Noted without comment: iPhone vs. Windows PDA
~ 27 November 2007 ~
A letter to the editor from Eagle Bear Morgan of Seattle, in response to Time Magazine’s November 12 U.S. issue, “The Best Inventions Of the Year”:
In naming the iPhone the best invention of 2007, you forgot about Windows-based PDA phones. They’ve been out for years. Touch interface? Big deal. As you noted, it’s been done before. A miniaturized operating system? Done. Windows-based phones are everything the iPhone is and more. The phones can text, MMS, e-mail (through POP, IMAP, Exchange), surf the real Web at broadband speed on EVDO networks and open, edit and save documents. The iPhone is for kids. Windows Mobile PDA phones are for adults who need to do real work.
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Yes, everything the iPhone does has been done before.
It’s just never been all in one.
windows PDAs have rarely synced with a mac, and I have always had tons of trouble syncing them with PCs as well.
i guess they have always been a typical product of microsoft to sum it up. Typical crashes, typical ugly UI, etc.
@Joe,
Weird. I’ve had a PDA for four years. It’s never crashed once. Either of them. And they were both Dells to boot.
It was a name of an article that probably most of us read about the state of the music industry, but I also think it applies here.
Convenience wins, Hubris loses.
I am using my phone in ways I never used my windows based phone, only because I understand how to use it now. Apple got it right, and that wins in my book.
This sounds a lot like the guys I used to work with. They were die-hard Microsoft junkies. There were 4 of us in our office. 2 of us bought the iPhone. The other 2 bought the Blackberry Curve (a very nice phone, might I add). Anytime we’d show the iPhone to someone, they’d always be in the background throwing in comments like, “Oh yeah, my Blackberry can do that.” Odd thing is, we had people coming to our office just to see a demo of the iPhone - no one cared about the Blackberry (I know, I know - it’s because the iPhone is still new).
I’ve had a Blackberry and now I have the iPhone. I think Blackberry has great products, and are extremely useful. I also wish iPhone had Exchange support, etc. Thing is, though, regardless of the few features that iPhone is missing, no one else’s UI even comes close to iPhone. So, if having a UI that makes it enjoyable to browse and play on my phone/pda/mobile web browser/mp3 player, then so be it. I guess I am a kid - a kid who does real work, but enjoys it.
If what he means by “for adults who need to do real work” is fumbling around with endless menus trying to find that buried option so you can finish your email and send it, then I suppose he’s right.
My Dad has a Windows Mobile 6 device and when I showed him my iPhone the last time he was at my house, you could tell that he wished his phone were easier to work with. I can’t tell you how many times he’s called me to get my help with his phone and I have to get online and search for the solution because the solution isn’t obvious in any way.
This reminds me a bit of automaker, Saturn’s, tagline: “Like always, like never before.” I think this applies to the iPhone’s influence on the mobile device landscape. Apple just got it right.
Sure, Windows PDAs have been around for a awhile; I agree with Joe Sak on the clunky UI employed by Windows Mobile.
LMAO. wow. Alright, I currently own a Treo 650 smartphone on one of the larger networks.. I dont want to pay the extra $40 a month to use a crap browser to browse the internet. I used to work in IT at a place that had about ten treo 700w’s. Those things caused WAY too many problems for the users it was ridiculous. We had to replace them countless times.
For the record, I am not a mac user, I am more comfortable on a PC. This guy is crazy for saying the iphone is for kids. I dont know what he is smoking…
As a web standards developer(designer, whatever you want to name it), I am looking forward to getting my iPhone. I was weary of switching carriers, but thats beyond me now. if it wasnt for the holiday’s, and the good chance an iphone will be a gift, I would buy one right now…. I cant wait actually. Doug, from the previous comments said it, “Apple got it right” If that means I’m a kid for wanting one, so be it. Can I get some GIJOE figures with it too?
I don’t own an iPhone and I’ve never owned a Windows Mobile/PDA, but I will say this: calling the iPhone an invention IS a stretch.
