This week, Research In Motion (RIM) used their annual BlackBerry Developer Conference to announce the company’s new entry into the tablet market, the long awaited BlackBerry PlayBook. Even before any details were released the PlayBook was already being heralded by some as an iPad beater.
RIM are positioning the PlayBook as a dual-demographic device that can meet the needs of both business users as well as general consumers. Like its cell phone cousin, the BlackBerry Playbook will be supportive to Microsoft based email and it will be enabled with friendly hardware, such as HD video playback. But with Blackberry dominance in the business cell phone market, will general consumers think that the PlayBook is a business device? By its name my guess is that RIM are worried that they will.
Is PlayBook an iPad Beater?
From what little we know of the PlayBook it certainly looks on paper like it has some advantages:
| BlackBerry PlayBook | Apple iPad | |
| Screen size | 7 inches | 9.7 inches |
| Resolution | 1024 x 600 | 1024 x 768 |
| Pixel density | 170 | 133 |
| Platform | BB Tablet OS | iOS 3.2.2 |
| Adobe Flash | 10.1 | Not Supported |
| Processor | 1GHz dual-core Cortex A9 | 1GHz Apple A4 (ARMv7) |
| RAM | 1GB | 256MB |
| Internal Storage | 16GB / 32GB (unconfirmed) | 16GB / 32GB / 64GB |
| Expansion | Unknown | None |
| Connectivity | 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR | 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR |
| Cellular data | 3G and 4G promised for future | 3G optional (GSM) |
| Camera | 3MP front, 5MP rear | None |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs | 1.5 – 1.6 lbs |
The PlayBook is also rumored to include USB ports whose absence was a major criticism of the iPad when it was launched. BlackBerry also has a great brand following so things look good for the PlayBook challenge to the iPad crown. Or does it?
Just when BlackBerry looked like they may steal some of iPad’s thunder, Apple chatterings on the web suggest that they are expected to launch the next generation iPad which could possible trump the PlayBook’s fairly impressive spec levels.
Just like with the iPhone and BlackBerry Cell I can see two camps emerging; those that love the ‘coolness’ of the iPad and those that ‘business’ of the PlayBook. Watch this space!
anderson
1 year ago
can anyone answer me when wil it be available on market??
white
1 year ago
i just bought an ipad today and now i am returning it to wait for this.
martinez
1 year ago
To be honest, the ability to link a blackberry smartphone to the playbook for bbm is enough to make me buy this tablet. I just wish it was a little big bigger.
thompson
1 year ago
The PlayBook is awesome! One of the best tabs right now on the market, maybe the very best of all!
white2
1 year ago
It will connect to your Desire HD’s WiFi hotspot. You DO NOT need a BlackBerry to use the PlayBook.
allen
1 year ago
that would be awesome then. it actually makes sense thou, coz the playbook does connect to normal wifi anyway and the one made by android shouldnt be any different I assume.