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Window Phone 7 US retail launch is coming fast!

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The US availability of Windows Phone 7 is a week away now. Is anyone as excited as I was 2 weeks ago? I spent the money I have set aside for 2 Windows Phone 7 devices on my MacBook Pro a couple of weekends ago, but I reloaded funds and was all set and the evil apple tempted me again. I keep falling for the forbidden fruit. I bought an iPhone 4 on Friday.

I am sure I will be able to set aside some coin for a Windows Phone 7 device on November 8th when they hit AT&T and T-Mobile, but I think I am going to sit this launch out. Partially because I am no longer and Microsoft MVP, Windows Phone and partially because I have seen too many reviews that point out things I didn’t realize because of my fanboy blinders blocking my view. I think I am going to wait until  the OS matures a little bit more. I will be glad to review Windows Phone 7 if I am provided an opportunity, but I have decided not to support Microsoft in the communities I used to anymore, so there is no reason to spend my coin on a device that doesn’t seem like it will suffice for my daily driver yet.

For those of you that are excited about Windows Phone 7 hitting stores on November 8th, what device are you going to grab? The Samsung Focus on AT&T looks like the best choice based on actual hardware reviews. On the T-Mobile side, I don’t think you can go wrong with the HTC HD7.

If you are passing on Windows Phone 7 right now, what are your reasons for passing? I am sure some of you are happy with the phone you already own. Some are stuck with CDMA carriers that aren’t getting Window Phone 7. Some might feel like I do now. I know some of you are like, “What’s up Chris, you were raving about Windows Phone as early as last week”. Yes, I know. It’s funny how quickly opinions can change. I was very optimistic about the OS and I still am. I was excited to get my hands on a device and I still am. I just don’t think the OS is going to satisfy all my needs right now. This is based completely on the reviews I have read, and trust me, I’ve read more than than most with an open mind. While most reviews were overall positive, the negatives outweigh the positives. What I do love isn’t enough. I love the hub concept, I love the design and the fact that it’s drastically different that any other mobile OS currently, and I really love the potential of complete Zune integration.

13 Comments

13 Comments

  1. Anonymous

    11/01/2010 at 3:57 pm

    im sorry but this article is hilarious…there is no way you actually believe what you are saying or better yet expect readers to? i mean REALLY?

    • Chris Leckness

      11/01/2010 at 4:08 pm

      What is not to believe?
      Fact – November 8th, 2010, AT&T and T-Mobile are selling Windows Phone 7 phones to the public.
      Fact – I bought an iPhone 4 Friday October 29th, 2010.
      Fact – I wanted to buy Windows Phone 7, but based on reviews, I think I will wait until it’s more mature of an OS.
      Fact – I resigned from the Microsoft MVP program last week.
      Fact – I look forward to reviewing Windows Phone 7 if given the opportunity.

      What are you saying?

      • Anonymous

        11/01/2010 at 4:25 pm

        you really wanted to buy a WP7 phone but based on reviews you changed your mind and purchased an iphone 4? that’s the part that made me laugh the most because its truly hard to believe you really intended to buy an wp7 if the negative reviews convinced you so easily…i have seen just as many positive reviews as well as negative but most of the negative reviews tend to point to missing features you know copy and paste, etc or just come from apple and/or android fanboys and if that was your reasoning i can understand that…i just think your article would have more credibility if you stated these facts after you personally used a wp7 because of your original praising (please note i wasn’t trying to insult you in any way….i just thought it was funny)

        • Chris Leckness

          11/01/2010 at 4:43 pm

          ok. Fair enough. Here is a back story that might allow you to understand my position a little better.

          I have been a Microsoft MVP for many years and blindly cheered my favorite product on, Windows Mobile for years. When the original iPhone came out, like many, I purchased one on day 1. It was great, I gave it props, but it wasn’t perfect. As Apple moved along over the next year, they fixed most of what I found didn’t work for my needs and it was now something I could use daily. I skipped the 3G.

          When Microsoft launched Windows Mobile 6.5, I was less than impressed and as an MVP at that time, embarrassed with what they were offering. There was nothing special that made it any better that 6.1 in my eyes. On launch day, I bought an iPhone 3GS. This was my daily driver until last Friday when I purchased the iPhone 4. During the year I used the 3GS, I reviewed phones other phones with an open mind. I wasn’t totally impressed with Android either, but as of 2.1, it’s become much better OS than earlier reviews I wrote.

