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Thread: Windows phones any good?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
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    Western Australia
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    Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin

    Windows phones any good?

    I'm in the market for a new phone to replace my aging HTC Desire running Android 2.3.

    I ideally want to stick with Android, but I've noticed some decent-looking (specs wise) Windows phones and I'm wondering whether they'd be practical for me.

    This is what I use my current phone for:

    Calls
    SMS
    Web browsing
    Facebook (using Fast or Friendcaster apps)
    Hybrid bitcoin wallet with Blockchain.info
    Tethering to Ubuntu
    Wifi tethering
    Kindle books
    Turn-by-turn navigation
    Accessing the contents of the built-in SD card using Ubuntu
    Charging through Micro USB

    Does anyone with a Windows Phone know about these normal smartphone tasks and how well Windows Phone can handle them? Any caveats or gotchas?

    If I can get something that's well built and cheap for the specs, and does the above things, I'll be reasonably satisfied. Assuming I can get past the ugly Windows Phone user interface.
    I try to treat the cause, not the symptom. I avoid the terminal in instructions, unless it's easier or necessary. My instructions will work within the Ubuntu system, instead of breaking or subverting it. Those are the three guarantees to the helpee.

  2. #2
    Join Date
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    Ubuntu 14.04 Trusty Tahr

    Re: Windows phones any good?

    You would be the first. Perhaps buy one and tell us of your experiences.
    -------------------------------------
    Oooh Shiny: PopularPages

    Unumquodque potest reparantur. Patientia sit virtus.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
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    Re: Windows phones any good?

    These I'm doubtful of in a windows phone:

    Hybrid bitcoin wallet with Blockchain.info
    Wifi tethering
    Kindle books
    Turn-by-turn navigation

    for the rest, probably yes.
    Last edited by neel3; January 22nd, 2014 at 05:31 PM.

  4. #4
    Join Date
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    Re: Windows phones any good?

    I thought I was pushing it a bit with the Blockchain wallet

    Actually, I thought wifi tethering would be the easy part, and USB tethering to an Ubuntu computer would be the hard part!

    Pretty sure Windows phones do have turn-by-turn, due to Nokia Maps and probably Bing Maps or something like that.

    Anyway I decided to go Android again because I got a good price on a Moto G.
    I try to treat the cause, not the symptom. I avoid the terminal in instructions, unless it's easier or necessary. My instructions will work within the Ubuntu system, instead of breaking or subverting it. Those are the three guarantees to the helpee.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
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    Re: Windows phones any good?

    I have a window phone for my mum because it is easy to use. And it struggles to do more than usual

  6. #6
    Join Date
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    Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy Salamander

    Re: Windows phones any good?

    Hello,
    What you going to feel more difference is:
    No Led for notification (SMS and Call);
    Can't adjust the volume of call and applications separately.
    And no control painel in the top of the fone like we do in android fones, to start wifi, bluetooth, mute.
    Try search "diferences WP and Android".

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
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    0

    Re: Windows phones any good?

    Windows Phones can be very good. They are very smooth and lag free. A windows phone can do all the things you requested except the bitcoin wallet. With the new 8.1 update coming soon every negative posted in this thread has been addressed, apart from the lack of a led that is. But that is not actually needed due to the awesome glance screen from Nokia.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
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    Western Australia
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    Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin

    Re: Windows phones any good?

    You can tether a Windows phone to Ubuntu through a USB cable?

    Anyway I bought a Moto G. I like it.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
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    16

    Re: Windows phones any good?

    I use an Android and a Windows Phone and even though Windows Phone has less apps, it had every app I needed.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    May 2014
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    3

    Re: Windows phones any good?

    Windows based smartphones have improved significantly over the last 3 or 4 years. With that said, they still have a long way before they can really compete with the iPhone or Droid devices IMO. The only benefit of a windows based phone is that you can access all microsoft applications.

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