Comments on: Is The iPhone To The BlackBerry What the PC Was To The Mac? http://www.rimarkable.com/is-the-iphone-to-the-blackberry-what-the-pc-was-to-the-mac The Unofficial BlackBerry Weblog Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:11:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: JaggedXJ http://www.rimarkable.com/is-the-iphone-to-the-blackberry-what-the-pc-was-to-the-mac/comment-page-1#comment-117537 JaggedXJ Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:36:45 +0000 http://www.rimarkable.com/is-the-iphone-to-the-blackberry-what-the-pc-was-to-the-mac#comment-117537 @ Thought Licensed. Like Android? @ Thought
Licensed. Like Android?

]]> By: Thought http://www.rimarkable.com/is-the-iphone-to-the-blackberry-what-the-pc-was-to-the-mac/comment-page-1#comment-117506 Thought Wed, 15 Oct 2008 02:23:10 +0000 http://www.rimarkable.com/is-the-iphone-to-the-blackberry-what-the-pc-was-to-the-mac#comment-117506 It's hard to compare the iPhone to the PC since the iPhone works so much better in its market than the PC ever did. What made the PC dominant was Microsoft licensing its OS to any interested vendor; that spurred lower prices and greater availability. Apple is not going to license its OS to other vendors. Sure they lowered the price, with the help of a subsidy from ATT, and are making the device more available at more outlets. But the key is that Apple still retains control over the software/hardware combo, which has its disadvantages, but also ensures a certain level of quality and integration. Also, the PC took off first in the corporate world where the BB is so entrenched. At the time mostly corporations could afford computers, and home users tended to gravitate to what was used at work. So I actually think the BB is more positioned like the Microsoft driven PC was, in its being so embedded in corporate use. But again, the BB is not like the PC either, because it's OS is not licensed out. If any device is to be accurately compared to the PC, it must replicate the key feature that led to its domination: licensing of the OS to multiple vendors. It’s hard to compare the iPhone to the PC since the iPhone works so much better in its market than the PC ever did.

What made the PC dominant was Microsoft licensing its OS to any interested vendor; that spurred lower prices and greater availability.

Apple is not going to license its OS to other vendors. Sure they lowered the price, with the help of a subsidy from ATT, and are making the device more available at more outlets. But the key is that Apple still retains control over the software/hardware combo, which has its disadvantages, but also ensures a certain level of quality and integration.

Also, the PC took off first in the corporate world where the BB is so entrenched. At the time mostly corporations could afford computers, and home users tended to gravitate to what was used at work.

So I actually think the BB is more positioned like the Microsoft driven PC was, in its being so embedded in corporate use.

But again, the BB is not like the PC either, because it’s OS is not licensed out.

If any device is to be accurately compared to the PC, it must replicate the key feature that led to its domination: licensing of the OS to multiple vendors.

]]> By: bluehorseshoe http://www.rimarkable.com/is-the-iphone-to-the-blackberry-what-the-pc-was-to-the-mac/comment-page-1#comment-117502 bluehorseshoe Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:51:04 +0000 http://www.rimarkable.com/is-the-iphone-to-the-blackberry-what-the-pc-was-to-the-mac#comment-117502 @ Amazing 777 Apple has a distinct advantage over RIM in the sense of the OS because they've been doing OS for quite some time. RIM is an email device. Big difference. Apple is going after the consumer market where RIM has targeted the corporate market, and now trying to break the consumer market with 'cool' devices within' their capability. Apple was genius for transforming the OS to a device like the iPhone, however...there's the issue of security. Since it has grown so fast, it's also likely to be the biggest target for hackers. So when it comes to OS's, I'd stick with the secure BB for now. You also mention the BB carries 1GB, but it actually doesn't if you're referring to it's internal flash memory for the OS, contacts, calendar, etc. The flash memory is up to 128MB on the Pearl Flip and even the Storm. The Storm carries an 'additional' 1GB of memory for the multimedia portion. So the need for adding additional flash memory is even greater than you list. It would be nice if they had a centralized hub for all the software to add on, but let's be real. The only reason Apple did this was to rake in the $$$. I'm an Apple fan, but they could make a few improvements on their end as well. While I find the iPhone to be entertaining, it doesn't fit my needs on an everyday basis. That's the difference between the iPhone and the Blackberry. And I think Apple would have sold even more phones if they didn't already have the iPod out already... @ Amazing 777

Apple has a distinct advantage over RIM in the sense of the OS because they’ve been doing OS for quite some time. RIM is an email device. Big difference. Apple is going after the consumer market where RIM has targeted the corporate market, and now trying to break the consumer market with ‘cool’ devices within’ their capability. Apple was genius for transforming the OS to a device like the iPhone, however…there’s the issue of security. Since it has grown so fast, it’s also likely to be the biggest target for hackers. So when it comes to OS’s, I’d stick with the secure BB for now.