          When I returned to blogging after being off for 6 months, I was very excited about Windows Phone 7. I still am from a blogger perspective, but with the embargo being lifted last week, the reviews started to come out featuring the OS as it will be released to the public and the hardware associated. After reading all these reviews, I am convinced that I won’t be 100% happy with using it daily. I still planned to buy a couple devices to support the Microsoft channels was a part of. As an MVP, I felt that it’s one of my responsibilities to know the OS and be able to answer questions presented. I need to have a device, whether I am using it daily or not, to be able to do that. I might still buy 1, but since I resigned from the MVP program last week and have no intentions of helping in the forums I mentioned above now, there isn’t a need to have a device now.

          I had wanted an iPhone 4, but couldn’t justify the cost when I had a perfectly good 3GS. Well, gadget geeks like you and I love to have gadgets, so I allowed myself to be talked into the iPhone 4 by using the volume rocker on my 3GS falling off as an excuse. I am quite impulsive. You’ll learn that about me quick.

  2. Anonymous

    11/01/2010 at 5:09 pm

    You sir have clearly stated your position and I completely understand now….I’ve been enlightened…lol

    I’m really new to the gadget world purchasing my first smartphone (Evo) in June and I plan to purchase a WP7. I’m really hoping Sprint comes out with one that matches closely to my Evo. If not, I’m still purchasing one even if I have to carry two phones and sign up with another carrier. I’m really digging that Dell Venu Pro. I had a chance to look and play with an Iphone 4 during the summer and it definitely is more touch responsive than my Evo. I think I like my Evo more than I like Android if that’s make sense which is why I am really impressed with what I see in WP7. I will like things simplified a bit more and WP7 just works for me. So it looks like we have more in common than not just different approaches I suppose.

  3. Ef Jay

    11/01/2010 at 5:12 pm

    Still getting one, MS is the only mobile OS I would ever use, dont want to be Jobsy’s slave or donate all my data to google. 6.5 is old and slow but 7 is miles ahead and with a few updates will evolve to be even better. Only question now is which handset, no more HTC for me so may have to import a Samsung Omnia 7.

  4. Geniusjc

    11/02/2010 at 5:14 am

    I too found your article a little bit on the funny side. The fact that you can be swayed so easily after being a Microsoft MVP is a little more than weird. The only reviews I have ever seen that were negative about Windows Phone 7 had many flaws in the review. There were some that stated things like they were fact that were completely wrong. One said there was no support of additional memory cards. That’s simply not true. Microsoft’s web site even talks about the use of SD memory cards in some phones. The Samsung Focus launching Monday on AT&T is one using a microSD card slot to allow up to 32GB extra storage. Other things in reviews asked for features that would greatly compromise the security of the device. Most Enterprise users will prefer the security of their information over the features they don’t have because of it. I will be getting the Samsung Focus on launch day. Have fun rummaging through pages of icons on your iPhone 4.

  5. Geniusjc

    11/02/2010 at 5:14 am

    I too found your article a little bit on the funny side. The fact that you can be swayed so easily after being a Microsoft MVP is a little more than weird. The only reviews I have ever seen that were negative about Windows Phone 7 had many flaws in the review. There were some that stated things like they were fact that were completely wrong. One said there was no support of additional memory cards. That’s simply not true. Microsoft’s web site even talks about the use of SD memory cards in some phones. The Samsung Focus launching Monday on AT&T is one using a microSD card slot to allow up to 32GB extra storage. Other things in reviews asked for features that would greatly compromise the security of the device. Most Enterprise users will prefer the security of their information over the features they don’t have because of it. I will be getting the Samsung Focus on launch day. Have fun rummaging through pages of icons on your iPhone 4.

  6. Geniusjc

    11/02/2010 at 5:14 am

    I too found your article a little bit on the funny side. The fact that you can be swayed so easily after being a Microsoft MVP is a little more than weird. The only reviews I have ever seen that were negative about Windows Phone 7 had many flaws in the review. There were some that stated things like they were fact that were completely wrong. One said there was no support of additional memory cards. That’s simply not true. Microsoft’s web site even talks about the use of SD memory cards in some phones. The Samsung Focus launching Monday on AT&T is one using a microSD card slot to allow up to 32GB extra storage. Other things in reviews asked for features that would greatly compromise the security of the device. Most Enterprise users will prefer the security of their information over the features they don’t have because of it. I will be getting the Samsung Focus on launch day. Have fun rummaging through pages of icons on your iPhone 4.

  7. Prometheusgr

    11/02/2010 at 3:57 pm

    Bitter much?

  8. Prometheusgr

    11/02/2010 at 3:57 pm

    Bitter much?

  9. Prometheusgr

    11/02/2010 at 3:57 pm

    Bitter much?

  10. Steffan Borrie

    11/08/2010 at 11:52 am

    So, you really wanted an iPhone, and bought one.

    Why is this newsworthy?

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