Well sadly enough I was only able to keep my 3GS for 30 days.  I thoroughly enjoyed the features and user experience that came along with the phone, but AT&T just doesn’t have the network built up enough.  It’s the only complaint really that anyone has with the iPhone, but for me, it was just too much of an issue to deal with.

So now I’m back to Verizon and trying out the new Motorola Droid.  As Reid mentioned earlier, I wanted to write just a quick “first impressions” review of the two phones side by side.  Here’s some of my initial comparisons of the two phones.

1. Usability – This is a major difference on the two.  Apple did a great job with the iPhone, making the functionality extremely user friendly.  Everything that you try to do on the iPhone seems very natural and understandable.  There are very few things that you need to look up directions on how to do and most of the tips and tricks that come in handy are for quicker ways to accomplish things.  For the Droid, things are a little less natural.  The reason for this is a combination of a few contributing factors.  First, it’s a new operating system.  A lot of the niceties that you get with the 3GS are due to complaints from the previous releases.  Secondly the amount of configuration that is allowed.  With the iPhone you are required to do everything one certain way for the most part…you can’t change it, you just have to go with it.  That restriction leads to a very controlled and comfortable but somewhat constricting experience.  With the Droid, the limitations are fewer, but because of this the functionality can be a little less understandable.  Finally, the fact that manufacturers and service providers are allowed to customize the UI according to their needs also leads the Droid to be less user friendly.  The winner in this category…the iPhone.

2. Service -This really isn’t even a fair fight.  If you’ve seen any of the great map commercials lately, you know the difference in their 3G capabilities.   Along with that, even the areas that AT&T claims to cover on their maps…come with some exceptions.  One of those exceptions for AT&T happened to be the neighborhood that I live in so service was laughably horrible.  Going back to Verizon though puts me back on the better network and also gives me more options of friends and family to call for free…due to the fact that a vast majority of the Midwest is on Verizon service.  Winner and really the only competitor…the Droid.

3. Applications – Now there’s no arguing it, the iPhone has thousands of apps to pick from, this is their major advantage.  On the other hand though, the iPhone has thousands of apps to pick from and this is their problem.  Yes, you read that right.  Here’s the issue, with all of those thousands of applications, you get an extremely large amount of noise coming out of the app store.  Many of the apps are either extremely low quality or really nothing that you’d be interested in owning.  The Android has the advantage of not being as popular, so the market is a little less crowded with low quality apps, but still main stream enough to allow you to find the applications you really like.  Advantage here is close…but would still have to go to the iPhone.

4. Features – The main feature list is pretty similar between the two.  For me, the one big difference (at least currently) is the addition of turn by turn navigation from Google for the Droid.  It still amazes me how easy to use and how packed with features the Google Navigation system is.  With everything from turn by turn voice commands to live traffic updates…the feature list on this application alone is incredible.  Oh…and it’s still in beta.  I can’t wait to see what refinements and possible additions will come in the next year or so.  The features of this application almost makes me feel bad for the people who own a $400 navigation system.  My $200 phone does everything their navigation system does…and everything their iPhone in their pocket does.  Advantage here, definitely the Droid.

Now you might be interested in more comparisons like astetics of the phones or hardware differences…but for me…these are the important factors in a phone and overall I would have to give the advantage to the Droid.  In a year from now it might be totally different, but that’s what keeps it exciting.