Need OG thoughts on...

[Kevin OQuinn]

Windows Phone 7. Yep I said it. I have a Zune pass and really enjoy it. The videos look promising and we'll see the handsets tomorrow. I already know it won't be on Sprint, which isn't a problem for me (I work for an AT&T retailer so I would save money). I'm not trying to start an argument just want honest opinions about a new platform entering the market.

(I hope the MODs don't move this because I want EVO owner (power-users specifically) opinions)

 

[igotsanevo4g]

Well I wouldn't touch it, considering the biggest devs/goals on win mo always try to get Android running on the Windows devices lol.

I don't see any benefits.

 

[Luce]

I have not seen anything compelling enough for me to even consider a phone with Windows 7.

My question would be. What intrigues you?

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

Well I wouldn't touch it, considering the biggest devs/goals on win mo always try to get Android running on the Windows devices lol.

I don't see any benefits.

Yeah I've noticed that too LOL. A benefit specific to me would be all the music I have on Zune would be able to be used on my phone. I could get rhapsody or something that has an app for Android but then the zuneHD's that I've invested in would be useless.

I'm not against Android at all (I love it) but I also really dig the UI of the zuneHD (which is what WP7 is gonna be like). It'll be interesting to see what the reactions are by the press and blogs tomorrow.

 

[igotsanevo4g]

Yeah. Well it looks like im in with Evo for the long haul (year) so the rest can wait haha.

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

I have not seen anything compelling enough for me to even consider a phone with Windows 7.

My question would be. What intrigues you?

My coworkers got to (briefly) play with the prototype Samsung WP7 and came away thoroughly impressed. Two of them are on Android now (albeit one is carrying a Backflip but is all about Android, the other a Captivate). They said the OS was extremely smooth and responsive. Like Iphone smooth.

Also the integration with Zune (which is kinda a big deal to me) and xbox live (not so much of a big deal). Most of the apps I care about are already rumored to be launched with WP7 or soon after, so that's not a worry.

I'm always interested in the new stuff (I got a Pre on launch day, too) and it looks nice to me IMHO.

 

[igotsanevo4g]

My coworkers got to (briefly) play with the prototype Samsung WP7 and came away thoroughly impressed. Two of them are on Android now (albeit one is carrying a Backflip but is all about Android, the other a Captivate). They said the OS was extremely smooth and responsive. Like Iphone smooth.

Also the integration with Zune (which is kinda a big deal to me) and xbox live (not so much of a big deal). Most of the apps I care about are already rumored to be launched with WP7 or soon after, so that's not a worry.

I'm always interested in the new stuff (I got a Pre on launch day, too) and it looks nice to me IMHO.

Hide your kids, we have a traitor in the midst. Haha

Hey, if that stuffs important to ya then id say hell yeah get a WP7. You can always return it within 30 days on att&t right?

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

HAHA I haven't made my decision yet. Yeah I could return it. I wanna see what the "experts" say and wait until we get the actual phones in and see what I think before I decide for sure. I hate to take a chance on a v1.0 OS again and get burned (like with webOS).

Plus I would be saving a ton of money each month (and who knows when AT&T will have a high end HTC Android phone).

 

[bnrbranding]

It sounds like you've already decided, and really you can't go wrong since you get 30 days to make a judgment. Having come from a WinMo phone, it wasn't all that bad really. However the availability of apps is horrible and while customization is far superior to iPhone it does leave a lot to be desired. There are also the little matter of getting an MS product before SP1. Big gamble.

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

It sounds like you've already decided, and really you can't go wrong since you get 30 days to make a judgment. Having come from a WinMo phone, it wasn't all that bad really. However the availability of apps is horrible and while customization is far superior to iPhone it does leave a lot to be desired. There are also the little matter of getting an MS product before SP1. Big gamble.

Apps are the other thing I'm interested to hear about. Some of the big ones are already there (Netlfix, Facebook, Twitter, iheartradio, Slacker, Pandora, etc) (TBH I don't really use that many apps)

I would miss the customization (I know it's customizable but that's not the same as flashing ROM's )

Damn me and having to have the newest thing (even if it might not be the best). I'm an early adopter and I do get burned.

 

[supchaka]

I played with windows back on a HTC ohhh Mogul it was. It was version 6 though and GOD was it bad, bad enough I dont ever want to give them another chance. That thing would always lock up and 4 hours later Id wonder why all my friends werent callin or texting me, only to find out they actually had been.

I tried a second windows phone which I dont recall, and it got returned as quickly as the mogul. I ended up going back to the blackberry. From there I went to a Pre, then to the EVO. So yeah, they may have made them better now but I'm pretty jaded from my past experience and dont really feel like trying again.

 

[KSmithInNY]

I say buy the phone that suits your needs the best. You won't be happy if you just "make due", if another device is going to suit more of your needs that you feel are critical.

Make sure you give the device the full 30 day test drive before making the commitment obviously. I think what you're going to see with WP7 is an OS that's in it's infancy, and is only going to be partially baked, not dogging them but that's how ALL OS's are at launch. I think the OS itself will likely be stable and fine to use, but i also think there's going to be a lot of features you may have come to expect from a phone thanks to the likes of apple and Google, that just aren't going to be available at launch on WP7.

Every phone/OS is going to have strengths and weaknesses. It's your job to figure out which one best matches your needs . I certainly hope you decide to stick with Android but wouldn't hold it against anyone for making the best decision for them, even if that means leaving Android.

