Deciding: Droid, Eris, HTC2/Passion/Dragon?

[mikespe]

Hello! I am new to the forum and have been lurking for about a week...researching my next Verizon phone. I am also new to the Smartphone scene (currently have the Env2)...I have played with the Droid and the Eris at the Verizon store. I had decided on the Droid for several reasons. I continued to do research online, learning all the complaints of each phone. Then today I see Verizon has the HTC2 (Passion/Dragon) coming out within the next month! I want something that compares to the iPhone and I thought the Droid was it...and still do so far! But now I am reading the Buzz on this new HTC phone and I am confused all over again!

Is there anyplace I can compare features of all 3 phones to see what will meet my needs? I haven't seen much on the HTC2 except that it has a faster processor & running Android 2.0. I read a bit about "Sense UI" but don't really know what that is?

I am hoping to get my new phone this Friday (Nov. 20)...I also read something about Verizon's return policy changing a bit for the holidays? Is this in the consumer's favor or Verizon's?

Thanks for the help!

 

[dmodert66]

I bought an Eris at Best Buy and my brother got a Droid at a Verizon store...

Best Buy - Trade in phone for upgrade within 30 days = no restocking fee (just pay price difference) (That is what the rep told me twice anyway)

Verizon - Trade in phone for upgrade within 30 days = $35 restocking fee + price difference)

Hope that helps...

 

[wonderbread]

I bought an Eris at Best Buy and my brother got a Droid at a Verizon store...

Best Buy - Trade in phone for upgrade within 30 days = no restocking fee (just pay price difference) (That is what the rep told me twice anyway)

Verizon - Trade in phone for upgrade within 30 days = $35 restocking fee + price difference)

Hope that helps...

Best buy - automatic instant rebate ($100 off) but holiday extended return policy does not apply to phones

Verizon - must mail in the $100 rebate but starting Nov 15th, Verizon is having their 60 day worry free holiday return period ($35 restocking fee still applies)

 

[mikespe]

Thanks for the information on Best Buy and Verizon. How about the phones? Is tbere someplace I can compare the 3 phones?

Thanks

 

[dwill]

Also, any comments on which manufacturers phones are better? Which are more reliable from a hardware point of view?

 

[ocean1]

I would wait on the passion/Dragon or at least for an update to the Droid see if the laundry list of problems are fixed. Droid is a great phone dont get me wrong, its new and will have some bugs but some are hardware like the no dedicated call end call, slide out keyboard love it or hate it, camera?, volume button cheesy, etc I would like to get the HTC sense UI and such as well the stock Droid OS is very plain and needs alot of apps to spruse it up. If you have the time you can get sorta close. But cruise even Moto site on Droid check them all out Droid is a bit buggy, not a Storm 1 by any means but still. Im excited for the Dragon/Passion, if it didnt come out I could deal with the Droid its still better than the Storm. Typically the thought on Moto is not favorable on hardware but not including the design flaws I have not found any hardware issues just those design ones your hear about. Some dont even care. I dont mind some of them. Its more all software issues on the Droid. HTC should have a better more polished android OS. My newest issue is sometimes the phone goes into lock ,screen goes balck and I cant wake it up to end a call! Thats a peach....

 

[dmodert66]

Best buy - automatic instant rebate ($100 off) but holiday extended return policy does not apply to phones

Verizon - must mail in the $100 rebate but starting Nov 15th, Verizon is having their 60 day worry free holiday return period ($35 restocking fee still applies)

For Verizon Wireless stores, that is correct. But my brother got his at a Verizon Plus store (it handles everything Verizon...Cell, DSL, Fios, etc)...They gave the rebate instantly (rather than mailing it in)...

 

[jmccarthy14]

Are you sure that the holiday return policy doesn't apply to any other stores (costco, bestbuy etc?) Because having to have 390something upfront (for 1 year contract) is kind of a hassle, but having 60 days to return is excellent.

Costco told me they generally have a 90 day policy on returns, so I'm wondering if Verizon is okay with canceling new accounts after 60 days at their store, why would they care who I bought it from (and Costco would still accept the phone back, with no restock and all the extra costco goodies).