Musings —12.18.2013 10:32 AM
—No digital device was harmed in the making of this post
For years, I have had two devices – a Blackberry and an iPhone.
I was always a Blackberry guy, right from their first pager-style model (that beauty up above). I loved it because I could write on it. I write about 1,000 words every day, so it was just what the doctor ordered.
I got the iPhone because I stepped on my old Motorola at an SFH gig. I wanted something that was a good phone, and that had iTunes. So I got the iPhone, very reluctantly (Apple people always seemed like religious fanatics to me). But the camera and camcorder impressed me, so I kept it.
I kept the Blackberry too, however. It had a keyboard, the iPhone didn’t. Typing on an iPhone is a joke.
For the past year, I’ve had the Blackberry Q10 or Z10 or whatever it is. I hated it. It was awful. It’s biggest problem, I think, was that it was a Blackberry that was trying to be an iPhone.
Yesterday, I got rid of it. Traded it in for an old Blackberry 9900, on which I’m writing this post.
My iPhone? It’s a 5, but I refuse to get the 5S or 5C or whatever. They, like the Blackberry 10 series, offer nothing that I (and perhaps you) really need.
They keep changing these devices to pick our pockets. Not for any other reason, I think.
Am I right? Am I wrong? Comment away. And tell us what device you’re using to do so!
I often reflect how amazing it is, given relatively stagnant wages, we are paying hundreds of dollars more in utility bills that our parents never did.
Cable/Sat TV – $60 minimum, up into the hundreds
Internet – $40-80
Cellphone(s) – $40 into the hundreds for families
You’re looking at around $200 that our folks had to spend on….?
Typing this on my iPad.
My former employer gave me my first old school BB — the one with the wheel on the side — and I used that primarily for emails, because you really could’t use it for anything else. I then got an iPhone for personal use and it was awesome because I could surf the web, take pictures and generally use it as a fantastic time waster but I like you Warren hated — and still hate — typing on it. My three year contact is up and I’m going to get a new phone but it won’t be an iPhone because frankly I’m bored with it. I won’t get a BB because some of the apps I use for my work aren’t available on BB. No the phone that has caught my eye is the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. It is large enough that you can type on it. The stylus allows you to do things that the iPhone and BB can’t do and it is sufficiently different that it’ll satisfy my need for change. BTW I too have grown tired of the zealous nature of Apple fanboys. As for BB I don’t want to buy into a company which may not be around next year.
Typing on touch screens is perfectly fine once you get used to it.
Self-confessed Luddite here……don’t own a cellphone at the moment……had one for a while, but found I was wasting a lot of time texting inane messages to people I really didn’t want to talk to……
The only time I really miss it is when Im stuck in traffic late for an appt. or a dinner date…..
Get razzed a lot for not having one, but when I meet another non-cell phone user, its like we are members of a secret society….all we need is the secret handshake…..
I do realize, however, that if you are a professional, or a parent with kids, these days they are indispensible……
I work on media and have all 4 brndnm platforms — Android, iPhone, Windows Phone 8 and Bb10 (z10).
I use my z10 75% of the time (though Om currently typing this on an HTC 8x Windpws Phone.
BB10 is the only platform with a useable desktop grade browser — have you ever tried to watch a video that Warren has embedded on his site on an iPhone or Windows phone or most versions of Android?
The predictive text on the z10 touch screen is fantastic. I routinely write boilerplate paragraphs with 20 words or more with 20 key strokes. Very fast.
apps? Here’s something to consider… The z10 runs Android Apps if you know how to wrap and side load them. if Blackberry were smart they would push their embedded Android player and do a deal to be able to let customers log in to android markets. Introducing the most secure way to run Android: Blackberry 10. Now you get the security of Blackbery with the fun of Android.
“They keep changing these devices to pick our pockets. Not for any other reason, I think.”
All those car companies, releasing a new model car every year. Damn them, making us buy a new car every year.
