a phone affair
In June of 2007, I fell in love.
His name was the BlackBerry. He and I were together for a fantastic two years, but a few months ago, I found myself admiring another suitor…the ever-alluring iPhone.
The BlackBerry and I called it quits, and since that day, the iPhone has been my new mobile companion. Sadly, I’ve come to find that he doesn’t fill the void from the phone I once loved.
In the world of the smart phone, you are one of two things: an iPhone or a BlackBerry user. You are loyal to your device of choice, and by default, you have an animosity toward the other.
In my BlackBerry days, I would defend my phone to the death. iPhone users had nothing on me and my tangible keyboard, BlackBerry messenger (or as WE call it, BBM), push e-mail and corporate-like awesomeness. The iPhone was a toy that used cutesy apps to cover up incompetence. My BlackBerry was a REAL phone.
In spite of my devotion, things got rocky around our two-year anniversary. Inside every BlackBerry user is at least an ounce of iPhone envy (which is especially true if you’re a Mac user). To me, nothing sounded more appealing than to seamlessly sync my two favorite devices: Macbook, meet iPhone. I could admire their matching interfaces, reach the pinnacle of personal organization, and immerse myself entirely in Apple elitism.
PC is to BlackBerry as Apple is to iPhone and don’t get it twisted: I’m a Mac, NOT a PC.
I was faced with an existential crisis: Who am I? A BlackBerry, or an iPhone? This wasn’t just a choice in product; it was a choice in lifestyle.
After months of hesitation, confusion, and self-evaluation, I ended up choosing the iPhone. Believe it or not, we’ve been together ever since. This former-BlackBerry loyalist has even uttered the phrase “There’s an app for that!”
My poor BlackBerry is rolling in it’s grave…
But now that the initial excitement has worn off, I’ve found myself in smart phone limbo. Things have been great with my iPhone, yet I can’t deny that I desperately miss my BlackBerry.
I want my phone to vibrate the moment I receive an email, not 15-minutes later. I miss my lightening speed texting abilities; I’m just not up to par on a touch screen. The absence of BBM has put a damper on my social life, and more than anything, I miss seeing that red flashing light from the depths of my purse.
I suppose they don’t call it the CrackBerry for nothing.
I’m addicted to my Crackberry too. I
t’s a bit pathetic how I defend it from the mudslinging of iPhone users, but I do believe that while I’m a mac, I’m a blackberry user at heart.
In case you’re thinking of switching back, RIM has released a Blackberry Desktop software for Mac. It synchronizes your BB with your iCal, iMail and address book.
It changes the synchronizing envy you got from PC users before, but you get to keep the blinking red light.
I’ll admit it, I’ve got iPhone envy. It occupies just a tiny part of my psyche, but it’s there nonetheless. However, if the temptation to “make the switch” to the iPhone suddenly washes over me, I always remind myself of how practical and efficient I feel with my BlackBerry in hand.
No, it’s not pretty. And it certainly isn’t acceptable in a creative field like mine to wave my BlackBerry around without risking pariah status. But, at the end of the day, I can count on it in times of need (the keyboard always types what I want it to) and in daily life (at least I don’t have to worry about the screen cracking).
Even if my BlackBerry doesn’t make me look creative enough, I’m going to stay true to that little red flashing light.
Team BlackBerry.
@tcwsonja
Diana, I should have known the moment I switched from BlackBerry to iPhone, they would finally come out with a desktop software for Mac. It’s about time! If and when I switch back to the BlackBerry, that software will make the reunion simply perfect.
Sonja, keep rockin’ the BlackBerry! You’re so right; it’s not pretty, but it’s efficient, and in the end that’s what you need. And really…life just isn’t the same without the red flashing light.
I’ve resisted the smartphone urge for as long as I could, but now I find myself wandering into mobile phone stores and picking up and putting back down Blackberrys and iPhones alike, until a salesperson asks me if they can help me with anything. I drop the phone back on the shelf, mumble that I’m just looking and avert my eyes.
