Originally Posted by
orbazan There is a lot to like about the Priv, and a lot not to like. There is no gratuitous "negativity" here, maybe on other forums/sites/reviews, but i bet that everyone on crackberry who used/uses the Priv is trying REALLY HARD to like it. For some it is an easier transition, for some not quite so. Obviously previous experience with Android devices helps, however if all one used for the past few years is BB, i tell you, HUB and all, it's still a pretty abrupt change.
Trust me, after i payed almost 1000 USD for the device, there is no "negativity" in my words. There are only facts. With good and bad together.
I have been in the IT business for almost 20 years now. Mainly working with corporate customers. I was there when mobile phones were still a luxury, an exclusivity only for the upper management. I was there when a company's standard in mobile communication was BB, anything else was inconceivable. And i was there when slowly it started not being the "one and only". When top management started slowly choosing Android and Apple devices. And let me tell you something: NOBODY i know gave up on BB because they couldn't play candy crush or because they didn't have a thousand different weather applets. But i know a lot of people who gave up on BB because it didn't have a decent map application with turn by turn navigation, because they couldn't take a decent picture, because the bank application was not working with BB, because even a simple ePub reader was costing money, because there simply weren't apps they needed (engineering, for instance) and so on and so forth. So you see, it's not only the app gap. It's the lack of basic features that have become long-time standard features of a mobile OS.
You might say, "oh well, but the security features of BB are unparalleled". There is some truth in that. However decisions are not made based on ROI or risk factors. Decisions are made based on what brings a company a competitive advantage over other companies. And in this game BB can only bring up the security features (which, by the way, are only made complete by using other SW/HW, like BES and smart cards), but this is only part of the "competitive advantage". Too late they realized this, and even then they wouldn't admit it, and from this conclusion the Priv was born. Was it a good or bad decision? Everybody has an opinion about this, you have yours, i have mine, the April 1st report will give us a first glimpse if the path BB took was right or wrong.
The proof that BB doesn't give bollocks about the voice of the users? Everybody was asking for an improved Android runtime and for the Android apps to be made available to everybody, even if for a fee. And what do they do? They take away even the little that we still have on BB10, release an uber expensive phone and their exclusivist apps are now available for free for everyone thanks to gifted developers. Great job, BB.
Yes, Facebook for instance is important. If a thousand people use it, the hell with them. If a million use it BB should put it on its agenda and at least keep an eye on it. But if a billion(!) use it, damn it BB, make a bloody effort!
Believe me, BobPepe, and fellow crackberry users: right now what keeps me tied to my BB are mostly sentimental aspects and a formed habit. I am trying REALLY HARD to stay on this sinking boat, and if you read through the forum you will see many, many, many people struggling with the same dilemma. Some made a compromise by using two devices, a BB and a nonBB. But for me and thousands one phone is enough. And for millions a dual-sim phone is ideal. So you see, the few reasons we have to stick with BB are becoming less and less each day.
Negativity? No, my friend. No negativity here. Just the harsh reality hitting us in the face every day, and stubborn loyalists who keep their eyes closed and accept the blow, hoping for the better, in spite of the obvious.