PlayBook Pre-Orders open @ BestBuy, $499.99, delivery Apr 19th

[DivideBYZero]

About time. Now I'm just waiting for Carphone Warehouse in the UK to announce and I'll be happy.

The 16GB WiFi-only PlayBook is now up for pre-order at Best Buy and is coming to a vast list of other retailers soon. Staples, Office Depot and RadioShack are among the popular US store chains, while AT&T, Sprint and Verizon will also carry the tablet

Quite a nice list of retailers there, too.

http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/22/blackberry-playbook-priced-at-500-for-16gb-wifi-model-pre-orde/

16GB is $499, 32GB is $599 and 64GB is $699, WiFi.

 

[tdawg]

So no microSD slot? That sucks. Can't wait to try one of these out for myself.

 

[Deeko]

Cool - I was wondering if the wifi-only version would get pushed back with the announcement that the Wimax version was coming this summer, but I guess not.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Looks like the 10 hours battery life claim wasn't an idle one:

http://crackberry.com/blackberry-playbook-battery-life

And the statement is 'with constant use'. Interesting. I can't wait for the official reviews to come rolling in on this puppy.

 

[gsaldivar]

I'm curious, and seriously not trolling here:

Did RIM ever say whether or not they would be adding native email and calendar to this platform at some point? Possibly a software update to come later on?

Or, is tethering the way forward for RIM's tablet platform?

 

[DivideBYZero]

Still no native app, but there is a native Gmail app, and I personally will only be using gmail on it anyway, if I don't just use the browser for mail just as I do with my netbook. Again,I've never needed a local app for mail on my netbook, I'm not going to need one on my tablet.

To be honest I barely use Outlook on my corporate lappy, either unless I have to, I prefer Exchange Webmail!

 

[gsaldivar]

Ah yes, I forgot about OWA - that plus Gmail would probably do the trick then. Thanks.

 

[Imp]

I'll wait a few months, hopefully it'll either be dead or well established by August. That's when my $140 BB Reward Zone gift card expires.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

According to the spec sheet it supports Java, I wonder if it will be able to run Minecraft. If it can that would be yet another incentive for me to get one.

 

[MrX8503]

I prefer RIM's Tablet OS over Honeycomb. Honeycomb is just so darn slow. I'm interested in reading reviews on this tablet.

 

[DivideBYZero]

According to the spec sheet it supports Java, I wonder if it will be able to run Minecraft. If it can that would be yet another incentive for me to get one.

I guess it would run the in-browser version.

 

[Deeko]

Submitted my app last night....guess that means I'll be getting my free one!

 

[DivideBYZero]

Submitted my app last night....guess that means I'll be getting my free one!

Apparently Devs are getting their devices prior to April 19th. Let us know if your app gets in!

 

[finbarqs]

I just want to make sure that hulu.com still works! I hope hulu doesn't put a block on playbook, even though it uses a full browser (android you can put it as a full browser, but hulu still blocks it)

 

[JS80]

Interesting, they are saying the playbook will support Android apps...

 

[simonizor]

Wow, the bezel on that thing looks huge.

 

[finbarqs]

the bezels on the playbook are functional, kind of like the gesture area of the palm pre

 

[DivideBYZero]

I'm curious, and seriously not trolling here:

Did RIM ever say whether or not they would be adding native email and calendar to this platform at some point? Possibly a software update to come later on?

Or, is tethering the way forward for RIM's tablet platform?

Just been confirmed by RIM on a Verizon Webinar, native apps for Email, Calendar, etc are coming in an update:

In a future software update for the BlackBerry PlayBook, we will also provide native e-mail, calendar, and contact apps for those customers who prefer to have these apps directly on the tablet.

http://crackberry.com/forums-blackberry-playbook-faq

 

[Alone]

Those apps should have shipped by default. I can't figure out why you'd have a WiFi enabled device but not include a native e-mail app. Calendar too. That's a pretty simple app that will definitely be used. Contacts maybe not so much.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

Those apps should have shipped by default. I can't figure out why you'd have a WiFi enabled device but not include a native e-mail app. Calendar too. That's a pretty simple app that will definitely be used. Contacts maybe not so much.

If the browser is good enough I don't think they are necessary, I don't think I've even opened Outlook on my laptop or desktop.

 

[gsaldivar]

Just been confirmed by RIM on a Verizon Webinar, native apps for Email, Calendar, etc are coming in an update:

http://crackberry.com/forums-blackberry-playbook-faq

Great news!

 

[s44]

I hope hulu doesn't put a block on playbook, even though it uses a full browser (android you can put it as a full browser, but hulu still blocks it)

There's a hack for this -- several, actually -- floating around.

 

[finbarqs]

what's the hack? I've tried on my android to only find it being blocked again... Then again, I don't wanna root my android phone...

 

[s44]

Definitely needs root.

 

[finbarqs]

Anybody knows if Playbook is available to demo? I really wanna ensure hulu is still game!