[joebadmo]

I agree that the problem doesn't seem to be quality so much as mindshare. Seems like the same thing that happened with the Zune. The product was compelling enough, but was ultimately too little, too late.

Many Android phone interfaces look and act differently. As a programmer this can be a nightmare

I've had a few Android phones, and I wouldn't call the differences drastic. I don't see how visual tweaks to the interface would make a big difference to developers. Seems like hardware and OS version differences would be a much bigger issue.

but more so as a consumer I can't just tell someone to buy an Android phone.

What? I wouldn't even ever recommend someone to just get any old iPhone. When I recommend a phone, I recommend the specific model that I think would fit their needs. Would you recommend someone to get any old Windows computer? Any old Mac, even? Dishonest argument.

Even as a Google fanboy, I recognize that Android has plenty of drawbacks. You've named only imaginary ones.

[ChrisLTD]

Playing devil's advocate here, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend any new Mac or any new iPhone to an average computer or phone user. Even Apple's lowest priced options are up to the task of all but the most demanding applications (state of the art 3D games, video editing, multi-track music processing, etc.).

[joebadmo]

So, you'd say, "Just grab any Mac in the Apple Store."? or any iPhone?

I just recently advised a friend very carefully on whether she should get a Macbook Air or a Macbook Pro. It was a tough decision with a lot of considerations.

There are now 3 iPhones available at different price points with substantial differences in speed and capability.

This really doesn't seem like a line of reasoning worth advocating.

[ChrisLTD]

I guess I'm comparing it to what it was like in the early 2000s and 1990s. If someone asked me what computer they should get, I'd have to think about the quality of the manufacturer, the processor speed, the memory, the hard drive space and the type of removable storage (floppy, cd, dvd).

These days you can go into an Apple Store and buy the cheapest Mac Mini they make and know you'll walk out with a good computer. You simply can't buy a severely compromised Mac anymore. Computer hardware just isn't getting better at fast enough pace to worry about it.

I think we're reaching that point with phones as well. The 3GS may be a tougher sell, but I still have one and it's snappy with IOS5 and does everything I need it to do. There are very few reasons someone would "need" an iPhone 4 or 4S. The same can't be said for something like the iPhone 1 or 3G, those both became dog slow.

[joebadmo]

It's true that there is a much greater diversity of Android handsets than there are iOS or Windows Phone handsets. You can read that as a feature or a bug.

I, for one, would never simply tell anyone to just get the cheapest Mac Mini at the Apple Store. If someone is coming to me for advice, it's because they want my informed opinion, and my advice is going to be considered in the light of their needs.

If you're saying that you're simply tired of having to think about things like that, then, sure, Android is too hard. I disagree that that's a problem with Android.

[ChrisLTD]

There are some cheap Android phones with ancient OS's and terrible screens. Maybe you aren't likely to end up with one, I don't know.

I'd still give someone advice about which Mac to buy, but I don't think an uninformed buyer is going to go wrong with any of the options.