Phones today are like small computers...they are not perfect and updates can take a while. If you look for the bad you will find it....

If you dont want any annoyances...then do not purchase a smartphone....

I have a droid charge and ...yes...some things are annoying..but overall it functions well and I enjoy it.....

don't sweat the small stuff...or you will not enjoy the good stuff!!!!

[phillybama1]

I am sure that, if you look at any 4G device, no matter the manufacturer, you will see similar stories. Remember, if a person has no reason to complain, they won't be on this page. That's not the nature of humanity. It's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease. My device reboots maybe 2 times a day, always when I have a certain app open. I'm willing to put up with it because I really like the app (Scrabble).

I fall off of the data service from time to time, but I chalk it up to the growing pains of 4G. Do a "Spec Check" side by side on VZW's site, and read some of the reviews on that same site (it lists 1 to 5 stars). That should give you a better idea as to what the public at large thinks of the device, rather than coming onto a complaint board such as this.

Phillybama

[namstol]

You could also take a quick gander at the other devices "complaint forums" and see no where near the same sort of complaints so far (though some of the phones are fairly new).

[phillybama1]

hmm...looks like it's pretty consistent across the board as far as 4G devices go. Everyone posting that their phone is useless and is having this error or that error. They tend to be very similar across the board

#1 Problems handing off between 3G and 4G

#2 Device reboots

#3 Complaints about the bloatware

#4 Missed calls inbound

#5 Issues with certain apps.

[bluevolume]

There is a lot of expectation and anxiety around these phones.  They are expensive, you're locked in to a 2 year contract, and they are hyped as the essential personal companion.  Once you are sold on a phone and get it home, there's a small honeymoon period where you love it and show it off to everyone.  Then you start noticing some problems, but they aren't a big deal.

So you hit the internet to see what other people think.  And inevitably you find a forum like this one.  Then you start reading about other people having the same problems you are, plus some new ones.  And you go try your phone and realize you have these problems too.  Now your problems are twice as big.  Then someone starts talking about a software upgrade.

Every day there is more info about the software upgrade, though in reality nobody really knows anything about it.  This upgrade starts becoming iconic; the lifeblood your phone needs to survive.  As every day goes by, people get more and more upset.  And worthless "insider" info is posted along with a bunch of coversations with clueless Verizon support people.  Then a new phone comes out that makes your phone look like yesterdays garbage.

Now everbody is FURIOUS.  Not only did we get duped into buying a phone that Verizon has forgotten, they have something new that would solve all of my problems.  I'm going to be stuck with this horrible, useless phone for almost 2 years while everyone else is walking around with an awesome one.  Ask me why this phone sucks so bad and I'll tell you every problem I've read on this forum, whether I've actually had that problem myself or not.  

So there you have it.  The Charge is not a bad phone.  The update is taking a long time to arrive, but that isn't the end of the world.  If you want to enjoy your phone, stay OUT of the forums!

[JerryF]

Hello Uh 0h,

For all you folks with a brand new Droid Charge phone or one with problems you might check the following.  From your Home screen Touch Settings.  Go to the bottom of the Settings list and touch About Phone.  Now go to the bottom of the About Phone list and check to see if all your phone's specs from Build Number (at bottom of list) up to Hardware Version match the specs in the attached photo.

I suggest this because my three month old Droid Charge phone has worked perfectly since it was new...lucky me!   So my point is, was your Droid Charge delivered with this exact same set of software?  This software has worked fine for me!

If yours is different:  Do not pass GO, Do not collect $200, Go directly to your closest Verizon store and get it fixed.  BTW, take a copy of this post with you.

JerryF 

[cc12]

I am like you Jerryf, I love my phone and I have had no major problems with it. I do get dropped from 4G to 3G to 1X, but like you said just growing pains for 4G. I use the forums to find out things that I can not figure out my self or to get help for other things that other users might be having.

I love my phone and when I got it I knew that it would be outdated as soon as the next phone was released!!

I would say just stick with the phone because after two years there will be others that are even better and faster.

cc12

[bluevolume]

JerryF -- you are an honest guy, I know this because we've talked before.  You aren't trying to get people all riled up or get Verizon to give you a new phone, so you're really the minority on these forums.  

