Why I didn't purchase the Priv and still waiting for the Vienna.
I still remember the second I laid my eyes on the Passport I told myself oh boy, I'm gonna get this beauty. And here I am, texting on this gorgeous device with the hope that something similar could replace her soon.
As a medical professional, I need apps like ABX, epocrates, UpToDate, etc. As a social member, I'd like my Wechat, whatsapp, and numerous other apps to run flawlessly. And as a commuter, I wish there are naturally embedded Google Maps, Waze and Here. Yes, these apps can be potentially downloaded and installed on my Passport but I've had horrific experiences with running them under BlackBerry OS and was hoping the Priv could solve it all.
It did. Functionality wise, it has been great. I never bought the device but I've spent hours at ATT and Bestbuy stores testing this device and there's no doubt that BlackBerry has done a great job improving the lack of app part.
But what's been lost is so crucial to a BlackBerry device that completely turned me down. What is it? The design!
Why? BlackBerry, at least to me, has always been an alias for professional, expert, elegance, uniqueness. Based on? It's physical keyboard. Beautiful keyboard. The second I see the device, I won't mistake it for something else. The keyboard is right in front of my eyes. Lying there, brilliantly, quietly, elegantly. The Priv, however, completely took away what defines BlackBerry. Yes, the keyboard is still great and useful, but the design language becomes completely different. As if it's saying we want to make it to be a normal smartphone but let's preserve the keyboard so we can still brand it as a BlackBerry. No! The keyboard is what defines BlackBerry and makes it stand out from the everyday mundane crowd. I've been sooo bored of recent years of smartphones that the only thing they could ever improve is some PPI, RAM, storage and processor speed. No uniqueness whatsoever. BlackBerry is supposed to be so much different. Furthermore, the sliding motion would create unnecessary motion that's required for us to start typing. Why? Typing on this butter smooth keyboard should be a very instinctive action, shouldn't have to request additional action. At the same time, moreover, the unnecessary mechanism would create higher likelihood of mechanical defects and decrease product lifetime. Yes, I understand you are trying to appeal more normal smartphone users,but perhaps even a better idea is to enable the keyboard with a touchscreen like function so that we are given an option to turn on or off the capability that even without pressing the keys, as long as the keyboard is touched, the letter is read. Just like on the screen but on the keypad. And for the typers who would love to actually press and feel the travel of the buttons, enable the function and we'll have the best of both worlds.
As a customer, as a shareholder, I want BlackBerry to release the Vienna because I think it will be the perfect blend of Android software and BlackBerry keyboard.
Posted via CB10