First Look: BlackBerry PlayBook

by Nic Healey | Thursday 14 April 2011

Yesterday we were invited by RIM to get a short hands on period with its PlayBook - a BlackBerry 7in tablet which has been generating a lot of buzz. Here's our first impressions

We had previously seen the PlayBook at CES, but this is a more stable (though not final) build of the software, with actual applications running rather than demos. RIM are marketing the PlayBook as “professional grade” rather than pushing it specifically at businesses like early Blackberries were in the hope of also attracting regular consumers as well.

We played with one of the WiFi only models and were cautiously impressed. Design is muted and understated, but with the feel of a quality build. The dual core 1GHz processor (now the default standard for next-gen tablets) and 1GB of memory makes for a remarkably zippy device and the screen is bright and extremely touch responsive.

Interestingly, RIM have made the bezel of the PlayBook touch sensitive as well as the screen – you pull up the virtual keyboard by flicking the lower left corner diagonally and the battery life and connectivity indicators can be accessed by the same motion in the upper right corner, just to give two examples.

The multi-tasking is extremely impressive, with any running apps appearing in a ribbon-like interface. We had a 1080p HD movie, a PowerPoint presentation, a music player and a Flash intensive website all happily running at the same time with no noticeable sluggishness – quite an achievement. Special mention should go to the video playback, which is nigh-on perfect and shows off the screen superbly.

We were also impressed by the news of the Android virtual machine, an app that will allow PlayBook users to run Android applications that have been ported to the BlackBerry AppWorld. We’d need to see this in action before we wax too lyrical, but it certainly opens up the usage considerably.

The WiFi only model is intended to be tethered to a BlackBerry phone for internet access as well as real time access to email, calendar, address book and even BlackBerry Messenger. RIM couldn’t comment on a 3G or 4G version in terms of local timing, carrier availability or pricing.

In all, we were fairly impressed with the PlayBook. We have some concerns regarding the amount of native BlackBerry touch applications that will be maximised for use on the 7in form factor at launch, but hope to be surprised by this. Local pricing is still a mystery, but the 64GB WiFi only model will retails for US$700 in the US, so if RIM can avoid the traditional “Aussie Tax” down under, the pricing should be in line with the current tablet market. Stay tuned for a launch date – RIM are currently stating “Q2 calendar year” which is wonderfully vague.

Click here for a gallery of the PlayBook in action and size comparison to the Samsung Galaxy Tab.