It does nothing new whatsoever, but what it does, it (supposedly) does brilliantly. Is that enough for it to be an invention though? “Product of the year” is probably a better award - or “Hype of the year” depending on what side you are on.
@Myself:
Somehow I just managed to sound like I am against the iPhone - I am not. Just wanted to clarify that. (sorry for dbl-posting)
I’m sorry but there is no comparison between the Windows based mobile interfaces and the iPhone. Personally, I think they are both overkill but saying “Big deal! Windows mobile OS has had touch screen for years.” is like pointing to the Wii controller and saying, “Big deal! Pong had controllers back in the 70s.” The iPhone brough the touch screen light years from where it was.
put any windows pda next to apple’s iphone and open a webpage, take ESPN.com for example. I have no further comments except one: IE has been out a lot longer than Safari, Microsoft has all the resources at their disposal to make it great, yet no windows mobile devices can display the web like it should look. This was one of the major points for me when purchasing a phone, although I am not a Mac fan at all. Go iPhone!
Outhouses have been around for years. You can sit down, do your business, have fresh air around to ease the odor, you can decorate the walls, put a lock on the door, and so much more. Heck, you can even move it anywhere on your property if you can dig a hole.
You get so tied down with plumbing. Outhouses are for real crappers.
@ kimblim:
good point, but, are we saying that software cant be invented then?
Yeah, this really was important issue to adress on your blog, Cameron Moll. It really was. You must be the first to enlighten people about how MS don’t know UI design, and how wonderfull the iPhone is.
Tor, I believe I noted without comment, as in there might be something said by each side of the debate worth considering?
Just because it’s been done, doesn’t mean it’s been done right. Period.
@Brian:
No, ofcourse not! Software can be invented, but the iPhone does not afaik present any “new” software? It’s OSX with Google Maps, Mail etc, is it not? It’s a media player (YouTube), it’s a web browser (Safari) - all of the applications have been done before on other platforms and that’s why it’s not an invention imho. I have an iPod Touch and I love all the software on it, and I think it’s really well done - but I wouldn’t call it innovative. As Cody says, it’s just done right.
I’ve owned and used both (Dell Axim & iPhone). Minus the phone part, the Dell Axim was pretty comparable, including the correct display of the web. Not counting the service contract (which I’d pay for cell service from someone regardless) the Axim cost around $600, my iPhone was $400 (yes, I waited until the day the price dropped). The Axim could open Word and Excel files, which I never use. They’re comparable, but iPhone wins hands down for usability. Unfortunately, neither support Flash, or even Flashlite for that matter - though it can play youtube videos, go figure. Maybe I just like how it works with my Mac… or maybe, just maybe, I’m like 90% of designers and I like new shiny things.
I’m a PC user and have been using Windows PDA’s for years. I love Microsoft. All my friends are Mac/iPhone users. We give each other crap all the time but at the end of the day, it’s about what works best for you. I can care less if my business partner use an iPhone over a Blackberry. As long as we can text, email and converse on the phone - it doesn’t matter which phone you have. For the record, I currently own the Mogul from Sprint..
http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/htc-mogul-ppc-6800/4505-6452_7-32471386.html
…and I love it. I call it my PC/Windows iPhone.
Just like with almost (and I stress the almost) every other product Apple has released, it all comes down to the iPhone providing the superior user experience. So a Windows based mobile device can run circles around the iPhone in the feature department. If I can’t find, can’t understand, or just plain have a difficult time using the endless “convenient” features, does it really matter? I loved my Treo 600 back in the day, and I really like my Blackberry 8830 now. But as far as providing a great user experience, both devices fall short. That is why Apple’s products create excitement and desire in people, even if they are not getting as much value as another product from some other company.
If Apple had released the iPhone on Verizon, I would be a proud owner. However, from my personal experience and my humble opinion, Cingular’s customer service and reception failed to match the benefits of the iPhone.
