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Pesos
Honorable But Hopeless Addict
USA
3504 Posts
Status: online |
 Posted - 04/15/2011 : 11:11:14 AM
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| A RIM tablet that you can't even read email on? What were they thinking? |
-Wes |
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DennisMCSE
Moderator
Canada
2400 Posts
Status: offline |
Posted - 04/15/2011 : 2:46:07 PM
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There is no built in email, Calendar, etc., right now, but it will come in a software update. For me it's not an issue since I have a Blackberry and through the Blackberry Bridge, I can access my email and Calendar from my phone on the Playbook. On my iPad, I rarely do email or Calendar stuff anyway, since I always have my smartphone with me. Like the iPad, the Playbook is not a smartphone replacement, but something between a smartphone and a computer. I don't know very many people who have an iPad who leave their iPhone at home when they carry their iPad. So again, don't see what the issue is with a lack of an email client on the Playbook. So it will lack either smartphone functionality or full computer functionality.
As a first version of the tablet, the hardware specs are good, but the OS still needs to be refined. But like any other first version, it still needs to be worked on. No different than the first version of the iPad that everyone complained about (no camera, no SD slot, no USB, etc.) but it still sold. The Playbook will also sell and will have it's own niche, but that will depend on the OS improvement's that they are promising.
Here's a fairly indepth review:
http://crackberry.com/blackberry-playbook-review-official
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DennisMCSE
Blog: http://itprofirewalker.wordpress.com/
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/Firewalker96
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Curt
Moderator
USA
6648 Posts
Status: offline |
Posted - 04/15/2011 : 3:54:50 PM
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You know , at the Microsoft Convergence Conference in Atlanta this week, phones and pads and slates were a very hot topic.
I'm happy to say that one third party company CWR Mobile is getting a major dynamics app on several types of phones.
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Curt Spanburgh
Microsoft Certified Business Solution Specialist.
Dynamics CRM MVP
Contributing Editor, Windows IT Pro
He that is walking with wise persons will become wise, but he that is having dealings with the stupid ones will fare badly.
Proverbs 13:20
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war.elle
Welcome Newcomer
5 Posts
Status: offline |
Posted - 05/09/2011 : 2:04:18 PM
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| I would have to say that blackberry could be all downhill from here. Gone where the days when blackberry, bbm and their corporate grade email was king. I mean the tides had shifted to newer technologies which could offer more. Though the substitutes are still not at par, it would not be long when they would be in the level playing field. I am using a blackberry so please do no think that I am a hater or what, but that is just what I think. And the fact that bbm would probably be heading android and iOS' way could mean something. |
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Pesos
Honorable But Hopeless Addict
USA
3504 Posts
Status: online |
Posted - 05/09/2011 : 2:08:32 PM
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| Their tablet is too litle too late - and now they are buying up a company just to provide mgmt capability for ios and winphones through BES. Might help them hold on to current clients a bit, but certainly doesn't provide anything for people who can already simply use exchange natively with those devices... |
-Wes |
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anthony
Moderator
USA
2373 Posts
Status: offline |
Posted - 05/10/2011 : 10:32:51 AM
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Blackberry could dig out of this pretty easily. They could license Android and customize it in a way that it provides the "Blackberry-esc" type of security. This could kill 2 birds with one stone. Adapt a widely accepted OS, and still be able to cater to the corporate world as well.
They should also find a way to make a Android Device with a Blackberry form factor. Many people like the hard keyboard and just won't move to a touchscreen no matter what. |
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DennisMCSE
Moderator
Canada
2400 Posts
Status: offline |
Posted - 05/11/2011 : 12:20:32 PM
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I use a Blackberry and have the Playbook. They work great together and I like the smaller form factor of the Playbook compared to the iPad (I have both).
RIM definately has made a few mistakes and it's in the process of getting it's act together. Problem is that they focused to much time getting the Playbook out with the new QNX based OS, that they forgot their handsets. Putting a touch screen on a Blackberry Bold, to me, is a dumb idea since the screen is so small anyway. They have newer phones coming out this year that are better with a touch screen and have better specs than the Torch (which I have). They needed to bring those phones out to market sooner. Also, being in the process of moving their phones to the new QNX based OS will take about another year and leave people with the old phones scratching their heads since most new applications will run on the new OS and developers will likely stop focusing on the old OS.
Adroid, in my opinion, expanded too fast and is showing it's growing pains. The OS is becoming fragmented where each handset manufacturer is modifying the code for their phones so that when there is an Android OS update, you can't push that update to all the phones like you can with an iPhone. I've had friends that were so frustrated with the update process (some handsets getting updates right away and other needing to wait months before it can be installed) that they vowed never to get an Android phone again (even though they loved the phone). Don't know how widespread that frustration is, but even Google has said that it wants to try and fix the fragmentation issue (http://www.mobiledia.com/news/89874.html) before it looses more current users. So having Blackberry adopt Android would be a mistake, plus RIM would have even less control over it's phones.
