Ex long time multiple BB model user here. BB does do some things well, no doubt. Every OS has it's strengths and weaknesses. I switched from BB to a Note 2 on Dec 6 2012.
The calendar is different, the email clients are different, it's all different. Not better, or worse, just different. I can already do way more with this device after exactly two months than I could do with any BB after years, and years. I don't spend hours and days trying to figure out how to make my BB do something only to find out that it can't, never could. With this phone I do some research and find the right application and then I accomplish my task, simple. I don't wait anymore, with BB I waited for the next device, the next OS the next...
I now have a device that I can print anything from. My work network includes my phone now, I sync from and to my work PC at will. I use the S-Pen daily and I can't imagine owning a device without this capability. I crop and send images, web content, text or whatever. This device just works, this device and OS is about "Productivity" and conducting business. I am a middle aged business person and I'm never without my phone. I use it for business communications all day long, seven days a week. It may be a great toy, I'm sure it is. I know it's a great business tool because that's what I use it for.
If you're a business person then you are familiar with the concept of investing back into your business. That is what is required when you adopt a new technology, any technology. Invest the time and the tool will provide you with a return on your investment, this only applies if you've chosen the appropriate technology. There is no shame in reverting if you've made a wrong decision. Better to cut your losses and get back to work with a more familiar set of tools. You can always re-visit the subject of change when the circumstances are more favourable for you. We chose to make the switch from BB during a slightly quieter time of the year for us when we wouldn't be too inconvenienced while we are on the learning curve. I'm not sure if the technology companies truly appreciate the effort and expenditure involved when a customer adopts a new technology. The correct choice of technology is even more important to a small business as time is usually very limited and very precious, efficiency is necessary or you will fail. We decided that Blackberry was the least realistic in this area. They seem to have, almost, gotten away with running their business as though they had a devine right to the market share they once enjoyed. It appears as though the world didn't agree and many of us have moved on to new communication partners and new ways of accomplishing our tasks. I believe we have made the right choice, we are much more productive and confident in our mobile technology and are investing, quite heavily, in our new partnership. We feel much better spending our hard earned dollars on a dynamic, evolving and market sensitive OS and an abundance of products and applications to choose from. The switch was actually much less painful than we had anticipated and we wish we had done this much earlier, we wasted a lot of time waiting on BB. We are confident that we will easily recoup that time and move ahead now.
We live, or die, on timely and efficient communication just like all businesses do.
Now, the toy subject just briefly. I have never watched a movie on a BB, rarely used a web browser on a BB. This Note 2 is a splendid device when it comes to video or web browsing. I actually watch Netflix content when I have free time, catching up on Rockford Files, love that show. It's great to be able to enjoy video or the youtube when you're waiting for a client to arrive or you're stuck in a traffic jam. What a great device. Maybe the old saying is true, once you leave Blackberry you never go back... wait a minute, that doesn't sound quite right...