Windows Mobile

• Slow and clunky interface
• Almost no customization
• Most available applications (at least the free ones) are either unusable or you don’t really need them
• Paying for applications is too difficult as there is no centralized shop
• I think if Microsoft doesn’t do a major overhaul here soon Windows Mobile will be dead

Android

• The idea of an Open Source system based on Linux is good
• There seem to be good applications available and there is an easy way to get them
• From what I hear, the interface is alright
• For my taste, there is too much Java
• Google is slowly becoming too ubiquitous and has a pretty tight hold on the platform¹

iPhone

• The interface is obviously great, but it’s customizable
• There are so many applications available and they are easy to get
• It’s a good platform for small developers to earn some money²
• I don’t like Apple’s style of locking down the device
• It’s starting to feel like everyone has an iPhone

Palm Pre

• The interface looks great
• There seems to be good support for Open Source applications
• It’s pretty new
• Come on, writing applications in HTML and Javascript only? And native applications only by trusted third-parties?
• There are rumors that the Pre gathers user information and uploads it to Palm

Nokia N900 & Maemo

• The idea of running Linux on a smartphone is just awesome
• So there’s also very good support for Open Source software
• The device is very powerful (real multi-tasking!), it really is a computer
• The interface looks good and intuitive
• Nokia seems to get the idea that openness is good

To me, the Nokia N900 and Maemo look like the best choice for a smartphone at the moment – if it will ever be released. And no, I won’t wait for the N900 Duke Nukem Forever edition.