Is the PlayBook worth buying if you don't own a BlackBerry?

**bigmoe70** · 03-08-2011, 01:35 PM

I currently own a BB 9700 but I'm going to ditch it soon for an Android phone. But I am really digging the PlayBook...so my question is would it still be worth buying? Is it much more useful if you also own a BlackBerry phone? Thanks.

**dsquared2** · 03-08-2011, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by bigmoe70

I currently own a BB 9700 but I'm going to ditch it soon for an Android phone. But I am really digging the PlayBook...so my question is would it still be worth buying? Is it much more useful if you also own a BlackBerry phone? Thanks.

Yes, it's worth it without a BlackBerry. At launch, it won't have email if you don't have a BlackBerry (said to be added later). It's "much more useful" as you have access to your email, BBM, and other items on your BlackBerry if you own one. However, the PlayBook is just as useful with out it. I prefer to get emails on my phone and computer rather than a tablet, so even if i didn't own a BlackBerry that limitation wouldn't really affect me.

It's basically preference in the PlayBook or another tablet. The PlayBook is the best in the 7" class, and neck and neck with the 10" class. Just depends on what you prefer.

**scorpiodsu** · 03-08-2011, 02:26 PM

Nope. Not until they come out with one that doesn't need a blackberry. I would like to have all the functions of a blackberry and not NEED to have both together. But like said above, it depends on your preference. If you don't mind not having some of the basic blackberry functions available immediately then I'm sure it would be worth it to you. But personally, I would want to be able to access my stuff without the blackberry.

**howarmat** · 03-08-2011, 02:49 PM

3g or 4g or lte model might be but I dont think the wifi one will be, at least not on launch

**TheScionicMan** · 03-08-2011, 03:21 PM

IMO, it depends on if you see a tablet more as a large phone or small computer and what you plan to do with it. I don't use a mail program on my laptop or PC for personal email, everything is accessed and aggregated through GMail so the lack of a native email app isn't that big of a deal to me. I don't plan on the tablet replacing my phone, so I don't need it duplicating all of its functionality. So to me, it doesn't lessen the PB by not having this built in, it just adds to it if you have a BB.

It also eliminates the added data consumption of two devices pulling the same info to keep in sync.

**scorpiodsu** · 03-08-2011, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by howarmat

3g or 4g or lte model might be but I dont think the wifi one will be, at least not on launch

Not sure if you know but will the 3G/4g one or whatever be able to use blackberry services without a blackberry? Or will it just be internet capable without wifi?

**dutchtender** · 03-08-2011, 03:26 PM

if you are moving to an android phone buying a honeycomb tab makes more rational sense. but people are not always rational.

**howarmat** · 03-08-2011, 03:28 PM

Originally Posted by scorpiodsu

Not sure if you know but will the 3G/4g one or whatever be able to use blackberry services without a blackberry? Or will it just be internet capable without wifi?

its not going to have activesync/exchange but it will have BIS if you get a plan i think. Time will tell

**dsquared2** · 03-08-2011, 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by dutchtender

if you are moving to an android phone buying a honeycomb tab makes more rational sense. but people are not always rational.

Do an Android phone and Honeycomb tablet have any benefit when used together? The OSs are even different, so you can't really say that you wont have to learn to use a new OS.

**DGriffy** · 03-08-2011, 03:30 PM

well it doesnt matter really..both the pb and xoom support tethering

**scorpiodsu** · 03-08-2011, 03:35 PM

Originally Posted by dsquared2

Do an Android phone and Honeycomb tablet have any benefit when used together?

Yeah but neither loses functionality when not tethered and you may not think so (and I understand) but that's huge to a lot of people.

**dsquared2** · 03-08-2011, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by scorpiodsu

Yeah but neither loses functionality when not tethered and you may not think so (and I understand) but that's huge to a lot of people.

True but it appears that the OP is going to go Android, meaning he'll be getting his eMails there on his phone. He also, probably, has it on his desktop/laptop. So getting the PB and losing a email client and having to download a 3rd party one or using webmail can be frustrating, but you have to look at; do you really need your emails in 3 places, or 2 if you don't use desktop or phone? But, some may want it on the tablet and be annoyed they have to download a 3rd party email box from App World. Who knows, there's so many scenarios customers have there's no universal solution (sure including the email on the first launch would be nice, but why use it if you have a computer or smartphone already getting emails?)

**scorpiodsu** · 03-08-2011, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by dsquared2

True but it appears that the OP is going to go Android, meaning he'll be getting his eMails there on his phone. He also, probably, has it on his desktop/laptop. So getting the PB and losing a email client and having to download a 3rd party one or using webmail can be frustrating, but you have to look at; do you really need your emails in 3 places, or 2 if you don't use desktop or phone? But, some may want it on the tablet and be annoyed they have to download a 3rd party email box from App World. Who knows, there's so many scenarios customers have there's no universal solution (sure including the email on the first launch would be nice, but why use it if you have a computer or smartphone already getting emails?)

