Tried out a blackberry playbook at best buy today and...

[silverblack]

Those interested in the Playbook may want to read this thread in another forum:
http://forums.crackberry.com/f222/6...-buy-blackberry-playbook-instead-ipad-606947/

It discusses an article "6 Reasons You Should Buy the Playbook over iPad"
My personal favorite is the last post #69.

 

[Lara F]

I'll admit, though, I'd need one with a better selection of apps and/or internet access, plus maybe a brief intro to the UI so my iPad familiarity doesn't bias me, to give it a really fair shake.

Yep - it's completely worthless to try out without decent internet access. When I finally hit on a Best Buy with good enough wifi, I was impressed to find how smooth Flash based figure skating videos (perhaps the ultimate test) played. You do need to know the gestures, but you'd get used to it fairly quickly. Everything was fast and responsive, there's not much to fault on that or the hardware IMO.

Now, no question the apps are lacking and for that reason itd be hard to recommend as a solo tablet (especially not having a BB myself). But it'd sure be nice in conjunction with my iPad...sigh. It seriously just made me more frustrated about Apple's stubbornness against Flash.

 

[barryst]

They just demo'd the android capability at BB World
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWS6P3ahWYQ

The Playbook will do fine. Some people like a 7". I find it burdensome bringing my iPad with me anywhere. I feel like a douche having it out in public. Everyone has their own tastes. People that couldn't figure out the gesture system on the PB should maybe take more than a few seconds before whining about how un-iPad it is like.

People that make these threads have some type of weird twisted brand loyalty insecurity complex.

 

[bruinsrme]

Yep - it's completely worthless to try out without decent internet access. When I finally hit on a Best Buy with good enough wifi, I was impressed to find how smooth Flash based figure skating videos (perhaps the ultimate test) played. You do need to know the gestures, but you'd get used to it fairly quickly. Everything was fast and responsive, there's not much to fault on that or the hardware IMO.

Now, no question the apps are lacking and for that reason itd be hard to recommend as a solo tablet (especially not having a BB myself). But it'd sure be nice in conjunction with my iPad...sigh. It seriously just made me more frustrated about Apple's stubbornness against Flash.

Figure skating, never thought of that.

I ended up spending about 30 minutes on the play book.
It's different than the iPad. Honestly, being able to connect to NHL center ice programming is important to me. Being flash based I may be looking at a different tablet for next season.

 

[Mr Bigs]

This is the exact reason I can't see 7" tablets really taking off. I think that tablets are probably mostly used at home. Regular people don't want an unnecessary extra device to carry around, regardless of how "portable" it is.

I totally disagree !!! I feel much more comfortable using a PB sized tablet out in public then an iPad which I do own and rarely take out of the house. The iPad is just too large to be taken with me versus a tablet that can fit in my back pocket or coat pocket.

 

[Mr Bigs]

REALLY?! Really? I think millions of people and 80%+ market share would disagree.

What most people, who hate on the iPad, dont understand is that the iPad isnt marketed towards nerds like us. Its marketed for the average person to pick up and enjoy. Since computers have existed, there has always been a steep learning curve for someone who doesnt know computers. These days, computers are becoming (if they're not already) a necessary component in one's life. The average person doesnt understand or care about what processor their computer has or how much RAM it has. They barely know how big their hard drive is, much less how fast it is or if its an SSD or not. They have absolutely no idea what their graphics card does. All they want to do is pick it up and get on the internet without having to update drivers, worrying about viruses or weird warning messages, compatibility, etc...

What us nerds dont understand is that there are far more computer/technology illiterate people out there than us. We can handle things like figuring out the Playbook, Honeycomb, etc. So we look at the iPad as too simple and demand much more out of it. The reason other tablet makers are failing is because they are designing their UI around us and not for the average person to EASILY understand. Yes, you and I understand it, but my mom would not. People like my mom, who bought an iPad and had if figured out within a few minutes, are who the iPad is marketed towards.

What I dont understand is why is Apple the only company that seems to understand this? I played with a Playbook as well and, although it was snappy and fluid, the UI seemed to have much more of a learning curve. Now, its not really marketed towards the average person, but....WHY ISNT IT? If these companies want to gain any sort of a market share, they need to stop trying to cater to enterprises and us nerds, which Apple doesnt do. The first Xoom commercials made me want to bash my own head in. All they were doing was talking about specs that most of their audience doesnt understand. Then you see an iPad commercial and you see a device that ties into your every day activities.

And one more thing...what clueless engineer/executive gave the green light to the without a native email client?!?! The Playbook's downfall will be the requirement of a Blackberry to access emails, calendar, etc. Didnt they pay attention to the Palm Foleo?

If you are truly a techie you should know why their is no native email app on the PB. This was done for security purposes and also the the current BB OS isn't quite compatible with QNX,so a link has to be maintained between a BB handset and the PB for now.

 

[MrWillie]

If you are truly a techie you should know why their is no native email app on the PB. This was done for security purposes and also the the current BB OS isn't quite compatible with QNX,so a link has to be maintained between a BB handset and the PB for now.

And the cell carriers are blocking the BB bridge, probably won't be too long before they start blocking the work around.

 

[ritmomundo]

I like my ipad 2 for what it is and what it does, but after spending a good hour playing with both the playbook and the xoom, I realized that my ipad just feels kinda lacking. The UI seems completely bland and boring in comparison, and I think thats where some of the appeal lies for QNX/android devices. Plus, to the poster that said that the ipad wins in smoothness, my ipad lags a bit when Ive got a bunch of apps running (closed, but not closed on the multi-task bar). Both the PB and xoom were smooth as butter when I was using them. Plus theyve got widgets running (which I wish Apple would finally implement!!) and animated backgrounds. All in all, I was very impressed. For my next tablet- and I hate to say it- I think I may be looking outside the Apple realm. Apple tends to be innovaters in design, but unfortunately, they don't seem to be able to stay ahead of their competition. Lucky for them, they've got an extremely loyal fanbase.

 

[liquidlink]

And the cell carriers are blocking the BB bridge, probably won't be too long before they start blocking the work around.

The cell carriers will never be able to block the workaround. Unlike Apple you do not have to install an app via AppWorld on the Blackberry, you have multiple ways to install an app.

The Bridge workaround will never and can never be blocked. The carriers do not even know you are using the Bridge.

 

[MozMan68]

Some people like a 7". I find it burdensome bringing my iPad with me anywhere. I feel like a douche having it out in public. Everyone has their own tastes.

I still remember being made fun off for having the first Blackberry with phone capabilities...wife said I looked like I was talking into a piece of toast against my head.

I don't think it was much bigger than a lot of cell phones out there today.

 

[porcupine8]

They just demo'd the android capability at BB World
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWS6P3ahWYQ

The Playbook will do fine. Some people like a 7". I find it burdensome bringing my iPad with me anywhere. I feel like a douche having it out in public. Everyone has their own tastes. People that couldn't figure out the gesture system on the PB should maybe take more than a few seconds before whining about how un-iPad it is like.

People that make these threads have some type of weird twisted brand loyalty insecurity complex.

I think the douche thing will wear off quickly. Early adopters always seem like showoffs when they whip out their laptop/iPhone/whatever in public, but it becomes perfectly normal in no time. I'm much more comfortable using my iPad in a Starbucks or mcdonalds, etc than my laptop - it just fits on the table better, for one thing - and the few comments ive gotten have been positive and mostly inquisitive. A 7" form factor would just get in the way of some of the main reasons I bought it, like reading PDFs.