Slow start for the Motorola Droid?
Big lines didn't form outside most Verizon Wireless stores the day the new Droid hit the market.
(Credit: Marguerite Reardon/CNET)NEW YORK--The new Motorola Droid got a sleepy reception on Friday morning when it officially went on sale across the country in Verizon Wireless stores starting at 7 a.m. in some places.
From New York to San Francisco, most stores around the country had few if any lines when doors opened Friday morning. There was a handful of people waiting outside at the Verizon Wireless store on West 34th Street here in Manhattan. And about 20 people waited in line outside a store here on Sixth Avenue, as well as at one in Clifton, N.J., Verizon officials said.
CNET reporters in San Francisco reported they saw only about 15 customers lined up for the device before a Verizon Wireless store opened there Friday.
The scene was somewhat more lively last night, when Verizon Wireless opened its West 34th Street in New York City from midnight to 2 a.m. About 100 eager Droid customers were in line when the store opened last night. Verizon spokesman David Samberg said the company sold 85 Droids in the first 45 minutes the store was open on Thursday night.
But even though the Droid didn't stir enough enthusiasm to get people to stand outside on a cold November morning, there appeared to be a steady stream of customers in several Verizon Wireless stores. Many customers were interested in the Droid, while some were checking out the new HTC Android Eris, which also went on sale Friday.
Lines are overrated
Samberg said that a lack of a long line or shortage of devices is actually a good thing. And he urged people to not prejudge the phone's success on that alone.
"Long lines forming outside are flashy," he said. "But it's not really the goal. What we really want to see is this: a steady stream of people coming today and for the next few weeks buying new phones."
While the lines, or lack of lines as the case may be, are far less dramatic than the hoopla surrounding an Apple iPhone launch, analysts are quick to point out that Verizon sold about one million of the buggy BlackBerry Storms in the first three months when those devices went on sale a year ago.
Chirag Patel said he likes the look and feel of the HTC Droid Eris better than the Motorola Droid.
(Credit: Marguerite Reardon/CNET)So far the reviews and customer feedback on the new Droid have been positive. The sharp display and cool applications like Google Maps with navigation are impressing customers. But the slow and sometimes blurry 5-megapixel camera was a noticeable negative, even for prospective customers checking out the device in the store.
"The software is slick," said Chirag Patel, 33, who was in the West 34th Street store checking out both the Droid and the Eris. "It's much better than the G1 on T-Mobile, but the camera is very slow. And it got a little hung up when I played around with it here in the store."
Surprisingly, Patel said he liked the look and feel of the HTC Android Eris better than the Droid, but he probably wouldn't buy it because it isn't yet running the latest 2.0 version of the Android operating system. While reviewers have praised the Droid's software, the physical design of the device is a bit clunky. And the device itself is heavier than many other phones in its class. For this reason, among others, Patel said he'd take the weekend to think over his Droid purchase.
"I really don't want to be carrying around a 100-pound block in my pocket," he said. "I can already imagine it weighing down the pocket of my cargo shorts in the summer. So I have to really think about whether I want to lug this thing around for two years."
Marguerite Reardon has been a CNET News reporter since 2004, covering cell phone services, broadband, citywide Wi-Fi, the Net neutrality debate, as well as the ongoing consolidation of the phone companies. E-mail Maggie. 
I'm hope this means the verizon customers are more intelligent than some of the others.
I've done some midnight openings for videogames. It's a fun experience once or twice, but it's not something you want to do for every cool new product being sold.
So its not an excuse
[CNET editors' note: URL removed.]
...the ones which Verizon cherry-picked to represent their slightly convoluted version of "The Truth"(tm).
It's hilarious that everyone so far missed your point. It should be "prospective customers," not "perspective customers."
If it came down to it though, I think the new Xperia that's coming out (god knows when) is absolutely gorgeous. So I might go for that-again provided it can have some sort of Mac support.
I REALLY like the commercials for Droid-I think they're hysterical! Although I have to say, I liked that one guys response to them, probably just because it has R2D2 in it :)
Smart phones should only be getting better and by the time I'm ready for an upgrade, who knows what will be out? Bring on more competition!!
People are trying to predict the outcome of Droid's match with iCrap but in my opinion it's RIM who's getting in more trouble every day.
Apple's product will float to the top anyway -right after it's ties to AT&T expire, but RIM...
neglecting customer support like they do is not going to get them far, especially when everyone is making some sort of smartphone- not ever have to worry about developing an O.S. because Google is doing it for them.
" I use an iPhone because I don't like Windows Mobile and Blackberry just seems a little clunky"
This is an Android OS NOT WinMo or Blackberry! Say it with me D-R-O-I-D is short for A-N-D-R-O-I-D.
I love how people change their tune when things don't go as expected. I read an article on here a few days ago saying how Verizon said they were expecting long lines and were opening their stores early. Now that they didn't get the expected buzz, they are saying that that's actually a good thing.
I like the droid, but I'm tired of apologetics.
as the way I see, iphone is aiming to less tech people and Droid is aiming to more tech savvy market. maybe i'm wrong.
- A Verizon Customer, Berry Curve User
Oh and it's not a "two-pound brick" It's precisely 1.1 ounces heavier than the iPhone 3GS but feels much better made. It's quite a bit more significant compared to the Palm Pre in both heft and dimension but I knew what I was buying and can't wait to get back to using the Droid.
