[gregorylkelly]

Maybe this can become an official sticky. I am going to try and make a list of all the locations that have PlayBooks available for customers to use. As I have only found one location near me, I am going to rely on others to help add to this list. I will try to edit the list as people post locations in this thread. Maybe Mods can help too.

Staples Locations:
Norwalk, CT
Hemsted, Long Island, NY
Wilmington Ave, Dayton, OH
Edgemont, PA
Calgary Market Mall - 4/15/2011 - Until 7pm

Best Buy Locations:
Iselin, NJ (must ask for demo unit)
Richfield/Bloomington, MN
Terre Haute, IN
Grapevine Mall, TX
Sugar House, UT
Lubbock, TX - 10am to 9pm
Beaverton, OR - 10am to 9pm
Alberta:
4/15/2011 - Calgary - Sunridge - 4pm to 8pm
4/15/2011 - Calgary - Deerfoot Meadows- 4pm to 8pm
4/15/2011 - Calgary - Northland - 4pm to 9pm
4/16/2011 - Edmonton - Edmonton West - 11am to 7pm
4/17/2011 - Calgary - Sunridge - 10am to 6pm
4/17/2011 - Calgary - Deerfoot Meadows - 10am to 6pm
4/17/2011 - Calgary - Northland - 10am to 6pm
4/19/2011 - Calgary - Sunridge - 9am to 5pm
4/19/2011 - Calgary - Northland - 9am to 5pm

British Columbia:
4/15/2011 - Langley - Langley - 4pm to 8pm
4/15/2011 - Richmond - Richmond - 4pm to 8pm
4/15/2011 - Vancouver - Cambie - 4pm to 8pm
4/16/2011 - New Westminster - Queensborough - 11am to 7pm
4/16/2011 - Coquitlam - Coquitlam - 11am to 7pm
4/16/2011 - Surrey - Surrey - 11am to 7pm
4/16/2011 - Burnaby - Metrotown - 11am to 7pm
4/16/2011 - South Surrey - South Surrey - 11am to 7pm
4/17/2011 - Langley - Langley - 10am to 6pm
4/17/2011 - Richmond - Richmond - 10am to 6pm
4/17/2011 - Vancouver - Cambie - 10am to 6pm
4/17/2011 - Coquitlam - Coquitlam - 10am to 6pm
4/19/2011 - Langley - Langley - 9am to 5pm
4/19/2011 - Vancouver - Cambie - 9am to 5pm
4/19/2011 - New Westminster - Queensborough - 9am to 5pm

Nova Scotia:
4/16/2011 - Dartmouth - Dartmouth - 11am to 7pm

Ontario:
4/15/2011 - Mississauga - Heartland - 4pm to 8pm
4/15/2011 - Oakville - Oakville - 4pm to 8pm
4/15/2011 - Toronto - Leaside - 4pm to 8pm
4/15/2011 - Kitchener - Kitchener - 4pm to 8pm
4/15/2011 - London - London - 4pm to 8pm
4/15/2011 - Markham - Markham - 4pm to 8pm
4/15/2011 - Etobicoke - Sherway - 4pm to 8pm
4/15/2011 - Burlington - Burlington - 4pm to 8pm
4/15/2011 - St. Catherines - St. Catherines - 4pm to 8pm
4/15/2011 - Brampton - Brampton - 4pm to 8pm
4/15/2011 - Richmond Hill - Richmond Hill - 4pm to 8pm
4/15/2011 - St. Bruno - St. Bruno - 4pm to 8pm
4/15/2011 - Kanata - Kanata - 4pm to 8pm
4/15/2011 - Toronto - Bay & Dundas - 4pm to 8pm
4/15/2011 - Ancaster - Ancaster - 4pm to 8pm
4/16/2011 - Ajax - Ajax - 11am-7pm
4/16/2011 - North York - Downsview - 11am to 7pm
4/16/2011 - Woodbridge - Woodbridge - 11am to 7pm
4/16/2011 - Newmarket - Newmarket - 11am to 7pm
4/17/2011 - Mississauga - Hearland - 10am to 6pm
4/17/2011 - Oakville - Oakville - 10am to 6pm
4/17/2011 - Toronto - Leaside - 10am to 6pm
4/17/2011 - Kitchener - Kitchener - 10am to 6pm
4/17/2011 - Markham - Markham - 10am to 6pm
4/17/2011 - Etobicoke - Sherway - 10am to 6pm
4/17/2011 - Ottawa - Ottawa East - 10am to 6pm
4/17/2011 - Burlington - Burlington - 10am to 6pm
4/17/2011 - St. Catherines - St. Catherines - 10am to 6pm
4/17/2011 - Brampton - Brampton - 10am to 6pm
4/17/2011 - Richmond Hill - Richmond Hill - 10am to 6pm
4/17/2011 - St. Bruno - St. Bruno - 10am to 6pm
4/17/2011 - Toronto - bay & Dundas - 10am to 6pm
4/17/2011 - London - North London - 10am to 6pm
4/17/2011 - Ancaster - Ancaster - 10am to 6pm

