Fully Equipped: Time to ditch Windows Mobile?

Windows Mobile 6.5 is rumored to offer cosmetic upgrades, not major feature changes.

(Credit: Mobilemag.com)

For all the talk there's been about Microsoft's big Vista problem, much less has been made of its smaller operating system, Windows Mobile, which has some major problems of its own. Truth be told, I'm a longtime Windows Mobile user and I have to say it's been a frustrating ride. There are things I really like about the OS--and things I find really irritating. However, the frustration stems from the fact that every time I think it's really going to turn a corner, Windows Mobile continues to disappoint. And I'm seriously considering giving up on it.

Take my current situation. I own a Sprint Mogul. Like with all cell phones--and smartphones for that matter--I was smitten with it when I first got it. It was a nice upgrade over the PPC-6700--not only in terms of design, but it performed better all around. Alas, with time, it's experienced its share of problems, even with a couple of firmware upgrades that gave it faster data speeds from Sprint's newest 3G network (Rev A), added GPS, and fixed a few bugs. I need a new battery, the keyboard doesn't work as well as it used to, the phone freezes a fair amount, and when I touch icons or open fields on the touch screen, it often takes a few taps to get the reaction I want. (Some people refer to this as the Windows Mobile "delay" syndrome).

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[murrayw76]

I'm not ready to give up on Windows Mobile just yet, but I agree that Microsoft is missing some pretty big opportunities to shore up its standing in the mobile marketplace. HTC's Home plugin and TouchFLO interface go a long way toward improving the user experience, but these interfaces need to be baked into the OS. WinMo also needs to be more media-savvy and I've argued time and again that Microsoft should bring the Zune interface to WinMo, since it is much more likely to survive as a software experience than a hardware product. Until then, WinMo will have to be content to be an enterprise product, because the iPhone is going to eat its lunch in the consumer space. Android is coming along nicely, too, and I think it will eventually match and perhaps best the iPhone. We just need to see Android available on more hardware, but I'm hoping that HTC has a few tricks up its sleeve at the upcoming Mobile World Congress! In the meantime, I'll stick with WinMo, but once TomTom Navigator and Sling Mobile (or equivalent turn-by-turn direction and place-shifting software) get ported to the iPhone or Android, all bets are off...those are the only two functions that require me to use a WinMo product nowadays.

[iheartcr]

For Place shifting I installed orb on my PC for free and use my pocket IE browser to access my media. Sorry don't now if it is as good as Slingbox but works for me and its free. ( All my media is on my PC ).

[GeoffreyDC]

I got fed up with my Motorola Q9h, partially due to Windows Mobile (6.1) and partially because I had to replace it twice in 2 years. I just replaced it with a BB Bold and am very happy, although I intend to swap the Bold to my work account once I've seen the Pre released and verify it's as good as it seems to promise.

I've used Windows Mobile since version 2.x and am about over the lack of progress, especially in light of the advances made by Apple, Google, and Palm.

[denzii2006]

I have the Motorola Q with Windows. I am now getting a blackberry because I can't stand windows on my mobile device. It wants to reboot all by itself for no apparent reason, it's super slow and the menus, navigation is really annoying. Sorry Microsoft. You blew it again.

[WebBuddha]

How much of your issues are the OS and how how much are hardware related? I don't see any real value in your comments without a clearer and more definite documentation of the distinction.

Also, the Motorola Q comments I hear echoed far too often to blame anyone but Motorola for the rabid decline in their innovation and quality since their dominance back in the Razor days.

I dig on the "purty" aspects of the iPhone but absolutely cannot use a phone without a physical keyboard. The blackberry OS and me just never quite got along. I happen to prefer the ease of integration between my phone and desktop OS.

Thankfully, none of them are going away soon and the competition only keeps getting better. Better for us! More innovation, cooler products, cheaper products and choice! That honestly is one of my favorite things about WinMo and even black berry. Choice of hardware.

Apple's model of doing business since it's inception will always bottleneck their users into a single hardware choice with very slight variations on each theme. Beautiful hardware though those bastards do design, I have to give them that. I think they kidnap and hide away all the best hardware designers.

[Zeeshan47]

There is damn good value in our comments. The hardware on most winmo phones is nothing to scoff at, and upping the specs only decreases battery life. The most important aspect to any phone is the efficiency and ease-of-use of its OS. All other aspects of the phone suffer tremendously from a poor OS. This is not to say that winmo doesn't have certain features and aspects that make it useless, it's just a commentary on how it could be so much better without the bloat. Believe me, we would all like OSes to one-up each other as much as possible. It can only result in better phones for all of us.

[homercles82]

I ran an Audivox SMT5600 with Windows Mobile on it for 2 years. I loved that phone and still consider it the best I ever owned.

