What do you think Windows Phone's strengths are?

When Microsoft initially unveiled the Windows Phone platform, I was inordinately excited about it. I was even a fan of the name back then: Windows Phone Series 7! Sure, it didn't really make any sense, especially when compared to the other products offered by the company, but I liked it because it was different. Just different enough from everyone else, that it just stood out that much more. And back then, apparently I just wanted something new.

I honestly believe that that's why I attached myself to Windows Phone way back then. Why I thought it was going to be so great. Blind hope completely replaced the reality of the situation, even years later, because I understand Microsoft's pattern: They take their time, and dominate eventually. It's the same thing with Windows Phone.

At least, that's always been the thought.

Here I am in 2014 still waiting for a device to really win me over, just on the hardware side of things. I've had devices that I've liked, sure, but nothing that's made me fall head-over-heels in love with it. Not like Apple's recent iPhone models, or HTC's One-branded lineup, or even Motorola's Moto X. For Windows Phone-based devices, they've just been "pretty nice," and that's about it. Of course, that's just my opinion, as I know quite a few people out there that have indeed fallen for a Windows Phone-based handset.

Here I am in 2014 still waiting for Windows Phone to actually replace Android or iOS as my daily driver operating system. It's not for a lack of trying, either. I keep going back to Windows Phone thinking "this will be the time I switch for good!" and then I try it for a few weeks, and it always ends the same way: switching back to iOS or Android. Every time.

I hate to admit it, but it really does come down to the applications and games present on those other platforms, and not so much on Windows Phone. Don't get me wrong, Microsoft has come a long way since the days of having no apps, but the truth is that most of those applications that have finally made the leap over to Windows Phone frustrate me more than anything else. Sure, they exist, but after having used those apps on Android or iOS, their lack of features, or even their interface more often than not, annoys me to no end.

It comes down to the fact, for me, that I've used those other platforms, their apps and their features, and switching to Windows Phone just feels like something I'm going to be waiting for for a long time. It would honestly by quite different if I hadn't used Android or iOS, and I had just been using Windows Phone only from the start, because then I wouldn't know any difference. But I do, and no matter how hard I want to switch, or how many times I try, I just can't see it happening anytime soon. Not until most of these things change. I'd even take if some of these things changed.

Someday. That's always been the concession I've made, right from the start, and it is something I'm going to hang onto until I just can't anymore. Windows Phone is the platform that I want to switch to, so I'll hold out as long as I can.

...Good thing I have Android and iOS to hold me over until then.