I know i'm going to ruffle a few feathers with this one, but what the heck, I actually HOPE I ruffle more than a few! Windows Mobile is now in its 6th version and what is it biggest draw back? its still "Windows".
OS being one of the most important factors when getting a smartphone, there are still a number of OS options in the market for smartphones. However, Symbian is the most prolific and mature OS for these devices by far. So for the most users this choice is made easier compared to other factors when looking for a smartphone. Though there is a small faction of users, who still feel Windows Mobile might be the right choice when getting their first (and possibly second) smartphone. A little puzzling as it might be, lets consider what type of users might fall under this category:
a. American users:
Obviously not the smartest of the smartphone users on the planet. Many of the American mobile phone users are still learning to SMS. No wonder its the only place on earth where Symbian users are still a minority. The cave dwelling Taliban are rumoured to be more mobile savvy than the average american citizen.
b. First time smartphone users:
Many smartphone users are still first timers and coming from a PC background so they feel a Windows Mobile based phone might be easier to use than a Symbian one. An unfortunate assumption which often leads such users to a lengthy cycle of frustration from one WM phone to another till they finally make the jump to a better OS (google on it a bit).
c. Mislead by the name "Windows" Mobile:
Some new users are under the impression that having Windows Mobile means the smartphone would have better support for MS Office files, and sync better with their PC windows. This might be an unfortunate assumption and they cant be blamed for it. One would expect a Microsoft OS to work better Microsoft's own products. New users somehow believe that a Windows Mobile phone would give better usage of MS Office files or online services from MSN, and better synchronization with their Windows based PC. But then again... what a silly assumption. How can someone not be aware of the unreliability and sluggishness that is synonymous with Windows name. Ironically Windows Mobile is probably the worst OS in this regard (arguably right? so go on and argue).
d. Little hand-held PC:
There are still people who think having a smartphone is like having a hand held PC that can make phone calls. Such users might feel that "rebooting" the phone now and then, just like the PC, is normal. That it is normal for their smartphone to keep getting sluggish if not rebooted now and then (google on it, will ya?), it is normal for the OS to suck the life (battery life) out of the phone. They have just learned to live with the frustration and take it as the norm. So with such low expectations, they can kinda cope with the frustrations of Windows Mobile.
You're not getting the picture yet? let me share one of the postings on Gizmodo. This message was posted as a response to an article about frustrations with Windows Mobile 6 on the Moto Q9m:
"Maybe using a touchscreen Pocket PC makes me immune to these frustrations. I dont see how a non-touchscreen Q should be compared to a touchscreen Iphone for usability".
Fortunately, users tend to change our phone (even smartphones) far quicker than they change their PC or any of their other electronic devices for that matter. So its still not a big loss if their first smartphone is not the right one.
And by the way... if any of you got any issues with this post, let me give you some idea what kind of mobile phones I use:
Bilal
http://elanist.com/bilal
OS being one of the most important factors when getting a smartphone, there are still a number of OS options in the market for smartphones. However, Symbian is the most prolific and mature OS for these devices by far. So for the most users this choice is made easier compared to other factors when looking for a smartphone. Though there is a small faction of users, who still feel Windows Mobile might be the right choice when getting their first (and possibly second) smartphone. A little puzzling as it might be, lets consider what type of users might fall under this category:
a. American users:
Obviously not the smartest of the smartphone users on the planet. Many of the American mobile phone users are still learning to SMS. No wonder its the only place on earth where Symbian users are still a minority. The cave dwelling Taliban are rumoured to be more mobile savvy than the average american citizen.
b. First time smartphone users:
Many smartphone users are still first timers and coming from a PC background so they feel a Windows Mobile based phone might be easier to use than a Symbian one. An unfortunate assumption which often leads such users to a lengthy cycle of frustration from one WM phone to another till they finally make the jump to a better OS (google on it a bit).
c. Mislead by the name "Windows" Mobile:
Some new users are under the impression that having Windows Mobile means the smartphone would have better support for MS Office files, and sync better with their PC windows. This might be an unfortunate assumption and they cant be blamed for it. One would expect a Microsoft OS to work better Microsoft's own products. New users somehow believe that a Windows Mobile phone would give better usage of MS Office files or online services from MSN, and better synchronization with their Windows based PC. But then again... what a silly assumption. How can someone not be aware of the unreliability and sluggishness that is synonymous with Windows name. Ironically Windows Mobile is probably the worst OS in this regard (arguably right? so go on and argue).
