From iPhone 4 to Galaxy 2SX, now onto HTC 8X

[Rippleman]

A few years ago, when smart phones where just really starting to get "smart", I never wanted one. I could never understand why people would want to have a anything other than just a phone do phone things. Then I picked up a 3GS. I was amazed at how much these little devices had the capability of doing. After the 3gs, I wanted to not have to jump on the computer to skype and have people see me face to face, so I bumped myself up into an iphone 4. After using it for a long while (and using facetime 100% of the time instead of skype), it was very easy and comfortable to use and always, most importantly "just worked".

Every day here on neowin fanboys constantly post about how they couldn't live with out their beloved Andriod, so I went and got myself a Galaxy s2x. I like the screen but thats where it stopped. Some might recall my sheer hatred of the Frankenstein system. In ever single possible way I was let down by ICS, to me it was hard to use, illogical to use, poor app builds, and was basically like using Linux (andiod) vs Windows (ios). After about 2 weeks of TRYING to like it, I just honestly couldn't do it anymore and was scared I was going to through it out the window and smash it. So back to the iphone I went.

Fast forward to a couple days ago, someone I know was trying to get rid of their brand new 2 week old HTC 8X. I didn't need it or want it, but they said they HATE it so much they just wanted to get rid of it. I asked "how much?" and they said "$100 and its yours". I figured here is a great deal and I get to explore the new windows phone that no one seems to have yet.

My take on the windows phone 8 OS: it feels like a very good BETA of something yet to be released. Its very polished, nice and logical, but yet seems "over commercialized with screens that look like they belong in a magazine article rather than a phone. The mail app is just TOO BIG, i wish it was sized down like IOS so you could see more rather then just huge bold letters. Another point why it feels like a beta is the lack of apps. I know there are lots of them, but not the ones I use on IOS each and everyday.

Result so far: Will give it another week, but I know already that I will go back to an iPhone. There is something about a mature ecosystem that I find comfortable. Do I need the latest and greatest specs? No. Do i need unimaginable customization? No. Do I need an easy to use phone that works? Yes.

(and i defiantly miss iMessage and Facetime, have no idea why the other guys can't make something that works just as easy and just as well)

[Mockingbird]

The problem with your assessment of Windows Phone OS is that you spend your time thinking: does it have X and Y that iOS have.

Of cause it's not going to have all the same features: it's not iOS.

[+Random Stranger Subscriber¹]

ok, you need to try a modern android phone and give it a 3 week primary phone usage.

i hated android after i switched from iphone.... i have every iphone up to iphone 4...

first whole week i regretted it... second week i was planning to go try windows phone... third week i was tolerant, but still unsure..

then I finally got used to it, so much as I was used to iphone! Trust me, I love it. Much more then iOS. I did not even hack it or anything. there are just so many little things that you dont know about, but once you get used to them you love them

Any person (unless it is a tech loving teen who adapts very fast) is used to their system. To really appreciate something else you have to go through a tough learning curve , and suffer though it for quite a while.

Otherwise it is unfair to judge

[astropheed Veteran]

If you didn't enjoy android I doubt you'll enjoy WP8.

I have an SGS2 and I couldn't function properly without it. I do use an iPhones 4 everyday for work and I just can't handle them, personal preference really. I try not to do what illegaloperation mentioned, but I do, and the comparisons are always a let down. iOS as a whole is a decent OS, but I'm too used to Android and you are too used to iOS; Neither of us will like WP8.

We are from different worlds, plus I'm from Edmonton, and you appear to be from (near) Calgary, so I mean, there is that natural bias lol. :)

[jakem1]

The iPhone mail app displays the same number of emails as the WP8 mail app.

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

Getting an HTC 8X for $100 is a steal. It's a high-end Windows Phone in the same league as the Nokia Lumia 920. As for the OS, WP8 is great and it's getting better every day with the release of interesting and useful apps (like myTube). The lack of certain apps doesn't bother me too much because I don't use a lot of them but I can understand why that would be an issue for people. WP8 still needs time to grow and with the help of Nokia, it's growing quite quickly (especially in Europe).

