"Svend" (svend)
03/04/2020 at 08:35 • Filed to: None
2
36|
"Svend" (svend)
03/04/2020 at 08:35 • Filed to: None | 2
| 36 |
I’ve been due an upgrade since October last year but no providers were stocking Blackberrys.
So I decided tonite the bullet and just buy a handset and change to a SIM only contract (18 month contract, 100Gb of date, u nlimited calls and texts for £20).
Some previous handsets.
The new handset is a KEY2 LE, not the more powerful KEY2. Yes the KEY2 is more powerful with a large internal memory, etc... but they wanted £600 for it while the KEY2 LE was £350.
TCL have decided not to renew the licence to make BlackBerry handsets as of June I believe but TCL will still look after handset owners for the next two years. TCL have decided to make their own version of a handset with a physical keyboard, but they want over £1,000 (that’s iPhone money), nah, no way.
CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
> Svend
03/04/2020 at 08:52 |
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Why not a Pixel 4 or 3a (cheaper?)
Good looking device though
TheRealBicycleBuck
> Svend
03/04/2020 at 08:57 |
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That brings back memories! My first company-issued phone was an 8830 World. I miss that keyboard.
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Svend
> CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
03/04/2020 at 09:07 |
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No physical keyboard. I love a physical keyboard and hate the onscreen keyboard as my thumbs keep hitting other letters.
If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
> Svend
03/04/2020 at 09:14 |
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TIL Blackberry was still a thing (for now)
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Svend
> TheRealBicycleBuck
03/04/2020 at 09:18 |
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I think back then I was using a slider phone, I think a Samsung.
I had MDA Varios for a while.
I liked the side slider handsets.
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Svend
> If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
03/04/2020 at 09:23 |
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I hope someone else takes on the licence to build them.
There has been a reawakening of people wanting physical keyboards, but they aren’t being pushed out into the public awareness and people are making do with touch screen handsets.
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If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
> Svend
03/04/2020 at 09:29 |
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It’s tough to pull off. Pretty much all content nowadays is formatted for 16:9 screens, so putting in a weird screen ratio to have a keyboard on the front can make using the phone frustrating for people. The other option is to have a slide-out keyboard and that can double the thickness of the phone.
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TheRealBicycleBuck
> Svend
03/04/2020 at 09:30 |
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I never had the opportunity to try a slider phone. The keypad looks like a membrane. I’m not sure I would have liked that, but I’d bet it’s better than a virtual keyboard.
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Svend
> If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
03/04/2020 at 09:35 |
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I’m okay with a thicker handset with a side slide out keyboard, after all, mobiles are getting bigger anyway.
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Svend
> TheRealBicycleBuck
03/04/2020 at 09:37 |
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The side slider handsets had similar feel to the Blackber ry keyboard, but about 50% larger keys. There were great.
TheTurbochargedSquirrel
> Svend
03/04/2020 at 09:41 |
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100GB of data for 20 pounds? Dear lord, US carriers screw us over. I’m at $65 a month and only get 5GB.
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CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
> Svend
03/04/2020 at 09:48 |
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Ah gotcha. I find you get used to it, but I know what you mean.
BTW, my wife and I are likely going to England later this year (September ish).
No real plans yet but Kent and Somerset are on the list. Any recommendations?
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TheRealBicycleBuck
> Svend
03/04/2020 at 09:49 |
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My interest is piqued!
UserNotFound
> Svend
03/04/2020 at 10:00 |
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What is this, 2003?
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Svend
> TheTurbochargedSquirrel
03/04/2020 at 10:06 |
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I was paying £40 for 20Gb (but in a contract, the first £15 goes towards the cost of the handset).
O2 have a contract for the new Samsung G alaxy Z Flip , unlimited data, calls and texts for £70 a month, £40 up front cost and a 36 month contract.
There are cheaper plans,
40Gb for £65,
20Gb for £62,
etc...
It’s the handset that’s boosting the price, at £1,334 alone.
Is it still true in some cases you pay to receive calls?
and can’t make a call if your out of network even if another provider is available (and not pay a higher charge) ?
