If you want something for browsing, email, and media then they're meant to be quite good, especially at the current bargain-basement price.
Don't expect a lot of software support, though - awful sales mean that the PlayBook doesn't have anywhere near the level of apps available on iOS or Android.
If you want something for browsing, email, and media then they're meant to be quite good, especially at the current bargain-basement price.
Don't expect a lot of software support, though - awful sales mean that the PlayBook doesn't have anywhere near the level of apps available on iOS or Android.
Thanks. That probably explain why it's half price £129 for a 64GB. Although you never know if that's a sales trick these days.
Thanks. That probably explain why it's half price £129 for a 64GB. Although you never know if that's a sales trick these days.
It was around £400 at launch...excellent tablet though as long as you are aware of the app limitations although as the browser is very good you often don't need an app...the iPlayer is an example.
The 16GB model was £399 at launch, 32GB was £479, and the 64GB was £559 (all exactly the same as the iPad).
The PlayBook is being sold at a massive loss for RIM, and is already a hugely expensive failure. I think that the only reason RIM hasn't done as HP did with the TouchPad and just killed it off is that unlike HP RIM doesn't have anything else going for it other than its mobile devices... It *needs* the PlayBook to survive, and is making a rather large gamble that things will be OK in the long run so long as the PlayBook builds up enough of an install-base to eventually help things turn around for the company...
£129 for a 64GB tablet is excellent value, but as mentioned it has limited support. Still, if all you want is browsing, email, and media then it is a great choice.
There are a few PlayBook threads knocking around if you have a search. Unless it's been removed in an update (I don't have a PlayBook myself), it's possible to "sideload" certain Android apps onto a PlayBook. alan1302 or others should be able to help with that
You can still sideload even with the latest 2.1 update on the OS so there are quite a few Android apps that you can use and god site to get them from is here:
Very good tablet, smooth, just not popular, browsers the best i have used on a tablet.
Still tempted to get another one for that price.
Me too - think I would get one, if I didn't already have an iPad - which has pretty much used up my budget ....:(. Couldn't really justify it in the household finances!
PS My daughter has one so I know how good they are ......
Just seen these in Currys, half price! Anybody got one and are they any good?
Yes very good, especially at the price. A few neat things, it has a separate power and HDMI output which allows you to keep it say plugged into your TV or monitor and on charge at the same time. You can also get an adaptor for about £!5 from Ebay or Amazon that allows you to connect a VGA cable adaptor as well which I use for connecting to a projector.
It's really well made, runs flash on the built in browser and has a few neat tricks if you use it for presentations for work.
You can sideload quite a few Android apps that have been converted to run on it and as other posters have pointed out it's easy to do. I use the DDPB software (see the instructions and link below)
Apps like Kindle, Google maps, Tweetdeck etc can be found converted and run.
You will need to download the Blackberry Desktop software but one thing it does do is links to your iTunes and lets you download tracks to your PB without having to start iTunes up.
Do Skydrive and the Office web apps work on the playbook? (bandwidth permitting) does it stream HD YouTube vids smoothly?
also, is also there any way to get Skype on it?
Skydrive works simply through the browser by going to the Site. Just stick a favorite for it in the app screen. Not tried the Web apps. Also you got box.net giving out 50gb free cloud storage for a limited time. There is a native app for that. YouTube plays great right off the browser or a YouTube mobile Site link pre loaded already, limited but works for watching videos on the fly. You can play HD right off the Site and it's pretty fluid. Same with iplayer and other on demand channels.
Also if you are familiar with tv catchup, basically freeview on a computer, you can stream all the live freeview channels in awesome quality.
As for Skype no support for it unfortunately and no netflix. If you live without those apps then you've got a great tablet on your hands.
I bought one purely because of the recommendations on here. For me it is a truly excellent device with loads of support on places like Crackberry. There are more apps available than I'll ever need. Downloading high quality stuff from YouTube for example is a breeze. If you buy one I'm sure you won't regret it.
I like the playbook, i don't own one, but i like RIM's attempt at a tablet. It doesn't need to be a Android, its it own system and hardware. If we compare it to Android & iPad then must find that it's very responsive.
I like the playbook, i don't own one, but i like RIM's attempt at a tablet. It doesn't need to be a Android, its it own system and hardware. If we compare it to Android & iPad then must find that it's very responsive.
Sorry for the silly question.....it's late.......but can you access hotmail on the Playbook, in a wifi area of course, via browser? That is, without it being tethered to a smartphone?
Sorry for the silly question.....it's late.......but can you access hotmail on the Playbook, in a wifi area of course, via browser? That is, without it being tethered to a smartphone?
Thanks in advance
Sure!! certainly can, as well accessing skydrive, right through the browser to upload/download from your cloud storage.
Sorry for the silly question.....it's late.......but can you access hotmail on the Playbook, in a wifi area of course, via browser? That is, without it being tethered to a smartphone?
Thanks in advance
If you want to check email on the playbook there is a built-in client once updated to OS2.
