Windows Phone Haters

[MikeX74]

OP, it's not your job to change the perception of Windows Phone. It's Microsoft's. So far, they haven't their job properly, which is two-fold:
1. Better explain why people should buy Windows Phone devices instead of iPhones or Android phones.
2. Convince carriers that they should care about Windows Phone in the first place.

 

[CapoFantasma97]

Honestly, I have never seen any of these specimens either. In my class there is even a group of 4 WP users (out of about 16 Androids, 8 iPhones, and 1 or 2 BlackBerrys). All of them enjoy WP. Nobody seems to hate WP. Even the Android/iPhone users will say "Hum, classy phone" when I whip my Lumia 820 out.

(For info, I'm in France, so the perception of WP might be different from in the US)

I think it's a different perspective in all Europe, since I have a similar experience in my class here in Italy.
They are interested most by the powerful camera of my 1020
And without counting me,there are 3 guys with a Windows Phone, out of 19 people (the rest is 13 Android users and 3 iPhone users)

 

[colinkiama]

OK. This issue can be solved with one question. How can Microsoft convince carriers to buy windows phones and customers to buy then in the US?

 

[several potatos]

Advertising.

 

[colinkiama]

I think it's a different perspective in all Europe, since I have a similar experience in my class here in Italy.
They are interested most by the powerful camera of my 1020
And without counting me,there are 3 guys with a Windows Phone, out of 19 people (the rest is 13 Android users and 3 iPhone users)

Same here. My phone attracts lots of attention. I think I influenced two others to buy them in my school too. The others keep saying they would buy one if there was clash of clans and candy crush.(app gap isn't that as here) It's treated equally in the UK. Ads for a post actually say available for WP now. It's sad to hear the horror stories of how US customers are treated in this forum.

 

[Darren Walsh]

There's 6 people in my job and 3 have windows phones I'll try to get more on board! From Ireland bye the way

 

[Paul Verizzo]

Y'all have to understand something about human psychology and decision making. We are creatures of the myth. In other words, most of our information about the world around us comes from stories, which often equates to what an authority says is the case. Try these modern myths out:

Japanese cars are superior to Amican.
Apple products have no bugs and never fail.
Obama is weak on immigration.

The truths are, of course:

JD Powers and Consumer Reports shows many American car owners experiencing higher satisfaction that Japanese. While the GM ignition key debacle makes headlines, the Toyota/whatever recalls are buried in the business pages. I do see them.

Apple products are no more reliable than any others. Yes, their (captive, in house) programs work well with the hardware, but the hardware isn't coming out of any factory with superior standards.

Obama has increased the number of border guards by several fold, and has sent several times more illegals back home than any of his predecessors. (No intention for a political discussion here, just talking mythology.)

re apps: More is not necessarily better. Try wading through millions of apps. How many music players, or Pizza Joints In Islamabad apps are needed? How many games do you need or use? Yes, there are a few I wish WP had, but nothing that is crucial to my well being or in some cases, I can just use the web browser to access the same information.

Regardless of marketing, number of apps, or anything else, the sad fact is that MS is reviled and mistrusted globally. They could make an OS and phones that were light years of the other Big Guys, and they could still fail. The irony is that Google consistently gets caught "doing evil." I have nothing to do with them anymore.

The only things that can surmount these mythologies are a huge and long term advertising and PR program. Not trying to invoke Godwin's Law, but that's how Hitler got where he did. Oh yeah, and the Koch brothers...... (Admittedly political.)

 

[ShinraCorp]

Well we all know haters will be haters.... I work at a Best Buy Mobile store where we carry no WP except the 635 521 and 530, we have no live demos and no way to show WP to those that are interested. I own a L920 L1020 and L1520, so I of course show my phone off to those that ask about WP or seem like WP would be a good fit for.

But the haters... Man... They're bad. Everyone I work with is adamant android fans, they give me so much grief about my choice of OS and i give then none as I also use android on my nexus 7. I've done my best to explain what I love about the OS, but every time I make a point they shoot it down. I've seen them scrutinize customers with windows phones... "well its messing up cause its a windows phone" when I see more android phones with problems than anything else. Your android phone died? I'm sorry you lost everything on it, there's no way to recover it. Your contacts are backed up to your Gmail though! WP backs up everything, texts, call logs, start screen, installed apps, and photos to OneDrive.

So today my Samsung rep comes in to set up our Note 4 display and I ask if Samsung has anything in the works as far as WP. He says "god I hope not, they're garbage" I ask why and he goes on to speak about the app gap, which I feel has become minimal. I then ask him if he has ever used one or if he knows anyone that uses one, he answers no.

How can I help with the perception of windows phone, I feel like its completely doomed with the lack of knowledge from cell phone reps and the way its portrayed in the media. (Verge I'm looking at you!)

