Advice...

**topherjt** · 05-20-2012, 12:27 PM

Hello, all.

My 1st gen iPad was recently stolen and I am looking at getting another tablet to replace it. I have a lot of Apple apps, but I think I want something a little smaller. I have been playing around with the Playbook at Best Buy and I really like the OS. I am almost sold on the Playbook, but I have a few questions/concerns. I would appreciate any input from the community.

While I would like to get something with a smaller screen, I am worried that the Playbook might be too small. I like to do a lot of web surfing so I am not sure if I would get annoyed rather quickly with the smaller sized screen. Has anyone "downgraded" to a smaller screen and still like the surfing on the Playbook?

I have been seeing a lot of web articles about the app library being pretty small. Does it look like RIM/BB will continue to support and develop for the Playbook, or should I look at one of the smaller Android tablets?

The $199 price range is what I am looking at to spend on a new tablet. I have also seen how the Kindle Fire is in my price range. I know that it doesn't have remotely the same specs as the Playbook, but I would at least be able to work with it to gain access to the Android app store, custom launchers, etc.

Thanks again for any assistance you all can provide.

**jamezalexander** · 05-20-2012, 12:36 PM

Ehhhh Kindle Fire 8gb 199$ lots of apps (not nearly Google Playstore), as if the games on your smart phone aren't enough these days anyway.
Blackberry Playbook min 16gb 199$
Powerful web browser flash support, and highly HTML5 compliant.
Playbook does run android apps. support for and the selection of increases everyday.
Sideloading still works too and online app catalogs are growing everyday.
Blackberry Playbook Android Apps | Good e-Reader Android App Store - Playbook App Store - We support Kobo Vox, Kindle Fire, Blackberry Playbook and More

You can't get an a decent two HD camera's video or otherwise for 200$ I mean you could get an itouch but for the same price you get double the space and a bigger form factor... Blackberry 10 IS coming to the Playbook so you're buying into a future OS for cheapz too. Have a read around the forums. Everyone here will tell you
"it comes down to what you want to do with your device"
if you're a media consumer the Playbook may not be the BEST (it handles my media consumption perfectly..to each his own) for you as it does have a limited app selection right now... But you'd be missing out on a great piece of hardware for the price if you overlooked the Playbook like so many consumers out there are!

**Saif Beiruty** · 05-20-2012, 12:39 PM

I had an Ipad but it was really unportable so i decided to give it to my cousin. At first when I saw the playbook, I said that i will have problems with it because a small screen wont show the power of a tablet. But after i used it i found out that all i said was untrue, and a smaller tablet is a 100000000000000000 times better than a larger tablet in everything. Now about apps, the app world is not that large but it has really fun and intresting games. RIM also promised that the app world would be upgraded alot and much more apps would come after the BB10 phones are sold out. Plz, u can never convince me that a kindle fire is better than a playbook. Kindle fire is nothing next to a playbook. not just because it has an android market its better.

**Anthooo** · 05-20-2012, 01:07 PM

I must say that app world may not have the quantity of apps but everything I've wanted has been there with a quality made app. now I am speaking as Blackberry user who used to have iphone 4s & ipad. I do not have a playbook but also interested in PB. . Blackberry 10 is a game changer from everything you see on the net.

I like OP would consider PB. aside from games, is PB a a better device to get things done? Productivity wise? I don't want games. Do you know if all the security with BB is on PB? is there anything missing on PB that BB has?

i like what i read about the bridge option as well. Why have an extra charge for every month, when PB can bridge to your BB? thanks and hopefully these questions and fututre responses will be helpful to me & OP.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9930 using Tapatalk

**kill_9** · 05-20-2012, 01:37 PM

Originally Posted by topherjt

While I would like to get something with a smaller screen, I am worried that the Playbook might be too small. I like to do a lot of web surfing so I am not sure if I would get annoyed rather quickly with the smaller sized screen. Has anyone "downgraded" to a smaller screen and still like the surfing on the Playbook?

As someone who "downgraded" from a notebook computer to the BlackBerry PlayBook I can unequivocally say web browsing is a pleasure on the tablet.

I have been seeing a lot of web articles about the app library being pretty small. Does it look like RIM/BB will continue to support and develop for the Playbook, or should I look at one of the smaller Android tablets?