d. Little hand-held PC:
There are still people who think having a smartphone is like having a hand held PC that can make phone calls. Such users might feel that "rebooting" the phone now and then, just like the PC, is normal. That it is normal for their smartphone to keep getting sluggish if not rebooted now and then (google on it, will ya?), it is normal for the OS to suck the life (battery life) out of the phone. They have just learned to live with the frustration and take it as the norm. So with such low expectations, they can kinda cope with the frustrations of Windows Mobile.
You're not getting the picture yet? let me share one of the postings on Gizmodo. This message was posted as a response to an article about frustrations with Windows Mobile 6 on the Moto Q9m:
"Maybe using a touchscreen Pocket PC makes me immune to these frustrations. I dont see how a non-touchscreen Q should be compared to a touchscreen Iphone for usability".
Fortunately, users tend to change our phone (even smartphones) far quicker than they change their PC or any of their other electronic devices for that matter. So its still not a big loss if their first smartphone is not the right one.
And by the way... if any of you got any issues with this post, let me give you some idea what kind of mobile phones I use:
Bilal
http://elanist.com/bilal
9 comments:
One of the biggest advantage of windows mobile is the builtin support for .net framework compact. Which gives you a possibility of new world of ideas for the developers.
but thats actually not an an advantage is it? specially to the user. every OS has its own development framework. if Windows Mobile doesnt even have supporet for .net then it doesnt have much to offer to developers at all.
I plan to buy a windows mobile only because of skype.
Nay, why would you need Windows Mobile just for skype? Skype has been available on Symbian for nearly 2 years now.
In fact with Fring you can use pretty much all the main IM and VopIP service on Symbian.
Wow, insulting a whole country, and then pretending you'll shoot us if we disagree.
I'm sure that cell phone gun would work wonders against a cruise missile launched from miles away.
BOOM!
Seriously, one good reason to use Windows Mobile is the large software library available.
I've never used a Symbian phone, but what kind of third-party development do they have? (I'm asking, not doubting, OK....)
As for Fring, that works on Windows Mobile, too.
see Pony99, I didnt insult the americans for their mobile phone usage, the japanese did (click on the link in that post). Its ok for some countries to bomb the crap out of civilians, but I pull out my little piece and everyone feels threatend yea? :P
ok back to biz. I cant understand why people keep thinking they should buy a Windows Mobile phone because of this software or that. Dont you guys read around on the net? specially my blog of course :) much more than twice the number of smartphones run on Symbian than ALL other phone OS's combined together. You think they would lack software? Also Symbian has more native software and the applications faster. It has BETTER support for MS Office files than WM! read up people! and USE symbian smartphones for comparison before you end up with a slow sluggish brick that needs as much rebooting as your windows PC.
by the Pony, you can check out some of the Symbian software (including shareware/freeware) at sites like allaboutsymbian.com, my-symbian.com and symtopia.com
there are many other places of course, just google it.
Sorry, but you did insult Americans. You said, "Obviously not the smartest of the smartphone users on the planet. Many of the American mobile phone users are still learning to SMS. No wonder its the only place on earth where Symbian users are still a minority. The cave dwelling Taliban are rumoured to be more mobile savvy than the average american citizen."
Only the bold text above was a link and there were no quotation marks around anything else, so the rest is your opinion, not theirs. Don't try to hide behind a smokescreen like that.
As for applications, I visited Handango, which lists 17,864 Windows Mobile applications and 9,674 Symbian programs. That's close to 2-to-1.
Whoa take it easy pony99ca, it was a pun intended for smartphone usage by Americans, as you quoted it yourself eh? if you feel insulted (probably should) maybe you can run a campaign to educate your fellow country men about smartphones. Oh and yes as I mentioned in my earlier reply, the Japs did do a better job of "insulting" the American mobile phone usage :) do check it, its cute.
As for software you might wanna check the post on 23 Jan, it lists some of the major resources of software, particularly for Symbian with tens of thousands of titles.
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