So I just got a PlayBook

[silverpig]

OS 2.0 installed in a few minutes. It is pretty sweet. I haven't been able to try out bridge yet as my work has the feature disabled on my bold. I will see if I can get that fixed tomorrow.

Looking forward to the android apps (haven't checked them out yet).

The new messages app is really slick.

One of the REALLY nice things is how quickly apps install. My Bold 9900 is slow as hell when it comes to installing apps. My iPhone is much quicker, and the playbook is even better than the iPhone.

Not a bad little gizmo for $200.

 

[Dean]

I updated mine to OS2 today. The playbook got a bad wrap, but I would not trade it for any other tablet. Do not forget to download asphalt 6 and modern combat 2. Both just went free in app world.

 

[silverpig]

The contacts app is SLICK. It pulls in data from all of your contacts' accounts and merges them all together. Facebook, linkedin, twitter... All there automatically.

And I love the "view news about their company" feature too.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Am really hoping some Android apps get ported sooner rather than later...

It still doesn't compare to an iOS or an Android device.

 

[shortylickens]

Am really hoping some Android apps get ported sooner rather than later...

It still doesn't compare to an iOS or an Android device.

The OS is better. The apps are worse.

 

[silverpig]

The OS is better. The apps are worse.

The third party apps are worse.

The new messages client is fantastic. The contacts app is better than anything else I've ever seen, and the mobile browser is quite good too.

But yeah, 3rd party app support is nowhere near iOS or Android. I've been browsing some of the media/news apps (CBC, globe and mail) and most of the Playbook apps are just bookmarks to the mobile websites.

The New York Times crossword app is pretty good though.

 

[dougp]

The contacts app is SLICK. It pulls in data from all of your contacts' accounts and merges them all together. Facebook, linkedin, twitter... All there automatically.

And I love the "view news about their company" feature too.

WP7 says hi.

 

[Deeko]

So there doesn't seem to be a consolidated OS 2.0 tread, so might as well post this here...I gotta say, I am really impressed with the browser. I always felt it was a little underrated in that area, but with the update, it's downright snappy. Very nice work.

 

[Pliablemoose]

I've been down on RIM for a long time, but I have to admit OS 2.0 is a very nice OS.

Unfortunately, I think RIM is dead now. The migration away from RIM in the US I suspect is a trend that will continue and get worse...

 

[silverpig]

They still lead marketshare in Canada and aren't doing badly outside the US. They're doing really well in emerging markets too.

The Playbook OS is, IMO, the best mobile OS out there from a usability standpoint. The Android apps are helping, and giving free Playbooks to devs to port their apps over is the right way to go about bringing the masses over.

$200, best tablet OS, dated but still very capable hardware, growing app store... looks like a good product to me.

The phones are still lagging, but they do have a hardcore userbase which is intensely loyal, and they will survive until BBOS 10. If they can execute well on that, then they will turn it around.

 

[lupi]

Still holding out for a version without a cameraa like my phone

 

[NikolaeVarius]

The contacts app is SLICK. It pulls in data from all of your contacts' accounts and merges them all together. Facebook, linkedin, twitter... All there automatically.

And I love the "view news about their company" feature too.

Android does that too. And I fucking hate it.

 

[smartpatrol]

WP7 says hi.

And WebOS

 

[shortylickens]

WebOS.

The best platform nobody used.

 

[Pliablemoose]

They still lead marketshare in Canada and aren't doing badly outside the US. They're doing really well in emerging markets too.

The Playbook OS is, IMO, the best mobile OS out there from a usability standpoint. The Android apps are helping, and giving free Playbooks to devs to port their apps over is the right way to go about bringing the masses over.

$200, best tablet OS, dated but still very capable hardware, growing app store... looks like a good product to me.

The phones are still lagging, but they do have a hardcore userbase which is intensely loyal, and they will survive until BBOS 10. If they can execute well on that, then they will turn it around.

Try the 3rd best out of 3...

 

[SickBeast]

I have a Playbook and have been very impressed with the 2.0 update.

For $200 it's fantastic and it's better than an iPad in many ways. Its only real downfall is a lack of apps, but that should improve with the addition of more Android apps.

If you just want a tablet to surf the web from your couch, the Playbook is awesome. If you want to run a bunch of apps, the iPad is probably better for you.

The iPad is way overpriced at $500 IMO.

 

[silverpig]

Try the 3rd best out of 3...

The OS itself? Contacts, browser, messages, multitasking, UI and usability are all arguably better on the Playbook.

There are few apps, but that's not the OS.

