Originally posted by: krunchykrome
Originally posted by: Kaido
I'm going with a black Q next month for my New Every 2. Your best bet is to read some reviews on the ones you like, then go and play with them in the store. The Chocolate turned out to be junk. My wife has a pink Razr and I don't really like the sound quality, calls aren't as clear as my trusty old Motorola v710. The KRZR (mini Razr) looks pretty good, but it feels a little long for a flip. If I didn't like the Q so much I'd be going with the KRZR. It has a much different feel than the Razr, which I don't like.
What phone do you have now?
Just curious, why did you decide to go with the Q?
Well, I made a list of what I really wanted in a phone. The top 3 things I wanted were (1) good call quality, (2) a good calendar program, and (3) Google Maps. I'm coming from a quad-band v710, which combined with Verizon's service in the Northeast made me drop my housephone completely. All I use is a cell phone now. I also wanted a good calendar program. I usually keep a notecard and pen in my pocket for jotting things down, but I haven't found a good, small yet usable calendar that will fit in my jean's pockets. The Q has a nice, big screen and a number of calendar programs available for it. Last but not least, I wanted directions. I've used GPS before, but it's kind of overkill for my driving habits right now. I really liked MapQuest and liked Google Maps even more when it came out, especially being able to search for local places like "pizza near Hartford". Google Maps Mobile is compatible with the Q, and if I want GPS later I can pick up a Bluetooth GPS unit for a decent price.
I was really, really excited about the iPhone when it was first announced, but after thinking about it for awhile I decided it wouldn't be a good phone for me. For starters, there are no tactile buttons - it's all a touchscreen. I use my current phone by "feel" 99% of the time. The Q's buttons are small, but very much usable without looking at them. I also really liked the Q's form factor - it's hardly bigger than my v710 and a TON smaller (using the extended battery on my current phone makes it a BRICK). The iPhone also doesn't have support for third-party applications, meaning I couldn't make my own apps. That's a biggie. Also Cingular's service isn't great here - they say they're number one for fewest dropped calls, but it might be because their quality stinks.
There are some drawbacks to the Q. First of all, I've read the default battery stinks, so you have to buy an extended battery right away. Not a big deal considering the silver Q is only $79.99 right now, which makes it free with the New Every 2 plan. Next is no touchscreen. That was kind of an annoyance until a friend let me play with his Q. It has a Blackberry-style thumbwheel plus a D-pad, and you can configure shortcuts for any of the buttons. Still a bummer but they make the Q very easy to use. Third, no integrated wifi. Another annoyance but not a dealbreaker. If you're getting a Q, you're probably getting a data plan too, which means you'll be set up with Verizon's quick EVDO service. Still annoying because I can't jump onto my home wifi network; I have to use Bluetooth or USB.
There are lots of other things I like about the Q. Like I said, the form factor is nice. It's like a non-flip Razr. I don't feel like an idiot holding a Q to my ear talking to people, like I did when I tried some other giant smartphones. The screen is FANTASTIC as well. I compared it to the latest Treos and while the touchscreens were nice, the Q's screen was just plain beautiful next to the Treos, much brighter. I like toys, especially electronic gadgets, but I was honest with myself and decided that a Treo or other PocketPC-based phone would be overkill for me. The Q has plenty of good stuff going for it, lots of good hacks, aftermarket apps, and other things to keep me busy and having fun. The new black one also has a rubberized coating, so all you really need is a screen protector and you're set. Oh, and it can take up to a 2gb MicroSD card, plus it supports stereo Bluetooth headphones. Nifty
Edit: Also, it slides in and out of your pocket really, really easily. It's not a pain to deal with as far as size goes.
pic next to v710 and a couple PDAs (from some review)
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