See what Mumsnetters think of the Microsoft Lumia 735, Xbox One and Linx tablet *NOW CLOSED*

[KathrynMumsnet]

This thread is for the 10 Mumsnetters who have been testing the Microsoft Lumia 735, Xbox One Console with Kinect and a Linx tablet.

Here’s what Microsoft’s marketing manager says, “As a marketing manager for Microsoft and mum of 2 boys, I know that things at home and at work can get pretty busy – especially this time of year with present buying, decorating the house, nativity play outfits, pantomimes……you know the rest :-). That is why we wanted to show you the collective power of some of these Microsoft products and how they can be used for the whole family. We would like to find families that can try out a Nokia Lumia phone, XBox One console and one of the new very affordable Linx tablets. All of these work together in a way that your family’s life can be fun and organised, productive and producing lots of laughs.”

Testers:
Once you’ve had the chance to try out all three products, please answer the questions below.

1. What were your initial impressions and how did you find setting up the devices?
   
2. Overall, what do you think of the following products? Do you like them? If so, why? If not, why not?
   a. Microsoft Lumia 735
   b. Xbox One console with Kinect
   c. Linx tablet
   
3. Who uses each of the products the most and what do they use them for?
   
4. If it came up in conversation, do you think you would recommend the Microsoft Lumia, Xbox One with Kinect and LInx tablet? If so, why? If not, why not?
   
5. Do you have a favourite aspect about any of the products? If so, what is it?
   
   Microsoft would love to have some video clips of your thoughts about the products or seeing them in action. You can use your Microsoft Lumia to film this very easily. If you choose to do this you can upload your clips onto YouTube and please post the link to the film on the thread.
   
   Microsoft has made these products to sync up together allowing a more inclusive experience.
   
   To ensure the Mumsnetters got the most out of the products, Mumsnetters attended an event at Microsoft’s offices in London.
   From this event Microsoft would like to know:
   
   
6. Did you find this event useful for outlining the various opportunities offered by the products both as individual devices and collectively? If so, why? If not, why not?
   
7. Do you think the products work well together? If so, why? If not, why not?
   
   If you complete your feedback as above you will be able to keep the products you were sent.
   
   Thanks,
   MNHQ

[codandchipstwice]

Aargh, x box now frozen but as we route the tx through it can't watch anything. Did it last night and poor babysitter had to read for 2 hours as tv wouldn't work.

Don't understand as we are not a high usage family, probably not play it for more than an hour a day. The only thing that has been problem free is the phone.

Are we just unlucky?

[codandchipstwice]

Turned it off and on again and didn't sort it, so left if unplugged for an hour and so far ok. Seems to be an issue with a game we downloaded via ea vault.

[bucksMStester]

So far we've been problem free, other than teething problems. I spent an afternoon attempting to use my phone in parallel to my GPS while Geocaching with the dc and spent a while lamenting the loss of c:geo and my android, but I've now fiddled, learnt a bit more about the app, and so will try again tomorrow. The general lack of apps is annoying, and that there is a marked difference in the apps available in the Lumia's app store and the tablet's app store.

DP has been using the tablet loads, he prefers it to his Hudl. Ive now got my adapter and was well cuffed to be able to attach my gpsr and update the info that I'd downloaded. So far I'm really impressed, and have shown it to a couple of friends that had asked about it. When my course at work starts I plan to take it in and work from it, rather than attempt to kick my boss off the laptop!

An interesting piece of trivia- when I met with my dad and was showing off the tablet and phone I was chatting about where we'd gone for the event. Turns out that 98 Victoria street was where Esso's computer centre used to be located until 1983, he remembers the buildings opposite being knocked down to create the square in front of the cathedral! He said there was a massive 14/15 floor block and then the single story computer centre with a 'floating' floor to prevent the vibration from the road affecting the hardware. I couldn't believe the coincidence!

Ok, so to the questions:
1: Initial impressions. Really impressed with the presentation of the tablet. Looks sleek, and dare I say it, more expensive. I'm also really impressed with the quantity of stuff on it, although the app scoreless it down.
Phone, well, it's bright orange. I shouldn't be able to lose it! (famous last words . However it's a nice size, screen is a similar size to my s3, fits neatly in my hand. I'm finding the power button gets in the way when I'm holding it, and that jiggles, but I guess I'll get used to it. Love, love love the seamless join to the OneDrive, as that's what ds uses for his homework. Haven't yet worked out how to print from it, and again that's a niggle, as after going through the pain barrier of getting him to do it, I just want to be able to print it!
Xbox: well, it's an Xbox! Took a while to set up, but that's because we have a complicated switch to run the sound system and pc through. Still trying to run the you view box through. Took a while to find the on button too!

