Hating the Blackberry handheld devices.

I’m sorry. I try so hard not to hate them. I really like the Enterprise Server, the functionality it provides, the security that embraces the whole experience, even the BOFH style control that the BES gives me over the handsets. Even the BES has its limitations on “like” though. Everything is just so bloody complicated with it. You have so many different settings to get one thing working, all hidden in different places, that it takes 20 minutes just to figure out that some numpty has removed the capability to open PDF files. Then it takes another 20 minutes to re-enable it.

The devices are the worst though. Screens that format wrong, screens that are too small to do anything meaningful with, settings and options that need a two day advanced course (such as I am on now) to figure out what they all do.

And, what the hell is the point of a full keyboard and a touchscreen? Look at the image above. That’s a Blackberry Bold 9900. Supposedly one of the flagship devices. The screen isn’t big enough to be useful and the keyboard requires pencil thin finger tips to allow typing at any speed with accuracy. Sure, one can just mash the keyboard – most likely it will turn out a more comprehensive email – but at the end you have probably just insulted the CEO’s wife’s favourite episode of Don’t Tell The Bride which is just going to earn you your P45.

Try going to a phone shop and tell them you want the full touchscreen Blackberry. The conversation will go something like:

Rep: Which model Sir? The 9800, 9810, 9830 or 9860.
You: Huh? What’s the difference?
Rep: Well, the 9800 has touchscreen, the 9810 a better touchscreen and the 9860 has no keyboard. Possibly some technobabble will appear here too.
You: *head explodes*
You (after recovering): Give me an iPhone…

Now take into account the app-support on the device and this does not make a good consumer device. I think RIM realised this and are pulling out of the consumer market. Of course, the people in the corporate market still want the gucci toys and games on their device, it just means they don’t have to pay for it…

Give me the iPhone with all its “fan-boi” and baaah type comments that go with it, or an Android device with its lack of security on the Android market and I am much happier than with the over-priced piles of tosh that RIM churn out.