Should BlackBerry bring back legacy devices?
- Nothing in my question asked what CB'ers should do. Just asking if they're OK with letting those 11M go. ??
Reading thru this thread, I'm perceiving, right or wrong (which is why I'm asking), a striking lack of alternative suggestions for preventing that loss. Since those 11M obviously like SOMEthing about their legacy devices, the OP's suggestion seems like a logical starting point for discussion. Not necessarily a legitimate solution but, It seems to me that a striking number of posts simply belittle OP's proposal, along with bbos itself, without offering a better alternative. Am I correct? Or am I incorrect? That is the question... Lol.
For a big BB fan it was soooo frustrating to see.03-12-16 07:04 AMLike 0 -
They have to sell 10M devices per year to be profitable and you think that they can sell that to just 11M customers?
Posted via CB10JeepBB likes this.03-12-16 07:47 AMLike 1 - Seriously, what can BlackBerry do ? Where were you the last 5 years ? They have been trying to retain those users with the Storm, with the Z10, with the Classic, with the Priv, and they are still bleeding customers. They even reissued the 9900 a a certain point. That didn't work.
They have to sell 10M devices per year to be profitable and you think that they can sell that to just 11M customers?
Posted via CB10
Too big, A LOT of missing features, no removable battery etc it's almost as if they looked at the other platforms, picked what was worse from all of them and dropped all the features that made people stick with BB ever since iPhone and android came in the market.
Feels to me like they tried to kill it, not save it.
And it blows my mind that they try to sell the Priv at IPhone 6 prices. If that's not deluded then I don't know what is.Mr4aces and oldtimeBBaddict like this.03-12-16 08:04 AMLike 2 - Nothing in my question asked what CB'ers should do. Just asking if they're OK with letting those 11M go. ??
Reading thru this thread, I'm perceiving, right or wrong (which is why I'm asking), a striking lack of alternative suggestions for preventing that loss. Since those 11M obviously like SOMEthing about their legacy devices, the OP's suggestion seems like a logical starting point for discussion. Not necessarily a legitimate solution but, It seems to me that a striking number of posts simply belittle OP's proposal, along with bbos itself, without offering a better alternative. Am I correct? Or am I incorrect? That is the question... Lol.
I kind agree with Belfastdispatcher in one respect. I think there is room in the marketplace for the iconic BB design however I do not agree that there would be many who could be enticed to purchase a new phone running BBOS.03-12-16 09:32 AMLike 0 -
Reading thru this thread, I'm perceiving, right or wrong (which is why I'm asking), a striking lack of alternative suggestions for preventing that loss. Since those 11M obviously like SOMEthing about their legacy devices, the OP's suggestion seems like a logical starting point for discussion. Not necessarily a legitimate solution but, It seems to me that a striking number of posts simply belittle OP's proposal, along with bbos itself, without offering a better alternative. Am I correct? Or am I incorrect? That is the question... Lol.
I actually know how to use a slide-rule, my Grandfather taught me. There's a great deal of personal satisfaction that comes from using a slide-rule, and in some ways it's an analogue of BBOS phones. My slide-rule (I still have it), still works perfectly, and I could be using it daily. I don't, because the calculator that I use is faster, and gives answers with more precision. I don't rail against the world in general that it's considered obsolete technology - like the typewriter and the horse&buggy - I just accept that the world has moved on. Nobody stops me from buying a new slide-rule on Amazon, just as nobody will stop those 11M people buying a BB9900.
What I do not expect is that BB will spend money and time now, pandering to the BBOS die-hards who are now two whole product cycles behind where BB is now. Similarly, I don't expect IBM to release another electric typewriter for the few who want to experience the joy of tippex!
It's far too late for BB to try retain those 11M BBOS people by releasing a "new" BBOS device, it's no longer 2010. BB might as well burn money in the streets as spend it on developing a new range of legacy BBOS phones.TgeekB likes this.03-12-16 10:04 AMLike 1 - I would suggest that the 11 million BBOS devices are still being used because they are not broken and they still fill a need. Maybe cheap data or because the user mainly texts or emails. In some countries the BlackBerry brand has some value. People still use old iPhones too.
I kind agree with Belfastdispatcher in one respect. I think there is room in the marketplace for the iconic BB design however I do not agree that there would be many who could be enticed to purchase a new phone running BBOS.
And from what I understand the move to Android kills the android part in BB10.
The Vienna might just do the trick though, as long as they put some Legacy flavour in it. I'd upgrade to one right now and I know my wife would too and finally put the 9790 to rest.03-12-16 10:10 AMLike 4 -
I would be the first to purchase!
In my opinion, the majority of the current BBOS users are not an active participant of this forum or website. People think that they know what BlackBerry users want or are missing. Only the truly passionate BlackBerry "family" posts on this site.
i am one that would purchase an updated 99XX with Classic internals and using BIS...even if I had to pay a nominal charge.
