Hello everyone,
First of all, despite the title is quite angry sounding, it is more of a rage, but without any insult in mind. Therefore, if you feel yourself insulted in any way after reading, well, read again as there is no hidden meaning or else.
So, here goes.
I was not planning to write anything related to windows mobile platform for a really good while, was trying to stop myself from doing that since: hey, everybody is right in their own right and everybody has their own opinion. However, recently posted article of why shouldn't anybody buy Alcatel Idol 4 Pro literally burned my *** so I have decided enough is enough in holding it to myself. It may get no support, but at least it will be off my chest.
First things first, this is the article I am referring to: https://www.windowscentral.com/you-probably-shouldnt-buy-alcatel-idol-4-pro-windows-10-mobile. I want to criticize this article a lot, but I will stick to a few points only and will ask the author, probably, quite a rhetorical question: on what basis and right do you give this consumer advice judging from your own point of view? To elaborate, which part in particular of Microsoft potentially stopping development of Windows 10 Mobile or support of the phone will make it less of a phone?? If support is stopped, you will not be able to call/send sms/use chats/internet? Oh, you won't have Fluent Design? Awww, what a pity. Support of Facebook/WhatsApp will drop after 2 years? I pity you. I am not even sure the phone no matter how good you take care of it will survive that long. And here I come to the main point: people, article author included, what the **** is wrong with you? You are demanding from Microsoft to be up-to-date about every single detail you can think of. You blame them for not supporting developers and developers not supporting ecosystem because small user database etc, etc.
Let me try to break down my anger into points and by statements.
1. Microsoft might drop support for older phones like they did with Nokia series such as our beloved L1020.
- True. It is possible.
2. Microsoft will not release Fall Update to existing phones/will not be updating their system.
- Possible. So? Will your phone become defective? No. Will you be able to use it? Yes. Oh, by any chance, do you think Apple or Google never did the same? I'll tell you more, they made it even worse: they have completely stopped rolling out updates for phones released more than a year ago from their newer build. Side note, I have owned LG P880 which I thought was an awesome phone before I bought it. In terms of updates, it was running I think Android 2.2. I've bought it on the day one. Throughout the year there was Android 2.3 and 2.4 released which followed next year 3.0 (Was it Gingerbread? Don't remember). Guess how many updates have I got? I'll tell you - zero! You can blame LG of course, but it doesn't change the fact that the phone was not supported despite being a flagship.
3. Microsoft is not supporting devs so they do not release new apps/update existing apps.
- Look, I do not know the business model of Microsoft and frankly I do not care. However, people... I literally am struggling not to call you names... Let me explain why:
* People who claim they use professional apps on daily basis and can't live without them.
I. Are you serious? You can draw on a 5-6 inches like a pro does? Wow, never thought I will see precision of a finger like a paint brush. Oh, you do not draw? You professionally edit documents on the same size of the screen? Wow, you must be really good in scrolling Excel 2000 rows down and 25 columns right and then creating a pivot...
II. Oh you still insist you do that, but your screen is bigger? Tell you what - you are not using Windows Mobile then, it is Windows on the Tablet/Phablet or call it whatever, but it is a x86/x64 version. Oh, and you know what? There are normal x86/x64 applications (mind you, not apps) that allow you to use their full potential.
III. Oh, you use Windows 10 S? Name 3 apps for your "professional occupation" you can't get from the store and they only have x86/x64 counterpart. If you, OK, you win this argument, but again - there is an option to upgrade from S to Pro which gets us back to paragraph II.
IV. And finally, professionals usually use desktop/workstations to do their job. If you are working from a mobile (not a tablet, laptop or something else with a big (sufficient) screen) you are just pretending
* People who claim there is no or limited banking apps.
I. Unless your bank is somewhere in Africa which will probably exclude the possibility of having internet banking, but that is not the point, they will have mobile version of the website. Password saving is offered by built-in browser. You will need to enter secondary code only (depending on the country you live in, it may be code card, PIN or w/e). But your username and primary password may be prefilled.