The quality of the apps available in BlackBerry AppWorld is very high despite an influx of low-quality apps which somehow get approved by the gatekeepers. I am convinced they are saboteurs planted deep inside the company. These days there are plenty of apps for recreation and productivity. Is the selection all encompassing and perfect? No, but maybe with the pending release of BlackBerry 10 there will be further improvements to the selection and overall quality of the BlackBerry AppWorld software titles.

The $199 price range is what I am looking at to spend on a new tablet. I have also seen how the Kindle Fire is in my price range. I know that it doesn't have remotely the same specs as the Playbook, but I would at least be able to work with it to gain access to the Android app store, custom launchers, etc.

Do you want an Android-based tablet or a QNX-based tablet? The answer this single question will guide your decision. Enjoy whichever tablet you eventually decide to buy and use.

**bungaboy** · 05-20-2012, 01:55 PM

Please don't feed the critters.

**madman0141** · 05-20-2012, 02:25 PM

Sorry to hear your Ipad was stolen, I hate thieves and believe you should be able to shoot'em but that is something else. The PlayBook is a great device but don't be looking for a large number of apps unlike the iPad we can do things without apps. The size of Playbook is very portable and after OS 2 upgrade it is very useful in business and personal lifestyles. I hope that if you do decide to get a PlayBook you like it. The PlayBook does give you more bang for the buck and unlike apple RIM doesn't need to release a new tablet every 3 months so you don't have to keep paying for silly useless upgrades.

**NaijaBerry** · 05-20-2012, 06:21 PM

Go get yourself a playbook, you might not have a large selection of apps but you will have infinitely more pleasure fun and productivity! I have an iPad2 at home just sitting there!

**Hgouck** · 05-20-2012, 06:49 PM

OP. There is not a tablet or any electronic device that can meet everyones needs. With that said this is my opinion.
Pro: The 7" size is perfect for one hand use and portability. The swipe motions are very intuitive. Everyone has different needs but the playbook has meet everyone of my business and personal expectations. With a BB phone you can bridge the playbook to it and use the Internet as well as manage your contacts, email, view pdf and document files, use the remote feature to control the playbook, and much more.
Cons: some have found the adobe pdf program limited, there is no support for video calls other than to another playbook, Netflix and Hulu are not supported.
There are ways to work around issues that you will probably encounter and this community is very knowledgeable and willing to help. I would take the time to read http://forums.crackberry.com/blackbe...t-know-671764/.
Just do your homework, buy the tablet that fits your needs, and enjoy your purchase.

**jheatBBtorch** · 05-20-2012, 07:23 PM

The kindle fire does have its good points, but the icing on the cake is the b idge with pb. Why wait for an open connection to a wifi spot when I can bridge my phone and go. I love watching people with the fire and ipad go somewhere the wifi is not open. Meanwhile I'm connected and going strong.
Now when I fist got my playbook, I was criticized pretty bad cuz the os was far from complete. The 2.0 update has really turned heads. To the OP, you may need some time to get used to the smaller size but it will be great in the long run, especially with bb10 around the corner. I'm so ready together themes bb10 phone and upgrade

**BlackStormRising** · 05-20-2012, 07:35 PM

I'm curious how you settled on $199 as your price point for a new tablet? What was it that kindled your decision? (bite your lip BungaBunga)

You should keep in mind that the Playbook is a chameleon tablet. The UI has changed a bit since the OS2 update. it could change a lot when it gets BB10.

We could root it, then we couldn't. We can sideload android apps, or maybe not!? Some of my sideloads didn't enamour me to that process.

We didn't have native PIM, now we do. Bridge syncs PIM nicely, but no Blackberry phone? well, native PIM syncing with your phone - um, search the forums. The real Playbook doesn't make its grand entrance until Cascades proves itself on the next gen phones (imo).

Sent from my BlackBerry 9790 using Tapatalk

**anthogag** · 05-20-2012, 07:37 PM

Another OS upgrade (OS 2.1) is coming in the next week or two...the playbook is about to be even better

Internet browsing on the playbook is a really good experience. Pinch to zoom is really smooth. The only annoyance for me is checker-boarding until the page loads. This will be fixed in the near future

Don't think about it for a second. RIM supports the playbook

**kill_9** · 05-20-2012, 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by Hgouck

Cons: some have found the adobe pdf program limited, there is no support for video calls other than to another playbook, Netflix and Hulu are not supported.
There are ways to work around issues that you will probably encounter and this community is very knowledgeable and willing to help.

