Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0 • Hacker News Board

Re: Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0

#21

Post by bambax » Fri, Feb 11, 2011, 1:03 PM UTC

michael_dorfman wrote: post #8

bambax wrote: post #3

This post is so true and so sad. > most of Nokia's brand loyalty is because of the indestructible and unbelievably reliable phones they made in the 90's, since then they've been steadily dropping on that front Nokia phones are still the most reliable and solid, by far... for now.

Really? Here in Norway, people are complaining constantly about a few Nokia models that are notorious for bad reliability, and I've never heard complaints about iPhones, for example. If Nokia phones are actually "the most reliable and solid, by far", they've got a serious perception problem in the marketplace, at least in these parts.

I don't buy phones everyday, so maybe the most recent models are weaker, but I have a Nokia from 2009, and so does my wife. Our kids have taken them to the most incredible abuse imaginable and they're still working fine.

I had Sony phones, Samsung phones, all very fragile and sensitive to dust, water, being stepped upon, etc.

We don't have iPhones but we have iPads (which are a different beast altogether, of course)... the fist iPad to enter our home lasted exactly one day (it doesn't like being dropped from a table -- even a low table).

Re: Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0

#22

Post by ig1 » Fri, Feb 11, 2011, 1:06 PM UTC

I sincerely hope that Elop sold all of his Microsoft shares before he joined Nokia, otherwise he could be breaking all kinds of laws right now.

Re: Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0

#23

Post by ZeroGravitas » Fri, Feb 11, 2011, 1:07 PM UTC

Kilimanjaro wrote: post #10

noonespecial wrote: post #9

The whole thing feels like shark-jumping if you ask me. I'd watch Nokia stock today and see if investors don't agree. I'm betting they do. I wish I knew a damn thing about investing, I'd short this one for sure.

Like jumping from a burning platform to shark-infested waters?

He specified a North Sea rig in his memo. I don't know if he's aware (he is Canadian) but it's relatively common knowledge in this area that due to the low temperatures your life expectancy even if you make it into the water conscious and in one piece is under 15 minutes, less the further north you go. Sharks are the least of your worries.

Re: Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0

#24

Post by aniket_ray » Fri, Feb 11, 2011, 1:10 PM UTC

Contrary to everyone else I actually think this is a smart move. Personally, I didn't find Windows Phone 7 too bad compared to an iPhone.

The only thing that Apple has in its favour is the RDF.

Nokia needs a differentiating OS, Android is not that OS. I don't think Nokia wants to become a bit part commodity hardware manufacturer. So Windows Phone 7 might turn out to be a smart move.

Nokia is in a position to capture the cheap smartphone category, a category that is still up for grabs.

Re: Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0

#25

Post by oz » Fri, Feb 11, 2011, 1:13 PM UTC

michael_dorfman wrote: post #8

bambax wrote: post #3

This post is so true and so sad. > most of Nokia's brand loyalty is because of the indestructible and unbelievably reliable phones they made in the 90's, since then they've been steadily dropping on that front Nokia phones are still the most reliable and solid, by far... for now.

Really? Here in Norway, people are complaining constantly about a few Nokia models that are notorious for bad reliability, and I've never heard complaints about iPhones, for example. If Nokia phones are actually "the most reliable and solid, by far", they've got a serious perception problem in the marketplace, at least in these parts.

In Jamaica, Nokia phones, particularly the lower end models, are perceived as being very reliable. Drop them, throw them, wet them up, and they just keep on going. Battery life is good, too.

Re: Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0

#26

Post by jsnell » Fri, Feb 11, 2011, 1:14 PM UTC

latch wrote: post #16

Some reports suggested that [considerable] money was part of the deal. Do we know for sure whether this is or isn't the case? "Microsoft invests $300 million in a strategic partnership with Nokia" is a lot different than "Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0."

A one-time few hundred million would be peanuts at this scale, I can't imagine it affecting the decision unless it was quietly deposited to somebody's private Swiss bank account.

Re: Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0

#27

Post by cincinnatus » Fri, Feb 11, 2011, 1:14 PM UTC

A fair bit of hyperbole and fanboy-ism happening here. Which is completely understandable.

It is pretty clear that WP7 is not Windows Mobile, that Microsoft does in fact finally get it.

Jumping on the Android bandwagon is not in any way clearly a better or safer move. In fact from a market perspective those waters are considerably more bloody and getting worse every day.

This is a desperation play by Nokia in the high end of the market for certain, but of all the bad choices they had available this may be the least bad. I is also likely true that there is no move they could make that would ever result in bringing them back to the heights of their past. Innovators dilemma in action.

Re: Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0

#28

Post by mariusmg » Fri, Feb 11, 2011, 1:16 PM UTC

"And to those whose Nokia/Windows smartphones will give them the mobile variation on the MS 'BSOD' while calling 911, my condolences to you too."

Just a giant frustrated douchebag who likes Android. Why is this even submitted? It's clearly trolling

Re: Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0

#29

Post by Luc » Fri, Feb 11, 2011, 1:17 PM UTC

latch wrote: post #16

Some reports suggested that [considerable] money was part of the deal. Do we know for sure whether this is or isn't the case? "Microsoft invests $300 million in a strategic partnership with Nokia" is a lot different than "Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0."

Nokia has of the order of $13 billion cash on hand. I imagine it would have to be a substantially larger investment to make their heart beat faster.

Re: Microsoft just bought Nokia for $0

#30

Post by ThomPete » Fri, Feb 11, 2011, 1:20 PM UTC

As always here in HN we tend to focus on the actual technology and platform rather than what it do for normal people.

This is a great win both for Microsoft as it is for Nokia and as it is for the millions of people who are just regular phone users.

Yes nokia will have to build an ecosystem (http://000fff.org/the-power-of-digital-ecoystems/)

But they still have huge market share with people who are not likely to care that there exist an iPhone because it's too expensive.

And if the market is in fact trending smartphones in 2011-2012 nokia will have great opportunity to develop a market into a smartphone market with their existing base.