Which phone handset OS would you buy?

[Rabs]

Ignoring the actual handset make and model, which phone handset OS would you buy right now regardless of what you have currently?

My thoughts on the matter are that the actual phone OS is having a bigger and bigger impact on peoples decisions to buy a handset. A good example is the HTC Desire and SE X10 - the HTC has very little downsides compared to the SE X10, the main gripe being the camera resolution.

However the SE has an older Android OS and its own custom UI doesnt seem as nice as HTC sense.

Nokias seem to be barking up the wrong tree releasing more and more phones on Symbian, whilst efficient it doesnt have the featureset or developers behind it - ala Blackberry App World, IPhone App Store etc

Blackberry's are the thing to have for instant email on the move with good support from RIM themselves with apps.

[Rabs]

Also in addition to the above, notice the lack of Windows Mobile as an actual OS choice, this can be filed under 'other' seeing as MS cant seem to get their backsides in gear.

[AndyCr15]

the HTC has very little downsides compared to the SE X10, the main gripe being the camera resolution.

Seriously? I would love just one of these moaners to show me where they would use any more than 5 megapixels. I would almost guarantee 95% of them just want pictures to be uploaded to the internet, which means they probably don't need any more than 2 megapixels. If you're going to print A3 prints, maybe you want more than that...

People get megapixels and picture quality confused.

[Rabs]

I agree but SE still market is as a selling point over its competitors, even though other features of their handset are poor.

[Funkstar]

Seriously? I would love just one of these moaners to show me where they would use any more than 5 megapixels. I would almost guarantee 95% of them just want pictures to be uploaded to the internet, which means they probably don't need any more than 2 megapixels. If you're going to print A3 prints, maybe you want more than that...

People get megapixels and picture quality confused.

My gripe about HTC cameras isn't the MP, it's the poor quality and usually slow response along with the tearing and choppy movement while moving the handset around. I don't know how much better the newest devices are, but I've heard the Droid Incredible has a good camera.

[AndyCr15]

Exactly. I'm kinda disappointed with the camera on my Nexus One too. Most shots seem a little 'hazey' when outdoors for example. That has nothing at all to do with resolution though.

[nichomach]

Rabs, I use WinMo 6.1 currently and am perfectly happy with it - I probably WON'T go for version 7, but I would consider Android, WinMo, or Symbian; I disagree completely with the statement that "Blackberry's are the thing to have for instant email on the move...", since I have WinMo, Symbian and Android devices deployed with native ActiveSync support.

[Rabs]

Rabs, I use WinMo 6.1 currently and am perfectly happy with it - I probably WON'T go for version 7, but I would consider Android, WinMo, or Symbian; I disagree completely with the statement that "Blackberry's are the thing to have for instant email on the move...", since I have WinMo, Symbian and Android devices deployed with native ActiveSync support.

I currently have a HTC Touch HD with WinMo 6.5 (Energy Rom) and also use an exchange server (work) as well as personal accounts. The comments of the Blackberry still stand (imo) as most 'domestic' email accounts are unable to use any exchange functionality ie Sky, Hotmail, Yahoo for push emails. Rather than 'poll' like all non exchange accounts on handsets other than the Blackberry, it is 'push' email - so still better for communication.

Note: I am aware its the Blackberry server that effectively does the polling, before pushing the email directly to the Blackberry - the polling frequency also depends on how many emails the user receives per hour.

[scaryjim]

I have android. I like it a lot. But there's elements of WinMo I really miss, particularly the input methods which were intuitive and easy to use: I really can't say the same for Android's default set. I've got some third party thing on there now - touchpal, I think - and while it's better it's still not perfect.If I could get a decent capacitative stylus and a handwriting recognition program from Android, it'd be pretty damn close, but it's just not perfect yet.

I'll be interested to see what Windows Phone 7 is like - the bits and bobs coming through have looked very interesting so far, I'm just a little concerned that they'll go into total lockdown as far as app development etc. goes, apple-stylee.

BUT - tbh, with the rate of development in tablet / slate computing, my next phone may well be the simplest and cheapest I can get, as I'll have a tablet for all my mobile internet / email / mobile office needs. And what OS goes on the tablet will be far more important to me...

[oolon]

Personally I would only buy a phone where I didn't care what OS it had on it. I want my phone to work as a phone, the mp3 and camera on my Sony-Erricson are useful, however I only really care about using it as a phone and that it is small and cheap. I don't want a phone that "crashes"....

[Rabs]

Personally I would only buy a phone where I didn't care what OS it had on it. I want my phone to work as a phone, the mp3 and camera on my Sony-Erricson are useful, however I only really care about using it as a phone and that it is small and cheap. I don't want a phone that "crashes"....

I used to have the same point of view, all I wanted was mp3 playback and a decent camera but as I now do mobile tech support on top of pc tech support I had no choice but to train up/research various mobiles/Operating Systems on the market. However since changing from the K750i to my WinMo HTC Touch HD, I wouldn't go back and quite like all the extra features a decent smartphone offers.

My next phone will most likely be an Android based handset, more than likely a HTC offering although I have until the end of October to wait before I can upgrade. With the restructuring of the WinMo development teams I would like to see major optimisation and a fantastic UI - I'm expecting a 'vista style' OS ie pretty but bloated and slow.

[AndyCr15]

Personally I would only buy a phone where I didn't care what OS it had on it. I want my phone to work as a phone, the mp3 and camera on my Sony-Erricson are useful, however I only really care about using it as a phone and that it is small and cheap. I don't want a phone that "crashes"....

I used to be like that too... maybe 8 years ago. Then I realised how cool gadgets are...

[directhex]

WebOS, as found on the Palm Pre, is *WAY* better than the competition. Including Android and iPhone OS.

I would *LOVE* to be a WebOS user - sadly I have a HTC Hero with a 2.1 ROM on it instead - it's okay, but not as good

Only benefit to Android over WebOS is the size of the app store.

[circuitmonkey]

I have android. I like it a lot. But there's elements of WinMo I really miss, particularly the input methods which were intuitive and easy to use: I really can't say the same for Android's default set. I've got some third party thing on there now - touchpal

Give swype a try, I think the beta might still be open, love it as a concept, but found I was still using the hardware keyboard on my dext

[SiM]

Just got my Desire 5 mins ago and so far I am not impressed.

1) Crap way of attaching battery cover at back
2) Keyboard/typing worse than WM6.5 on HTC HD 6.5 energy rom. And yes I have used swype (wm version) and I find typing with two thumbs on the standard keyboard much faster
3) Screen is too small... just kidding I'll live without the extra 0.1", but I feel sorry for the guys coming from a HD2!!!

But I haven't done anything with the desire other than the typing tutorial (which made me feel like a retard) and input my wifi key.

[AndyCr15]

1) Crap way of attaching battery cover at back
2) Keyboard/typing worse than WM6.5 on HTC HD 6.5 energy rom. And yes I have used swype (wm version) and I find typing with two thumbs on the standard keyboard much faster
3) Screen is too small... just kidding I'll live without the extra 0.1", but I feel sorry for the guys coming from a HD2!!!

1. Agreed. I really don't know what they were thinking here, but no major issue, you don't remove it very often I guess.

2. Hmm, you must just be bad at Swype to be honest. There are plenty of video's on YouTube of it compared to a regular keyboard. Do you know about the shortcuts and bouncing and stuff?

http://hemorrdroids.net/?p=58

3. Gorgeous screen

So... I think give it a little more time