RIM’s problems have been clear for all to see with Google Android the leading smartphone operating system, Nokia appearing revitalised and fresh with Windows 7.5 and all Office365 can bring, not to mention apple iPad emphatically dominating the tablet market.
I remembering blogging last year, although not on this timeline, that I was eager to get my hands on the BlackBerry Playbook, there had been delay after delay on it’s launch and I really wanted one to supplement the productivity of my 9780.
When I did finally get my hands on it in July 2011 I was underwhelmed, the novelty factor of a sweeping and smooth touchscreen on a BlackBerry faded quickly and within weeks it was gone and my 9780 was traded in for an HTC Trophy to harness the power of our Microsoft Office 365 integration.
Now despite reading about some very impressive features, being able to use your BlackBerry handset as mouse and keyboard is a big plus for those of us that just cannot punch out emails and reports as quickly on touch screens, but it might be too late, well for me at least.
Now everything I need works seamlessly through my windows phone, and with handset choices from HTC in the Radar & Titan, ZTE Tania, Samsung Omnia W and Nokia Lumia 800 & 900 (4.3″ AMOLED screen!!!) to choose from when I get bored I can’t see a move back to BlackBerry for the Playbook only.
For those of you loyal to your full QWERTY keypad, the good news is that you will soon be able to access the full Android app market on your BlackBerry once they launch the new OS, so if you haven’t moved maybe it isn’t too late and in true Rocky fashion, RIM will pick themselves up off the canvas and land a knockout blow of their own.