UPDATE: Some things in this world disappoint me more than others, in particular, liars. 3DR marketed and sold this drone to me with the expectation that SOLO would be a continually improved platform with options for better cameras and gimbals, while continuously updating the software to give the best experience possible. 3DR has now decided that they have gotten too big for serving the everyday enthusiast, and thus, have stopped commercial manufacturing of SOLO moving entirely to producing SOLO for Site Scan applications. Updates are few and far between; there will likely not be a new gimbal (as was promised) for the GoPro Hero 5, and Tech support takes agonizingly long to resolve issues. I had an issue around month 2 of owning my SOLO. The onboard computer has an SD card that contains all the software for the drone. During one of my flights, the card became loose, and SOLO would not boot up anymore. It took me an entire week to even get close to sending my SOLO back in to have it fixed. I thought I was close when the technician who was corresponding through email sent me an email at 3:45 PM PST asking for the serial code on my drone to authorize the exchange. I quickly took a picture and sent it, only realizing that if he didn't get my email by 4, he would likely be gone for the weekend: and he was. In all, it took over a month from when my drone left my house to when I receive it back.It speaks for itself when something I spent over $1000 in total for is now on sale for $300. The batteries that I paid $125 for are now selling for $45. The word has gotten out as it rightfully should have. Amazon should remove this drone from listing under the guise of false advertisement. It says right on the box that SOLO will grow with GoPro, I guess not.3DR has let me down as a customer. I feel foolish recommending to my photography friends that this company was going places. My drone still flies, but I would have much rather invested in DJI. I apologize to anyone who read my original review and was misled into buying this drone.ORIGINAL: So with around 15 hours logged on my Solo, I can say that this is a fine piece of engineering. Before anyone jumps down my throat about "3DR being garbage" or "DJI is much better" I'll put it out there that this is the only drone I've ever owned. That being said, however, it's absolutely incredible that I have yet to fly it into the side of a hill. I did my research heavily before buying and believe this review to be fairly objective.To begin, 3DR really put a lot of focus into fly-ability for the first time owner. The smart shots are easy to use, allowing me to really find the shots I'm looking for. Air braking using the pause button leaves me confident that if I get myself into a sticky situation I can save myself. Additionally, with the most recent update, things like rewind (a feature that allows the drone to trace its' exact path that it flew back to safety) and geofence (allows you to set a map based fence that stops the drone from exiting a set area) show 3DR's commitment to expand Solo's abilities. 3DR also has opened up the code for Solo, giving 3rd party creators endless possibilities for the future of this drone. All that being said, I feel confident enough with it that I've flown it over water just a mere foot or so above the surface without worrying about it nosing in (Dual GPS chips really help out).I guess the question most people would ask is "why the solo over the phantom 4?" Well, I think it comes down to what you have, what you're trying to do, and what you want to spend. If you already own a GoPro, then Solo gives you a good platform to utilize a camera that more often than not gets under used. If you don't own one, keep in mind that the Solo does NOT come with an integrated camera like the Phantom series does (So add another $300-$500 to the price tag). If you are looking for a drone that anyone can fly (and I mean anyone) then Solo is for you. From the research I did, it would appear that the Phantom 3 might take a little bit more of a learning curve to effectively fly for the really cinematic shots (although the Phantom 4 has its' own version of smart shots too, keep the price tag in mind). Finally, money: the do or die for most people. I got the solo and the gimbal (a must have for aerial video/photography) for $600 during an Amazon sale (an absolute steal for a piece of technology like this). Suggested retail would price the drone at $800 and the gimbal at $200. Add a GoPro Hero 3+ Black, Hero 4 Silver or Black and you've priced yourself at around $1400. The cheapest Phantom 4 is a little over $1300 and the older Phantom 3 Professional version is just below $1000 (you could get a standard around $450 if you are willing to go with lower quality footage). If the Solo is on sale I'd say jump on it. It will definitely leave a warm fuzzy feeling about drones in general. If you already own a GoPro, considered yourself already invested and really consider the Solo. If you want to give the appearance to others that you actually know what you're doing, get the solo.All in all, I was skeptical at first, especially after seeing some bad reviews, now however, I'm a believer. I've found a tool that really lets me capture some really beautiful shots. I've included a still from my maiden flight, showing how easy it is to capture some really beautiful shots.