[asveikau]

You can't discount the confused product strategy re: old software in this failure.

People want desktops to run desktop software. Not WinRT/universal/modern/UWP. They did not understand this. So for multiple iterations, they shipped tablets, phones, etc., under the "Windows" brand that could not do what people think of when they hear "Windows".

They should have shipped a device circa 2012 that let you recompile desktop Windows apps for arm. They had the technology.

[de_watcher]

Just like with the Ubuntu Phone: we just wanted a regular X11 on the phone, not a copy of Android app space on Android base.

[asveikau]

Nokia N900 had regular X and a forked Gtk+. I liked that thing. They didn't really support it well. Then Elop came.

[pjmlp]

We should not forget the weight of the board on his decisions.