Playbook reviews are out!

[speg]

http://thisismynextpodcast.com/2011/04/13/blackberry-playbook-review/

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4266/blackberry-playbook-review

 

[zerocool84]

Writing this review has been a lot like trying to hit a moving target thanks to a series of software updates that have been dropping every few days. The PlayBook of today is considerably better than the PlayBook of yesterday, which also was a big step forward from the one we were reviewing two days before that. This is both encouraging and worrying -- encouraging that RIM is actively working to improve things, but worrying that things as critical as memory management are still being tweaked at the eleventh hour.

This means we're not entirely sure what the PlayBook that goes on sale next week will look like. We thought we had "final" software on Sunday -- and then we got another update. So, what we see at the moment is a framework with solid fundamentals but a framework that is, right now, unfinished. We have hardware that looks and feels great but isn't being fully served by the software. And, ultimately, we have a tablet that's trying really hard to please the enterprise set but, in doing so, seems to be alienating casual users who might just want a really great seven-inch tablet. Oh, and don't forget that bummer of a power button.

Right now, the BlackBerry PlayBook is a tablet that will come close to satisfying those users who gravitate toward the first word in its name: BlackBerry. Those who were more excited about the "play" part would be well advised to look elsewhere, at least until Android compatibility joins the party. Then, well, anything could happen.

http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/13/blackberry-playbook-review/

The PlayBook is a reasonable experiment for RIM, but I need to see more to really recommend the tablet. We've been burned one too many times by companies serious about this market that have just fallen short on promises to keep things updated (ahem, Microsoft, Palm). RIM is hinting at something new every 6 - 8 weeks, and if that's truly the cadence then we very well might see the PlayBook turn into a significant player by the end of the year.

RIM definitely has the existing market to sell into. In fact, I'd say about the only type of user who should consider a PlayBook on day one is someone who already has a BlackBerry. If you have a BlackBerry and can't give it up but want a better browsing/media playback/consumer experience alongside it, the PlayBook is an excellent path to that. RIM was very smart in its implementation of BlackBerry Bridge. Keep all sensitive data on the BlackBerry, encrypt its connection to the PlayBook, but let you use the PlayBook to bring you what you're missing from the Android/iOS experience without having to carry two phones. Even though you're adding a second device to your mix, the PlayBook at least gives you a larger form factor to work with when you can use it.

It's everyone else that RIM really needs to convince. For your general consumer, the PlayBook is just missing apps (no email, no calendar, no Netflix, no Twitter). Although RIM would have you rely on webmail, I just don't believe that's ideal when both Apple and Google are shipping tablet optimized email clients today. RIM clearly has a plan to address these concerns, I'm just curious to see how long it takes to mature the PlayBook.

Ignoring immediate purchasing decisions, there are some things that RIM has done very right with the PlayBook. Full frame rate playback of 1080p High Profile H.264 content is a huge win. NVIDIA is promising this with Kal-El but RIM and TI deliver it here today. The only thing that's missing is support for .mkv containers and more audio codecs before we can really start putting tablets through our media streamer test suite.

With the exception of BlackBerry Bridge apps, multitasking is ridiculously smooth on the PlayBook. I've never been happy with Apple's multitasking UI and I've been dying for someone to copy webOS since its introduction, so kudos to RIM (and Palm). RIM does have to work on reducing application launch time and providing a consistent 60 fps experience across the OS. The issue with a super smooth UI is that the times when it isn't perfectly smooth really stand out.

I'm glad to see RIM experimenting with form factors. After using the Galaxy Tab 8.9 at CTIA I felt that may be the perfect balance between portability and functionality. The 7-inch PlayBook doesn't do the balance between functionality and portability as well, but it is small enough to actually carry around with me on a semi regular basis.

Battery life could use improvement. I'm not sure if this is an OS thing, battery capacity limitation or SoC problem, but it's real. While I don't normally have to worry about charging my iPad regularly, I do have to worry about charging the PlayBook.

There's a lot to like about the PlayBook, but unless you're an existing BlackBerry user you're better off waiting to see where RIM takes this thing.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4266/blackberry-playbook-review/21

 

[Deeko]

Its about what I expect. We all knew the app situation going in - of course any new platform is going to be light on apps. That will hopefully improve with time (and at least RIM isn't too far behind with email apps). Battery life is respectable for a 7" tablet - don't forget that a 10" tablet like the iPad and Xoom just has a lot more physical space for battery.

I'm a little disappointed in the lack of auto correct on the keyboard, and the memory issues are concerning, but it seems that they're improving it with updates, fairly quickly, which is a plus. 7" vs 10" is still just a matter of personal preference. Personally, I'd take a little smaller for more portability.

I still don't think ANY of the big player tablets are worth their cost...PlayBook included....but it looks like a solid entry into the field. With more updates and apps it will be more competative - about the time the 4G versions come out.

 

[Bateluer]

So its bug ridden right now? Sounds like the Xoom. Except we're missing to GG&P posters who love it. Need to get them in here to sing its praises.