My 2 cents, Cameron…
too bad most windows PDAs are clunky and have terrible UIs and are hard to use and crash all the time.
I just got one a few months back and I have to agree clunky is the right word to describe it… If they could take the the clunkiness out (make it smooth and seamless), clean up the UI, keep it from being such a memory hog, and keep it reliable.
I think it would have been what the iphone is now.
Perhaps gadget of the year would have made people complain less. There’s usually some progress made in e.g. medicine that will save some lives.
And remember the first iPod? Just another mp3 player, right?
wow. A sharp critique.
Shame this isn’t coming from a journalistic source. Time used to be a worth having on your coffee table - this of course was before their headlines read, “Why are we turning our teenage daughters into Skanks”, or Ellen D. saying, “Yep, I’m gay”.
Trash.
@Kimblim
yes, I agree, they got it right, thats a good description =)
Apple doesn’t invent anything, they just dumb it down for dumb people and pretend they are inventive. I guess it works for some, personally I like more options and control in my computing devices. (I’m not just talking about the iphone here)
Not a huge fan of Windows Mobile, but not a huge fan of Apple products, either. See http://www.ldswebguy.com/2007/11/28/my-mobile-device
@andrew — There’s a difference between dumbing things down and simplifying. Apple’s taken a very complex experience and made it extremely simple.
That’s where Apple “gets it” and Microsoft doesn’t. Apple focuses on the core experience first, Microsoft doesn’t.
Peter Merholz nails this concept best with his most excellent“Experience is the Product” presentation.
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@Ty - Thanks for making assumptions, I never said Microsoft does everything right, I just said that I like my computing devices to have options. I actually never mentioned Microsoft at all. I can understand how you would make the connection though.
One thing that most apple fanatics like to overlook is that behind all this so called “core experience” bulls#$% is their constant desire to generate dependency on a product and perpetuate a user base that understands less about the process. Take a closer look at any apple product and you will find a clever system of deceit. I think more people would benefit from learning more about their computer and not less.
Shouldn’t that be the “core experience” that we should be concerned with?
The only thing that apple finally got is that when you make things simple and explain things less you create dependency and lazyness. Dependency and lazyness = $$$ for the company providing the solution. Its all about marketshare and money and I could go on for a long time about it.
Larry, was your post eaten somewhere along the intricate series of intertubes?
It’s funny when people say “Apple gets it” and “Microsoft doesn’t”. That’s just ridiculous. And don’t get me wrong, I love Apple products just as much as I love MS products. But for every one person that complains about Microsoft products, there are probably several hundred thousands that use MS products with no complaints. We’re arguing oranges to apples, Coke to Pepsi, McDonalds to Subway etc.
In terms of the iPhone and UI design, Apple did a great job. Everyone loves the touch screen and the smooth transitions. But after the ooohs and aaaahs are gone, it has to work. It has to work just as well as the latest BlackBerry or other Windows PDAs and just as fast as all the other networks. If it does, Apple did a great job. If it doesn’t, Apple has more work to do.
It’s like building a website. As a designer, you look at Craigslist and say that site needs a facelift. There are many UI enhancements you can add to make Craigslist a better site. But there is a reason why over 20 million people visit the site every day. Because it works!
Yes, Michael Jordan could have been a better basketball player. He could have scored 50 points a game instead of 30 for his career. And he could have won 9 championships instead of 6. But what he gave us during his career was good enough.
My point - everything can be improved. Everyone’s a critic. But it doesn’t make the product bad just because you have a strong case for how it can be better.
In Eagle’s comment he makes my point for me. That the iPhone is for kids.
That’s exactly why I love it. It’s a blast to use and does get the job done that I need it to.
Having recently completed a stint doing cell phone sales part time for this ‘Company-X-that-sells-the-iPhone’, I will say that there aren’t many more selling points for the iPhone than there are for Windows based phones. In fact, I would say there are significantly less things about the iPhone that would potentially convice me to sell one to a customer before showing them a Windows mobile phone (taking Blackberry devices out of the equation, of course).