You also mention the BB carries 1GB, but it actually doesn’t if you’re referring to it’s internal flash memory for the OS, contacts, calendar, etc. The flash memory is up to 128MB on the Pearl Flip and even the Storm. The Storm carries an ‘additional’ 1GB of memory for the multimedia portion. So the need for adding additional flash memory is even greater than you list.

It would be nice if they had a centralized hub for all the software to add on, but let’s be real. The only reason Apple did this was to rake in the $$$. I’m an Apple fan, but they could make a few improvements on their end as well. While I find the iPhone to be entertaining, it doesn’t fit my needs on an everyday basis. That’s the difference between the iPhone and the Blackberry. And I think Apple would have sold even more phones if they didn’t already have the iPod out already…

]]> By: Amazing777 http://www.rimarkable.com/is-the-iphone-to-the-blackberry-what-the-pc-was-to-the-mac/comment-page-1#comment-117501 Amazing777 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:12:54 +0000 http://www.rimarkable.com/is-the-iphone-to-the-blackberry-what-the-pc-was-to-the-mac#comment-117501 I watched the webcast of the iPhone developers conference (hint: RIM). Apple has not only built a great phone, they have made software development on the iPhone quick and easy. There were companies who modified their software to work on the iPhone in weeks which normally would have taken months. This is important. The reason the PC overtook the MAC is the sheer volume of software for the PC. Most people only care about what a device can do for them. If a device can do tasks A, B, and C and do it cheaply and easily, then they do not care about which company produced the device. BB's operating system is awful. BB's does not have a RAD environment for developing software for the BB as the iPhone. They still have not gotten some carriers to upgrade to the new version of their operating system months after being available. There are things RIM is going to have to do to compete with Apple: --Produce a RAD for BB either by upgrading eclipse or some other environment --Add enough flash memory to guarantee that software will have enough space to run (currently they supply 1 GB) and expect their customers to upgrade --Add an easy ability to upgrade OS and software as Apple's AppStore --Fix the browser (also it needs to work with wi-fi and over the carrier's network) --Develop a radical developer community --Change their mindset of putting marginal products on the market with a few features to get people to buy the product but lacking enough features to get people to upgrade to another phone. I watched the webcast of the iPhone developers conference (hint: RIM). Apple has not only built a great phone, they have made software development on the iPhone quick and easy. There were companies who modified their software to work on the iPhone in weeks which normally would have taken months.

This is important. The reason the PC overtook the MAC is the sheer volume of software for the PC. Most people only care about what a device can do for them. If a device can do tasks A, B, and C and do it cheaply and easily, then they do not care about which company produced the device.

BB’s operating system is awful. BB’s does not have a RAD environment for developing software for the BB as the iPhone. They still have not gotten some carriers to upgrade to the new version of their operating system months after being available.

There are things RIM is going to have to do to compete with Apple:

–Produce a RAD for BB either by upgrading eclipse or some other environment
–Add enough flash memory to guarantee that software will have enough space to run (currently they supply 1 GB) and expect their customers to upgrade
–Add an easy ability to upgrade OS and software as Apple’s AppStore
–Fix the browser (also it needs to work with wi-fi and over the carrier’s network)
–Develop a radical developer community
–Change their mindset of putting marginal products on the market with a few features to get people to buy the product but lacking enough features to get people to upgrade to another phone.

]]> By: Robb Dunewood http://www.rimarkable.com/is-the-iphone-to-the-blackberry-what-the-pc-was-to-the-mac/comment-page-1#comment-117500 Robb Dunewood Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:39:14 +0000 http://www.rimarkable.com/is-the-iphone-to-the-blackberry-what-the-pc-was-to-the-mac#comment-117500 @ AC That really wasn't a statement of fact, but, more of an opinion and it definitely wasn't a comment about the number of devices sold. If it were, I would have said "in the U.S." since I hardly ever factor in Symbian devices. @ AC

That really wasn’t a statement of fact, but, more of an opinion and it definitely wasn’t a comment about the number of devices sold. If it were, I would have said “in the U.S.” since I hardly ever factor in Symbian devices.

