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Blackberry Playbook

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Has anyone got a Blackberry Playbook tablet yet? Probably not, a lot of people seem to have a prejudiced impression about it because they have heard it got bad reviews. But I just bought one, and I gotta say that I am impressed with it immensely.

 

Its real advantage shines through if you have a Blackberry smartphone too. The tablet and the phone are immensely integrated with each other. In fact, you could say they act as extensions of one another. The tablet will tether to the phone using a wireless Bluetooth connection, and can use the phone as its Internet gateway (if you're not near Wi-Fi). If a phone call comes in on the smartphone, then the name and number is displayed on the tablet, alerting you. You could also hold a video call provide that both ends have a Playbook.

 

The phone in turn can be used to remote control the tablet using the same Bluetooth connection. So you could for example watch a Youtube video on the tablet and prop it up on a table at a slight distance so friends could be watch it too, and you can control the whole thing through your BB smartphone. Speaking of Youtube, the Playbook fully supports Flash, so you don't need a special app to watch Youtube, you just go to it with your web browser, just like with any PC. There's a lot of emphasis on how much app support a tablet has, but if you have Flash, then who needs special Internet apps?

 

Another impressive thing I found was that when I took the tablet to a different location with Wi-Fi access, it was able to take the Wi-Fi connection details from my smartphone! I had previously set up the Wi-Fi with my smartphone, and when I went around to set it up on the tablet too, I found that it was already sitting their connected to the same Wi-Fi, which I can only assume was because the phone and tablet shared the information with each other!

 

I wasn't so impressed with any other tablet so far, including the Ipad. But the Playbook was on sale at various places for $199 for 16GB version ($249 for the 32GB, $299 for 64GB), so I took a chance. The only other tablets that I saw for less than $199 were things like Acers or Asus with maybe only 4GB of storage.

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I have one that I received as a gift. Use it everyday. Prefer it for some things - reading (lighter than ipad), and travel (smaller). But more apps on ipad and screen is easier to work on.

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I have One and i liked it till they took away my BB. Now it is just a toy at home

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I have one that I received as a gift. Use it everyday. Prefer it for some things - reading (lighter than ipad), and travel (smaller). But more apps on ipad and screen is easier to work on.

One thing I really found useful about the PB was surfing for porn. That Flash support just makes that easy. The only unfortunate thing about tablets is that you don't get the kind of security you do with PC's where you could use passwords and separate accounts to hide your porn surfing. :)

 

On a slightly more serious note (only slightly), I enjoy being able to use the standard PC interface of CERB rather than the mobile interface, which I had to use with my smartphone.

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I enjoy my i-pad, but have to agree that the absence of flash is a serious drawback. Most people I speak to who have a Playbook quite like it, but RIM needs to seriously market it and develop Apps that will complete with Apple. The price-point should certainly make them very attractive to a segment of the market.

 

I'm considering getting one for my son, who would like a tablet but has a serious anti-Apple thing going on.

 

Porthos

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I've got one. For the price, it has no competitors. The only downside I find is screen is a bit hard to navigate because of the smaller size. But in other ways the 7" screen is very handy. Highly recommended.

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I have had my playbook since Christmas and am enjoying it. Not much of an app user. Have some decent speakers to plug in and enjoy the music downloads, cerb and such. My private little getaway.

 

I have not tried others so can't really compare.

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I've got one when they first went on special. I have had some difficulty getting the bridge to work, but I believe the problem is that I've got an older BB.

 

That is not a problem now that the release two software is available. I've now got my email and calendar synced. When I'm traveling now I don't bother with the laptop because it's been pretty easy finding a WiFi connection. Tried a few games which seem to work well. Hope to see a few more apps now that the software update is complete.

 

The other positive is you can't beat the price at $199.

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I'm considering getting one for my son, who would like a tablet but has a serious anti-Apple thing going on.

 

Porthos

:icon_biggrin: Smart kid!

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I have the 64G version which I bought through the Future Shop website on sale. I love it so far. I am using it now from Montreal while on the road. Very convienient. Only problem so far: It won't allow me to type a comment when selecting reputation points

 

Cut and paste from word to hotmail is a challenge

I like the Apple stuff but I want to support RIM. I am counting on RIM to unveil something big later this year.

 

Like me baby.

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I have the 64G version which I bought through the Future Shop website on sale. I love it so far. I am using it now from Montreal while on the road. Very convienient. Only problem so far: It won't allow me to type a comment when selecting reputation points

I find if I'm having trouble entering text into a particular spot or pressing a button, then I just try to zoom into that area and try it again.

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Wm:

As you can see I was able to give you rep but when I tried to type in a comment the box disappears, even after zooming in.

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Wm:

As you can see I was able to give you rep but when I tried to type in a comment the box disappears, even after zooming in.

 

Yes I see what you mean. I just tried it myself.

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