In a new brand of competition dissing, James DeBragga, General Manager of Windows Consumer Product Marketing, says Android "is free like a puppy." The comment came in the context of the CEO of Entourage praising Android for the fact that's it's versatile and free -- major motivating factors behind his use of the OS on his
Edge e-reader device. James says that Android (like a puppy) is great in theory, but a hassle once you get it home. Unfortunately for him, his metaphor neglects the love and kisses and companionship many humans also associate with puppies. Perhaps James is a cat man? Still, we see his side to some extent: Windows is certainly more mature, supported and capable for powering a tablet device, especially if that tablet needs to perform serious computer-style tasks. Unfortunately, we're not sure if Android, Windows or anything else is really ready to make tablet converts out of us. Now if you'll excuse us, we need to go feed our free iguana, Ricardo.
posted January 12th 2010 1:46PM
@PoisonWolf hee hee I actually clicked through just to post exactly this comment. ;-)
@PoisonWolf
unlikely. just because apple has had a good track record with products recently doesn't mean engadget is just waiting in the wings to support it without thinking. the tablet is a weird form factor and its going to take a lot of hard thinking and use to see if it has a niche ready to shove it down everyones throats
the dog is on a conference call...please keep it down.
I can't believe how many people have not heard this analogy before. Heck, it's even been applied to open source before:
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000000121,39202713,00.htm
@ebgolfin
i'd rather get a free puppy and pay the "hidden" fees rather than purchase a puppy ans STILL pay the "hidden fees". Just sayin'.
@iroq d mullet
You may, but I think there is a bit of a valid point to it.
Case in point, when I upgraded my desktop from Jaunty Jackalope to Karmic Koala, it caused my sound card to stop working. It took me probably 1.5-2 hours trying to search forums and investigate what was fubar'd before I got it back up. This is not something that the average computer user ever wants to deal with. They don't want to have to put any effort into getting things to work properly.
@PoisonWolf Yep. Steve Jobs hasn't even announced a JesusTablet, and yet Engadget has been posting on how excited they are about it for YEARS.
It's good that they've dismissed Android and Microsoft out of the gate though.
@(Unverified) Dude, are you new here?
2005 "At least one thing's for sure: once this device comes out, tablet devices are officially in. "
July 2009: "this is what it is: a decent rumor with some reasonable excuses for "delays" and a glorious promise of tablet nirvana right around the corner. What more could an Apple rumorphile want?"
Aug 2009 They made a massive swooning case for it here:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/04/switched-on-the-ipad-could-succeed-apple-tv/
@PoisonWolf
This is like the manufactured "outrage" over the Zune HD Twitter "censorship". Engadget keeps bringing it up, while ignoring the real "censorship" with their favorite device.
@fatslug You spoke my mind right!
@fatslug I choked I laughed so hard at this.
Funny. I like to say "Windows is free like prison butt sex."
I think mine is more accurate.
One's cute and cuddly, the other, you have no choice and you're probably going to get some kind of virus.
See, I don't think of my Droid as cute and cuddly. It's more of a giggling-brat-vanity-crushing bucket of Does.
Hilarious that an article where Microsoft bashes Google brings out comments against... wait for it .... Apple.
When astro-turfers collide.. Priceless.
Dear Engadget: Gizmodo's puppy is cuter than yours: http://gizmodo.com/5446513/microsoft-compares-android-to-an-adorable-puppy
@feeble11
i disagree. since your comment is an opinion, i can do that ;)
May be this guy should STFU and do something about WinMo 7.. its depressing to see Microsoft, the leading company in Software.. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY behind!
Winmo sux, it's an old dog that's gonna be replaced soon. This Microsoft guy hasn't got ainywhere to stand saying this about Android, cause it is way better for the end user than standard Winmo.
It's such an ugly dying dog that Manufacturers cover it up as much as they can to stop customers from being grossed out.
@Wesley
manufacturers also cover up android
iphone os is too pathetic to be covered up
some people prefer different UI's on their OS
Yeah, MS should be worried. If you're an OEM, would you pay for Winmo or use a free Android? As for Winmo 7, as excited everybody is, it won't be out till later this year. In the meantime, we will see more and more Android handset, and then the next iPhone. That's the problem with Winmo. The time between announcement and actual product shipping is just too long (how long was it between Winmo 6.5 announcement and release?). Now that the competitors are announcing and shipping products almost at the same time, Winmo will always play catch up. This is also another reason that imo MS would evolve the Zune OS into a Microsoft made phone. Winmo would still exist for OEMs, but MS would do their own thing with the Zune phone where MS would be free to announce and ship whenever they want, not relying on OEMs.