2: overall, what do I think? Whoops, I seem to have answered this above a little!
Tablet: well DP likes it! We like to smartglass app, the office and the one drive. My email seems slow to sync, but my internet has been playing up, so that might not be helping. Kids haven't used it much, because the range of games that they'd play is, quite frankly, crap. It will come into it's own with homework, as previously mentioned for ds, but also the DD's and dss.
Phone: again, poor range of apps, but enough to keep the dc quiet. Kids corner is fantastic though. One drive is a big plus, and I think the maps will come into their own. I like the fact the case protects the corner of the glass screen (voice of experience).
Xbox: still on the learning curve with it! The dc got the Kinect to work with the zoo game for the first time Sunday. The big negative for us is it's more aimed at the solo player playing remotely with others. By the time each child had 'their' 45 minutes on Sunday that was a whole afternoon. Dp was grumpy and we could have had a fab walk. However the iplayer , and smartglass are fab functions, and we are likely to use it for that as much as a games console. Various friends seem to have developed rather green eyes, so it could be we are not fully appreciative of it's gaming potential! I think we would have appreciated more of an idioms guide to setting it up.

Who uses each product most? Tablet-myself and DP. Kids will more, when they need to/ask. Phone-myself (kids wish they got their hands on it more!) phone is often on the side in the kitchen while I work from a recipe on the web. Xbox- all of us. It's in the sitting room, attached to the only TV.

4: I have already recommended the tablet to a couple of friends, they have had a play and like. One friend is diehard apple, so for her to consider one for her dt's is a big thing! DP likes the phone, and when my contract is due for an upgrade will be looking at them as his boss doesn't seem in a hurry to sort his (work contract) upgrade out. He hates his iPhone Xbox has needed no recommendation. All I have come across is green eyes!

5: favourite aspects: smartglass and one drive. Nuff said.

[xboxnovice]

One downside with the Lumia phone is charging, it doesn't like any other charger other the one supplies. I though I would just take one USB plug to Canada with me, but using the Nokia lead in it instead of the supplied plug adaptor results in a message of charging too slowly, use supplied plug!

This was a problem in the car, although the car had a USB socket ( that was fab!) it took forever to charge and never actually charged fully.

The Lumia camera is so superior to the iPhone, my pictures are amazing and you can do lots of things to them. I do like the phone a lot, will it ever replace my iPhone, I don;t think so as I have a Macbook air, iMac, iPad mini and iPad,but it will make a great work phone, and is good to keep somethings separate. It was good to be able to put a Canadian sim card into it, being unlocked is a big plus!

Still getting to grips with the Xbox as we have never had any games machine ever, it is a steep learning curve and read all the comments on here with great interest!

[Wiifitmama]

BucksMStester - are you trying to hook up aBT Youview box to the xbox? If so, we had huge problems with this. In the end, on a phone all with the tech people, we realised that the hdmi cable that comes with the Youview box (the one that connects it to your tv) will not work with the xbox. It's not high enough quality (typical BT) so we got a new higher quality hdmi cable and it all now works fine. None of us realised thus at first as the hdmi cable works fine if you are just connecting the Youview box directly to the TV

Hope that helps you.

[Wiifitmama]

Xboxnovice - it's interesting you say that about the charger as we are using all different chargers depending on what room it is in and have had no problem. We have used the kindle charger and my husbands phone charger (both micro USB) and not noticed any difference.

[xboxnovice]

wiifit perhaps it is a voltage thing too as it is 110v there, but I thought the phones would be universal. I had no problem charging iPad or iPhone.

[bucksMStester]

Thank you for that, it's a talk talk you view box, but I think half the problem is we have a switch for ruining different things through the sound system. We have a decent cable, so will try it, when we've worked out what goes where.

Can't get the smart glass shop to open on either the tablet or the phone. Anyone else having problems?

[Wiifitmama]

Oh dear......another problem here. The headphone socket in the phone has stopped working. I have contacted Georgina at Microsoft to see if she can help. I really hope we have all been unlucky rather than this being a durability issue.

[bucksMStester]

Oh no! That's not good.

