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[DopeyFish]

Plus you have to buy another thing in order to unlock core functionality.

I wonder which of their CEOs thought this would be a good idea.

To the people who don't actually pay attention (which seems to be everyone) bthe playbook will have email, contacts, calendar in an upcoming software update which won't require a blackberry to use

Also find it funny that people complain about price, smaller isn't cheaper... Less bill of material but higher in complexity. It' has HDMI, USB, a far more powerful processor/GPU combo than any non PC tablet on the market and 1 GB of ram. The screen is a higher pixel density, same quality screen as seen on other tablets

Hard to argue you're not getting your moneys worth

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

To the people who don't actually pay attention (which seems to be everyone) bthe playbook will have email, contacts, calendar in an upcoming software update which won't require a blackberry to use

I'M BUYING THREE.

 

[giga]

a far more powerful processor/GPU combo than any non PC tablet on the market

Bzzt, wrong answer.

 

[dream]

To the people who don't actually pay attention (which seems to be everyone) bthe playbook will have email, contacts, calendar in an upcoming software update which won't require a blackberry to use

So people who want to buy a tablet can either put off their purchase until this future software update for the PlayBook arrives... or buy one with email, contacts, and calendar features right now. Tough choice.

 

[Ollie Pooch]

To the people who don't actually pay attention (which seems to be everyone) bthe playbook will have email, contacts, calendar in an upcoming software update which won't require a blackberry to use

I was claiming it was idiotic to launch without them. Which it is.

 

[kkaabboomm]

I was claiming it was idiotic to launch without them. Which it is.

I understand their reasoning though 100%. They want to get a tablet out sooner rather than later. Most of the software is there, hardware is there.

They have a unique PIN system that ties the secure email system to a single device. They have since they started. People haven't needs multiple blackberries at a time.

Now they have a separate device that compliments the phone, but their entire backend security doesn't allow for multiple devices to work with an account - the PIN system. So they've been migrating that to an account-based system, but that takes time and everything else- it's no where near ready, but I hear newer blackberries either release or upcoming implement it.

So they are trying to get a tablet out, their entire backend is being reworked, and they decide instead of waiting another 3-6 months an losing that much more mind and marketshare, launch now with 'bridge' and keep updating the OS as we go. Their early adopters will probably be blackberry customers originally, and it buys them time in the market until they get the new account system up.

It makes sense in that mindset, it wasn't a 'we can get people to buy a tablet and a phone! Aha!' type of thing in my opinion.

 

[Burger]

I understand their reasoning though 100%. They want to get a tablet out sooner rather than later. Most of the software is there, hardware is there.

Hmm yet Jim Balsillie has adamantly stated that RIM wasn't caught unaware by the iPad or any of these other tablets...

So they must have planned for this?

 

[kehs]

To the people who don't actually pay attention (which seems to be everyone) bthe playbook will have email, contacts, calendar in an upcoming software update which won't require a blackberry to use

Worked well for the xoom.

 

[kkaabboomm]

Hmm yet Jim Balsillie has adamantly stated that RIM wasn't caught unaware by the iPad or any of these other tablets...

So they must have planned for this?

My guess is when they bought the OS company and the UI company they knew they were going for a major overhaul of RIM, but the iPads quick success sped up their original plans a bunch.

 

[numble]

To the people who don't actually pay attention (which seems to be everyone) bthe playbook will have email, contacts, calendar in an upcoming software update which won't require a blackberry to use

Also find it funny that people complain about price, smaller isn't cheaper... Less bill of material but higher in complexity. It' has HDMI, USB, a far more powerful processor/GPU combo than any non PC tablet on the market and 1 GB of ram. The screen is a higher pixel density, same quality screen as seen on other tablets

Hard to argue you're not getting your moneys worth

People will just compare screen size. The Galaxy Tab had more RAM and processor power than the original iPad, but people just saw it as more expensive and smaller than the iPad.

Plus, how does the Blackberry GPU/processor compare to the A5?

 

[Operations]

This thing has 1 GB of RAM and yet there are memory management problems? I always knew it would suck, but geez what an embarrassment.