Which Best Buy Mobile do you work at mate? I've checked a few Best Buys in my area and well you're right. Only low end WPs are being carried. I'm sure I can sell a few WP devices if I worked as a representative . I have my ways of.... showing the way (forcing it down their throats) I got my dad on board with WP only because of HERE Drive. That app is a god send to any traveller who doesn't want to use data.

App gap? Who gives a crap it's not like they'll install every single app in existence. It's only a legitimate complaint if there isn't an official app or an alternative to it.

The backup one though is an interesting point to offer to the customer. I have done an internship with a PC repair store and you won't believe how many sad faces I've seen when I say... Your hard drive is dead sir or mam.... Unless you wish to pay a minimum of 3000$ to recover it in a specialised laboratory there's no way of getting back your pictures. No one backs up even if we nail it on their heads...

Another selling point WOULD of been the camera but god damn all these low budget ones!

Windows Phone is a different kind of OS from BB, iOS and Android, home screen aren't rows of icons, they're interactive tiles that give you updated information right on your screen. All the apps that are design with Metro in mind are minimalistic, you get all your info easily in big text without looking at some flashy background or pictures or what not. Heck just show them Metrotube

But ya I really hope they'll start selling high end Windows Phone. I know it's more of a carrier's fault than Best Buy Mobile but sheesh.

 

[DJCBS]

How can people have any good perception of a platform they know NOTHING about?
Do you want to know how many times I've seen a WP ad here? ZERO. I had to go to England to see a Windows Phone ad on TV. And they were those lame ads. Which were immediately followed by much better ads to the S5 and LG G3 normally. In Europe, WP has sold mainly only on the power of the Nokia brand. Microsoft never lifted a finger to promote the OS neither pre or post-D&S acquisition. Well, not to mention that Microsoft's image is still very much that of the big-monopolistic-software-giant-that-created-Vista.

Apart from my mother and sister (who use Nokia's - and therefore WP - because I gave them the phones) I only know THREE people who use WP besides me. A 45yo woman who has a 520 because it was cheap and a Nokia, a gym teacher who also uses a 520 because he actually likes the OS and a friend of mine (though he, like me, also uses a Sony Android phone). All my other friends either use iOS or Android. Yet I NEVER heard from any of them any criticism towards WP. Most of them don't really care about the OS they use at all (The iPhone users all except one use the iPhone for social status and nothing else. Many of them didn't even knew they had quick settings a swipe away from the bottom of the screen.)

I think Android is a superior OS. Yes. But I also think WP does a hell of a lot of things better than Android (and when that atrocious "Material Design" is rolled out with Lollipop, Microsoft will again gain points for nailing simple designs much better).
Unfortunately, those things aren't the most visible ones. Which means, people often don't even notice them.

As you may imagine, with the problems of marketing and perception WP faces, I'm really curious to see what will happen now that Nokia is out of the picture and Microsoft can no longer rely on the brand name to sell phones. I think Windows 10 will be the make or brake for WP. Microsoft will stand on stage completely alone (unless something really weird happens at HTC or Samsung and they decide to take WP seriously). Microsoft will, alone, have to sell Windows 10 phones. They'll have to, alone, promote them. And they'll have to, alone, try to build a market for themselves.

And given the fact that they've in the last month alone released Bing Rewards for Android and a keyboard for Android Wear...well...I question their commitment to WP as a whole. Actually, the fact that they're trying really hard to put Windows on phones, could be read as an attempt to try to get rid of development for a mobile platform altogether and place everything on the dependency of Windows' objectives.

 

[Visa Declined]

We are creatures of the myth.

Japanese cars are superior to Amican.

That's not a myth, American cars are crap compared to Japanese. When I'm out traveling, and see a car broken down along the roadside, it's an American car. Every. Single. Time.

 

[LumiaWorld]

Wow you have some nice classmates. :-o

If I whip out my 930 in class I hear stuff like: "haha look it's a brick Nokia from the 1900's!"

It doesn't bother me at all but it still sucks to see so much ignorant hate. I'm from the Netherlands btw.

You should've replied,

"Oh yes, it's the Nokia Lumia 930... And it's very good in breaking people's faces" *throws the phone to his face*

 

[D M C]

You should've replied,

"Oh yes, it's the Nokia Lumia 930... And it's very good in breaking people's faces" *throws the phone to his face*

And lose your both phone and college .

 

[DennisvdG]

You should've replied,

"Oh yes, it's the Nokia Lumia 930... And it's very good in breaking people's faces" *throws the phone to his face*

Hmm I'll keep that in mind for the next time.

*not sure if happy face or sad face...*

 

[onysi]

I work for sales, sometimes electronics, and one thing I can brag about is the sexiness that is Nokia. I tell people that Nokia has had beautiful designs because they are European. Elegant and minimal.
Secondly, I tell them how Microsoft is much more secure than android or iOS.

