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Print 46 comment(s) - last by wordsworm.. on Nov 12 at 9:11 PM
Microsoft/Nokia/AT&T are going for the throat with Lumia 920 pricing

Is $99 for the Nokia Lumia 920 cheap enough to make you switch to Windows Phone 8?
  • I'm already on Windows Phone (472 votes)
  •  
    8%
  • I'm still on (iOS, Android, Blackberry OS) and am not ready to make a switch (3,097 votes)
  •  
    55%
  • For $99, I'll make a move (963 votes)
  •  
    17%
  • Even if it were free, I still wouldn't switch to Windows Phone (1,085 votes)
  •  
    19%

  • 5,617 total votes

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RE: You Wouldn't Get One if it Was Free?
By adrift02 on 11/6/2012 1:11:03 PM , Rating: 2
The issue for me is that even if it's free I'm technically locking myself into the Windows platform for two years. If it was $99 without a contract, sure. But I've never tried Microsoft's mobile software or its app store and that 2 year contract looks like a huge risk.

I'm using Android and will be switching to iOS in December for one simple reason -- ease of use. I'm actually a power user of Android (fully rooted/custom roms, PRL hacks, the whole package) but the added power and capability I get with an open platform also leads to its biggest shortcoming -- lag and bugs. If you use Android, you'll run into random hangups or FCs, it's the nature of the beast. Based on the desktop solution I can only assume Windows will be the same (I don't know if that's true but it's how many new users will approach it).

Here's a usability example. On my phone or my Fiance's phone (or even my friends new Note), I can expect intermittent menu lag. If I want to take a picture I can expect intermittent lag launching the camera app. On a custom rom which cleans up a lot of the lag I can expect intermittent FCs or occasional broken features. With an iPhone, I can expect menus to always run smoothly, the camera app to open in the same amount of time, every time, and take pictures very quickly (based on two iPads and family members' iPhones). Because it's a closed platform Apple can completely streamline the experience. Yes, I'm willing to sacrifice features for that. It's not about functionality, it's about how smooth and hassle free the experience is because it's a mobile device that you want/need to work consistently above all else.


RE: You Wouldn't Get One if it Was Free?
By JasonMick (blog) on 11/6/2012 1:22:07 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
I'm using Android and will be switching to iOS in December for one simple reason -- ease of use. I'm actually a power user of Android (fully rooted/custom roms, PRL hacks, the whole package) but the added power and capability I get with an open platform also leads to its biggest shortcoming -- lag and bugs. If you use Android, you'll run into random hangups or FCs, it's the nature of the beast. Based on the desktop solution I can only assume Windows will be the same (I don't know if that's true but it's how many new users will approach it).
Hmm, I think your problems might be because you have an older handset, though the mods certainly could be making it worse.

I had menu/app/camera lag on my unmodded HTC EVO 4G... however, I don't really see that on the new ICS/Jelly Bean handsets when I play with them.

Also, my Windows Phone (a Lumia 900/Mango handset) almost never lags.

I agree that animations/windowing is smooth on current-gen iOS devices -- props to them for that.

But to be fair, I played with an iPhone 3GS a few weeks ago, and it felt super-laggy compared to iPhone 4/4S/5. It felt a lot like my EVO, in fact.

I think the lag is more of a product of insufficient CPU/DRAM resources in older devices...


RE: You Wouldn't Get One if it Was Free?
By adrift02 on 11/6/2012 4:56:04 PM , Rating: 2
I have an Epic 4G, my fiance has the Evo 4G and my friends have an assortment of other devices (Galaxy S II, the new Note, etc). I've noticed some amount of menu lag in every Android device I've played around with. I would blame the handset except for the fact that I've noticed performance deteriorate over time after a fresh wipe. I've tried many mods looking for that perfectly smooth performance and even if I get close with a fresh install it doesn't last. I'd guess that it's the OS letting too many services run in the background not dedicating enough resources to the front-end (I'm no dev).

Regarding the Windows phone, I've been hearing great things about both the software and hardware. It's just a shame that it's hitting this late in the game because it's going to be hard getting people to take a chance. They're at a serious disadvantage with limited apps and most importantly, not enough people have the phone for word-of-mouth to catch on. I'm sure many basic consumers have already decided on Apple for its ease-of-use reputation and/or apps, people like me who have experienced just how smooth Apple's OS can be and advanced users who will continue to flock to the Android for its customizability and strong developer community.

I think Microsoft is going to need to kickstart its OS with hardware subsidies and get the no-contract price under $200 if it wants to see this take off (it works for consoles). If they can grab a decent chunk of the market, sync up devices across platforms like Apple and the phones/OS are as good as I'm hearing, they have a chance. A two year commitment is just too hard to make on an unproven platform when the alternatives look so strong.


RE: You Wouldn't Get One if it Was Free?
By adrift02 on 11/6/2012 5:10:54 PM , Rating: 2
In fact, maybe that's already Microsoft's plan. Release their own phone/hardware at a subsidized no-contract price. The rumors are there anyways...


RE: You Wouldn't Get One if it Was Free?
By othercents on 11/7/2012 9:04:24 AM , Rating: 2
Price isn't the issue and I still don't see Microsoft gaining a large portion of the market unless they build in must have features that no other vendor can match. The Skype functionality could be a big portion of those features, but even that alone doesn't overcome the application deficit we see today. The number of people happy with their current smart phones is more than 5x the number of people upset and willing to switch to something else. Happy people just don't switch to something different because it is new and shiny.

