Can anyone convince me not to leave blackberry

[wynmorgan]

After many years of bb - notably the bold and for the last two years the Q10 - I am struggling to justify to myself why I should move to the classic. BB has gone nowhere in 2 years. Just put back what should never have been removed - the trackpad. The only reasons that I would stay are the real keyboard, the SD card slot and how easy it would be to transfer data from my Q10 via BB link. There are ways of transferring data I am told. Certainly Samsung has a method. No idea about the iPhone. I am told that I would get used to a virtual keypad! I just like the click of the button when depressed on the BB. I am out of contract with Vf. So is it the Classic, the S6. Or the iPhone 6? Help before I go totally crazy

[wynmorgan]

Same as me. I would be grateful if you could let me know how you get on. I'm still not sure of S6 or iphone6. S6 seems a little wide. Also interested in how you transfer all data and media from SD Card.

[Aneres11]

Apologies if this is a late reply, I rarely come on here but seen this and thought I'd post. 

Basically, I currently own the iPhone 6 having used a Q10 last year and a BB Passport. 

And now I am thinking about selling my iPhone 6 to buy a BB Classic. 

I change my phone a lot. I guess the reason why is purely because I can never find a phone that suits all of my needs. It doesn't exist - probably the same for a lot of people. 

But I always end up going back to BB, purely because of the keypad. 

Don't get me wrong, touch typing is pretty fluid and you can get some good speed (just as quick as a physcial keypad), but you will NOT have the accuracy. Especially on iPhone. 

I cannot tell you how infuriating it is to have your words changed to something you do not want, or not press the right letter and have a completely different word be thrown in oly for you to have to back space and try again. 

And with the emoji update getting in and out of emoji's can be tricky as the area you need to tap to go in and out is so small. 

I honestly believe the iPhone has one of the worst virtual keyboards. 

I am fully aware of the Classic seeming 'dated', and it has stopped me from moving over to it until I read some proper reviews. I haven't had the opportunity to handle it in the flesh, but I kinda know what I'm gonna be getting! 

I'm 26, ad BB isn't the typical choice amongst my age range - particualrly a none business user, but I know what I use my phone for will be better suited to a handset with a physical keyboard. 

Plus I love BB Blend which works great with my MacBook and iPad and the SD card slot is literally a breath of fresh air after Apple make you pay more for the luxury of more memory. 16GB is just not enough as per the low end iPhone. 

BlackBerry has its shortcomings and I understand that. But so does Apple and so does Android. The shortcomings can be overlooked if the phone is doing 90% of what you want it to - then the things you get annoyed at can be forgiven somewhat. But my reasoning for returning to BB is purely down to the fact that 75% of my phone useage is communication. WhatsApp, BBM, text messaging and email. The rest is answering the thing and music. 

I don't know whether this has helped you ha. But it's just my opinions on it as a long time iPhone user and someone who has used a BB running BB10 extensively too. I've also had Samsung and Sony Android phones too. 

I still rank BB10 as one of the best OS out there. 

[wynmorgan]

OMG. I had almost decided to go to the iphone and I read your excellent review. Wow.

[Aneres11]

Ha well I have probably made it more confusing for you, which I didn't mean to do but I guess it's always good to hear from someone who has used all of the devices you are thinking about. 

Don't get me wrong, the iPhone is a wonderful phone. Truly. Its design is gorgeous, it feels great (if a little cumbersome to hold due to it's slippy materials and thin-ness) an the screen is amazing. It takes decent pictures and has a wealth of apps to choose from - all of which run fantastically. 

But like I say, for my personal use that doesn't add up to much! 

What excites me about BB is the fact that they are trying. They really are. you only need to look at the improvements they have made from the launch of 10.3 to where they are now. It's huge what they have added to the OS. 

Add to that BB Blend which I've already mentioned (again, they've built on that, as there is now an iOS app to control your BB from which wasn't present when I last had a BB Passport in November last year!) plus the fact that the Amazon app store has been included in the last year and you have yourself a company that is really trying to tick the boxes. 

I think it helps my decision in moving to the Classic as I already own an iOS device in an iPad, so anything I feel I am missing from my phone app wise I can get on there. As a daily communication tool though, BB is always going to come out on top. 

