[glassofpinot]

How do you feel overall about RIM today, compared to 6-9 months ago?

What is the main reason for your answer? How do you think that you will feel 6 months from now?

(take the poll and add your voice - don't just read others')

[RoseBud68]

9 months ago I had a 9800 which I was happy with. 5 months ago I got a 9860 which I very happy with. So 8 months from now I'll have a BB10 (maybe) & most likely be again Happy with it. After all its just a phone.

[Eli_B]

I think the spirit of RIM was revived once Mike and Jim were gone and Thorsten took over. He's very personable, enthusiastic and is hyper-focused on making the company the best it can be, which was very evident during his keynote address last week at BlackBerry World as well as his session with the press.

So to answer your question, yes..I'm feeling a lot better about RIM now than I did 6-9 months ago

EDIT: I see there is a second question, so I'm adding that here. The main reason for my answer is that I feel the company has been rejuvenated and that they are on their way to putting out a kick a** BB10 phone and software. As was mentioned at BBW, waiting is the hardest part of this whole thing, but if you want a superior product, then it's what must be done.

How will I feel in 6 months from now? Hard to tell. I'm hoping the same way, if not even stronger in my support and loyalty to BlackBerry.

[sam_b77]

I think the spirit of RIM was revived once Mike and Jim were gone and Thorsten took over. He's very personable, enthusiastic and is hyper-focused on making the company the best it can be, which was very evident during his keynote address last week at BlackBerry World as well as his session with the press.

So to answer your question, yes..I'm feeling a lot better about RIM now than I did 6-9 months ago

EDIT: I see there is a second question, so I'm adding that here. The main reason for my answer is that I feel the company has been rejuvenated and that they are on their way to putting out a kick a** BB10 phone and software. As was mentioned at BBW, waiting is the hardest part of this whole thing, but if you want a superior product, then it's what must be done.

How will I feel in 6 months from now? Hard to tell. I'm hoping the same way, if not even stronger in my support and loyalty to BlackBerry.

So you are happy about RIM since they now have an extrovert CEO? Nothing against Thorsten Heins, he does seem to be personable and have things in control, but the OS10 launch would have had the same features even the previous CEO's were at the helm. The OS10 progress is not something which happened magically once Thorsten Heins took over. It was in the pipeline for two years and the pieces were put in place by the previous regime.

I guess perception rules over action.


Sent from my BlackBerry 9900 using Tapatalk

[Bobcat665]

It looks like there's a lot more positive things to look forward to and it appears that RIM might be gaining some traction at last... BUT I'm still worried

[southlander]

9 months ago the new os 7 devices were just coming out. I was pretty excited. Got a 9930 the day it came out on verizon. Very happy with it. However by that time the playbook had pretty much fizzled sales wise. Had me worried for rims nexgen os. Especially as it became clear the os 7 devices were not really bringing in a lot of new customers I was starting to worry.

But now after seeing blackberry 10 it is clear that rim is on the right track. The PlayBook was and is simply a stepping stone to get the platform established.

My only worry now is that the carriers will somehow hinder blackberry 10 adoption. Other than that, it is clear to me that rim can gain back some share in North America.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9850 using Tapatalk

[G-bone]

Three words : THE MIGHTY THOR!
"And Shall Follow With Them "...
Who are we?
WE ARE BLACKBERRY NATION!!!!!!!

[sam_b77]

Let's Rock and Roll This!!!

Sent from my BlackBerry 9900 using Tapatalk

[lnichols]

The changes in mgmt, the BB10 features shown, and the building of enthusiasm here (even with the trolls trying hard to bring it down) has me feeling great about BlackBerry. There is still a lot they have to do and execute properly, but I think Thor is the right man to make it happen.

