It appears that last night's midnight opening in Manhattan
went off like gangbusters, but the situation across the country is a little more subdued this morning with seemingly short lines and easy access to
DROIDs at every location we've visited. We won't put out a number, but we can confirm that several Engadget editors have taken the plunge today -- and if riffraff like us can waltz into the store and get them, you should certainly be able to. Good luck being assimilated out there today, and be sure to post pictures of your experience in comments (up above we've got San Francisco's first buyer courtesy of Ross Miller, and after the break, you can live it up with the good folks of Albany as they were paid a visit by Tim Stevens).
Tags: android, cdma, droid, ev do, evdo, moto, motorola, verizon, verizon wireless, VerizonWireless, vzw
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mi_canuck @ Nov 6th 2009 10:09AM
hahah... those are pathetic looking lines....
JayMonster @ Nov 7th 2009 9:36AM
I'll grant you one thing that Apple does right... do a launch of this magnitude in JUNE when it is warm out (and many people (especially college kids) are on vacation) and are willing to sit/stand around waiting for an opening.
That being said, with pre-sales at other locations, as well as the fact that you weren't FORCED TO GO TO THE STORE to buy the phone (ya see, Verizon doesn't mind using the Internet channel to sell their phones, and even in stores doesn't have trouble activating the dang things), so "the line" was actually necessary for them to sell their devices.
Also, (as much as it pains me to say it) after too many years of ho hum WinMo phones, the iPhone was a kickstart to a new revolution of phone, so yes it garnered much deserved hype the first time around, and of course after that the Apple Drones must bow before the Church of Jobs, so they continue to suck up and continue to play the game. I have to give Apple credit for that.
But in the end, you have to take into consideration that after all this time of crippled feature phones or yet another blackberry, there were people actually waiting and anxious to get a Smart Phone FROM VERIZON... this is clearly a change. Verizon actually executed a kickoff campaign that has people excited.
So go ahead and compare the size of the lines, the fact is that the game has changed... the question becomes now, with all the Android interest (even if it isn't for the Droid itself), there is now competition...is there an App for that?
Zaggs @ Nov 6th 2009 10:12AM
Jeez, the line was bigger for the Storm. Perhaps alot of people are waiting for something better.
periks19 @ Nov 6th 2009 10:16AM
lol what the hell??? is so easy to get a droid which i taught it was gonna be hard? Damn why did I have such a hard time buying a Samsung Moment here in Phoenix, AZ i had to buy it all the way in Chandler, AZ until two days after it came out cause they were sold out in the stores I called.
DrioidMeNow @ Nov 6th 2009 11:51AM
I taught, taught I saw a pussy cat.
Valentine @ Nov 6th 2009 10:42AM
off topic - CNET UK `s worst phone ever - the iPhone - read the article here http://crave.cnet.co.uk/mobiles/0,39029453,49303754,00.htm?s_cid=96
klmsu19 @ Nov 6th 2009 11:26AM
And that has to do with the Droid how? Trying to bash the iphone since the Droid doesnt look like itll come close to knocking it off from all the hype and bashing VZW put into it?
snorkel @ Nov 6th 2009 10:47AM
I think a lot of people ordered online as you don't have to deal with the stupid debit card rebate.
Online it's 199 rebate instantly applied.
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Nov 6th 2009 1:01PM
i know that's what i always do. i cant remember the last time i bought a phone in the store. the lines are ridiculously long normally (like a hour wait for anything at least at my store) and you have to deal with the mail in rebates. as far as im concerned, the retail store exist only for if my phone breaks and i want a new one that day instead of waiting through mail
Eric @ Nov 6th 2009 10:54AM
It doesn't look like it was all it was hyped up to be.
klmsu19 @ Nov 6th 2009 11:24AM
Lines look shorter than the one's for the Pre which didnt sell extraordinarily well.
Doesnt look like it met the hype, and maybe rightfully so. The commercials for it were cryptic at best to the general non-tech public who didnt already know what the phone was. They dont show the phone, or that its VZW or even Android really (other than Droid which most people barely know Android exists outside calling it "with Google" like Tmo).
Id be shocked if they sell a few hundred thousand this weekend, and wont come near the iphone sales the first weekend just like the Pre. Not an iphone fanboy, but for a phone taking direct shots at the iphone, it wont sell anywhere near being an "iphone killer" like the rest of the labeled devices in the near past which have failed to sell big.
chaspmays @ Nov 6th 2009 11:43AM
The Touch Pro 2 is harder to come by than the Droid!
