Bye Bye Blackberry?

Categories
Lifestyle

It's been a long time coming, but, to echo Ella Fitzgerald, “Bye, Bye, Blackberry”.
Until recently, I’ve been in denial of the imminent demise of my Blackberry. In the face of those around me -- mostly former Blackberry users -- who scoffed at the device in my hands, I held on (literally) to my trusted Blackberry 9000.
But loyalty and the ease of familiarity are giving way to acceptance of the inevitable. The “ball” works intermittently, the battery (replaced many times) doesn't hold what it used to, and, at times, it simply stops working.
Now what? For reasons beyond my control, the choice is between another Blackberry and the iPhone. I had thought that I couldn't survive without an actual keyboard, but when Nancy (the last convert) told me that she was comfortably making the transition to virtual keys, I had second thoughts about my assumed reliance on an actual keyboard.
I know that others have gone before me on the journey from Blackberry. Am I destined to follow?

Comments

Fred Klein

I am a year into the new world order and would be happy to teach you how to use Voice Recognition (thank you Mitch)

Submitted by Liz_Saldana on Thu, 09/18/2014 - 00:19

Permalink
Liz Saldana

Go for it! Change is good. :)
Rona Gura

I made the conversion last December; the same day, coincidentally, Blackberry announced a $4.4 billion dollar loss. To me, it made my conversion bershert.

I like the iphone and find the technology much faster than the blackberry but I still feel I type slower on it. I've had to cut my nails shorter to be able to type on it.
David Abeshouse

No need for hard keyboards; I similarly was resistant, but easily transitioned when I got a device that had both (belts and suspenders "insurance"), and I soon found myself preferring the virtual keyboard. Ben, you'll do it, and after a month or so you'll forget you ever did it another way. And as Fred says, you also can use Voice Recognition (although it tends to need post-dictation editing if you want to avoid sending typo-ridden messages).

Submitted by StephenMichel on Thu, 09/18/2014 - 03:58

Permalink
Stephen Michel

Interesting timing. I just upgraded from my Blackberry Curve to their Z10. I got rid of the keyboard and will learn to type using the virtual one. Don't expect major issues (I hope) since I used a Palm Treo in the dim dark past. However I stayed with Blackberry so I could transfer all my data. I've been told that transferring all my data from the newer software to an Apple or Android system will be much easier. We will see if this is true when I next upgrade. By then I expect the Blackberry software will be available for Apple and Android and they will no longer be making phones.

Submitted by NULL (not verified) on Thu, 09/18/2014 - 04:05

Permalink

Donna Levine wrote
to help you transition to the virtual keyboard try using a stylist that helped me a lot. I dont use it anymore but it made the typing easier I do agree that i type slower then on a hard keyboard such is life i make my replies shorter
Corey Bearak

Go iPhone. The new iOS (who knows Webmaster may even blog on it soon) which I downloaded to my 5 yesterday offers many nice features -- many I continue to discover and enjoy. And then when Yosemite comes out......And if you have an iPAD, you will enjoy further common functionalities. I will find some soon when Shelly goes iOS8 soon. Jonathan describes some in texts as he discovers them (he has both)
Riva Schwartz

LOVE voice recognition on IPhone - thank you, Fred!
I pre-ordered the IPhone 6 -
Now, to get Alan to get off the BB and go IPhone!

Add new comment

Restricted HTML

  • Allowed HTML tags: <a href hreflang> <em> <strong> <cite> <blockquote cite> <code> <ul type> <ol start type> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd> <h2 id> <h3 id> <h4 id> <h5 id> <h6 id>
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
  • Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically.