I would like to see the number(s) of user (even new user) want next Blackberry device loaded with Microsoft or Blackberry software.

Let's the vote begins...


phil

1st vote... hehe

Would like to see Microsoft with BB but you never see that happen....Gates to money hungry..

MS might have nice "flashy" features, but doesn't compare when it comes to email

or reliability

I think we have a WINNER!

having used both platforms... I vote no.. the RIM solution is far superior to the ms solution.

I have bounced back and forth for years. I have always had a blackberry (well at least since the 9XX days) and the old pager style was a hard to use PIM so I had Ipaqs, Axim and Palms.. played with each and though each to have their pros. Once BB came out with qwerty and cell phone enabled, the game was over for the rest. Sold the axim and bought a 6510. I will not go back to the MS OS unless they make it more stable and business oriented with wireless email, sync, etc with the same ease and stablilty of BB with BES.

BTW -- 20:1 in favor of the Blackberry at this point.
-G2D

Im all for the bb os. the only thing i like about microsoft os is that they have support for media like mp3s and stuff. being the musician that I am i need to have that stuff. i would like the idea of having a blackberry with a media playing program (not that it would ever happen)... but other than that bb is the best. I can deal with carrying my blackberry on my belt and an ipod in my pocket.

I vote for teh BB OS. As to media I don't see why it can't it already opens a media app when an MP3 tune is downloaded (based on the 8700). It will not take much to expnad it. However, they need some extra memory via either an internal or external micro cards.

I love BB OS. It is far superior organized OS. I can easily navigating and comforting with it. I don't see why would RIM adds alternative OS like MS on next device. There is very small percent of users want it loaded with MS OS. Not that important for RIM to consider it.

I was thinking that there should be some way to use a program on the 8700 to listen to mp3's (not as a ringtone preview or anything like that) since it is compatible with mp3 ringtones... but im not sure. I dont think RIM is focusing on media viewing features right now. If they were... they would most likely make a BIG impact on people... especially younger people who listen to a lot of music. I have a lot of friends with phones that play mp3's and ive suggested to them that they need to get a blackberry and they said if they supported mp3 playing then they would. So im sure if RIM added this feature they would gain some costomers. Of course they would need to have some sort of expandible memory feature also... or just have a 30 gb hard drive like that ipod blackberry everyone has been talking about lately

I agree it is not worth anything if it does not have the memory expansion. All of my other phones are capapble o playing MP3 and in all honesty I do not use it. I use the extra storage for other things when I need the space.

Yea.... it needs expandible memory. I would sure use the feature though... being a professional drummer i need to have my music.

I agree it needs expandable memory for storing data such as music, multimedia, business documents, photo, and just abt everything. I believe that RIM will do this one at a time. Could be music/multimedia player or camera or expandable memory with music/multimedia player or other ideas depends what RIM think what's best for the first step toward personal and business use.

I know that RIM will consider abt those things. BB OS will be upgraded with the new features that are capable of playing music/ multimedia and camera without MS OS need.


I really don't expect RIM do it all at once. It could costs them and us a lot of money.

Rim will probably never have expandable memory because they sell alot of BB to goverment workers and thats a security problem if people can just put documents on a card and take them and send them to whoever.

how true! I understand its not secure for the business and government.

RIM will have to increase internal memory 128MB - 4GB to be able to store as much as we can.

I am consumer myself I love BB and I could live without the expandable memory.

I was thinking RIM should offers two models one with and the other without camera like PDA did. So individuals that don't work in business/governemnt enviroment can purchase with camera to enjoy photographing.

I was thinking abt music/multimedia features - Is it really threaten governemnt?

The only thing I can't wait for AIM finally avail for BB in the near future so I can use it without incur extra charges from Cingular. Because it becomes qualified application for the BB which is part of data plan. I depend IM everyday. And that I dont have to have BES at extra charge a month.

I think actually that there is a very small percent of users, and more importantly potential users, who actually care what OS is loaded. I am not talking about the CrackBerry Addicts that read these forums, however, the vast majority of BlackBerry users probably couldn't even tell you what OS their BlackBerry runs, let alone care if it is BB OS v4 or Windows Mobile.

To be honest, if RIM came out with a BlackBerry powered by Windows Mobile, you would problably see an significant increase in consumer oriented sales much like we are seeing right now around the Treo 700w.

Whether we CrackBerry Addicts will admit it or not the BB OS being better than Windows Mobile has little to do with the spin generating positioning power of the name Microsoft that would probably make a Windows Mobile Powered BlackBerry one of, if not the best selling PDAs to ever hit the market.

Having used and tested most devices, RIM is definately for me. BlackBerry is a tool, whereas a full on MS based PDA is more of a toy. Of the people I know who have these things, they are barely ever used for productivity. If I want MP3's I have my iPod and if I want movies on the move and gaming, that's what I have my PSP for - my BlackBerry on the ther hand, that's my corporate workhorse!

