Which tablet should I buy? iPad 2 or Blackberry Playbook?

[palpatine]

when a company loses more than 70% of its value on the stock market, you have to question whether purchasing one of their products is a wise investment.

my ipad2 will be supported this time next year, running great with lots of new apps, and easily worth more used than a new playbook is now (barring unforseen circumstances). how will your playbook be doing?

a lot of the value in a tablet (in my opinion) comes from the efforts of developers, and without that, i don't really see a point in buying one.

 

[ugahairydawgs]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)

Playbook... especially if web browsing and email is the objective...

I am having a hard time deciding... I am going to use it mainly for browsing the web and email.

Do you guys realize the playbook doesn't even have a native email app?

I'm not necessarily a proponent of the Playbook, but at what point did it become necessary to have an app to check email on a mobile device?

But to OP...I would say you need to figure out what is most important to you. If $$ is no issue and you want a nice app selection, then I would say the iPad is the way to go. If the smaller screen, access to the file system, and lower price point are important, then I would go with the Playbook.

 

[aneftp]

Do you guys realize the playbook doesn't even have a native email app?

Yes.

Rim has finally showed off email app a few days ago and promised (for real finally ) oS 2.0 with native email calendar app by feb 17th 2012 along with Android player for backwards android compatibility.

I own both Playbook (2 months now) and iPad 2. The Playbook is a nifty little device. Qnx is very smooth.

Rim has taken a beating this year. But qnx/bbx is what the next gen blackberry phones will be based on.

The early adopters were idiots for paying full price for it. The current software is not complete but $199 is a no brainier especially since its got the best flash support of any tablet out there. I am able to log into a flash based medical manager web page.

Able to illegal stream nfl network tv games since my cable company doesn't support nfl network. And I have owned a touchpad and xoom also. Both those tablets choked sometimes trying flash sites.

Speakers on the Playbook are excellent. Touchpad is louder but Playbook speakers can more than hold its own.

Don't bash a device until you try it out for a few days. And no. Many in store demos have outdated Playbook software. Playbook just released another software update today. It's a work in progress. But a viable tablet at $199 price.

 

[palpatine]

i don't think many people here are bashing it. there isn't anything wrong with the hardware. there isn't anything wrong with the os. there isn't anything wrong with the apps. it's the company behind it.

i've long been a fan of rim, but they have been behind the curve (pun intended) for years now, and things have taken a horrible turn for the worse this year. executives sound increasingly out of touch to me.

the prospects for the company look grim. i wouldn't invest a dollar or two hundred dollars in any tablet without knowing: 1. the company is going to support it for the next year or two, and 2. there is a robust community of apps. a tech product from a company that loses 70 percent of its market value is hardly one i could recommend.

why not get the kindle fire (a close cousin to the blackberry, and almost indistinguishable) for the same price, but with android and perks like free bestsellers (new "lending" program by amazon for kindle devices)?

 

[neutrino23]

Get the iPad.

You say you have limited needs now. Yet nearly everyone who gets an iPad finds that they use it more and more in the weeks and months after they start using it. You will most likely find that it is useful in ways you can't now imagine.

 

[*LTD*]

Get the iPad.

You say you have limited needs now. Yet nearly everyone who gets an iPad finds that they use it more and more in the weeks and months after they start using it. You will most likely find that it is useful in ways you can't now imagine.

Seconded.

It's so enjoyable, smooth and intuitive to use, that you'll tend to want to find new ways to use it.

 

[Richard8655]

i don't think many people here are bashing it. there isn't anything wrong with the hardware. there isn't anything wrong with the os. there isn't anything wrong with the apps. it's the company behind it.

i've long been a fan of rim, but they have been behind the curve (pun intended) for years now, and things have taken a horrible turn for the worse this year. executives sound increasingly out of touch to me.

the prospects for the company look grim. i wouldn't invest a dollar or two hundred dollars in any tablet without knowing: 1. the company is going to support it for the next year or two, and 2. there is a robust community of apps. a tech product from a company that loses 70 percent of its market value is hardly one i could recommend.

why not get the kindle fire (a close cousin to the blackberry, and almost indistinguishable) for the same price, but with android and perks like free bestsellers (new "lending" program by amazon for kindle devices)?