Just me.Frehley likes this.03-12-16 10:57 AMLike 1 -
People want simple, because most people are simple minded.
Sent from my BlackBerry 9900 using TapatalkMr4aces likes this.03-12-16 11:07 AMLike 1 - Again, my being OK or not with BB's failure to provide an upgrade route for BBOS is an ultimately futile thought-experiment. The time for BB to have done "something" was over 3-years ago when they should have made BB10 an attractive upgrade option to the BBOS-guys... now, today, there is nothing to be done (short of that time machine from another thread) to give those BBOS-guys a BB-future.
Is that a slide-rule in your avatar?
I actually know how to use a slide-rule, my Grandfather taught me. There's a great deal of personal satisfaction that comes from using a slide-rule, and in some ways it's an analogue of BBOS phones. My slide-rule (I still have it), still works perfectly, and I could be using it daily. I don't, because the calculator that I use is faster, and gives answers with more precision. I don't rail against the world in general that it's considered obsolete technology - like the typewriter and the horse&buggy - I just accept that the world has moved on. Nobody stops me from buying a new slide-rule on Amazon, just as nobody will stop those 11M people buying a BB9900.
What I do not expect is that BB will spend money and time now, pandering to the BBOS die-hards who are now two whole product cycles behind where BB is now. Similarly, I don't expect IBM to release another electric typewriter for the few who want to experience the joy of tippex!
It's far too late for BB to try retain those 11M BBOS people by releasing a "new" BBOS device, it's no longer 2010. BB might as well burn money in the streets as spend it on developing a new range of legacy BBOS phones.
Likewise, despite its age, 9900 is still the most efficient choice for some things. Starting with its nearly perfect form factor. It's also a spreadsheet editing monster, for example. Throw in a usable calendar that leaves no doubt as to which month you're working with, "on the fly" conversion between email & SMS/mms, etc, etc.
The concept of waxing nostalgic about a cell phone is very alien to me. Efficiency is efficiency no matter the date of manufacture.
This entire thread is a "futile thought experiment" tho, it might seem at least. It would be irresponsible to release OS7.1 without security updates, for example. Unrealistic to re-assemble the talent and vendor resources to make that happen. Sadly, they're likely too long gone.
Now, if BB could build a Calendar app to include time travel... Lol.Last edited by idssteve; 03-12-16 at 12:00 PM.
03-12-16 11:50 AMLike 2 - Except perhaps the Classic (although key important points were missed with it) none of the listed devices has anything in common with what a BlackBerry was.
Too big, A LOT of missing features, no removable battery etc it's almost as if they looked at the other platforms, picked what was worse from all of them and dropped all the features that made people stick with BB ever since iPhone and android came in the market.
Feels to me like they tried to kill it, not save it.
And it blows my mind that they try to sell the Priv at IPhone 6 prices. If that's not deluded then I don't know what is.
You do know that the main reason that people left BBOS isn't because of being able to pull a battery right? The main reason is the lack of apps.
And even if BlackBerry poured billions into luring developers to BBOS, they will fail cause BBOS isn't just capable of handling modern apps.
Businesses left BBOS cause no one was able to program apps for it.
Consumers left BBOS cause they can't have access to their favorite apps, even compared to the cheapest androids.
So I highly doubt that being able to pull your battery is a compelling feature that would retain customers!
Posted via CB10rthonpm likes this.03-12-16 12:51 PMLike 1 -
Don't be naive! You truly think that if they re-issue the 9900, they can sell 10M of them per year???
Posted via CB1003-12-16 12:53 PMLike 0 - It's bad enough that BlackBerry had to be the **** of all jokes, and now people like you want them to bring back legacy devices, so they can be laughed out of town.03-12-16 01:00 PMLike 0
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Posted via CB10Last edited by Gus; 03-12-16 at 01:40 PM.
03-12-16 01:28 PMLike 0 - JEPBB quote "What I do not expect is that BB will spend money and time now, pandering to the BBOS die-hards who are now two whole product cycles behind where BB is now. "
For me, and I'm sure many others, i am not a Die Hard. i use BB10 and BB7. they are all great. but a SMALL phone, with a keyboard, that can stream music or audio on 3-G instead of LTE, with an FM radio Nd a memory card, that doesn't drink up my data for no reason, is what meets my mandatory minimum requirements for carrying around a phone with my sim card in it.
i tried to switch to Classic but the 9900, and now again back to my Curve 9360 with FM radio, just streams audio better without cutting out than LTE, which ATnT locks your phone to it its LTE enabled. i try but fail at buying BB10 phones that cannot be locked to LTE.
die-hards may have good reasons to be die hards. for most of what i want in a phone, BB7 is still doing it better. other than being a phone and audio streamer, BB10 is better. i dont care if its not All In One Phone.03-12-16 01:50 PMLike 0 - Yep, that's a slide rule. Battery life is phenomenal! Good thing, since its battery is really not easily user replaced. Lol. Saved up summer of 75 to purchase HP21 but dual carried my pocket slide rule until purchasing a spare battery for the HP21 months later. LED display meant short batt life. Finally saved up for an HP41 in 79. Still use an HP41CX today. Nothing to do with "nostalgia". Simply the most efficient choice for me. Once hooked on RPN, algebraic seems such a long way around. Lol.
