BlackBerry PlayBook user reviews

T.Campoy 31 May 2011

Good: Reliable, Small, Portable, Smart, Secure.

Bad: Missing a few things that will be added soon.

Comment: I cant understand why this review gave the Playbook 2*. Seriously, is it the lack of Apps? Cause all Apple's IPad 2 give to you is Apps, nothing else, yet made 4*... I love how the Playbook handle its multi-tasking and how web browsing was greatly developed, RIM had always major flaws with their browsers and now they finally made it! The fact that you can tether it with a BB makes it a plus for BB users but for those that dont have one still can access their emails and stuff by the browser. HDMI port, HURRAY!!! Now I can stream flash and watch on my 50" TV. Seriously, be impartial with reviews and dont only show the weak points but the overall.
As I have a BB this would make a extra star for me hence 4,5 but if I was a non BB it would still deserve a solid 3.5*
About the "KEY FEATURES", hahaha, your really joking arent you? Just because you dont have app for calendar and email built in you say the tablet is "not worth buying". All this features can be found on the web by its browser and you can create bookmarks to have a easier access.
Well, I always say that you have to stick with what is better for you and for now, so far, this is the best tab on market as the app doent make much difference for me!

brianpeterson 25 May 2011

Good: fast, powerful, HDMI output, multitaksing, flash

Bad: It's not a toy (i.e. lack of apps)

Comment: CNet US rates the playbook as 'Very Good' (3.5 stars) - from their review:

"Is it an iPad killer? For existing corporate and consumer BlackBerry devotees, the answer is certainly yes. For the rest of you, probably not."

"[T]he PlayBook is the most powerful 7-inch tablet we've tested"

"RIM's goal was to create an OS that is a powerful, professionally oriented alternative to Android and iOS. We think RIM nailed it."

"[T]he speed with which you can jump between running apps is noticeably faster than anything else out there. It's a dream tablet for anyone with attention deficit disorder. Like switching between applications on your computer, the PlayBook keeps your open apps running in parallel at full throttle and takes no time jumping right in."

"The virtual keys are well-spaced and responsive."

"[An] advantage of RIM's software sync strategy is that it will take your PlayBook's unique BlackBerry PIN ID and map it to a persistent virtual drive on your computer. After the setup, your computer will maintain a wireless connection to your PlayBook over your home network, allowing you to send files to the device from the virtual drive on your computer. One use for this feature is quickly transferring a report or presentation to your PlayBook without taking it out of your bag and physically connecting it."

"[Y]ou won't be wasting any time on mobile versions of sites designed for the small screens of smartphones--a problem that even larger tablets such as the Motorola Xoom and iPad 2 can't seem to shake."

"[T]he PlayBook's video output has the unique capability of either mirroring the device's screen, or selectively locking content (such as presentation slides or videos) to the HDMI output while allowing the device to pursue other tasks or drive the presentation behind the scenes."

"[W]hen the PlayBook pairs with another BlackBerry device, the tethered connection is (in theory) indistinguishable to carriers, and shouldn't incur any additional charges your carrier may have in place for tethering. The proof will be in the pudding when the PlayBook is set loose in the wild, but if it proves true, BlackBerry loyalists will be able to save money compared with iPad or Android tablet users who will need to shell out extra money for a cellular data plan or tethering fee."

"We feel confident saying that it is a much more enticing product than any of the 7-inch tablets we've seen so far (Samsung Tab, Dell Streak 7, Archos 70)."

Charles Kloet - ipad owner?

moneyhunster 21 May 2011

Good: portability, easy to use, view web properly, video is amazing, blackberry bridge,

Bad: honestly, the fact i havent put it down in 3 weeks is annoying my partner a bit!

Comment: if you read enough reviews you will read the owners comments, this tablet simply rocks, i urge anyone thinking about buying one to go and spend a few minutes with one, then make your mind up.
i cant fault it one bit, its just well made, brilliantly designed piece of kit.

go try it when it arrives in the UK.
Dont listen to the pc world assistant bash it, bet £10 he has an ipad and gets good commision on selling apple products.
just try it for yourself.

Christopher Morey 19 May 2011

Comment: The PlayBook can connect to any smartphone to enable 3G tethering (also carrier dependant) that's a feature that's not restricted to a BlackBerry Smartphone.

The reviewer states that "the PlayBook is only suitable for people who have a BlackBerry smart phone and will never, ever switch to a different brand." Now this is a personal opinion, not a basis of an unbiased review. There is nothing within the review to substantiate such a claim, however should the reviewer be inclined to make such a personal statement (emphasis on 'never, ever') then they must conversely accept the fact that these apps are incoming and will NOT require a BlackBerry smartphone - nor will they be halfbaked. The email app itself was demoed at BlackBerry World and looked pretty solid. A company whose built it's reputation on providing the best possible way to sync and push email to you would not release a 'half baked' email client.

As for the reviewers comments on not being able to escape to the homescreen - the gesture of swiping from the middle of any app upwareds into the bezel will bring up the homescreen with all apps currently running in a carousel - allowing you access to the homescreen and any these apps with no restriction.

