A DROID Convert

Published on Dec 07, 2009 by Todd Reifenrath | Category: mobile | 1 comment

I was a Blackberry user until recently switching to a DROID. I liked the small form factor of my Blackberry Pearl but didn't like its small display or lack of applications (although that has improved recently).

My migration toward a DROID, which is a Motorola device running Google's Android operating system, probably started a few years ago when Webitects moved its email hosting to Google. For many years we maintained our own mail server to host Webitects.com mailboxes and over a thousand more for our clients. Due to spam and email-borne viruses (and the support responsibility that comes with them) we decided to offload our e-mail hosting service. After researching options (and over a year of testing and experimentation) we switched to email hosted by Google -- similar to GMail but customized to your domain (e.g. yourname@yourdomain.com) with the ability to manage your domain's accounts and features. Oh, and it's free! A premium version is available for a per mailbox annual fee, but only a few of our clients have found it necessary.

After the switch to Google mailboxes I configured my Blackberry to download messages via POP3 and fell into the habit of monitoring messages on my mobile device but rarely responding (which I mostly did from my laptop or office workstation). I never took the time to configure IMAP or use the Blackberry synch software. A few months ago I discovered Google's synch application for Blackberry and installed it on my Pearl. It was nice to have my mobile copy of my mailbox and contacts synched with the online version. However, the app turned my phone into a dog (simply waking it up became a ten second process) and I found entries disappearing from the SMS message queue and my call log. After a couple of weeks I uninstalled the app out of frustration.

Late this summer I stopped using Microsoft Outlook as my desktop e-mail client and began using Google's webmail interface exclusively. It took a bit to get used to labels instead of folders and to get comfortable with messages grouped by conversation...but it was nice to shed Outlook for a much lighter weight equivalent.

Earlier this fall I reached the end of a two year Verizon contract, which provided an opportunity to consider a new mobile device. The Blackberry Storm 2, a new arrival with a larger touch screen, seemed an attractive option. But, online reviews weren't favorable and some hands-on experimentation at the Verizon store were disappointing. It finally occurred to me (the DROID commercials surrounding the device's recent launch were a helpful hint) that if I wanted seamless integration between a Google mailbox and a mobile device that I should get a device running Google's mobile OS (Android).

After several weeks as a DROID user I am happy to report a very pleasant experience. The large touch screen enables me to do more from a mobile device than the smaller Blackberry Pearl made possible. Email, which is what I use the device for most, is a breeze and very similar to the webmail or desktop experience. Web browsing is also nice...again, the large display is a big plus. The music player sounds great but suffers from a poor user interface and I wish I could play Audible.com audio files. The app selection is good (plenty of social media apps for Facebook and Twitter users) and, of course, the Google Maps integration (including turn-by-turn navigation) is awesome.