 

[Mopetar]

I'm a little disappointed in the lack of auto correct—

Guess they're just not a big fan of damnyouautocorrect.com or something like that.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Mossberg's review (5 hours of battery life video playback)


http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20110413/rim-blackberry-playbook-review/?mod=googlenews

Josh Topolsky:

But the PlayBook isn’t hitting home runs just yet. The OS is still buggy and somewhat touchy. Third-party apps are a desert right now, if not in number, then certainly in quality. The lack of native email and calendar support hurts. The worst part, however, is that I can’t think of a single reason to recommend this tablet over the iPad 2, or for that matter… the Xoom. And that’s what it really boils down to here; what is the compelling feature that will make buyers choose the PlayBook over something else? I don’t have that answer, but that’s not what’s troubling me — what troubles me is that I don’t think RIM has the answer either… and they should by now.
Score: 6/10

Man, they're kindly giving it the kiss of death for now, saying to hold off purchasing unless you're a hardcore BB user.

 

[Aikouka]

Battery life is respectable for a 7" tablet - don't forget that a 10" tablet like the iPad and Xoom just has a lot more physical space for battery.

Although, how much of that lack of space for battery is negated by the smaller screen?

 

[lupi]

was thinking about getting one, be nice to have a better browser and such for use during lunch at the des..k but it has cameras so it's a no go.

 

[Aikouka]

was thinking about getting one, be nice to have a better browser and such for use during lunch at the des..k but it has cameras so it's a no go.

If you can't have cameras, then an iPad 1 might be your best option given how it seems anything with a mobile OS must have cameras these days. I can't recall if any of the earlier Android tablets lack cameras either... something like the original Galaxy Tab.

 

[finbarqs]

i just want hulu to run good! (Or run at all!) This device is my solution! No rooting, no 3rd party app, hulu just runs natively in browser!

 

[DivideBYZero]

So its bug ridden right now? Sounds like the Xoom. Except we're missing to GG&P posters who love it. Need to get them in here to sing its praises.

Try not to turn every thread into a X vs. Y shitfight, OK?

I'm in for one. Suits me perfectly, it's a solid start for a brand new platform and has great potential with the frequent updates.

 

[KDOG]

Wow. Reviews are really not all that good. I'm kinda shocked. All the hype led me to believe this would be the shizzle..... Looks like it still needs some work. Maybe when they bring out a 10"+ model it will be where it needs to be and I'll get one. I guess my CM7 based NC is pretty good for now!

 

[shortylickens]

The articles say pretty much what I've already been thinking: Eventually tablets will be powerful enough to run desktop OS's and thats what they'll do. Then the split amongst mobile and desktop apps will be healed. Which is funny cuz the first tablets we had WERE desktop based laptops and it seems all we've done is take a long time to come full circle to the same place.

Also, I think the Acer Iconia may actually qualify as a tablet with desktop OS, so I guess we are already there.

 

[shortylickens]

So its bug ridden right now? Sounds like the Xoom. Except we're missing to GG&P posters who love it. Need to get them in here to sing its praises.

I didnt have any problems with my XOOM except an SD slot that was deactivated.

 

[Pliablemoose]

I'm waiting to see what HP pushes out the door now...

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

I don't like the name Playbook.
Who are they targeting? HS football/basketball coaches?

 

[DivideBYZero]

Wow. Reviews are really not all that good. I'm kinda shocked. All the hype led me to believe this would be the shizzle..... Looks like it still needs some work. Maybe when they bring out a 10"+ model it will be where it needs to be and I'll get one. I guess my CM7 based NC is pretty good for now!

I must be reading different reviews. There's much to like about the device, many nice features, but some elements are missing awaiting updates.

This isn't something unique to RIM. Unless everyone had a Men in Black mind erasing experience the original iPhone shipped with no MMS, no multitasking, no Apps, no Usb mass storage mode, as well as no push messages, no copy & paste, etc, yet it went on to be the most significant device in recent mobile history. The original iPad also had similar omissions, some say it still does, and the Xoom also has some glaring oversights.

And the end many here are afraid to like RIM or their products in case it affects their geek-cred and that's pretty much what it comes down too. We have a device that can run high profile 1080p to an external monitor while you update files wirelessly from any computer and play a game at teh same time and because a blog gives it 7/10 instead of 8 or 9 it's "terrible".

Call me a fanboy, call me what you like, but I like where this device is going.:thumbsup:

 

[AnitaPeterson]

- No SD card
- No USB host mode (and Engadget even notes "the device doesn't support simple USB mass storage -- you can't just plug it in to your laptop and dump a bunch of files on it. You can mount it as a drive over USB, but then you have only access to a small, read-only volume that contains a single driver. Install that and the PlayBook shows up as a network drive [...] And, with no simple mass storage mode, it's far more complicated that it should be if you just want to get a file off the thing."
- Poor GPS implementation
- No .mkv support (what???)
- Android compatibility is MIA
- PCWorld notes that "As for attachments, there's no way send them from Gmail, Yahoo Mail, or Hotmail using the shortcuts, which [...] means you can't e-mail photos you take with the camera. "

Meh. Too little for too much money.