 

[d3xn2o]

I agree with Ksmith

Its a young OS with a ton of potential... I personally like it but im an Android nut thru and thru...

at the end of the day what is best for you?

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

I say buy the phone that suits your needs the best. You won't be happy if you just "make due", if another device is going to suit more of your needs that you feel are critical.

Make sure you give the device the full 30 day test drive before making the commitment obviously. I think what you're going to see with WP7 is an OS that's in it's infancy, and is only going to be partially baked, not dogging them but that's how ALL OS's are at launch. I think the OS itself will likely be stable and fine to use, but i also think there's going to be a lot of features you may have come to expect from a phone thanks to the likes of apple and Google, that just aren't going to be available at launch on WP7.

Every phone/OS is going to have strengths and weaknesses. It's your job to figure out which one best matches your needs . I certainly hope you decide to stick with Android but wouldn't hold it against anyone for making the best decision for them, even if that means leaving Android.

I agree with Ksmith

Its a young OS with a ton of potential... I personally like it but im an Android nut thru and thru...

at the end of the day what is best for you?

I have quickly become an Android nut, too, (if you can't tell from my join date and number of posts) but I'm kinda tired of carrying around two devices (I have a zune pass that I LOVE for me and the girlfriend). I highly doubt that Microsoft will release a Zune app for Android. If they did I wouldn't switch. That plus the fact that I like the way the UI is set up.

Unless the reviews come back bad (or even mediocre) or the phones suck (which I don't think they will, one of them is made by HTC) I might give it a spin. Of course this could all be because of the hype of the launch and my desire to try the new kid on the block could go away by the time it actually comes out.

I have yet to personally handle one of the phones so I'm not making my decision until I do that.

My girlfriend will still have her EVO, though, so I'll still be lurking on here even if I do decide to switch. (have you looked at the windows forums? they are baren! LOL)

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

I played with windows back on a HTC ohhh Mogul it was. It was version 6 though and GOD was it bad, bad enough I dont ever want to give them another chance. That thing would always lock up and 4 hours later Id wonder why all my friends werent callin or texting me, only to find out they actually had been.

I tried a second windows phone which I dont recall, and it got returned as quickly as the mogul. I ended up going back to the blackberry. From there I went to a Pre, then to the EVO. So yeah, they may have made them better now but I'm pretty jaded from my past experience and dont really feel like trying again.

I feel the same way about Blackberry. I don't like the whole "blackberry experience" that some people get caught up in. But if they did a complete reboot of the OS I would give them a second look.

Look at how many loyal Palm fans went to webOS just because it was Palm. (not quite the same but you know what I mean)

 

[enzofall]

I think potential is the best way to describe this platform... what they will do with this potential is going to be interesting

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

I think potential is the best way to describe this platform... what they will do with this potential is going to be interesting

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

Agreed. They already have some big name apps launching with the OS (Netflix, which doesn't have an official Android app yet for one) and the minimum system requirements ALMOST guarantees a smooth OS experience.

 

[supchaka]

I feel the same way about Blackberry. I don't like the whole "blackberry experience" that some people get caught up in. But if they did a complete reboot of the OS I would give them a second look.

Look at how many loyal Palm fans went to webOS just because it was Palm. (not quite the same but you know what I mean)

Its funny to find someone who doesnt like blackberry! well to me, sorta. I mean in general they arent a super fun phone, my work requires I have one since we have proprietary software on them. I've been using a BB for work for 10 years now, back when they had no color, no nothing, it was a glorified beeper really.

But I'll be damned if they arent a bulletproof phone! I get a new one every year or so, and I put those things through the ringer. Being a mechanic of sorts, I've bashed that thing and dropped it more times than I can even count. Never an issue with one, in 10 years!

I've dropped my evo once, from about 12 inches just onto my desk when I was playing with it and I puckered. I know a drop pretty much from anywhere to a hard surface is probably gonna break my screen. So thats the big trade off to me, awesome phone that you handle like an infant. I dont know where I was going with all this, but anyways

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

Its funny to find someone who doesnt like blackberry! well to me, sorta. I mean in general they arent a super fun phone, my work requires I have one since we have proprietary software on them. I've been using a BB for work for 10 years now, back when they had no color, no nothing, it was a glorified beeper really.

But I'll be damned if they arent a bulletproof phone! I get a new one every year or so, and I put those things through the ringer. Being a mechanic of sorts, I've bashed that thing and dropped it more times than I can even count. Never an issue with one, in 10 years!

I've dropped my evo once, from about 12 inches just onto my desk when I was playing with it and I puckered. I know a drop pretty much from anywhere to a hard surface is probably gonna break my screen. So thats the big trade off to me, awesome phone that you handle like an infant. I dont know where I was going with all this, but anyways

I agree that they are bulletproof phones (for the most part). I just don't like the OS. The new version 6.0 is a lot better, but the hardware is behind the times now. I know they have their advantages and a great at some things, but I've just never been able to get into them. My impression of them is that they are a phone of utility, you get it because you need a few key features that Blackberry offers (like the software your company uses), while others like Android or iOS tries to strike more of a balance between being fun and functional.

When you wanna show a phone of to a friend I bet you don't pull out the Blackberry, right?

 

[Aspiring Developer]

does WP7 allow you to write your own apps? If not I'll stick with android.