Windows Phone is actually quite nice. I have a few friends who have one (most of which work at Microsoft) and I've only used it a little but it seems pretty usable. What I like most is how fast they're both catching up and, in some areas, surpassing their competitors.
I think that, given another year, they might be able to get decent traction. Their biggest problem of course is going to be marketing and, historically, that's always been Microsoft's biggest problem.
I have a WP7 phone, and I like it quite a lot. The OS is very snappy, the visual styling is unique, and the whole experience is cohesive in a way that not even iOS can match. (On the iPhone, features still feel like they are beautifully designed but entirely separate apps, each made up in their own special mix of wood paneling or linen upholstery...)
Two of my friends have bought WP7 devices after toying with mine. That's fairly remarkable because I live in a country where it's not advertised and the UI isn't even translated to the native language yet.
I have one and I think that the out-of-the-box experience is better than on Android. Facebook, Gmail, Twitter, Maps and Office are integrated in the system. Everything is also pretty fast and fluid even on a year old phone.
Plus you get the most recent OS version pretty fast compared to Android
I have a Samsung Focus with WP7 and love it. I don't work for MS in any capacity.
The phone suffers from poor marketing and "Oh gross, MICROSOFT makes it" response. The average person automatically buys an iPhone or Android because they think those are the only options. Techy people automatically assume Microsoft is awful at everything.
I've had a Samsung Focus for about 8 months, and had an LG soemthing WP7 for a month before that (it got confiscated by my carrier, long story).
I've recently moved to Chile and was given an Andriod (froyo) by the local carrier, and I've committed myself to using the Android for 2 weeks. I really miss my WP7.
I've used iOS (iPod Touch), WP7, WebOS and now Android, and WP7 is beautiful and snappy. It is very well thought out and the integration of content into the device is amazing. I am yet to find anything on Android which I think is done better than on WP7. iOS is probably more refined, but not as well integrated, and not as beautiful (but that is a judgement).
I'm still surprised every time I seem somebody else with a WP. What also surprises me is how many people play with mine, and then suggest that they would consider it when replacing their phones. The common line seems to be that 'everybody has an iPhone, I want to get something different'.
Also, I can't find a link now, but I believe HTC said 1/3 of their shipments last quarter were WP. That's huge! It doesn't mean that they are selling well, but somebody somewhere is ordering them. Maybe it is just MS giving them to their employees.
I have one and I really like it, it's beautiful to use. I haven't used Android enough to compare it against, but having used an iPhone quite a bit, I think they're pretty even. iPhone is ahead on the the number and breadth of apps, but WP7 is better integrated (between contacts/facebook/pictures/twitter etc).
Regarding the voice commands, I've only ever used them to try them out (and results were patchy, maybe my South African accent), I couldn't imagine ever using them in everyday use, so I'm not too fussed about Siri (although it looks amazing from a tech point of view).
I'm still rocking an HTC Viva (originally Windows Mobile 6), now running a modded ROM with Windows Mobile 6.5, a Metro-like UI and overclocked from 200MHZ to ~270MHZ. Heh. :)
I use one running Mango as my main phone and love it - very useable, and live tiles are awesome. My only real beef is the the turn by turn, which is not nearly as good as what I had on the Andriod (but then again, my iPhone also drove me into lakes once in a while - I just think Google did best with the out of the box turn by turn driving experience).
I find it fascinating to note which phones people use on the street, in subway, or in public places. I saw countless Blackberry, Android and iPhone devices. I never saw a single WP7 device.
