Disillusioned with Windows Mobile

[Guest gavboy]

I've been using Windows Mobile for several years now - Motorola MPX200 was my first one I think. Things have definitely moved on since then.

However, I've been at the end of my contract with Orange for a few months now and I've been patiently waiting for the new, interesting, ground-breaking Windows Mobile device that's perfect for me.

I've been using a Touch Dual for the last couple of months which I've generally been quite impressed by, but there are always a few limitations with Windows mobile (ie not device specific) which, after so many years, are starting to bug me.

For example:

- Freezing and rebooting - I suppose as it's a Microsoft based system, there is a reluctant acceptance of the fact that your device is going to freeze up and need rebooting roughly once a day. For something as essential as a phone, it really isn't acceptable that it just locks up without giving any kind of warning

- The device as supplied by the network always has a range of bugs and bloatware which makes the thing perform nowhere near it's potential. This means that you have to be fairly IT literate and willing to dedicate quite a bit of time to searching for solutions and installing them just to get your new phone into a useable/user friendly state.

- Certain functions/applications that appear fairly standard on other platforms aren't available on Windows mobile. For example, the Sky Anytime application.

Maybe it's just that I'm getting old, but I'm fed up with forever fiddling around with my phone, rebooting, taking the battery out etc etc. One part of my brain thinks that these things should just work. When I look around for a new device, I have to say that the most appealing ones are not Windows Mobile. For example the Nokia N95 8GB looks great, does just about everything and, from the sound of it, it pretty reliable.

Am I the only one who feels this way?

[Guest jimbouk]

I acknowledge that network roms usually are flawed. Which is why I flash cooked roms onto my devices.

Whilst some early cooked roms have issues - usually the third or fourth evolution will be pretty much solid and will be faster than a stock rom too.

I find my Kaiser with Dutty's V3 Wm6 rom would go a month without needing any sort of restart - but I do tweak and fiddle with my devices to get them exactly how I want them. Similarly my laptop is in tip top working order but thats cos I tweak it (and enjoy doing so).

I tried an N95 and I hated it. If you really want a simple reliable device, get an Iphone. At least you will be able to enjoy an amazing screen.

[Guest Neil5459]

Interesting that your 1st WM device was probably one of the worst ever issued (quickly superceded by the much better MPX220 :D )

Freezing daily is probably something related to an installed program behaving badly- I've only very rarely had actual freezing in 7 years of PPC/WM ownership, though the need to reboot due to slowdowns etc was more prominent in the past. The current crop of HTC devices is much better in this respect, and my P3600, X7500 and new Orbit2 have been very stable.

Rather than searching for and installing solutions is it often much better to simply remove un-needed stuff by hard resetting the device, and preventing the Extended ROM from installing. Although slightly 'techy' it's no worse than removing the bloat installed in many PC's these days.

You can't blame Microsoft for Sky's failings in not releasing a WM compatible program.

[Guest gavboy]

I tried an N95 and I hated it.

What was wrong with the N95?

[Guest gavboy]

You can't blame Microsoft for Sky's failings in not releasing a WM compatible program.

That's true. I don't blame Microsoft. It's just another of those annoying things.

[Guest jimbouk]

What was wrong with the N95?

Unintuitive menu structure, slow response, inability to sync with my exchange email account without downloading a third party app, and size.

I know I didnt spend long with it and thus didnt tweak it to my satisfaction but thats kind of my point - there are four types of WM users:

1) Corporate users who use it exactly as their IT department hand it to them (with push email etc set up)

2) Consumers who use it with the network homescreen plug in left as it is (and who go "WOW I didnt realise it could do that when they bump into a type 3 user)

3) People like most modaco and xda users - who tweak and fiddle - ending up with the device just how they like it

4) Die hard Nokia/Moto/Samsung users - who send their WM devices back after three days cos they can't get used to it.

[Guest gavboy]

Unintuitive menu structure, slow response, inability to sync with my exchange email account without downloading a third party app, and size.

