Confession of a "secret" BB lover

I'm a technology junkie, that is a well known fact but the misconception added to my love of technology is the thought that I'm an Apple fanatic. Let me clear this up somewhat, I'm only part Apple fanatic, I would be lying if I said I wasn't that much. Let me explain, I love what Apple is doing on the PC side of the world, nothing can get me to switch back to a Windows machine. The union between a Macbook and OSX is so beautiful, the hardware in every sense complements the software and vice versa. That's how it should be! Moving over to the mobile side I have fallen out of love with Apple, the iPhones are great but the software leaves room for improvement. 

I pride myself as someone who tries to ensure that I speak from an informed stand point and not as someone standing on a matches box speaking from no real prospective. That in mind, my first smartphone was a blackberry (Bold 9000) then I moved to an Android device (HTC Nexus One), migrated to an iPhone (iPhone 4) then back to a Blackberry (bold 9900) and now I'm back to having an iPhone (iPhone 4s). When I speak about a product it's not because I have seen videos or watched people use them but I speak from the prospective of someone who has lived with a device. 

Why I love the Blackberry? 

I have always been a strong critic and lover of the Blackberry. My friends will tell you that I will always advise them to upgrade to a real device because using all the different platforms at the time, the Blackberry felt caged. The only bright spot of the Blackberry is BBM. Now that might seem limited but it's far from reality. BBM feels like a family, a family you can't help but love. You might say there is Whatsapp but Whatsapp in my opinion feels like a stop gap to what you really want. It's a cheap knock off of the real drug, BBM. 

Why I'm going back to the Blackberry!

BB10 has addressed my main concern with the Blackberry, it nows brings the OS into the 21st century. BB10 in my estimation is not better than Android or iOS or Windows phone but it can hold its own and that for me is all I need. A phone is suppose to be a device to connect you with people, those friends and family members and no one beats the Blackberry when it comes to connecting people. 

Blackberry 10 Launch and the Brand Loyalty Bug

Image Source: Blackberry10News

The biggest snag in Blackberry 10 launch is the brand loyalty bug. 

In my conversations with my colleagues and practically everyone I meet, the general consensus is that the Blackberry 10 Devices launching at 10am EST, are definitely not better than the current pieces of glass they clutch. What is also common? They know nothing about the specs of the proposed Blackberry 10 nor how it compares to their current device. This is the brand loyalty bug. This is what keeps big producers like Apple, Samsung, Google ahead of the game. Creating a sense of entitlement in consumers to the brand they happened to chose in the beginning. 

The Rise or Fall of RIM

Only 12 days are left until RIM (Research in Motion) reveals a long over due overhaul in their line of smartphones, Blackberry 10. And I mean LONG overdue. This pending announcement is being met by a general air of nonchalance from the press, media and by extension the public. Everyone seems to be of the opinion that Blackberry is dead. I won't be surprised if this post is met with comments like 'Isn't it obvious??'. But it is simply NOT TRUE. Yes I said it.

Now I am not a blackberry enthusiast, nor am I being paid by RIM. I simply stepped back one day and looked at the reality of what is around me, and spit back up the anti-rim oatmeal that the media is feeding everyone. For the apocalyptic reports coming from the media for over two years, claiming nothing short of a disastrous collapse and blowing up a much needed reshuffle of RIM's cabinet, by now surely Blackberry's should be obsolete devices and RIM should be filing for bankruptcy! 

It is my firm believe that things with RIM aren't as bad as the media makes it out to be. I am certainly not denying the obvious shortcomings of the current slate of Blackberry devices, but how does that lead me to conclude that RIM cannot do better? 

As I close this highly opinionated piece I just want to reiterate that I am not a Blackberry die hard. In fact, I own and love an iOS device. It is a trick of these companie to create a sense of loyalty to their devices, and a feeling of betrayal if we recognize anything but shortcomings in the competing devices. We as consumers need to snap out of this trance.  Competition (or attempts at) is good.  More companies trying to bring more to the table can only mean good for us as consumers, even the die hard apple users. I welcome Blackberry 10 with open arms.