Laptopmag Switchers Tell All: Giving Up iOS, Android and BlackBerry for Windows Phone

February 20, 2012 at 10:49 GMT | By Darlington Moyo

Three LAPTOP staffers gave up their iPhones, Android handsets and BlackBerries for a week. Here's what they thought:

Sherri L. Smith, Staff Writer (Switched from Android)

For me, owning an Android phone sends a message to the world, I'm cooler than the BlackBerry crowd and I'm raging against the Apple iMachine. So I felt guilty leaving my EVO 4G (my first Android love) in my hotel room during CES in favor of a Windows Phone. However, the guilt quickly washed away as I dove headfirst into the HTC Radar 4G. The initial setup of adding the majority of my emails, social networking and multimedia accounts took between 5-7 minutes.

Overall, my week with a Windows Phone was fun and informative. I didn't miss my EVO as much as I thought I would and since I'm overdue for an upgrade, I'm seriously considering making the switch. I found the interface to be zippy and intuitive. My only real gripe at this point would be the lack of apps. Overall, I would recommend Windows Phone for anyone looking for a solid user interface at an affordable price.

Oliver Renick, Intern (Switching from BlackBerry)

"Where's the trackball?" That was my first reaction after trading in my BlackBerry for a Windows Phone, and it should demonstrate the technological level at which I operate on a daily basis. For me, stepping up to the HTC Titan on AT&T wasn't just a technology boost,it was a lifestyle upgrade. The Windows Phone operating system is about as far from BlackBerry OS as you can get. My Berry is a giant keyboard; my Windows is a giant, beautiful screen. Windows Phone works like a computer. BlackBerry works like a rusty lever-pull apparatus. The switch between the two is dramatic because it essentially skips an evolutionary step. The ubiquity of the iPhone makes for a smooth transition for even the most archaic phone owners, that's arguably Apple's greatest strength. Google's Android, while different from iOS in content, has a very similar layout.

Bottom Line: I've used iOS and I've tested many Android devices. Neither is like Windows Phone. Though WP7 may not be a better technology than those two, it is superior to BlackBerry.

Davey Alba, Staff Writer (Switching from iPhone)

Windows Phone has sparked an almost cultish appeal among folks who work in the tech industry, prompting others to wonder what the attraction is. So when I had the opportunity to do a story on the experience of being a "Switcher" to the Windows Phone, I jumped at the chance. What follows is the opinion of an avid iOS user after substituting her iPhone 4 with a Windows Phone 7.5 handset, the Samsung Focus S.

Before I begin, I should share that I'm an apps addict. I have more than 300 apps on my iPhone, all fastidiously arranged in their neat little folders, covering 3 screens on my device. In fact, I'm the designated Apps Girl in the office. Whenever a new or exciting app makes a splash in the market, I'm the writer who will cover it searching, downloading, testing, crashing, complaining and updating.

But like a bubbly new pop song that you initially enjoyed, then thought was okay, then after the 500th airing on the radio made you want to throw the hunk of metal across the room, Windows Phone's gloss wore off.

Bottom Line: As more and more people are dazzled by the Windows Phone UI's slickness, Microsoft could start to close the app gap with Android and iOS. Nokia's scale will certainly help attract more developers to the platform. But at this stage Windows Phone's offerings can't plug the app-shaped hole in my heart.

What do you guys make of this?

Source: Laptop Mag Blog

Want to keep up to date with the latest Windows Phone news, rumours, apps, games, etc? Just like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or subscribe to our feed and we will do the rest.

About the Author

Darlington M. Moyo

Darlington is a self-confessed smartphone junkie. Some are convinced he has a Microsoft tatoo hidden somewhere on his body. When he is not writing about Windows Phone, he is reading about it. Current device » Nokia Lumia 920. Xbox Gamertag » MthOmnia - Add me