Why all the BlackBerry hate?

I told my Twitter followers Monday that I've decided to swap my iPhone 3G for a BlackBerry Bold. Though I believe the iPhone 3G is a nice device that has gotten better with age, it's time for a change.

Should we hate you, BlackBerry?

(Credit: RIM)

Some of my followers disagreed. In a matter of seconds after telling them that I was switching to a Bold, I was inundated with comments discrediting the BlackBerry. Some folks mentioned the issues they have with it, while others decided to be more biting.

One commenter, "aphony," replied that it was "awful" that I was switching to the BlackBerry Bold. He said that he gets "nauseous when someone claims they don't like the iPhone."

"MarkCharge" said that I was "an idiot" for switching to the Bold. "Rahulunbhatia" told me that he "has used both" and "the iPhone is much better." "JKing29" said that I'm "crazy" for "going from a good phone to a bad phone."

Though there were a few folks who said that I'd be happier with the Bold, the overwhelmingly negative responses got me thinking: what's up with all the BlackBerry hating?

I've had an iPhone 3G since its release and I've tested the BlackBerry Bold. I like them both. Am I alone?

What I like (and don't) about the iPhone

The iPhone 3G, my current mobile phone, is a fine device. I love that I have my iTunes library at my fingertips. I enjoy exploring all the apps in the App Store. And I especially like the iPhone's Web browser. In my testing, it's second to none.

But my biggest complaint about the iPhone is its virtual keyboard, which I've never been able to get used to. The allure of the touch-screen has worn off and I'm left wondering why I ever wanted to "swipe" and "pinch" in the first place. I've also had trouble with sound quality on my iPhones. Both my first-gen model and the iPhone 3G have poor speakerphones (something I use often). I'm generally unimpressed with the call quality.

What I like (and don't) about the BlackBerry Bold

The BlackBerry Bold is a slick mobile phone that has all the extras I'm looking for, including slightly more-refined Contacts and Calendar features and a physical keyboard. I also tend to like the BlackBerry's OS more than the iPhone's.

But my desire to have a Bold goes beyond the simple stuff. It has a better battery life in my testing. Its e-mail program, something I use every hour, is much better than the iPhone's. Plus, the Bold allows me to record video, which is a big plus.

I still have my reservations, though. RIM's app store, the BlackBerry App World, isn't nearly as user-friendly or filled with high-quality app's as Apple's store. The device's browser is pathetic compared to the iPhone's. And the fact that I can't have easy access to iTunes is an issue. Worse, it's an extremely expensive device. I would be forced to pay $549.99 plus tax to get it, since I don't quality for two-year contract discounts.

But even with those issues, the BlackBerry Bold is still an outstanding device that deserves all the praise it receives. Some might find reasons why the iPhone is better than the Bold, but in my testing of both phones, I found that the latter is better suited for me.

Realizing that, I'm hard-pressed to find evidence supporting the aforementioned statements made by my followers about the Bold. The Bold isn't an "awful" mobile phone, it isn't a second-rate device compared to the iPhone, and it isn't lacking value. And it most certainly doesn't warrant the kind of distaste some folks harbor whenever it's compared to the iPhone.

As far as I'm concerned, it's a (slightly) more appealing mobile phone.

Check out Don's Digital Home podcast, Twitter stream, and FriendFeed.

[lavellemueller]

You're right Don, I think it's just a little ignorant to say that the iPhone is superior to the Bold in ever way. Certain people have different needs for their mobile devices, and the iPhone just happens to be such a well rounded phone that it covers most everyone's bases. I have no issues with the virtual keyboard, but I know that plenty of people are really dependent on the tactile feedback of a well made physical keyboard. They're both at the top of their class, but neither are perfect... blackberry hate is just as ignorant as windows hate. (I am an iPhone and Mac user, to be clear)

[TechnoMan475392]

I'm a mixed bag about this whole thing. You could call me a mutt in the computer world: I love both PCs and Macs very much (and equally). I have a normal dumbphone, but use my iPod Touch for email, calendar, music, etc. I have used blackberrys before and can see their appeal, but the textual menus aren't for me, even though 4.6 helps. I don't really care about the keyboards, but can't use the Pearl (my hands are HUGE). Autocorrect on my iPod is a boon, and allows me to really fire off text.

