New 5G BlackBerry in 2021.

[anon(50597)]

Yes I do. Nearly two years now and still a fantastic device. Looking at the 7.3 now as the next upgrade. The Pixels are not on my radar as I cannot do without an SD card due to thousands of music files and photos.

Looks like a nice upgrade. Larger too.

 

[the_boon]

Completely agree. The 4a brings true value and support, something no blackberry phone can provide.

It doesn't bring the keyboard experience though, so for someone who wants that above all else...And this is also why I think that dual carrying is the only way to get both worlds most of the time. A Pixel 4a and a KEY2/LE would be a great combo.

Also in his post he mentions the Passport and Priv, which are both 5 + years old now so it's no surprise they're EOL. The Priv really should have gotten Android 7 though...it would have done wonders since we could have had dual apps in split screen and with the keyboard open, you'd get the entire screen dedicated to those two apps without a damn virtual keyboard getting in the way.

 

[anon(50597)]

It doesn't bring the keyboard experience though, so for someone who wants that above all else...And this is also why I think that dual carrying is the only way to get both worlds most of the time. A Pixel 4a and a KEY2/LE would be a great combo.

Also in his post he mentions the Passport and Priv, which are both 5 + years old now so it's no surprise they're EOL. The Priv really should have gotten Android 7 though...it would have done wonders since we could have had dual apps in split screen and with the keyboard open, you'd get the entire screen dedicated to those two apps without a damn virtual keyboard getting in the way.

No way I'm dual carrying. I guess if you need a pkb then it's a option.

 

[Smokeaire]

No way I'm dual carrying. I guess if you need a pkb then it's a option.

Again I agree with you. When I received the Pixel 4a I truly thought I would continue to use my Key²LE for all or at least most of my typing needs. After installing and playing around with several vkbs, including the Blackberry vkb, I've settled on the stock Gboard. I did make the keys taller. To my surprise I've found that I'm much faster and more accurate than I ever was on the Key pkbs. I was pre-convinced I would hate the vkb typing experience. Quite the opposite. I'm enjoying it more than I did on the pkbs, plus the key letters and symbols are a lot easier to read.
My Key²LE is still next to me on my side table but I've never felt the need to turn it on just to type.
I guess this olde dog can still learn new tricks.

 

[the_boon]

Again I agree with you. When I received the Pixel 4a I truly thought I would continue to use my Key²LE for all or at least most of my typing needs. After installing and playing around with several vkbs, including the Blackberry vkb, I've settled on the stock Gboard. I did make the keys taller. To my surprise I've found that I'm much faster and more accurate than I ever was on the Key pkbs. I was pre-convinced I would hate the vkb typing experience. Quite the opposite. I'm enjoying it more than I did on the pkbs, plus the key letters and symbols are a lot easier to read.
My Key²LE is still next to me on my side table but I've never felt the need to turn it on just to type.
I guess this olde dog can still learn new tricks.

What I usually do with my secondary devices is leave them in airplane mode but not completely off. That way when one is charging I just pull out the other one and start using it without waiting for it to boot.

It's always the same, when I'm on my S10e I miss my KEY2's PKB.
When I'm on the KEY2, I miss the S10e's OLED screen. So unless I keep both, I won't have both worlds.

 

[anon(50597)]

I have a laptop and tablet at home to use for anything that I might want for a larger screen or typing a long email. Mostly for the larger screen for surfing. When I'm mobile, I want a phone (one) that I don't even know is there until I need it. It's like seeing someone with 40 keys hanging off their belt loop. I have a KeySmart that folds up tight with the 6 keys I need most. I like to travel lght.

 

[Morty2264]

I have a laptop and tablet at home to use for anything that I might want for a larger screen or typing a long email. Mostly for the larger screen for surfing. When I'm mobile, I want a phone (one) that I don't even know is there until I need it. It's like seeing someone with 40 keys hanging off their belt loop. I have a KeySmart that folds up tight with the 6 keys I need most. I like to travel lght.

Traveling light seems to be the way of the world right now - I know I am now like that, too (though my purse doesn't seem to follow that way of life).

 

[the_boon]

I have a laptop and tablet at home to use for anything that I might want for a larger screen or typing a long email. Mostly for the larger screen for surfing. When I'm mobile, I want a phone (one) that I don't even know is there until I need it. It's like seeing someone with 40 keys hanging off their belt loop. I have a KeySmart that folds up tight with the 6 keys I need most. I like to travel lght.

