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Razr, lg spectrum, or free bionic

Just to smooth the curve a little:

My Bionic came straight from Verizon, activated...I dunno, sometime in the middle of December. The standard 5.5.893 update was immediately applied OTA.

Haven't had a single problem with a "BSOD" or a "data drop."

I live in Central Virginia, in the metro Richmond area, and we're fairly blanketed with 4G coverage, but there are plenty of dead spots. Phone transitions between 3G and 4G without a problem.

My talk time is roughly 2 hours a day; network data usage probably averages a 100 megs (I have a grandfathered unlimited plan); and Wi-Fi data usage is easily a gigabyte+.

I run the extended battery, and it leaves me with plenty of room to spare at the end of the day (I dunno, 30%, maybe more?).

The screen is brilliant, the phone is blistering fast, and the size is perfect for my medium build.

Good luck on your choice!
 
That's third absolutely positive report ...

-- San Jose, California
-- Central Virginia
-- TBD

... in a forum that doesn't usually attract totally satisfied users.

... Thom
 
I think for the price for the bionic it will be hard to beat. I guess it really comes down to what youll be most happy with for the next few years. I bought my parents each a cpo Bionic for Christmas and they have been just as good as my new bionic I purchased on day one. I cant confirm data drops as its not something I've experienced but if one 4g phone has data drops so would another imo (but thats for another topic). I have the extended battery and being able to swap it out if I'm away from a charger has been priceless.

I'm considering getting another cpo bionic for my wife as she is up for an upgrade so if I feel good enough about it for my wife to have that should say something lol. Good luck on your decision!


Btw I know its comparing older devices but pay attention especially to the screen comparison. Its almost shocking how much better the bionic is compared to the other devices.
http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/M...-Samsung-Droid-Charge-vs-LG-Revolution_id2820
 
I feel like I hijacked OPs thread lol.

I'm definitely going to give the Bionic a shot. Just waiting until Saturday to see if I can combine it with my loyalty discount that kicks in. Just ordered a case so it'll have a head start getting in the mail and I won't have to worry about dropping a new phone.
 
rogue_slc_vzw_rep said:
I think for the price for the bionic it will be hard to beat. I guess it really comes down to what youll be most happy with for the next few years. I bought my parents each a cpo Bionic for Christmas and they have been just as good as my new bionic I purchased on day one. I cant confirm data drops as its not something I've experienced but if one 4g phone has data drops so would another imo (but thats for another topic).http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/M...-Samsung-Droid-Charge-vs-LG-Revolution_id2820
Click to expand...


Where are you located?

... Thom
 
Just to update on what I got resolved today.

I called tech support (L2) and they informed me that my issue was a known issue and that is what a manufacturer issue and they transfered me to Motorola tech support.

I spoke with the gentleman there and he said it was an issue with their software on the phone and not a network issue with VZ. He said that they had accidently released a software revision to roughly 100,000 people that appears to have resolved a lot of those issues and they had also released a later revision for a soak test and were having really good results.

He then busted my bubble by saying that he could not manually push the update to my phone and that it could be 6 months before it was actually released as an OTA update to all Bionic owners.

Long story short. I'm getting a new phone, and not a Bionic. I can't wait 6 months for a phone to work. Especially one I paid a good amount of money for.

So I guess you could look at my story in two ways. It's either good news that an update is in the works or bad news that it could be 6 months.
 
Lucidot said:
He then busted my bubble by saying that he could not manually push the update to my phone and that it could be 6 months before it was actually released as an OTA update to all Bionic owners.

Long story short. I'm getting a new phone, and not a Bionic. I can't wait 6 months for a phone to work. Especially one I paid a good amount of money for.

So I guess you could look at my story in two ways. It's either good news that an update is in the works or bad news that it could be 6 months.
Click to expand...

I am sorry to hear of your decision but I understand. It seems that you pretty much had your mind made up before you talked to him.

What you reported he said was it could be 6 months and you have interpreted that as is will be 6 months.

I'm a little new i this arena but is seems to me ...

-- None of these dudes people talk to really know much about when anything is coming down the pike.

-- "accidentally" sending a potential release to 100,000 users doesn't sound to "accidental" to me. They seem to be those who filed a complaint with Motorola about data drops.

-- They know they have a much improved product ... they will be dumb not to release it.

-- 5.5.893 came out 3 months after initial release. 5.9.902 in early March would be consistent with that.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

... Thom
 
Thom Little said:
I am sorry to hear of your decision but I understand. It seems that you pretty much had your mind made up before you talked to him.

