[Ashg]

I haven't found this posted here yet, so here goes.

Betanews.com:

But to consumers who are rapidly taking over from enterprises as those who define the mobile agenda, none of this matters. All they know from the figures is that Apple and Google are hot, RIM is not, and they'll be bypassing the BlackBerry the next time they head into the store for an upgrade.

The article discusses format, OS, and App Store issues in trying to drive home the point that RIM has lost its way and relevance.

[TXLady]

Close enough like the other dooom-sayers that this should probably be merged with this string: http://www.blackberryforums.com/rumo...-bail-rim.html

[Ashg]

This article really messes with my head. I've been a BB addict since I got my 7130e; other than my first Tour's trackball and battery door, I've never had a problem that couldn't be resolved with a quick OS upgrade or downgrade.

I recently made the mistake of playing with a friend's Droid; he showed me how he'd rooted it and the different themes he could run (actually completely changing the functionality of the device, not just the look!). Hell, he even overclocked the thing. I felt like I was playing with an enthusiast's device more than just a solid messaging phone.

I've played around with pretty much the entire BB lineup and it feels like it's becoming stale. It's high quality, no doubt, but it's in dire need of a refresh of some sort to shake the RIM market out of its doldrums. I thought something cool would happen when RIM hired the man behind Apple's Aqua interface; we're still waiting. I think iPhone is headed in the same direction as well, FWIW.

My Tour will be with me at least until LTE goes live in my area - I have neither the cash nor the permissive wife to be a phone hopper - but there's a little seed of doubt planted now. I hope the lineup in July 2011 gives me a reason to stay with RIM.

[NJBlackBerry]

If not, you get the device that works for you.