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Nov 6th 2009 12:55PM
yea it is vertainly looking like it. it took me a month to get ahold of my VZW TP2 ans i know from reading forums still that people are still waiting. plus the fact it's never been in stock in retail outlets. they seem to have put all their marbles on the Droid from the get go.
yoko1324 @ Nov 6th 2009 11:48AM
That's a real shame. The droid has great potential. Maybe they should have waited until tomorrow? As someone who is really into tech, I really understood and appreciated the Verizon Wireless "iDont, DroidDoes" commercials. But I can definitely see how the general public would not understand half of what the commercial highlighted:
- "iDon't customize"
- "iDon't have widgets"
- "iDon't have open development"
This phone is going to be a home run, out-of-the park hit among those who love mobile devices and follow the latest advances and releases in mobile operating systems. But like klmsu19 said, many people still don't even know what the Android mobile OS is. However, I have a feeling by this time next year a heck of a lot more people will know what Android is; the "droid" invasion is just beginning. Sure thing, legions of android (phones, PMP's, netbooks, etc.) will be steadily released across the globe all through next year. Even the military is using it to some extent. Apple should be thinking of some sort of plan to compete with Android because the momentum is building...
theoneneo81 @ Nov 6th 2009 12:31PM
I think the only place that this was hyped at are certaint Websites *cough engadget cough*
youngcalihottie @ Nov 6th 2009 12:36PM
i think the first pic is the only one really about a droid line. in the second one they were waiting to buy some hot chocolate at the dollar tree.
Eric @ Nov 6th 2009 12:39PM
Wow there's a whole 8 people in the picture. And that's including the person taking the pic. Lol.
chris @ Nov 6th 2009 1:16PM
Yes I don't believe Verizon did an adequate job marketing the device. They barely showed it once and what it could do. My roomates who know what the storm is and what not didn't know what the hell the commercial was for. I bought one today and the videos and pictures don't do the device justice. It's simply superb. The keyboard is a drawback but I will get used to it. About 40 showed up at a local store in Rochester, NY. I showed up 5 mins before opening and was about number 25. The manager made people wait outside in the freezing cold while others got the phone. They had coffee and doughnuts. The district manager showed up at about 815 and yelled at the idiot store manager for making people wait outside when the store could easily have held twice that number.
JayMonster @ Nov 6th 2009 2:13PM
They are not done marketing this device (and actually the whole Droid "series"). No it didn't have "iPhone like" lines... but what other device has? The Pre? Does that look like it has taken Sprint out of their current hemorrhaging of customers? The device is awesome and will only garner further interest as the Droid campaign moves forward.
Riz @ Nov 7th 2009 12:07PM
dude, I've got a Pre. I followed the lead-up to the droid launch *wishing* Sprint had marketed the Pre this well.
(Maybe if they had a creepy girl come out of those stealth fighter droppings...)
chris @ Nov 6th 2009 1:19PM
Also to add to that. To my amazement most were business users. Don't know if they paid for the $44 exchange data plan but a lot of people were asking about if it worked with exchange. College students (me) about 2 and high school maybe 2, business users were the rest. But I know some were directly buying for others.
JayMonster @ Nov 6th 2009 2:07PM
The additional $15 for Exchange use is ONLY for Corporate accounts. If it is a "personal" line that you connect to Exchange with, then you only pay the normal Data prices.
jack @ Nov 6th 2009 1:36PM
I ordered mine from Verizon this morning for $149 (current customer upgrade) and it will be here FedEx tomorrow. No lines for me.
Jon @ Nov 6th 2009 2:24PM
I went to the Verizon store a bit early today (6th) and was surprised to see no line ? lam glad I went though ...I got my Droid early and was home early to familiarize myself with the new toy ...I was very happy ! This phone is fast ,clear,easy to use,right there....lam glad I did not switch to the I phone, as I was contemplating doing ....everything I need is right here and on the most dependable network...I have used ATT previously and was disappointed too many times. The only complaint I have is with the mail in rebate...There is really no need for this nonsense and a poor marketing approach by Verizon .....All in all I'm very happy !!!
MotoZine @ Nov 6th 2009 1:49PM
Don't judge from outside. Remember Motorola V3 Razr first time sale in the store? Yes, not like Apple iPhone but Motorola V3 Razr sold 100 million units for 4 years. Good start for Motorola Droid. In my country Indonesia; Apple iPhone sales is not successful than BlackBerry because BlackBerry is in many carrier. Same as Motorola Droid and Motorola Milestone is not only for one carrier but in many carrier.