What you reported he said was it could be 6 months and you have interpreted that as is will be 6 months.

I'm a little new i this arena but is seems to me ...

-- None of these dudes people talk to really know much about when anything is coming down the pike.

-- "accidentally" sending a potential release to 100,000 users doesn't sound to "accidental" to me. They seem to be those who filed a complaint with Motorola about data drops.

-- They know they have a much improved product ... they will be dumb not to release it.

-- 5.5.893 came out 3 months after initial release. 5.9.902 in early March would be consistent with that.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

... Thom
Click to expand...

First things first.

I had not made up my mind before I spoke to him. I was actually hoping he could do something. And when he started talking about the update that was released before they thought it was ready, I started getting excited because I thought he was going to send it to me, or at least point me to where I could get it "OFFICIALLY". So I was pretty bummed when he said he couldn't get it to me. Contrary to what you have assumed, I really do like this phone. Other than the data drops, it's a solid phone. But data drops are a pretty big deal.

Next. I never interpreted that the word "Could" meant "Will". I even reiterated that it "Could" be 6 months in my last sentence. But if you want to try and pick fly crap out of pepper in my post that's fine.
 
Lucidot said:
...
Click to expand...

I was supporting what you are doing and sharing some new ideas. It sounded to me like the person you talked to had close to no information.

I was really ready for 5.9.902 and expected it at any minute until I reexamined when 5.5.893 was released. It is too soon to expect the next release. (My guess is it will go to testers at the end of February and release the beginning of March. If my guess is correct I will be on 5.9.902 in a little more than a month.)

I have heard of no one who was successful in getting a copy of the accidental 5.9.901 sent to them and I have heard of no one who has gotten 5.9.902 yet. (I also have heard of no one who got added to the soak testers by asking to be included.)

Good luck.

... Thom
 
I may have misinterpreted the Moto tech now that I think of it.

He stated that 901 was released before it had been fully tested. Then he made a reference to new software being tested. He may have very well been talking about 901 and not 902.

Now as I am typing this, I am sure he was talking about 901. (Try to play the convo back through my head). He stated that there are 3 software releases.
The original - .886 I think
The second - .893 supposedly, according to him, fixed a lot of the data issues.
The Third - .901 Seems to have fixed most if not all of the software related data issues.

He then said that he was not sure when it would be an official release to the masses but it could be next week or 6 months from now.

I just wish he could have escalated me and I could have been pushed the update. But I'm assuming VZW would actually have to push the update. Is that a correct assumption? I've never heard of an update coming directly from the mfg. before the carrier approves it and then sends it.
 
I did a little date calculation based on work days and straight days. If it is consistent with the last schedule then it will be released to us March 15, 2012 (Ides of March).

It is likely that the part you and I care about is done and is in 5.9.901 and that they have to add/test those changes that you read about and a few that are likely ... change in bloatware ... do the install the old bloatware that is no longer current bloatware or leave it? Do they make that an option? The policy change. And the new one ... my guess ... make it possible to upgrade from either 5.5.893 or 5.9.901.

It sure looks like tower-side issues were corrected before 5.5.893 came out and from reports the Bionic-side issues were close to totally fixed by 5.9.901.

... Thom
 
Thom Little said:
-- "accidentally" sending a potential release to 100,000 users doesn't sound to "accidental" to me. They seem to be those who filed a complaint with Motorola about data drops.
Click to expand...

I don't think that the OEMs can target OTA releases like that. They do have a collection of users/devices that are part of the testing release, but I imagine that they were testing their OTA procedure and accidentally pushed it out to the first group of recipients.

-- They know they have a much improved product ... they will be dumb not to release it.
Click to expand...

Of course, but they cannot release it without Verizon approval.

Lucidot said:
I may have misinterpreted the Moto tech now that I think of it.

He stated that 901 was released before it had been fully tested. Then he made a reference to new software being tested. He may have very well been talking about 901 and not 902.

Now as I am typing this, I am sure he was talking about 901. (Try to play the convo back through my head). He stated that there are 3 software releases.
The original - .886 I think
The second - .893 supposedly, according to him, fixed a lot of the data issues.
The Third - .901 Seems to have fixed most if not all of the software related data issues.

He then said that he was not sure when it would be an official release to the masses but it could be next week or 6 months from now.
Click to expand...

I wonder if 901 and 902 are the same thing? In other words, the same update project that wasn't quite ready when it went out accidentally. However, since it was accidentally released, they have to bump the version number up so that all of the phones that now have 901 will also get the OTA when it goes out (since OTAs check software version numbers.)