Smart glass app still not working on mobile or tablet, but ironically is working on dp's iphone! Not terribly impressed.

Got the tv going through the xbox! Hooray! Not sure what DP did, it involved a lot of getting a child to poke wires through the correct hole in the unit, as he still can't kneel.

[KathrynMumsnet]

Hi,

Thank you for all your feedback so far. Dear bucksMStester, Wiifitmama and codandchipstwice. We have contacted Microsoft about your different problems, hopefully they'll be able to sort things out for you!

Best wishes,

Kathryn
MNHQ

[codandchipstwice]

Thanks Kathryn, they are sorting me out

[inflagrantedelicto]

Thanks Kathryn, the app began working Sunday night, we were quite relieved as the tv remote had been awol since new year, and the xbox was a godsend!

We really like the smartglass feature, and the xbox is truly becoming a home hub, it's just easier than faffing around with all the different remotes. It's been a quiet week for the xbox, ds has been in meltdown since the weekend with his dad, and the dd's aren't great, so we've been focusing on his and films rather than gaming. Did I mention I love being able to control the volume with my mobile?

[Wiifitmama]

Microsoft replaced our phone that had the faulty headphone socket so A+ for customer service! Everything else is still working well. Ds1 bought mine craft for the xbox with his own money and all three kids love it over and above their computer version. My fav thing still remains collapsing on the couch at the end of the day and telling the xbox to turn on and watch TV without moving my arms

[codandchipstwice]

See we can't control the volume with smartglass as it can't find the correct signal to send our tv when doing the set up, but no bother.

Can I just say WOW to xbox music pass though - yes it's £9 a month but that's for unlimited and across devices, so am sending 3 boxes of cds to Music Magpie as all the music plus more is available through the xbox. Kids love it too, and the you tube app so can search using phone but play on tv screen.

We actually use the xbox for gaming the least, but were considering replacing our broken stereo but instead think we might augment the sound on the tv, with the cv player app and xbox music can't see how you'd need a stereo (other than for radio - although I guess if you got a radio with the relevant cable and an hdmi splitter you could route tv and radio signal through the xbox?)

Overall totally loving it

[codandchipstwice]

Duh - just realised that we get radio through Sky

We've found the only let down is the gaming itself funnily enough, as the kisds are still quite young we tend to go back to the wii or their tablets for games they can all play, they found the SPorts Rivals really hard, as was Project Spark and the driving games, we have bought Minecraft and the Lego Marvel game which they like but still . .

[XBoxTesting]

Aargh. Got my Linx out to do an Ocado order in front of the telly and it won't turn on! It was fine on Wednesday and I left it charging overnight. What were other people's problems?

[Wiifitmama]

Wow. I think that makes 5? Half the test group! Not a good sign.

[bucksMStester]

wiifitmama, you realise your comment about turning on the TV without moving your arms is so contradictory to your user name! I did chuckle.

That's really interesting about the games, we've also found that. dss (11) is the most able, but he has had an Xbox 360 for the past 5 years, but even he will fall back to minecraft or the other games on the tablets. The other 3 are younger, 6, 8, and 10 and while they like the idea, they get frustrated trying to navigate it all. Zoo tycoon has been popular, but only in infinite mode. Project spark triggered a meltdown in ds! After another thread on here, I've bought just dance for dd1's birthday, and I think how we get on with that will be telling. I hummed and erred over the Wii version, or Xbox, and have gone for Xbox because more can play on each turn, it's not dependent on handsets. Apparently .

Linx tablet still going fine here. Touch wood. I have discovered not only can I plug in my gpsr and update the info, but it already unzips the files for me. Made getting out today so much quicker. I have noticed it's slow to pick up emails, had to wait for ages for a confirmation one to ping in.

Tried the drive here app today. That's jolly cool, and is better than the one on DP's iPhone, so he says. Thumbs up there.

[XBoxTesting]

Ooh, I've got the Linx working again - I think I just didn't have the charger plugged in properly - its a bit quirky.

[xboxnovice]

I'm a bit stuck, I can't sign into my Linx to get into anything. it tells me that my pc is not live and to sign in with the last used password - which I don't know. I have therefore reset it, via the pc, but it still won't let me in on the lynx! Any ideas please?

[KathrynMumsnet]

Hi xboxnovice we have passed on the details of your problem to Microsoft. We will get back to you when we have heard back from them

Kathryn