Playbook...high hopes, huge disappointment

**Rennteam** · 08-24-2011, 08:52 AM

I bought the Playbook in the US on the very same day it got available. Already owning an iPad, iPad 2 and a Motorola Xoom, I thought that the new form factor and the QNX OS would be a good addition to my tablet collection, especially since I also do some programming work from time to time.

While I enjoyed the Playbook a lot over the first couple of days, especially due to the excellent display brightness, after a while, I felt hugely disappointed.

My "issues" so far: The power button drives me crazy, sometimes it works, sometimes not. Since I bought this in the US (but I live in Germany), there is no way how to get it fixed. The missing native mail/calendar/contacts support also drives me crazy, the more I use the Playbook, the more I miss it.
Since I haven't used my Blackberry 9700 for some time, I really don't want to re-activate it, just to be able to read my mails, take care of appointments and contacts.
The lack of decent apps is also a huge disappointment and while everybody waits for the Android support, I wonder: Why isn't it here yet?

RIM needs to understand one thing(and apparently they don't "get" it): The first buyers of a product are very important, especially if this new product is actually starting some sort of new product category. It takes RIM way too long to deliver functions for the Playbook which are actually a standard option on most tablets out there on the market, including those selling for under 200 bucks.

Today I decided to end my Playbook adventure. It was fun at the beginning but now I have to stop wasting my time with this nice but useless (for me) gadget.

I also wonder how so many people here in the forum can actually say so many positive things about the Playbook. Don't you guys have a comparison to other devices ? Even the Android 2.3.3 HTC Flyer is more useful than the Playbook.

Yes, I understand, Crackberry is mainly a Blackberry/RIM forum and I apologize if I just hurt some feelings but this is the truth, the blunt reality.

RIM shouldn't be surprised about their current stock value and they shouldn't be surprised that people are actually switching to different products.
The Playbook could have been a wonderful device, especially since there is nothing comparable yet on the market with the same display size.
Trust me, with the introduction of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 and other Android tablets with the same display size, the Playbook will be dead. Nobody will then care anymore about a native mail client or Android support.

Sorry to say that but it appears to me that RIM dig out their own grave.
The new Blackberry phones are also not really interesting and way too expensive. The new 9900 costs 580 EUR over here in Germany, I can get a Samsung Galaxy S2 for 100 EUR less. This is insane. I understand that RIM isn't really a consumer phone manufacturer but honestly, 580 EUR for a simple phone with physical keyboard and a tiny touch display ? Are they kidding me ?

R.I.P., RIM...you did it to yourself. The Playbook was my last RIM product, unless they make a radical change.

**togardergrosse** · 08-24-2011, 09:06 AM

Today I decided to end my Playbook adventure. It was fun at the beginning but now I have to stop wasting my time with this nice but useless (for me) gadget.

Good bye, hope to see u soon again..

**rambo1963** · 08-24-2011, 09:13 AM

Right on brother! Unfortunatley people cannot be truely honest about their Playbook. So many issues with this tablet and they just can't except it. I've said time and time again that I want this tablet to be the number on tablet on the market. RIM, I feel is not listening. All they hear is the people saying, better things to come, its on its way, found a work around.

**frfghtr** · 08-24-2011, 09:17 AM

Unfortunate you're disappointed, but curious why you weren't aware of the playbook's shortcomings that have been documented numerous times since April 19, 2011.

**sk8er_tor** · 08-24-2011, 09:17 AM

All tablets have issues. You bought yours knowing all those issues - small power button, no native email, etc. Every single PlayBook review mentioned those same issues you complain about. Why buy a product when you know what the major issues are and then complain about it? I don't get it.

**jossix** · 08-24-2011, 09:25 AM

why not go for the ultimate app machine? get yourself an ipad,it does every thing except talk unless there is an app for that already.
I for one am not disappointed with my PB

**mathprof08** · 08-24-2011, 09:27 AM

ZZZzzzzz....