I just wish he could have escalated me and I could have been pushed the update. But I'm assuming VZW would actually have to push the update. Is that a correct assumption? I've never heard of an update coming directly from the mfg. before the carrier approves it and then sends it.
Click to expand...

I believe that the OTA delivery is the responsibility of the OEMs. After Verizon approves the release, the OEMs must set up the delivery servers. I guess this only from recalling all of the trouble Motorola had trying to deliver the first OTA update for the OG Droid. (See this old news story: Verizon Motorola Droid Android 2.1 Update Has Been Going Out, Very, Very Slowly (Rumor) )
 
Guys, thanks for all the info, in the end I just couldn't pass on the bionic, I ordered this morning, after applying my discount I got it for free with 14 days to return it if I dont like it. 4g won't be available where I live until march but I can't wait! I should have it monday and I'll def let you know how I like it compared to my droid x!
Thanks
 
doogald said:
I don't think that the OEMs can target OTA releases like that. They do have a collection of users/devices that are part of the testing release, but I imagine that they were testing their OTA procedure and accidentally pushed it out to the first group of recipients.
Click to expand...

It was my understanding that the people who got 5.9.901 pushed to them were not on any test group. They were people who had reported data drop problems.

When you report a problem you also give the MEID as part of the report. My interpretation of the reports is those were the devices getting 5.9.901 pushed to them.

Do they push the soak test out the same way or do you have to call into the server?

... Thom
 
mrdrh99 said:
Guys, thanks for all the info, in the end I just couldn't pass on the bionic, I ordered this morning, after applying my discount I got it for free with 14 days to return it if I dont like it. 4g won't be available where I live until march but I can't wait! I should have it monday and I'll def let you know how I like it compared to my droid x!
Thanks
Click to expand...

Cool! Thanks for letting us know your final decision. Glad to hear you were able to stack the discount on top of the sale price and get it for free. I'm planning to do the same thing... just a half day left until the 28th when my loyalty credit finally kicks in.
 
Yeah, connection issues aside, I couldn't pass on the chance of getting a free phone, if I dont like it I'll swap for the razr next week!
 
mrdrh99 said:
Guys, thanks for all the info, in the end I just couldn't pass on the bionic, I ordered this morning, after applying my discount I got it for free with 14 days to return it if I dont like it. 4g won't be available where I live until march but I can't wait! I should have it monday and I'll def let you know how I like it compared to my droid x!
Thanks
Click to expand...

I have ordered cpo bionic also, and loyalty discount do stack with online sale/discount. However, it is a 2 steps process, you have to order online to get promo discount $29.99 & then call the customer service or whatever the verizon department to give you the $30.00 credit toward your new order. Unless you call via phone, online order won't apply the loyalty credit toward your order.
 
Yeah I just experienced the same thing, logged onto the VZW site today and all the other phone prices were adjusted to show the additional $30 loyalty discount but not the Bionic or the other 4G CPO phones, so I had to call in as well. I placed my order and they just pushed the $30 credit to my account. Now to impatiently wait for it to arrive in the mail. 8)
 
Well the spectrum has been out a week and it already had a small update. Being with Verizon you should have better support then my LG Thrill and sorry ass at&t. To be on the safe side I'd stick with the Bionic or RAZR.
 
Guys, thanks for all the feedback, I have my bionic and loving it! I guess the screen will take some getting used to, but it isn't that bad.
 
I received mine on Wednesday, and it is absolutely worth it (FREE with loyalty discount). Only thing I see that is different from new vs cpo is the pre-installed micro sd card; cpo came with 8GB instead of 16GB. Already rooted & has the 901 update no issue so far.
4g speed is great @ 1bar ~3Mbps, @ 2bars ~8Mpbs download speed. Where I am at I was able to get 2 bars only, but still a lot faster than what I was getting at 3g speed.
 
htceris said:
I received mine on Wednesday, and it is absolutely worth it (FREE with loyalty discount). Only thing I see that is different from new vs cpo is the pre-installed micro sd card; cpo came with 8GB instead of 16GB. Already rooted & has the 901 update no issue so far.
4g speed is great @ 1bar ~3Mbps, @ 2bars ~8Mpbs download speed. Where I am at I was able to get 2 bars only, but still a lot faster than what I was getting at 3g speed.
Click to expand...

Could you go to Settings | About Phone
Scroll to the bottom so System version is at the top and PRL version is at the bottom
Take a ScreenShot (ScreenGrabber is a good app for this)
Post it here

Thank you.

... Thom
 
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