I flat out don't believe half of the things that people have posted here, like how the Charge is constantly rebooting and nothing works right.  This phone isn't perfect, but its still a great device.  Nowhere near the "worst phone ever" garbage that is being thrown around.

And this phone really is about to get a lot better.  I have actually seen (been in the same physical room) a Charge running a 2.3.5 test ROM and it is awesome.  Verizon still is not satisfied that it is ready to release yet, and I don't claim to know why, but it definitely seems like they will sooner or later.

[JerryF]

Bluevolume...You lucky dog!  I wish I was able to see and touch a Charge phone running Gingerbread 2.3.5.

To me it's amazing all the things that people are reporting.  I sometimes wonder how many of the things that folks report as being broken might be caused by the phone user themselves.  For example, I see advice such as try removing all the APPs you loaded but seldom see where the person with the problem tries the advice and tells us if it worked or not.  Only 2 or 3 folks have really tried my battery test and reported its success or failure.  Several just said, that's not a cure and left it at that.  I have even backed away from passing on further fix-it advice to some folks after they never commented back on the first two or three things I suggested.  I have even posted a direct question to a specific person, by their name, asking if my suggestion worked and never heard back from them.  I assumed  that they really didn't care.  I have seen some folks that just keep complaining and ranting and finally just fade away without any further comment as to whether their phone was fixed or we helped them.

This phone is FAR BETTER than many folks on this forum make it out to be.  I love it and as I said, Bluevolume, I envy you having the experience of seeing Gingerbread 2.3.5.

Best regards,

JerryF

[JerryF]

cc12,

I agree with you.  As for the phone being outdated , as you said, that's fine.  We all know that the minute you drive your, just purchased new car, off the car dealer's lot it too is outdated and very highly depreciated.  That's life.

Me, I have usually keep my phones more that two years unless a newer model has some spectacular new features.

Glad you like your phone.  I love mine.

This dropping and switching between 4G/3G/1XRTT is interesting.  I can and I have proven that in my 4G/3G area it is the network 80-90% of the time and not the phone.  My test is that I have both my Charge phone and a seperate Pantech UML290 4G/3G Verizon modem on a Cradlepoint MBR1000 router (even an external antenna) so I can monitor the VZ network two ways and my conclusion is that it's usually a network problem, not the phone.   

JerryF

[phillybama1]

I'm glad there are other "reasonable" folks out there who don't threaten lawsuits if they don't have the latest software version. Glad I joined....

[Red98]

Foxter, just note that many, many Charge users are happy with this phone. For me it is the best I have ever used. If you hang around this particular forum you will find an extraordinary amount of whining. While I still get helpful info I usually ignore the whining. Just could not help chiming in.

[Santa_Barbara]

I got the Charge about a week after it came out. I was going to get a Thunderbolt, but I decided to wait because I really wanted a Moto Droid Bionic. The Bionic kept getting delayed and delayed. Finally the Charge was available. I got the Charge with the extended battery. I do suffer the camera flash/camera dead problem sometimes. I did suffer with the Yahoo mail password problem but it was resolved. I don't care for all the bloat-ware, but it seems like all VZ phones are pre-loaded with tons of bloat-ware. However, the bloat-ware does not seem to interfere with the phone's performance much. Other than that, the phone has been fairly reliable. Phone call quality is average and internet surfing is way above average. The native navigation app is excellent and works great! I don't love the native calendar, but it works. The native contacts app is good.  4G just came to my market, and it is great - very fast (2x-3x faster than my DSL to be honest). I don't have tons of apps, but most of them work fine or better. Overall, the speed and performance while in a 4G area more than make up for the problems I've suffered with. As a non-power user, my biggest on-going complaints are: 1-no Ginger Bread/Ice Cream Sandwich updates & 2-no front facing camera for video chat. Otherwise, I'm satisfied.

[JerryF]

Santa_Barbara,

In this forum search on the word BUMP.  Read the post and BUMP charge your extended battery.  This might build up its amperage capacity and fix your flash camera problem.  It's okay to BUMP charge it a couple of times.