A few facts:
The keyboard doesn't actually slide out, the screen slides up.
The keyboard isn't great, but after a little while, you can feel the slight dome of the keys and use them quite easily ... they aren't actually flat as has been reported [they do look flat though].
The back and lower sides of the case have "grippy" surface so unlike the slippery iPhone, you don't feel like it's going to slip out of your hands, and it's less likely slip out of you pocket when you recline on a sofa.
The screen is awesome, small fonts look quite good, and are readable even to these 60 year old eyes.
Performance is snappy.
Network speed is very fast. I downloaded a few apps in parallel in the background as I explored Droid features ... very cool. Played with the GPS navigation system while listening to Steve Ray Vaughn on Pandora ... very cool. The sound is very clear, but lacking bass as can be expected from such small speakers
I like it ... a lot! I''ll keep it, goodbye Blackberry. I do need to turn off the alert that says "D R O I D" every time an email arrives.
Really? So people who went out and bought the first gen iPhones somehow knew it was "just that good"? Kind of a silly statement and demonstrates what everyone else already knows: Apple people will buy Apple no matter what. See at that time, bctexas, no one knew the iPhone was going to be good, all they had was the hype, speculation and the idea that Apple can do no wrong. Too bad the first iPhone was garbage (because of the service) and ended up costing a lot of people a lot of money when they had to upgrade a few months later.
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/11/06/report_apple_to_launch_verizon_iphone_in_q3_2010.html
Verizon CDMA/GSM Iphone in July or August perhaps?
[CNET editors' note: URL removed.]
(the one guy waiting in line... typing out some anti-Apple missive while he's waiting, apparently).
I find the spin from Verizon to be obvious and funny, though. I mean, sure it's available in a lot of places and all, but you'd there would be at least _some_ heightened level of activity to be seen...
If (<- note that word) it doesn't sell enough to match the hype, I wonder what the excuse will be then?
Still, I think the problem might be that these phones are marketed towards more tech savvy users. Many people
Yes, I hit submit before I was done posting... that's what I get for posting from work as the boss walks in haha :)
Having successfully purchased his Droid, he's off having one of those three-hour blended orgasms you read about in Cosmo.
Now that I got the immature comment out the way, I want to say I will too have to check out both the Droid and the Droid Eris.
Heard how great the google maps with turn by turn is but since I drive to rural areas a lot, I was also interested in the stand alone GPS software like Navigon or Co-Pilot on the iPhone where there's no need for data access connection for the GPS to work. These kinds of apps are impossible on the Droid because they take up 1GB+ (maps included) like they do for the iPhone.
CoPiolet app is installed on the phone, but all mapping data is stored on the sdcard. I know, i purchased it for my g1
G1 has lass memory and not a single person i know with the phone has run out of memory for apps. Can you run out? yea...
If you do tho you most likely have many unused useless apps installed.
and at least 2 of them (sears and wirefy) have it at a discount of $50 ! (maybe just for today nov 6th)
thhe no line thing can actually point out to the difference between iPhone users (jobless teens who need a music fix ina phone) and the potential DROID users (the working class who really think they can get one if they wait a couple of hours).
The Droid isn't an iphone killer, it's perhaps the consumer segment of the blackberry killer.
A little bit of analysis here would show that it's an inaccurate comparison to make between say an iPhone launch and this launch. People have pre-ordered this phone as well as overnighted it, etc. I know quite a few heading into a local Best Buy, or Wal-Mart after work, etc. The fact is that Apple loves you to believe in their hype machine and the mecca for this is the Apple stores where people love to line up. Personally it takes a LOT for me to want to line up for anything because I hate lines.
Sure there are Verizon stores, but probably 1 or more in every major city across the US. Not just a handful in major cities like Apple has. The point here is that people will be funneled through Apple stores in lines of 100's because they want to be there for the hype and excitement similar to how people want to be in Times Square for the ball drop on New Years.
Another argument you can make is that this is not the only Android phone that will be out in this month or next. There will be a literal flood of phones hitting on multiple carriers. It so happens that this is largely considered the best of the crop (esp in terms of hardware muscle and having 2.0)
Once you let the numbers speak for themselves you will see that the Droid will sell at a very good clip and probably outperform even this writer's expectations. Only time will tell. This is the first day afterall. Let's get an official tally from Verizon, and then we will know for sure. My bet is that if they "show off" their numbers then they have a major hit on their hands. If they are guarded about the numbers then it's only a lukewarm reception.
Well taken on the point that the Blackberry Storm (1st gen) sold a lot through Verizon, so I can't see how this will sell less, only better.
Read: We can't sell these steaming piles of **** so we'll give a free one to anyone stupid enough to actually buy one.
Part pity, part inventory reduction.
So, for $360 more per year I can get a connection when wifi isn't available. For me, being connected to the internet 100% of the time isn't work $360 a year.
As a phone, smartphones aren't as good as dedicated phones. The Droid's camera got poor reviews too.
For those worrying about how it feels in your hand, then put a case on it. It will round the corners, or have the material feel that you desire (rubber, slick, etc. depends on the material of the case).
Like the proverbial "lipstick on a pig," no less?
Ha ha. Thanks for the unexpected laugh with a suggestion I should have anticipated!
Kind of like a *hardware* equivalent of an MS Service Pack?
Gotta love it!
- by TaiYurShu November 6, 2009 11:35 AM PST
- NO is because theres a Yakee parade!! :+P
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