Why do you not use iOS?

Not too long ago I asked all of you why you use Apple's devices. Whether it's an iPad or iPhone, or maybe even an iPod Touch, you all gave me plenty of reasons why you've chosen Apple's mobile OS as your favorite software. They were all great reasons, and I could relate to most of them pretty easily. But, we all know that not everyone uses Apple's devices, and so we're going to cater to those folks this time around.

I am always interested to find out which phone someone is using, because I love technology and I like to see the phones that are out in the wild. With that being said, I see a lot of different iPhones out there. I will admit that I haven't seen a lot of iPhone 5s, which does seem a little strange. So when I see someone with another high-profile device, and I have a way to strike up a conversation, I'll try to find out why they chose that particular handset instead of another.

Last night, while out with friends, a newcomer to the group had their phone out on the table, and I couldn't help but notice that it was a Galaxy Note II. That was the first one I'd seen in the wild, so I was admittedly staring pretty hard. After she broke my concentration, I finally got around to asking her why she chose that over, say, an iPhone 5.

Her answer was pretty straightforward, and I'm a little shocked at the fact it had nothing to do with the phones: "I'm not a fan of Apple."

I laughed and made a joke (it wasn't funny, so I won't repeat it here), and then I asked her why she liked the Galaxy Note II. She had plenty of reasons for that, including the size, the stylus, and the fact she can write on it to help her take notes in class. All legitimate reasons. After getting through that, I asked her to give me another answer why she doesn't like to use an iPhone, and she provided a more in-depth response.

"For one, the screen's too small. But mostly because the software is boring. I used an iPhone 4, and I didn't want to basically buy the same phone over again."

I noted the new features between the software running on the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 5, but she didn't care. She had used an iPhone in the past and she was apparently ready to move on. I took note of the, "software is boring" part, and asked if she plans on rooting her phone to change the software at all, and she gave me a funny look and told me that she didn't know what I was talking about.

So, for this person, she was basing the devices on stock software, and concluded that iOS is boring. I'm sure a lot of you out there would agree with that, especially if you use something like Android. (Would you say the same thing about Windows Phone?)

Two other people agreed with her during this conversation, and one of them even owned an iPhone 4S. That particular person was looking forward to getting a new phone, even if he didn't know what he was getting yet. He just wanted something different.

Something different. I think this basically hits the nail right on the head, to be honest. Technology is changing so quickly, that refusing to adapt with it can break the attention of a lot of consumers. Look at Android. It has changed *so much* over the years, and those changes have been welcomed by not only the general consumer, but also by those who review those phones.

So here's what I want to know from you, Dear Reader. Why do you choose not to use an Apple mobile device? Why have you skipped the iPhone 5 or any of the iPad models? And, have you ever used an Apple device before? Is that why you've switched? Let me know!