02-19-2007, 12:00 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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Would You Pay A Premium For A Device With One Guaranteed Upgrade?
Mike over at Smartphone Thoughts (possibly to be known as "Standard Thoughts" given the platform renaming? ;-)) asked a very good question. Essentially, he is wondering how many of us would pay a premium for a device if it came with a single operating system upgrade guarantee to the next version. The previous model has been for us to buy devices, then all of the OEMs get together in a smoke filled room and roll a zocchihedron to see which unfortunate OEM made the device that has to have an upgrade prepared for it, whereby the end user is charged $30 or so, plus an inexplicable 30% handling and postage fee. The remaining OEMs breath a sigh of relief and hope their luck holds out again next year.
So let's turn the question around. What if a device were offered with an Upgrade Guarantee to the next Windows Mobile version that was released? It would have to be a guarantee of a full version upgrade. No sneaking in a big service pack like MSFP or anything, but a full version upgrade. I know I would.
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02-19-2007, 01:48 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 10,981
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Re: Would You Pay A Premium For A Device With One Guaranteed Upgrade?
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Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry
(possibly to be known as "Standard Thoughts" given the platform renaming? ;-))
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:twak: <grumble, grumble /> :wink:
Back on topic... I'm sick of buying new hardware just because the OS has been updated. I like my phone and I want to keep using it until some better hardware comes along - not just a better OS.
__________________
"I have no special talents, I am only passionately curious" - Albert Einstein |
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02-19-2007, 01:58 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 761
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"Professional thoughts"? 
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02-19-2007, 02:05 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,183
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I voted yes. I didn't mean that I'd buy any old device and stump up extra on the day of purchase for an upgrade at some unknown future date. I mean I'll buy a higher-end device, which necessarily has a premium price, and, all other things being equal, I'll select a device because it guarantees an upgrade over a similar device with no such guarentee...
... that clarification was just in case the manufacturers were thinking about a 'special tax' for users who want to pay in advance for an upgrade that just might not appear ;-)
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02-19-2007, 03:31 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 53
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No, for two reasons:
1. I seem to be upgrading on roughly an annual basis, which keeps me pretty much on-curve.
2. How many years between full versions!?!
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02-19-2007, 03:58 PM
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Magi
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,341
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Naw, not for me. To me a new OS upgrade means more than just a new OS, but new and upgraded devices as well.
Upgrades take forever to reach the end user. The few OEMs that do offer upgrades wait till their new devices are in the marketplace and selling before they issue an upgrade for older units. This in the past has ALWAYS been several months.
Paying extra for a device with a FREE upgrade really means you get charged twice. Once when you buy the device with the upgrade fee, then when you pay $50.00 for shipping and handling.
Therefore, I think it would be a good idea IF, the end user could download it, or shipping was free, and if it was made available when new hardware was released.
Quote:
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possibly to be known as "Standard Thoughts" given the platform renaming?
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Hmmm.....given that line of thinking, shouldn't this be called "Windows Mobile Thoughts"
Dave
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02-19-2007, 04:00 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 481
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ClassicRules??? Nah. (really stuck here with an outdated name)
On-Topic:
This is interesting to ponder, but it can't happen. Device makers could never offer this, even as an option, because it's too out of their control. There are too many variables that can make upgrading a device unfeasible (I won't even start listing them). They would be committing to an unknown entity at an unknown timeframe.
If it was offered, what would the "guarantee" part be? Your money back without interest if they are unable to deliver? Listen to people scream then. (A "guarantee" doesn't ensure the outcome; it specifies compensation if the outcome doesn't occur.)
And a guarantee is only as good as the company behind it. We have seen plenty of companies enter and leave this market.
I'd suggest not even wishing for this. Buy the device you like and expect to use it like it comes. Don't ever expect to get an upgraded OS.
Just as I predicted when WM5 came out (and it happened that way), even a lot of the devices that are currently getting promises for an upgrade will never see one. Don't expect it, and don't offer to pay ahead for it.
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02-19-2007, 04:04 PM
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Magi
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,341
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PPCRules, I absolutely agree with you.
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02-19-2007, 04:12 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,466
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Oh, come on...
This has statistical data available...
When Dell brought out the X50v, they promised to provide an upgrade.
So did Fujitsu Siemens for the Loox 720. Then everybody did the 64Mb/128Mb debate....Mike Calligaro did the RAM vs. Power/battery article. Dell lived up to their promise albeit slowly...Fujitsu did a vanishing act.
There are no crystal balls and no one can with certainty predict that despite any company's best intentions...what the outcome will be.
Buy for now and upgrade when your needs are better served by a newer device.
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02-19-2007, 04:56 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 211
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I wouldn't mind paying a reasonable premium if it could be guaranteed that I'd get a full version upgrade (not a .x release like SE). I have a Wizard now - a device that's fully capable of running WM6, but I'm unlikely to ever see it for my device because it isn't in the interest of the carriers to provide an upgrade. They'd rather I spring for yet another $400 device when this one isn't even a year old. I'm willing to pay for an upgrade if one's available (and the upgrade is worth the pain). However, if there's no upgrade available, I'm not going to spring for another device just to get the upgrade. There has to be an advantage to switching beyond the new OS.
Currently, I'll probably be sticking with my Wizard for a little while longer - I can't upgrade to a new device through my carrier because my time's not up on this device and there's not real incentive. Sure, the TyTn is neat, faster, etc, but not worth another $400 at this point and there's still no WM6 available for it right now.
Personally, I'd really like to see MS treat WM as a real OS - available to buy from MS, supported directly by MS. The carriers provide drivers or add-ons for their services and specific devices or something similar. At that point, we can upgrade the OS without depending on the carrier as long as it's supported by the hardware and whatever drivers are needed for the hardware will work on the new OS. I can't imagine the uproar if Dell told its customers - "Sorry, we may or may not provide an upgrade to Vista. In the meantime, if you must have Vista, buy a new Dell." That's essentially the situation we're in with WM at this time (and since PPC days).
-Pete
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