If you’ve not moved to a smartphone yet, this may be the chance for Microsoft to earn their place to be in your pocket - if you’re on AT&T or T-Mobile. Or not in the US. The CDMA based providers Verizon and Sprint will not be getting phones running Windows Phone 7 for a while.
For those in that situation, I recommend Android. These are your best bets for that:
<table columns=2><tr><td colspan=2 align=center>Sprint</td><td colspan=2 align=center>Verizon</td></tr>
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Updated: While I like the HTC EVO (I own it) and the Samsung Epic (which has an iPhone-like skinning on it), on Verizon the Samsung Fascinate, which is a Galaxy S phone (this is good), gets my vote. I originally had the Droid X, but I think the Fascinate would appeal to more people. It’s also a bit more open then the Motorola devices, which is more in line with the idea behind Android - a customizable, open platform. With a keyboard, you have The Droid II, which I don’t feel is as good as the original Droid, but I don’t think they sell that any more online. Used is your best bet for that.
Windows Phone 7, on the other hand, is brand new. I've used it, and I like the ideas very much. The whole paradigm of information at the top is very powerful, and pretty easy to use. It has a few quirks though, mostly in the web browser. I expect them to be ironed out fairly quickly. The Samsung Focus, which is what I used, is extremely responsive to your inputs. It scrolls super smoothly, and looks great with the Super AMOLED screen. The colors are rich and vibrant, and it's definitely bright enough. |
This is the main screen. As you can see, the interface is very simple. You put your most important items here, and you can easily get information about what’s going on. The icons will update with the latest information - so the calendar (not shown) will show the next appointment, the people icons shows content updated from your friends, missed phone calls on the phone icon, etc. As the commercial shows - turn on, get info quickly, turn off. It works fairly well I think. Note you need a Windows Live account for all the integration stuff to work, though it’s not necessary for using the phone or email and messaging functions. Windows Phone 7 has a lot of potential, and I think it’s a good 1.0 for a totally new OS from Microsoft. I’m looking forward to seeing the CDMA offerings….
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