[RavenSword]

Honestly, it seems like these companies (Apple, Google, and MS) are trying more and more these days to lock us into only using there devices. Apple has continuity, Google has their Chrome OS and phones that work with one another, and MS has the one OS thing across all devices. But what if we don't want to go all in on one company? What if we use a mix of devices from different ecosystems? Are we just going to have to pick a side one day and only buy from one company? For example, I have a iPhone 6 plus, but I also use windows for my desktop. My fear is that Apple will one day make it so my phone won't be enjoyable on its own. Or the vice versa with using a iPhone with my windows machine.

do you think this is cause for concern? Do you think these devices can exist perfectly well on their own or in a mixed device environment?

[Laura Knotek]

I don't think it'll be a problem with Microsoft services. They seem to make most apps and software compatible with Mac OS X and Apple iOS.
Sent from my Nokia Lumia 920 via Tapatalk

[AluminiumRims]

Good question and we will see what changes that will be introduced in Qt to support Windows 10 single program run everywhere strategy.

[dkediger]

I don't think it'll be a problem with Microsoft services. They seem to make most apps and software compatible with Mac OS X and Apple iOS.
Sent from my Nokia Lumia 920 via Tapatalk

Pretty much this. Its not so much making the hardware/devices themselves work with each other as it is making the services you use work on other platforms.

[RavenSword]

I don't think it'll be a problem with Microsoft services. They seem to make most apps and software compatible with Mac OS X and Apple iOS.
Sent from my Nokia Lumia 920 via Tapatalk

There are some things though that MS could do that would make it more enticing to go all in on their hardware. Which I guess makes business sense. I just would like to retain my ability to choose the right tool for the job regardless of who make the hardware.

[Laura Knotek]

There are some things though that MS could do that would make it more enticing to go all in on their hardware. Which I guess makes business sense. I just would like to retain my ability to choose the right tool for the job regardless of who make the hardware.

Of course one could always get a PC from any OEM that makes PCs. One cannot do that easily and legally with Apple products.

[RavenSword]

Of course one could always get a PC from any OEM that makes PCs. One cannot do that easily and legally with Apple products.

No I know, i meant as far as mixing and matching Ecosystems and who makes the stuff. For example, say I want to have a iphone, ipad, surface pro 3 (or Pro 4) and a Windows Desktop. I hope I would be able to do something like that without it being a nightmare of incompatibility and headache.

[Laura Knotek]

No I know, i meant as far as mixing and matching Ecosystems and who makes the stuff. For example, say I want to have a iphone, ipad, surface pro 3 (or Pro 4) and a Windows Desktop. I hope I would be able to do something like that without it being a nightmare of incompatibility and headache.

I doubt if that would happen. There are far more iPhone/iPad users who have PCs than Macs. Apple would kill iOS if it made iOS devices incompatible with Windows.

[MDMcAtee]

Honestly, it seems like these companies (Apple, Google, and MS) are trying more and more these days to lock us into only using there devices. Apple has continuity, Google has their Chrome OS and phones that work with one another, and MS has the one OS thing across all devices. But what if we don't want to go all in on one company? What if we use a mix of devices from different ecosystems? Are we just going to have to pick a side one day and only buy from one company? For example, I have a iPhone 6 plus, but I also use windows for my desktop. My fear is that Apple will one day make it so my phone won't be enjoyable on its own. Or the vice versa with using a iPhone with my windows machine.

do you think this is cause for concern? Do you think these devices can exist perfectly well on their own or in a mixed device environment?

Of course they want you to go all in with the respective platforms. That's the way it works.

But the reality is many people have several different devices from 2 or more platforms.

I know I do as well as several family members and friends.

You just have to look for the work around for your needs when you elect to do this.

I have both Gmail accounts and Outlook accounts on my imac, and my win 8.1 laptop and have no issues going between the different os's. While I am without a WP presently that will change as soon as Win 10 is available and mature. In the meantime I will be exploring the possibility of running dual boot with my imac and loading Win 10 on it.

You don't have to stress over deciding on going all in on one platform or another, there are plenty of benefits to using them all. Some folks allow their biases to dictate their own lives and put down the other sides when it is easy to find the best in all platforms and utilize them. This us vs them mentality really doesn't help anyone and most often hurts everyone involved.

Find what works best for you and your needs and if that encompasses using all of the platforms then do it, because having the best of all of this is what makes you happy and that is the most important thing to do. If you limit yourself to one side and there are apps and programs you need on another you're shortchanging yourself.

Cry me a river then build a bridge and get over it