I would agree with much of this. But as technology moves so fast and with hardware becoming outdated after 1-2 years, you're not married for life to this or any other tablet. So I wouldn't look at the company's long term prospects with as much of a critical eye as long as their current product works well, is priced well, and it does what I want it to do. I think RIM will be there for a while with their smart phone business. They're selling a good product at an appealing price. So to me, that's a pretty good deal for the $$ with not so much risk.

The Kindle Fire (and Nook Tablet) specs aren't nearly as good, and build quality appears much better and overall feel more professional with the Playbook. It was a $499 product, afterall.

 

[palpatine]

I would agree with much of this. But as technology moves so fast and with hardware becoming outdated after 1-2 years, you're not married for life to this or any other tablet. So I wouldn't look at the company's long term prospects with as much of a critical eye as long as their current product works well, is priced well, it does what I want it to do. I think RIM will be there for that a while and they're selling a good product at an appealing price. To me that's a pretty good deal for the $$.

I change up every year, but some people like to keep their tech or pass it on.

There are actually two problems with RIM in this case: 1. RIM hasn't provided much support so far, and they might not even be around next year (in my opinion), and 2. if developers don't see a future in it, they won't make the apps.

I'm not talking about the hardware. With tablets, it's more than that. You have to have the apps to make these things dance. Otherwise, it's like going jogging with flip flops instead of tennis shoes.

RIM lost 70% of their value last year. Top executives are jumping ship. If it isn't over, it will be a long slog back to relevance.

I am not kidding when I say that even if you gave me a playbook, I wouldn't use it. Yes, I tried it out in the store. It's a nice piece of tech. Again, nothing wrong with the hardware, but there's no point in investing my time in using it. I can at least justify spending time with Android.

 

[Sandman1969]

Recommendations for non iPad

Try them out and get what you like and can afford.

 

[ll PiStoNs ll]

I change up every year, but some people like to keep their tech or pass it on.

There are actually two problems with RIM in this case: 1. RIM hasn't provided much support so far, and they might not even be around next year (in my opinion), and 2. if developers don't see a future in it, they won't make the apps.

I'm not talking about the hardware. With tablets, it's more than that. You have to have the apps to make these things dance. Otherwise, it's like going jogging with flip flops instead of tennis shoes.

RIM lost 70% of their value last year. Top executives are jumping ship. If it isn't over, it will be a long slog back to relevance.

I am not kidding when I say that even if you gave me a playbook, I wouldn't use it. Yes, I tried it out in the store. It's a nice piece of tech. Again, nothing wrong with the hardware, but there's no point in investing my time in using it. I can at least justify spending time with Android.

In my opinion, well actually its a fact, RIM had over 15 billion in sales last year, profitting almost 3 billion... so I doubt that they are going away

 

[MrWillie]

Email on the Playbook right now is via web apps only, that will change early next year. Most of us have email on our phones now anyhow so not really a big deal, since we know its coming in a few months to the Playbook.

Will it ? It was promised earlier this year. So we don't know that it's coming in a few months.

Playbook. I don't care that this is an iPad forum. It makes the best financial sense for under $200, especially if web browsing and email is the objective. Not everyone needs or uses iPad apps.

<Edited out useless rambling>

The Playbook is actually very good and has great reviews. Smalller screen size, yes, but maybe that's preferred by many and may not make that much of a difference. It's certainly easier to carry and more portable. Definitely beats the Fire and Nook at that price point. With 1 Ghz processor and 1 GB RAM, it even beats out iPad 2 specs.

Final point, you don't need a BB phone to get the benefits of the Playbook (I disagree with above post). It stands alone quite well by itself and there's no need to bridge/tether to it. The email app for Playbook is coming in February. You can be a Mac user and still enjoy the Playbook, unless synching to iTunes is a requirement. But you can download the free Playbook Desktop Manager for Mac and synch all your photos, videos, music (even from iTunes), calendar, and address book.

If you say so. The reviews I had read said yes it was a good device, but couldn't recommend it due to not having native email or calendar support. So when you sync your iCal to the Playbook, what are you syncing it too ?


Op, if email is important and you don't currently use a BB phone, don't even consider the Playbook. Native email was promised earlier this year. For all we know it may never get it due to unforeseen issues.

 

[*LTD*]

I am having a hard time deciding. The iPad 2 will be on sale for just over $400 this week but the Blackberry Playbook will be half that price at $200. Which should I get? I am going to use it mainly for browsing the web and email.

