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Droid Vs. IPhone - Let the Dueling Begin

By Karen Crowson

Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage BRE#01732313

January 18, 2011 10:38 AM

Smart Phones I've been waiting and waiting for the news that Verizon would carry the Iphone this year. But, hearing from an insider at Verizon not to be too early to sign on. It's my understanding that the phone will be a bit different from the one AT&T carries. Looking at reviews online, there can be a bias depending upon who is doing the comparisons.

Soooooo. I would like to hear from those of you that in the real estate industry that can speak to which you have and what you like or don't like about it.

My limited experience with the IPhone is that the keypad is hard to use for typing. Doesn't respond to fingernails well;) The Droid has less apps, but more are free from what I hear. Just wondering out of the 70,000 available, what would I feel lost without compared to the 300K plus apps for an Iphone.

My Blackberry is about ready to die, so I need to make a new purchase soon. Any and all comments are welcome. Thank you!

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Karen Crowson

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Rancho Bernardo, CA

Your Agent for Change

Wallace, I haven't heard of a Spring (Sprint?) EVO. What is it?

Jan 18, 2011 10:50 AM

Karen Crowson

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Rancho Bernardo, CA

Your Agent for Change

Jason, thank you for the nice recap. My local Verizon store seems to have some very informed reps, so I intend to pay them a visit this week after hearing some pros and cons from the AR community. Interesting comment about the different Generations of the IPhone. Will take that under consideration.

Patrick, good point. I too hope that there will be someone out there with experience with both!

Jan 18, 2011 10:56 AM

Larry Atkins

State Wide Realty Co. - Farmville, VA

Veteran Owned & Operated

I myself have a Blackberry but know people with the Droid that really love them. Whichever way you go, I hope you enjoy you new phone.

Jan 18, 2011 12:25 PM

Broker Patty Da Silva Da Silva

Green Realty Properties® - 954-667-7253 - Cooper City, FL

Top Listing Broker

Karen - my blackberry is also about to die so I am very interested in the comments. I just got an iPAD yesterday and my husband has a droid... so I can say I have a little bit of everything. I am not familiar with the iPAD enough yet but I am sure it is all they say it is plus some.

Jan 18, 2011 12:26 PM

Ken Barker Realtor® GRI, E-Pro Certified

Dilbeck Real Estate - Burbank, CA

Karen - I have the DROID-X. I have never had the IPhone as I am Verizon all the way. Friends have commented that the Droid is better. The only thing I don't like about the Droid is battery life. I have two batteries but you have to use the phone to charge so if you bring a battery with you you are golden.

There is a lot of Internet help Androidcentral.com and the Motorola site for Droid to name a couple. As to the apps. I have had my phone since the holidays and I have not touched the surface of apps. Only viewing free at the moment.

As to the fingernails my wife has a real tough time to type but it is trial and error. Any phone is going to have that unless you get the Pro which will be hard with nails too. But with the smartphone you just turn it sideways.

Good luck.

Jan 18, 2011 03:39 PM

Gail Robinson

William Raveis Real Estate - Southport, CT

CRS, GRI, e-PRO Fairfield County, CT

Karen, I use my smartphone (Treo) to open electronic keyboxes on listings, unfortunately the EKB's use infrared technology, whereas both the iPhone and Android phones don't. There is a workaround solution with the Android phones, but it requires lugging around a device called a "fob" that requires batteries. The iPhone adapter is an integrated solution that uses power from the iPhone to create the infrared signal. It is smaller in size and doesn't require creating a connection with a fob. For me that's the deciding factor in choosing between the Android and the iPhone. I've been waiting for the iPhone on the Verizon network then I'll make the switch.

Jan 18, 2011 05:12 PM

Karen Crowson

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Rancho Bernardo, CA

Your Agent for Change

David - you're probably right, no matter which I get there will be a learning curve.

Ken - thanks for the feedback. I've heard the same thing about battery life on the Iphone. Guess that comes with technology.

Gail - you bring up a point I hadn't considered. I will call my MLS right now and ask about key access, as that is important to me. Thanks!

Jan 19, 2011 04:22 AM

Kimberly A Norgard

Devlin McNiff Halstead Real Estate - East Hampton, NY

I've thought seriously of the Droid, but I just can't give up my iPhone.

Jan 19, 2011 07:41 AM

The Scott Loper Team Bux-Mont Premier Properties

Keller Williams Real Estate - Montgomeryville - Lansdale, PA

Hi Karen,

Scott has a Droid and loves it. I do have a hard time typing on his phone, but he has no problem. Regarding apps, like David says, you will probably only use so many apps. Maybe this is just a rumor, but I heard the monthly data plan for the iPhone with Verizon was going to be $80. That alone would make me get a Droid. But please verify and don't take my word for it.

Lisa

Jan 19, 2011 11:47 AM

Karen Crowson

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Rancho Bernardo, CA

Your Agent for Change

Lisa - I actually went pricing them today, and the IPhone is much more expensive - initial purchase and the monthly. That may sway me.... Getting some good feedback on a FB post too.