I am envious of you, because being in one ecosystem is really handy. I'm in the google ecosystem myself, which makes for some headaches (I finally got my calendar to sync with my iPod) but overall works well.

I guess I just bored you with more opinions...I forgot what I really meant to say before rambling...

Oh yeah! Yes, ignorant hate is stupid. I use a PC because of the wide (not necessarily wideR, but seemingly easier to come by) variety of hardware. I use macs regularly, as my friends, mom (oddly), and my brother have macbooks, iMacs, etc., and I still have my PowerBook from around 1991 laying around.

Just my three cents.
Jack

[Mergatroid Mania]

There's no mystery here. You got the classic reaction everyone gets when they tell a fanboy you don't like something he likes.

Simple as that. That one guy who says he gets "nauseous when someone claims they don't like the iPhone." is a real tool. Tell him to get a life.

Ask him if he throws up when someone tells him they like a different TV or car than he does.People who are this attached to any device really need to get some help.

[Hep Cat]

Oh, somebody call the waaaaahmbulance!

[retrojet]

I have both an iPhone and a Blackberry Curve. While the Curve is not the Bold--it's so disappointing to use it instead of the iPhone. I have to use the BB for my new job, so I'm actually phasing the iPhone out. What a bummer. The iPhone is just nicer to look at and use, even if it doesn't have a physical keyboard or video recording. The App Store is awesome, the browser is way better than the BB one, having access to your iTunes is fantastic...need I say more? I guess everyone has their own preferences, but for me, it's a no-brainer. I wish our corporate IT guys would adopt the iPhone. The BB is so utilitarian and while it is great for email, it's really just a one-trick pony. Don, I'll bet you come back to the iPhone eventually...but if you don't, I hope they improve their App Store, for your sake!

[d_anders]

Why do you need to use BB at work? If your work has MS Exchange/Outlook and has a webmail server connected to it, it's highly likely that that you can use your Iphone to get work email and calendar integration.

Many folks don't know that the Iphone 2.0 software with activesync allows you to connect to exchange email. Just setup the activesync software to your webmail server address, select SSL encryption, enter your work domain/userid and password and see what happens. This exact same connectivity allows free push services to MS based Mobiles.

This all said, don't get me wrong, I am a BB Bold user myself. I can understand the appeal of iphone and the BB Storm...who wouldn't want the large screen? But like Don, I can't do email on a mobile phone without a descent true qwerty keyboard. As soon as BB or Apple comes out a slider keyboard model with a large touch screen, I'll be trying them out myself.

[TechnoMan475392]

@ d_anders

His work probably has a Blackberry Connect server.

[walelia]

I like the iPhone and Blackberry and they definitely have their uses and appeal. I agree with the previous commenter that you got the reaction of the fanboy who is aghast that you disagree with him. Alas for them!

I say enjoy the Blackberry. I recently switched carriers (got the iPhone) and I know that I'll miss my Blackberry even as I enjoy my iPhone.

Isn't it just possible to like both? :)

[oassaf]

I feel the same way as you guy... they should put their hands together and make a superphone...or will the universe collapse...

[jasonlackey]

Actually, as a marketing guy, I gotta hand it to Steve, he has done a hell of a job building something way beyond brand loyalty, in ways he has built a cult, a cult which has some pretty strong reactions to any sort of suggestion that they are on anything but the One True Path.

It is funny, in my off time I am into motorcycles and shooting - both activities which tend to inspire strong feelings and opinions about hardware. Although these area inspire strong feelings, I would feel much better telling someone that the 1911 .45 in his range bag is an outdated piece of crap than I would feel about telling an iPhone user that the lack of battery life or keyboard are dealkillers for me. The reaction is likely to be calmer and less violent from the guy with the .45.

I would feel better walking up to the scary looking guy with jailhouse tats on his knuckles on a Harley and comment on how I thought that aircooled pushrod motors were more suited to museums and history books than roads up in the Santa Cruz mountains than I would to go to on an online forum and express my opinion that having to use both a desktop computer and a music application to update a phone was not the best way in the world to handle updates in a world where we have FOTA and OTA management and good stuff like that.