I agree. I know for myself if I am sitting in the house and using my iPad and I leave my phone in one room, I wouldn't want to have always go in the other room to use email or BBM or calendar features. I would like to be able to accomplish the same activities if necessary without needing the phone tethered to it. Of course if you are in range it's cool. I can just say from experience that since I have Wifi in my house when I'm using the iPad, I walk around the house, go upstairs, to the bathroom (LOL) and I would just want to be able to accomplish everything without needing to have to connect to my device. I would just like to pick up the playbook and go sometimes. That's all.

**howarmat** · 03-08-2011, 04:15 PM

not having a BB and without a native email client means you will be constantly switching between 2 devices. Its the same as sitting at a your desk at work or laptop without outlook open or whatever.

Your phone notifies you of a new email and now you go pick it up and look at the email. it would be the same as a PB with no BB. You buy any other tablet on the market and and when you hear the "ding" from the phone, any phone, sitting on the table you can bring it up on the tab within a few seconds via the email client. **** you might even get a notification on the tablet before you do on the phone depending on the email brand you are talking about and the protocol being used.

**Stonedicator** · 03-08-2011, 04:39 PM

I have a BB and plan on buying the PB even with the thought in the back of my mind that I might be ditching the Tour for a LTE device. I hope that LTE device is a BB but who knows.

I think the PB is a solid device with a lot of fuctionality all by its self.

**jmarkey77** · 03-08-2011, 04:59 PM

Depends on why you want the tablet. The Playbook seems to have the best browser and full Flash support. The Flash support thing matters to me as I plan to watch TV shows on CBS.com and other sites like that along with Hulu regularly.

**Kerms** · 03-08-2011, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by howarmat

not having a BB and without a native email client means you will be constantly switching between 2 devices. Its the same as sitting at a your desk at work or laptop without outlook open or whatever.

Your phone notifies you of a new email and now you go pick it up and look at the email. it would be the same as a PB with no BB. You buy any other tablet on the market and and when you hear the "ding" from the phone, any phone, sitting on the table you can bring it up on the tab within a few seconds via the email client. **** you might even get a notification on the tablet before you do on the phone depending on the email brand you are talking about and the protocol being used.

Heck at work, my phone will alert me to an email before Outlook on my desktop notifies me.

I'm with scorpiodsu. I rather be able to do what I want on the tablet without the need to be tied to a particular phone. What if you no longer want a BB? Also there are still rumors of BBM being on other devices.

**Kerms** · 03-08-2011, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by jmarkey77

Depends on why you want the tablet. The Playbook seems to have the best browser and full Flash support. The Flash support thing matters to me as I plan to watch TV shows on CBS.com and other sites like that along with Hulu regularly.

I'm still wondering if Android or PlayBook be able to access Hulu.

**xxplosive82** · 03-08-2011, 05:19 PM

I heard that the Xoom is super laggy at times. Also, Samsung isn't brimming with confidence at their 10.1 Tab. The iPad looks cool, but iOS isn't my cup of tea. RIM says native e-mail, calendar, etc. Clients will be available via software updates. The PB specs are wicked and the only negative press I'm seeing is lack of native clients, which I said will be fixed later on.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

**Najo** · 03-08-2011, 06:08 PM

Interesting viewpoints. I am one that likes that there is no native email or calendar. As it is now I have to deal with a work email on my office desktop, my home laptop, and my Torch. The tablet would just be one more place to deal with it. If I have a meeting notification come in then it adds to any device that I open the notification on, but if I manually add calendar items, tasks, reminders, etc. I would have to do this on both devices, PITA. I will have my phone with me most times I am using the PB, so I do not see that as inconvenient. I, frankly, love this feature.

**Najo** · 03-08-2011, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by scorpiodsu

Yeah but neither loses functionality when not tethered and you may not think so (and I understand) but that's huge to a lot of people.

How do they work together, just out of curiosity?

**Kerms** · 03-08-2011, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by Najo

Interesting viewpoints. I am one that likes that there is no native email or calendar. As it is now I have to deal with a work email on my office desktop, my home laptop, and my Torch. The tablet would just be one more place to deal with it. If I have a meeting notification come in then it adds to any device that I open the notification on, but if I manually add calendar items, tasks, reminders, etc. I would have to do this on both devices, PITA. I will have my phone with me most times I am using the PB, so I do not see that as inconvenient. I, frankly, love this feature.

If you're using activesync services, calendars & emails stay sync'd. It will appear on all devices that access that account.

**scorpiodsu** · 03-08-2011, 06:19 PM

Originally Posted by Najo

How do they work together, just out of curiosity?

Not sure exactly what you are asking. The poster said that Android devices and tabs don't gain any functionality when tethered. So I said "yeah....", meaning, correct and then proceeded with my response. Not sure what you think I meant.

**dutchtender** · 03-08-2011, 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by dsquared2

Do an Android phone and Honeycomb tablet have any benefit when used together? The OSs are even different, so you can't really say that you wont have to learn to use a new OS.

yes the data sync between the two will be amazing. the honeycomb browser is a true chrome implementation and will have full sync with your other chrome browsers.