http://www.phonearena.com/news/I-chose-Windows-Phone_id45318

faulting to Android - not always a good idea

I chose Windows Phone
It's not that I wasn't happy with the GS4 at first, but as time went by the joy 
of getting my hands on this cutting-edge device started to make way for that 
nagging feeling that you have when you don't belong. Such was my relationship 
with Samsung's finest. Aside from the few technical issues I had with the 
phone, such as its poor outdoor visibility and occasional stuttering, the real 
problem for me was the lack of attention to detail in those areas that I really 
cared for. Truth be told, I love smartphones, but I rarely play games, watch 
full-length movies, or use other heavy-duty apps on them. That's mainly because 
I don't have the time, and when I do have time for some entertainment, I 
usually prefer the comfort of my desktop. So, my smartphone usage is mostly 
limited to calling, texting, email, browsing, social networking, as well as the 
occasional ebook reading and YouTube video watching. Of course, I also use 
typical smartphone tools such as the calendar, notes and navigation. As you can 
see, one can argue if I can really call myself a heavy user, as I mostly stick 
to the basic neсcessities, but the important thing is that I do use them 
a lot, and I really demand that those core smartphone features are executed as 
well as possible.

It turned out that the Samsung Galaxy S4, as powerful as it is, is actually the 
exact opposite of what I needed. Crammed with all kinds of features and 
options, this is a smartphone that is a jack of all trades, but master of none. 
While it can run the heaviest 3D games out there, its homescreen UI often 
stutters. While there are more than five ways to dial a contact, the phonebook 
itself is a mess. Battery life is also spectacularly short, despite my 
relatively modest needs. And, of course, while the screen is very big... the 
phone itself is also very big (just like any other Android flagship), which is 
definitely not a plus. Encased within a few thin pieces of plastic and full of 
UI inconsistencies, I realized that there's not much for me in the GS4 beyond 
its status of a cutting-edge device, which is why I made the decision to jump 
the Android ship about a month after I got on board. The ability to play 
various 3D games or install hundreds and hundreds of apps wasn't enough to keep 
me there, because I rarely took advantage of it.

But where to? "I should probably go back to my iPhone and hope that Apple's 
going to shake things up with iOS 7 and the next iPhone." Such was my thinking 
back then, but then iOS 7 came along and I was somewhat disappointed by the new 
design direction and the lack of new jaw-dropping features. The redesign was 
obviously the thing Apple hoped to wow us with, but for me, it didn't work. My 
anticipation for Apple's upcoming smartphone software was quickly drowned in 
generic-looking icons and buttons that didn't look like buttons. Oh dear, I 
needed a new smartphone, but didn't have an idea which way to go.

Embracing Windows Phone

I chose Windows Phone
As desperation slowly started to settle in, it suddenly hit me – I like Nokia's 
Lumia range, but had largely ignored it thus far because of Windows Phone. Why? 
Well, you know, Windows Phone doesn't have a very rich app ecosystem yet, and 
let's just say that you have to be a really brave user in order to embrace 
Windows Phone right now, having in mind Microsoft's complete underdog status. 
However, it turned out that the third ecosystem can actually offer almost every 
single feature that I use in my daily grind. Design-wise, Windows Phone seems 
to be taking the middle ground between iOS and Android. It's neither tightly 
closed, nor too wide open. It offers things like USB mass storage, live tiles 
and a great navigation system, courtesy of Nokia, but it's also free from 
redundant OEM customization efforts and "extra" features that few people are 
ever going to need. It is also much more consistent and has the look and feel 
of a complete and polished product.

Even though Windows Phone is fairly easy to use, there is some learning curve 
with this platform, as it strives to do a lot of things differently. Once you 
get the hang of it, though, and personalize your homescreen so that it caters 
to your personal preferences, most everything can be accomplished quickly and 
easily.

Of course, when considering a purchase of a Windows Phone device, Nokia was the 
only logical decision for me, due to their commitment to the platform and 
arguably superior hardware, compared to the other WP vendors. In my opinion, 
the Lumia phones are great-looking products, and thanks to robust services like 
Here Maps, Here Drive, Nokia Music and some others, they are actually very 
decent packages that leave few gaps in terms of core functionality. That's why 
I decided to make what was probably my boldest move in the smartphone world yet 
and go for a Nokia Lumia 720. I decided to pick this mid-range handset because 
I liked the size and its overall great price-quality ratio. I don't regret this 
move one bit. Sure, the Windows Phone Marketplace looks pretty barren, but for 
a user that mostly sticks to basic apps like a versatile calendar, email and 
YouTube, it has everything needed.



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