Who'da thunk that people would be so passionate about a phone? Great phone, yes, particularly the UI, but certainly not perfect and certainly not without flaws.

[outlaw26r]

1911 .45 is a piece of crap? I know it's a bit off topic (and one that could go on for a long time just like iphone/ BB conversations) Having used a beretta 9 mil. in combat situations I wish the army would go back to the 1911. At least it has stopping power. If the army could at least switch to a .40 cal then I would be happy.

And I have to agree with you, cause this is a discussion that has been brought up countless times while I was in the service. I think it is calmer with firearms because everything is related to shooters preference. We can argue all we want but at the end of the day, it's what you want to carry. At the end of the day it comes down to shooters preference.

[Random_Walk]

As an owner of two Colt 1911 .45 variants, I respectfully disagree with your assessment. I have found that while the .45 is a bit harder for the aaverage novice to get used to (due to its narrow frame), once you do it is a beauty to use.

I've heard the arguments before, about magazine capacity (but then, I can get 10-round clips for it no sweat), and being "hard" to aim (buy a Pachmayr grip to thicken up the thing if it's that hard to use...)

Dunno - the .40 and 9mm rigs are nice and all, but there's nothing that can compare to the .45 slug's kinetic momentum, the pure ease of cleaning and maintenance, or the fact that you can get parts for it literally anywhere.

But then, that's just me.

As for the iPhone versus Blackberry? Meh. I use a Blackberry, but then, I'm not paying for the pleasure of doing so. If I had to pay for the cellie bill, then I'd get an iPhone.

[ittesi259]

I prefer my Glock Model 17 so in terms of this debate would make me someone who prefers Android??

Actually I have a BB Curver 8320 and I love it. I wouldn't mind an iPhone but the service plans are complete crap.

[jasonlackey]

outlaw, random_walk - I just used the venerable .45 as an example of something that is very polarizing that many feel passionately about. Fine gun, nice deep bark, mellow push instead of sharp snap for recoil, was amazed when I hit a soda can at 40 yards with my first shot with a Kimber that some guy at the range had just handed me despite the fact that I am not very handy with a pistol. Did not expect that.

ittesi - I like the Glock/Android analogy - very fitting.

Glad that there is some overlap with phones and guns. It will be interesting if Apple can get over the no buttons fetish and put a keyboard on the iPhone...

[seven7dust]

I'm a iPhone fanboy all the way
but I understand the need and usefulness
of Blackberries {exept the Storm}
Hell even the President uses one for Gods sake !

the only products that totally Suck are LG touch Phones along with their Windows Mobile Operating system !

I think the Palm Pre when it releaes will be perfect for you !
since it has the bells and whisles of the iPhone {except the app store} along with much coveted Physical keyboard of the Bold !

[RTFM]

The President actually uses a MS device that is secured. I wish I had the link!

[RTFM]

Well I stand corrected. But Obama still does not have it up and running yet. http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/01/23/obama-blackberry.html?ref=rss

[gopnick]

I like both devices. That said, I've had a lot of guys say, "I miss my Blackberry," get rid of their iPhone, and come back begging for their iPhones within days. Sometimes our desire, as techy guys, for constant change is detrimental. You'll be disappointed in your Blackberry once the new wears off.

[drakken35]

Seems to me it's just the same ol' tiresome childish backlash one gets from certain fanatical Apple 'fans' regarding any device or computer that isn't Apple. I happen to like both the iPhone and the Blackberry and why, in some people's opinion, liking one must exclude liking the other, is beyond me.

[sodablue]

I absolutely love my Blackberry Pearl. But then I bought it for the sound quality of the phone after having had 2-3 phones that seemed incapable of making phone calls.

[oassaf]

I have to agree with you as well, as a former Blackberry User and current iPhone user, you can easily tell the difference between the 2. Both have some really good strengths, and in many ways I want to switch back to the blackberry, the email, texting and overall messaging system, I feel just works better. But then as Gopnick said, I would miss the other stuff the iPhone does. I know a few people who use both, the Berry for emailing and business and the iPhone for browsing, apps and other things. It's weird they both have their place and its really a shame to say that one sucks straight out. I am as big a fan of the iPhone as the next guy, however you can not challenge how much better a blackberry is at emailing and standard messaging in genera

[trevorbsmith]

Your experience with the virtual keyboard (which seems similar to other Blackberry-trained users' claims) intrigues me. I have never owned a Blackberry or any such device with a tiny keyboard. I do not have large hands, for a man. I have maybe once or twice tried to peck something out on one and found it constrictive, to say the least. I feared that using the iPhone would be at least as difficult, if not more so.