II. Following previous point, I can't possibly see the reason to trust the banking app which allows you to make some transactions without authorisation. Of course, they are limited to, say, 30EUR per transaction/day (depends on the bank, agreement, etc). Besides, if the bank is kind enough, they will optimize their website so well, that it will scale extremely well on any screen. And no matter how you put it, you have to admit, that most apps are just a site wrappers with some additional elements.
* Other apps with webpage counterparts
I. Long story short - if the developer of the website is making a mobile-friendly interface, you should not have any issue opening it from browser.
* Games.
I. Right. Here's where I honestly do not have a good argument, except for one: there are two types of games - time killers and arcades. The first one is self-explanatory while the second one I can't really understand people who tend to cry they can't play good games... on the phone... Guys, for good games - there are consoles/Wii/PSP. For excellent games - PC. (Yes, I am from PC master race, but I do like some games on consoles so I do respect them)
* Social Apps.
I. Regrettably or not, it is a part of our life. Limited as it may be or may have been (for example, facebook chat for 8.1). You tend to complain about snapchat, instagram (I think on 8.1 it didn't exist). I do not personally use them, I do use FB messenger sometimes, but on daily basis I use WhatsApp, Skype and sometimes Viber.
II. Get a life?
I think this concludes my rage mumble. To make things clear, I am not in the 50s, so I am not regretting good-'ol-times, I am not in 20s either, so I know all the evolution from 5.25" FDD to Cloud Storage. I have been user of Windows Mobile from 6.1 upgraded to 6.5 on my Xperia X1 and has sticked to Windows platform ever since (with 3 exceptions, Nokia 3310 and Samsung SGH-D500(?) in my school and mentioned before P880). I know what I want from the phone and despite gaming and working with PCs a lot, not even once I wanted use my phone as a replacement for my PC, until Elite X3 was released and made me desire such possibility. But again, I want it to be a portable PC for work with phone functionality.
First of all, despite the title is quite angry sounding, it is more of a rage, but without any insult in mind. Therefore, if you feel yourself insulted in any way after reading, well, read again as there is no hidden meaning or else.
So, here goes.
I was not planning to write anything related to windows mobile platform for a really good while, was trying to stop myself from doing that since: hey, everybody is right in their own right and everybody has their own opinion. However, recently posted article of why shouldn't anybody buy Alcatel Idol 4 Pro literally burned my *** so I have decided enough is enough in holding it to myself. It may get no support, but at least it will be off my chest.
First things first, this is the article I am referring to: https://www.windowscentral.com/you-probably-shouldnt-buy-alcatel-idol-4-pro-windows-10-mobile. I want to criticize this article a lot, but I will stick to a few points only and will ask the author, probably, quite a rhetorical question: on what basis and right do you give this consumer advice judging from your own point of view? To elaborate, which part in particular of Microsoft potentially stopping development of Windows 10 Mobile or support of the phone will make it less of a phone?? If support is stopped, you will not be able to call/send sms/use chats/internet? Oh, you won't have Fluent Design? Awww, what a pity. Support of Facebook/WhatsApp will drop after 2 years? I pity you. I am not even sure the phone no matter how good you take care of it will survive that long. And here I come to the main point: people, article author included, what the **** is wrong with you? You are demanding from Microsoft to be up-to-date about every single detail you can think of. You blame them for not supporting developers and developers not supporting ecosystem because small user database etc, etc.
Let me try to break down my anger into points and by statements.
1. Microsoft might drop support for older phones like they did with Nokia series such as our beloved L1020.
- True. It is possible.