Since android fanboys I work with too and iOS spat out bullsh1t about windows phones. I tell customers actual facts about androids, how it is a farming phone and all of their information are shared to Google for them to use. Their Gmail's are scanned and read for Advertising purposes, and their locations are always saved. I can't say much about apple's iPhones because they've been working flawless, so this is where I whip out colorful Lumia phones and entice customers with flashy designs and UI so colorful, it puts those grid icons to shame.

App gap is practically nonexistent. Rudy Huynh has been making these popular apps better and WP-like designs.

 

[fatclue_98]

That's not a myth, American cars are crap compared to Japanese. When I'm out traveling, and see a car broken down along the roadside, it's an American car. Every. Single. Time.

If we're talking about build quality, you may want to check your facts. The top selling Japanese cars are built right here in the Red, White and Blue. Meanwhile, many "American" cars are built in Mexico, Canada or Brazil.

Make	Model	Engine	Transmission	Assembled
BMW	X3	Germany, Australia	Germany	Spartanburg, S.C.
BMW	X5	Germany, Australia	Germany	Spartanburg, S.C.
BMW	X5 M	Germany	Germany	Spartanburg, S.C.
BMW	X6	Germany	Germany	Spartanburg, S.C.
BMW	X6 Hybrid	Germany	Germany	Spartanburg, S.C.
BMW	X6 M	Germany	Germany	Spartanburg, S.C.

Honda	Acura RDX	United States	United States	Marysville, Ohio
Honda	Acura TL	United States	U.S., Japan	Marysville, Ohio
Honda	Honda Accord	United States	U.S., Japan, Philippines	Marysville, Ohio; Lincoln, Ala.
Honda	Honda Accord Crosstour	United States	United States	East Liberty, Ohio
Honda	Honda Civic (sedans)	United States	Japan	Greensburg, Ind.
Honda	Honda CR-V	United States	U.S., Japan	East Liberty, Ohio
Honda	Honda Element	United States	Japan	East Liberty, Ohio
Honda	Honda Odyssey	United States	U.S., Japan	Lincoln, Ala.
Honda	Honda Pilot	United States	United States	Lincoln, Ala.
Honda	Honda Ridgeline	United States	United States	Lincoln, Ala.
Hyundai	Hyundai Santa Fe	United States	U.S. (auto.), South Korea	Montgomery, Ala.
Hyundai	Hyundai Sonata	United States	U.S. (auto.), South Korea	Montgomery, Ala.
Kia	Kia Sorento	United States	United States	West Point, Ga.
Mazda	Mazda 6	Japan	Japan	Flat Rock, Mich.
Mazda	Mazda Tribute	U.S. (V-6), Mexico (I-4)	U.S. (auto.), Japan (man.)	Claycomo, Mo.
Mazda	Mazda Tribute Hybrid	Mexico	Japan	Claycomo, Mo.
Mercedes-Benz	Mercedes GL-Class	Germany	Germany	Vance, Ala
Mercedes-Benz	Mercedes M-Class	Germany	Germany	Vance, Ala
Mercedes-Benz	Mercedes R-Class	Germany	Germany	Vance, Ala
Mitsubishi	Mitsubishi Eclipse	Japan	Japan	Normal, IL
Mitsubishi	Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder	Japan	Japan	Normal, IL
Mitsubishi	Mitsubishi Endeavor	Japan	Japan	Normal, IL
Mitsubishi	Mitsubishi Galant	Japan	Japan	Normal, IL
Nissan	Nissan Altima	United States	Mexico, Japan (man.)	Canton, Miss.; Smyrna, Tenn.
Nissan	Nissan Armada	United States	Japan	Canton, Miss.
Nissan	Nissan Frontier	United States	Japan	Smyrna, Tenn.
Nissan	Nissan Maxima	United States	Mexico	Smyrna, Tenn.
Nissan	Nissan Pathfinder	United States	Japan	Smyrna, Tenn.
Nissan	Nissan Titan	United States	Japan	Canton, Miss.
Nissan	Nissan Xterra	United States	Japan	Smyrna, Tenn.
Subaru	Subaru Legacy	Japan	Japan	Lafayette, Ind.
Subaru	Subaru Outback	Japan	Japan	Lafayette, Ind.
Subaru	Subaru Tribeca	Japan	Japan	Lafayette, Ind.
Suzuki	Suzuki Equator	United States	Japan	Smyrna, Tenn.
Toyota	Toyota Avalon	United States	U.S., Japan	Georgetown, Ky.
Toyota	Toyota Camry	U.S., Japan	U.S., Japan	Georgetown, Ky., Lafayette, Ind.
Toyota	Toyota Camry Hybrid	United States	Japan	Georgetown, Ky.
Toyota	Toyota Highlander	U.S., Japan	Japan	Princeton, Ind.
Toyota	Toyota Sequoia	United States	United States	Princeton, Ind.
Toyota	Toyota Sienna	U.S. (6-cyl.), Japan (4-cyl)	U.S., Japan	Princeton, Ind.
Toyota	Toyota Tacoma*	U.S., Japan	U.S., Japan	San Antonio, Tex.
Toyota	Toyota Tundra	U.S. (8-cyl.), Japan (6-cyl.)	United States	San Antonio, Tex.
Toyota	Toyota Venza	U.S., Japan	U.S., Japan	Georgetown, Ky.
* Also assembled in Mexico

