Windows Phone 7 Review- Is this a gamechanger?

A couple of weeks ago, I blogged about the impending debut of Windows Phone 7. Well, today is the day and WP7 has dropped across the globe as a competitor to Apple's iPhone and the Android software.


So far, it seems the Samsung Focus is the phone of choice.
(Credit: Samsung)



So far, the reviews seem to be pretty positive, with most reviewers finding WP7 to be responsive and every bit as good as its rivals. For now, there will only be seven or eight phones out with WP7. But expect that number to swell as makers start churning out versions for every purpose and purse.

Apps? Like the others, WP7 has them too. For now there's around 1,000 apps in the store with several hundred expected to be added every week from now until...whenever.

Paul Thurott's Super Site for Windows has the most comprehensive information on this new phone operating system with more than 20 pages of review down to the tiniest detail- click here to read it. This guy literally wrote the book on the new WP7, "Windows 7 Phone Secrets" that can be found at Amazon if you click here.

If you're looking for something different from the rest and like to be someone who has the first of everything, then maybe Windows Phone 7 might be the right call.

Get an Andriod phone for $10? Sure. But...

...ah, there's always a "but" when something sounds too good, isn't there?



This is the Comet.
For 10 bucks, it ain't bad.

(credit: T-Mobile)



In this case, T-Mobile will really sell you an Android smart phone with the latest 2.2 release of the Android operating system for smartphones (also called "Froyo"- it's development codename) for ten dollars. The downside is like buying the cheapest version of a Chevy you can find; sure, it's still a Chevy, but it has minimal this and minimal that and if you want to upgrade to a better model, it's gonna cost you.

The $10 phone- named "Comet" and built by a small company called Huawei (???) offers a much slower (and cheaper) processor and a minimal memory of 2 gigabytes (it is expandable to 32 gigs if you purchase an SD card on your own and plug it in the side). The screen is also smaller, 2.8 inches compared to 4 inches for the most expensive models.

But, if you've been looking for a smart phone but don't need or want the fastest this or the biggest that, then this might be the phone for you. Remember, though, this is still T-Mobile and any phone you would buy would come with a 2-year contract with all of the monthly data rates that apply to everyone else.



The phone can be purchased without a contract for around $150. Then, you're free to drop in your carrier-specific phone card and talk away for a fraction of the costs of your friends.

Go here to see a description of the phone.