Really hard not to hate Apple right now...

[fyo]

Which Android phones are not "in the same class" as an iPhone?

Considering the huge spread in price of 'Droid phones, from low-end to high-end, it's difficult to argue that they ALL occupy the same space as the iPhone.

[Spider-Dan]

There's a huge spread in the price of Windows PCs, but they all essentially occupy the same market space as Macs.

I really do not see any distinction between the two comparisons.

[Dave Gray]

And I don't think its fair to assume that the iPhone is the "best phone on the market" as you do, when in fact, many Android-based devices are far better.  Each person must make their own assessment, and iPhone isn't always the winner.

I'm not speaking about the quality of the iPhone at all.  I'm just saying that it's not fair to judge the quality of iPhone by the market-share of their OS, as was the original assumption.

Which Android phones are not "in the same class" as an iPhone?

Unless you're comparing the iPhone to one specific Android model, I don't see how it could be more popular.

That's exactly what I'm doing.  Android isn't one phone, it's an OS is a whole span of phones by multiple companies.

[Spider-Dan]

So which Android model are you comparing the iPhone to?

[Brian Fein]

Android is a platform, or a group of products.

In your Apple market share analysis, are you only including iPhone 4?  Or are you including iPhone,  iPhone 3G, and 3Gs as well?

If you include multiple iPhones, then you must include multiple products of another platform.

[Dave Gray]

The various iPhones are all iterations of the same product.

[Brian Fein]

The various iPhones are all iterations of the same product.

doesn't matter, they are different products.  you could say an "android phone" is all iterations of the same product.  Are all Blackberrys iterations of the same product?  They're all made from one company.

Apples to apples.

[Dave Gray]

you could say an "android phone" is all iterations of the same product.

Yes, you could say that, but you'd be wrong.

I'm fine with you comparing the iPhone to the various Blackerrys.  They are similar.  But I'm not ok with comparing the iPhone to Android Phones.

[Spider-Dan]

Is the conversation really more enlightening if we compare "iOS devices" to "Android devices"?

People are choosing Android-based phones over iOS-based phones.  That's not misleading, or skewing... that's just fact.

[Brian Fein]

I'm fine with you comparing the iPhone to the various Blackerrys.  They are similar.  But I'm not ok with comparing the iPhone to Android Phones.

I could then tell you that you are wrong.  There are at least 5 to 8 different models of Blackberry on the market.  Why is it OK to compare that but not Android, simply because of the sign on the factory it comes out of?

[Dave Gray]

^ Because Blackberry is one company.  They have one marketing campaign, one identity, etc. 

Android is split between several companies, carriers, etc.

[Spider-Dan]

That's a weak justification.  Android is made by Google; what does it matter what brand the phone manufacturer is?

Every Android phone has more in common than the two most disparate models of Blackberry phones.  But because Blackberry phones all say "RIM" on them, they count as "one phone" and Android phones don't?

I suppose if Google allowed only HTC to license Android, it would then qualify in your eyes?

[Dave Gray]

That's a weak justification.  Android is made by Google; what does it matter what brand the phone manufacturer is?

It matters.  Android is licensed by many major hardware manufacturers.

Every Android phone has more in common than the two most disparate models of Blackberry phones.  But because Blackberry phones all say "RIM" on them, they count as "one phone" and Android phones don't?

I'm not an expert on Blackberry phones, but as I understand it, yes.

I suppose if Google allowed only HTC to license Android, it would then qualify in your eyes?

Yes.

[Brian Fein]

The hardware manufacturer makes no difference.  Its all a platform, which is software-driven.  Just because Motorola and HTC can both load Android on their phones, but only RIM can chip BBOS and only Apple can ship iOS doesn't mean anything but exclusivity for software.  The only difference here is that the company that makes Android hasn't ventured into the hardware world yet, and depends on other "hardware experts" to develop the vehicle for their product.

[Dave Gray]

The only difference here is that the company that makes Android hasn't ventured into the hardware world yet, and depends on other "hardware experts" to develop the vehicle for their product.

Yes, but that's a big difference.  It's much easier to get more market-share, when your OS is in many different phones from different manufacturers, as opposed to only phones you produce.  That is not necessarily a reflection of the quality of the OS.