1. BobbyRoy's Avatar
    Hi, I'm a journalist in Edmonton, Alberta Canada and I'm looking to do a feature story on how the Blackberry is replacing the need for computers.

    If anyone has any information about this topic or knows experts that would be able to provide me with any information on the topic please post!

    If anyone has any information they would like to post please do so. Thanks.
    01-13-09 07:36 PM
  2. Hunnibabe's Avatar
    The blackberry isn't replacing my pc! It can't quite do everything my pc can do.. Like play java webpages... its handy for sure, but I'm still hooked on my pc!

    Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
    01-13-09 07:40 PM
  3. supafreak2000's Avatar
    I don't think they will replace computers. I use mine more than a computer but I'm stuck in the stone age with dial up. I don't think a device with a 2 inch screen will take the place of a device with a 15 inch screen. Just my 2 cents.

    Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
    01-13-09 07:57 PM
  4. ritchied's Avatar
    Blackberry's often replace many functions of a traditional computer, but util ther are quantum leaps made in display and input, BlackBerry's will remain complimentary., not a replacement. I email and call from my phone, I live on my computer.

    Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
    01-13-09 08:17 PM
  5. amazinglygraceless's Avatar
    My BlackBerry can never replace my computer. There are way
    too many things I need to do that do not translate well to a
    2+ inch screen. The BlackBerry is handy when I am out of the
    office, but it will NEVER rise to the level of a proper computer
    replacement.
    01-13-09 08:33 PM
  6. SevereDeceit's Avatar
    Exactly, i need my PC man...
    01-13-09 08:35 PM
  7. AStranger's Avatar
    I think portable phones will gain more and more function, but there really won't be any complete replacement any time soon.

    The comfort of a real big screen and a real keyboard makes people more productive than they could be on a portable phone.

    Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
    01-13-09 08:36 PM
  8. SevereDeceit's Avatar
    Right, we are years away from that...
    01-13-09 08:39 PM
  9. Heresy's Avatar
    I think portable phones will gain more and more function, but there really won't be any complete replacement any time soon.

    The comfort of a real big screen and a real keyboard makes people more productive than they could be on a portable phone.

    Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
    I agree. Dont get me wrong, I love my berries but I have to use my PC's. Now when a blackberry will be able to run photoshop CS3, Dreamweaver, VB, AutoCad, and various other programs Ill be great.
    01-13-09 08:44 PM
  10. johnmorganjr1's Avatar
    I don't use a computer anymore so my BB has replaced. But I also have an injury that prevents me from typing with my left hand. I thumb type faster than I type.
    01-13-09 08:50 PM
  11. ecooper11's Avatar
    My BlackBerry has just about completely replaced my computer. My laptop crashed yesterday, to the point where I can't even turn it on, and I really didn't lose any important information because it was all on my BlackBerry. The computer is better at some things, such as web browsing (which isn't that bad on 4.5), games, ect.. But for the main things I use my computer for, my BlackBerry can do just as well. I also think the keyboard on a blackberry is much faster to type on (at least for me, anyway).

    Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
    Last edited by ecooper11; 01-13-09 at 08:57 PM.
    01-13-09 08:54 PM
  12. amazinglygraceless's Avatar
    Right coop, I get where you are coming from only because I know
    a little about you and your usage. But try dealing with an 86 page
    spreadsheet, with extensive formatting, or a 38 page word
    document, or an Access database (oh wait, you really can't)
    etc.....

    For little things the BB is fine. The more complicated they get
    the less viable the BB is as an option.
    01-13-09 09:03 PM
  13. ecooper11's Avatar
    Right coop, I get where you are coming from only because I know
    a little about you and your usage. But try dealing with an 86 page
    spreadsheet, with extensive formatting, or a 38 page word
    document, or an Access database (oh wait, you really can't)
    etc.....

    For little things the BB is fine. The more complicated they get
    the less viable the BB is as an option.
    Yeah. I was just talking about my own personal use. The only things I really used my computer for was calendar, tasks, email, word, and web browsing. But I know for most people, completely replacing their computer with a BlackBerry is not an option.

    Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
    01-13-09 09:16 PM
  14. VIOLATOR's Avatar
    Although I have only been a BB user for a few months I have to say that the BB is a natural extension of the computer - not a replacement.

    It is what a briefcase used to be in the 70's. It has your note pad and pen, reports, contact info, calculator, newspaper...everything but a pack of gum in it.

    The BB is the "one for the road" that can carry everything you need to get you from your work computer to your home computer. It also gives you freedom and ability to stay out of the office and still get almost as much accomplished with the help of a dependable secretary.


    My 2 cents


    David
    01-13-09 09:16 PM
  15. holdfast's Avatar
    If my pearl could do ota updates and had an easier to use while driving media player I'd toss my home computer. I'd just need to figure out where to store 50gigs of music.

    Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
    01-13-09 09:47 PM
  16. BobbyRoy's Avatar
    Ok so from most of the posts that I've read its not replacing it, I should have said in my initial post I was looking to do a story on whether the Blackberry has begun to take over computers rather than that they actually are. Would anyone know who I would be able to contact for an expert opinion?
    01-14-09 07:18 PM
  17. ritchied's Avatar
    Hmm, if there is a large corporate headquarters in your area you may try contacting them to see if they have a blackberry administrator. They'd probably be able to tell you more about how their users utilize their blackberry's and probably offer some hard number on % of emails sent from BB's/comps. Good place to start I'd imagine.
    01-15-09 09:46 AM
  18. coachcurtisbusse's Avatar
    We might be years from a total replace if ever! But as you read these posts one can only see that we are slowly switching from PC to handheld devices such as the Blackbeery. Many who use the Instant Messengers on the their blackberrys already have one less reason to go on the PC. Anyone who uses email has yet another reason to avoid the PC blackberry push email is something that just can't be described with out seeing and using it first hand. Photos and blogs along with updating their social networks instantly. With multimedia on a blackberry as far as audio and video no need for a cd rom. GPS alone will keep a person off mapquest and various other map and location needs free of their PC. Bluetooth, Voice reconigition, Calc, Personel Organizer, Ability to print from wireless means.

    There will for many years to come and countless reasons we wil still have the demand of a PC. Even little things such as games solitare and brickbreaker keep PC users out of their high back swivel chairs, even while I sit at my PC blackberry in hand.

    Like a post early of input we still need the PC to an extent to sync and input some things such as apps, OS updates but with the arrival with OTA we are less and less depended on our PC as much as it scares us its fact.



    Here is your story run with it

    Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
    01-15-09 10:17 AM
  19. jerry12's Avatar
    i love my blackberry and all the things that it can do but it is no match for my desktop with a 3000+ amd athlon processor and 19in wide screen it can't take its place but i do use my blackberry a lot.
    01-15-09 10:57 AM
  20. TvTechGuru's Avatar
    I think in the next 15 to 20 years we will se devices like the blackberry be capable of replacing a PC. The ultra compact PC market will greatly expand allowing this and combined could pose a replacement factor I think.

    Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
    01-15-09 11:03 AM
  21. Spinny's Avatar
    I expect one limitation will always be the need for a "real" keyboard for serious typing. A friend of mine is a legal secretary and she uses her Treo for work stuff all the time (she likes to compose briefs on the beach when she can get away with it) but she still hooks it up to a fold-up keyboard when she works. Two-thumbing it is great for texting and the occasional forum post but I don't ever see it being in common use for actual writing.
    01-15-09 11:22 AM
  22. SevereDeceit's Avatar
    I love my BB, but my Dell XPS with a 19' scree is nice. That thing is a powerhouse...
    01-15-09 11:24 AM
  23. BobbyRoy's Avatar
    This has been a big time help on getting my story going, I really appreciate it everyone
    01-15-09 06:01 PM
  24. markgopher's Avatar
    Kind of hard to burn a cd on a blackberry
    01-15-09 07:08 PM
  25. guido72's Avatar
    My wife and I have had our BlackBerry's for just over 6 weeks and have made drastic changes.

    1) Email is exclusively done on BB for our multiple addresses. We reply more frequently and timely than ever before.
    2) Calender is synched directly between our BBs by inviting each other to appointments (no PC synch). We no longer miss important events for our kids school, scouts, sports, Drs, etc.
    3) Primary phone is now the BB. Turned off land line this week.
    4) Changed Bills to arrive via email. In process of going as paperless as we can.
    5) Photos are shared in the moment with family and friends instead of finding time for a massive upload via PC months after digital camera pics are taken.
    6) Vidoes are recorded more frequently. Working on finding ways to upload a large file to YouTube so using PC for now.
    7) Contributing to forums for the first time ever. Never did a post before until I posted on Crackberry.
    8) Grocery & task lists are written on the BB for instant access.
    9) Rehomed our dog on Craigslist in 3 days using the BB
    10) Learning how to create custom ringtones.
    11) Music player is now BB. Still use PC with External hard drive for MP3 storage. That could change with Cloud computing.
    12) Ordered pizza online via BB
    13) Cooked meal from online recipe using BB
    14) Surf web 80% with BB and 20% with PC since we are spending less time at PC
    15) Reduced our DSL speed & expense due to less frequent use
    16) Reading Bible and other books on BB
    17) Renew and order items from library on BB
    18) GPS for locations. Just starting to explore this.
    19) Multitasking between email, calender, web, etc
    20) BB Messanger instant messaging

    We still do the following on PC and I see us testing out on BB then diving in:
    1) Paying bills
    2) Online shopping
    3) Social networking updates
    4) Word, Excel, & PowerPoint documents
    5) Blogging (we don't do this today and may now start)
    6) Replace USB stick with BB to transfer files from work.
    7) Burn mix CDs. May setup online playlist instead and access from BB
    8) Download BB software using desktop manager. Looking into OTA options.
    9) Photo, video, and audio (ringtone) editing software. Doubt a BB solution exists but will look
    10) Online porn....just kidding but everything is better on a big screen.

    Hope this helps and feel free to message with questions.

    Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
    01-15-09 11:45 PM
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