The biggest selling point for Windows mobile phones? Consumers know Windows. And almost everyone likes the familiar rather than not.
The biggest selling point for the iPhone, in my experience, is it’s large storage space. Most phones will only accept a 2GB Micro-SD chip. Therefore, it is the phone of choice for the multimedia guru types.
Though anecdotal research may not be best, experience counts for something. And as far as crashing, we don’t see many of these phones come back to us with this problem. It’s bound to happen to any device, and you can find reports of this happening to the iPhone online.
My conclusion is - the iPhone isn’t as great as it’s cracked up to be, unless you’re an Apple user. Because that makes in familiar. But concerning features, it lacks the robust capabilities that most high-end Windows mobile phones have.
Wow. I expected a little more open-mindedness from you, Cameron.
^ Sorry, disregard that. I thought that was your letter to the editor.
My word…what a load of bumph! I have had a couple of Windows Mobile devices, and no, they do not make life easier. As mentioned above, the iPhone does it all in one.
I’ve owned a Palm, and iPaq and now an iPhone. While I’m not able to access the file system directly to do “real world” tasks I wouldn’t trade my iPhone for anything else. It’s seamless integration with web/phone/maps and more make my day. I’m willing to wait as the product develops into a more fully functional platform because I know when they do get it done it will be done right. I just hope they hurry and get some non-web bathroom games, I really miss snake and bowling. ;-)
@andrew — Having worked at Microsoft in the past I’m know that there are people there who do get it, overall as a company they don’t. It’s the same with any company you look at. There are those who understand the needs of their customers, and then those that just want to make a buck regardless of what their customer thinks of them.
It’s not that Apple hides complexity, they don’t. They’ve made the complexity available to those who wish to seek it out and use it. They’re called power users. Same as Windows users who want to access and use advanced features with their OS. I’m one on my Mac. I’ll assume you’re one on your PC.
Apple focused on a core experience with the iPhone to make it simple and efficient. They’ve done that. They boiled the tasks down to their most basic. For some it’s too basic. Windows ME is full of advanced features for advanced users and a basic user is doomed unless they have someone show them, many times, how to use it.
Explain app switching for me would you, because that’s very confusing to me on a Windows mobile device. At least it has been every time I’ve used one. I can never figure out what that “X” does in top right corner no matter how many times I’ve tapped it with the stylus…
You and I both aren’t average users for either platform, so we’re out of the equation automatically. Find someone normal, off the street, show them a Windows ME device and then and iPhone. Or show them an iPhone and then a Windows ME device, do a study and find out which device appeals to normal people. Let me know what the results are.
Seriously, I’m not trying to explain why/if Microsoft is better or if they get it or whatever you want to call it. My biggest problem with Apple products is the way I see other [non-power users] interact with them. I have repeatedly asked everyone I know who owns an iphone what they use it for and without fail I get the same response every time.
“look at how it scrolls through stuff!”
If it wasn’t for the transition effects and the useless features, I can guarantee it would have very few users. So then I ask them, what do you use it for? I’m always met with the same response,” Internet, but its really slow, so mainly I just… …but look at how cool it is!”
This is my main concern with the iphone and it is apparent with all the other apple products as well. Whats worse is there are many other companies (not just Microsoft) who make very amazing products, you just might have to search a bit to find them because their advertising budget isn’t as large. Creative, for instance, makes a much better mp3 player.
That’s cool. I can see how your concerns are valid. What do you consider a useless feature and what would you like the iPhone to do? You’ve yet to say what those are. I agree, YouTube videos are useless.
Agreed, other companies do make some amazing products. I think all options should be considered when making a buying decision. Will I buy a Windows powered device over an iPhone, probably not, unless work pays for it.
Even then I’d need to be convinced I’d need it. Most features available on mobile devices are features people want. They could live without them. There is a vibrant world outside of technology full of wonder and excitement that I try to live in when I’m not working, it’s hard to not let technology take over sometimes.