To my surprise, however, I can crank out text at the same speed on my iPhone as all the Blackberry addicts that I see on the elevator do on their devices. What's more, I was able to achieve this speed immediately upon getting the iPhone. Even better: I completely gave in to the system's suggestive typing feature within a day of getting it and it gets words wrong only one time out of very many sentences. Its accuracy is astounding.

So I wonder: might all the reluctance and dissatisfaction with the iPhone's virtual keyboard actually be a function of prior training (to use the Blackberry's keyboard)? Just speculation.

My 2 big gripes about the iPhone (of which I am quite enthusiastically a fan boy):

1. The call log is RIDICULOUSLY lame. Every phone on the planet has better ability to display stats than the iPhone.

2. The touch screen is prone to accidental touches, disconnecting or making calls inadvertently.

However, the fact that my iPhone is an astounding little computer that does nearly every thing I could imagine or want, plus it's cool and just plain delightful to use make up for these inconveniences. The OS is stellar and apparently about to get even better.

[popop26]

the touch screen really isnt prone to disconnecting or making calls inadvertently. Once the phone comes close to your ear, the screen disables and then its super easy to hit the top stand by button to lock the screen before throwing in pocket etc.

[pjhenry1216]

I find the suggestive typing feature to be a mixed bag. It messes up a LOT with me and I hate it when I type faster than it suggests so I hit the space before it suggests something and then it just changes it. Then I try to correct it and hoping that since I'm correcting it, it won't bother suggesting the SAME thing again, but alas it does. I then have to wait for the suggestion, x it out, and then type. At typos, its great, but it really sucks when it wants to change something you want to keep.

I've had accidental touches, but insomuch as it would occur on any touch screen in that I accidentally touch the screen. The only one I'd find would actually fix this is the Storm because you have to click and not just touch. I haven't had much experience with typing on the Storm so I can't say much about it, especially since I'm so used to the iPhone, it was just weird using something else. However, I must say I am envious of a lot of stuff available to Blackberry users and the in time App World will get better, I mean, it just launched. Plus, a lot of developers may find it easier to be noticed on App World than the App Store, so that may work in their favor.

[wayneb22]

I am a recent Iphone convert.......I would say as long as you stay AWAY from Windows 6.1 you should be fine!

[jaxstephens]

I'm not a fanboy of anything, but I'm a long-time user of PDAs and smartphones since the original Palm Pilot (yes, before they dropped the Pilot moniker). I've had and now have a Windows Mobile phone. (Hate them.) I've used and supported BlackBerry and iPhone devices in an IT capacity.

Windows Mobile is crap, and I think everyone at this point realizes that. BlackBerry has an antiquated OS like Windows Mobile, just not so extreme. BlackBerry OS does two things really well: phone and email functionality. That's it.

Otherwise, BlackBerry has been trying to match the smoothness of Apple's iPhone OS by retrofitting things into it, like how touch was bolted on with the much-maligned BlackBerry Storm. BlackBerry just doesn't get it. When I use that OS, I feel like I'm in a communist country or something. It's cold, boring, sterile. My next phone will be an iPhone unless Palm's WebOS really kills.

[hewness1]

I agree completely with your assessment of both devices. Apple has done an absolutely brilliant job of marketing - convincing many that in order to be hip and cutting-edge, you must go iphone/Mac/etc. And, to those who are susceptible to such marketing - especially those who really NEED to feel that way - the iPhone/Mac/etc. is the ONLY option.

Even beyond the iPhone, I use highend HP's and Mac's every day in the LA film/video post-production world. And I have yet to sit on a Mac that is as snappy and consistent as the HP's. This is an unpopular truth. But, once again, the pursuit of perceived hipness must take second place to reality, in my experience.

Ofcourse, we're still comparing two incredibly powerful, ingenius technologies. One is not crap and the other gold. But, clearly, the overwhelming "anti-BB, anti-PC" collective out there has no reasonable basis/support for its' attitudes - other than an increasingly transparent Apple marketing campaign.