Quebec:
4/15/2011 - Montreal - March Central - 4pm to 8pm
4/15/2011 - Laval - Laval - 4pm to 8pm
4/15/2011 - Pointe Claire - Point Claire - 4pm to 8pm
4/16/2011 - Anjou - Anjou - 11am to 7pm
4/16/2011 - Rosemere - Rosemere - 11am to 7pm
4/17/2011 - Montreal - March Central - 10am to 6pm
4/17/2011 - Laval - Laval - 10am to 6pm
4/17/2011 - Pointe Claire - Pointe Claire - 10am to 6pm
4/19/2011 - Pointe Claire - Pointe Claire - 9am to 7pm

Future Shop Demo Days:
Alberta:
4/16/2011 - Calgary - NE Calgary - 11am to 7pm
4/16/2011 - Calgary - Coventry Hills - 11am to 7pm
4/16/2011 - Calgary - Deerfoot Meadows - 11am to 7pm
4/19/2011 - Calgary - Deerfoot Meadows - 9am to 5pm

British Columbia:
4/15/2011 - Vancouver - Broadway - 4pm to 8pm
4/15/2011 - Burnaby - Kingsway - 4pm to 8pm
4/15/2011 - Coquitlam - Coquitlam Centre - 4pm to 8pm
4/16/2011 - Richmond - Lansdowne - 11am to 7pm
4/16/2011 - Langley - Langley - 11am to 7pm
4/16/2011 - West Vancouver - West Vancouver - 11am to 7pm
4/16/2011 - Vancouver - Robson - 11am to 7pm
4/17/2011 - Vancouver - Broadway - 10am to 6pm
4/17/2011 - Burnaby - Kingsway - 10am to 6pm
4/19/2011 - Richmond - Landsdowne - 9am to 5pm
4/19/2011 - Coquitlam - Coquitlam Centre - 9am to 5pm

[frfghtr]

Blackberry Playbook Demo Days - Best Buy Canada

[gregorylkelly]

Blackberry Playbook Demo Days - Best Buy Canada

That's helpful, but I was talking more about random Staples stores that have demo units on display for anyone to use at any time, before release. The Norwalk one listed above has a usable (although locked at the agreement screen) PlayBook on display to use.

[smeagle5]

Hmmm great! its at Bay and Dundas this evening. I was planning on being in the area at that time. Going to stop in.

[frfghtr]

That's helpful, but I was talking more about random Staples stores that have demo units on display for anyone to use at any time, before release. The Norwalk one listed above has a usable (although locked at the agreement screen) PlayBook on display to use.

The Demo Days Schedule does list limited hours prior to release and they're probably functional.

[doug1010]

Blackberry Playbook Demo Days - Best Buy Canada

BlackBerry Playbook Demo Days - Future Shop

[Sonic77]

Staples Calgary Market Mall today until 7pm.

[gregorylkelly]

list updated

[Alzaeem_502]

Staples (near the University of Dayton campus)
254 Wilmington Ave
Dayton, OH 45420-1989

They have ONE unit for demo purposes and it is available during store hours (8:00am-9:00pm).

[kevin.gardiner]

Stopped at Best Buy in Kitchener on my way home from work and got some hands on time. This is a pre-release version and the rep advised me he hasn't been updating the OS, he was on version 1.01.1500. Nice size, the screen is very sharp, the High Def video they had on it was stunning. We tethered the Playbook to his BB, as the wi-fi in the store stinks. Was able to load web pages quite quickly, but Flash was slow due to poor connection. Felt solid in my hands, can't wait for my 64GB to arrive. In anticipation, I have been moving over digital copies of all the movies I have that have them. Tuesday can't come soon enough!

[chaserx23]

Radio Shack just got theirs in today. stop by my buddy work and played with one... same thing as other tread. stuck on setup screen

[Darlaten]

I just got home from the Futureshop in Coquitlam - there was a line up of about 14 people in line to see the device and ask questions of the rep (lord they need smarter ones). For each question asked, the rep had to call "someone" to ask the question to get an answer. Unprofessional to say the least.

As for the device itself, wonderfully solid and rugged - does not feel cheap. My unit had a notification saying that an update for the software was available but the rep said not to install it as he was not too.