JerryF

[riffrafter]

---

Santa_Barbara wrote:

I got the Charge about a week after it came out. I was going to get a Thunderbolt, but I decided to wait because I really wanted a Moto Droid Bionic. The Bionic kept getting delayed and delayed. Finally the Charge was available. I got the Charge with the extended battery. I do suffer the camera flash/camera dead problem sometimes. I did suffer with the Yahoo mail password problem but it was resolved. I don't care for all the bloat-ware, but it seems like all VZ phones are pre-loaded with tons of bloat-ware. However, the bloat-ware does not seem to interfere with the phone's performance much. Other than that, the phone has been fairly reliable. Phone call quality is average and internet surfing is way above average. The native navigation app is excellent and works great! I don't love the native calendar, but it works. The native contacts app is good.  4G just came to my market, and it is great - very fast (2x-3x faster than my DSL to be honest). I don't have tons of apps, but most of them work fine or better. Overall, the speed and performance while in a 4G area more than make up for the problems I've suffered with. As a non-power user, my biggest on-going complaints are: 1-no Ginger Bread/Ice Cream Sandwich updates & 2-no front facing camera for video chat. Otherwise, I'm satisfied.

---

Your two biggest complaints are linked as the Gingerbread update allows you to use the front facing camera for Skype and other video chat apps.  Not being able to use the front facing camera makes video chat useless as you cannot see the other party which is the whole point in the first place.

Now, when we will actually see that update is a complete mystery.  That's one thing Verizon can definitely do better - communicate with their customers and manage their vendor Samsung.  Business 101...

[DC5_K20Z1]

Riffrafter, I fully agree with you, that is one thing that Verizon and Samsung have done wayyyy wrong almost NO communication to their customers of Samsung products, providing nothing in terms of any kind of support for these phones. That is the most frustrating issue, at least other vendors, Moto, HTC, and LG will interact with their customers and not keep them in the dark! They will at least provide some information. Samsung won't say a word, they just say the same thing time after time and deny and say they don't want to confuse or anger anyone, when that is what they are doing. Bad business practices regarding customer service and communication, very frustrating.

[Foxster]

Thanks everyone for the input.

So I decided to just go with my initial decision and go with this phone.  Or at least activate it, set it up, and play around with it.

So far I'm quite pleased with it.  Actually I'm pretty amazed at what this phone can do.  Though it's really my first smart phone, and it does even more than I first imagined, so perhaps I'm just going through that 'honeymoon' period.  LOL

JerryF, I do have those same system values on my phone which were in the image you posted. Glad that was the case, though I don't really know what it all means.

So far I've only had one unexpected reboot of the phone and that was when I was using the browser and tried hitting the 'back' button several times in a row to go back a few pages.  It tried loading the pages again each time I'd hit the back button, but I didn't want to wait for them to load and just wanted to go back like 4 pages.

I only have 3G in my area, and it's seems sufficient so far.  4G is already in the nearby city and is supposed to be in my area in 2012.  I use my WiFi at home.   Although for some strange reason I have trouble using the YouTube app, and loading YouTube videos while on my home WiFi (everything else loads fine).  If I turn off the WiFi and swtich to 3G data, YouTube works just fine.  Wierd.

Strangely I've not done a whole lot of testing of the actual phone part of the phone yet.  Been too busy playing with it to call people just to gab.  Hehe.

Anyhow, I'm listening to the Bills, Washington game on the NFL Mobile app, as I type.  SO many great things you can do on this phone.  So, despite my reservations upon reading some of the complaints in this forum, I'm pretty pleased so far.

I hope the new Operating System (IF it ever is released for this phone), is even better and doesn't screw anything up that's already working.  😛

[JerryF]

Foxstar,

Leave your phone plugged into the charger overnight for a couple of nights to get the battery up to full power.  It's okay to charge your battery anytime you want to with a Li Ion battery.

JerryF

[Foxster]

Hey thanks Jerry,  I was wondering about what charging protocol I should follow.

I have left my phone on the charger overnight, since I've drained it down by the end of the day before I go to bed. 😛   Was hoping that was okay to do.

I'm wondering since you said it was okay to charge it any time I want,  can I put it on the charger if I know in advance I can't leave it charging up to a full charge.   For instance, if the battery is getting low, but I only have like an hour to put it on the charger.   Or should it always be charged fully before taking it off the charger?

Thanks.