Likewise, despite its age, 9900 is still the most efficient choice for some things. Starting with its nearly perfect form factor. It's also a spreadsheet editing monster, for example. Throw in a usable calendar that leaves no doubt as to which month you're working with, "on the fly" conversion between email & SMS/mms, etc, etc.
The concept of waxing nostalgic about a cell phone is very alien to me. Efficiency is efficiency no matter the date of manufacture.
This entire thread is a "futile thought experiment" tho, it might seem at least. It would be irresponsible to release OS7.1 without security updates, for example. Unrealistic to re-assemble the talent and vendor resources to make that happen. Sadly, they're likely too long gone.
Now, if BB could build a Calendar app to include time travel... Lol.idssteve likes this.03-12-16 02:11 PMLike 1 - thats sure funny, especially since my earpiece speaker blew 2 weeks ago and I took it to an electronics place and parts are NO problem for it. Someone needs to check ebay and amazon, all they stock is parts
There are entire buisnesses that make a living fixing Legacy devices, so it is also good for the economy also, ie. jobs, private enterprise....alas, nvm.
Sent from my BlackBerry 9900 using TapatalkLast edited by Ralph Morgotch; 03-12-16 at 02:59 PM.
03-12-16 02:24 PMLike 0 -
The exam question was whether BB should release a genuinely new range of BBOS phones, and whether those phones would restore BB's fortunes.
My (polite) answer is that such a move would be commercially inept of BB and would not lead to increased sales.
I could give other answers, but they would involve laughter that anyone could believe that reintroducing legacy phones is a serious business strategy, and probably a bit of sadly disappointed head-shaking.
In other news, Ford re-introduces the Model-T citing how immensely successful it was the first time around. "Motorists want simplicity", said a Ford spokesman, "we expect this to sell big!"
Going backwards, in any activity but especially in a technology-based field, is unlikely to be a winning strategy.TgeekB likes this.03-12-16 03:15 PMLike 1 - In other news, Ford re-introduces the Model-T citing how immensely successful it was the first time around. "Motorists want simplicity", said a Ford spokesman, "we expect this to sell big!"
Going backwards, in any activity but especially in a technology-based field, is unlikely to be a winning strategy.
The point is that one cannot say "old" doesnt sell, because it can and DOES. The TRICK is to have the "guts" inside it with enough power to keep up with all the other stuff out there.
Sent from my BlackBerry 9900 using Tapatalkjas1978 likes this.03-12-16 03:43 PMLike 1 -
- Retro designs with upgraded software are quite successful at times. People seem to love to use automobile comparisons, so here are a couple for you......the "New" Beetle and Dodge Challenger are selling VERY well and the last time I checked no one is "laughing" at anyone driving a "NEW" Challenger or retro styled Mustang.
The point is that one cannot say "old" doesnt sell, because it can and DOES. The TRICK is to have the "guts" inside it with enough power to keep up with all the other stuff out there.
Sent from my BlackBerry 9900 using Tapatalk
The power of the force and the passport.03-12-16 03:52 PMLike 0 -
Sent from my BlackBerry 9900 using Tapatalk03-12-16 04:11 PMLike 0 - Retro designs with upgraded software are quite successful at times. People seem to love to use automobile comparisons, so here are a couple for you......the "New" Beetle and Dodge Challenger are selling VERY well and the last time I checked no one is "laughing" at anyone driving a "NEW" Challenger or retro styled Mustang.
The point is that one cannot say "old" doesnt sell, because it can and DOES. The TRICK is to have the "guts" inside it with enough power to keep up with all the other stuff out there.
There is a significant difference between retro-styling (new guts under superficially similar appearance) and releasing legacy product again. The new VW Beetle has as much commonality with the old Herbie as chalk does to cheese.
Was OP proposing to also update BBOS (at what cost, and how long would that take?) and put that gleaming triumph of 21st Century technology in a retro-styled BB9900 case? I didn't read it that way.
OP was suggesting that BB release a new line of legacy phones, and that success might follow. I doubt that success would be the outcome, your mileage might differ.
If the scenario is now that BB should update and develop BBOS and release not "legacy", but "retro-styled" phones, then that prefixes "expensive" to "failure".
Off-topic, but to continue the suspect Beetle analogy, I wonder if a re-released Herbie would even be allowed to be sold given the safety and emissions standards of today?TgeekB likes this.03-12-16 04:12 PMLike 1
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Should BlackBerry bring back legacy devices?
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