[o4liberty]

My feelings haven't really changed they are just cautious. I never thought rim would go completely out of business but the way they were heading didn't look good. As long as BB10 is a success then RIM will thrive and become a major contender once again. I see a lot of people coming back to blackberry and I also see the smart phone industry slowing down with the market flooded with so many new devices.
Carriers are having trouble subsidizing devices that why some are adding charges to cover their losses. I believe most will hold on to their devices longer in the near future.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9930 using Tapatalk

[Chrisy]

At that time I had an Android. I started to see what I missed about BlackBerry. Came back shortly after. After BBW I'm excited and confident RIM has found their way again. Everything so far has been positive after BBW!

[world traveler and former ceo]

I am liking what i see in the Playbook ... Bridge .. and bb10!!! ... in the meanwhile .. i also like my bb9900 .... but i am really excited about BB10!!! ....

[ubizmo]

The changes in mgmt, the BB10 features shown, and the building of enthusiasm here (even with the trolls trying hard to bring it down) has me feeling great about BlackBerry. There is still a lot they have to do and execute properly, but I think Thor is the right man to make it happen.

I voted "better" rather than "a lot better" because I think RIM still has a pretty steep uphill climb to achieve not dominance but prominence. But the factors mentioned here by lnichols and others are positive indicators.

Markets are affected by many pre-rational factors, including things like the perceived personality of the CEO--all the things that are wrapped into the concept of image. Deservedly or undeservedly, the previous CEOs were perceived as out of touch, and Heins has conceded that RIM was working in a project management structure that didn't scale up as the company grew, and this eventually undermined it.

So now the course has been corrected, but there are still many things that are beyond RIM's control altogether. When you have sales people promoting the narrative that RIM is dead and trying hard to avoid selling their products, something has gone terribly wrong and RIM needs to fix that now or no one will care about BB10 when it is launched.

So yes, things are looking better but there's still a lot to be concerned about.

[berryjunkie]

I'm pretty jacked about RIM's future. I've been a faithful user since the 8300. Strayed away a couple times but always came back because of the functionality and the way my life works around how BB does things.
BB10 is where RIM needs to be. Everything I've seen so far..... add Tom-Tom to the mix and I truly think RIM has a device that will not only bring in new users, but convert a lot of iSheep and Droid users.
Thats my story, & I'm stickin to it.....I'm Out

[belfastdispatcher]

I never really doubted RIM, I did have some mixed feelings about Mike not being in charge anymore but I now feel a lot better after Thorsten delivered. There's a bright future ahead of RIM, all pieces are in place and they fit perfectly!

[brucep1]

This would be a good question one year from now, compared to 2011. Yes, changes have been made, and demos have been shown off, but no one really knows how thats going to translate into BB10.

Did they show off the best features already? Are they not releasing a keyboard BB10 phone for another year? Will they have the necessary apps at launch?

No one knows the answers.

[Eli_B]

So you are happy about RIM since they now have an extrovert CEO? Nothing against Thorsten Heins, he does seem to be personable and have things in control, but the OS10 launch would have had the same features even the previous CEO's were at the helm. The OS10 progress is not something which happened magically once Thorsten Heins took over. It was in the pipeline for two years and the pieces were put in place by the previous regime.

I guess perception rules over action.


Sent from my BlackBerry 9900 using Tapatalk

Sam,

That's one of my reasons that I'm happy with RIM. Think of it like this (and I know everyone has experienced this during their lifetime): You are in a class, be it high school or college, and you have this teacher standing up at the front of the class who is lecturing on something.

Now, here are two scenarios. You tell me which one you would respond better to:

1) The teacher is speaking in monotone, with no excitement, no personality....no PowerPoint presentation for visuals, etc. They are just speaking the material, with no enthusiasm at all. (think of the show Win Ben Stein's Money if you've seen it).

2) The teacher is actually excited about the material they are talking about. They have lots of visuals, examples, and are truly happy to be up in front talking about the material. In other words, they make it come alive, thereby giving off good vibes and exciting the class.

I would personally respond better to #2. I actually had a teacher in High School who was the epitome of #1..and I HATED THE CLASS. If I had a Thorsten teaching it, maybe it would have turned out differently.

