SparkyJack - you make a fair point about being locked to the platform on smartphones. In fact, the vertical nature of the smartphone platforms makes it tough to change - once you've bought a load of iPhone apps, do you really want to switch to Windows Phone? But that's what makes choice of phone platform so intriguing right now: each of the major platforms offers a unique propisition, but your choice now could affect your next laptop or tablet purchase.

I disagree with your point about choice in PCs, however: if you have a Mac you can also run Windows, but for the majority of people the hardware dictates the software (very few people 'downgrade' a Windows OS, and fewer still are running Linux).

It's always struck me as bad product awareness that MS have been so slow to advance the old Win Mobile for pocket pcs that I had on my old Mio device that died a while back. Had Windows phone OS been widely available at that time, I would have stuck with MS, but I went to an HTC with Andriod on to replace that pocket pc and a Nokia with Symbian Belle as a pocket size phone and I now accept that other OSs are good in their own way. It's now the hardware that I buy for a first choice, I can live with the OS that it comes with once I get used to it.

Maybe next time I upgrade they'll win me back, especially if I can run my Memory Maps on it that worked on Win Mobile 5.

Actually Quickbeam, and this is just my opinion, but I think Windows 8, Windows Phone 8 and Windows RT (plus Xbox, Surface, Office, etc) will be Microsoft's strongest product portfolio for a long time. If they can persuade app makers to write for the Windows Store - and it will be a pretty compelling argument - it could be a very interesting few years for Microsoft.

Does that mean should we sell any Microsoft shares before they go bust...?

Have we heard it here first?

"when folk buy a device they get the O/S it comes with and it cant be changed."

True, but not entirely relevant.

When buying a new phone most people see what is available with the O/S of their choice, i.e. they pick the O/S first.

So the poll is perhaps relevant.

If you have to ask you don't need one.

A big pull for the "youngsters" as you put it is that most are into Facebook and with their Smartphones can get their fix 24/7.

What do they offer - basically a computer that can also make calls and text.

The latest news from RIM must cast serious doubt on whether they will still be around to launch BB10.

Losing 41% of their market share compared to the same quarter last year, meaning they lost £333m in a quarter that has led to 5000 redundancies a third of the workforce could be seen as the beginning of the end for RIM.

Defiantly BlackBerry for me...especially since using Blackberry Bridge with my Playbook! Truly amazing feature. More than a phone, in fact my Computer in my handbag.

Blackberry for me, purely because of the keyboard.

Strawballs - like others have implied, a mobile phone that allows calls and texts, (and fits in my shirt pocket) is smart enough for me.

I have never owned a smart phone ... 'cos I'm not stupid.

I must say that I was also a little surprised to see Windows in 2nd place but I can also say that when I handled the Nokia it was the most comfortable to use of all the phones I have handled for many years. The software was also a delight to use and was much faster than the iPad.

Reports suggest that the camera was not as good as it should be but compared to what? The new Nokia out this week has a fabulous camera so there is some hope that the forthcoming windows 8 Nokia could be a world beater. I'm waiting with anticipation and hoping to say bye bye to iTunes once and for all.

I thin that for most users the OS is the least of their worries, they want the same phone as their friend or whatever micro-celeb is touting

Why don't you compare BB10 with this. Its awesome and looking for a new poll......