Motorola DROID goes on sale a little early at Best Buy Mobile
By Nilay Patel 
posted November 5th 2009 2:14PM
posted November 5th 2009 2:14PM
P.S.- Just got a tip that Wal-Mart is now selling 'em early too. The DROIDs are loose, people. Gather your valuables.
P.P.S.- Target Mobile Solutions, which operates kiosks in California Target stores, has opened the floodgates too -- but the catch is that you'll be paying $249.99 for a new activation, $50 more than Verizon after rebate. Thanks, Tony! (Update: we're hearing it's back down to $199.87 now -- nice!)
[Thanks, Mike and Jesse]
"LUCKY!" ~ Napoleon Dynamite
ugliest keyboard on a phone ever.
the verizon droid is boring, stupid, and redundant. the
keyboard looks like that of a 30 year old calculator. its the same OS
that will be updated to the other android phones so theres nothing
really new.
you'd have to be a fanboy to disagree.
and not a single google fanboy can tell me why the droid is so good.
considering that the other android phones will be updated with the
new OS, what makes this one so much better than the others? oh right,
nothing.
if its a motorola phone why would google fanboys be the ones defending it.
Its a good phone because its the android phone with the best specs hardware wise to date.
Faster processor, advanced gpu, huge high pixel screen. First phone with 2.0 maybe for months, those are just a few things.
"and not a single google fanboy can tell me why the droid is so good.
considering that the other android phones will be updated with the
new OS, what makes this one so much better than the others?"
The fact that it comes out tomorrow?
"the verizon droid is boring, stupid, and redundant."
Umm... not even sure what to say to that, it doesn't make any sense. What does it even mean for a phone to be redundant? It's the first android phone to have anything better than the crappy Qualcomm 528MHz chipset. Is it the end-all be-all god phone? No, but tomorrow it will be the single best Android phone out there.
@Light Speed = The Droid is a better phone because it comes with a pre-built app to detect tools (actually... it is just a Word doc that says "Light Speed", but it is 100 percent accurate).
being the best android phone isnt something to brag about considering its going against other similar ugly crap.
Am sorry fanbois, hardware aside, that is still the ugliest phone ever.
Hardware aside? Besides hardware, what - oh, I get it. You're either being sarcastic or you're a moron. Carry on.
I'll take functionality over looks any day.. Besides, it'll be in my pocket the rest of the time.... I'm an iphone user, and I'm making the switch to Verizon.
I would never buy this phone. I wouldn't take it for free. Motorola kind of sucks IMO
@ Light Speed
Really???? It's called innovation and your the reason sh*t doesn't ever improve on a product because your so smug about one product being the only and best product out there, you would be perfect on a southpark episode, open up your mind to something new, things do evolve and there is always room for improvement. Don't hate on something I highly doubt you even tried.
Two months ago, everyone was saying that Motorola phones suck. So, what's the difference now? The company is just a crappy company. Google had to help them design a smartphone. A company that never built a cellphone has to show a cellphone company how it's done. What sort of engineers and designers were working at Motorola? They have to make it even more confusing by calling it the Motorola Droid in the U.S. and the same smartphone is called the Milestone over in Europe. What's the purpose in that?
Calling a whole bunch of phones Droid is gonna be really confusing to buyers. I hope Motorola is able to sell a few of these things just so they can stay in business a little longer. Their smartphone division is just a drag on the rest of the company, what little is left with a few set-top boxes and WIMAX/LTE hardware. One more miss and the cellphone division is closing down. Already the Droid is looking to be the next ROKR.
@ Average White Boy: From the reviews of the actual hardware, it looks like Motorola has another RAZR on it's hands, not another ROKR. I had both. The ROKR, though pudgy and plastic, was actually pretty awesome at the time. Just because something doesn't sell doesn't mean it's not a decent product.
The RAZR, on the other hand, was a bona-fide hit. And with good reason. It's mostly-metal construction was sturdy, and once they got the kinks worked out of that crazy battery door, it was dependable. I had a remanufactured one that tended to drop calls (it was Cingular's fault, actually), but other than that it was great. The V3xx was the best non-smartphone I ever had, hardware, software, speed, and usability-wise.
Not only was the RAZR a good piece of hardware, it was a segment-defining handset. It took the flip phone, and gave other companies something to shoot for. Like the iPhone, at the time, a new phone would be compared to the RAZR, to show how thick it was, how big or how bright it's screen was, how good its ergonomics were, etc.
The iPhone (for better or worse) has that slot now. It's the touchstone for the time being. The DROID won't supplant it, but hopefully it will give HTC and Samsung something to shoot for. The Hero was amazing when we saw it 6 months ago, but its underpowered processor and Sprint clothing aren't inspiring.
The DROID is out to prove that an Android handset should have good looks, usability, high-quality hardware, and solid build quality.
I'm skipping the DROID because I want a 1GHz processor. But unless HTC steps up their game in the US, I'm waiting for the DROID2 with a spec bump.
I work at Best Buy Mobile, and this is false. We can't sell it today.
They are in stock, yes, and someone took a picture of one on top of one of our folders...
Strange news story.
Thanks a lot Engadget! Got me all excited, only to call and get shot down like Eric said above. Best Buy will not sell them today unfortunately.