LOL, why don't you just spell it out, Engadget. "We are really only able to fully endorse Apple products whitout being in violation of contract."
I'm guessing they mean that you get all excited about it but then once you have it you start realizing that there are these other costs? Like, crap! They eat how much food? Or something. I had a G1 and now a Droid (from work) and I really like the Android OS.
Microsoft, arrogant as usual. While their stock is flat, Google and Apple's continues to dominate the tech sector.
Microsoft, a me too company, past its prime.
@PoisonWolf
Yeah, that's because Steve Jobs and Apple invented the first useful tablet computer for the masses. Certainly not the first worthwhile tablet ever invented, though. I'll give that spot to Moses and the mysterious "burning bush".
Welcome to 2010, the year of tablet chic. But only ones with Apple logos.
Android is far more progressive currently than windows mobile, they are behind. If they could ever produce better products, than I would not have any reason to hate windows mobile. I think its possible for winmo to be decent, just waiting for them to actually make it decent
@(Unverified) lol to the name of DeBragga - sounds like someone who loves to brag? (braggart) Well we already see the preview of Microsoft's Slate: http://bit.ly/hp-slate-tablet-deta
2 weeks from now, Apple Tablet shall be announced and all this bragging will surely be a thing of the yesterday's news. I'm not saying, iSlate is great, but 'it' getting this much hype -- something tells me. endgadget will be balls deep for that release.
I feel Android is going to be the best thing since slice bread, every single update brings good changes and its very constant too
You know what else puppies do? They pee on your bed, chew on your socks and poop in your shoes.
If it's free like a puppy, what does that make WinMo 6.5?
CHrome OS Tablet?
"Unfortunately, we're not sure if Android, Windows or anything else is really ready to make tablet converts out of us"
Chrome OS Tablet Edition?
Woah, take a breather.
@(Unverified) a pussy
If Android is a puppy that supposedly requires training and daily walks, then I would liken Windows Mobile to an ant farm.
It seems like a fun thing at first, but soon you realize that watching a bunch of bugs through glass isn't very exciting.
This means that Android will grow into a vicious, competition-mauling dog, right? The competition will be scared of its ability to overpower them! Hear it roar! D'awww!
Yeah, too bad his quirky disses, which first were pointed at Linux, and now anything Open Source, .. Android, are equally applicable to Windows.
One system across any set of hardware, great, great, its a little clunky but works right out the box as long as you don't mess with it, great, great.
@RMGH
Would that make Jobs Moses as he holds the iSlate up to show to the followers at WWDC the powerful ARM powered Apple iSlate with the vigorful E-versions of the SI Swimsuit Illustrated
If it's the puppy in the picture then yes...it is a bad thing...
If getting android is like getting a free puppy, then getting WinMo must be like paying a licensing fee to contract swine flu.
This is nothing but the low mentality of the big boys. The competition should be in a healthy manner. This is not the right way to deal with the competition. Such comments are been flown out by the MS guys quite often when they are stressed out with the fear of competition and when they think that they are being taken over by it and its going out of control. And moreover this is a global market, and one cannot hold 1st place for ever here, and this should be understood by the backyard boys of MS. Back in MS they have curbed the competition with a backyard approach till date and they have never faced such a stiff competition face to face, and this is one of the main reasons for their F-factor. This is what making them more uncomfortable as they are less experienced in this and they are lacking confidence. - http://www.enaviya.com/
Puppies may be playful and sometimes do unexpected things and may break some furniture in the process but the bright side is that with a little bit of love it will grow very fast to be beautiful, strong and obedient creature that will defend they owner at all costs.
So I´m glad I jumped on the puppy wagon, The future is bright, the future is Android....
I only have one doubt now; do I have to walk my phone three times a day?
@(Unverified)
"Puppies may be playful and sometimes do unexpected things and may break some furniture in the process but "
Yeah, so does Windows..
Does that make a Windows Mobile device an old, incontinent dog rescued from the pound?
@fatslug
You'd hit that rat with your stick? Wrong forum.
Well it aren't free, there's still licensing and money you have to pay it's just a more open development environment.