The reviewer also fails to note that the PlayBook, once initially connected to a PC or Mac will remain wirelessly attached to that machine to allow wireless synching - they also fail to note the ability to still use the PlayBook while it's synching with a PC or Mac.

The 'so many features missing' aren't even listed - if these stand at an email app, contacts and calendar then i'd hardly call that so many. These also have unofficial apps within the appstore.

Lastly the reviewer doesn't comment on the PlayBook having the only official Facebook app, nor the fact that it also has Angry Birds - developers such as these are a positive sign that developers are taking the new operating system seriously.

I do agree with the criticisms against the PlayBook, these features should have been available at launch (all 3 of them) but a review needs to consider all features of the product in question, not just the ones they feel are missing - as a result this review comes across as more personal opinion than fact.

Christopher Morey 19 May 2011

Comment: I think there's some confusion with regards to what functionality is missing without a BlackBerry Phone synched to the PlayBook. The PlayBook can connect to any smartphone to enable 3G tethering (also carrier dependant) that's a feature that's not restricted to a BlackBerry Smartphone. The reviewer also states that "the PlayBook is only suitable for people who have a BlackBerry smart phone and will never, ever switch to a different brand." Now this is a personal opinion, not a basis of an unbiased review. There is nothing within the review to substantiate such a claim, however should the reviewer be inclined to make such a personal statement (emphasis on 'never, ever') then they must conversely accept the fact that these apps are incoming and will NOT require a BlackBerry smartphone - nor will they be halfbaked. Again a personal opinion with little to no substance. The email app itself was demoed at BlackBerry World and looked pretty solid. A company whose built it's reputation on providing the best possible way to sync and push email to you would not release a 'half baked' email client. As for the reviewers comments on not being able to escape to the homescreen - the gesture of swiping from the middle of any app upwareds into the bezel will bring up the homescreen with all apps currently running in a carousel - allowing you access to the homescreen and any these apps with no restriction. The reviewer also fails to note that the PlayBook, once initially connected to a PC or Mac will remain wirelessly attached to that machine to allow wireless synching - they also fail to note the ability to still use the PlayBook while it's synching with a PC or Mac.The 'so many features missing' aren't even listed - if these stand at an email app, contacts and calendar then i'd hardly call that so many. These also have unofficial apps within the appstore.Lastly the reviewer doesn't comment on the PlayBook having the only official Facebook app, nor the fact that it also has Angry Birds - developers such as these are a positive sign that developers are taking the new operating system seriously. I agree with the criticisms against the PlayBook, these features should have been available at launch (all 3 of them) but a review needs to consider all features of the product in question, not just the ones they feel are missing - as a result this review comes across as more personal opinion than fact.

valerie 19 May 2011

Comment: This is a wonderful gadget,,,,, the only thing left is to enable it with the Android app support.... it would then really be a solution for android users
gotto read this article about Playbpook nice one
bestcontactmobilephone.blogspot.com

Alaina 19 May 2011

Comment: The good in this BlackBerry is okay but the bad is really bad. It cannot work without a connection with a BlackBerry phone is very down sizing. What will a person do with the tablet if he doesn't have BlackBerry phone?? No 3G connectivityb is another bad for the device.
Overall disappointed with BlackBerry.

nickcnet 17 May 2011

Good: Nice OS and slick design

Bad: Useless for most people without Blackberry connected

Comment: Great review.

I love how all the Blackberry fans take the CNET review as a personal insult and start attacking CNET in return like 5 year olds. The review makes the very important point for 95% of people considering buying a tablet that you can't use major features of this tablet without a Blackberry connected via Bluetooth. Yes, of course "you" are ok with just your Gmail on the browser, or without being able to use the other hobbled features; we know that YOUR phone's battery would never run out, or that the battery life of the tablet couldn't possibly be drained by having to connect to Bluetooth all the time etc. But for most people who would potentially buy a tablet this makes it basically useless compared to most of the newer competing devices, which have none of these limitations and most of the advantages. CNET can't possibly review the device on the basis that Blackberry says it'll fix the missing features in the future, or that it may or may not run Android apps properly at some unspecified time. The device on sale now, which is presumably the one delivered to CNET, is not able to do any of these things, and it would be dishonest of CNET to do otherwise.

NO_CARRIER 17 May 2011

Good: great for owners of ALL phones (not just blackberry's)

Comment: As an android user, and this tablet soon to have support for Android apps... I see this as the perfect solution for android users as well. If I can access my gmail I'm gold. I keep my contacts on my phone where they belong.

What I don't understand is that this 'review' states so many amazing features of this product and yet only 2 stars? Because of some software items that will be addressed by summer? Why no bonus points for the things this tablet does that other tablets are still not able to do? They're mentioned in the article, but not reflected in the rating.

Disappointed in you CNET.

Ro Atkinson 17 May 2011

Good: Speedy and smooth

Bad: useless on its own

Comment: I thought the blackberry bridge was a good idea already. Your review has actually made me think it is a better idea. However, I own an iPhone, and for that reason I'm out.