In the case where someone finds they can do most of their typed work on the go on their PKB device, it's probably easier to carry that second device around in their other pocket than a whole laptop in a bag.

 

[anon(50597)]

In the case where someone finds they can do most of their typed work on the go on their PKB device, it's probably easier to carry that second device around in their other pocket than a whole laptop in a bag.

True, but I don't have the need to carry them. They're just for home. There's really nothing I can't do on my 4a on the go. On the go, to me, means simplify. I won't complicate my life with unnecessary stresses.

 

[Laura Knotek]

In the case where someone finds they can do most of their typed work on the go on their PKB device, it's probably easier to carry that second device around in their other pocket than a whole laptop in a bag.

That's true. However, many people don't need to carry anything around for work at this time, since their workplace is their home.

 

[anon(50597)]

That's true. However, many people don't need to carry anything around for work at this time, since their workplace is their home.

In January I went from a role where I had to carry a work phone 24/7 to a less stressful role. The first thing I did was hand in that stupid phone. Good riddance!

 

[Kayza]

That's true. However, many people don't need to carry anything around for work at this time, since their workplace is their home.

That's not going to last forever, though. I just hope that BB has enough runway to weather this before possibly getting any traction.

 

[Morty2264]

True, but I don't have the need to carry them. They're just for home. There's really nothing I can't do on my 4a on the go. On the go, to me, means simplify. I won't complicate my life with unnecessary stresses.

Simplicity is good, especially with what's going on in the world at the moment.

 

[the_boon]

I wouldn't necessarily call a second device "stressful" to have, but it is one more thing to worry about charging

 

[anon(50597)]

I wouldn't necessarily call a second device "stressful" to have, but it is one more thing to worry about charging

I know I'm older than you so you'll see, as you age, you want to start simplifying your life. Carrying two devices is just unnecessary for me. Another thing to worry about!

 

[Smokeaire]

I know I'm older than you so you'll see, as you age, you want to start simplifying your life. Carrying two devices is just unnecessary for me. Another thing to worry about!

I definitely don't want to carry two phones when one phone can handle all my phone needs. I guess older age tempers any phone obsession i might have had if I was decades younger. A phone is just an adjunct to my life, not the center.

 

[dangerousfen]

I definitely don't want to carry two phones when one phone can handle all my phone needs. I guess older age tempers any phone obsession i might have had if I was decades younger. A phone is just an adjunct to my life, not the center.

I agree with you wholeheartedly. Anyway, nearly everyone can cope with normal phones these days, a PKB just ain't necessary anymore.

 

[the_boon]

I agree with you wholeheartedly. Anyway, nearly everyone can cope with normal phones these days, a PKB just ain't necessary anymore.

Because a PKB phone isn't a "normal" phone?

A PKB isn't necessary to most, but it's a very valuable feature to have if you want to enjoy the typing experience.

Most people that haven't tried one in years just fail to see the benefit, and it's to be expected.

Kind of like if I said "no one needs an OLED screen, an LCD does the job just fine. While that's technically true, once you stare at an OLED, you appreciate it and probably don't want to go back to the LCD.

 

[dangerousfen]

Because a PKB phone isn't a "normal" phone?

A PKB isn't necessary to most, but it's a very valuable feature to have if you want to enjoy the typing experience.

Most people that haven't tried one in years just fail to see the benefit, and it's to be expected.

Kind of like if I said "no one needs an OLED screen, an LCD does the job just fine. While that's technically true, once you stare at an OLED, you appreciate it and probably don't want to go back to the LCD.

I hear what you say but I dug out my old 9900 recently and couldn't believe how awkward it was to use that keyboard again.

 

[anon(50597)]

Because a PKB phone isn't a "normal" phone?

A PKB isn't necessary to most, but it's a very valuable feature to have if you want to enjoy the typing experience.

Most people that haven't tried one in years just fail to see the benefit, and it's to be expected.

Kind of like if I said "no one needs an OLED screen, an LCD does the job just fine. While that's technically true, once you stare at an OLED, you appreciate it and probably don't want to go back to the LCD.

This is the stress I'm talking about.