Design Stories: Exploring Everyday Things

Passionate Customers

Initial Reactions

Once consumers got their hands on the new BlackBerry Bold 9000, they took it upon themselves to upload their phone reviews on websites like Phone Scoop. Through all the posts, most praise the phone, touching on the high quality build, the keyboard, the screen, and the leather back detail. However, some criticism points to the price, getting used to the icons, the camera not up to par, and the size of the phone. When there was the rare occasion where a user admitted to their lower view of the BlackBerry Bold 9000, other users came to combat through their love for the phone.

Contemporary Times

In contemporary times, looking at the market for the BlackBerry Bold 9000 on eBay, the prices vary greatly. The most common price is about $20, but the mean price is about $82 from all the listings. On eBay, watchers are users interested in a listing and want to be notified about any price change. The most watched from all the listings is a $70 listing, the second highest for a listing at $20. However, it is important to note that both listings have the BlackBerry Bold 9000 as ‘unlocked’ in the title, which is more beneficial for the consumer to use the phone.

Subcultures: Preservation

In connection to preservation, the BlackBerry Bold 9000 has spawned subcultures to preserve the phone, such as a devoted discord . In addition, there has been a rise of ‘dumbphones’ for users who want fewer capabilities compared to phones that are available today. One of the dumbphones people from this subculture use is the BlackBerry Bold 9000. However, the most significant struggle for users who wish to use this phone is having a phone service to use it (3G being discontinued) and BlackBerry removing firmware on their website. Luckily, BlackBerry users have Google Drives for firmware stored and a website dedicated to setting up the phone for easier use and adaptation.

A Work of Art

There are documents dedicated to recycling the BlackBerry Bold 9000 and even listings on eBay selling the phone for parts. Interestingly, there is a business that profits from taking the phone apart and displaying this deconstruction  through a frame display. The reviews featured on the website are only positive and praising the product.




 

Therefore, there is respect and appreciation for the BlackBerry Bold 9000’s persevering design. Users even echoed this when a poster purchased a brand new BlackBerry Bold 9000 recently, with commenters commonly agreeing to ‘frame it’ due to its minimal capability currently.

The inception of the BlackBerry Bold 9000 was an answer to a cultural need for consumption and productivity maximized within a product. It was capable of exceeding the expectations of the target audience and reaching the mainstream masses instead, making a significant cultural impact. Unfortunately, through rapid technological progression, the dedication to the BlackBerry Bold 9000 was unsustainable. Nevertheless, a niche audience has proven that the BlackBerry Bold 9000’s design can persevere; if not, there is admiration for what it has accomplished.


 

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