**frfghtr** · 08-24-2011, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by jossix

why not go for the ultimate app machine? get yourself an ipad,it does every thing except talk unless there is an app for that already.
I for one am not disappointed with my PB

He does have one and numerous others. Too bad he didn't use it to search the web for the numerous articles about the playbook's shortcomings before he made his mistaken purchase. Guess all the reviews were on flash enabled sites.

**shootsscores** · 08-24-2011, 09:38 AM

In all the time I've owned my PB I've probably used the power button about 3 times. Worked fine for me when I've used it.

**d3adcrab** · 08-24-2011, 09:41 AM

speak for yourself, love my PB...as do many more people. You obviously are one who isnt satisfied with any one product, hence your promiscuous tablet buying habits.

all in all a seriously lame post...why open a new thread for this? use existing threads if you have nothing new to say..

**menaknow** · 08-24-2011, 09:50 AM

First, thanks for coming online and providing your comment.

As it was a long one and I guess you wanted to provide some feedback. I know about the whole "well RIM I think monitors these forums discussion", but honestly I really think you should be addressing your post in an email to RIM. Especially if your really motivated about providing feedback/criticism.

Now two comments on below (and this isn't an attack on you but my feedback).

Originally Posted by Rennteam

I also wonder how so many people here in the forum can actually say so many positive things about the Playbook. Don't you guys have a comparison to other devices ? Even the Android 2.3.3 HTC Flyer is more useful than the Playbook.

This is a very VERY subjective statement based on the user. I love my Playbook for what I need it to do. As a developer myself, I research every product to make sure I purchase an item to fit my needs. And this includes comparisons to other products.

The Playbook fits my needs really well. From it's portability, to the ease of attaching a HDMI cable for use, and to connect via WIFI to transfer documents... Those fit my needs. To the wonderful feature of the BB bridge, as I have a work BB and a personal BB and can connect to any device, to also the feature of the bridge browser which I can use when I can't tether.

And the fact it plays flash which I can watch stock market news from a website that does not have its video available via YouTube or has an application.

When I compared other tablets at the time of purchase, they didn't fit my checklist as the Playbook had. I am not saying it is a perfect device, but it fits my needs better than other tablets. That is why I bought it.

Originally Posted by Rennteam

The new 9900 costs 580 EUR over here in Germany, I can get a Samsung Galaxy S2 for 100 EUR less. This is insane. I understand that RIM isn't really a consumer phone manufacturer but honestly, 580 EUR for a simple phone with physical keyboard and a tiny touch display ? Are they kidding me ?

I guess I don't care for android as a phone. Used it and don't care for it. To be honest, I bought my phone outright here and it has not disappointed. It lets me get my job done. Especially with the keyboard.

Again this is subjective. It is a new phone so obviously they will have a higher cost...

**experiment 626** · 08-24-2011, 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by d3adcrab

your promiscuous tablet buying habits.

"Promiscuous Buying Habits" Is that considered a sin on tech sites now?

**kbz1960** · 08-24-2011, 10:15 AM

It ain't for everyone and neither are the ipad or the ? number of android ones. Just hope you aren't giving up on it right before things start getring "sweet". Maybe we'll see ya around somerime.

Oh and please try to refrain from commenting something negative in every thread on it, not saying you do that.

**siausin** · 08-24-2011, 10:44 AM

Same old complains...wonder why these haters have so much time coming here to tell people why their negative opinions are the right ones and why people who like PB is blind and they don't get it..I also don't get it why people like android su much..other than fanciful widgets the OS is ugly and damn laggy and battery sucks big time

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F2 · 08-24-2011, 10:47 AM

He may not have had an opportunity to read reviews - you can see he purchased it when it first became available. That, unfortunately, gave him plenty of time after the fact to discover its various weaknesses and rim's broken promises, ahem, broken statements, ahem, they never said any of that!