 

[CharminUltra]

the playbook will have email, contacts, calendar in an upcoming software update

Kewl. So can I pay RIM part of the money now and then send the rest later? No?

Well, shit.

 

[dream]

People will just compare screen size. The Galaxy Tab had more RAM and processor power than the original iPad, but people just saw it as more expensive and smaller than the iPad.

Plus, how does the Blackberry GPU/processor compare to the A5?

According to Anandtech's review:

Overall the OMAP 4430 has the specs to be performance competitive with anything else out there today, definitely anything Tegra 2 based. Apple's A5 still has a much faster GPU but from a CPU standpoint, the PlayBook should be competitive.

 

[Phoenix]

Hmm yet Jim Balsillie has adamantly stated that RIM wasn't caught unaware by the iPad or any of these other tablets...

So they must have planned for this?

Its its true the senior management team should be fired for not securing the manufacturing supply chain so that they can actually get the product to market as opposed to having to now "wait in line" with their other competitors since Apple has seized key component manufacturers in the supply chain.

 

[Phoenix]

What a surprise.

 

[Phoenix]

RIM is a company that continues to show its age and how out of touch they are with a lot of the development space. For example, if you are producing an application that uses https for security of end-user data, you need to get an ECCN to define the export control status of your application before they will review it or make it available. Everyone and their mother uses some form of encryption in every application except games and not once... ONCE have I ever been asked to figure out the ECCN for my application.

RIM is failing so completely in developer relations. Its sad to watch.

 

[Zzoram]

Its its true the senior management team should be fired for not securing the manufacturing supply chain so that they can actually get the product to market as opposed to having to now "wait in line" with their other competitors since Apple has seized key component manufacturers in the supply chain.

It's not that simple. Apple has the most influence with suppliers. They always get priority when it comes to ordering parts because they order so much and everyone wants to get on their good side hoping to get future orders for their future products.

 

[Phoenix]

It's not that simple. Apple has the most influence with suppliers. They always get priority when it comes to ordering parts because they order so much and everyone wants to get on their good side hoping to get future orders for their future products.

Indeed, you aren't going to beat out Apple - but you knew that you were launching the product this year and yet you waited to start your production orders THIS YEAR knowing full well that everyone and their mother would be producing tablets. You didn't try to get priority status behind Apple, didn't try to get a partner that would guarantee you supply for a certain volume, and didn't make enough of them so you could get them in the hands of developers BEFORE you put the product on the market!

There is a reason RIMs shit is so half-assed right now and its because they have allowed the entire market to consume the oxygen in the space (developers, tool chain makers, evangelists, and markets). From the inside of the development community I can tell you that RIMs process is embarrassingly bad. One clusterfuck after another. For example, the damn device is shipping and their isn't even a 1.0 release of the SDK anywhere in sight.

 

[punkypine]

It's hilarous to me that people will defend the fact that it doesnt have a native email app. If it had no speakers/headphones, people would probably be like "look, you could just play the sound through your blackberry and use the tablet for the screen." No battery? that's what the wall plug is for! RIM will ship you a battery at a later date, so just chill for a bit

unless you work for RIM or have stock, i don't see how you can defend that decision

 

[The Faceless Master]

After showing off the Playbook, RIM's Mike Lazaridis pulls the plug on an interview after being asked about their issues in the Middle East:



Video:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/9456798.stm

Guy is a nutter.

did he smash up the powder room backstage with a chair?

 

[Zzoram]

I'm pretty disappointed that they didn't produce a more polished product or improve developer relations. If they don't improve dramatically within the next 2 years they'll probably get eaten by Microsoft.

 

[Polari]

I don't get all the scepticism. To me this looks like the best tablet to date, software looks incredible, hardware looks fantastic and I'm sure the bugs will be ironed out relatively quickly. I'm going to wait and see what HP come up with but right now I would definitely plump for a Playbook over an iPad or Xoom.

 

[Zzoram]

I don't get all the scepticism. To me this looks like the best tablet to date, software looks incredible, hardware looks fantastic and I'm sure the bugs will be ironed out relatively quickly. I'm going to wait and see what HP come up with but right now I would definitely plump for a Playbook over an iPad or Xoom.

