Rui CarmoI find Ewan’s faith disturbing considering that, by his own account:
Before I continue, I should point out that I haven’t spent a long time with Windows Phone 7 yet. Indeed, the only significant exposure I’ve had is with their reference platform during briefings
I would have stopped there (would you buy a car based on the advice of someone who’s sat in one at a dealer’s?) but…
but now that we’ve seen the launch with Balmer and the comprehensive introduction, I feel comfortable enough to begin making predictions.
Oh, that’s all right then. I mean, now that you’ve actually got a snazzy brochure for that car and all, I suppose it’s OK to say…
Windows Phone 7 devices will sell like hotcakes.
Maybe they will, maybe they won’t.
Having actually used a few prototypes quite a few months back, I’d say that they are a quantum leap beyond WM 6.5 indeed (which is not hard at all in and by itself) but that a slick UI (that was, alas, disorienting to use at times despite the great typography and excellent e-mail client) does not make a popular product in and by itself - nor do I see many manufacturers staying the course if Android keeps streamlining their internal development process and making it possible to deploy cheaper product (in terms of integration costs) at both the mid and high ends.
Plus WM7 lacks cool apps (and developer mindshare), so my money’s on Android for the moment - and Microsoft is welcome to prove me wrong.
I’d actually like them to, really, especially since the thing doesn’t even have cut & paste yet (which is kind of ironic considering their rants on the initial versions of the iPhone specifically mentioned that gaping hole in functionality).
Bottom line: wait until someone says Android is in trouble. That will be real news, and maybe they’ll have a clue.