**kb5zht** · 08-24-2011, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by rambo1963

Right on brother! Unfortunatley people cannot be truely honest about their Playbook. So many issues with this tablet and they just can't except it. I've said time and time again that I want this tablet to be the number on tablet on the market. RIM, I feel is not listening. All they hear is the people saying, better things to come, its on its way, found a work around.

I think we r dealing with a lot of wounded prides. I imagine a lot of people were putting their name on the line saying the playbook was going to save rim, prove rim, etc... And the reality that was shipped april 19 really left them with egg on their face, and perhaps it does reopen old wounds with each post that reminds them that rim continues to fumble.

You have no idea how badly i want my playbook to be the device that rim was intending to sell. I gave my trust in terms of real world dollars- a lot of them at that- and i honestly feel rim isnt even trying to uphold their end of the bargain. Yea i knew i was buying an incomplete tablet. I had no idea that 4 months later i would be holding essentially the same device with only two new features.

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**kbz1960** · 08-24-2011, 01:43 PM

I think we need to buckle up cause we are going for a ride.

After todays update and another soon to come......... look out we are going to have what we saw plus!

And yes I've voiced my share of complaints but email and pim were not one of them.

**louzer** · 08-24-2011, 01:56 PM

Wait... Wasn't this topic posted last week, and the week before, and the week before, and the week before...

Shame on me for replying, but to dig up the power button issue after all this time?

**Xterra2** · 08-24-2011, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by frfghtr

Unfortunate you're disappointed, but curious why you weren't aware of the playbook's shortcomings that have been documented numerous times since April 19, 2011.

Rubbish !!! The 60 day period they said they were updating the pb with native email ?
Someppl bought it with hope after 60 days
120+ days now still nothing

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**Xterra2** · 08-24-2011, 01:59 PM

I agree with the OP
Pb Fanboys are so annoying

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**Foreverup** · 08-24-2011, 02:00 PM

I actually don't feel bad for the OP at all if he/she can afford an ipad, ipad2, xoom, and a playbook they got money to spare. Wait for updates and then pick which device fits your needs that day.

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**jugs** · 08-24-2011, 02:05 PM

Yeah, it's pretty useless right now. Hoping it gets better in the future.

**frfghtr** · 08-24-2011, 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by xterra2

I agree with the OP
Pb Fanboys are so annoying

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And I like jeeps better than xterras but that's their choice and good for them.

**biggulpseh** · 08-24-2011, 02:16 PM

On one hand, I knew the shortcomings of the Playbook before buying it so it's on me for making the decision to buy it, but at the same time... it's been over 120 days since launch. I doubt ANYBODY expected it to take it this long, even RIM. I bought my Playbook a week after I got home from university for the summer, and the features I had dreamed of wont be ready until after I go back. Its been a LONG 4 months. We all heard the 'summer' time frames. We all heard Ballsille say 60 days was the timeframe for PIM. I had no idea that summer would mean the last possible day of summer or even later. I had no idea "60 days scheduled" meant "160 days scheduled". Let's not tiptoe through the tulips with this, because clearly RIM is having one **** of a time getting the Android Player and Native PIM to work on QNX. There's no question in my mind that they're encountering critical technical delays which is causing it to take such a long time. I'm excited for what's to come, but I'm tired of the fanboys blaming delays on people getting tired of waiting, instead of the people responsible for the delays.

**sleepngbear** · 08-24-2011, 02:23 PM

Keep up the crying and whining. There are no wounded prides here, just a lot of snickering behind your backs.

Sure there are issues the fixes for which are long overdue. But what other tablet does this:
http://forums.crackberry.com/blackbe...g-apps-642290/

Complain all you want that if you don't have a BlackBerry you can't take advantage of it. This is just great stuff. Between this enhancement and the ongoing introduction of new phones, RIM is giving users more reasons to give BB phones a good close look. Their biggest sin now is not screaming about it publically every chance they get.

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