]]> By: Is The iPhone To The BlackBerry What the PC Was To The Mac? http://www.rimarkable.com/is-the-iphone-to-the-blackberry-what-the-pc-was-to-the-mac/comment-page-1#comment-117499 Is The iPhone To The BlackBerry What the PC Was To The Mac? Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:24:18 +0000 http://www.rimarkable.com/is-the-iphone-to-the-blackberry-what-the-pc-was-to-the-mac#comment-117499 [...] Random Feed wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptI can’t remember where I read this, but, Apple may actually sell more iPhones this quarter than RIM sells BlackBerrys. Let’s think about that for a second. The BlackBerry is unquestionably the top smartphone out their right now, however, the iPhone may actually outsell the BlackBerry this quarter and Apple got to this point in less than two years. This is an impressive feat for even a company with Apple’s resources. Knocking the price of the iPhone down to $200 was a brilliant move and had a [...] [...] Random Feed wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptI can’t remember where I read this, but, Apple may actually sell more iPhones this quarter than RIM sells BlackBerrys. Let’s think about that for a second. The BlackBerry is unquestionably the top smartphone out their right now, however, the iPhone may actually outsell the BlackBerry this quarter and Apple got to this point in less than two years. This is an impressive feat for even a company with Apple’s resources. Knocking the price of the iPhone down to $200 was a brilliant move and had a [...]

]]> By: Norman R. http://www.rimarkable.com/is-the-iphone-to-the-blackberry-what-the-pc-was-to-the-mac/comment-page-1#comment-117498 Norman R. Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:20:37 +0000 http://www.rimarkable.com/is-the-iphone-to-the-blackberry-what-the-pc-was-to-the-mac#comment-117498 I remember when a company I used to work for years ago decided to go with PCs running Windows 2.0 over running Apple II and the Mac. If Steve simply would have licensed the Mac OS and didn't tie Apple to both the software and the hardware, we would live in very different world. I follow the analogy Rob is making, it may not matter how much better the BlackBerry is for corporate users than is the iPhone if the iPhone becomes the pred0minate smartphone amongst consumers that will eventually demand iPhone use in their corporate environments. I remember when a company I used to work for years ago decided to go with PCs running Windows 2.0 over running Apple II and the Mac.

If Steve simply would have licensed the Mac OS and didn’t tie Apple to both the software and the hardware, we would live in very different world.

I follow the analogy Rob is making, it may not matter how much better the BlackBerry is for corporate users than is the iPhone if the iPhone becomes the pred0minate smartphone amongst consumers that will eventually demand iPhone use in their corporate environments.

]]> By: AC http://www.rimarkable.com/is-the-iphone-to-the-blackberry-what-the-pc-was-to-the-mac/comment-page-1#comment-117493 AC Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:46:04 +0000 http://www.rimarkable.com/is-the-iphone-to-the-blackberry-what-the-pc-was-to-the-mac#comment-117493 "The BlackBerry is unquestionably the top smartphone out their right now" Come on guys, I expected better from you! I'm a Canadian who owns shares in RIMM but even I know the above statement is just not true: http://tinyurl.com/3vpjrx “The BlackBerry is unquestionably the top smartphone out their right now”

Come on guys, I expected better from you! I’m a Canadian who owns shares in RIMM but even I know the above statement is just not true:

http://tinyurl.com/3vpjrx

]]> By: bluehorseshoe http://www.rimarkable.com/is-the-iphone-to-the-blackberry-what-the-pc-was-to-the-mac/comment-page-1#comment-117491 bluehorseshoe Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:01:35 +0000 http://www.rimarkable.com/is-the-iphone-to-the-blackberry-what-the-pc-was-to-the-mac#comment-117491 I don't know about that...Apple was having some identity issues 20 years ago (In comes John Scully...yikes) and didn't have a staple in the corporate or really consumer markets (IBM and Lotus 123 were rocking back then, along with a company named Compaq who was cloning the IBM). Schools and design firms are where they had a hold. MS came out and just flat out took over the desktop market with Windows and MS Office. Here today, RIM has a pretty good market share and following, and have a 'staple' in the corporate market. They still provide a better email service than anyone else. The iPhone has done well as far as sales go, but many wouldn't mind going back to their old device when it comes to the corporate side. Only time will tell in the next couple of years before we see how successful, or not, the iPhone is. I don’t know about that…Apple was having some identity issues 20 years ago (In comes John Scully…yikes) and didn’t have a staple in the corporate or really consumer markets (IBM and Lotus 123 were rocking back then, along with a company named Compaq who was cloning the IBM). Schools and design firms are where they had a hold. MS came out and just flat out took over the desktop market with Windows and MS Office.

Here today, RIM has a pretty good market share and following, and have a ‘staple’ in the corporate market. They still provide a better email service than anyone else. The iPhone has done well as far as sales go, but many wouldn’t mind going back to their old device when it comes to the corporate side. Only time will tell in the next couple of years before we see how successful, or not, the iPhone is.

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