If OEMs would actually put more work into real quality hardware the devices would keep a long-lasting value. If you like it or not, that´s one reason Apple is so popular.

Actually I think this is going to change a bit now Nokia´s on board, we all know they can build great hardware.

Could the people who downrank me please account for their opinion? Don´t be childish because I´m a convinced multi-OS user..

I think a 12-month hardware refresh-cycle is best, because it allows to really optimize and integrate hardware and software _together_ which is exactly what Apple does. It just makes sense.

And as Robert Scoble recently wrote, consumers mostly choose a platform because of apps and services, not so much because of the hardware. And MS´s definitely good at that.

Tiny percentage? Apple has 20% share of the private consumer PC market in the US. The success of their iDevices clearly propelled Mac sales, if you like it or not.

You´re right, but Android 3.0 supports Dual-Core CPUs and iOS 5 is likely to support them, too.

Microsoft even announced dual-core phones BEFORE WP7 came out; sometime back in 2009 Andy Lees mentioned it in an interview. Nobody of you remembers?!

as far as I can tell from videos showing 2.2 and 2.3 it is fast enough to be used.
Let´s wait and see what 3.0 brings.

But we know Microsoft worked together with Qualcomm on Snapdragon support. Maybe MS does in fact NOT allow other CPUs at the moment, because they are still working on drivers for those..? I mean look at all the Android devices with dual-core. If you´re right, then why didn´t HTC, Samsung, LG etc. announce dual-core counterparts with WP7?? Looks like this will be a topic at MIX in april, which is a bit sad (not a real deal-breaker though, the slow update cycle is.)

yeah there are people who claim that WP7 is laggy as well. and some claim iOS is. Get a life, all of you.

Missing big time: Updated hardware-requirements. Every new smartphone comes with dual-core this year.. what about WP7 OEMs? Will they be allowed to use dual-core Snapdragons at least?

You are right, not having these services in other countries is even worse!
For me though c&p is super important and I´m lucky to have at least Xbox Live and Zune Videos working here (Zune pass is still limited to US&UK...)