Just when I got used to my Motorola Droid, out comes the Droid X.
Yes, they want me to type “iPhone Killer” here so lines form outside Verizon stores on July 15 when the D-X comes out, but Motorola phones generally don’t attract frenzy. (I do admit that when I e-mailed colleagues I had a D-X on my desk there was a sudden crowd in my office.)
So what’s better with the new Droid? Almost everything, assuming you don’t want a physical keyboard. I am getting over it after using it for a few days, but I confess I am having flashbacks to the Samsung Omnia, which had sort of a dreadful on-screen keyboard when compared to the lovely slide-out keyboard of the original Droid.
The other downside of the new Droid X is the sheer size of this thing. It is clearly not only trying to take on the iPhone but also the iPad. It’s huge at 4.3 inches. It’s like talking on a Pop-Tart when you hold it up to your face.
On the other hand, if you text and watch movies, the screen is a glorious thing. I text a lot and watch movies never. On long trips in the van my Droid disappears into the backseats and comes back many hours later with my kids’ fingerprints all over it, so the movie thing clearly appeals to others.
I am really torn on the size thing. Because it has an on-screen keyboard it has to be big, so typing on it is actually great. The downside is I actually carry my phone in my pocket and not on my belt in that cute holder thing. So in my pocket it looks like I am carrying an Apple Newton.
The real shot across the bow to the iPhone is the Verizon network, which is tons better than AT&T’s in many cities, and the ability to “tether,” or connect the device to your computer to use it as a high-speed connection for your laptop. The new Droid X goes one better by allowing users to connect up to five devices, basically turning the phone into a mobile hot spot. (Verizon does charge an extra fee for this.)
The new Droid X is so fast it is hard to describe. Apps fly open on the screen, but finding them is a bit of a pain. I have found seven home screens so far, which is about five too many. (I am sure there is a way to reorganize all of this but I haven’t figured it out yet.)
The new phone is thinner than the old Droid, which is welcome (no physical keyboard, remember) but has a bulge at the top that takes some getting used to. I actually found the bulge handy for lifting it out of my pocket. It also has an 8MP camera, which is astonishing, but I found it a little blurry in my hands-on testing.
The D-X will be available on July 15 for $300 with a $100 rebate on new two-year contract or an extension. I expect a bit of protest from Droid enthusiasts tied up in existing contracts. But the Droid X is an amazing device.
(James Derk is owner of CyberDads, a computer repair firm and a tech columnist for Scripps Howard News Service. His e-mail address is jim(at)cyberdads.com)