Best of luck whatever you decide to do though. Vodafone are good in that you can return a handset in 14 days and swap for something else if it doesn't suit your needs. Might be an idea to take an iPhone home with you and see? Don't know if that is an option for you? Only thing I'd be mindful of though, is new phones generally have a honey moon period and they seem amazing in the first few days with some shortcomings coming off as the user not knowing how to operate it properly. 

But you should know if a full touch phone is for you after extensive use from a couple of days. Though I can understand how one would be blinded by the great screen, lovely design and the frankly brilliant Touch ID button on the iPhone. It just all comes down to what you want from the handset.  

[wynmorgan]

My needs mirror yours with the exception that I do not listen to music. I also have an iPad. What is BB Blend? Did that replace BB link? The Q10 has improved with the updates but has really just arrived at where my Bold was. I have been a BB user for many years and loved my Bold. Clearly the advantage of staying with the BB is the keyboard, ease of transferring all data. Keeping the SD card and familiarity. I have no interest in the bells and whistles of the iPhone 6 or S6. Oh dear. I hate upgrade time.

[Aneres11]

BB Blend has replaced BB Link yes. 

It basically allows you to see / reply to / delete / interact with the incoming emails, texts and other communication on your device, but on your PC, MAC, iPad instead. 

It works well if your phone is in your pocket or bag and you're working on your desktop - for example. 

But it's a great feature. 

And yeah, bells and whistles is definitely a great way to describe an iPhone. If they're not for you it seems silly putting down a lot more cash a month (and probably a fee for the handset) just to get a phone which is less than stellar for its communication offerings. 

I know the screen in the Classic is better over the Q10 as it is now a lot brighter with them using LCD, which I am thankful for. 

It is also a bigger screen, again another good thing and the tool belt being put back in looks as though it will be quite handy to get some things done quickly. 

I have always hated trying to tap onto the word I need to change in my iPhone so having the track pad to guide me to the word easily will be very welcome. 

Same with highlighting a number of emails. Just hold shift and run your thumb down the trackpad to highlight them accurately, then delete, mark as read, move somewhere - a doddle. 

Looking forward to getting my hands on the tool belt! 

It's a tough one, but sounds like the majority of high end expensive devices that try and do everything are not going to be for you. Same as they're probably not going to be for me too. 

[jeffkinn]

Almost everyone who had a blackberry is now using a touch screen phone with a virtual keyboard and is perfectly happy. Are you likely to so different?

[Aneres11]

They're perfectly happy because there is no other choice. People are put off going for a BlackBerry device because no one can get their hands on one as stores do not have display models or make it known that they are stocking them. Also, everyone is aware of BB's current market share situation, so they hardly have money to throw at mass advertising campaigns to make people aware that they can buy a decent phone with a physical keypad.

Your post reads as if everyone who owns a touch device is happy and wouldn't need anything else. Incredibly ignorant, and I'd bet a lot of money that isn't the case as its the situation that I'm in.

The OP was looking for comparisons and I've given a fair review of my experiences with both devices. But if the OP isn't interested in a high end, expensive phone that has multimedia and gaming apps a-plenty (which lets face it, is all these large touch screen phones have going for them over a BB), then why would he need to put up and shut up because 'everyone else is happy with them'.

Sometimes it's good to not follow a trend and think about what works for you like the OP is trying to do.

[jeffkinn]

I'm afraid I disagree with your assessment of the market. (I'll ignore the gratuitous insult).

The reason BB is virtually extinct is precisely because almost everyone with a touch screen is perfectly happy and BB have not been able to compete on any level since the iPhone came out. They tried with the ill fated Storm (I had both models and liked them a lot).

Blackberry has now joined a long list of names that were once all dominant and now are purely found in history books - Lotus 123, DEC, WebOS, Palm, Blackberry, Nokia mobiles.

[wynmorgan]

To be fair this is a matter of personal choice. My son is hooked on the iPhone and can see no other phone. My daughter the Samsung. Until recently I would never turn from BB. We each want phones for different things. You both make valid points I do find the way Apple changes my words infuriating. I am typing this on an iPad so I know the problem. It will decide a word even when you have not mis typed. Can this be switched off? Is this predictive text or something more.