The rumours about the iPhone 5 being delayed from a launch this summer will also affect the market. People may not want to wait for the new phone.
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DennisMCSE
Blog: http://itprofirewalker.wordpress.com/
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/Firewalker96
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Pesos
Honorable But Hopeless Addict
USA
3504 Posts
Status: online |
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anthony
Moderator
USA
2373 Posts
Status: offline |
Posted - 06/16/2011 : 10:44:16 PM
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| Good riddance! |
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joe_elway
Honorable But Hopeless Addict
Ireland
7396 Posts
Status: online |
Posted - 06/17/2011 : 10:48:00 AM
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They cocked up with the tablet. Not having built in email/calendar isn't like not having camera/USB on the iPad. You expect not to have USB with Apple. But not having the two most used productivity tools .. ouch ... and not having any app environment is also a killer.
I can't say too much about their phones. I've only used stuff that were traditional BB handsets - small non-touch screens. Very old technology from the user perspective.
There was an article a few weeks ago that explained what Elop found when he took over in Nokia ... lots of bad decisions, or worse, non-decisions, and focusing on doing things the way they've always ben done. Nokia are on target to lose their entire customer base. The candy bar/economy market is being eaten up by Asian companies most of us have never heard of. I'm wondering if this is the future for RIM. |
Aidan Finn
MCSE, MVP (Virtual Machine)
IT Blog: http://www.aidanfinn.com
My Photography: http://www.aidanfinnphoto.com/
Books: WS2012 Hyper-V Installation & Config Guide, MSFT Private Cloud Computing
Twitter: http://twitter.com/joe_elway |
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DennisMCSE
Moderator
Canada
2400 Posts
Status: offline |
Posted - 06/20/2011 : 11:07:45 AM
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I've been a big supporter of RIM (mainly due to it being a homegrown Canadian company), but this past year has been crazy bad for them. They spent too much time focusing on the Playbook and the new QNX OS that it seems they forgot about the phone market. So all the new phones they have are coming out late and they still haven't ported the QNX OS to phones yet even with the new phones coming out this year. So next year will be another crazy year. Also, Jim Balsillie spent much of last year trying to buy a hockey team so his focus wasn't on the phone market. Disappointing.
The only good thing in the stock results last week was their Playbook. Analysts were estimating for only 360,000 units to be sold and they sold well over 500,000 (not iPad quantities, but much better than expected). I like my Playbook and carry it with me more than my iPad (although the number of apps is still sorely lacking). And as much as I don't like Flash, a lot of the websites I go to (specially training websites and similar) use Flash so I can't view them on the iPad, but have no issues on my Playbook.
I still disagree about the email/calendar issue on the Playbook (although that could be because I use a Blackberry smartphone) but that is coming in an update soon anyway. Again, I always have my phone with me, so having email/calendar on my smartphone is fine and I don't need and don't use another external application even on my iPad. I actually prefer the Blackberry Bridge, where I can view, edit, and create email/calendar entries on my Playbook by bridging my Blackberry Torch to the Playbook over Bluetooth (I have never been able to tether my Blackberry to my iPad, since the iPad keeps rejecting the connection). That's more useful to me than having a separate application to log into and play around with for email/calendar.
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DennisMCSE
Blog: http://itprofirewalker.wordpress.com/
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/Firewalker96
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JSCLMEDAVE
Administrator
USA
6114 Posts
Status: online |
Posted - 06/20/2011 : 11:17:58 AM
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The "trend" I am seeing where I am currently contracting is -
1) Die hard BB fans who are waiting for the updates and will have to be told to move to a new device.
2) Tech's who bought one of the Android phones but bailed and went with an iPhone after a week using their device.
Now they sit around each week playing with useless apps. I like my UTC Thunderbolt, except for the battery it does everything I need.
I was unfortunate to have had the BB Storm which had continuous java errors and would re-boot in the middle of a phone call for no reason. |
Tim-
“This too shall pass" |
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Curt
Moderator
USA
6648 Posts
Status: offline |
Posted - 06/20/2011 : 11:44:30 AM
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Much of the time spent on these substandard devices is akin to time wasted on Facebook.
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Curt Spanburgh
Microsoft Certified Business Solution Specialist.
Dynamics CRM MVP
Contributing Editor, Windows IT Pro
He that is walking with wise persons will become wise, but he that is having dealings with the stupid ones will fare badly.
Proverbs 13:20
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Pesos
Honorable But Hopeless Addict
USA
3504 Posts
Status: online |
Posted - 06/20/2011 : 11:46:47 AM
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| RIM has always been the worst about vendor lock-in (and it's hard to beat Apple on that one) and now it's biting them in the ass (just like the stupid decision to continue to refuse to build a basic activesync client into their phones). Good riddance indeed - they've made many Exchange admin's life hell. |
-Wes |
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Curt
Moderator
USA
6648 Posts
Status: offline |
Posted - 06/20/2011 : 11:55:55 AM
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Oh yes, Exchange admins have got it in the neck ever since we have had to implement a seperate server for Black Berries.
