Folks, I love Microsoft, I love Windows Vista, I love Windows Mobile, but I shudder at the idea, and currently the real possibility of Microsoft either buying RIM is a hostile takeover scenario, or RIM selling out to its shareholders, and selling to Microsoft!

We need competition, and again, Windows Mobile (especially 6.1 Pro) is awesome. But I love the Blackberry OS (4.5 and 4.6) basically equally as much. RIM has to remain RIM.

What say you, folks??

not only NO but HECK NO

Wirelessly posted (Yep, wirelessly posted.)

I feel sorry for you. (And anyone else who believes everything they read on the internet.)

There are already several threads on this topic. And you love Win Mobile?

Wirelessly posted (Verizon 8830)

I want whomever provides the best product at the best price

Wirelessly posted

Having used both I would say "if" it were to happen the blend of each OS would benefit the consumer.

I specifically bought a blackberry because I preferred it's menu to that of windows. It'd be a total drag not to have the option.

Competition = better variety of choices for the consumer. I prefer the BB OS, but my wife is a WM fan. A resounding "No".

Rubbish to this "idea!" I love the simplicity and competition of the BB OS? Win will just have to kick it up a notch in the creativity department.

Agreed.

Unfortunately, a M$ buyout of RIM would simply be to eliminate the competition and clear the way for their platform. Not for any love or desire of either the BB hardware or software.

A M$ buy out would go something like this.

1. Both platforms would co-exist for a time, however you would see little advancement on the BB OS platform. M$ philosophy of Embrace, Extend, Extinguish is put in motion.
2. Gradual transition from BB OS to Win Mobile OS on their newest hardware.
3. Hardware would be dropped, all development on BB OS would end and there would be nothing left of what had been the BB.
4. End result, Win Mobile would be the only serious contender in the enterprise market.

Mission Accomplished, another great product slayed M$ style. This sleazy company does this all the time, don't think for a minute they wouldn't do it to BB.

Yes, I do like Windows Mobile, BUT the Blackberry OS is just awesome! When I got my first Blackberry, I couldn't believe I could figure the whole thing out in a few hours. There's excellent logic to it, and you don't even need a touchscreen.

That's why I would not want to see a Microsoft takeover of RIM. I just got the Treo Pro and WM 6.1 works great, but I still look at it as a hopefully SOON-to-be backup device when the Blackberry Bold comes out. I put the iPhone far, FAR behind both Blackberry AND Windows Mobile. I have ONE more, and it is for sale.

Especially after playing around with a Bold, man, what an awesome feel, and OS 4.6 looks to be excellent as well. It's a pain in the a$$ to implement Push email in the WinMo, when since BIS 2.5, it is a piece of cake with virtually no need of any configuration of any kind.

In my humble opinion this is what business is all about. If you cant beat them you buy them, bring them into the fold; take their ideas and use them to better your company. Simple economics. Survival of the fittest.

Given, but how could that be good for RIM or for anyone who uses the BB like some are saying. And by the way M$ generally doesn't take your ideas. M$ has always felt their way was the best way, whether it sucked or not. You would get nothing of BB OS in the takeover.

I have had a great career with MS products and like respect the company. I have had a PDA with Windows mobile and prefer the Blackberry and hope MS doesn't buy them. Keep things they way they are, seperate.

I cannot imagine why someone would want WM on their BlackBerry unless they had no experience with it. I've tried several WM devices as _secondary_ phones, just for the experience. Not as a replacement for my trusty BlackBerry. I find the WM experience both then (1st ver) and now, slow, cumbersome, buggy, and unstable.

Nothing beats a BlackBerry in my opinion, absolutely nothing...

Cheers