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Call off the hounds

Last week's column was NOT a review of the BlackBerry Z10

By: Wired / David Bell

Posted: 02/17/2013 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

The new, improved BlackBerry.

Last week, I wrote a full column about the BlackBerry Z10. I touched on many different points throughout the article. My driving point was that I was disappointed with how BlackBerry decided to release the devices. As you know, it released the Z10 first, and is planning on releasing the Q10 shortly.

When I originally sent in the article to my editor, the title was QWERTY keyboard fans stand up. The title was changed to How BlackBerry blew it again -- which caught the eye, and the ire, of a lot of people.

If you read my article closely, and didn't let the title give you preconceived thoughts and emotions, you would have realized that my intent was not to review the Z10. More than 150 comments were left online and I received more than 50 emails from angry readers. The comments were basically the same: "You are an idiot for reviewing the device without even having one."

The intent of my column was to show why I believed RIM screwed up with the release of BlackBerry 10. I think they should have released the Q10 and the Z10 at the same time. I am sorry if I didn't make that point completely clear.

I was sharing my point of view with a friend and he made an interesting point. He believes the Q10 is going to be a hit. People who love the keyboard BlackBerry will buy the Q10 without question. He believes BlackBerry released the Z10 first in order to create hype over BB10, and once that hype dissipates, they will release the Q10 because it will automatically do well.

Many of the emails I received accused me of being an Android fan boy. By no means am I an Android fan boy. If you read my column regularly, you know that I miss my old iPhone and I am not completely sold on my Galaxy S3. When BlackBerry does release the Q10, I have already decided I will sell my GS3 and purchase that device. I am not a BlackBerry hater. Sure, I do disagree with some of the moves the company makes, but I do enjoy using some of its products and services. When it comes to technology, I try to be as objective as I can.

I am not completely sold on any one brand. My setup right now is a MacBook Pro, Samsung Galaxy, BlackBerry PlayBook, and iPad Mini -- you may be able to tell that I am kind of all over the place.

I am still waiting to receive a Z10 review unit. Once I have the Z10 in my hands, I will write an incredibly detailed review.

If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to email me: db@thedavidbell.com.

David Bell (@thedavidbell) is a teenage entrepreneur in Winnipeg. He specializes in emerging technology and online aspects of business, including web and social media consulting. Access his company online at iBXMediaGroup.ca. He is an active member of the YouTube community (http://www.TheDavidBell.com), with more than two million views and 5,000 subscribers. He was also a Dragons' Den contestant. Email: db@thedavidbell.com

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 17, 2013 A15

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