Well I think the Playbook is better than the Galaxy Tab or Xoom but not better than the iPad 2.

 

[SmokyDave]

After reading through the reviews, this thing sounds like a bit of a sow. The parts about memory management made me groan out loud. Having said that, I've had to use a Blackberry Torch for work lately and that thing is awful, I shouldn't be that surprised.

the apparently-Java-based game JetFighter, which has onscreen controls but no multitouch functionality, meaning that you cannot move and shoot at the same time… which would be fine if this weren’t a top-down shooter.

This made me laugh until I farted.

 

[Jill Sandwich]

I don't get all the scepticism. To me this looks like the best tablet to date, software looks incredible, hardware looks fantastic and I'm sure the bugs will be ironed out relatively quickly. I'm going to wait and see what HP come up with but right now I would definitely plump for a Playbook over an iPad or Xoom.

Pardon my avatar, but what about the software looks incredible?

 

[kmfdmpig]

I want to read the page, not noodle around it on a tiny screen.

I read comics on my Nook Color, which is also a 7 inch screen. I think it works quite well for that to be honest. Small enough to not be obtrusive, but large enough that everything is legible without zooming (while in landscape mode). At some point I'd be interested in a 10 inch tablet as well, but I'm not sure comics will be preferable on that size screen.

 

[Jill Sandwich]

whoops

 

[LCfiner]

I read comics on my Nook Color, which is also a 7 inch screen. I think it works quite well for that to be honest. Small enough to not be obtrusive, but large enough that everything is legible without zooming (while in landscape mode). At some point I'd be interested in a 10 inch tablet as well, but I'm not sure comics will be preferable on that size screen.

Trust me, comics are preferable on a 10" screen. you can hold it in portrait and see the entire page at once, not just the top half (if you using a 7" screen in landscape). that can really help for layouts that use an entire page.

heck, double page layouts can be viewed entirely while holding a 10" screen in landscape and it's still possible to read some word bubbles (depends on how small the fonts are).

 

[Boards of Canada]

This thing is 7"? Seriously? And they're asking for how much? Wow.

 

[kehs]

This thing is 7"? Seriously? And they're asking for how much? Wow.

"This phone is only 3.5" and they want how much for it? Seriously?"

 

[Firestorm]

Are there apps for producing documents, presentations, spreadsheets, etc.?

Docs2Go.

And I love how Engadget highlighted the calculator app. Really hope TAT does more soon. Most impressive looking core app I've seen on any mobile OS aside from Maybe WP7.

 

[Zzoram]

This thing is 7"? Seriously? And they're asking for how much? Wow.

You do realize that in the world of electronics, smaller isn't cheaper right?

 

[dream]

People don't want to pay more for less, either. From the reviews I've read, the PlayBook gives you less of everything, including screen size.

 

[numble]

You do realize that in the world of electronics, smaller isn't cheaper right?

But with these ARM-based tablets, smaller should be cheaper. If they released a smaller iPad, the internal components would be the same size, and the only difference would be the smaller screen and battery, which are cheaper at smaller sizes.

 

[dream]

Right. I think the Galaxy Tab is $499 for the 10.1" version and $469 for the 8.9" model.

 

[VanMardigan]

The number of apps isn't wholely relevant. How many developers are building apps and will they continue building good quality apps for your platform once you stop bribing them with goods. If you look at the metrics for what platforms developers plan to develop for, Windows Phone 7 is at the bottom of the list consistently. So either developers think the phone sucks, Microsof/Nokia aren't giving enough support, or they are just not targeting the right set of developers who consider that ecosystem valuable.

They have tons of developers, the app store is exploding, and I'm not sure what you mean by bribing, but they didn't bribe their way to 13k apps. I think you're projecting because you may nit have interest in developing for them. They've passed webos and rim to become the third biggest ecosystem in the mobile space. They launched in November. Of all the bad things you can say about windows phone 7, developer support and app store growth aren't valid.

 

[kehs]

But with these ARM-based tablets, smaller should be cheaper. If they released a smaller iPad, the internal components would be the same size, and the only difference would be the smaller screen and battery, which are cheaper at smaller sizes.