I equate Mike and Jim with #1 and Thorsten with #2.

Yes, the OS has been in the oven for a while, and will have the same features at launch no matter who was in control. HOWEVER, there was no excitement about it while Mike and Jim were in control. I truly feel that RIM has changed..with a new smaller, leaner team at the helm.

[sleepngbear]

I'm feeling about the same, though I must qualify that. My sentiments have waned over the last 6-9 months, but my optimism has been somewhat revived most recently. I have always believed that BB10 is RIM's best shot at returning to competitiveness; but until Thorsten became CEO, I had a lot of reservations about the company's ability to deliver.

I still have some reservations, because some of the key components were only installed yesterday (COO and CMO), and we still have no idea how they will perform. There also remains the huge variable in how well Nokia/WP will be received in the long run, and if, regardless of how well BB10 is marketed, consumers will even care about it. At least part of its success will rely on consumers having a reason to shun iOS and Android.

All told, I'm probably more optimistic now than 6-9 months ago, but also more cautiously so knowing now what I didn't know then.

[tfp]

Personally, I feel the same. I have always had faith that the next generation of OS, be it BBX, BlackBerry 10, BB10 or whatever you want to call it, would bring back some of the lustre to RIM and BlackBerry in specific.

Now, if you were to ask what I felt about the PUBLIC perception of RIM today vs 6-9 months, I would have said "a lot better" lol I feel that publically, RIM and BlackBerry finally have a positive outlook again after some dismal spells.

[kill_9]

The company has a long way to go before sustained confidence can realistically be earned from its loyal base of users and the general public. The transition to BB10 is but a small ripple in the ocean and will quickly be overtaken by the tidal waves. There needs to be a massive overhaul of the organization and shedding of the old ways of thinking. The new CEO is the first step towards revitalizing the company (Research In Motion) and the brand (BlackBerry). Yet, one man alone cannot save an organization. As a shareholder I have no faith in management, apart from the straight-shooting CEO, at all levels of the company; they are navel gazing when they should be seeking new ways of doing business. You don't go from market pioneer to washed-up and washed-out overnight nor only by the deeds of the former CEOs. Screw up on more time and their heads will be served to the Board of Directors.

[lnichols]

So you are happy about RIM since they now have an extrovert CEO? Nothing against Thorsten Heins, he does seem to be personable and have things in control, but the OS10 launch would have had the same features even the previous CEO's were at the helm. The OS10 progress is not something which happened magically once Thorsten Heins took over. It was in the pipeline for two years and the pieces were put in place by the previous regime.

I guess perception rules over action.


Sent from my BlackBerry 9900 using Tapatalk

Sorry but I can't agree with this comment. While Mike and Jim did get the pieces together and started things in the direction of QNX, and they do deserve credit for that, they also were responsible for a broken management and accountability structure within the company. A structure that has been late with almost every product offered. Mike an Jim bought the puzzle, but I don't think they would have been able to do what was necessary to put it together quickly and deliver. The company needed major changes to compete in a changing Smartphone market, and Mike and Jim were too emotionally attached to old ways of doing things and too proud of what they had done to do what needs done now IMHO.

[sam_b77]

Sam,

That's one of my reasons that I'm happy with RIM. Think of it like this (and I know everyone has experienced this during their lifetime): You are in a class, be it high school or college, and you have this teacher standing up at the front of the class who is lecturing on something.

Now, here are two scenarios. You tell me which one you would respond better to:

1) The teacher is speaking in monotone, with no excitement, no personality....no PowerPoint presentation for visuals, etc. They are just speaking the material, with no enthusiasm at all. (think of the show Win Ben Stein's Money if you've seen it).

2) The teacher is actually excited about the material they are talking about. They have lots of visuals, examples, and are truly happy to be up in front talking about the material. In other words, they make it come alive, thereby giving off good vibes and exciting the class.

