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Comment by maxsilver | Hacker News Reader

> I don't get why the CEO didn't do this as the first thing when he started his Android strategy.

I don't think Chen understands device strategy, or cares much for it. Because every BB user has been asking for the exact same thing you just mentioned -- for years -- and they still haven't done it.

It'll never beat Apple or Samsung in popularity. But if they just released a single solid high-end Android phone with a real BlackBerry keyboard every two years, that product line would quietly print free money forever. It's a niche product, but a fairly large niche.

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Exactly. Since Termux[1][2] I've been pining for just this. Add a removable battery back in and I'd pay lots of money for this. The long rumored Blackberry Rome/Mercury seemed to be something like this [3] (minus the removable battery), and I think was expected in Q1 2017 or so.

[1] https://termux.com/

[2] https://github.com/termux

[3] http://www.slashgear.com/blackberry-mercury-rome-renderings-...

> Because every BB user has been asking for the exact same thing you just mentioned -- for years -- and they still haven't done it.

Yes, that's true and so sad.

I would immediately pay $1,000 for a BB Classic running Android unseen.

I quite possibly would as well, though you've now got me sulking about there never being a proper successor to my beloved N900.

I would pay a lot for a good N900 successor with the same keyboard but a larger and more responsive touch screen.

I completely agree. I had a T-mobile G2 with a Z spring keyboard, and I loved it. Even with swype motions in the Android keyboard, I still have to make a lot of corrections. I could type entire emails on a hardware keyboard. With a software keyboard, I try to keep things as terse as possible because it just takes too long.

But if they just released a single solid high-end Android phone with a real BlackBerry keyboard every two years, that product line would quietly print free money forever.

Android doesn't sit well with me, and I've given it several good runs. I'm also at this point firmly entrenched in the Apple ecosystem (AppleTV, Macs in the house, etc.)

And I'd still pay full retail price for such a phone. Seems to me that's BB's once last true shot at remaining a going entity. But, as already pointed out, Chen just seems incapable of getting it.

I think many Android apps would adapt poorly to the BB aspect ratio.

Maybe, but it may not be a huge issue. I've had very good luck using apps split-screen in Android 7.0, which has a similar aspect ratio to classic BB devices.

Good point. I was going to disagree with you, but then I tested some apps just to make sure. I'm actually surprised how much stuff works with split-screen. I have apps that I use once in a blue moon, for example the Avianca app, and it works despite throwing the "this app may not work with split-screen" notification. Same for Spotify.