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It’s the Keyboard, Stupid
By Mark Evans | September 23, 2008
For all the talk about whether the iPhone is going to hammer the Blackberry, there are plenty of reasons why that won’t happen.
Perhaps the biggest - and the most obvious - is the Blackberry has a fully-functional keyboard so you can easily write e-mails, text messages and blog posts.
Aside from the Blackberry’s durability and robust e-mail system, the keyboard is arguably the Blackberry’s killer app. Sure, people complain their thumbs are too big for the keys but, all in all, you can type quickly with a Blackberry. That’s something you can’t say with the iPhone, which uses a touch-screen keyboard.
According to Walter Mossberg, Google’s new G1 phone has a keyboard, although he says “The keys are a bit flat, and you have to reach your right thumb around a bulging portion of the phone’s body to type”.
So for all you Blackberry naysayers - and I’m talking to you BusinessWeek - now you know what the Blackberry is still riding high.
More: If the G1 ever comes to Canada, I’d love to give it a whirl. Still waiting on the Samsung Instinct. For more on the G1, go here and read to your heart’s content.
Technorati Tags: blackberry, google
September 23rd, 2008 at 3:39 pm
After two weeks of using a Blackberry Bold and six weeks of using an iPhone, your point is probably the number two reason Blackberry will stick around (has nothing to fear?). When you see the display on the Bold you will find the number one reason. The Bold’s display changes the usage algorithms and dynamics.
September 23rd, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Have to agree with you Mark. As I have had an iPhone for the past 3 weeks and previously been a long time blackberry user I can definitely say the keyboard on the iPhone sucks for email. I would actually have to say that the number one problem with the iPhone is that the yahoo push mail doesn’t work at all (which was part of the hype) and with the new v2.1 fetch email doesn’t work with any email. It is funny that this gets no press at all, but a simple google search and you will see support threads on apple’s site with hundreds of users complaining that the email doesn’t really work. Blackberry is extremely realiable for email and always has been. Until apple gets with the program and recognizes they have a tone of work to do for email to work correctly, there is absolutely no way that iPhone could ever compete with RIM for email. All that said the lack of a real keyboard does still suck.
My iPhone is sure cool though.
September 23rd, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Microsoft/Rim propagandists hard at work. Including the paid comments above.
September 23rd, 2008 at 7:09 pm
[...] giving everyone a first glance at Google’s first attempt at a mobile OS. Although pundits and bloggers are debating the relative merits of each device, the various plans, and the differences in [...]
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:32 pm
“zato Says:
Microsoft/Rim propagandists hard at work. Including the paid comments above.”
Have you compared the two? Or is your Mac Emo acting up?
September 24th, 2008 at 5:36 am
As a long time bb user and a 4 week user of the iPhone, I respectfully disagree on the issues with the keyboard. The iPhone is not as good (but not by much) but it works and it works remarkably well. What surprises me is the auto correct function in real time which makes up for the challenges of a touch screen key board. Without auto correct, the iPhone would be a disaster as a keyboard, especially for someone with large fingers.
I have also not had the issues with email as noted above. I have multiple accounts and have not had a problem. What I have had is an incredibly effective interface…opening and reading documents with clarity, ease, and flexibility.
Bottom line, the iPhone is a game changing device and if BB is relying on a real keyboard as its killer app, then they have a problem…but the BB folks are smarter than that…
September 24th, 2008 at 7:25 am
E Guy,
Thanks for the perspective on the iPhone vs. the BB keyboard. The one thing about RIM that has puzzled me for awhile is why the browser experience has been so mediocre for so long. Sure, there might not have fast enough networks to make it work well but surfing on a BB has always been terrible. As well, the BB should have had a kick-ass audio player long ago given the rise of digital music.
September 24th, 2008 at 9:39 am
Re: bb browser. That is the primary reason I got an iPhone. The non-email experience is just 100 times better. But if i was looking for a device for primarily email…. The iPhone has 10 years of work to do.
September 24th, 2008 at 9:41 am
By the way. Check out all the people here who have problems with iPhone email.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1708956#8128148
September 25th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
The Strength of the Blackberry…
Mark Evans posted a bit about what he thought was the strength of the blackberry, which is its keyboard. While I agree with Mark that the keyboard is easy and makes popping of an email quick, I have seen my friends with iPhones do it just as quick as m…
September 25th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Okay I have an Instinct, not an iPhone, but I did switch to it from a blackberry! I have to say I actually find my on-screen keyboard MUCH easier to use than the one one my blackberry. My only issues are with the keyboard not popping up for certain apps! But if that kink is worked out I’d say I’m completely impressed by the on-screen touch keyboard and I didn’t expect to be at all. Almost went with an HTC with slide out keyboard because of it, but my concerns have been completely alleviated. So if that’s all Blackberry has as it’s “killer” app, they better watch out.
September 26th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
have you heard anything about this new phone. Saw this on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2MBwR7qouw