Jan 19, 2011 12:41 PM

The Scott Loper Team Bux-Mont Premier Properties

Keller Williams Real Estate - Montgomeryville - Lansdale, PA

Hi Karen,

Thanks for that feedback. I try to avoid big recurring monthly fees.

Lisa

Jan 19, 2011 12:45 PM

Gail Robinson

William Raveis Real Estate - Southport, CT

CRS, GRI, e-PRO Fairfield County, CT

Karen - Darn! Not sure I can avoid the iPhone much longer. My Treo feels like a prehistoric relic from another era. Starting to feel embarrassed when I use it.

Jan 19, 2011 02:42 PM

Christine Smith

Buyers Brokers Only LLC - www.BuyersBrokersOnly.com - Canton, MA

Exclusive Buyer Agent & Attorney, Canton, MA

I am enjoying reading the comments here! Let us know what you decide & why....for those of us who will have to make the same decision soon!

Jan 19, 2011 03:20 PM

Karen Crowson

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Rancho Bernardo, CA

Your Agent for Change

Christine, I'm hearing good things about both, but not enough for a clean sweep by any means. I was hoping that this would make into a group that had a lot of strong opinions, perhaps even some folks who've tried both. Sometimes when you post a question-type blog, it's all about where it lands on the blog roll, and how many people will see it. But, in time - who knows? Maybe I'll get some more input. Check back!

Jan 19, 2011 04:02 PM

Peggy Chirico

Prudential CT Realty - Manchester, CT

REALTOR® 860-748-8900, Hartford & Tolland County Real Estate

Hi Karen - My BB died a few month ago and I had to shop as well. I really liked the incredible but the Verizon guy told me that BB had the most reliable email. I am not sure that's true but I bought it anyway because I can't be without my email. I also needed a world phone which at the time the incredible didn't have (I think it does now). So I got a new BB Bold. I know the other phones are glitzier but I didn't have to learn anything new and I liked that!

Jan 21, 2011 03:12 AM

Karen Crowson

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Rancho Bernardo, CA

Your Agent for Change

Hi Peggy, I'm definitely ready for a larger screen and a few more bells and whistles. I posed the question on FB to some friends as well, and got a ton of replies. It's split about 50/50 I'd say. So I'm just going to have to pick one!

Jan 21, 2011 12:30 PM

Karen Crowson

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Rancho Bernardo, CA

Your Agent for Change

UPDATE: I finally made a decision. I got the DROID. So far I like it, but I have to admit. When it first rang, I didn't know what the heck that noise was. You kind of get used to whatever ringer you have and drown out everything else. Especially when there are always a whole slew of other phones ringing at any given time.

Feb 02, 2011 02:08 AM

Ken Barker Realtor® GRI, E-Pro Certified

Dilbeck Real Estate - Burbank, CA

Karen - We'll there are tons of MPs ringtone apps that have your country or your 80's rings.
Queen is my fav.

Now that you have made your decision, and I think it is a good one, my wifes froze up and needed replacing 30 days into receiving it. It was agravating but they replaced it. It one day just said
Bootloader
Battery is OK
and I can't recall but I could not figure it out, re-set it or have the top tech guy at Motorola figure it out.

I am just sayin'. But congrats on your purchase. I thought you would go with the IPhone because the lockbox.

Feb 02, 2011 03:39 PM

Paul Gapski

Berkshire Hathaway / Prudential Ca Realty - El Cajon, CA

619-504-8999,#1 Resource SD Relo

I vote for the iphone 4 nothing better than the retina graphics and the amount of apps. It is just that good.

Apr 07, 2011 04:59 PM

Dawn & Charlie Tetro

PalmerHouse Properties & Associates - Johns Creek, GA

Real Service Real Results

Chossing a phone, coming from a Blackberry, has been a very difficult decision for me. My husband has the iphone 4s and just absolutely loves it! We now have the ipad 3 and it is wonderful. However, I am sure any pad as long as it's quick and responsive would be good also. I think once you get used to a platform it is easier to stay in that "ecosystem". My daughter has the Droid Incredible 2 and loves that, but she is all "in" with google. I am not a big gmail user, so my attraction to Android would not be based on familiarity with the google ecosystem. I use outlook and love it, because I know it well. My blackberry has been great, but now I am frustrated with the small screen, slow internet browser and lack of flash. I have considered the BB Bold, but I understand that battery life and camera with no autofocus are the negatives and it still has a small screen. I am very attracted to Samsung. Every new phone I have seen seems so much easier to use than the iphone largely due to a larger screen. I can type with some speed. Top Android contenders to date would be the Samsung S111, Samsung Galaxy Note, HTC One X or the new iphone 5 that is supposed to come out in the Fall with a 4.1 screen. Adding to that, BB is about to unveil it's new BB10 OS. Rumor is it might be revolutionary enough to be a game changer and get BB back in the game. However, the first phone will be a virtual keyboard! Ughhh. In any case, I have to make a choice this Fall. I can't take it much longer LOL!

Jun 19, 2012 01:44 AM