[November 02, 2009] BLOG: Browser: Motorola Droid catches buzz [Detroit Free Press] Tweet (Detroit Free Press (MI) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Nov. 2--The Motorola Droid is sparking some serious buzz this week ahead of its Friday release [http://www.freep.com/article/20091028/NEWS09/91028040/1320/Verizon-s-Droid-to-go-on-sale-Nov.-6]. The smartphone, to be available on Verizon Wireless' network, has many wondering if it could be the first to make a major dent in the market share of Apple's popular iPhone. CNet.com got some hands-on time with the device recently [http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/motorola-droid-verizon-wireless/4505-6452_7-33783559.html?tag=rnav]. Here are the first impressions: PCWorld's Tom Kaneshige has an interesting take [http://www.pcworld.com/article/181113/motorolas_droid_may_be_a_boon_for_iphone_owners.html], saying that iPhone users should be grateful for the increased competition in the smartphone market: "In the past, Apple could dictate to the market what works and what doesn't work, what is possible and impossible. Now the market gets to dictate." Billshrink.com has a nice look at a comparison of the full 24-month costs [http://www.billshrink.com/blog/total-cost-of-ownership-motorola-droid-versus-iphone-3gs-versus-palm-pre/] of owning a Droid and an iPhone: [http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2642/4057275481_ccb3d8583a_o.png] Over at CIO.com, Michael Scalisi writes the Droid is no iPhone killer [http://www.cio.com/article/506216/Why_Verizon_s_Droid_Isn_t_an_IPhone_Killer]: "While the Android 2.0 OS is closing the usability gap, the iPhone has reached critical mass. It's managed to garner a loyal following, and habit and familiarity are powerful things." What do you think? Will you be getting a Droid? Contact MARK W. SMITH: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]. Follow him on Twitter: @markdubya [http://www.twitter.com/markdubya] or follow a feed of blog updates at @browserblog [http://www.twitter.com/browserblog]. To see more of the Detroit Free Press, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.freep.com Copyright (c) 2009, Detroit Free Press Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]