Just added a Playbook to the collection

[CIA]

7 to 8 hours on average and about 4 to 5 hours for a full recharge.

7-8 hours of straight usage? Or 7-8 hours regardless of usage? (few minutes here or there all day long)

 

[beaner454]

If I was going to buy a non-iPad, I wouldn't buy from a company that looks like it's going to go under. Risky buy.

To be fair, this was the exact argument Windows users tossed at people wanting to buy a mac for years.

 

[taipan61]

thanks for the insight on the playbook, getting one from my employer so it'll have to travel with me but wasn't looking forward to taking two tablets on the road, so now my wife can play with the iPad while I'm out on the road.
Anyone know of a way to do video calls between the devices? Haven't gotten it yet so asking in advance.

 

[darngooddesign]

What bugs me is the fact that you said in PLaybook a gesture is what activates the multitasking feature. Unless in ios 5 swiping up wit 4 or 5 fingers means goin to a preview screen, swiping up with 1 or 2 fingers in some apps already have a function

It recognizes a difference between a two finger swipe that starts outside the screen and a two finger swipe that starts inside the screen.

 

[lavrishevo]

To be fair, this was the exact argument Windows users tossed at people wanting to buy a mac for years.

I have never owned a Blackberry phone or plan on owning one at this point but to be fair I don't believe RIM is going down anytime soon. The Playbook is a really nice device and their new OS is very smooth and elegant. I was a first week owner of the iPhone when it came out in 07 and I can testify that RIM's new OS is much better then Apple's was in 2007. They just released the thing and will have a major challenge to get the apps developed like iOS and Android.

The Playbook will be able to run Android apps this summer, which is a big plus and I believe more and more developers will start developing for RIM's new OS. Time will tell what will become of the Playbook but reviews are pretty conciliar on how well RIM did with the OS and implementation of the multitasking / overall feel of the device. The area where RIM faulted was releasing the tablet early without some functions, which both iOS and Android have. Such as calendar, contacts, and e-mail clients outside of Bridge to a Blackberry phone. Of course you can access all of this via the web. This is supposed to be all included with a major update this summer.

Again, I am not a fan of RIM in general but I enjoy my Playbook for the functions I use it for. I am sure many won't due to their comparison of the current iPad state of development but in all honesty I hardly think that is fair considering the device is less then two months old.

 

[lavrishevo]

7-8 hours of straight usage? Or 7-8 hours regardless of usage? (few minutes here or there all day long)

Hard usage with wifi on and viewing lots flash etc... around 7 hours. Light usage here and here it will last a couple of days.

 

[paulyras]

I spend a lot if time flying, almost 300,000 miles a year. The size for portability & screen for movies plus the browser / multitasking is what sold me.

I'm in the same travel boat, but that raises a question. If I understand, it doesn't have 3G, unless tethered to another rim device, correct? Not being in an office, that would kill me. I don't even think about how much I use 3G until I'm out of the country, when I almost get the shakes from not having constant data access (unless I'm somewhere long enough to get a local data plan).

Thanks for the writeup. Very informative.

 

[icstars989]

Im really interested in one of these too. I love WebOS though and with their tablet dropping soon, Im not sure which one I'll get. Im glad to hear that you've enjoyed your experience thus far with it.

 

[fertilized-egg]

I'm in the same travel boat, but that raises a question. If I understand, it doesn't have 3G, unless tethered to another rim device, correct? Not being in an office, that would kill me.

It's inconvenient but I find it bearable with tethering from my phone. It does tether well both through wifi and bluetooth(DUN) so even my dumbphone gets along fine with it.

Im really interested in one of these too. I love WebOS though and with their tablet dropping soon, Im not sure which one I'll get. Im glad to hear that you've enjoyed your experience thus far with it.

I wrote it earlier but to be honest I don't really see why I would recommend this over other tablets at this point. It has potential but it's fairly expensive and just has too many holes right now. It does handle videos well - even H264 1080p high profile - but the lack of MKV probably nullifies that advantage for many.

 

[ajohnson253]

Nice, been curious what Apple users have had to say about their experience with playbook.

 

[Whorehay]

Nice, been curious what Apple users have had to say about their experience with playbook.

I returned it. What's there is awesome, but what isn't there is the deal breaker. Lots of people are happy with using the web browser to do everything, but I just found that it was not efficient.

Love: the size, the screen, the speakers, the operating system
Hate: that without apps or at least web optimization, it is basically an expensive touchscreen web-based Chromebook, but with even less functionality.

Hopefully people start developing for it because it's a great platform. But there are too many glaring holes to recommend it over an iPad if you need a tablet. I might go back once it gets going, but I'm sure they are crapping their pants right now in Waterloo with iMessage.