You'll end up wanting the iPad anyway. Don't blow your money and end up with buyer's remorse. There's a reason Playbooks aren't selling.

 

[rekud300]

Ipad

iPad hands down. I have iPad 1, my brother tried a different tablet, tell you the truth can't even remember what it was and smaller screen.

He saw me using mine for surfing, logging into work through RDP, I did purchase Pages for it and am able to alter some documents for work as well. Open PDFS and make notations with Goodreader, list goes on.

He started playing with mine and couldn't believe the number of Apps available plus the ease of use.

Now I am jealous of him because he has an iPad 2 (LOL), but now I am thinking of getting the 2 and giving my wife the 1.

I liked the comment earlier something like a fool pays twice.

 

[palpatine]

In my opinion, well actually its a fact, RIM had over 15 billion in sales last year, profitting almost 3 billion... so I doubt that they are going away

if rim made a comeback it would be amazing. i don't know how they did last year (the figures you mentioned), but this one is ugly. it is also a fact that profits were down nearly 50 percent last quarter and the company is now worth less than its assetts ( a dangerous place to be). if you think that is a good thing, and want to invest in the company's products, then do so by all means, but when investors and top execs bail, it is a red flag to me. if i am going to spend time and money on a tablet, i don't want to waste it on one full of empty promises and a sketchy future. still waiting to see those promised updates...

 

[Hutch1]

Not a fan of the Playbook, tried one and just didn't like it.

As for RIM they aren't going anywhere the company is undervalued. The most likely scenario would be a take over. They have lots of valuable assets, such as data centres and a health patent portfolio. Maybe Apple will buy them they could afford it, and it would help with the enterprise side of the business.

 

[fjanderson94]

Quick decision

The iPad gives the user a much better experience and you get the whole apple ecosystem with iTunes and iCloud. The playbook is smaller if you want a lighter device but the iPad is still superior with the thousands of apps vs. the almost none for the playbook. If you are concerned about price get a refurbished iPad ($399) which would be better comparing a discounted play book for $199.

 

[matt90036]

you first have to answer yourself question on how portable you want the device and how comfortable you want the viewing experience.

1. if you want to carry your tablet outside then by ALL means get a 7 inch playbook.
2. if you want to have a pleasant surfing experience then get an iPad.
And as someone else mentioned RIM is going down under so I would actually get Nook Tablet for $250. Not only you can expect support and updates but also has a B&N ecosystem behind it. I wouldn't recommend KF due to the bugs that is has right now.
IF you want to do anything else besides surfing the net or watching movies then you really have little alternative to iPad.

 

[matttye]

If the $200 is a lot of money to you then get the playbook..even though it's not in the iPads league, it's perfectly capable of browsing and email.

The iPad is far superior.

 

[juif]

Playbook for me sorry folks ...

Just got the Playbook and I prefer it to the Ipad2 my friend have. So slick ans great image even outside ... Flash support has been a factor for me because of some internal work web applications. I also love the 7" format and the autonomy his so far pretty surprising, like 10 hours of full usage over 2-3 days.

And for those who say RIM is dead, they surely no nothing about the enterprise world were RIM will still be a solid presence over the next years because Apple doesn't want(is not able) to be on that side(enterprise systems).

 

[Bernard SG]

Does the Playbook have email now?

 

[darster]

The other question you need to ask is then resale value of the device. I sold my iPad 1 16 GB wifi model for $250 after almost 2 years of use. So in reality, it cost me $250. How much will that Blackberry be worth in 2 years? I would guess no more than $50.

 

[ipaddynet]

great advices..

 

[4DThinker]

Don't get a Playbook. Mine has a horrible power button, and the OS right now is missing serveral critical apps.

Consider the HTC Flyer. If you can find one, at $299 it is hard to find a better tablet out there. Android 3.2 is out now and heading to the WiFi version shortly.

 

[macgirl4]

blackberry all the way

:d

ipad 3

 

[stevelam]

i have an ipad 2 and a playbook.

trust me, you want the ipad 2.

i'm definitely not a strict apple fan (i use an iphone 4s alongside my samsung galaxy s2, main computer is a windows 7 machine dual booting with hackintosh, etc etc) and i can easily say the playbook is probably one of the worst purchases i have ever made (and this was at the $199 fire sale price)