Tqlla, this is a multilayered issue here rather than just merely abandoning legacy users.
Firstly, all WP7 devices didn't stop working once WP8 was launched in November. WP7 is a solid mature platform. If someone wants to test drive WP, I?d recommend them getting a good used WP7 device, especially a Radar or Lumia 710/800/900 if you want to hold onto your upgrade. If you've noticed, at least in the US now, everything is done around the 2 year contract. Whenever hardware is released now, it is mostly targeted to first users of a platform or people off a contract. For example, a large chunk of the Galaxy S 4 sales will come from people upgrading a Galaxy S 2 or those making the switch. They won?t make as much money from people ditching their Galaxy S3s to upgrade. When consumers buy a subsidized handset, most people aren't looking to upgrade it ever year because handsets are still expensive. Many people buy a phone to do what it can do out of the box for as long as it makes a difference for them. So, there will still be people using WP7 because it has more to offer them at this point than WP8. I cannot blame those folks for riding it out since WP8 is merely 4 months old.
Apple has historically put out one device at a time, so maximizing software updates are easier to do - for both the hardware and demands of the OS itself. Android has issues because you can slap it on any combo of hardware - which is a great strength - but if you're into the latest and greatest software wise, most flagship phones have a slightly older version of the OS because that was what was best optimized with their skins at the time to get it to market.
Apple made the 3GS such a great legacy device because the hardware was a means to an end....content consumption, where the real cash lies. Apple has pushed the constant update and app craze because that SOLE reason. You don?t just by an iPhone, you buy the experience of owning one, if what they sell people. MSFT didn't have a well integrated content delivery system, but they had pieces of one - Xbox, Zune, Skydrive, Skype, Office, etc. Once they saw what it would take to fully integrate that, they realize rewriting the code and getting the right minimum hardware requirements in the hands of users (dual core + 512mb RAM) was the way forward. It just makes sense to have the right minimum hardware specs to match because it allows to still have a great user experience on hardware that they can afford. While the 3GS has run 4 versions of iOS in its life, the user experience has suffered with each update in terms of smoothness.
Remember, many people don't update their phones. Most buy a phone for what it can do for them right now, and those who are making a truer type investment in their handset will find a way to get something more "future proof". MSFT is trying to address that with good minimum requirements (dual core 1Ghz + 512ram) as opposed to the maximum requirements the OEMs gave us during WP7 (1.4+Ghz + 512ram). The Lumia 520 and 620 are great at this you're getting great mid range (early 2012) proven hardware at entry market price. Throw on top a fresh design and a better to support kernel, you've got a great potential mix. That's why Huwaei is on board as they can push WP8 in emerging markets. Nokia is in every market, as seen by all the Lumia lines because it HAS to sell WP. So you will see: Huwaei + Nokia in emerging markets, Nokia + HTC + Samsung in the mid range and high end for right now.
Comparatively speaking, I think WP8 is ahead of both iOS and Android at a similar point in their lifecycles. But it is unfair to compare a more mature OS like iOS (content consumption delivery wise) and Android (hardware versatility wise). As a pure OS, WP8 is much better than Android Eclair and iOS3.
In Android land, Google has OEMs supporting hardware for 18-24 months worth of official updates. That makes sense because those wh root will extend the of the phone. I think that the 24 month support is about right, and I'm sure they have the business analytics to back up the 24 month model update wise with flagships running from 12-18months in shelf life.
Here's the comparison over a 2 year period of the update frequency:
Nexus S (stock Android) and Galaxy S2 (flagship phone): 2.3 to 4.0 to 4.1
WP7: Initial to Nodo to Mango to 7.8/tango
That?s about the same...we all know Nexus S stopped officially at 4.1 and the S2 probably there as well since Samsung may spent more time on the S4 and the S3 this year.
I didn't put iOS because Apple, currently only launches one device annually and as such has better control over updates because they may have up to only 3 (maybe 4) iPhones in the wild at a time with the same base version of iOS - but with only the two most recent models running the OS close to "what it should be".
Am I blindly following along with MSFT? My handle should answer that. Yes, they have made some mistakes but of where the hardware is right now MSFT needs fully integrate their offerings and the new code allows that, making updates easier for users to get. They did the back end stuff with WP8 that an end user doesn?t see readily. So if someone who has WP7 asks me to switch? Hardware wise, make the jump. Software wise, wait until later in the year when hopefully the app catalog really starts to fill out, and the Xbox Music issues get ironed out and the notification center comes. Remember, MSFT doesn?t make 3rd party apps.
There is still plenty of 2013 left for them to make a splash and even bring back legacy users when they are ready to upgrade. Well, that?s my (long winded) take anyways
:clownface
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