Anyway, it could be worse. Samsung releases a new phone every other week.
spot on, and I cringe every christmas season when a new “whatever” comes out.
our society no longer has an attn span, and the market doesnt build things to last. win/win for the hucksters.
I think these are the keyboards you are looking for:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2522720/iPhone-gets-BlackBerry-makeover-detachable-keyboard.html
http://ipod.about.com/od/introductiontotheiphone/tp/keyboards-for-iphone.htm
Personally, I much prefer Android devices with the Swype keyboard software — I can input words much faster with swype than I ever could with a blackberry. So can my mom, and anyone else that’s tried for more than a day.
I agree one 100%. I’ve always had swype since the first Galaxy S vibrant. I can type faster with swype than even on a computer (not download the swype app and not the built in samsung version of swype. Plus, samsung makes a better product than the other two – hence apple’s lawsuits.
brndnm platform? predictive boilerplate? Windpws? Way too inside baseball for this Luddite but I did buy three 100 page notebooks and 24 pencils for $5.69 at a dollar store today 🙂
Cyber high five…..lol
I’m also a bit of a luddite, just have a talk/text only phone, a cheap one from Huawei. My cell bill is $35/mo from Wind baby, and I’m happy! I’m typing this at home on my 4 year old MacBook, which truly is in need of replacement! I love my MacBook and iPod, but am way too much of a cheapskate to pay the monthly bill that would go along with having an iPhone. If I do eventually get a smartphone some day (like, in 2 years perhaps), it’ll likely be a Samsung or HTC.
I do 95+ percent of my written and verbal communications on my desktop and landline. I have a cell phone.. an LG Neon2.. it’s not a smart phone but it’s pretty clever. It’s one of those 2 tier sliding deals with a hidden keyboard which I prefer to tapping glass. Don’t use it a lot though because I refuse to be a total slave to technology and be at my cell phone’s beck and call 24 hrs/day.
Flip phones still rock!! And you can text on them too. Be retro cool.
Maybe it’s a generational thing, but I can’t stand physical keyboards. I had a Blackberry for work and it was madness having to press a physical button. Thankfully when upgrading they also gave the iPhone option. Got the 5 instead of the BB Q10, couldn’t be happier. My personal phone is an Android, which I think it’s the best.
I don’t agree about the drawbacks of the iPhone keyboard, but those are matters of opinion about what feels right.
I do think you’re quite right about how tech toys (not just phones) are designed now much the way cars were in in 60s and early 70s: made for one product lifecycle of 2-3 years tops. Worse still is the king’s ransom that the carriers are starting to charge for data, particularly now that they realize people are far more dependent on that part than in having unlimited talk time.
My company just switched us from Blackberry to the iPhone.
HATE IT!
My personal cell phone? It’s a 10 year old Samsung flip phone, doesn’t even have a colour screen, yet gets better reception than the iPhone.
I’m on an old school BB 9180 Curve. Does the job.
Not a big fan of drinking the i-koolaid
I’m using a Blackberry Bold. I’ve had it for a year and a half or so. I love it.
One of my co-workers just upgraded from a Blackberry to an iPhone. He hates it.
The distinction between the Z10 and the Q10 is important. I adore the Q10 but wouldn’t go with the Z10.
I’ve had all sorts of phones over the years but the iPhone has served me the best and been the most user-friendly. I remember trying to find functions on my various Motorolas and Nokias and and such and being extremely frustrated. Now I don’t spend all my time using keyboards so I can’t speak to that. I text and do the odd email but not a lot. Still, for friendliness and quality, I’ll stick with my Apple products (on which I am typing right now).
I am trying to find the crank for the phone granny left me ..of course they dont stock it anymore..so I upgraded to a rotary dial..all good
We should just go back to 2003 when they had those cool blue Blackberries (Blueberries?), the budget was balanced, Chretien was Prime Minister and Rob Ford wasn’t mayor.