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Curt Spanburgh
Microsoft Certified Business Solution Specialist.
Dynamics CRM MVP
Contributing Editor, Windows IT Pro
He that is walking with wise persons will become wise, but he that is having dealings with the stupid ones will fare badly.
Proverbs 13:20
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Pesos
Honorable But Hopeless Addict
USA
3504 Posts
Status: online |
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Pesos
Honorable But Hopeless Addict
USA
3504 Posts
Status: online |
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DennisMCSE
Moderator
Canada
2400 Posts
Status: offline |
Posted - 10/28/2011 : 1:56:30 PM
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Nothing I haven't heard before. I still use my Playbook more than I use my iPad. After having some friends play with my Playbook, they decided to purchase one as well instead of getting an iPad because it suited what they needed it for. Because of the smaller size, I can take it everywhere I go and because I can tether it to my phone, I don't need 3G on the Playbook. With my iPad, I can't get it to tether to my phone (phone says "You're good to go", the iPad says "You're not an iPhone, I don't like you, goodbye") and I refuse to pay an additional data plan charge when I have a perfectly good data plan I can use on my phone that I can share. So I just use my iPad at home, but take my Playbook out where ever I go.
The biggest issue with the Playbook has been the lack of Apps. Developers are finally releasing Apps, (such as the Citrix Receiver, Evernote, Poynt, VNC Client, etc.) and game developers such as Electronic Arts (SIM City, Need for Speed, Dead Space, Madden NFL 11, etc.) and Gameloft (Star Front: Collision, Modern Combat 2: Black Peagasus, etc.) have started porting their games. If they ever get their Playbook 2 OS out, with the Android player and the native email and calendar, it will benefit the Playbook sales.
Next year will be interesting once Windows 8 is available for tablets. That will be a test as to what tablets stay in the market and which ones have sales issues ( http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/Microsofts-Windows-8-Tablet-Could-Erode-iPads-Business-Hold-542875/ ). With HP back in the computer biz again, it sounds like they are dropping WebOS for tablets and moving to Windows 8 as the OS.
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DennisMCSE
Blog: http://itprofirewalker.wordpress.com/
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/Firewalker96
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wobble_wobble
Honorable But Hopeless Addict
Ireland
4516 Posts
Status: online |
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Pesos
Honorable But Hopeless Addict
USA
3504 Posts
Status: online |
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anthony
Moderator
USA
2373 Posts
Status: offline |
Posted - 03/06/2012 : 12:53:38 PM
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No man... they got nothing to worry about. They just announced thay are making some new software that manages Android, iPhone, and Blackberry from one console.
Too little. Too Late.
I've said it before - and I'll say it again. I want to put all Blackberry devices into one big giant pile and set them on fire. |
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aval
Honorable But Hopeless Addict
USA
3273 Posts
Status: offline |
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Pesos
Honorable But Hopeless Addict
USA
3504 Posts
Status: online |
Posted - 03/06/2012 : 1:39:29 PM
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| I've been saying they need to do that for the last 4 years... |
-Wes |
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anthony
Moderator
USA
2373 Posts
Status: offline |
Posted - 03/06/2012 : 2:48:37 PM
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| Wow Blackberry, way to cut the edge... |
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lacrosseboy
Old Timer
550 Posts
Status: offline |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 2:47:44 PM
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| Yea! They are now releasing v2 of the fabulous OS. Apple and Google are so happy! |
Thomas Deimel
Keeper of the Holy Potato |
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Pesos
Honorable But Hopeless Addict
USA
3504 Posts
Status: online |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 2:48:20 PM
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| Can't respond right now, ordering a new ipad. |
-Wes |
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Pesos
Honorable But Hopeless Addict
USA
3504 Posts
Status: online |
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DennisMCSE
Moderator
Canada
2400 Posts
Status: offline |
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anthony
Moderator
USA
2373 Posts
Status: offline |
Posted - 04/12/2012 : 09:31:16 AM
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| Thats one way of dominating the market I guess... Just buy all the hardware manufacturers, or have them use your OS exclusively (Nokia). |
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DennisMCSE
Moderator
Canada
2400 Posts
Status: offline |
Posted - 04/12/2012 : 09:57:59 AM
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Don't see Microsoft buying RIM. But RIM has a lot of corporate customers still and BBM is still used (and the only reason why I still have a Blackberry device). If Microsoft gets licensing agreements with RIM to use BBM and other patents that RIM has, it could give users a reason to move to Windows Phone, instead of Apple or Android phones, if people are looking to switch handsets. Benefits Microsoft, who has access to the patent, and RIM, who gets a licensing cost.
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DennisMCSE
Blog: http://itprofirewalker.wordpress.com/
Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/Firewalker96
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first nail in RIM's coffin?
