How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile

smoove21 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-29-2009, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kabuk1

The biggest reason people like other OSes better(IMO) is for the shiny factor. "Oooh look it's so pretty! It just has to be the better product!"

I also suspect that WM is often too hard for the average schmoe to figure out how to use properly so people get frustrated & trade it in for an iPhone. I know people with Touch Pros who have had them for months & still have everything stock because they cannot figure out how to change anything.

Sure, some other OSes might be more stable, but at the cost of customizability. I can deal with a glitch now & then for a highly versatile device which I can truly make my own. I'd much rather have total freedom than be given a list of apps that are "safe" to install.

lol you do realize that in defending windows, your post spoke about all of its flaws with the exception to being slow. Thats what alot of us are trying to explain. We all love windows but it just needs work. I read in an earlier post when someone spoke about microsoft didnt expect so many business users to jump ship. Why wouldnt they? If im trying to do business, be it making a phone call, sending an email or doing a powerpoint presentation.. I wouldnt want my phone freezing up right when i need it most. Yes windows was made for business users first and foremost but if i can get another phone/os that can do the same core things so to speak and do them faster and with more stability then of course thats my choice. It's all about working smarter and not harder. Windows mobile was somewhat of an only choice back then, that's why it had so much success. Now all that "its for business users" crap doesn't stick. Its not even the best in its own niche anymore. We all love or ppc's, heck i still have my touch pro 2, but most people are growing impatient with microsoft and their lack of urgency..

**x10guy** · #2 (**permalink**) 11-30-2009, 02:49 AM

I think all we need to ask ourselves is this one question.

If it weren't for PPCgeeks or XDA, would we still be using Winmo phones?

That's the problem with Winmo, it really is not that great without a bunch of tweaks and customization. I mean custimization is nice but most of the general public isn't into that...

We like Winmo once we've tweaked it to our liking but the reality is that we are a minority and that minority is shrinking every year.
And yeah, I agree wholeheartedly with Smoove21. The line "Winmo is for business users"... is really a cop out.

**w7excursion** · #3 (**permalink**) 11-30-2009, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by x10guy

I think all we need to ask ourselves is this one question.

If it weren't for PPCgeeks or XDA, would we still be using Winmo phones?

That's the problem with Winmo, it really is not that great without a bunch of tweaks and customization. I mean custimization is nice but most of the general public isn't into that...

We like Winmo once we've tweaked it to our liking but the reality is that we are a minority and that minority is shrinking every year.
And yeah, I agree wholeheartedly with Smoove21. The line "Winmo is for business users"... is really a cop out.

Couldnt this analysis apply to android and webos also? I mean to get it working to peoples liking they have to root or use homebrew correct? Meaning no OS is perfect and they all have to be changed in some way in many peoples eyes. Im not bashing any OS but they all need work from what I have read. By the way I have never flashed a custom rom on any of my phones and the only time I have had a problem it was due to hardware failure which can happen on any phone.

smoove21 · #4 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by w7excursion

Couldnt this analysis apply to android and webos also? I mean to get it working to peoples liking they have to root or use homebrew correct? Meaning no OS is perfect and they all have to be changed in some way in many peoples eyes. Im not bashing any OS but they all need work from what I have read. By the way I have never flashed a custom rom on any of my phones and the only time I have had a problem it was due to hardware failure which can happen on any phone.

No u cant. I believe what he meant was that unlike other OS's windows mobile is the most unstable and slow out the bunch. To be finger friendly/fast and/or stable windows has to be tweaked and/or skinned. You dont see a blackberry,iphone or either of the two webos devices being shipped with a different UI skin. The only reason android is skinned is to make it prettier but its pretty fast/stable and user friendly when shipped stock as well. Unlike the others windows mobile imho needs to be skinned or its basically crap. It isnt really user-friendly out the box like the others. We need sites like ppcgeeks/xda to help stabilize/tweak windows because microsoft is too slow/lazy to do it themselves.

**x10guy** · #5 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 12:13 PM

Good point. TouchFlo3D is HTC's attempt to cover up Windows Mobile (Today screen). They HAD to do that because Windows mobile by itself is just embarassing.

