Pre vs. iPhone vs. Droid
The Moto Droid just came out, and seems like it is a great phone. Big screen, hardware keyboard, and a slick operating system. If they would just allow multitouch native support, it could be a legit iPhone killer, and really open the way for Motorola to actually make money on phones again.
Here is my comparison of what it is and what it isn't. Disclaimer: I own a Pre, have used an iPhone a good deal, and have never even touched a Droid.
Droid vs. iPhone.
Here the comparison is pretty good. Android lets you multitask instead of the stupid one-app-at-a-time of the iPhone. It has a big developer base, and comes with cool Google features (turn by turn directions for free). The hardware is good too: it looks great, has a very easy to use keyboard, and has a gorgeous screen which is larger than the iPhone's. The reviews I have read have ranked it very highly. Both the Droid and the iPhone are nice pieces of hardware with good software to back them up. As far as networks go, Verizon undeniably has far more 3g coverage than ATT, and with the relative dearth of smartphones on the network, should not experience the choked networks iPhone users are used to in heavily populated areas (New York, Boston, LA). In most of the country iPhones are on 2G - think AOL dialup circa Monica Lewinsky.
Droid vs. iPhone vs. Pre
I personally love the rounded form factor of the Pre and the vertical slide down keyboard. I was already used to a small keyboard, and I think typing on the iPhone sucks, but I am sure the Droid is probably better for most people than the Pre with its larger, horizontal layout. The Droid and obviously the iPhone will come with more apps, which to a certain degree will enhance your love of the phone. Notably, games for the Pre are lacking due to its web-based OS and lack of dev access to the GPU. However, after many hours of chess, checkers, bejeweled, quest, poker, dope wars, and a few others all for free, I dont really care. I also spend more of my 'spare' time reading news on the little guy than playing games anyway. The Pre and the iPhone have 3mp cameras, the droid 5mp. The Droid and iPhone have 16gb (I think there is a 32gb iPhone?) and the Pre 8gb - which is a bit of a limitation on music, but not one I have noticed yet.
Basically, as far as software/hardware goes, you could argue it any of the three ways, and the best debater would win. There is no "right" answer - they are all damn good and a big step above everything else out there (the Hero 2 from T-Mobile should probably be included in that too, but I have no experience with it or T-Mobile.) To be fair, though I love it and think the OS is amazing (reviewers generally agree with that point), most people would give the Droid and the iPhone (3GS, not the slower 3G) an edge over the Pre, mostly due to a few shortcomings: games, no video taking (yet), still limited app catalog, 8gb vs 16gb.
But when it comes down to it, the Droid and the iPhone are not in the same league as the Pre at all.
Let me show by way of this handy dandy chart:
The Pre is under 1/2 of the price of either of the other two phones, in an apples to apples comparison. Even with some decontented, non-unlimited plans from the other two, they get nowhere near the price of the Pre.
Did I mention Sprint gets the entire Verizon 2g network?
So there you have it - the price of worse coverage, worse 3g speed (Sprint does actually have the fastest 3g network, though it has a shitty 2g one), and equivalent hardware? About $1,000 a year.
The one biggest downside I have found to the Pre? Shifting between roaming (Verizon) and Sprint drops the call. Annoying at times, but it only matters when you are driving. For $1,000 a year, I'll put up with it.
Here is my comparison of what it is and what it isn't. Disclaimer: I own a Pre, have used an iPhone a good deal, and have never even touched a Droid.
Droid vs. iPhone.
Here the comparison is pretty good. Android lets you multitask instead of the stupid one-app-at-a-time of the iPhone. It has a big developer base, and comes with cool Google features (turn by turn directions for free). The hardware is good too: it looks great, has a very easy to use keyboard, and has a gorgeous screen which is larger than the iPhone's. The reviews I have read have ranked it very highly. Both the Droid and the iPhone are nice pieces of hardware with good software to back them up. As far as networks go, Verizon undeniably has far more 3g coverage than ATT, and with the relative dearth of smartphones on the network, should not experience the choked networks iPhone users are used to in heavily populated areas (New York, Boston, LA). In most of the country iPhones are on 2G - think AOL dialup circa Monica Lewinsky.
Droid vs. iPhone vs. Pre
I personally love the rounded form factor of the Pre and the vertical slide down keyboard. I was already used to a small keyboard, and I think typing on the iPhone sucks, but I am sure the Droid is probably better for most people than the Pre with its larger, horizontal layout. The Droid and obviously the iPhone will come with more apps, which to a certain degree will enhance your love of the phone. Notably, games for the Pre are lacking due to its web-based OS and lack of dev access to the GPU. However, after many hours of chess, checkers, bejeweled, quest, poker, dope wars, and a few others all for free, I dont really care. I also spend more of my 'spare' time reading news on the little guy than playing games anyway. The Pre and the iPhone have 3mp cameras, the droid 5mp. The Droid and iPhone have 16gb (I think there is a 32gb iPhone?) and the Pre 8gb - which is a bit of a limitation on music, but not one I have noticed yet.
Basically, as far as software/hardware goes, you could argue it any of the three ways, and the best debater would win. There is no "right" answer - they are all damn good and a big step above everything else out there (the Hero 2 from T-Mobile should probably be included in that too, but I have no experience with it or T-Mobile.) To be fair, though I love it and think the OS is amazing (reviewers generally agree with that point), most people would give the Droid and the iPhone (3GS, not the slower 3G) an edge over the Pre, mostly due to a few shortcomings: games, no video taking (yet), still limited app catalog, 8gb vs 16gb.
But when it comes down to it, the Droid and the iPhone are not in the same league as the Pre at all.
Let me show by way of this handy dandy chart:
| Verizon/Droid | ATT/iPhone | Sprint/Pre | ||||
| Up Front | $200 | $200 | $150 | |||
| Per Month | $150 | $140 | $63 | |||
| Two Year Total | $3,800 | $3,590 | $1,662 |
The Pre is under 1/2 of the price of either of the other two phones, in an apples to apples comparison. Even with some decontented, non-unlimited plans from the other two, they get nowhere near the price of the Pre.
Did I mention Sprint gets the entire Verizon 2g network?
So there you have it - the price of worse coverage, worse 3g speed (Sprint does actually have the fastest 3g network, though it has a shitty 2g one), and equivalent hardware? About $1,000 a year.
The one biggest downside I have found to the Pre? Shifting between roaming (Verizon) and Sprint drops the call. Annoying at times, but it only matters when you are driving. For $1,000 a year, I'll put up with it.
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