Research in Motion's 7-Inch 'PlayBook' Tablet to Target Business Users

[MacRumors]

Research in Motion today announced a new 7-inch tablet device known as the BlackBerry PlayBook. The business-focused tablet, set for launch early next year, will offer a dual-core 1GHz, Cortex A9 processor, 1 GB of RAM, 1024 x 600 display with capacitive multi-touch capabilities, front (3-megapixel) and rear (5-megapixel) cameras, and support for 1080p video output over HDMI.

Perfect for either large organizations or an "army of one", the BlackBerry PlayBook is designed to give users what they want, including uncompromised web browsing, true multitasking and high performance multimedia, while also providing advanced security features, out-of-the-box enterprise support and a breakthrough development platform for IT departments and developers. The incredibly powerful and innovative BlackBerry PlayBook is truly a game-changing product in the growing tablet marketplace.

Pricing and other details are yet to be announced, although the PlayBook will apparently initially be available only as a Wi-Fi models, with the company planning to launch 3G and 4G models in the future. The Wi-Fi PlayBook will, however, be able to tether through BlackBerry phones for access on the go.

Research in Motion has been looking for ways to maintain its prominent position among business users as Apple's iPhone has begun to gain traction in corporate settings. Consequently, the company is placing a strong emphasis on PlayBook's ability to seamlessly integrate with users' existing BlackBerry devices to allow them to easily use whichever device is appropriate at any given time without needing to worry about syncing or duplication of data.

Article Link: Research in Motion's 7-Inch 'PlayBook' Tablet to Target Business Users

 

[thejadedmonkey]

If the price point is good, this might be the right form factor that finally gets me to get a touchscreen device!

 

[miles01110]

Erm, Wifi-only? How does an initial WiFi-only model make any sense from an enterprise standpoint (if this actually targets "Business Users"). Wouldn't it need 3G to integrate with existing BESs?

 

[thejadedmonkey]

Erm, Wifi-only? How does an initial WiFi-only model make any sense from an enterprise standpoint (if this actually targets "Business Users"). Wouldn't it need 3G to integrate with existing BESs?

No need for multiple 3G connections

The Wi-Fi PlayBook will, however, be able to tether through BlackBerry phones for access on the go.

 

[BuddyTronic]

Way to go Rim - real original idea you have there!

What can you say about this?

All that money - all those suits - and no imagination anywhere to be found.

Nobody complaining about the lack of keyboard? Bwahahaha!

App Rocking - my ass Lol.

 

[anthonymoody]

Competition = good.

Let's see how it feels in the hand, and in use, before anyone gets too carried away with any prognostications about this particular device though.

That said, on the surface it seems pretty slick. After all, they've had nearly a year to copy large-format iOS and even longer to copy WebOS.

Meanwhile I've been happily using an iPad since Day 1, and will happily upgrade to newer models as they inevitably appear.

 

[zunairryk]

Nice specs.

 

[brockm]

If there's one thing that RIM really nailed here, was the idea treating their tablet as a complimentary accessory to their phone platform. This is something that Apple has expressly avoided doing. Likely to appease carriers.

We know there's no technical limitations that would have prevented Bluetooth pairing between the iPad and the iPhone, but rather that Apple didn't want to piss off it's carrier partners or allow the Wi-Fi version to completely cannibalize the stand-alone 3G sales.

But that's the thing. How many people would have gotten a Wi-Fi iPad instead of a 3G iPad if they knew the Wi-Fi version could tether to their iPhone via Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi? That's right.

This is a huge feature for RIM and good on them for exploiting the market opportunity.

Apple will probably consider introducing this feature in the future, but it will likely be artificially tied to future hardware to access.

 

[slackpacker]

Actually looks good. Now all they gotta do is Price and Apps.... Content

 

[notjustjay]

Apparently it supports Flash. I'll be very interested to know how well that works. As the second major tablet to become widely available to the public, it's either going to prove or disprove Apple's position that Flash is unsuitable for mobile devices.

It also, incidentally, validates some of the iPad's design decisions that were criticized early on. Like that huge bezel. How many of you complained about the bezel when you first saw the pictures of the iPad? Now we undestand why it's needed.

 

[xxBURT0Nxx]

They also said 3G and 4G models would be coming at a later date. Gonna be interesting to see the hardware and software advances in the tablet market over the next 5 years. Seems it won't be long until they can take over the needs of most computer users other than the most demanding creation and editing of content which will be left to work stations and home desktops. Vant wait to see what some of the new android tablets will be capable of and how apple responds with the new iPad!

 

[tripjammer]

Nice specs too. But...why only 7 inches?

What is the battery life?

What is the price?

What is the overall weight and size?

It seems like they just through out something to make a statement. At least they have awesome specs....1 gb of ram and dual core A9....nice!

We all know apple will counter with a a 7 inch ipad 2 and and 9.7 inch ipad 2 with dual core A5 chips and probably 1 gb of ram also.

 

[ventro]

Looks pretty neat and not a direct ripoff of the iPad like the Galaxy Tab. Instead they copied the basically-dead WebOS, which is an interesting choice.

 

[ppc_michael]

This looks pretty snazzy! I'm not a huge fan of Blackberry's OS, but it looks pretty cool here, and the hardware specs sound pret-ty nice. And flash support!

 

[Perihelion]

The best summary I've seen on this so far is "Galaxy Tab Killer". I can see this device fitting into enterprises that are heavily invested in Blackberries already but I can't see end consumers switching to a BB smart phone just to tether with this (no 3G version).

 

[(Marty)]

Price? Battery life? And how about typing on the screen? The great thing about the iPad is when you type landscape it is almost full size keys.

 

[sfh]

It's easy to make a video ad showing those things but if it actually works like they are showing ...that's a different story.

Im glad that there might be competition in this area of apples market. It will only force them to continue to innovate and make their products better.
and the tethering to phone option will give us leverage with ATT to allow it with the ipad.
it's ridiculous that you end up paying for data 2 & 3 times (MMS, Data & Tethering). if I pay for a certain amount of data I should be able to use it however I want.

 

[timotheezz]

Nice specs.

Definitely. Now I'm REALLY curious about what Apple has up their sleeves.

 

[pizz]

have to say it looks good. We'll see if it can give the iPad a run for its money.

 

[rosalindavenue]

They've invented their very own 2010 Palm Foleo. The ipad is even laughing at that bezel.

 

[125037]

The want to target professionals and are calling it the "Playbook".........

 

[supmango]

Some of the interface features make me thing there might be some lawsuits coming from Apple in the very near future.

 

[miles01110]

and the tethering to phone option will give us leverage with ATT to allow it with the ipad.

They do allow tethering. You just have to pay for it.

 

[nexsta]

# Video playback: 1080p HD Video, H.264, MPEG, DivX, WMV

# HDMI video output


killer specs we will probably never see in any ipad...

 

[lilcosco08]

Competition is good.

Hopefully the dual core a9 will push apple to follow suit.