**Noir** · #6 (**permalink**) 11-30-2009, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by x10guy

I think all we need to ask ourselves is this one question.

If it weren't for PPCgeeks or XDA, would we still be using Winmo phones?

That's the problem with Winmo, it really is not that great without a bunch of tweaks and customization. I mean custimization is nice but most of the general public isn't into that...

We like Winmo once we've tweaked it to our liking but the reality is that we are a minority and that minority is shrinking every year.
And yeah, I agree wholeheartedly with Smoove21. The line "Winmo is for business users"... is really a cop out.

at one point I didn't have htc device. Was I ready to go to ATT and iphone? no absolutely not. I needed a qwerty keyboard that marginally worked and did what I needed it to do. Would that mean I would've used android? Little support of office and while new, design of phones were lackluster and the web interface is difficult with sites that use authentication (eg library sites for research)

So I would probably be with windows mobile just because of the immense amount of apps for it and other things...

Yeah I'd still be windows and hoping windows cleans up their act

Quote:

The new ZuneHD is awesome, but it's more expensive than the iTouch.

in which galaxy?

**x10guy** · #7 (**permalink**) 11-30-2009, 07:03 PM

I think there is a misunderstanding what the thread is about.

It is NOT about why we use Winmo devices over something else... Almost every single person who contributed to this thread uses Winmo. We all like it and use it. I definitely prefer it over the competition right now.

So there is NO argument why we have chosen Winmo. The issue is how Microsoft which has had the most time, money, and handsets just simply blew the leadership they once held. I mean it's not even close anymore. Winmo is like 3rd soon to be in 4th place.

thejacer · #8 (**permalink**) 12-02-2009, 03:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by x10guy

So there is NO argument why we have chosen Winmo. The issue is how Microsoft which has had the most time, money, and handsets just simply blew the leadership they once held. I mean it's not even close anymore. Winmo is like 3rd soon to be in 4th place.

apple released its first attempt at a pda less than 2 years after microsoft (who was the second or third guest to the party btw) and had to ditch it completely in 1998(6 years later). less than 10 years before it released its iphone, making the iphoneOS its second attempt. One of the biggest reasons was their failure to provide a sufficient handwriting recognition program (failure to innovate? MS had one). MS has already pushed Apple out of the mobile world once. But honestly call it for what it REALLY is: MS may have lost sight but Apple spent 9 years planning their return.

**x10guy** · #9 (**permalink**) 12-02-2009, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thejacer

apple released its first attempt at a pda less than 2 years after microsoft (who was the second or third guest to the party btw) and had to ditch it completely in 1998(6 years later). less than 10 years before it released its iphone, making the iphoneOS its second attempt. One of the biggest reasons was their failure to provide a sufficient handwriting recognition program (failure to innovate? MS had one). MS has already pushed Apple out of the mobile world once. But honestly call it for what it REALLY is: MS may have lost sight but Apple spent 9 years planning their return.

Yup the good ol' Newton was a bust but you can't be serious about MS pushing Apple out of the mobile world once. MS didn't push them out, it was simply not a good product.
Yeah it took 9 years, but then again what did Microsoft do during those 9 years? That's really what this thread is about... Microsoft has been in the mobile OS business the LONGEST and yet look where they are now.

thejacer · #10 (**permalink**) 12-02-2009, 03:56 PM

The newton was around for 6 years and saw several different iterations. in the end though it was their inability to innovate and provide the consumer with the experience they longed for that forced them out of the market. oh how easy it must be to watch your competitor do all your work for you while u spend 9 years plotting your return. Just imagine what the iphone would have looked like had it not been for all of the unhappy winmo users complaining about finger this swipe that. There is no excuse for MS being so far behind in the game after the iphone showed them what the users really want (a ball and chain with a much less than impressive UI). I think part of the reason behind this is MS has always made software to run on someone elses hardware, thus providing a UI that is easily overlayed and not missed thereafter. But thats not what the users (aside from me) wants so shame on them.

The newton thing is mainly just to address all those who think apple got it right they're first time out and cant possibly make mistakes.