[Innovatology]

Here's a quick tip for all the newbies who found a PlayBook in their stocking or under the christmas tree...

Besides this general PlayBook forum there are four other forums on CrackBerry.com dedicated to some specific PlayBook topics:

• Apps and Games discusses 3rd-party apps and games that you can download from App World;
  
• Tablet OS is all about the operating system - the basic software that starts and runs your device. Go here for help with setup, to find out about features, to discuss versions, to solve issues;
  
• Android App Sideloading is for advanced users who have installed the PlayBook 2.0 developer beta (=test version) of the operating system and want to load Android apps onto it;
  
• PlayBook rooting is for advanced users who want to try to bypass the security of the PlayBook.

Be sure to browse the Newbie tips and tricks thread. Also, many newbie questions have been asked and answered before in the forums - a quick search will often find you a good answer. Use this search form for PlayBook-specific answers, or the "Search this forum" link underneath the page numbers. Can't find an answer? Don't hesitate to ask a question, but it's best to do so in the most relevant forum.

Besides these forums at CrackBerry there are also the general, app and accessory forums at blackberry.com. Trouble with App World? Try the App World forum.

Enjoy your new PlayBook and all your new friends here. Merry Christmas!

[Daruba]

Sound advice!

[rotorwrench]

Excellent post and advice. Newbies also be prepaired for praises, negative comments and downright bashes on your new PB. Take them for what they are, opinions. What may be true for one, may not be true for you or others. You try it, you form your OWN opinion. Take the time to get to know the device and have fun with it. It's a truly great tablet for most here. Welcome and Merry Christmas!

[BuzzStarField]

Also be aware there are a lot of posts with outdated, false and misleading information. Some of the threads make it seem so easy to turn your shiny new (but incomplete) PlayBoook into a functional (but second rate) Android device. All of these methods involve using beta software meant for developers only and some arcane instructions that may or may not work for you. Acting on this advice may lead to extreme frustration, anger and an unusable device. So please do your homework by skipping to the last few posts in such a thread to see if the advice is still current or if it has been rendered obsolete by updates to the OS.

Even if you fall victim to this trap, take a deep breath - there is still hope. The first thing you need to know is that search tool located at the top of this page is your very best friend. But as you scan the search results please refer to the advice that I gave you in the first paragraph. If you always, always read to the end of a thread before taking any action, you'll be just fine.

[jafobabe]

OP, would you post your beginning thread in the Newbie Tips and Tricks Sticky? It would be a wonderful addition, and BlackJack can incorporate it towards the top of that thread.

Merry Christmas to All!!

[Innovatology]

OP, would you post your beginning thread in the Newbie Tips and Tricks Sticky?

Good idea. Done :-)