After buying the iPhone, I spent two weeks saying, “The other greatest thing about this phone is…” Funny thing is, I didn’t read any documentation, or spend very long online studying up on iPhone’s features. I just used the darn thing. The iPhone has no secrets, just secret sauce.
The “kid” in me likes to have things that work, and are actually enjoyable to use.
The “adult” in me likes to complain about things that don’t work and waste countless hours doing non work related things, but work nonetheless, anything to keep me away from the kids and the wife.
-BAH! Boring. I work on a mac because if I have to sit for at least eight hours of my day I would rather work on something I like to use, and is intuitive to a point.
If making the tools on my phone “fun” to use is wrong, then I don’t want to be right.
I just can’t understand this point of view coming from a designer, of all people.
Windows Mobile PDA phones are for adults who need to do real work.
Now that is a laughable comment. Let’s see, the Windows mobile OS has been around since about 2002, meaning adults have only been doing real work for the last five years, right?
Yeah, nothing says “real work” like those half-ass, half-thought two line emails with the “sent from my Blackberry” footer, or meetings where some client is only partially aware of anything you’re saying because he’s fiddling with his PDA from under the table.
Real Work is not done with your thumbs while driving to your son’s soccer game. Feeling Like Your Accomplishing Something is what 99% of “working” PDA users are really doing.
You’re right, iPhone is really nothing new, but it surely implements in one device various functions that weren’t present in a single PDA device. And iPhone surely has better looks than PDA’s.
So some people are sticking up for Mac, some for PCs, and some for both. What else is new? Welcome to life.
As usual, Apple has nailed the UI and simplified typically complex things into functional and useable components. It does everything I need it to do and does it well and the method of doing it is such that it’s very simple and quick too. Some people seem to think that having a device that is easy to use makes it so dumbed down that it’s just a techno gadget full of sliding images, zooming windows, and other eye candy. That would be a poor assumption. Unlike with everything MS — the number of illogical settings window, odd approaches necessary to do simple tasks — the iPhone interface is nuts simple and effective. Don’t get me wrong, you can easily push the limits of its architecture and think ‘man it’d be nice if this did xyz’ but 90% of the time that’s just not a concern. The ease of use and functionality benefits far outweigh any minor drawbacks. Heck, just because a phone COULD do something doesn’t mean it SHOULD or NEEDS TO. As with modern camera craze, just because a new camera has 7,000 focus points, shoot 100fps, has 17-way image stabilization, etc. just doesn’t get around the fact that they’re not necessarily better than a vintage leica film camera circa 1965. The finished image is the true litmus test. The process of using the device and it’s ability to aid the user NOT slow and confuse the user is the key element — one that is often overlooked with modern techno devices.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I handed my iPhone to an elderly technology inhibited friend and within minutes, literally, they had a complete grasp of the device and were taking and emailing photos, surfing the web, etc. Now that speaks volumes about the device. It just works. Nice.
I can definitely do more overall with my WM(5!) phone.
I got it because of the form factor, frankly. (the Moto Q). It takes way too long to install Office, the im (aim/g/y!/msn/others all at once), browsers that dont suck, various emulators of other platforms, a new UI and menu system, copy-and-paste (seriously, it’s not included!?!), the flashlight, reduce the memory load, change the on/off screens, better codecs, slingbox controls, relocating some of the system files to the memory card, deleting some of the MSN crud, etc, etc, etc, etc…. and so on.
But, at least I can do all that. And yeah, I broke it once doing all that, and had to re-do it correctly, but, I guess that’s the price I pay for wanting basic computing functions on a device that is frankly in many ways more powerful than the computer I built 10 years ago.
You have to wonder who is in charge of user testing these things (all of them) because it always seems there are such basic and glaring errors. I really don’t understand it.
Somebody give me an hour with a test model; I’m begging you.