The Skype app integrates well with WP devices and it isn't limited to iOS devices like FaceTime. When you get a video call, it shows up the same way a regular phone call would. For instant messaging, WhatsApp is great. I use it almost every day and like Skype, it works with multiple platforms (iOS, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, and even Symbian).

Anyway, the only thing holding back WP8 are a few OS features (screen rotation lock, custom text tones, call duration in call history) and apps.

[BajiRav]

Another point why it feels like a beta is the lack of apps. I know there are lots of them, but not the ones I use on IOS each and everyday.

(and i defiantly miss iMessage and Facetime, have no idea why the other guys can't make something that works just as easy and just as well)

1. Which apps are you missing? If you list them, may be someone here can suggest alternatives if available?

2. Skype works properly. There is whatsapp and viber which are cross-platform unlike iMessage.

[Rippleman]

1. Which apps are you missing? If you list them, may be someone here can suggest alternatives if available?

2. Skype works properly. There is whatsapp and viber which are cross-platform unlike iMessage.

There is always alternatives and the ones i tried just weren't the same. yes Skype works but is a an extra unneeded step to start and though the interface of skype was awesome it just seemed "not easy". Also with skype currently on the windows phone, file transfer (sending pics) is unavilible. What plagues skype and even whats app, is the extra battery drain, over the last week of playing with the 8x, i am complaining about battery life like most other owners of the device. 5-6 with moderate usage. really sucks the battery back bad when you are skyping or even just texting, getting battery warnings similar in wording to "high battery usage, 15% in the last 10 mins" for example... yes i also tried ending programs and lowering brightness etc but the battery was the worst life i have ever seen in a phone. Got rid of the phone today for a good profit since i only bought it for $100. I can say windows 8 phone has a lot going for it. I love the integration of all Facebook and text and messages all in a uniform page. Very slick. I will try again maybe in a year when more apps and from a different maker then HTC and their horrible batteries (model specific). Back again to trusted iphone for me.

[Dashel]

Good riddance.

[fusi0n]

I would try a higher end Android.. Hope you like the 8X though

[Rippleman]

Good riddance.

spoken like a true fanboy! good for your faith, stay strong young one! (by the way, are you an idiot for not having blue as your favorite color?)

The iPhone mail app displays the same number of emails as the WP8 mail app.

I set it for 1 line preview only on iphone so it gives me 8 visible emails. (not that this is better, just better for me)

I would try a higher end Android.. Hope you like the 8X though

higher end only results in higher performance, there was no issues with performance other then battery. The android was fast, but for me: bad spell checker, horrible UI, illogical screen flow, app quality, batter life, etc, 8X is gone already, back to iphone. I know in the future I will not be a fan of Android (unless they are first with a jarvis type speech system) but i can see myself going back to Windows 8 phone once the apps are there and I would buy a model with a proven strong battery.

[vcfan]

yes Skype works but is a an extra unneeded step to start

that's all you need to know about this 'review'

[Dashel]

Hey, if you're happy with that Volvo...drive it. I don't fault you for not appreciating the elegant nuances. (looks like a magazine article is a complement) ;)

(I kid, I kid - but to call an entire platform beta because you don't like the aesthetic after dabbling with it a couple days isn't really worth much merit, nor did you really advance any new points of interest or comparison).

Better you flip back than, like most Neowin reviewers, keep holding it wrong and incessantly whine about it. You aren't the WP demographic. We are the 10% now Apple loverz. :D

[Rippleman]

Hey, if you're happy with that Volvo...drive it. I don't fault you for not appreciating the elegant nuances. (looks like a magazine article is a complement) ;)

(I kid, I kid - but to call an entire platform beta because you don't like the aesthetic after dabbling with it a couple days isn't really worth much merit, nor did you really advance any new points of interest or comparison).

Better you flip back than, like most Neowin reviewers, keep holding it wrong and incessantly whine about it. You aren't the WP demographic. We are the 10% now Apple loverz. :D

i can tell you this... I would be a sold wp8 user if the apps where there (obviously the ones i would be using) and I found a wp8 phone that had a spectacular battery. Even the odd things that I do not like will eventually get worked out, or will be in optional settings. As for its UI, its awesome, logical, beautiful, smooth and everything that IOS should be. Both IOS and Android should take some UI design clues from WP8...