Assembled in Canada
Chevrolet Camaro
Chevrolet Equinox
Chevrolet Impala
Chrysler 300
Chrysler Town & Country
Dodge Challenger
Dodge Charger
Dodge Grand Caravan
Ford Edge
Ford Flex
GMC Terrain
Lincoln MKT
Lincoln MKX
Assembled in Mexico
Cadillac Escalade EXT
Cadillac SRX
Chevrolet Avalanche
Chevrolet Aveo
Chevrolet HHR
Chevrolet Silverado
Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid
Dodge Journey
Ford Fiesta
Ford Fusion
Ford Fusion Hybrid
GMC Sierra
GMC Sierra Hybrid
GMC Sierra Crew Cab
Lincoln MKZ
Lincoln MKZ Hybrid
Dodge Ram 2500
Dodge Ram 3500
Dodge Ram 4500
Dodge Ram 5500
Toyota Tacoma**
** Also assembled in the U.S.

 

[Laura Knotek]

The location of the assembly/manufacturing plants of any company is not necessarily the same as where that company's HQs are located. Many electronics from companies with HQs in many different countries are made/assembled by Foxconn.

 

[Yazen]

I was a big fan of Zune HD/Metro. Use Microsoft services alot.
What actually sold me on a WP8 device was Nokia/Nokia Maps.
I was doing well with my Pre3/808.
Problem was my 808 was not getting updates/ web rendering, and my Pre3 was an engineering prototype.

Don't get me wrong, I recommend WP8 devices more often than not. Reliable, smooth, good experience devices.

I would consider myself outside of the norm. Liked having the ability to export my data to csv, and other power user features. (FM Transmitter anytime?? Haha)

I can sync my data from my Palm Treo (2004) and i-Mate (WP6) but I cannot with my WP8.1??

There are a lot of qualms for the advanced user, and WP8 is not popular with the average consumer.

MS needs to put more into marketing or cater to power users.
The potential that Microsoft has to
improve their OS gives me patience.

Anyone else prefer backing up/searching SMS data in .CSV format? Lol

 

[Phone Guy 4567]

The problem with WP is it made a bad first impression with the app gap, the Samsung Focus SD card issues, terrible Bing maps missing turn by turn directions and missing business focused features that Windows Mobile had.

A lot of this has been fixed but it's too little too late in the minds of the majority of the buying public. The average person on the street doesn't know about WP beyond the initial first impression and it really isn't their job to find out, that's Microsoft's responsibility to let them know. Bad first impressions are hard if not impossible to overcome IMO.

 

[Laura Knotek]

The problem with WP is it made a bad first impression with the app gap, the Samsung Focus SD card issues, terrible Bing maps missing turn by turn directions and missing business focused features that Windows Mobile had.

A lot of this has been fixed but it's too little too late in the minds of the majority of the buying public. The average person on the street doesn't know about WP beyond the initial first impression and it really isn't their job to find out, that's Microsoft's responsibility to let them know. Bad first impressions are hard if not impossible to overcome IMO.

I don't think that is the case for most people.

I didn't know what a Samsung Focus was until I joined WPCentral. I was still using BlackBerry when the Samsung Focus was released, and I never knew anything about, nor paid any attention to, the first generation WP7 devices. I did not use nor know about Windows Phone until the second generation WP7.5 devices were released.

I still wouldn't recognize a Samsung Focus if I saw one, since nobody I know had any OG Windows Phone 7 devices.

 

[fatclue_98]

The problem with WP is it made a bad first impression with the app gap, the Samsung Focus SD card issues, terrible Bing maps missing turn by turn directions and missing business focused features that Windows Mobile had.

A lot of this has been fixed but it's too little too late in the minds of the majority of the buying public. The average person on the street doesn't know about WP beyond the initial first impression and it really isn't their job to find out, that's Microsoft's responsibility to let them know. Bad first impressions are hard if not impossible to overcome IMO.

You could have easily said the same for the 1st iPhone. No MMS, no cut-n-paste, no 3G, no desktop sync except iTunes music and no apps at all. The store came well after release. How'd that phone line turn out?