I have a WP7 and I like the features I have. I didn't like all the applications on the iPhone especially how the applications are organized (or disorganized). There are features I would like, alert tones needs updating, I wish there was video chat on windows live messenger, and I would like to see more apps, but overall the phone has been good. I wouldn't say it is better than current iPhones or Android phones, but it is different and it will come down to preference even if Microsoft releases a must have feature.

One positive on WP8 is that new computers and new tablets from Microsoft will run similarly making the Metro navigation more familiar.

Other


By lifewatcher on 11/9/2012 9:56:28 AM , Rating: 2
To me the price IS an issue, as with most things I buy. Microsoft is trying to make a splash on a saturated marked (Blackberry and Palm squeezed out). I don't see even a hint of them trying to subsidize their products. Looks like they got too cocky with the preliminary positive feedback for their new phones and tablets. Lumia 920 might be $99 for ATT, but for VZW, people are expected to pay that much for Lumia 820 (well, 822). On a 2 year contract, these phones are supposed to be free, in order to gain market share.
We'll find out soon how brilliant Microsoft's marketing is...


By andrewaggb on 11/7/2012 12:11:06 AM , Rating: 2
I don't have a state of the art android 4.1/4.2 device, but my experiences with custom roms, force closes, random reboots, etc are very similiar.

That said, I have to reboot my ipod touch 4th gen somewhat regularly to keep it running fast. My ipad is generally better, probably because it has better hardware, but the new market app in IOS 6 is slow and laggy on both devices.

It's definitely better on the smoothness front in apple land (in my experience), but if you're expecting perfectly consistent performance I think you'll be disappointed.

I'm buying a new phone right away and I'm really torn.

I've considered the iphone 5, you'll get a nice device that will get OS updates, has lots of available software, good battery life.

Could be a galaxy note 2, way bigger screen, has all the apps I want on a phone, including google navigation, maps, etc. I'll REALLY miss the google phone apps if I switch. It's a flagship device so it'll probably get some Android updates....

Unfortunately the Lumina 920 won't be on my carrier, so I could get a Samsung ATIV. Has a nice screen, sd support. Will integrate nicely with all my windows 8 machines and skydrive. GPS is supposed to be decent on windows phone, but I'm not sure if that's only Nokia Drive or if all windows phone 8 devices will have a good navigation app. Will get OS updates. In theory, because WP8 supports c/c++ and directx, it will finally get all the apps that windows phone was missing.

The reality is I don't use alot of apps on my phone. I'd rather use the ipad or a laptop, so I don't think the app situation is all that important. In fact the one I'm most concerned about is the navigation app that everybody says sucks on the iphone. And the small screen. Now if apple would just release a new iManPhone with a 4.5"+ screen :-) and pony up extra $$$ to google for navigation... but that's just not to be I guess.


By althaz on 11/7/2012 7:41:05 AM , Rating: 2
Just FYI, but it sound like you want solid fundamentals and Windows Phone is the clear (like miles ahead) winner there. It is to the iPhone what the original iPhone was to old-skool smartphones. Sure, there's some stuff it doesn't have (although the amount of stuff you miss is shrinking rapidly and there are unique things you do get), but the basics are sooooo much better. The UI is superior, it's more responsive and everything is remarkably well integrated.

A great example is the messaging app. You can send a text, MSN, Skype or Facebook message from the messaging app, rather than having to open up four different apps. Also your conversation can change depending on what the person you're talking to has access to - and you don't need to figure it out, the app does it for you.

Also Jelly Bean Android phones are a LOT better than the previous editions of Android, possibly not iPhone (and definitely not WP) level, but pretty damn close. ICS on down are too shit for me to consider using. Jelly Bean made me think about using an Android phone full-time again.

In the end, I care about fundamentals and cloud integration, the two areas where WinPhone is superior. I care zero about apps, which is probably why I regard the iPhone (well, mostly it's crappy, unchanged-for-five-years-software) pretty much the worst high-end smartphone on the market.

I don't like the Nokia 920 (too heavy and bulky for me, although my wife wants one), but I think I'm going to go full-time Win8 with a HTC 8X or the Samsung WP8 handset.

I have an iPhone 4S, Galaxy SIII (rooted and with all the Samsung crap removed) and Lumia 800 btw, but the Lumia is my daily driver because it's just nicer to use.


By Myrandex on 11/7/2012 12:15:30 PM , Rating: 2
My wife's WP7 (LG Quantum - she wanted a smart phone with a keyboard and picked that one back up during a sale when it was free) performs great and menus never lock up. She isn't particularly technical and she really likes it.


RE: You Wouldn't Get One if it Was Free?
By chripuck on 11/8/2012 1:28:05 PM , Rating: 3
Hate to break it to you but these things exist on iOS as well. I've got a jailbroken 4S and it FC's out of an app at least once a day, it takes a good 10 seconds sometimes to get the camera app open, and Safari takes a good 5 seconds to open the first time. My wife's iPhone 4 is even worse, though I believe a large part of my problem is all of the jailbroken tweaks I have.

Contrary to public opinion, it doesn't just work. It just works if you're a complete technology idiot, and it's only because you don't know better (e.g. my wife, who is actually somewhat savvy, doesn't see how slow her 4 is.)


By Donkey2008 on 11/12/2012 3:18:06 PM , Rating: 2
I also have a jailbroken iPhone (4 to be exact) and I have no problems opening any apps. Safari opens in about 1 second, Chrome about 1 second, camera app in about 2 seconds. MyWi and other Cydia apps work flawlessly. Basically sounds like PICNIC is your problem.

Then again, I am not a "technology idiot" so making it "just work" was rather simple.


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