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Comment by vsl2 | Hacker News Reader

Don't see how a measly (relatively speaking for these giant companies) $250M should have been a major factor for Nokia to choose to focus on Windows Phones rather than Android.

Apple and Google are dominating the smartphone OS market and I don't see how two slow-moving companies will make a serious dent in the consumer market. How many people wold would give up their iPhone for a Windows phone, especially as an early adopter? I'd be very surprised if any Windows Phone gains serious traction with consumers.

The best shot I see for Windows Phone success would be in the enterprise market where easy/free compatibility with MS Office products and other MS products used at work could be a large benefit. But Apple is making headway here as well so it could all be for naught.

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Microsoft is gigantic, rich and relentless, they do not give up. Look at the amounts of cash they've been burning on Bing for years patiently waiting for their opening. You should not never count them out.

You make it sound like its inevitable that Bing will be a huge success just because Microsoft can burn money. Its has made inroads, but my guess is that it has reached its peak.

I'm not counting on Microsoft giving up on its products - I just see them as patiently burning through cash (generated from its successful cash cows) without making a significant splash in mobile. Just because they can afford to throw away money doesn't mean that they'll be successful at all of their new ventures.

This isn't exclusively a Microsoft thing either. Look at Google and its multiple attempts at new products (Wave, Buzz, Google+). They can obviously afford it because of their own cash cow, search.

No, I didn't say it was inevitable, I said don't count them out. But you make it sound like it is inevitable that they won't ever become a threat.

I DO think that it is inevitable that Microsoft won't become a threat so I stated my opinion and gave my reasons for it. Your reason that I shouldn't count them out was solely because they have cash to burn and have shown a past willingness to burn it. My reply to you is that such willingness does not mean that they will ever contend in this market.

OK fair enough. We simply disagree on the possibility that Microsoft can get its act together. I think in the longer run it is possible.

The xbox was a cash burner and now it's a profitable division and the top console in many markets.

I gave up my iPhone for a Windows phone and I haven't looked back! However, I don't use any other Microsoft products at all.

Out of curiosity what device did you get? And what was your reason for switching?

I ended up getting the Samsung Focus S. I was convinced I was switching to Android and going to get the Galaxy Nexus after owning every iPhone since the 3G. However, after looking at several different phones I found the Mango UI to be the most innovative take on interfaces. I actually feel that as far as the core interface goes both Mango and Android have pulled far ahead of iOS.

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