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Topic: Nokia

Consumer Reports recommends Nokia Lumia 900 for dads and grads

Summary: I am a bit fickle with my smartphones and tend to switch between phones and carriers quite a bit. I wrote that I picked up my own white Nokia Lumia 900 a couple weeks ago and then last Friday I returned it because I already had Verizon and T-Mobile and just ordered the Sprint HTC EVO 4G LTE.

Matthew Miller

By for Smartphones and Cell Phones |

I am a bit fickle with my smartphones and tend to switch between phones and carriers quite a bit. I wrote that I picked up my own white Nokia Lumia 900 a couple weeks ago and then last Friday I returned it because I already had Verizon and T-Mobile and just ordered the Sprint HTC EVO 4G LTE. I missed the Lumia 900 after a couple of days and went back and bought another while deciding to cancel the Sprint account and suspend my Verizon one until new devices come out in a few months. I thought it was timely that Consumer Reports just posted their Top 7 electronics gifts for dads and grads that include the Nokia Lumia 900 as the smartphone of choice.

Earlier today, Mary Jo's guest author, Makram Daou, asked Will Windows Phone's bumpy start eventually lead to success?. Readers here know my answer to that question and I honestly believe they will be successful in the smartphone space with their newer Windows Phone OS. We saw last week that Windows Phone is outselling the Apple iPhone in China, but much of that is due to a specific wireless system used by China Mobile (largest mobile phone company in the world by customer base) that Apple doesn't support. However, Apple has not stated any plans to change so Windows Phone has the potential to take off in China, one of the world's largest mobile phone markets.

As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, Windows Phone has shown slow, but steady growth since it launched in 2010 and is doing quite well in countries such as Germany and Norway.

As I am back to using the Nokia Lumia 900 as my primary Windows Phone device, I wanted to make sure you knew about an excellent resource for Nokia Lumia owners in the U.S. The Conversations by Nokia site has some excellent articles that help you optimize the use of your device, including the following:

There are a ton of great articles, tips, and tricks on the Conversations by Nokia site and I highly recommend you check it out. I submitted a guest post detailing how I have my Nokia Lumia 900 Start screen setup so keep an eye out for that soon too.

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Topics: Nokia, Microsoft, Mobility, Operating Systems, Software, Telcos, Windows

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29 comments
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  • big mistake to trust CR on this

    without FOSS support and google innovations no phone can survive.
    windoze phones will be stunned by FOSS synergies and apple is losing market share because of that.
    The Linux Geek
    Reply Vote

    • Re:

      Hmm, I need to troll more, it's a free for all on Zdnet! No Mods or anything.
      Martijn2
      Reply Vote

  • If they offered it with LTE in Europe, I'd consider buying a Lumia 900.

    As it is, I'll wait for Apollo before trying a Windows Phone.
    WilErz
    Reply Vote

    • but it does come with DC-HSDPA in Europe

      and that brings 42Mb/s data speed, now that is a good compromise for even greater speed, and it won't eat that much into battery life like LTE does :)
      nessrapp
      Reply Vote

    • Not far enough out to be worth it ...

      No point in doing that when you can just wait for 8.5 or 8.5 Refresh. Get with the program! Always wait for something two releases or more away. Otherwise you'll be stuck with something that isn't very popular.
      Still Lynn
      Reply Vote

  • Consumer Reports recommends Nokia Lumia 900 for dads and grads

    With as many people that read and trust Consumer Reports this should give Windows Phone a boost.
    Loverock Davidson-
    Reply Vote

    • no way!

      the missing FOSS community endorsement is more important than CR recommendation.
      The Linux Geek
      Reply Vote

      • Missing FOSS endorsement?

        I'm typing this on a Linux desktop computer and I use a LOT of FOSS stuff, but my guess is the number of people who read and value Consumer Reports is greater than those of us who use Linux.

        BTW I currently have an Android phone on my belt and a stack of Consumer Reports issues about five feet away.
        zd1923@...
        Reply Vote

    • Given CR's love affair with Apple,

      this is actually a surprising review.
      cantbeme
      Reply Vote

  • It's a great brand!

    I remember my old Nokia feature phone from several years ago, back when cell phones were gaining traction for every day people. It was one of the best phones I ever had. I recently bought off-contract a Nokia Lumia 710 and can't praise both the phone design and the O/S enough.

    I know many in the tech community are aware that Apollo is relatively around the corner and are waiting, but for the millions of people that don't know nor care about an update, it's a solid phone for right now :)

    I enjoyed playing with a Lumia 900 at AT&T, although I feel the main selling feature is more the design/style versus other Windows Phones. I don't know anyone that uses a FFC on any phone, including for facetime. I think my wife and I used her FFC on her iPhone for a picture of us once, but the iPhone has a lousy camera for those types of pictures. I find it weird that photo enthusiasts would be using a smartphone to take pictures in the first place. So that to me is not really a selling point... my Lumia 710 takes pictures that look plenty good on a small screen and still look good on a monitor. I'm not about to go on a vacation and rely on a smartphone camera- even if it has Pureview technology included.
    ikissfutebol
    Reply Vote

  • Fluff Piece

    Windows Phone Marketshare is going down and is the lowest ranked "major" phone OS out there. Lower than Bada which is only on Samsung.

