An Android user’s Windows Phone 7 experience

April 3, 2011 | By Surur

It would be exaggerating to say that everyone who tries Windows Phone 7 likes it, but it certainly happens often enough that critics can not have an informed opinion about the future of the OS without having had a hands-on first.

Philip Turpin, an Android user and developer from Appbase has given Windows phone 7 a once-over for a few days and came away impressed with the OS and its potential.

He writes:

Having just played with a WP7 phone for the last few days it’s my belief that it DOES stand a chance. A good chance.

I’m an Android fan, heck I’m writing this on my phone (so if you see any ridiculous typos, you know why), and I love my Android phone but WP7 has something.

My initial reaction was "hey, this is crap compared to Android, I can’t even customise it." But after using it for a while I see that I don’t really need to. Android’s great for customisation and granular control but the problem with almost all the people here (myself included) is that we’re looking at this from a techie’s point of view. As someone pointed out, most Android users wont even know what rooting is and likely wont even know what a task killer is. How many Android users know what Linux is let alone care that Android is Linux?

Now look at how Apple have cornered the market? Simplicity. People don’t have to think when using iOS. It just works (so I’ve been told). WP7 is trying to be like that (& it comes pretty damn close). It also looks and flows quite nicely. Now look at the kind of person who used to buy Nokia phones? Your mum, grandma etc. Do they want to root a phone? Can they be bothered with Task Killers? (Heck, do you even need one on WP7? I know I haven’t. Yet). Also think about how many businesses/ corporations had stock Nokia handsets in the 90′s and 00′s (yes, I’m aware that we’ve come along since then) and now think about how many businesses have an existing MS infrastructure? The Nokia/WP marriage is perfect for them.

I don’t think that WP7 will gain the majority spot in the market (but, sadly, I’m not infallible but I think it’ll be a lot more successful than most give credit for. I use Linux as my desktop & dev environment and Android for my phone and I dearly love them both however I am going to invest in a Windows Phone dev environment because I’d be stupid not to.

As Windows Phone 7 gains more penetration I am sure it will also gain an increasing number of converts, primarily due to the focus on a good user experience. And no, we we do not need a task killer on Windows phone 7.

Via TracyandMatt.co.uk

About Surur

Site Admin and Windows Phone enthusiast, he has been using Windows Mobile devices since before they were called PocketPC’s. He is currently sporting a HTC 7 Trophy.

Tagged android, windows phone 7

kmno2168

Great review. I like wp7 a lot! So happy I switched. But the best part of this article was how the Android didn't sit and rip on wp7. Android, IOS and wp7 all have positives. Just good to read an article without any fanboy bashing.
MadGaffler

yea those are pretty much all the reasons i left and am not looking back.
ejlee2006

Its been 6mos, we all have to let it grow, and be ready for the big dance.
Screw Android, they can have everything for now, they can have all the market share they want, but we all know everything doesnt last forever.
FYI HTC is paying royalty fees to msft, this is another fact that all the stat doesnt talk about.
Wayne Williams

I can't even customise it! LOL

Since when is customization of the UI representative of a better cell phone? This is why I HATE Android.

http://www.facebook.com/people/John-Bascom/505515024 John Bascom

now that google is trying to take control of the customization away from the carriers thats ok, because google is doing it.
http://www.facebook.com/J88NYR Jonny Rose

Exactly it, thats one thing that worried me before I got WP7, but now I realized the only reason I liked customization, is because the previous OS's that I used were not very good!

Kenn Sanchez

Its definitely a treat to be able to see a non-biased opinion on the WP7 Operating system. Don't get me wrong, I own an HTC G2 on T-Mobile but, I am also sold ny the WP7 system. I believe it has promise
Microsoft isn't the company that it is without its technical issues (I.e. Explorer, MS Word, ECT…). Great evaluation. Thanks fir being honest.
http://twitter.com/chmun77 @chmun77

Put in Mango and WP7 will fly eventually. With app switching and multitasking added, WP7 will have its power unleashed!!

Kenn Sanchez

I'm hanging in there calmly. I am the proud owner of a Samsung Focus. I actually won it as a prize at work and I am forever grateful because I just love my WP7. Wish me luck. Thanks for your input.
jplayer01

In my opinion, WP7 has bigger issues than the lack of multitasking. Bad landscape support? Half-assed Skydrive integration? Unreliable patch schedules? Lack of communication? Lack of transparency?

