Either an extremist or a troll.
But ok, I will feed it for once.
The reason the system is set up in this way is for ease of use. Now the use-case may not apply to you, and your paranoia may even tell you that someone else is forcefully dictating how you should Work and function.
This, though, is not the case.
Internally, Microsoft has agreed that the design and workflow of Windows 10 ( Phone, Tablets, Desktops and UI-less devices ) should look like it is now, probably for serveral reasons.
- They think it looks greater than the competition
- It's consistent ( Helps people that are NOT super-users to fathom the learning curve of the OS )
- They avoid legal matters and moral issues by avoiding to use others designs.
So, what Microsoft is doing, is creating a product in the direction they feel is best for the majority of their users.
If you learn how to develop, you even have the posibility of writing your own user interface, that is YOU administrating your own device. And it is also you who administrates your device when you alter the current setup of Windows 8.1 to look like Windows 7. So, in that regard, you are not a sheep in a pen. You are a super-user who is altering the system to best suit your needs.
The fact that you cannot do the same on the Windows Phone is will assume is because a lot of the setup on the windows phone environment is built around being available at a low ram rate, as well as a low CPU rate. Which enables the same features for low-end devices as it does for high-end, which in my opinion is pretty damn impressive! My 1520 has a very little gap from my sisters 630, and of course, even smaller gap from my dads 920.
Allowing users to alter the firmware of the Windows Phone is a risk, both for the users and the reputation of Microsoft ( And who wants a bad reputation, right? )
Because, for people who are again, NOT super-users, there is a lot more cons then pro's when it comes to firmware altering as well as changing the UI beyond the design of the software.
Pros:
- They get some kind of desired appearance or functionality
Cons:
- Battery time may be affected by CPU/RAM intensive code.
- Performance may be affected by the above statement as well.
- The phone could be bricked, and users would stand without warranty, or a phone.
- Malicious software could be written, and achieve access to personal data on the phone.
That's probably a very short Pro/Con list, but I think the point has been made.
But! Your luck is, that currently, there are a wide variety of software and operating system distributors. And maybe one of these combinations work for you, just for good sport, I will add the current one that I assume you are using.
Windows for PC / Windows Phone
These two operating systems work together in harmony through Microsofts cloudservice OneDrive - Which both backs up your phone (Apps, Contacts, Text Messages, etc. ), and allows sharing of documents across all platforms.
OSX / iOS
These two operating systems also work closely together, and is considering very user friendly and also delivers 5gb of data on iCloud for backing up your images, and phone. And if someone steals your phone and tries to reset it for their own use, it will brick itself, until your password has been entered in it.
Linux / Android
These are probably the most diverse systems, and allows for the user to whatever his/her heart desires to it, but it does require the knowledge of at least a super-user to perform these installation as well as maintaining the phones performance level. People who are adept in developing will be able to mold this platform to their given desires.
( I have not owned an iPhone since I acquired my first Windows Phone, and have not used android. So if any other people in the debate fell like helping OP, please do include some details to help him make a future decision on his solution )
So, just to sum this thing up.
Microsoft did not sell it's soul to the anti-Christ. Because they do not work with fictional currency. And Android is probably the place to be for you, if the decisions and design made by Microsoft is enough to get you out of your chair and rage about.
Last edited by tRedz; 01-22-2015 at 05:42 AM.