    And anyone who picks it over the competition really must not love their Dad or Grad. Lack of apps, lack of accessories, hard UI to use, and doubtful future are not something you get someone you like.

    Face it, WP 7/8/9 is going nowhere fast. The only reason many apps exist are because MS paid developers to write them. What would you rather update - your iOS or Android app which have, what 80% of the market and growing or your WP7 app that has less than 2% and shrinking?
    itguy10
    Reply Vote

    • No life

      You must live a very sad existence. Do you enjoy reading articles on an OS that you dislike so you can post negative comments. Go do something productive with your time.
      postulation
      Reply Vote

    • Wow, a self-claimed "it guy" who finds Win Phone OS "hard to use"

      Doesn't say much about your skill level dude.
      cantbeme
      Reply Vote

  • Chinese marketshare data is totally wrong

    [b]Microsoft compares to Q4 data[/b] -- when iPhone 4S was not even released in China, and iPhones were not available in more carriers yet.

    In Q1, Apple's share grew to 19%, according to Canalys.

    http://www.zdnetasia.com/china-ahead-of-us-in-smartphone-shipment-in-q1-62304689.htm
    DDERSSS
    Reply Vote

  • Better read Consumer reports again...

    It states "best WINDOWS phone"

    That's like saying arsenic is the best tasting poison.

    I kid, they recommend it as a collectible to keep on your shelf next to a PlayForSure mp3 player and a Kin, so someday you can be on Antiques Roadshow.

    I kid again, seriously, Consumer reports is best when they comment on items that can be judged qualitatively and quantitatively, not when they post their opinions. So if they report that a Dyson vacuum only picks up 1/3 the volume of dirt, from an identical pile of dirt that a Hoover handles easily, you are able to make a direct comparison, but smartphones, operating systems, etc are personal preference.
    ShazAmerica
    Reply Vote

    • I see. CR is "the most trusted publication" when they like the iPhone

      and "not to be trusted" when they like WP7.
      So when they like the iPhone, it was [i]qualitatively and quantitatively[/i], but when they like the Lunia, its [i]just an opinion[/i]

      You'll never change, SpazAmerica, nor will your lame excuses. ;)
      William Farrel
      Reply Vote

      • Perhaps you need to understand the difference

        Between opinions (like your two cent ones) and facts.

        If you look at the lumina, purely subjectively, it's low end hardware, with scant number of apps and capabilities compared to Android and iOS, so for someone to recommend it, as best Windows phone or otherwise, it is their opinion. It's the same with washing machines (which one removes largest percentage of dirt from same load), cars (braking distance, turning circle) etc, some things are purchased or praised based on opinion and not facts. What don't you understand about my comments?

        I stated a fact, Consumer Reports called it the best WINDOWS phone. If that's good enough for you and you're happy with it, that's fine.
        ShazAmerica
        Reply Vote

  • Is this the target market for Windows Phone?

    Dads and Grads? That covers three out of the four in our household. The fourth is Mom. All four of us have independently migrated to Windows Phone over the last six months. Why?

    - Easier to use and more intuitive than Android, Blackberry, and iPhone choices.
    - More stable than Android.
    - No predetermined bias (i.e. no Apple, or open source ecosystem).
    - Sufficient selection of apps and accessories.
    - Fringe benefits with the more attractive, alternate music and video services.

    We chose on how well it met our needs - not on current market share. In three years when our plans expire, we might choose something else. No harm. But, in the meantime, this is the most attractive choice.

    We are the target market, and would suggest that there's a vast number of people that - if the same decision approach was used as we did - would find affinity with this phone OS platform and varying phone options. I understand and respect those that choose a different platform for their own specific needs. I suggest they respect that others may come to a different conclusion for their own situation.

    But, at this point, I expect all the usual suspects and their biases will come out of the digital ether with a point of view that is valid for them - and expect it should apply equally to everyone else.
    achilles heal
    Reply Vote

    • need to be schooled on differences

      If you have a Windows PC---as I am using now. You need lots of RAM and resources to use this comfortably. Mac doesn't require all that---neither doesn't Linux. Windows Mobile doesn't need BIG hardware to run fast---because it is it's nature. I have had BB, IOS, and Android---none of it's bad---but Windows is the more effective OS as it stands. If you don't like the GUI cause you had it a couple of weeks and didn't like it---fine---but all units don't run the same way. Nothing wrong with IOS--but I sold my IP4 after 2 mos---just didn't jive with me. I went to AT&T and to shop around and the sales gal said that the Lumia was the best seller. This tracks based on sales reports I have been hearing.
      profperez1
      Reply Vote

  • Old Wars

    Once again we are choosing between Linux (Android), Unix (ios) and Windows (WP). Some wars never end.

    I got an iPhone 4S two weeks ago and like Siri. Beyond that and the ability to talk, it seems as though I'm using my iPod-touch. I think I miss the impressive list of both apps and widgets I had access to from my EVO running android. I'm sure I will eventually try a Windows phone though I tend to place reliability and functionality above most other things.
    jim_murrell@...
    Reply 1 Vote
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