BlackBerry Playbook Any good for $200?

[zod96]

Was thinking about picking up the BlackBerry Playbook for $200. It would be used for Web based Email like Yahoo and Gmail. Also to surf the web. Watch youtube and Netflix if an app for that exists. Also I've used the Galaxy tab 10.1 and liked it but I always thought it was a tad to big. Is 7 inch a nice sweet spot for tablets?

 

[xSauronx]

i like the size of my nook color way more than i do the ipad...but at that price id rather get the new nook tablet for a few more bucks or the kindle fire.

 

[zod96]

Why is that? I've heard that the Kindle Fire and the Nook use a heavily modified versiion of Android OS that is just filled with bloatware without any way to get rid of it.

 

[Pliablemoose]

There's no Netflix app for the PlayBook.

Am waiting for the OS update before I make a call on the PlayBook. I bought one for $200, and of the 5 tablets I own, it is the most crippled.

OS update is due tomorrow BTW...

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

You could put CM7 on a Nook Tablet and run Netflix.

 

[Imp]

It came out last March, so is already a year old. The iPad 3 is coming, new Androids have to be coming.

The new OS for Playbook is coming soon, apparently...

 

[xSauronx]

Why is that? I've heard that the Kindle Fire and the Nook use a heavily modified versiion of Android OS that is just filled with bloatware without any way to get rid of it.

amazon prime video on the fire.

you can get the older nook tablet, but its a little under powered, even (imo) if you root and OC it. i like mine, but i have a big dual core phone that id usually rather use. id be interested in the fire or nook tablet if ICS gets going on them, but the 4.3" phone i just got is really convenient.

i got an ipad for christmas from work but i dont really use it, sometimes to read but i never hold it while i read, i find it uncomfortably large to hold for extended periods. my kids use it mostly.

 

[Bateluer]

You could put CM7 on a Nook Tablet and run Netflix.

Not in any reliable stable form, locked bootloader. The previous Nook Color was wide open, the Nook Tablet is not.

To the OP's question, the answer is no. There are better tablets for 200 dollars than the Playbook, with better support and a better future than the Playbook. Amazon's Kindle Fire may run a heavily customized version of Android, but I wouldn't consider it bloat. More like running Linux with Gnome, KDE, XFCE, LXDE, etc. Bloat are the preinstalled apps that carriers and manufacturers install on your phone for a few extra coins in their pockets. Those serve no purpose and just suck storage space, RAM, and often CPU cycles.

The Touchpad is another tablet that should be avoided like the plague, underpowered, unsupported by HP, running a dead OS . . . buy it and you're entirely dependent on the community for support.

Give it a month, and both Apple's latest and a new crop of Android devices will be on the market. You can pick up the latest and greatest, or score some deals on last gen's decent models.

 

[xSauronx]

Not in any reliable stable form, locked bootloader. The previous Nook Color was wide open, the Nook Tablet is not.

To the OP's question, the answer is no. There are better tablets for 200 dollars than the Playbook, with better support and a better future than the Playbook. Amazon's Kindle Fire may run a heavily customized version of Android, but I wouldn't consider it bloat. More like running Linux with Gnome, KDE, XFCE, LXDE, etc. Bloat are the preinstalled apps that carriers and manufacturers install on your phone for a few extra coins in their pockets. Those serve no purpose and just suck storage space, RAM, and often CPU cycles.

The Touchpad is another tablet that should be avoided like the plague, underpowered, unsupported by HP, running a dead OS . . . buy it and you're entirely dependent on the community for support.

Give it a month, and both Apple's latest and a new crop of Android devices will be on the market. You can pick up the latest and greatest, or score some deals on last gen's decent models.

indeed. woot regularly carries android tablets at decent prices, as well.

 

[zod96]

I've heard that Playbook OS 2.0 comes out tomorrow. I've heard that in theory its a game changer and should make the Playbook much more appealing. I think I read you will be able to access Android apps as well. If that is the case that sounds very cool and for $200, the specs on the Playbook are pretty much the same as the Galaxy 7 Plus which is like $200 more...

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Not in any reliable stable form, locked bootloader. The previous Nook Color was wide open, the Nook Tablet is not.

To the OP's question, the answer is no. There are better tablets for 200 dollars than the Playbook, with better support and a better future than the Playbook. Amazon's Kindle Fire may run a heavily customized version of Android, but I wouldn't consider it bloat. More like running Linux with Gnome, KDE, XFCE, LXDE, etc. Bloat are the preinstalled apps that carriers and manufacturers install on your phone for a few extra coins in their pockets. Those serve no purpose and just suck storage space, RAM, and often CPU cycles.