Video chat is available through ComWave's ePhone application which can be downloaded via Blackberry AppWorld and is offers a free trial period before you decide if you want to pay the *annual* fee of 20.00 for 250 minutes, I think, per month. This application is available for a variety of platforms.

PDF Reader is available through Blackberry AppWorld and addresses most of the limitations of Adobe Reader. The only missing feature in PDF Reader is lack of highlighting; annotations in the form of typed text pop-ups would be welcome but not essential for me. And it would be handy if the file managers could be configured to use a user-specified programme when a document is selected; maybe this should be implemented at the global operating system level and applications automatically pick-up the pre-selected application. After all, right now when I select a PDF document in a file manager Adobe Reader automatically launches - why can't we configure which programme is launched for each file type if we do not want to default?

**TNNurse** · 05-20-2012, 08:06 PM

I prefer the 7 inch form factor and the playbook for that matter. My wife has a Galaxy Tab 10.1. IMO the browsing experience is much better on my playbook and for portability the 7inch is much more convenient. Now if there is specific apps you want such as my wife, Facebook and 4 free games, android meets her needs better.

**UKCatFan3** · 05-20-2012, 11:24 PM

My thoughts as ipad2 and playbook owner:

1) ipad difficult to hold, especially with one hand, cause of curved back and slick surface. You may think this is trivial, but if you really had an ipad you likely dealt with this daily. PB is easy to handle, one hand or two.

2) at arms length, or normal reading distance, a 10" screen is too big for me on most things. You have to make yourself look side to side, top to bottom. PB is the right size.

3) portability

4) flash - apple owners say who cares, its dead, but i run into sites that use it all the time. Maybe you never will, but its probable.

5) bridge - only applies if you have bb phone, but its great and getting better. Search threads for great examples people have posted.

This is not saying PB is the 7" tablet for you, just my take on it and some comparisons to ipad. I use ipad for playing pool when bored, check weather (i do love weather channel app) and checking work email via vpn (does this fairly well). 2 yr old son uses ipad all the time for youtube, pbs kids and temple run. So its not collecting dust at least.

**topherjt** · 05-21-2012, 07:16 AM

@BlackStormRising HAHA! Money is tight these days. I could probably spend a little more, but for the 7 inch range that seems to be about the sweet-spot. I am also waiting to see what insurance will pay since I would be replacing a 1st gen iPad. If they pay decent, I maybe could afford a little more.

**topherjt** · 05-21-2012, 07:23 AM

Thanks everyone for the great information. Still waiting to see what insurance will pay. I have had some family members as well as Big Box store employees that have tried to steer me clear of the PB. From what I am reading here it still sounds like RIM is supporting it. I wish the store employees would get this same vibe...

Feel free to keep sharing info. I apologize if this is a topic that has been beaten to death a million times already.

**alnamvet68** · 05-21-2012, 07:45 AM

Originally Posted by topherjt

Thanks everyone for the great information. Still waiting to see what insurance will pay. I have had some family members as well as Big Box store employees that have tried to steer me clear of the PB. From what I am reading here it still sounds like RIM is supporting it. I wish the store employees would get this same vibe...

Feel free to keep sharing info. I apologize if this is a topic that has been beaten to death a million times already.

Apology accepted; it has been beaten to death atleast 999 quadrillion times. Have you noticed the conspicuous abscence of sakura and cheval in Japanese and French menus?

**veritas_vincit** · 05-21-2012, 07:49 AM

PB beats any tablet in terms of stability, power, productivity with true multitasking of apps. For those of us who do research, create docs, upload / download files, the playbook beats the rest. Also, the small screen allows easy portability in my backpack. I don't carry my Macbook around anymore.

**BlackStormRising** · 05-21-2012, 07:52 AM

Originally Posted by topherjt

@BlackStormRising HAHA! Money is tight these days. I could probably spend a little more, but for the 7 inch range that seems to be about the sweet-spot. I am also waiting to see what insurance will pay since I would be replacing a 1st gen iPad. If they pay decent, I maybe could afford a little more.

Of course rumours are just rumours, but if you get a decent insurance settlement for your first gen, it might just be enough to pay for a new 7 inch iPad.

**CanisMinor** · 05-21-2012, 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by jamezalexander

You can't get an a decent two HD camera's video or otherwise for 200$

Yea, that's one of Playbook's BEST features. I love using that front facing HD video came for my High Definition Microsoft Communicator based office video conferences, and when I am on a business trip, I fire up Skype to use it for HD video chats with family and friends. Awesome!

Oh, wait....