TrickJos
> Svend
03/04/2020 at 10:07 |
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Are Blackberry phones still popular in the UK and Europe? It has been years since I’ve seen one here in the US. I’m pretty locked into the Apple ecosystem, but a physical keyboard does have some appeal.
Textured Soy Protein
> Svend
03/04/2020 at 10:09 |
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What you need is a Cosmo Communicator (from the makers of Psion)!
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Svend
> CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
03/04/2020 at 10:10 |
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I can’t really suggest any place down south as I’m four miles south of the Scottish border up in the far north.
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Svend
> UserNotFound
03/04/2020 at 10:13 |
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I wish. They were quieter and better times.
bob and john
> Svend
03/04/2020 at 10:15 |
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//is the great svend back? or is this just a breif house call?
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Svend
> TrickJos
03/04/2020 at 10:20 |
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The British police have been using them a hell of a lot on their Airwaves network (they have a private encrypted network for their radios and mobiles) . The public in almost all case think Blackberry died off years ago and now your either Samsung or iPhone (or, simply don’t give a crap, it’s just a phone.
I can’t speak for the rest of Europe but as I say here in the U.K. only the police and die hard Blackberry lovers use them.
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CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
> Svend
03/04/2020 at 10:25 |
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I’d be open to visiting Scotland and the north. 3 weeks is a long time
ranwhenparked
> TrickJos
03/04/2020 at 10:26 |
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I bought a Key2 LE last year to replace my KeyOne. I'm a late adopter, came to BlackBerry after 3 iPhones and one Motorola.
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Svend
> Textured Soy Protein
03/04/2020 at 10:26 |
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That looks good. Like people think of Blackberry, I thought Psion died off years ago.
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Textured Soy Protein
> Svend
03/04/2020 at 10:29 |
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Psion is dead, but Planet Computer is a new company with former Psion people.
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Svend
> bob and john
03/04/2020 at 10:30 |
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I got really bored not having OPPO, but I also got more work done (or rather more work I should of been doing, done) and slept better and more without coming onto OPPO all the time. So I’m trying to find a balance, but I’ve also got ten nights holiday from work. I needed to use up my holidays before the end of the contract year.
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Svend
> CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
03/04/2020 at 10:34 |
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If you like history. York, in Yorkshire has some great viking, military and train museums.
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CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
> Svend
03/04/2020 at 10:44 |
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That sounds right up my ally
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Svend
> CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
03/04/2020 at 11:08 |
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If your going to Somerset, head north east to Stratford-Upon-Avon to see Shakespeare , then head a few miles (about eight) east to Gaydon, Warwickshire to the British Motor Museum,
https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/
In York , you’ve the Viking Museum, Jorvik.
https://www.jorvikvikingcentre.co.uk/
National Railway Museum.
https://www.jorvikvikingcentre.co.uk/
Then there is the second world war museum, Eden Camp outside York .
Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
> Svend
03/04/2020 at 11:45 |
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Do you simply prefer Blackberry, or do you have a specific need for one?
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Svend
> Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
03/04/2020 at 11:53 |
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I prefer Blackberry. I like the keyboard, I’ve used them for years and trust them.
I don’t think I use any phone for a fraction of what it’s capable of.
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Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
> Svend
03/04/2020 at 11:58 |
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Apps? Spotify? Google? Can you get the important stuff for Bb?
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Svend
> Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
03/04/2020 at 12:31 |
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Oh ye’, it uses Android with BlackBerry for security, so anything for Android is okay.
My phone is mainly for news, to a degree music, storing and taking pictures of cars done, etc...
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Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
> Svend
03/04/2020 at 12:40 |
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If Blackberry is an Android device, maybe I’ll try one next time I need a phone. Can you do unlocked GSM with a Blackberry?
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Svend
> Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
03/04/2020 at 12:53 |
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I think they all are just unlocked now.
TCL who make/made the handsets under licence from BlackBerry aren’t renewing their contract and will stop making them this June. But TCL have said they’ll support the owners for the next two years for parts, repairs, etc...
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Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
> Svend
03/04/2020 at 13:36 |
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Interesting!