 

[gsaldivar]

the original iPhone shipped with no MMS, no multitasking, no Apps, no Usb mass storage mode, as well as no push messages, no copy & paste, etc, yet it went on to be the most significant device in recent mobile history.

The fact Apple was early to market with a revolutionary product might have had something to do with that. Just because RIM puts their logo on the device, doesn't assure its success. And RIM certainly isn't early to market with this tablet.....

 

[Deeko]

Although, how much of that lack of space for battery is negated by the smaller screen?

Partly, but not completely. The screen does suck up a lot of power, but does the CPU, wifi, etc - and those things are the same regardless of screen size.

- Android compatibility is MIA

They already said it would be coming later (I believe summer).

Man, they're kindly giving it the kiss of death for now, saying to hold off purchasing unless you're a hardcore BB user.

Only if that's how you want to read into it. What they're all saying is that there's a lot to like, but its rough around the edges, but with all the improvements coming in the next couple of months, that will likely change. Which is a reasonable assessment for a V1 product. Considering the 4G versions are out this summer, if they get important fixes + email + Android by then, they should be in pretty good shape. Its not like iPad 3 is coming out in May.

 

[DivideBYZero]

- No SD card
- No USB host mode (and Engadget even notes "the device doesn't support simple USB mass storage -- you can't just plug it in to your laptop and dump a bunch of files on it. You can mount it as a drive over USB, but then you have only access to a small, read-only volume that contains a single driver. Install that and the PlayBook shows up as a network drive [...] And, with no simple mass storage mode, it's far more complicated that it should be if you just want to get a file off the thing."
- Poor GPS implementation
- No .mkv support (what???)
- Android compatibility is MIA
- PCWorld notes that "As for attachments, there's no way send them from Gmail, Yahoo Mail, or Hotmail using the shortcuts, which [...] means you can't e-mail photos you take with the camera. "

Meh. Too little for too much money.

It doesn't need USB mass storage and the reason it doesn't use it is in Anand's review. It uses a network connection to prevent the 'Eject to disconnect' issue on OSX, primarily.

GPS implementation is fine, apps that use it are not.

MKV support will also come, remember this is the ONLY table that can do 1080p High Profile, so the container is moot.

Android app player is due in the summer.

Attachments thing is odd as you can work with PlayBook files and pics with Facebook website, etc.

 

[Deeko]

I broke my moratorium and read Gizmodo's review, and while most of it was journalistic trash, their summary seems pretty much in line with what you'd expect:

In a lot of ways, the PlayBook is more polished and usable in its beta state than the Motorola Xoom, and it's straight-up the best seven-inch tablet out there (though in the tango between between portability and size, I think 10 inches is still the best). At the same time, I don't think anyone should buy it right now—BlackBerry user or otherwise—for at least a few months, to see if the platform has enough legs to carry itself to where it needs to be. If the apps do arrive to fill in the gaps, then the PlayBook is totally going to be a tablet to check out. The foundation is solid—I can't wait to see the first phones running this software—it just needs some stuff built on top of it before you can decide whether or not you should move in.

Basically, its got the tools, the potential is there, we'll find out in the coming months how much of that potential is met. And I agree with his assessment about the future with phones - if RIM can get QNX on a phone in 2012, that'd be solid.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

It doesn't need USB mass storage? Wait, let me guess - are you one of those people who put all their faith in "the cloud"?

This is all deja-vu - the original iPad, anyone?

Why would anyone buy this at $500, when working alternatives are available now, for less hassle and less money? If the tablet's available now, but people have to wait until the summer (or beyond) for it to actually function properly, this is a massive failure.

... and people say the Xoom is bad?

Ask yourselves where else in the commodity world would people accept to buy something crippled at a premium today, only on the basis of solemn promises that it will be made better tomorrow, next month or next year. Would you buy a car under these conditions? A camera? A house? A "real" computer?

The only place where this works is religion. And even there you have to die in order to get to the goodies.

 

[finbarqs]

as long as it's stable, can run hulu, i'm happy. E-Mail will come when carriers starting carrying the devices on their network! I'll get it then!

 

[Deeko]

It doesn't need USB mass storage? Wait, let me guess - are you one of those people who put all their faith in "the cloud"?

This is all deja-vu - the original iPad, anyone?

Why would anyone buy this at $500, when working alternatives are available now, for less hassle and less money? If the tablet's available now, but people have to wait until the summer (or beyond) for it to actually function properly, this is a massive failure.

... and people say the Xoom is bad?

Ask yourselves where else in the commodity world would people accept to buy something crippled at a premium today, only on the basis of solemn promises that it will be made better tomorrow, next month or next year. Would you buy a car under these conditions? A camera? A house? A "real" computer?

This applies to all V1 pratforms. All of them. I had a G1 on launch day...do you think Android was ready for prime time?? Hell no. Neither was the original iPhone. They all came with the promise of "potential".

Lets say they do add all the missing stuff by summer (which is when they'll be selling it through carriers). Do you think RIM is going to go bankrupt if they sell it in high quantities in July, as opposed to April?