Re: Windows Mobile on a Cellphone
I have owned a Windows Mobile phone for about 3 years and have enjoyed having it for the few features it does have, but am now going with an Android phone for a number of reasons.
1st the reasons Windows Mobile is nice:
- You can browse the web when dearly needed (price matching while at a store is a great use).
- Calculator (seriously, likely my most used app)
- Mail sync with an Exchance server while out and about
- Has most features of Office built in
- Uses Outlook contacts for contacts list, so what you change on your Pc, changes on the phone (and vise versa)
- Tons of applications out there (some are even useful)
- Plenty of GPS software out there, so you can use it as your main GPS, as well.
The reason I'm leaving Windows Mobile:
- Casual browsing is stupidly annoying. It's a 3" screen, remember.
- Mail sync over the network only works with Exchange server. I can't stress this one enough. Non-exchange driven mail means you have to connect via bluetooth or USB in order to sync your mail.
- 99% of the software which makes this useful is $20+, which means the phone will be the cheapest part of actually using it.
- Microsoft wants to keep the 'Windows' look so badly, they prevent app makers from making truly innovative apps. All of the apps which make the mobile phone, like the iphone, useful aren't possible on the Windows Mobile phone because the GUI is locked down.
- After buying tons of apps and trying out literally nearly 100 others over the years, the only apps I end up using are the utility apps which make the phone remotely usable (the interface is atrocious), calculator, Uno (the game), and iGuidance (GPS software). I don't even use it for mail anymore, since I don't have an exchange server and connecting the USB is a pain, since when I'm not using it, I'd rather it be charging, and moving it between PC and charger and my pocket, though seemingly simple, will wear on you and you will end up never syncing it and, subsequently, using just as a phone, killing the point of the brick altogether.
The reason I'm going to Android:
- Fairly open source OS
- Open source community is embracing it, which means tons of free apps which are actually useful
- App store is not mandated to install apps (no need to hack the phone to use it)
- Fully customizable interface. App developers can write completely unique apps withotu restriction.
- Did I mention the interface is customizable? This means as times change, so can your phone, intependant of the OS maker getting their butts in gear.
- iPhone app nazis don't decide what apps you can use
- No additional $40/mo data plan required (unlike iPhone)
- Sync your mail over the network (no MS Exchange server required)
- Sync your mail over the network (no MS Exchange server required)
- Did I mention syncing your PDA phone over the network.. the whole point of a PDA phone?!
- The interface is just plain easy to use and pretty (completely unlike MS Mobile)
- If there are bugs in the Os, they can be fixed by anyone. (No such thing as Windows Update on a Windows Mobile phone)
Now, as you read this, you may think I am a Windows Mobile hater and be tempted to disregard this post, but keep in mind, moving away from Windows Mobile to Andriod means I lose all of the apps I already own (hundred of dollars easily) and have to find equivalent apps on Andriod, so the change is not one I am looking forward to. It is worth the switch for me, simply because the things windows Mobile does poorly (or not at all) are the exact reasons PDA phones are really getting popular nowadays. They must sync with your desktop, without issue, from anywhere, look pretty, be easy to use, change with the times, and be updateable. None of these things MS does well, most of which are on purpose (to sell Exchange server or sell a new phone, or cross-sell Windows OS).
Are MS Phone (the new name MS is giving their OS) phones utterly useless? No, so long as your fit in that sliver of a market which uses Exchange server, never syncs at home and uses Calculator ALL the time. Otherwise, go iPhone or Android without a doubt. MS just doesn't do phones well, especially for the non-corporate type.
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