2. Microsoft will not release Fall Update to existing phones/will not be updating their system.
- Possible. So? Will your phone become defective? No. Will you be able to use it? Yes. Oh, by any chance, do you think Apple or Google never did the same? I'll tell you more, they made it even worse: they have completely stopped rolling out updates for phones released more than a year ago from their newer build. Side note, I have owned LG P880 which I thought was an awesome phone before I bought it. In terms of updates, it was running I think Android 2.2. I've bought it on the day one. Throughout the year there was Android 2.3 and 2.4 released which followed next year 3.0 (Was it Gingerbread? Don't remember). Guess how many updates have I got? I'll tell you - zero! You can blame LG of course, but it doesn't change the fact that the phone was not supported despite being a flagship.
3. Microsoft is not supporting devs so they do not release new apps/update existing apps.
- Look, I do not know the business model of Microsoft and frankly I do not care. However, people... I literally am struggling not to call you names... Let me explain why:
* People who claim they use professional apps on daily basis and can't live without them.
I. Are you serious? You can draw on a 5-6 inches like a pro does? Wow, never thought I will see precision of a finger like a paint brush. Oh, you do not draw? You professionally edit documents on the same size of the screen? Wow, you must be really good in scrolling Excel 2000 rows down and 25 columns right and then creating a pivot...
II. Oh you still insist you do that, but your screen is bigger? Tell you what - you are not using Windows Mobile then, it is Windows on the Tablet/Phablet or call it whatever, but it is a x86/x64 version. Oh, and you know what? There are normal x86/x64 applications (mind you, not apps) that allow you to use their full potential.
III. Oh, you use Windows 10 S? Name 3 apps for your "professional occupation" you can't get from the store and they only have x86/x64 counterpart. If you, OK, you win this argument, but again - there is an option to upgrade from S to Pro which gets us back to paragraph II.
IV. And finally, professionals usually use desktop/workstations to do their job. If you are working from a mobile (not a tablet, laptop or something else with a big (sufficient) screen) you are just pretending
* People who claim there is no or limited banking apps.
I. Unless your bank is somewhere in Africa which will probably exclude the possibility of having internet banking, but that is not the point, they will have mobile version of the website. Password saving is offered by built-in browser. You will need to enter secondary code only (depending on the country you live in, it may be code card, PIN or w/e). But your username and primary password may be prefilled.
II. Following previous point, I can't possibly see the reason to trust the banking app which allows you to make some transactions without authorisation. Of course, they are limited to, say, 30EUR per transaction/day (depends on the bank, agreement, etc). Besides, if the bank is kind enough, they will optimize their website so well, that it will scale extremely well on any screen. And no matter how you put it, you have to admit, that most apps are just a site wrappers with some additional elements.
* Other apps with webpage counterparts
I. Long story short - if the developer of the website is making a mobile-friendly interface, you should not have any issue opening it from browser.
* Games.
I. Right. Here's where I honestly do not have a good argument, except for one: there are two types of games - time killers and arcades. The first one is self-explanatory while the second one I can't really understand people who tend to cry they can't play good games... on the phone... Guys, for good games - there are consoles/Wii/PSP. For excellent games - PC. (Yes, I am from PC master race, but I do like some games on consoles so I do respect them)
* Social Apps.
I. Regrettably or not, it is a part of our life. Limited as it may be or may have been (for example, facebook chat for 8.1). You tend to complain about snapchat, instagram (I think on 8.1 it didn't exist). I do not personally use them, I do use FB messenger sometimes, but on daily basis I use WhatsApp, Skype and sometimes Viber.
II. Get a life?
I think this concludes my rage mumble. To make things clear, I am not in the 50s, so I am not regretting good-'ol-times, I am not in 20s either, so I know all the evolution from 5.25" FDD to Cloud Storage. I have been user of Windows Mobile from 6.1 upgraded to 6.5 on my Xperia X1 and has sticked to Windows platform ever since (with 3 exceptions, Nokia 3310 and Samsung SGH-D500(?) in my school and mentioned before P880). I know what I want from the phone and despite gaming and working with PCs a lot, not even once I wanted use my phone as a replacement for my PC, until Elite X3 was released and made me desire such possibility. But again, I want it to be a portable PC for work with phone functionality.
Last edited: