Blackberry Playbook

[JEREMY HAWKE]

I have done a search but dont see much feedback on these things .

I want a device where I can reply to emails with out using the small buttons on my blackberry /take online card payments and have a decent internet conection .
Quite often these days Im out and about and only have my blackberry this is OK but I would like to be able to bang off a long email quickly /and take card payments and check other email accounts that my blackberry is not set uo for .Also there are a few web based sites and applications that are not managable with a blackberry .
I like the Ipad but they have reduced the price of the Playbook and it obviously works well with my existing blackberry as well as getting the internet connection from it . A netbook/laptop is a pain in the neck !

Does anybody have one of these devices ?

 

[That Guy]

I don't have one and sales have been allot lower than RIM expected.

But if its only for simple tasks like Email, Web etc I can't see there being a problem

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

I don't have one and sales have been allot lower than RIM expected.

But if its only for simple tasks like Email, Web etc I can't see there being a problem

Thats what worries me why did it not take off and why the £200 drop in the last few weeks ? Maybe its new price is what its worth and just maybe its perfect for a brand loyal customer that does not demand a lot

 

[Ian@PinkChalk]

I work with a colleague who was given a PlayBook for testing. He said that one thing he found a little disappointing was the way that the PlayBook doesn't seem to be able to connect to his email unless it is connected to his BlackBerry. It may be worth investigating this further before committing to a purchase?

Other than that - he mentioned that it seemed ok for general use (such as web browsing, etc) although he found the screen was quite a bit smaller than the iPad one and there weren't as many applications available.

Hope this helps...

 

[GravexWebServices]

I was a massive fan of these Playbooks, before they were released.

The major disadvantage of a Playbook is that it requires a BlackBerry to connect to the internet, use BBM, and send/receive e-mails. So, what you're essentially getting is a tablet computer with no Internet connection. Compare it to an Android tablet or an iPad, these devices do everything a Playbook could only do once connected to a BlackBerry.

That said, I've used a Playbook since and they are great devices. They are quick, support Flash, and are generally good tablets, although pricey.

I have seen PC World (or Curry's, bit hard to tell the difference now with their adverts) are selling the Playbook for £250. If you have a BlackBerry, then a Playbook would be the way to go, especially with the price they are at at the moment.

 

[Faevilangel]

Also BB PB was launched without native emails, BBM etc which put a lot of people off buying them. RIm are supposed to be launching an update in the new year with the above.

My opinion of why the BB PB didn't sell well because it was lowly specced compared to the Ipad, Galaxy Tab etc. They targeted the device at those with a BB but it lacked the basic functionality which the BB users wanted / needed.

HP had the same issue with their tab, it was under specced compared to the other tablets and HP just decided to scrap the project. Just because the Ipad and Galaxy sells at £400+, doesn't mean a BB PB would. I just bought my first tablet to use for my websites (make them more mobile friendly) and I just got a cheap £130 Archos with Android which does what I need without any special gimmicks.

 

[garyk]

Yep the fact you cant send/receive email without a BB is simply ludicrous. Just how many potential sales are they losi by doing this?

 

[astutiumRob]

Yep the fact you cant send/receive email without a BB is simply ludicrous. Just how many potential sales are they losi by doing this?

Most of those they projected !

It's a completely pointless device - basically a larger screen for your BB - not really a "tablet" computer at all.

 

[Bill1954]

I have one of these. They have no inbuilt email client although you can connect easily to web based email. You don't need a blackberry to connect to the net. The device is wireless and will connect to any wireless modem to which you have the password. The update, which is supposed to have native email and an android app player was supposed to be here in Summer, then in October, and now February so I wouldn't bank on it being available then.

 

[Spock]

The reason for the big price drop is because they are selling so badly, and it's just a last ditch attempt to get a share of the market before they too pull out of the tablet market and concede to Apple.