To Nilay's defense, he DID say "on sale at an unspecified Best Buy Mobile somewhere deep within America's heartland", which indicates only one Best Buy Mobile location somewhere in the United States is stating they are selling these today. READ THE ARTICLE.
welcome to fox news.
I stopped by local BB and was told their shipment wouldn't even be in until late this afternoon.
@OneLove
FoxNews stresses me out as much as the next person (okay, maybe not Obama), but CNN, MSNBC, or whatever has just as many bias, over-opinionated, no-facts just thoughts, personnel.
The real problem is there is no STANDARD by which to hold anyone in the field of journalism anymore. You just take a story and run with it. That's why we thought Steve Jobs was dead awhile back, and now we think the Droid is on sale because some backwoods Best Buy sold it early.
Wouldn't that mean ALL Best Buys are selling them early?
Journalism has gone from fact-based reporting, to ratings (or hit-based on the webs) reporting.
Loudmouths like Ann Coulter and Bill Maher are going to get much higher ratings than calm, collected Joe Blow fact-based guy.
@trainwrecka: Stop. Feeding. The. Trolls.
Yes this stupid assumption of a effin picture made my life a living heck tonight at work, thank you Engadget!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's a shame that Nilay still hasn't uploaded the DROID notification sound that he promised.
I've never been this dissapointed before in my life. I want to cry (even more).
had mine since Monday. it is pretty cool but has a few minor glitches that should be easily fixed in SW. the keyboard takes some getting used to, but the onscreen one works great.
here is your sound pulled right from the phone: http://www.mediafire.com/file/kamynhwxtmm/droid.ogg
I tried one of these out at a Best Buy.... and I have to say I HATE the design. It just feels like an old square Motorola phone from the 90's. Even the gold highlight on the keypad is reminiscent of their old phones.
No sir, I don't like it.
Ren and Stimpy reference noted and appreciated.
You obviously speak for the entire world. While you are here, can you answer some questions for me? For instance, why do people like the color green? I mean it's just not good looking at all. If you can get back to me the with the likes and dislikes of the entire world, I'd appreciate it. Maybe you could put out a manual. It will make everyone's life easier since they won't have to choose what items they buy. They can reference your all knowing reference manual and know what they will like.
I didn't notice him saying he spoke for anyone but himself. Calm down at once.
Just trying to find a constructive outlet for his preference of designs. If he doesn't want to create a manual that details what's cool and "not ugly" then what's the point?
@Andir3.0
Yeah, cool off a bit there. These are people's opinions. Every phone there's going to be some people who like the design and some who don't.
To answer the question why people like green well its obvious its the color of weed thats why people like it
Seriously..the guy made it clear he was only speaking for himself. If he says it's too square, then he obviously likes rounded corners. If he didn't like the gold, it would've been better without it, in his opinion. No idea where you got the idea he was speaking for the world.
My New Every 2 discount prevents me for going any where but a VZ store :(
I don't think that's true.. they asked when I preordered if my new every two was up.
i am using my new every 2 upgrade and getting my new one at best buy tomorrow
I know for a fact it works at Amazon, not sure about BB but I bet you can.
I hope that by "New every two" you don't mean that verizon allows you to get a new phone every two years cuz WOW thats just ground breaking. NOT
By "New Every Two discount" he probably means the extra $50 he gets off 2-year contract price, meaning he can get the Droid for $149, but only if he goes through VZW. I guess BB only checks to see if you can get the 2-yr contract price, not the extra discount off of that.
You can only use NE2 at Verizon - BB "can not" apply NE2 discounts - I already tried.
Who cares?
A lot of people? Apparently including you since you took the time to come here and comment on it?
Basically. I love how they expect to get upranked too, like this guy:
Highest Ranked
RyanTV @ Nov 5th 2009 12:06PM
It's amazing how little I care about this product. Seriously.
He crossed a river, ran through Afghanistan barefoot, peddled money in London, took a flight out of Heathrow, landed in New York, sprinted to the public library, ran to a computer, all to say this.
Good job, bro.
@n900
I figured u did 100% posting comments from your smartphone. Do u? U mustnot work or live a basement. Hmmh.
uh......huh?
I'm sorry I have no idea what you're typing =(. You should take Job's cock off your keyboard. It'll help a lot.
Yup, called the Noho store in NYC and this is total BS. Have to wait until Friday. Good going, Engadget.
As much as i like the android platform... i am in the " i don't like the hardware design" camp... this thing is very ugly. i much rather take the HTC Hero design over this one, the specs for the droid are quite impressive tho, so props to google, moto and verizon on that one!
Dito!
I've confirmed that the Best Buy I pre-ordered from will not sell it to me until tomorrow. :(
i just called my local BB that i preordered the phone at and they said they aren't selling the phones today. tomorrow is when they start calling ppl to come in for appointments to get your phone, well the preorders anyway.
Incorrect! You will not be able to purchase them.
Some stores received the phones in and accidentally sold them according to employee news for BBY.
I dont see that many people buying this thing most people on verizon's network tends to be senoir citizens and they couldent care less about a cellphone now you add a free box of metamucil in there instant success.