2-year contract with AT&T for iPhone is up in August. I've been thinking about getting a Windows phone (HTC HD7S) to replace my 3GS.



If you own a Windows phone, I'd appreciate a review (especially Xbox Live - main reason I want to switch). Thanks in advance for any input.

 

wp7 is nice especially if you want the xbox-love stuff, personally i dont have an xbox so that was a huge deciding factor for me and I've stuck to android since switching off of windows mobile 6.5. If you really wont use the xbox feature on the phone I would go with an android powered phone like galaxy s 2, or motorola atrix or wait about a month because there are going to be some very powerful phones coming out. good luck!

 

Thanks Java. I used Windows Mobile before on my old BlackJack. W7 looks nothing like those old ones so I was looking for regular user reviews instead of the pro reviews.

 

I've had one, a Samsung Focus, for a few months now. I'm also an avid Xbox gamer. I do love the phone, but for many other reasons besides the Xbox Live integration. To be honest, I almost never use it (Live). You can see your friends list, send and receive messages, and view your achievements and avatar, but none of that really holds my interest for long. There are a few turn-based games multiplayer available, like Full House Poker, but I don't really play games on my phone much anyway. Of the few I do play, most of them are not Live-enabled.

I have a problem spending $4.99 - $7.99 for the Live games, when so many other non-Live games are free or $.99. So I really don't have many full games (just Poker, Bejeweled, Halo Waypoint) and a few demos (Guitar Hero, Hydro Thunder, Katamari, Rise of Glory). None of the demos gripped me enough to want to buy the full game. If you really like gaming on a phone, you might be more interested than I am.

Don't get me wrong, I have no complaints about WP at all. In fact, I love it. But I just don't find myself using Live on it much. And that was one of the main reasons I went with WP. So I'm kind of surprised myself.

I do like the Zune player, Facebook integration, and the camera and super AMOLED screen on the Focus are amazing. I wish I had a dollar for everytime an iPhone user has said "Wow, your screen looks awesome!".

And if you haven't read about it, check the web for the new features coming with the Mango update for WP this fall. Lotsa new stuff!

 

Thanks for the review Jeff. I've been on the fence but will definitely go with Windows for my next phone. Now the choice I have to make is between the Focus and the HD7S. I've read that the AMOLED screen of the Focus is awesome. The screen size of the HTC is why I'm looking at that one. Focus is less expensive though.

 

Just did the comparison Jeff. Gotta go with the Focus over the HD7S. $150 less, better (just a little smaller) screen.

 

Lemme know what you think once you get it.