[GFischer]

I am currently recommending Lumias for a specific user group - non-technical users that need WhatsApp, maps and light browsing, and are on a tight budget.

A cheap Windows phone outperforms a cheap Android phone significantly (and is apparently much easier to learn the UI for that user group), and these users cannot afford an iPhone.

They lose out on the Android ecosystem and the Apple experience, but I currently believe they're the best choice at that price point (100 dollars or so). Of course, those things vary, if a new Android version is significantly better on low-end hardware I'll probably go back to recommending them (mostly because all apps in my country are Android-first).

[Someone1234]

If you go straight to China there are some "acceptable" Android phones for the sub-$50 price point. However when you compare that to the Nokia Lumia 635 which is $30-40 (often with $10 carrier discount, $50 unlocked) you get an incredible phone for almost no money at all.

I actually held one at a Microsoft store the other day, and the thing is extremely responsive and feels very premium. It is lacking a few things people just take for granted like a front facing camera, but regardless it is a huge bargain if you're shopping in the low end market.

I won't be giving up my $500 phone tomorrow, but respect where it is due to some of the Lumia phones.

[jkestner]

With such cheap Windows phones, I wonder if there's still a possibility that Microsoft can use them to make real revenue on services, or if offering those same services on the other mobile platforms is enough.

What again, in a Services, Services, Services Microsoft, is the point of a third-place mobile platform?

[arrrg]

Android phones have been a nightmare for me from a support point of view and for certain user groups Windows phones can – is my hypothesis – be a much, much more enjoyable experience.

My dad has some Samsung Galaxy (probably a couple generations old at this point) and doesn’t like it and doesn’t use it much beyond actually making phone calls (he even hates writing text messages). My mom has the simplest of the simple Nokia Lumias (also a generation or two old now) and she uses it all the time for all sorts of things. Browsing the web, communicating via SMS, Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp, reading email, making phone calls, taking photos (and sending those to people with exactly the messenging app she wants to use). She is able to achieve all this without ever needing help and the phone never gives her the feeling that she is not in control.

Sure, part of that may be differing attitudes of my parents towards technology (my mom has certainly a slightly greater ability to get used to and comfortable with newfangled tech), but I do think Windows phone is very friendly towards people. It’s very sparse, but if it does what you need to do then that’s a plus and it helps you feel in control.

[sgt]

I have a similar experience with family members buying Android phones. For a long time I was the go-to guy for support issues, mostly Android related. Most of the time, it's simply because they didn't find it intuitive enough (I cannot say Android at least on the Samsung devices) is very user friendly.

After a long struggle I got most of them over to iOS and now the less-computer-literate appears to figure out their own issues. I'd reckon the experience would be similar with Windows phones, as I've heard good things about it in terms of user friendliness.

[prapam2]

Eveery UI is difficult for first time users. My 60+ years old dad is comfortable using Android. I even had hard time adjusting to Macbook workflow coming from windows laptops.

[smackfu]

Yeah, we bought a 635 for my fiance's mom's first smart phone. The home screen has big obvious buttons that are a pretty ideal fit for her level of computer familiarity.

Plus, when she lost it after a couple of months, it was only $75 to replace.

[austenallred]

Theoretically that should be a really large user group. Especially outside of the US.