What do you think of the upcoming Blackberry Priv?

[dante]

Up until now I've strictly used flipphones for my day to day life.  I like the energy efficiency, compact size, and most importantly - tactile physical buttons.

When I mentioned some of these attributes to someone they asked "if you like buttons so much, why not get a Blackberry?"

Apparently I've been out of the game for a while because I assumed Blackberry was dead.  Now they're releasing a new phone this year called the 'Priv.'  Besides the buttons it's the first BB to run the Android OS w/ Google Search.

Now at first glance I'm not 100% sold.  I wish it was in the same compact format as the Classic - but whatever.  The Classic seems to be a deal breaker because you can't remove the battery; but perhaps I'm a dinosaur and that's the way all these are made these days.

edit: After more investigating ... the Q10 is even more compact than the Classic with not too much difference in specs.  So ... for non Android BB - I'd look at the Q10 not the Classic.

[tp4tissue]

Or you know.. PC FTW...

[dante]

I spent the day off and on reading up everything about the blackberry.  If I get one it will likely be the Priv.  Sounds like BB10 is a dead end OS.

[graefeln]

I love my Q10 and I truly hope Blackberry recovers in the future, but you're right - it does look like a dead end OS. There are a lot of apps that you'll find simply aren't there; I don't really use that many apps, but there is almost always something that I am wishing it had (like a decent Roku remote app). BB10 is a nice OS though and the phone runs smooth; it sort-of supports android apps (that don't require google services), but the experience is lacking.

In the end, as much as I LOVE having a physical keyboard, I have a Nexus 6 arriving - probably - next week (they were 300$ new on eBay).

Edit: To touch more on the Priv - BB makes quality hardware, so I wouldn't hesitate in that regard. I hate the form factor of the Priv however and it will be their first experience with a full android OS. That, plus what will presumably be a high cost (or higher than I paid for the Nexus), would have me looking at other phones unless I NEEDED that physical keyboard.

[dante]

I hate the form factor of the Priv however

Me too.  It almost makes me want to wait and see if they will do a Q10 esque version; or basically a more trim version of the Passport.

[tp4tissue]

Just a heads up guys..  Nexus are great in the USA..  in China,  it's completely crippled, because everything requires vpn for google services.

[dante]

I spent the day off and on reading up everything about the blackberry.  If I get one it will likely be the Priv.  Sounds like BB10 is a dead end OS.

I did more reading/listening today.  BB10 will likely not die - it will still be supported on the side for government agencies.

For the masses however, Android is the future.

[keshley]

I think Blackphone has beaten them to the punch in terms of privacy/encryption. And better system overall for an end user.

And Samsung beat them to corporate usability with Knox.

I'm betting Blackberry turns into a software company before too long. Their acquisition of Good helps them out from this perspective quite a bit.

[osi]

I like blackberries and only gave up my q10 for a work requirement.

The priv seems like a last ditch effort to stay in the hardware business from blackberry. Rolling out Android on a blackberry handset tells me that the company has no confidence in their software/OS moving forward.

[jerue]

I wanted it. Then the Nexus 6P happened, and I could live with another touch-screen phone. The Priv is very nice though, makes me not want a BB Passport anymore.