The Touchpad is another tablet that should be avoided like the plague, underpowered, unsupported by HP, running a dead OS . . . buy it and you're entirely dependent on the community for support.

Give it a month, and both Apple's latest and a new crop of Android devices will be on the market. You can pick up the latest and greatest, or score some deals on last gen's decent models.

Oops, meant nook color. Sorry.

 

[zod96]

OK. Then I'll ask this. What tablet can I get that is $200 that comes with Dual Core CPu 1GB ram 16GB storage and a camera?

 

[Imp]

OK. Then I'll ask this. What tablet can I get that is $200 that comes with Dual Core CPu 1GB ram 16GB storage and a camera?

Ummm... the Playbook?

But it seems like you already knew that, and you were looking for validation.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

OK. Then I'll ask this. What tablet can I get that is $200 that comes with Dual Core CPu 1GB ram 16GB storage and a camera?

Touchpad

 

[PeeluckyDuckee]

Depends on the individual. I myself care more about flash support back then than apps, and form factor was a major concern to me. Tried the 9.7" iPad but it was not practical for me to use, especially if I want to bring it with me to the restaurant or use in bed.

Especially now for $200 it offers very good value, for what the basic web browsing that I use it for mainly. The app store still does not compare to android and ios, but like I said that was not really a concern of mine.

Consider your needs, form factor you want, and see if it meets your budget.

 

[zod96]

Now that OS 2.0 is out how does the Playbook fair?

 

[blackfallen]

Has a good majority of android apps now! and i really like the calender version better then others. The email client is very good too. This update really helps the playbook especially in the app department

 

[Red Storm]

Isn't Asus supposed to be coming out with an ICS tablet for around $250?

 

[zod96]

Yes but I heard that is months off...

 

[Deeko]

Just updated to OS 2.0. Haven't had too much time to play with it, but on the surface, its a nice improvement - for all the time it took, the calendar and email integration is slick, and the new keyboard has some nice touches, too. Auto correct finally, and while its a small thing, but having a number row appear at the top when you're entering a password makes it so much easier. The browser is still very good, but it was very good in the first version.

All that said, if what's most important to you is video, the Kindle Fire is superior - Netflix and Hulu Plus apps alone put it over the top in that category.

 

[zod96]

Wait I thought with OS 2.0 you could use android apps now, is that not correct? I was hoping to get Netflix on the playbook..

 

[Deeko]

Wait I thought with OS 2.0 you could use android apps now, is that not correct? I was hoping to get Netflix on the playbook..

It can use Android apps, but you don't get the Android Market - Google would never allow that. Apps have to be repackaged and submitted to the Blackberry App World. The whole process only takes about 10 minutes, but it will take time for devs/companies to do so.

 

[dawza]

The PB is a no-brainer if you have a BB handset. For those (the majority) who do not, it's a tougher call.

The overall physical feel is, IMO, superior to the Fire. Minor point, I know, but that's my impression.

I like the OS quite a bit. Navigation is very fluid and intuitive once you get used to it. Multitasking is definitely a strength.

The OS2 update adds functionality that should have existed all along (native email and calendar, and file browser for example), and some new features that may take some time to mature (e.g. the Android apps, which still need to be validated before being available in the app store).

For media consumption, YT is fine. Hulu is still a no-go, and I do not use NetFlix.

For email, even before the new OS, gmail was decent-- loads better now, though. For work-related email access, the PB is very capable, as it should be considering its target audience.

As for apps, they are sparse, but there are some very good tools. An RDP app was recently released that is absolutely exceptional. There is also a nifty HTPC app that works perfectly. For most of my needs, there isn't a great deal of selection, but the few apps that are available do the job --most of the time-- and do it very, very well. YMMV.

Browser performance and stability have been much improved since the beta 2.0. However, I still cannot view .ogg HTML5 video properly, and I need to test the stability of 11n connectivity. 11g is just fine.

In the 7" form-factor space, and at the $200 price point, the PB is still a solid purchase even for non-BB handset users, IMO. I just came back from a trip, and having free unlimited WAN connectivity via our BB handset, through the bridge browser, was incredibly convenient. The size is also very handy for quickly loading a PDF of a train schedule, map, etc. The latter is not unique to the PB by any means, of course.

 

[zod96]

Yeah I can get one from BB for $169 now...

 

[zod96]

I was able to snag a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 for $350.