I had to bury it because I dropped it in a puddle one day. It was sad.

[hhstudent2008]

From my personal experience I have no problems with WinMo 6.1. I use it everyday on my Samsung Omnia. (I feel it is one of the closer iPhone contenders) I do however agree that WinMo could use an update, but with Samsung's touchwiz interface and Opera's mobile browser I have yet to run into a real problem. I had a PDA, and yes I said a PDA that ran Win 5.0 since early 2003 and not once did I have a problem with it. It still works to this day. So, for now I say that I am perfectly fine with WInMo (plus the touchwiz) but, I look forward for things to come.

[spark09223]

Samsung Omnia was one of the slowest phones I ever saw. WinMo itself is pretty sluggish, but the widget OS (touchwiz) Samsung came up with was just horrible. If you had used any other smartphone OSes, you wouldn't be able to deal with WinMo.

[hhstudent2008]

From my personal experience I have no problems with WinMo 6.1. I use it everyday on my Samsung Omnia. (I feel it is one of the closer iPhone contenders) I do however agree that WinMo could use an update, but with Samsung's touchwiz interface and Opera's mobile browser I have yet to run into a real problem. I had a PDA, and yes I said a PDA that ran Win 5.0 since early 2003 and not once did I have a problem with it. It still works to this day. So, for now I say that I am perfectly fine with WInMo (plus the touchwiz) but, I look forward for things to come.

[christopherneal08]

I've been using WinMo on the HTC Tilt with AT&T as my service provider. My ride hasn't been as bumpy as Mr. Carnoy's. The touch screen has been very responsive. I have some issues with Active Sync that I hope are addressed in the upgrade. It seems to have some problems with file attachements. Nothing major but it can be annoying. I hope th upgrade does more good than harm. We'll see. :)

[bobfox321]

Android Android Android !

Did I mention Android ?

It is what will be happening for the near future.

[topgunb2]

I had android from a friend working for a telco, used it for a month. It was one of the most frustrating experience. I couldn't sync it with exchange, couldn't use work wifi (wpa-enterprise) on it, which I used on my windows mobile.

I ended up missing lot of appointments, most of the companies I know do not allow access to gmail (or any webmail ) as a policy. Tried few products to sync it with exchange, didn't work well at all.
fortunately i didn't buy g1 so returned it back to my friend and am back on my diamond.

I agree, windows mobile is great and these complaints are based on old out dated phones. I feel that windows mobile phones offer more flexibility than the blackberry and even the iphone. I would like to see Microsoft improve on the current OS to keep up with the competition.

[delf76]

I've been holding onto my Windows Mobile 6.0 Device, a Blackjack I (not II), because I keep thinking Microsoft is finally going to get Windows Mobile right, and I can then upgrade to that version. I really had very high hopes for Windows mobile 7, until i found out it was going to be delayed to late this year. now, I'm at the crossroads of changing phones-- decisions, decisions....

[spark09223]

For those of you who say these complaints are based on old outdated phones, the current WinMo phones are one of the most sluggish smartphones out there. I wanted to switch to Samsung Omnia from my Blackberry Pearl, but after trying it out at a Verizon Wireless store (and almost feeling like throwing it on the ground) I gave up. My experience was similar with Q9, and HTC Touch and other WinMo phones. With fast, reliable (meaning no rebooting) OSes from Apple, Google, RIM, and Palm, WinMo definitely has to come up with something better.

[hhstudent2008]

I find if very interesting that this was all based off of playing with a phone at a Verizon retail store that several people have probably played with and changed settings that they had no idea what they did. As for you stab with "no rebooting" I have NEVER had to reboot my 6.1 on my Omnia. Another thing, Blackberry is nice, but I also looked at a Pearl and hated it. I also would like to know what you are using as your parameters for your comparison on the speed of WinMo 6.1.

[veracity101]

I've been using the Omnia from Verizon for about a month now and am very satisfied. I find the WM 6.1 OS very user friendly and it comes with every feature you could possibly want. The network is also the best in the US. I wouldn't lend any credence to someone who tries the Omnia in the store for a few minutes. My only concern with the Omnia would be when I'm traveling overseas (CDMA only) and the fact that Verizon hasn't made the GPS freely available unless you subscribe to VZ Navigator (although I've been told that they're going to change this in a future update). I'm sure WM7 will have major advances but for now I'm delighted.

For unbiased reviews, check out CNET and Phonearena -> http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/samsung-omnia-verizon-wireless/4505-6452_7-33399472.html?subj=re&tag=centerColumnArea2.1
http://www.phonearena.com/htmls/Samsung-Omnia-CDMA-Review-review-r_2074.html

[AppleSuxLeo]

Kill it off...then fund/buy Palm.