[Maarek Stele]

More iPhone haters who think the iPhone Fad is just a fad. The phone is a POS and will break easily.

2nd, you will lose everything if you don't backup iTunes which stores your account. You will have to pay for everything again if you need to restore the phone and computer.

3rd. Palm, Microsoft, etc got it right the first time. You can copy paste. 3.0 when ever it comes out will finally have it, but you still can't multitask which is VERY important for a cell phone.

4th. Apple will make you spend $400 for the new hardware whenever it comes out thinking that Apple users will spend an arm & leg for their latest devices.

Finally, the iPhone is a revamp of Palm's Palm Pilot. You run 1 application at a time. Apple should have just rebuilt the Newton and kept the name.

[pdditty]

Maarek, Apple did not make its first generations iPhone owners pay $400 when the 3G iPhone was released. They were still eligible for the $200/$300 price points.

You make it seem like backing up your computer is a new concept. If I buy a CD from Best Buy and lose it can I go back to Best Buy and take one right off the shelf? No. So I dont get it where you are going with this.

The iPhone is not a perfect phone, it has its shortcomings but when you package it all together its positives outweigh its negatives by a mile.

[seven7dust]

thx for your insightful comments
they have so opened our minds
we had no idea the iPhone lacked all those things !

[ajneuman]

I got a lot of crap from people when I returned the iPhone 3G and replaced it with a Nokia N95-4. In the end I'm much happier with my N95 and even though it's not as slick... It offers so much more in terms of features and flexibility.

[petersenj612--2008]

I think that the key phrase in the article is "I found that the latter is better suited for me." That's a perfectly valid statement and not an indictment or denigration. That's why I am a committed iPhone user. Because the iPhone integrates with my life and work seamlessly, (iTunes, videos, mobileme, contacts, appointments, bookmarks, etc.) it is a much better platform for me to use. It all comes down to using the tools that enable one to perform better.

[deadweight02]

I had a BBerry 8800 for the last two years. 4 months ago I switched to the iPhone and I will never look back. The 8800 was a "corporate phone" no camera, etc. but the browser SUCKED, looking at Excel spreadsheets SUCKED, reading attachments and PDFs SUCKED.

What sucks about the iPhone 3G? no copy/paste (although that is supposed to be fixed with the next OS release - a number of jailbroken friends already have it) and no rollover mouse events like you would expect with a normal browser.

The majority of the corporate applications I am using now have a web front end to them - if you are running reports often, working with workflow management software or even configuring Cisco's new Call Manager devices you will find that using a phone with a sub-par browser is pitting you against technology.

Besides - anyone else here ever have their corporate Blackberry email server go down? Let me count the times....

The ability of the iPhone to link to a WAP for web sessions is so much better than 3G or standard service it is also a no-brainer.

I am now into a contract with the iPhone so I will not be moving to the Bold anytime soon - I will need a more compelling reason than anything cited in your article to do this.

[dsgscott]

I have been a Backberry user for 10 years, I am the guy at the store the day the new model is released. However, my son is an Iphone user, watching him play on it became so atractive I had to give it a try. The bottom line is that the iphone is looooong on fun, short on practicality and I returned it with in one week.

From the keyboard, to the battery life, to the contact management, to the email functionality (or lack there of the backing up and restoration of data.....I found the iphone so far behind Blackberry that I felt like I was using Zach Morris' cell phone from Saved By The Bell.

That being said, the Bold is not perfect. However, the Bold in a Curve form factor will be released this year and that will be the perfect bb for me.


While some of the issues for the Iphone will be resolved with Apple's new OS. There is nothing like a Blackberry for contact, management, calander, sms, mms, and obviously email.

In regards to internet browsing the Opera browser is a nice fix but it will never be equal to Safari. And I do not see the App store from Blackberry ever equaling that of Apple's However from a business user prospective: I would rather be sure my data is available and secure than my game of Iphone beer bong is up and running.

So while the Iphone is hip, the blackberry is practical and functional That is where I believe the hate comes from. Iphone users are passionate about their apps, blackberry users are passionate about their data.

[nixermac]

I am as much concerned about data as the style dude.