 

[Pliablemoose]

I have all three OS's on tablets, and yes, I think it's 3rd out of 3.

The unified inbox is crap, I don't want all my messages in one pool, and I find the OS unresponsive at times as well, particularly when using a web page instead of an app to do something.

A rather distant 3rd. Don't get me wrong, I'm impressed BB didn't screw the pooch with it, but they have a long way to go, and they need to get their stuff together to port it to their phones.

The iPad 3 announcement will generate so much noise the public will forget about the PlayBook.

Why in the world would someone go with a tablet that takes 30+ seconds to bring up an Android app?

My most frequently used 3rd party app is eTrade, it's up and running in about a second & a half on my iPhone or iPad or Android device.

i emailed eTrade and begged for a Playbook app, they said after QNX is ported to phones, they'll consider it, that's realistically 2013, and I think we'll see similar attitudes from the major players that are already in the iOS and Android market.

Worst gadget of the year...

http://www.engadget.com/2011readerschoice/

 

[SickBeast]

the playbook has the best of the 3 os'es IMO. none of them multitask as well. doesn't the ipad only have 512mb of ram? with the playbook you can run 10+ apps simultaneously and seamlessly.

I just installed several android apps including kindle and words with friends and they work perfectly. words with friends even sends me notifications without issue.

aside from a lack of apps I don't see much people can say against the playbook at this point. the big app it is missing is skype. hopefully it will be ported soon.

 

[silverpig]

I have all three OS's on tablets, and yes, I think it's 3rd out of 3.

The unified inbox is crap, I don't want all my messages in one pool, and I find the OS unresponsive at times as well, particularly when using a web page instead of an app to do something.

A rather distant 3rd. Don't get me wrong, I'm impressed BB didn't screw the pooch with it, but they have a long way to go, and they need to get their stuff together to port it to their phones.

The iPad 3 announcement will generate so much noise the public will forget about the PlayBook.

Why in the world would someone go with a tablet that takes 30+ seconds to bring up an Android app?

My most frequently used 3rd party app is eTrade, it's up and running in about a second & a half on my iPhone or iPad or Android device.

i emailed eTrade and begged for a Playbook app, they said after QNX is ported to phones, they'll consider it, that's realistically 2013, and I think we'll see similar attitudes from the major players that are already in the iOS and Android market.

Worst gadget of the year...

http://www.engadget.com/2011readerschoice/

You don't have to have the unified inbox. Just select your mail folder and you're good to go.

I haven't had much luck with a few of the android apps, but some of them work pretty well. That isn't really the OS itself though, that again speaks to the lack of apps for the platform.

Most of your gripes seem to be about a lack of native 3rd party apps. While valid, that's not a complaint about the OS itself.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

the playbook has the best of the 3 os'es IMO. none of them multitask as well. doesn't the ipad only have 512mb of ram? with the playbook you can run 10+ apps simultaneously and seamlessly.

I just installed several android apps including kindle and words with friends and they work perfectly. words with friends even sends me notifications without issue.

aside from a lack of apps I don't see much people can say against the playbook at this point. the big app it is missing is skype. hopefully it will be ported soon.

Sent from my BlackBerry Runtime for Android Apps using Tapatalk

Get rid of sig before mods eat your

 

[Deeko]

I think the core OS itself is fantastic. Contrary to your experience, I don't experience any slowdown - its very smooth, all the way through. I'm actually really liking the email system. The UI is nice, you can switch between inboxes (I agree, I don't like universal inboxes either), and it has one feature I'm a big fan of - Blackberry Balance. I only have to enter a PIN code to access my email or work calendar. If I just want to hop on and play a game, or browse the web? No PIN necessary. I always cringe when I get that security prompt after syncing my work email, so that was a very nice thing to find with OS 2.0.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Don't get.me wrong, I already said it's pretty good, heck, I bought one anticipating the OS would be this good, but, conpared to the refinement of iOS, and the highly customizable versions of Android, it's 3rd out of 3...

 

[Deeko]

I don't think I agree. If you're including the entire ecosystem, apps and everything? Better argument there, but just the OS and what's included in the tablet, I'd take the PlayBook OS over either of them now.

 

[3chordcharlie]

None of you actually have a BB anymore, but the new Bridge version is a pretty complete Bluetooth HID setup. This is how the remote feature works: So you can actually have KB and mouse control of windows computers (actually, supposedly of most things except iOS).

Typed in Windows on my BB.

Edit - although the above is true and worked the first time instantly, it hasn't worked instantly the second time, which must be why it's an undocumented feature.