To make any impact this really should have been on sale 6 months ago and much cheaper. Who is going to pay that much for a 3G Playbook when the Wifi-only ones are being sold at giveaway prices?
To make any impact this really should have been on sale 6 months ago and much cheaper. Who is going to pay that much for a 3G Playbook when the Wifi-only ones are being sold at giveaway prices?
Perhaps it's another way to relaunch the device here? They may well pull the existing models here then. Better snap them up, cos the bargain prices may not be around once these hit the shores.
Don't think it's really worth it though. The regular playbook can be tethered with a smartphone and is pretty nippy. They maybe shouldn't have bothered with this version, and for a 7 incher its pricey.
To make any impact this really should have been on sale 6 months ago and much cheaper. Who is going to pay that much for a 3G Playbook when the Wifi-only ones are being sold at giveaway prices?
Scary price :eek:
No chance of that ond doing much especially with the non-3G one being so much cheaper
Comments
If you want something for browsing, email, and media then they're meant to be quite good, especially at the current bargain-basement price.
Don't expect a lot of software support, though - awful sales mean that the PlayBook doesn't have anywhere near the level of apps available on iOS or Android.
Thanks. That probably explain why it's half price £129 for a 64GB. Although you never know if that's a sales trick these days.
It was around £400 at launch...excellent tablet though as long as you are aware of the app limitations although as the browser is very good you often don't need an app...the iPlayer is an example.
The PlayBook is being sold at a massive loss for RIM, and is already a hugely expensive failure. I think that the only reason RIM hasn't done as HP did with the TouchPad and just killed it off is that unlike HP RIM doesn't have anything else going for it other than its mobile devices... It *needs* the PlayBook to survive, and is making a rather large gamble that things will be OK in the long run so long as the PlayBook builds up enough of an install-base to eventually help things turn around for the company...
£129 for a 64GB tablet is excellent value, but as mentioned it has limited support. Still, if all you want is browsing, email, and media then it is a great choice.
http://goodereader.com/apps/playbook/playbook-android-apps/?did=185
For what I want a tablet for it does everything I want and it's a quick and easy device to use.
Still tempted to get another one for that price
Me too - think I would get one, if I didn't already have an iPad - which has pretty much used up my budget ....:(. Couldn't really justify it in the household finances!
PS My daughter has one so I know how good they are ......
Yes very good, especially at the price. A few neat things, it has a separate power and HDMI output which allows you to keep it say plugged into your TV or monitor and on charge at the same time. You can also get an adaptor for about £!5 from Ebay or Amazon that allows you to connect a VGA cable adaptor as well which I use for connecting to a projector.
It's really well made, runs flash on the built in browser and has a few neat tricks if you use it for presentations for work.
You can sideload quite a few Android apps that have been converted to run on it and as other posters have pointed out it's easy to do. I use the DDPB software (see the instructions and link below)
http://crackberry.com/how-play-scramble-friends-blackberry-playbook
Apps like Kindle, Google maps, Tweetdeck etc can be found converted and run.
You will need to download the Blackberry Desktop software but one thing it does do is links to your iTunes and lets you download tracks to your PB without having to start iTunes up.
also, is also there any way to get Skype on it?
Skydrive works simply through the browser by going to the Site. Just stick a favorite for it in the app screen. Not tried the Web apps. Also you got box.net giving out 50gb free cloud storage for a limited time. There is a native app for that. YouTube plays great right off the browser or a YouTube mobile Site link pre loaded already, limited but works for watching videos on the fly. You can play HD right off the Site and it's pretty fluid. Same with iplayer and other on demand channels.
Also if you are familiar with tv catchup, basically freeview on a computer, you can stream all the live freeview channels in awesome quality.
As for Skype no support for it unfortunately and no netflix. If you live without those apps then you've got a great tablet on your hands.
http://crackberry.com/blackberry-playbook-best-low-cost-tablet-so-says-ios-guru
Go grab one a snip at £129 for the 64gb
Sorry for the silly question.....it's late.......but can you access hotmail on the Playbook, in a wifi area of course, via browser? That is, without it being tethered to a smartphone?
Thanks in advance
Sure!! certainly can, as well accessing skydrive, right through the browser to upload/download from your cloud storage.
Thanks I thought so, but wanted to be sure before I buy
If you want to check email on the playbook there is a built-in client once updated to OS2.
http://www.zdnet.com/uk/long-overdue-blackberry-playbook-3g-goes-on-sale-in-uk-7000006896/
To make any impact this really should have been on sale 6 months ago and much cheaper. Who is going to pay that much for a 3G Playbook when the Wifi-only ones are being sold at giveaway prices?
Yep you can simply add hotmail, google mail etc to the email client. So everything can appear in the one inbox. Very convenient!
Perhaps it's another way to relaunch the device here? They may well pull the existing models here then. Better snap them up, cos the bargain prices may not be around once these hit the shores.
Don't think it's really worth it though. The regular playbook can be tethered with a smartphone and is pretty nippy. They maybe shouldn't have bothered with this version, and for a 7 incher its pricey.
Scary price :eek:
No chance of that ond doing much especially with the non-3G one being so much cheaper