I know I didnt spend long with it and thus didnt tweak it to my satisfaction but thats kind of my point - there are four types of WM users:

1) Corporate users who use it exactly as their IT department hand it to them (with push email etc set up)

2) Consumers who use it with the network homescreen plug in left as it is (and who go "WOW I didnt realise it could do that when they bump into a type 3 user)

3) People like most modaco and xda users - who tweak and fiddle - ending up with the device just how they like it

4) Die hard Nokia/Moto/Samsung users - who send their WM devices back after three days cos they can't get used to it.

I think you are spot on with that. I guess my point is that some people are forced to be type 3 users because what you are presented with in the first place is crap. I would say that there is a 3a user which is those who have to tweak and fiddle just to remove bugs and annoyances (the t9 defaulting to 'c' rather than 'a' on the touch dual is a prime example of this) and a 3b user who tweaks and fiddles because they want to get their device EXACTLY how they want it or because they want to push their device to the limits to see what it can do.

I just wish that the devices were a bit more robust by the time they get to the user. It's not all Microsoft's fault obviously as the networks and manufacturers like to get their grubby little hands involved as well. From what I hear, Nokia seem to produce devices that work the way they are meant to. They might not be as adaptable/customisable as WinMob phones, but I think that that is something I would sacrifice for reliability.

[Guest Neil5459]

From what I hear, Nokia seem to produce devices that work the way they are meant to. They might not be as adaptable/customisable as WinMob phones, but I think that that is something I would sacrifice for reliability.

I'd suggest trying an N95, or similar for a few days- it may do just what you want, but it may not. Be under no illusion though, that it will be any more reliable than a WM device. The Nokia N series use the Symbian OS (as I'm sure you already know) which seems more prone to crashes and freezes than the current WM varieties.

I tried one for one week in the Summer, but the poor phone signal , abysmal GPS and general instability soon made me think again. If reliability and phone use is most important, then the Nokia E series may be a better bet to investigate?

[Guest jimbouk]

I tried an N95 at an Orange Partner Camp two years ago and it was buggy as hell. The one I tried out for a client the other day wasn't buggy - I just didnt like it...

Whether you are 3a, 3b or 3c, the joy of a wm device is that you can do almost anything with it.

[Guest Mysterious Stranger]

Interesting that your 1st WM device was probably one of the worst ever issued (quickly superceded by the much better MPX220 :D )

I had an mpx200. I swopped a SE p800 for it as it had had 4 'repairs' and was still crashing. The mpx200 was a great little phone albeit a but slow. Nowehre near as bad as my original SPV canary.

It was about 15 months between the release of the 2002 mpx200 and 2003se mpx220 and even then no operator picked up the mpx220 - although it was in voda's catalogue of the time they didn't actively market it and had no stock. CPW did eventually get some units but they were not operator branded in any way and they sold them with whatever network you wanted. I had to get mine offline from Hongkong as I wanted it when it was new and shiny....

It was better, but not 'much better' - and defiantley not 'quickly superceded' - in the UK at least it was rather still-born.

I still use the mpx200 occasionally. The build quality of the recent smartphones ( sp5m aside) isn't great. I've had issues with the majority of HTC phones I've had in the last 3 years. Oh for an mpx200 for modern times...

M.S

[Guest chucky.egg]

A friend has an N95 8Gb and loves it. He seems to have no problems with it at all.

You need to choose the device that's right for you at the end of the day, and most of us don't have the luxury of buying new phones every couple of months. So:

1. Think it through - what do you NEED, want, and like.

2. Read up on it - Find a device that matches YOUR requirements, not the one everyone else seems to like

I always *thought* I wanted a Smartphone (rather than PocketPC) because I like the keypads. It turns out I prefer the battery life and stability of PocketPC. So be honest with yourself about what you NEED and what you LIKE.

As for WM devices I find some simple rules have served me well:

1. Buy SIM free, not from a network

2. Don't be tempted to install every bit of junk software you can lay your hands on

3. Once you've got it working the way you like, stop fiddling! (see 2)