Cameron, that’s an interesting article about the iPhone having a bigger browsing share than Windows Mobile. I often find myself browsing the web on my iPhone despite having a full-featured browser right next to me on my computer. There is something innately pleasurable about being able to “grab” a web page, pull it around and zoom into it, using only my fingers. The iPhone is the first consumer product that I’ve owned that has given me this “physical” experience behind the screen. For me the iPhone has just wet my apetitve for touch screens and new user interfaces. The MS Surface, based on Jeff Han’s work is another great example of this improved way of interacting with a computer.
http://www.microsoft.com/surface/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKh1Rv0PlOQ
I will be the first in line when this technology becomes available to consumers. Calling any of this dumb or childish is simply missing the point. Point-and-click is already becoming an outdated way to use a computer and these new products and UIs with naturally push it out of the way.
Is it possible that windows mobile users are emailing more and browsing myspace less? It seems like there could be a lot of reasons for this. I believe the iphone also appeals to a younger generation that is generally online less.
Something to think about: What else has big buttons and is flashy?
Answer: Fisher Price toys. (they’re also easy to use!)
oops,
*younger generation that is generally online more
I am currently writing this comment from my iPod touch (Canada doesn’t officially have the iPhone yet), and I must say, of course it’s for kids. If by kids, you mean people who enjoy having their gadgets work often and wihout fail. Sure, the touchscreen appeals to that inner child in all of us, but every morning it checks my email, to-dos, and plays me music and movies. Oh, and it’s only 8mm thick. What more could I want?
I have a Motorola Q, and I must say that I hate it. Too bad they don’t have Iphones with Verizon yet. I’ve tried our a few friends’ Iphones and they really are a work of art.
Feeling Like Your Accomplishing Something is what 99% of “working” PDA users are really doing.
That’s a nice story. It’s no excuse for the iPhone, which can’t even copy and paste (ridiculous). Which has only a hobbling excuse for a To Do list. Et cetera, et cetera. I’ll stick with my Treo.
For those of us who need to input data to our excel spreadsheets in the field and enjoy being able to sync them with our desktops when we get back to the office.
Or those of us who are doctors or other medical professionals and use custom software to facilitate our jobs.
Or… you get my point?
iPhone is for people who just had a phone, and now they have a better phone. That’s nice, but it’s still completely outside the paradigm that some of us live and work in.
And, hey… we would certainly like a nice new device, too. Windows mobile is no answer (see previous posts) and Palm has been sitting on their late-90s laurels for just about a decade. But the iPhone just doesn’t cut it.
@andrew has entirely too much anger towards and too narrow a view of what people do with Apple products.
The thing is this — computers are more and more moving into the direction of consumer electronics. Which typically == ‘it just works’ && != ‘I like to tinker’. It’s an appliance like, oh that other thing, a telephone. People don’t know how it works, they just knew it was damn cool to talk to someone across the world.
The iPhone can be tinkered with all you want. Just google ‘iphone hacking’.
You are extremely cynical about people with your comments about folks turning to how cool the iPhone is … What can I tell you? I know many people with iPHones now. Some never carried an electronic gadget, some switched from Treos, others were WinMobile users …. guess what? Every one of them think the iPhone is cool and neat to use AND every one of them actually do work on them and play.
I’ve owned and used just about all the gadgets. I stopped using them all until this one hit my pocket. Now, I stay more up to date with email/calendar, send more photos to distant relatives, make notes, get directions, check on my portfolio whenever/wherever I want, and yes, browse the web.
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Well… There is no doubt that the Iphone is a toy. However I wouldn’t say Win CE is an OS for adults as it is sooooo awkward with a horrible UI . Heck using the Iphone is fun, even if it doesn’t have all the functionality of a win CE system, what does it matter if it has great functionality but horrible UI. You wont use it anyway.
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1 Joe Sak ~ 27 November 2007
too bad most windows PDAs are clunky and have terrible UIs and are hard to use and crash all the time.
I’ve been working with people who have windows PDAs for years and they always hate them.