So, You Going Windows Phone 7?
We try to cover all platforms here but obviously WP7 has taken center stage in the last few days because of the launch and the strong advertising push. So we’ve all learned a lot lately about the operating system as a whole and the actual devices that are coming out. We’ve said a lot about Windows Phone 7 so now it’s your turn.
Let’s do some polls and also, please, use the comments to explain your answers. The first question is simple enough: are you going to get Windows Phone 7? The second question, if so, which device? And remember, like class, the rationale counts so share with the group in the comments:
[poll id=”38″]
[poll id=”39″]
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davidk
14 Comments
Yes, definitely getting a WP7 device and it will be the Dell Venue Pro. AMOLED, scratch resistant 4.1″ screen, physical keyboard and probably 16GB of storage. Cant wait!
I’m interested – probably the LG from AT&T, but I’d much have preferred the HTC Pro that Sprint is getting. I really like having a physical keyboard for typing as opposed to everything being on-screen. Hearing that some manufacturers will make it possible (if difficult) to change out microSD cards makes me feel a little better as well, even with the hard-reset involved. I’m definitely leaning that way as opposed to Android, but don’t really plan to leave AT&T just yet. They have pretty good coverage in our area.
I’m definitely going to be getting one, just struggling to decide which. I’m in the UK and while being a reasonably heavy data user, I rarely make calls or use texts. Consequently I’m looking for a cheap tariff with “unlimited” (i.e. 1Gb+) of data.
At the moment, T-Mobile UK is looking the best as they claim to offer a £10 a month tariff for the Omnia 7 (admittedly, with a £300 phone fee). If this is real, then I’ll probably go for this (I like the AMOLED screen on the Omnia, but am a bit worried about the size) – otherwise the HTC Mozart is pretty appealing too, but that means moving to Orange (who have more expensive tariffs).
Very soon after WP7 was made public, I decided that I would not be an early adopter. I have been a WM user for five years. I liked the functionality, the integration with large networks, and the user access of everything from UI to file system to apps to tweaks. If WP7 had turned out to be the next major update of WM, along with UI and speed improvements to match Android, then I would be buying a WP7 phone today. However, since WP7 is closed, with no sideloading, and a dull UI (in my opinion), I will wait possibly forever with no regrets.
Since my WM phone was near end of contract (AT&T Fuze), I upgraded to a Samsung Captivate. Beautiful phone — I love it — but not without significant problems. The hardware is great, and I am happy with Android operation and performance. The “tweakability” is not as extensive as WM was, but enough to keep an old IT geek happy. Overall, I give the Captivate an A for design, but a D for execution, given the problems with GPS, file system lag, and OS upgrade difficulties.
I recently added a second mobile phone for work, and my employer gave me a choice of BB or iPhone. I have used BBs in the past and found them unexciting for everything other than email, so I chose iPhone. Prior to this, I had never wanted an iPhone. I was one of those users who staunchly wanted the “user customization experience”, not a closed iPhone. iPhone was for those non-tech people. Silly me. After having an iPhone 4 for a few weeks, all I can say is “Wow”. It’s fast and smooth and has beautiful graphics. The integration with my corporate Exchange mail has been flawless. Likewise the integration with my personal Google account. Sure, there are some restrictions I must live with, but here’s the real deal — the iPhone just works. No crashes, no constant barrage of updates to get needed function — it just works.
Thus, by creating a big discontinuity between WM and WP7, Microsoft opened the door and invited me to try something else. I tried Android and liked it. I tried iPhone and liked it, even though I never would have bought an iPhone if Microsoft had continued to hold my interest. Essentially, with its WP7 strategy, Microsoft drove me into the hands of its competition. If WP7 is a spectacular success without my participation, then I may try it in two years, but Android and iPhone are not going to sit still.
@Matt Anderson:
I am aware of the contradiction in my evolution of phone selections. My point is that while I find tweaking and customization a fun set of activities, they are not necessary to get real work done. If I use my phone as a tool for work or personal life, rather than a toy to be changed just to see if I can make it better, then stock Android or iPhone works just fine. While I have enjoyed the “freedom” of WM phones, I found myself tiring of the constant tweaking and flashing. I can still get my tweaking thrills with my Captivate, but I am now less interested in being adventurous than in getting work done. You are correct that I slammed WP7 for being closed while praising the iPhone which is also closed — an obvious contradiction. I guess that’s because Msoft took something away that the iPhone never had. So, if I have to choose between two closed phone designs, then I choose the one that has already been proven to work by millions of users. A lot about phone choices is just emotion and personal preference anyway, so maybe I will like WP7 if I ever try it. But right now I am happy with Android and iPhone.