WP7 needs 100% backing by Microsoft and that means listening to their customers and acting in the best interest of their customers. It *doesn't* mean protecting partners/carriers who screw up (Yahoo's extremely delayed fix, carriers dragging their heels in regards to rolling out a major patch).

jimski

Not trying to defend Microsoft here, but do Apple (antennagate) or Google (fragmentation-rouge apps) really listen to their customers or act in their best interests. I don't understand why Microsoft is always held to a higher standard than everyone else.

Unless I really underestimate Microsoft's ability to do something successful, they probably have a very detailed WP roadmap going out at at least a couple years. Sure, there are some bumps in the road but I bet they are right on track and everything so far has gone as expected, as far as their expectations are concerned. I am enjoying the ride.

mamacita42

This writer makes perfect sense!
bongky

Great review. Now I am sincerely hoping HTC will put in a dual-core processor with appx. 768 RAM and 1GB ROM into their upcoming WP7. The qHD screen (960×540 pixels) is also a very welcomed feature. I am not willing to jump into the Android bandwagon. Come on HTC, bring out a WP7 monster, like how you bring out an Android beast (EVO 3D).

clips

1gb rom? That would be horrible!

https://www.facebook.com/people/Sergey-Durnov/100000964100298 Sergey Durnov

Ultra customisation – why can we need such thing? Only if we have really bad UI with incomplete experience. WP7 does have great UI, no need to do it highly customizable. It has enought tunes to make a personalization – change lockscreen, accent color, tiles.
Follow @TerezHarris

Extra Customizations and Live Wallpapers Is The Reason Why The EVO Can't Last 3Hours Without A Charger In Handy.. iOS Began The Whole Simplified UI And OS Altogether, WP7 Jumped On That Brilliant Idea.. I Do Admire Android Being An Open Source System Running Off A Kernel, being able to root it and all, but that is pretty much possible on any device.. Just HOW is the question
Suce mes balles

WP7 will be the best OS when he will simultaneously (i) be as simple as iOS AND (ii) be as open as Android is or WinMo used to be.

It will then be the best of both Worlds.
I love WP7 but miss the USB drive too much. I like to be able to simply drag and drop a AVI movie files and watch it one second later on my phone. How I hate the Zune thing (I never purchased an iPhone because I hated to be bound to iTunes).

billybob

Completely agree. I hate being tied to zune. USB is much easier and quicker.
somakbhattacharyya

You can use your WP7 as an USB. Check Out: http://www.bing.com/search?q=Use+Windows+Phone+7+…

I use it and it works!!!

Denis J. Sharkaat

Spot on.
http://www.facebook.com/adrian.smale Adrian Smale

I don't miss the hours I wasted 'customizing' Windows mobile (various shells good as they were in one sense) to make the WM better and soft booting the phone 2-3 times a day on average…WP7 is clean, fast and fluid and with windows live/facebook everything just syncs (I don't miss active sync either!!).Sure we need better doc sync, but it's a great phone. I think the simplicity is something MS doesn't make enough of. My wife will be getting her first real smartphone this week, a WP7 phone…why…it's so simple & quick to use, the controls are large/obvious/clear when you compare it with the clutter and complexity of Andriod/iOS and particularly Blackberry for the non tekkie (i.e. most people!!)
Jeeees

Who needs task killers on android anyway? That's for douches!
Beside that he's totally right!
Tiremfej

I was an Android user. Not a big fan. I would say Android is a "Guru Users" phone. I can gurantee 80% of the people that have Android phones, have no idea what is possible on it. out of those 80%, 2% would probably actually find it interesting if they actually knew what Android can do.

The iPhone is a fashion statement, Apple is a fashion statement. It is a very metro and cool look. I personally have never had an iPhone, but I really liked my iPod Touch until…I got my Windows Phone…

I think the UI of the Windows Phone is sleek and quick, there are a couple things I would change, but honestly this is hands down the best phone I have ever had. I have become MS' slave…from my Xbox 360, to Windows 7, to my Windows Phone, my house is connected all because of MS…and you know what? I'm happy! As more apps come out I am really getting into this phone…I am a big fan!