Paul @ Nov 6th 2009 2:27PM
Why does the android phone not sync with outlook for its contacts, notes, and tasks? I have a lot of info in the notes and all the other "smart" phones sync to it like the blackberries, iphones, and winmo devices. Why not android? I tried looking for 3rd party apps but there doesn't seem to be many choices. And even if I was to find one, why pay an additional $30 for a 3rd party app when all the other phones allow me to do this for free after purchase? This is a deal breaker for me... I wanted to like android but they don't seem very "open" to me but the exact opposite.
Pat @ Nov 6th 2009 2:57PM
The lack of sync and some apps I use on my current WinMo device are the deal breakers for me, as well. And, I can't find a way to view what apps are available. I went to the Android website and they give you a small snapshot of what apps are available. But, it says you have to use an Android phone to see the entire list. At least with Apple's App Store, I just have to install iTunes and I can see what is available, without purchasing an iPhone.
j @ Nov 6th 2009 4:29PM
idk i think the droid will be irrelevant by the end of the year. with the x10 being announced and sprint and others coming out with several new android phones next year it just seems like it'll be outdated technologically once other android phones come out with 2.0, especially if they have snap dragon processors.....
Dave @ Nov 6th 2009 9:40PM
Well, that's why Verizon signed into a partnership with Google. There will NOT be any other carriers with 2.0 software until the next level FLAN is released in late 2010. Then Verizon will again have exclusivity to the latest software. 2.0 will be present on many phones, but ONLY on VERIZON.
JayMonster @ Nov 7th 2009 9:26AM
With the X10 showing that it has to be tethered to the wall for a demo, and a half baked inteface that was beyond laggy, add in stupid proprietary ports as well as insisting on sticking with those dumb MemorySticks and a penchant for DRM, I wouldn't place any bets on the X10. Yes, it may eventually look sharp and even provide some ideas for a decent music interface to developers on the Android platform (currently an admittted weak point), but short of that, I wouldn't expect it to be seen outside of a niche group.
It may have also shown why more people haven't rushed to build a Snapdragon based phone. Until they work out a way to optimize performance against battery life, it will continue to lag behiind in rolled out devices.
MotoZine @ Nov 6th 2009 4:37PM
Snap Dragon and Processor 1 Ghz can't guarantee make the phone more faster than other. In the fact Toshiba TG01 has Snap Dragon dan Processor 1 Ghz but the speed look like has processor less than 528 Mhz. Motorola A3100 has 528 Mhz more faster touchscreen respon than Toshiba TG01.
miniboss @ Nov 6th 2009 5:01PM
I was set to get the droid but did not realize the 69.99 plan did not apply to any android phones. Should of known. Went straight for HTC Hero. No complaints - especially when you go from a dumb phone to a smart phone. Performance and features are worlds apart.
I guess you can be a little obsessive when you can't live without the latest and greatest. But you can definitely set your mind free when you give up that outlook on life. Now I can go back to living a normal life enjoy and the humble Hero while at it.
Jacob @ Nov 7th 2009 6:04PM
Ya I was the first one at the Northridge mall kiosk in Salinas, said they opened at night, but they started helping me about 8:50. The big red store across the street was crazy busy from what i hear.
The kiosk had 50 droids, plus eris in addition.
Captain @ Nov 8th 2009 7:38AM
This is the best phone i've ever had. Droid Eris! for 100$ you just cant beat it.
Everything is so fast. No Lag. Great browser, Google maps - Train times/Bus Routes, multi touch on webapges, Battery Lasts ALLLLLLLL day (: Did I mention the Endless AP's. I just downloaded Pandora and it doesnt drain my battery like other phones used to... and to think android 2.0 may be coming... If it does - Great! if it doesnt It really doesnt Matter. this phone does it all....
Peter @ Nov 10th 2009 4:10PM
Uhh this is quite misleading. This is because frugal verizon customers such as myself have always gone to any place BUT actual verizon stores. This is because other places will discount it cheaper than what you can get at verizon store, sometimes even bypassing the necessity of the mail-in rebates by replacing them with their own instant savings which is a lot more convenient for customers. Even Verizon's own website offers $100 instant online discount versus a mail-in rebate from the store.