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amcmo 18 April 2011	Not just Andriod Fanbois, but also RIM Fanbois. So you were fairly impressed were you? EVERY 'respectable' magazine tester out there but one (who would seem to have not even turned it on after claiming multiple day battery life) got into this product about it's poor 5-7 hour battery life, missing features, you name it. Ok, it has a nice screen and some potential. Admit it Healey, if Apple released a product this not for consumption you would be making the biggest noise about it. The concensus was this is a product that is not ready to be released. You're talking up an anounced, but not yet available feature - Android VM, which everyone else is expecting to be a bit of a dog. But then, you are the person who raved about the Xoom on tv, which when it arrived was very iPad1 territory. You also are a big fan of Android ability to (one day) run Flash. Check out what a 'REAL' tester thinks about it - Infoworld say it is definitely a case of 'Look Don't Touch' You mention it's going to be in line with other tablet pricing, but then, do do anything useful (eMail) you have to have a Blackberry as well, which makes it a n expensive 'cludge' Comment made about the PC & Tech Authority article: First Look: BlackBerry PlayBook? Yesterday we were invited by RIM to get a short hands on period with its PlayBook - a BlackBerry 7in tablet which has been generating a lot of buzz. Here's our first impressions What do you think? Join the discussion.
Slatts 18 April 2011	Must be a nuisance having to survive without depth perception amcmo. :-k Edited by Slatts: 18/4/2011 12:14:41 PM
amcmo 18 April 2011	What's your problem. Above is a series of statements of fact and a reasonable conclusion based on that. Do you have an issue with anyone who takes the sacred cow staff at PC&A to task for their lack of objectivity and innaccuracies, or just anyone who is not Anti Apple/Pro Android/Google to the exclusion of all logic? Do you somehow feel Healey is the only person to have evaluated the RIM who is correct, and all the other reviews from far more respected publications are somehow wrong? As a developer using Win, Apple, Linux,(with experience in Pascal/Cobol/C+/Machine Code, plus other languages) and equipment in house from IBM, Apple, Android family, we also build our own systems, I consider myself and my company open to the merits of all brands/themes. Can you honestly say that much? What I refuse to accept is substandard evaluations from maagazines/reviewers who hold themselves up to be experts and ignore readily obvious facts. Or would you prefer me to be a slavish Android follower, unable to accept that there is equal or better product out there?
gone4good 18 April 2011	The point is, amcmo, is that we don't care. It's a review. There's lots out there. If you or anyone else is silly enough to purchase something based on a single opinion, then that's your problem. The rest of us just make our own mind up and go about our day.
amcmo 18 April 2011	Yes, it's a review, with a supposedly experienced person reviewing the product. He failed miserably! While you may be intelligent enough to make up your own mind, the vast majority out there are not. They buy based on positive reviews because they don't have the knowledge or other to make up their own minds. This mag claims to be expert in all things and has a responsibility to give reviews based on some semblance of fact. If the likes of Healey are not called on their inaccurate and shallow reviews they will continue (probably will anyway) to mislead less knowedgeable readers into poor purchase decisions. If everyone made up their own mind based on knowledge and personal research as you claim, what's the point of the mag? I clearly do not make any purchase based on any review by this mag, and do have the knowledge to make a reasoned decision. I pointed out apparent inaccuracies in Healey's review, and the response is to attack me, rather than the reviewer responsible for the substandard article. Go figure! I guess the answer is to get an overpaid job with the mag - I've got all the qualification, multiple degrees, PGDip, MBA, - exerience with open source, database developemnt, semiconductor design quals, software development experience - damn, perhaps too experienced. I might be tempted to write a technically correct review instead of a 'wish it were so'
go4er 20 June 2011	So every "respectable" reviewer panned the PlayBook? It is true that the initial wave of "no app for that" reviews were negative. But I could post links to two dozen reviews that are basically positive. Well, I probably couldn't get past spam filters if I posted links here. But here is a lead to some serious discussion: google the three words [amd moorhead playbook] and you'll find Pat Moorhead's AMD blog, where he has written series of blog posts about the PlayBook. I suppose Mr. Moorhead knows nothing about computers, though -- AMD VP involved with corporate strategy, ex "desktop and mobile strategic marketing VP." The PlayBook does have advantages, but also limitations ... as does each kind of tablet. Buyers should do their research. Who is this "everyone else" who is expecting the Android player to be a "bit of a dog?" I don't. It is not completely clear how this will be implemented (Dalvik or not?), but there are certainly ways to do this so that Android apps will run about as fast on the PlayBook as on Android tablets. The PlayBook does have some real advantages: probably the best web browser on a tablet, excellent front-facing stereo speakers, by far the brightest tablet (about the only one that can be used outside in direct sunlight), excellent video play and video-out, ... Even most negative reviewers liked the fluid interface. One correction to this review: There are three ways for the PlayBook to connect to the internet: (1) via a wifi hotspot; (2) by "bridging" to a BlackBerry phone (which gives access to the BlackBerry network, BBM, mail, etc.) (3) by "tethering" to ANY phone which respects the tethering standard (Bluetooth 2.1+EDR ) and has a data plan (which enables the web browser, but not the BB email etc). A Blackberry phone is NOT necessary for web access by tethering, other phones will work too. It is even possible (though it sounds complicated) to be simultaneously bridged and tethered to a Blackberry phone.
amcmo 21 June 2011	Some of the later reviews do seem to a bit kinder, though I still believe most consider it to be more promise than delivery at this stage.