Blackberry Playbook for £169

[RobertB]

I was in Curry's at the weekend and spotted the BB Playbook reduced from £399 to £169. I know that BB are having a few problems at present and the number of apps. are very limited however that's quite a fire sale!

My applications would be to keep an eye on my site (emails, updating stock levels etc) and would like to show customers video clips of different styles of blinds (I also sell/fit window blinds to the retail market).

Also, my phone contract is about to finish (HTC) and I know that to fully use the Playbook I would need to change to a BB phone.

I would be most grateful for any advice regarding BB's Playbook as £169 is a cheap price but not if it sits in the office unused! (All my friends think I'm mad even considering a BB, they love their ipads!).

 

[giffgore]

I personally like BlackBerry phones, but do you? As you said, you would have to use a BB phone to use a PlayBook properly. If you're alright with switching to a BB phone, then I say do it. I've used a PlayBook before and I think it's a very underrated piece of kit.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Can you do emails yet?

 

[giffgore]

Can you do emails yet?

You can use the e-mail app if you wirelessly connect it to a BlackBerry, else you have to use a browser client.

 

[MH1]

I like mine, it's been at this price off and on since just after xmas.

 

[crphillips]

I've used one. It is really bad compared to my iPad.

 

[garyk]

You can use the e-mail app if you wirelessly connect it to a BlackBerry, else you have to use a browser client.

That was the stupidest thing they ever did in my opinion. RIM are known for email yet straight away is anyone with an iphone or android handset going to sell it for a BB or get a BB for email?

The reason for the drastic price cut is simple; they are not selling and no-one is interested in them.

 

[Moneyman]

Ok it isnt an ipad. But how many people really need a £600 toy. Somehow everyone seems to want to spend a ludicrous amount of money just to muck about. The playbook (stupid name that probably halved its potential sales) is not as cool but it works.
ipads are very cool. I love the "oooh look how light and thin it is oh hang on a second i now have to shove it in a inch thick protective coating if i actually need to move it about safely".
Personally i like the size of the playbook and if you need something to play a few videos and be able to do a bit of surfing and emails while you move about the country it does it at a quater of the price.
If you "need" an ipad you have personal spending and self esteem issues.

 

[RobertB]

Thanks for all your comments regarding the Playbook,. It's good to get a balanced outlook rather than the 'you must buy a ipad' I get from friends.

After reading everyone's comments, I would say that as a business machine I think it will do everything that I need. (Indeed if the new OS2.0 is as good as promised it could be cracking buy at £169).

Any recommendations on the best BB phone to go with the Playbook?

Again, thanks for all the info.

 

[garyk]

Ok it isnt an ipad. But how many people really need a £600 toy. Somehow everyone seems to want to spend a ludicrous amount of money just to muck about. The playbook (stupid name that probably halved its potential sales) is not as cool but it works.
ipads are very cool. I love the "oooh look how light and thin it is oh hang on a second i now have to shove it in a inch thick protective coating if i actually need to move it about safely".
Personally i like the size of the playbook and if you need something to play a few videos and be able to do a bit of surfing and emails while you move about the country it does it at a quater of the price.
If you "need" an ipad you have personal spending and self esteem issues.

I only use my ipad for abit of surfing emails and mainly watching films. Would I get another one? Probably not. Would I buy a playbook? Nope I would wait a short while and get a kindle fire, it will be even cheaper than a playbook and running android will have a ton of available apps and the ability to easily purchase content from Amazon.

 

[giffgore]

The new BlackBerry Bold 9900 is an awesome phone to get. Is has the same sort of specs you get on the new Androids and it feels really solid and performs excellently.

 

[crphillips]

Ok it isnt an ipad. But how many people really need a £600 toy. Somehow everyone seems to want to spend a ludicrous amount of money just to muck about. The playbook (stupid name that probably halved its potential sales) is not as cool but it works.
ipads are very cool. I love the "oooh look how light and thin it is oh hang on a second i now have to shove it in a inch thick protective coating if i actually need to move it about safely".
Personally i like the size of the playbook and if you need something to play a few videos and be able to do a bit of surfing and emails while you move about the country it does it at a quater of the price.
If you "need" an ipad you have personal spending and self esteem issues.

Hmmm......folk come out with some miss informed rubbish on this forum. An iPad equivalent to the playbook is £399. BB knocked the price down because they're going down the pan.

I bought the original iPad for £600ish......4 months later the iPad2 came out so I bought that for £700ish. I don't have any spending issues or self esteem problems. Just got plenty of money and don't know what to do with it all. Don't be so bitter.

My iPad just has the standard smart cover on it which increases it's thickness by around 2mm. The back is all scratched as it gets thrown around the van and slid accross floors and window sills whilst working. It's a work tool and gets treated like a work tool. It's very tough and when it's buggered or a new one comes out I'll simply get another. It's paid for itself 10 times over.

Also £600 isn't a lot for a good toy. I have toys that cost a lot more and get a lot less use.

Anyone who thinks an iPad is only a toy clearly doesn't know how to use one for business. Shame.