Like Rick, I went from the HTC Fuze to the Samsung Captivate and I am VERY happy. My only complaints are the GPS problems and E-Mail is very quirky. I’ve been watching and supporting all things WM7 but I am not 100% ready to try WP7. Being a ZuneHD owner, I love the metro interface but the tiles look cheap and cheesy…and I want to see more useful and popular apps for it before I pry this excellent Android from my hands. Bottom line…I want to see signs of success before going WP7…
@Rick – So you’re basically saying that you love to tweak and hate being locked in which is why you went from WinMo to android, avoiding Windows Phone 7. Then you come back after your little stint with Google and get an iPhone? What in the hell dude? So you dog on Windows Phone 7 for its closed nature yet you go pick up an iPhone that requires you send your entire phone off just to have the battery replaced and a total lack of ability to upgrade storage. Trust me, I’m not fully convinced on WP7 either, but I’m the early adopter sort and typically have enough tech savvy to make total disasters of form and function (for more info see the Samung Epix) into something mildly usable. You, on the other hand, have done a 180 degree turn and invalidated your own argument. That’s probably the most impressive thing that happened in that little comment of yours, but this whole “wow. my iphone works and solves world hunger and wakes me up with oral sex every morning because I don’t need a restart.” thing you’ve got going on is kind of odd. I know people with iPhones that need to restart or reconnect to itunes on a regular basis. So save your propogandistic, marketing inspired testimonies for a more appropriately structured argument that makes logical sense. I’m not denigrating your choice, just your reasoning for your choice. If you’re going to make a decision then let it be an informed decision at the least. BAH! I’m getting too angry before lunch.
I’d really like to have the option of the Pro, too, but I’m on AT&T (boo for exclusivity in handsets…). I like having the expansion slot, but if the Surround has 16G, I could live with that. Husband & I are also really examining bills and the difference between phone/DSL/DirectTV and going all U-verse is less than $50 and would give us more bandwidth and the mobile option. So I’m almost certainly getting either the Focus or the Surround (upgrade was available in Sept), it’s just a question of which: expansion or speaker? They’re so similar otherwise as far as I can tell. I’ll miss my chicklets, though. 🙁 Swype time.
HTC HD7. But not T-Mobile. There is no T-Mobile here (Greece)
@Rick:
I, like Matt, thought you invalidated your own argument. I summed up your post and came away with the following. Is this what I should take from your post?
Very soon after WP7 was made public, I decided that I would not be an early adopter. Right now I am happy with Android and iPhone. A lot about phone choices is just emotion and personal preference anyway, so maybe I may try WP7 in a year or two.
Man, Matt Anderson, that was vicious…I likey 🙂
Basically, I remember going on to blog sites and seeing screenshots of “photon” and became ridiculously uninterested in Windows Mobile 7 (as it was called at the time). I have had HTC or Audiovox Windows Mobile devices my entire smartphone “career.” I did not want to see more of the same in WM7 so that faithful day in February this year when Microsoft unveiled Windows Phone 7 with the tiles that sort of reminded me of my Xbox 360 Dashboard, I had a nerdgasm and I was hooked.
With that being said, I had put in a lot of research into my next Android device *because I was disenchanted with MS for so long* and I had to make a decision on whether to wait for WP7 or get whatever high-end Android Device Sprint had to offer in the summer when my contract allow for the early upgrade (grandfathered plan). My decision/compromise came early when i broke my TP2 and went back to my TP, dual booted it and enjoyed the energy rom/ xandroid goodness.
I’m going to have to be a late adapter because there’s no way in hell I’m leaving sprint (with this GF plan) but I’ll deal. The 7 Pro is where I will end up and if MS lets me down, I will end up with an Android device, rooted.
@yss:
Yes, you netted out my story pretty well. I guess I was pretty wordy back there, but I was trying to explain how a user’s choices can be influenced by the vendors’ actions. Because Msoft’s move to a new OS did not capture my attention, I ended up trying other platforms and liked them more than I thought I would.
@Matt Anderson, go a little easy on Rick. He didn’t get tired of Android and jump to the iPhone, he said his employer gave him a choice between that and a Blackberry, and I can certainly understand making that choice.
As for myself, I am almost up for renewal on my contract, and having spent the last year and a half with my Fuze’s 2.8 inch screen (which I still don’t regret choosing over the iPhone), I’m painfully close to buying a Streak. I just need to see it up close, handle it, and make sure I can actually put it in my pocket without constantly worrying that I’ll crack the LCD if I move the wrong way. As soon as Best Buy or AT&T stores get them in stock, a bunch of my money will be in serious jeopardy.
Yet I am intrigued by a lot of WP7’s potential upsides. The developer support could be outstanding. I don’t own an XBox, but the game support for the phone alone looks awesome. And who knows, their new interface could really be “magical” and take my breath away. Yet with all that said, I think I’m going to wait. There are just too many missing features (cut and paste? come on; I still can’t help thinking that’s a joke) that I’ve been trained, by Microsoft, into thinking I can’t do without.
@Rick:
Yeah, your first post was a classic case of tl;dr.