76
RIM BlackBerry PlayBook
$499.99
Released April, 2011
The Pros:Dual cameras (3MP front, 5MP back). Flash 10.1 support. WiFi, and Bluetooth connectivity.
The Cons:Proprietary walled garden application ecosystem. 3G models not available at launch (said to be "coming in the future"). Poorer battery life than the competition (~7 hours of normal use).
The RIM BlackBerry PlayBook is the first-ever enterprise-ready, 7” tablet released by Research in Motion (R.I.M.), and it’s designed to compete directly with the Apple iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab.
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It differentiates itself first by using an entirely different and proprietary operating system known as the BlackBerry Tablet OS, which supports OpenGL, POSIX, HTML5, and Flash 10.1 (which is blocked on the iPad/iPhone). Another notable functionality is the parallel connectivity between devices, as a BlackBerry Torch (for instance) can be tethered by Bluetooth, after which users can work seamlessly from one unit to the other. One big difference compared to the iPad is that the Playbook has a front-facing 3MP cam and rear-facing 5MP cam that support high-definition video capture and video conferencing.
Additional Information
Like the iPad, the Playbook uses an LCD screen, which means it’s better suited for using on bright, sunny days. Mind you the Playbook’s screen is 7” like the Samsung Galaxy. Power/memory-wise, the Playbook comes out at top with double the processing power and a huge slab of RAM. As for the storage, the Playbook offers 16/32GB plus microSD, versus the iPad which goes up to 64GB. Connectivity is a loss though, as the Samsung Galaxy has WiFi + 3G + Bluetooth 3 + DLNA. But the Playbook has HDMI and USB, both of which you don’t get with Apple.
Features
- BlackBerry Tablet OS w/Multiprocessing
- 7” WSVGA Capacitive Touch Screen
- Full Multi-Touch/Gesure Support
- 1GB Dual-Core Processor
- 1GB RAM
- Dual HD Cameras (3MP Front, 5MP Rear)
- 1080p HD Video Recording
- 1080p H.264, MPEG, DivX, WMV Playback
- Draft N / Bluetooth wireless Connectivity
- HDMI Video Output
- microHDMI, microUSB Charging
- Supports Adobe Mobile Flash
- Enterprise-Level Security
User Reviews (62)
Pros & Cons
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16
dual cameras (3MP front, 5MP back)
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11
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11
WiFi, and Bluetooth connectivity
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10
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8
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8
less than a pound (under 2/3rds the weight of an iPad)
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7
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6
pairs / syncs with your compatible BlackBerry device
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5
full 1080p playback support
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5
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5
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5
great display quality - iPad level viewing angles, colour quality, better PPI
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5
allows you to utilize your RIM phone device with secure 'Bridge' connection for access to your phone content, applications, 3G connection
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4
more competition to keep Apple on their toes
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4
form factor is more portable than larger tablet devices - closer to the middle between phones and portable 11-13" laptop designs
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4
Webkit based browser - much improved over what RIM users are used to
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4
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3
16 or 32GB of internal storage
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3
7" capacitive multitouch display (1024 x 600px resolution)
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3
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3
classy matte black enclosure
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3
costs the same in Canada as it does in the US (properly reflecting the state of our superior currency value) - undercuts the entry-level iPad in Canada by $50
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3
Will be able to run Android Applications
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3
cool bezel gestures allow for complex user interface controls utilized throughout
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3
16, 32 or 64GB of internal storage
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2
capable of running native Android apps via optional 'app players'
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1
email set up to linked in,facebook...the is a serious business tool buy a mac if you want to play
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10
proprietary walled garden application ecosystem
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5
3G models not available at launch (said to be "coming in the future")
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5
poorer battery life than the competition (~7 hours of normal use)
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5
7" form factor has its drawbacks - on-screen keyboard takes up most of the display
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4
late to the show - wasn't out until April 2011
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1
Requires tethering with Blackberry for email and calendar functionality
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0
proprietary unproven operating system
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0
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-1
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Comments (3)
Lalita:
#rim_blackberry_playbook I gather that Sprint will be offering a 4G version a little later this year; however, I like that I can get a Playbook that offers WiFi and tethers to my Blackberry Style without me having to shell out 50 or 60 bucks a month extra for a data plan!
That works for me. I'm not using it as a high-powered gaming/entertainment device. I have a laptop for that, if I choose.
Jan 17, 11
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2 people like this
Yale:
#rim_blackberry_playbook Good to see they got a decent display in there - too bad by the time this hits the market there will probably be an iPad 2 with a much higher resolution Retina display.
Also, the tethering aspect of this is really dumb. I have a feeling this restriction won't last.
Jan 6, 11
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1 person like this
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