I read this thread and these days how interesting the thread is depends on the number of teas I drink while reading it. 3 for this one.
While there are people who have clearly moved on to other platforms and aren't happy with the way Windows Phone has evolved and they have super major contributions in this thread, I don't think most of them are valid.
Why isn't anyone looking at it from this perspective : You got a phone with low spec i.e 512 RAM right? You paid less money than the guy who paid for Lumia 920 right? You did not buy a flagship device, right? Now don't give me an example of iPhone because there is always ONE iPhone per OS iteration. For Windows Phone 8 OS, there are plenty of phones. Low ends, mid range, flagships. This is same with Androids right? If you pay for low end phone, don't expect high end performance or apps, simple. I wouldn't. I don't know why would you. If apps don't work on high end Lumia 920 e.g. Tentacles or Viber HD - I would be totally pissed and I am about those apps.
Let's compare low end WP with low end Androids and let's talk about the performances. Back in the day, Windows Phone ads (those who don't own WP anymore, you will know what I'm talking about) that showed how smooth and non-laggy the device is compared to others were everywhere. The point was - WP doesn't lag, WP is consistent. Pick up a low end WP and pick up a low end Android both with latest and greatest OS updates on them. WP will not lag, it won't **** out, it won't force close. However in Android it will. Now what use is that TuneIn radio or Temple Run or whatever you lot are on about, if it will make my phone laggy? If I wanted that, I would surely buy an Android anyway. WP came out with providing a fresher and better user experience. It's focused on user experience. It wasn't focused on apps even at the beginning. Everything was about integration (remember old days, veterans?)
I understand the point that some apps just don't need 1GB RAM e.g. TuneIn and they shouldn't demand that - but probably they've done their home work and it might be OK on Android to run in the choppy environment, by MS standards if it doesn't feel optimized with 512 MB RAM. That when 1GB RAM version is released and then after further development, optimization 512 one is released. There were few games recently that released in this fashion right?
I think most of the people on WP who have used it since 2010 or in 2011, would vote for stability, speed and fluidity of the OS anyday over the most popular app in other marketplaces. However, those switching from other OS always want those apps because to them even a laggy app doesn't feel any different than what they had on their previous phone. I don't know. My tea is finished, I need to make a brew now.
Here's the problem :
Android 4.2 update has suffered with so many issues and Android Police website made a separate article regarding problems faced by people who got 4.2 update and its even worse than iOS 6 (Maps , Do not disturb not working , new year alarm not working etc.)
WP8 had its share of issues as well ( like other storage,reboots,freezing etc. which are fixed and so did other platforms)
Don't tell me "WP is stable" , god knows how many issues it faced.iOS is the one which faced "least stability issues" in my opinion.
But I admit that WP apps crash FAR less than iOS or Android.
No Platform is good at first , but it gets better with time.
Here issue is not with money or "You get what you pay for" argument.
There are 3 issues with 1 gb ram limitations :
1.Platform Fragmentation : A guy who got device from 2013 is not able to run a simple app while a guy who has 4 year old 3GS/Galaxy S1 is able to run the same app nicely on their device without issues .I am speaking of small apps but not intensive apps.Come on , A radio app not able to run on a 2013 device ? Lets say if 900 or 800 can't run , then people would be like "its little old to run" but not being able to run on a latest device is pathetic.
2.Platform doesn't move fast :
I have an 820 which is high end but imagine people who got 620s or 8S , how would they feel ? Not only that , Mid range and low end devices are needed to reach more and more consumers across the world.If a guy who has xperia tipo which is like $150 can run more apps without issues or lags compared to a 520 , how would a 520 user feel ? they will never invest into the platform again and never buys apps because they won't stay in platform.
A small example : How many have iPhone 5's ? And how many have iPhone 4S ? There are more 4S's in the world than iPhone 5's and even more iPhone 4's exist compared to iPhone 4S/5 because
4S has been selling from 1.5 year and iPhone 4 from like 2.5 years , 3GS's exist even more
So probably developers get more money if they target 4S and 4's , if they only make their apps/games for iPhone 5 , they are going to loose 50%+ of the money and get disappointing results.
512 mb ram means even older devices like 800 and 710 can run them but not just 620s or 8S's
User base of 512 mb devices is far greater than 1gb devices.
3.Shows inefficiency :A simple app needing 1 gb ram ? then its nothing more than bloat.Difference between bloat and a normal app is resources they consume Vs functionality they have.