I would personally respond better to #2. I actually had a teacher in High School who was the epitome of #1..and I HATED THE CLASS. If I had a Thorsten teaching it, maybe it would have turned out differently.

I equate Mike and Jim with #1 and Thorsten with #2.

Yes, the OS has been in the oven for a while, and will have the same features at launch no matter who was in control. HOWEVER, there was no excitement about it while Mike and Jim were in control. I truly feel that RIM has changed..with a new smaller, leaner team at the helm.

Agreed and point taken.

Showing a passion for the product you sell does add a lot. Steve Jobs made it happen. Not a huge fan of Apple (I own a macbook), but am a huge fan of Steve Jobs. He was a visionary and showed what an entrepreneur should be like. The iDevices don't work for me one bit. But, nothing but respect for Jobs.

I guess Mike L. was just as passionate but he was a technocrat first and an entrepreneur later and hence his muted keynotes. But I respect him too. A lot. That guy accomplished what only a handful accomplish in life and he too can stand tall in the same group as Jobs.

Funny thing is, no one talks about Bill Gates in the same vein....yet he transformed what computing stands for.

[sam_b77]

Sorry but I can't agree with this comment. While Mike and Jim did get the pieces together and started things in the direction of QNX, and they do deserve credit for that, they also were responsible for a broken management and accountability structure within the company. A structure that has been late with almost every product offered. Mike an Jim bought the puzzle, but I don't think they would have been able to do what was necessary to put it together quickly and deliver. The company needed major changes to compete in a changing Smartphone market, and Mike and Jim were too emotionally attached to old ways of doing things and too proud of what they had done to do what needs done now IMHO.

I have a different opinion on that.

I believe Mike and Jim knew what was required and they did move in that direction as you yourself agree, but they had the difficult task of holding on to an entrenched system which made money today but was closing on to End of Life, while changing over to a system which would abandon the previous system completely and be in line with the latest technology. It's not easy to drop a huge enterprise customer base and install a completely new system with zero backward compatibility. You risk alienating the very customers,ers that brought you to the top.

For RIM, it had to be a slow painful transformation and they have done that. For that, changing guard has been a good thing as RIM can now claim to be a whole new born again RIM.

The thing is, Apple will be facing the same question in another 3 yrs time, when their future ready iOS platform in 2007 would become a dated platform in 2015. No amount of incremental upgrades will bring iOS upto par in 2015. They will need a new platform based in modern technology. And the problem for Apple will be even more difficult than RIM as Apple has a huge legacy ecosystem.

I would give anything to fast forward to 2015 and see how Apple handles a change in tech while keeping their ecosystem relevant. And this time around the genius Steve Jobs (rightfully a genius) won't be there to guide them.

It was easy for Jobs to come in and abandon a non existing user base and upgrade to the latest technology with MacOSX on Intel chipsets.
It's quite another thing to give the finger to a huge customer base and change technology which is not backwards compatible.

[blackhawksfan75]

I'm feeling about the same. I am late to the Blackberry party starting with the 9800 and moving to the Bold 9900 this past fall. I love the keyboard on the bold but I do miss the apps and a good quality camera, where the bold lacks.
I have been following along with the BBW '12 and what not. While I have seen all the neat and exciting things that was displayed at the show; I'm not entirely convinced it is enough to improve RIM's status in the smartphone market. I get the idea of not releasing too much too soon in fear of the competition watchdogs. However as previously mentioned by many others RIM isn't in the best position to keep it a secret.
With that in mind and until I see a fully functional device and a boatload more advertising regarding said device than I will continue my sitting on the fence. At the very least update the blackberry.com website showcasing these features of BB10.

[glassofpinot]

I have a different opinion on that. ...

I have to give a big shout out to sam_b77, chaviv and lnichols for your spirited and insighful debate on this thread. These kinds of exchanges are one of the best things about Crackberry - they get me thinking (and help erase the painful memories of some of the hopefully more rare scourge attacks).

I put a "Thanks" on each of your lasts posts!