Mmm...I will have to agree with you about the increase in sales. Businsess people and the individuals can choose what OS they want to suit their needs.

Its all up to RIM.

RIM will not let any MS OS on their units.
There is only 2 1/2 mobile OS's out there RIM , MS , and what's left of palm .

MS have already started work on ther own knock off of blackberry instant email services, and its to be included in one of ther next versions of exchange server. Which if server admins did the same as most home users, they would leave the ms equivelent on and decide to use that as its already there. So glad server administrators hav a different attitude to home users. And we know being 1st and established is not always the same as being the winner, just look at palm, better system but wernt fast enough to keep up with a changing market.

Not sure I completely agree with that - the government uses CD-Rs don't they? This notion that memory cards and USB sticks are inherently more insecure than other soft media really gets to me </rant>

sorry

Iv worked in goverment buildings and the systems I used had the cd drives disabled under windows, only ever used as a boot device for image restores, and memory sticks etc would not work on ther systems, the only way anyone could get any data out of the building would be in there head or as a print off.

A BB gives u a method of removing data but as it requires a password to get to the data otherwise it wipes it its seen as secure. However having a memory card storing some of the data would alow someone to duplicate the card then begin a brute force crack/hack (never sure which is which) on the password knowing that if they get it wrong it wont wipe the data from all existence, only that card which they have already backed up.

I vote for the BB OS. I have used used various Windows Mobile Editions (including SE and 5). The BB OS and hardware seems much more stable. I had 1 Compaq PPC (before they merged with hp. I forgot the OS used way back then), 3 hp iPAQ 6315s (forgot the OS on these too), and 2 Dell Axims (Windows Mobile 2003 SE and Windows Mobile 5). I'd like to tinker around with a Treo with BB Connect (are these out in the US yet?) to see what it offers.

the only way to improve on blackberry software is if we had apple developers working on the project...

i have used BB for the past 6 years and would drop it in a heartbeat if it convereted to windows...

microsoft is the most useless company out there, thier innovation curve is a the c angle decline of any bell shaped arc out there, and i seriously doubt they will back us up the way BB does.

Further, their focus is horrible, I cannot imagine using a windows os on my BB, the treo 700 was the hottest thing when it hit the shelves...not over 20% have b een recalled due to software conflict with the hardware....just face it, one day google will rule the world and eventually but out microsoft....

i vote to keep out BB software

When you look at th fact that

Symbian still holds about 70% of the mobile market
Linux mobile has about 15% mainly in Asia
Palm OS has about 12% posibly more with the treos selling well
Wm5 has about 10%
BB well doesnt show on the stats iv seen

And that Wm5.5 or whatever the next version is will have an MS equivelent of BB connect built in, because ther never happy with someone elses solution to the problem, always wanting to build ther own. Then BB Wm5 will never happen IMO. Linux and Wm5 here, a larger kernel scaled down is good for easier addaption of applications, but requires far to much processing power to do the simplest of tasks. Esspecially as they both have true multitasking, slowing them even further until applications begin crashing. Whereas PalmOS5 has only a couple of background threads, so you can keep your music and wifi receiver (which would invoke BB connect or a phone app when needed) running behind everything and then the foreground apps save state and close when moved between just as fast as if they we'r kept running but less resource hungry. An we'v already BB connect on Treos.

Yes Im a Palm owner as well as a BB owner...

But see, you assume the gov't works in shades of grey. They don't

Guards of secure areas (limited areas or top secret) now know that NO BB has that capability, so it's easy to give it a once over and wave you through. Once BB gets any kind of memory expansion or camera, it's going to be another ballgame entirely

my experiences come from working at both Naval Station Norfolk (Naval Operations Base) and Strategic Weapons Facility, Pacific in Bangor

I hate to sound simple in my thought process, but aren't all companies going to look for ways to expand their businesses. If so, RIM can't be 100% focused on what government/business want.

I understand the need for security in those sectors, but if RIM decides on expandable memory cards, it becomes a matter of "leave your miniSD at the door." (Or whatever memory card they decide on)

People and businesses are demanding more from their devices. Better power, better speed, better internet access - all things that RIM has put into play with the BB 8700 series. The next phases are 3G services and UMA capability.

We already know that RIM is on the UMA bandwagon thanks to umatechnology.org
And with the success that other mobile phone companies are seeing with their 3G devices, I can't imagine RIM not working on solutions to bring that to market as well.
Hutchinson, as a service provider, is an interesting example with their 3G mobile services in Europe and Asia. Just look at three.com - video conferencing over your mobile phone!?!?!?!? Those kinds of capabilities are coming and are in more demand now than ever before. For business, government or personal use - they're coming.

On the real topic of this thread, I frankly would rather see RIM keep with the BB OS and add in media players, expandable memory, Flash capabilities in their browser. I think if they did that you'd see a serious growth in BB sales on a worldwide basis to your average person, not just the "elites".

(Sorry about the links not working - I'm not at 10 posts yet.)

I second that.