Judgment Day

doniago · 10-20-2010, 08:50 AM

A lot of this is being "borrowed" from my similar thread on a different forum, here- http://androidforums.com/android-lou...decisions.html. I ran a poll there where the results were ultimately too close to call.

So, I've been using a Samsung Saga (Windows Mobile) for the past two years, and I've just hit my VZW New Every Two. I've been checking out Verizon's offerings, and I'm stuck in a situation where three different phones seem rather appealling.

I have no experience with Android, but I can tell you the following needs/desires-

-tethering (to a Win 7 system) is required

-I -really- like physical keyboards and all of my prior phones have used them...but if getting used to a non-physical keyboard is easier than I sometimes think it would be, I could forego that for a really good phone. I've since been able to play around a bit with Droid keyboards...I think I could get used to Swype, not so sure about the standard virtual keyboard.

-I'm not extrarordinarily technically-minded, but I seem to be well above average. I'm generally able to follow instructions others have posted, but I won't be developing my own apps or anything...unless that's far easier than I imagine it to be.

-I'd like to be able to sync Outlook Notes/Tasks/etc., wirelessly if possible. Been used to doing it for years and I'm not really eager to rethink my entire paradigm. That being said, I'll do it if I have a lot to gain by doing so, though I just upgraded to Outlook '07 this year...it would be disappointing for that to have been largely pointless.

Anyway, I posted my original thread else-forum weeks ago, and in the end I'm still seriously torn beyond knowing I really want to upgrade today if at all possible.

Dinc - Best pre-intalled UI, but apparently worst battery life. No physical keyboard -and- no Swype? Nice front-screen buttons. No memory card included.

DX - Massive screen (but is that a plus or a minus?). No physical keyboard, but has Swype. Physical buttons are lame, but I could work with them. Includes a memory card. Worse pre-installed UI than the Dinc...but I'm migrating from Windows Mobile here...

R2D2 - Limited edition...but is it -too- geeky? Smaller screen that the DX, but is that good? Physical keyboard -and- Swype would seem to be a winning combo, but with Swype is a physical keyboard significant? Includes a memory card...and other accessories? Slower than the DX? Would I notice? Worse camera than the other phones(?), but I have a real camera anyhow.

Thanks for any advice!

Bally91304 · 10-21-2010, 11:41 AM

I recommend converting to Android for many reasons, but to answer your specific questions:
I have used a Droid Eris with virtual keyboards for about 10 months and find them not very accurate. My next device will have a slide-out keyboard.
There are many apps that claim to sync with Outlook, but all those I tried scramble your data. Such as, making multiple records and even losing records.

doniago · 10-21-2010, 02:21 PM

Picked up a DX yesterday.

Keyboard - Swype is treating me reasonably well, and I'm very impressed with how it learns new patterns...putting in my username has almost become me just swirling my finger over the keyboard.

It's not bad as a straight-up keyboard either. I think I'll be fine without a physical keyboard in the end...I don't write anything very lengthy by phone anyhow.

I DL'ed...I think it's called Gsyncit...yesterday and that seems to have worked well as far as my calendar and tasks go...Contacts and Notes are still...let's call it pending.