I tried to crash the memory seeing that was a major criticism of the unit - wasn't able to even though I had Need for Speed running in the background; a movie playing; the browser open with CNN, CTV, and CBC news sites running in the background, a Word document open, and a PDF document open. Switching between these programs worked flawlessly. For me, I doubt that I would have that much open at one time so I'm not concerned with this issue as I was based on the reviews.

I prefer typing in a Word document if I hold the device upright as the onscreen keyboard is not as spaced apart. Reading Adobe documents was very nice and I can see myself using this feature quite alot instead of printing out the material on paper.

The biggest question from the people in line was about Apps. The rep called "someone" to confirm how many would be at launch and reported that there will be "3000 Native and Android" apps out. I didnt think Android apps would be ready at launch for this?

And the funniest comment from someone was "oh, there's not a CNN app for the device - how do I get to CNN". To which I sarcastically, but humorously replied - it's not an Apple product, you dont need Apps to work it. Then proceeded to show him that you could just type the CNN address into the browser and voila the website showed up.

As for the power button - the criticisms were right. On the demo unit, you would have to push the power button in with a pencil as it was literally flush with the surronding service of the device. The rep said that the real devices will have a raised power button.

Lastly, my device was unable to demo how bridging worked to the rep's BB on account of not having the up to date software. Not being picky on RIM but considering this is a selling point for many BB users (I suspect at least), it would have been nice to actually see this in action.

All in all, given the negative reviews, I went in thinking that I would be disappointed. I left thinking the opposite - I'm happy with the device as is and it will do what I need it to do.

[mricantshoot]

Just left Future Shop in Burnaby. The rep was pretty chill and knowlegable, knew all the specs and features. No lines when I was there so it was a good opportunity to get some honest opinions from him.

Device was very sturdy, not too light not too heavy. Loving the screen and its HD awesomeness, very very crisp. Webpages rendered quickly and smoothly. Typing shouldn't be a issue for BB users, extremely easy coming from a guy that hates touchscreen typing (which is why I went for BB in the first place). No laggy-ness whatsoever, OS was 1.0.1.1500. Rep has said he personallly has gotten 8-9 hrs of battery life in continous usage. In standby he's seen 10hrs. Browser did crash when I opened a 7th app, but I am confident memory managment will be fixed in OS update. Also, I wasn't able to access Netflix, something about having to enable cookies in browser, I couldn't find a way to enable them, maybe someone here knows if you can? I am not a netflix user myself so not a big deal for me, but I know many on CB that have it may be a dealbreaker for them..

Overall I am very happy and excited about the device. My original plan was to hold off a couple days after the 19th to see what the OS update would bring, but after following this for 6+ months, I don't think I can wait much longer. Yes there's bugs here and there, but i believe the OS update on the 19th would fix a majority of the issues. Exciting times for RIM lie ahead!


Btw, totally forgot about the power button 'issue' but in 3 months time if reviewers only reason to not buy a PB is the power button, I say it is a pretty successful device.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[flyersfan76]

Staples Edgemont, PA. The knuckleheads didn't even register it yet. And they probably should have disabled sleep mode since it is plugged in. Nobody that is just browsing is going to know how to turn it on.

[gregorylkelly]

Updated. Please help to get this list going!!!

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[bighap]

Best Buy Beaverton, Oregon. 10-9

[ImGeorgeous]

Any word for the OC/Los Angeles area?

[BestBuyAndrew]

Updated. Please help to get this list going!!!

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

Next time I'm at work, I'll get the list of stores that a RIM rep will be at over the next few weeks.
It's over 150 locations.
Mostly in California and New York.

[Storminatrix]

The Best Buy in Terre Haute Indiana has a Blackberry Playbook on display. It was awesome! It was a little heavier than I thought it would be. Very nice device.

[NamelessLiar]

Best Buy in Lubbock, Texas has a Demo Unit on display (Store Hours 10am-9pm).

[gregorylkelly]

updated with all above. I'm heading out for the weekend, maybe a mod can help update the list.

[Gucci33]

Best buy Sugar house, Utah has the Playbook on demo!(10am-10pm)

[rusty02]

The BesyBuy in Kanata had no idea about the Playbook demo. Essentially laughed me off... very disappointing.

[XPEH]

Got my first hands on at Future Shop in Toronto today!! Great device! Can't say the same about the RIM rep - was clueless about so many features and couldn't answer customers' questions that even I knew answers to. That was the disappointing part. I wish RIM had more knowledgeable and enthusiastic people promoting PB.

[schiri]

Best Buy On Edgar RD in St. Louis has ONE locked up in the mobile dept. You have to ask to see it.