Monday, July 21, 2014

The Dangers Of Brand Loyalty

I've waited about three years for Microsoft to deliver a core computing experience with Windows Phone. Two of those years was spent waiting for the same thing with Windows 8. I'm fairly certain with the changing of the guard in Microsoft's leadership that user experience I crave is never coming. In the process of all that I did something I rarely do, and was loyal to a brand.

What Microsoft had with Windows 8 was wondrous, full of excellent potential, and the beginning of a UX I'd wanted since tablet PCs were even a thing over a decade ago. I shed my Apple Inc. gear and bought a pair of excellent Thinkpads by Lenovo. I had faith that Microsoft would eventually deliver on touch enabled productivity applications, core computing experiences, games, and a shifting UI paradigm that would shift when I pushed a single button.

PC manufacturers responded with a dizzying array of devices that had touch screens and built in digitizers. The Surface Pro hit the market and I waited with great anticipation for Microsoft to iterate on the Windows 8 experience and deliver on all they had promised. I couldn't wait for a core computing experience that sync'd to the cloud across all my devices and would allow me to keep my schedule, files, and friends at my finger tips.

As my promotional schedule ramps up and my life gets more busy and I make more contacts I need technology that can aid me in keeping track of it all. Microsoft has no interest in providing that to independent professionals that aren't hooked up to a corporate network. All my attempts to get my devices to talk to each other and keep in sync have run into some issue I can't resolve.

With my third book hitting the market soon I've got a promotional schedule I have to keep, allies to keep in contact with, files to juggle, and I need to be able to view it all wherever I go. It's frustrating because there is so much good hardware for Windows right now and Microsoft is choosing not to support any of it. Between that and the damage done to Nokia, I doubt my next phone will be running the Windows Phone OS.

I'm going back to being a mercenary when it comes to devices. Whoever makes the best guns is what I'll buy. Right now that's a Lenovo Thinkpad Yoga and an iPad Mini I picked up over the weekend. Now, I just need to find a decent phone that will do all the things I need it to, if such a thing exists.

Alright, I'm done bleeding about this. Done.

3 comments:

  1. well what you describe-having all your "experiences synced" is what Apple is good at. at least in my experience. well, I don't own a phone, but between tablets/laptop/computers/ipods it is great.

    the only problem is Apple doesn't have microsoft's power...and they are overpriced. But I also don't mind that I can't control the system and tweak things to my liking.

    Your title goaded me to read because apple begs loyalty because of all of its ease of use, and compatibility and shininess. but the issue is that once you get too far in to it, it is hard to leave. i mean you have to buy apps, and specific programs FOR mac. for example, my creative suite for Adobe is only for mac. I have games and programs and calendars and-you name it- all where I want them. but now i need a new system. and I'm screwed unless I can dish out 3k for a computer that even looks remotely good hardware-wise.

    THAT is why brand loyalty is dangerous for me. you get so heavily invested that you can't get out without paying out the teeth one way or the other. I just can't go back to windows. but I can't stand being powerless and poor.

    ReplyDelete
  2. uhgn. I wrote that while I was on some drugs, stressed about a portfolio, and in a hurry. I am rather embarrassed about how my post sounds. At least you understood my rambling. haha.

    ReplyDelete