Smaller screen would also mean a higher resolution screen and more precise digitizers.

Smaller batter would also mean a more efficient battery

Smaller physical space would mean better cooling.

 

[MercuryLS]

I'm happy the battery life is great, that was all I was worried about. I'm still more keen on getting this than an iPad or Android tablet. It just seems like it needs a bit more work before it's really met its potential, but as it stands, it still looks great.

 

[giga]

What the hell, how can they ship this…

Despite the PlayBook having a 1GB of LP-DDR2 memory on-board, this thing can run out of memory quickly - particularly when multitasking with BlackBerry Bridge apps. If you've got a web page loaded in the Bridge Browser, you'll only be able to open a maximum of three other Bridge apps before you run out of memory. For example, I had AnandTech loaded in the Bridge Browser with Messages, Calendar and Contacts open alongside it. If I tried to open MemoPad or Tasks the apps would quit instantly. It's only after I closed the Bridge Browser that I could launch additional Bridge apps. I don't think we're actually using a full gigabyte of memory, but I do think that I'm bumping into whatever portion of memory is reserved for Bridge apps in the above scenario.

Open up enough non-Bridge apps and you'll quickly run out of graphics memory. If you're lucky, you'll even get a nice error or two from the OS:

The biggest GPU memory hog appears to be the browser, particularly with a full web page loaded. RIM appears to keep the entire web page in memory rather than do the old take a picture of the app and display it as a thumbnail trick. As a result having a loaded web page in the browser, even if it's just in the background, eats into your limited available GPU memory. Just as there's performance tuning that has to be done on the PlayBook, there's also a lot of memory usage tuning that must be done as well.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4266/blackberry-playbook-review/13

 

[hyp]

back to the drawing board RIM.

 

[numble]

What the hell, how can they ship this…



http://images.anandtech.com/reviews/tablets/RIM/PlayBook/IMG_00000116.jpg[IMG]

[url]http://www.anandtech.com/show/4266/blackberry-playbook-review/13[/url][/QUOTE]
The biggest memory hog is when you have ONE webpage fully loaded?!

 

[Burger]

The fuck is a Bridge Browser?

 

[Firestorm]

The fuck is a Bridge Browser?

When you connect your corporate BlackBerry you can browse your company intranet.

back to the drawing board RIM.

Why? It's not a fundamentally flawed product. It needs work, but not something they should start from scratch.

 

[MercuryLS]

The biggest memory hog is when you have ONE webpage fully loaded?!

It's not the webpage, it's the bridge. I saw on Playbook video where once the bridge was used the whole thing slowed down.

 

[Zzoram]

So the Playbook can't quite fit in pockets?

I wonder if there really is a market for 7" tablets if that's the case. Maybe we should go to 12" tablets then instead of 10" since they're equally portable.

 

[Phoenix]

They have tons of developers, the app store is exploding, and I'm not sure what you mean by bribing, but they didn't bribe their way to 13k apps. I think you're projecting because you may nit have interest in developing for them. They've passed webos and rim to become the third biggest ecosystem in the mobile space. They launched in November. Of all the bad things you can say about windows phone 7, developer support and app store growth aren't valid.

Maybe you've got different market stats than I have.

 

[dream]

Shares of Research in Motion (RIMM) are down 3.3% at $53.01 after a number of publications published lukewarm reviews on the company’s upcoming BlackBerry PlayBook.

Among the concerns were the lack of native email, calendar and address book on the device, which relies on connectivity with a BlackBerry smartphone for those features. The device also relies on a BlackBerry phone for 3G connectivity.

Another weakness the reviewers cited was the weak battery life. Reviewers found the battery lasted five to six hours, compared to RIM’s claim of eight to 10 hours. Apple’s (AAPL) iPad delivers 10 to 11 hours of battery life, according to Shaw Wu, an analyst with Sterne Agee.

http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderdaily/2011/04/14/rimm-down-on-early-playbook-reviews/?mod=BOLBlog

 

[samus i am]

I have a BlackBerry phone so this would be perfect for me. I can see how there would be no incentive to get one if you don't.

 

[dream]

 

[neojubei]

Ok that was funny