iPhone 4 vs. the Droid

[eric81]

Thank you everyone for your help... I am still not decided if it is an iPhone or a droid for me (I said I loved the Apple software and hardware, but I didn't say I wouldn't buy a Windows based phone) but my wife and I are going to wait until either the Droid or the Apple come out with the fixes for their current models before we buy. We are going to replace our home phone, cable, and internet with these phones, so they need to be very reliable and very good.

[BailOut]

Originally Posted by eric81

We are going to replace our home phone, cable, and internet with these phones, so they need to be very reliable and very good.

That immediately negates the possibility of a Windows-based phone (longstanding known reliability issues) and makes an iPhone an iffy proposition (without a home computer that can download iPhone OS updates your only choice for them would be to go to an Apple store, and you'd also be limited to purchasing music via the phone's iTunes app as you'd have no other way to get new content onto the phone).

Given the situation you plan I'd definitely go with an Android-based phone.

On a different note you keep saying "Droid" but that is simply the name of Motorola's Android-based smart phone. The operating system's actual name is Android.

[Altitude]

Originally Posted by BailOut

That immediately negates the possibility of a Windows-based phone (longstanding known reliability issues)

Utterly false. Nevermind the fact the the new version is a complete rewrite of the OS so there is no history to claim it's unreliable.

[tomato]

Originally Posted by eric81

.... We are going to replace our home phone, cable, and internet with these phones, so they need to be very reliable and very good.

In that case I would recommend an android phone.

I have the EVO from Sprint, and the network out here is pretty solid. Didn't used to be, but it is now, even works underground, under the ocean.

I can use it as a router for up to 5 devices, I can use it to provide Wi-Fi to my iPad, Windows laptop, or whatever device needs wi-fi. I haven't tried to tether it (because these days I use my iPad a lot and my laptop not so much) but it would work as well.

I don't like the idea of a "device" that does *absolutely everything* because you're putting all your eggs in one basket, so to speak, but if I had to pick just one, I'd probably stay with the EVO or an equivalent (Droid X with Verizon, Samsumg Epic, G2).

I like HTC, Motorola, and Samsung, in that order, then the iPhone, Blackberry .... The iPhone has the disadvantage to be married with AT&T so for me it's a deal breaker, but I know that AT&T works OK in a number of states, not just here in California and especially not in the Bay Area.

An ideal Android phone IMO is one that has no carrier bloatware on it (like the Nexus One straight from Google) but they haven't yet come out with an updated version.

There is going to be a new batch of phones coming out late Fall (that seems to be the trend) so I would sit tight and wait then.

There is an Android thread on here if you want to take the time to go through it. Buying a smart phone is a bit of a pain because of all the variables and possibilities but in the end, it's a great tool to have with you at all time.

Good luck with your purchase and your decision.