I’ve always been firm that I don’t want a way to be reached at any moment of the day or night. I don’t want hyper-connectivity. I want a phone that makes phone calls, that’s it. And yet, I find myself strangely drawn to these smartphones. Maybe it’s the promise of a more organized life. Maybe it’s that I’m finally starting to feel like my plain mobile phone is a dinosaur. Maybe it’s that they just look so damn cool.
Whatever it is, I think I’m getting closer and closer to trading in my soul for a shiny new smartphone.
Im not going to end my relationship with my blackberry (and just to be clear Im writting this post on my mac).
I’m a mac user and a blackberry abuser. And now I feel like a cheating wife
Adam, hang on to your soul, but if you’ve been thinking about upgrading for a while, I’d say go for it! I understand why you don’t want to be reachable all day everyday, but “the promise of a more organized life” might make it worth the switch. And yes, they look pretty shnazzy next to a flip phone.
Ugh, this makes my heart hurt. I love my BlackBerry. I’m what they call Blackburied or “BlackBerried.”
I’ve been thinking about an iPhone, but your post is slowly making me think I’ll remain faithful to the corporate-y, tangible goodness that I still possess.
Although, I only wish the browser and ecosystem for apps were a bit stronger.
I have had a BlackBerry since February and I don’t know how I could live without it.
I love it to death and owning one makes me not want an iPhone.
Maybe part of it is because I’m definitely a PC, but the iPhone just isn’t appealing. I’ve used one and it’s the basics that I don’t like, like the keyboard.
I would rather upgrade to the newest version of a BlackBerry than get an iPhone, personally, but I know that it isn’t the same for everyone.
The bottom line is that it has a lot to do with what you need your phone for and how you want to use it.
iPhone is god. Likely the thing I miss most about living in West Africa, next to food that actually tastes good.
iPhone Envy – I liked that term a lot. Been a BB user for just over 2 years now, and can’t imagine switching. I’ve played with iPhones enough to get what they’re all about and there are some things I love about them… App Store is huge, smooth, cleaner interface, and the idea of MP3 player in my phone is great (one less device I need to carry, and lets not kid ourselves, BBs are far from being there).
Reasons I can’t, and won’t switch:
1. BBM (all 4 of my immediate family members have BBs)
2. Lightning fast Email push
3. Physical keyboard
4. Distractions! I can tell you “I’ll only download useful apps!” but you know I’m lying! There’s too many FUN useless, time consuming apps out there, and I just don’t have that self-control.
BB for me. Great post, always a fun topic to debate.
Cheers Veronica. Through a twitter add at you.
Bobby Hennessey
@BobbyHennessey
Loved your blog….I’m slowly moving towards a Blackberry and my husband Peter is slowly moving towards the iPhone so we’ll be an equal opportunity politically correct household.
I’ll be sure to let you know how it plays out. Keep us up to date on how the battle goes!
Yours is truly “An Affair To Remember.”
I'll admit it, I've got iPhone envy. It occupies just a tiny part of my psyche, but it's there nonetheless. However, if the temptation to “make the switch” to the iPhone suddenly washes over me, I always remind myself of how practical and efficient I feel with my BlackBerry in hand.
No, it's not pretty. And it certainly isn't acceptable in a creative field like mine to wave my BlackBerry around without risking pariah status. But, at the end of the day, I can count on it in times of need (the keyboard always types what I want it to) and in daily life (at least I don't have to worry about the screen cracking).
Even if my BlackBerry doesn't make me look creative enough, I'm going to stay true to that little red flashing light.
Team BlackBerry.
@tcwsonja
I had to get rid of my BB Curve 8320 yesterday, I'm getting a really cheap prepaid phone with unlimited everything. Though I can't wait for unlimited texts, I really really miss my BB. The new phone can only visit WAP websites and the BB could visit full HTML websites. I guess that's what I miss most. Anyway, I'll always be a BB user.
Blackberry still leads the market due to its endless features that makes it look far better than all