[petworks97]

I don't see the need for a 3g playbook with bridge working the way it does. Why do I need to pay for a data plan when I can access the internet through bridge browser? For me, this is one of the best features the playbook has over the iPad. I can use it anywhere there is cell coverage without paying for a second data plan.

[greatwiseone]

Well, some people don't have BB's to bridge with the PB...

[BBThemes]

because Bluetooth 2.0 has a max theoretical speed of 3Mbps, whereas 3G is up to 14.3Mbps and 4G is 14.4Mbps+

so in theory someone with a 4G playbook can browse at least 4 times faster than through bridge no matter what phone was bridged.

[petworks97]

As good as the playbook is I don't think I would have it if I didn't have a blackberry. They work so well together. IMO if you have one you need the other. What a great pair!

[southlander]

Battery. It would be better to be able to use the PlayBook without draining your phone's battery.

[petworks97]

I hear what all of you are saying. Not having to pay verizon extra $$ and still able to get on the internet anywhere is a big plus for me. That's what sold me on the Playbook to begin with. I guess I'm just pointing out a great feature that I love about the Playbook. It's a great device and with time it will only get better!

[eduardot]

Do a statistical study of how many bb users have playbooks, and how many rotten apple users have ipads. personally i have a few friends who have bb phones and ipads, they particularly dont like the fact that i only pay for ONE data plan.

[Fat Bastage]

If the playbook is truly the businessman's tablet, when did businessmen get so tight in the wallet that saving a couple of bucks in data trumps productivity. effiiciency and ease of use?

What's next, cancelling wifi at home in favor of bridge browser?

[joshua_sx1]

If BB phone and PlayBook is really necessary to be together... PlayBook should be the "Batman"... not "Robin" the wonder boy...

And besides, PlayBook is an expensive accessories... with all its capabilities, it should be an independent device...

[kbz1960]

I'd say it's not business people who care about paying for another data plan but who knows companies are pinching pennies everywhere also.

I agree, don't need no stinkin extra data plan. I all ready pay for one.

[kbz1960]

If BB phone and PlayBook is really necessary to be together... PlayBook should be the "Batman"... not "Robin" the wonder boy...

And besides, PlayBook is an expensive accessories... with all its capabilities, it should be an independent device...

It is an independent device just like any other wifi only device. The bridge and owning a bb just makes it better.

[xandermac]

RIM don't want to limit their market to only those that use a blackberry.

Having said that, I only need the WiFi version because I see the bridge as a value-add rather than as the crutch that some see it as. When the PB is actually a stand alone (native email etc) device i think the real value of the bridge will become apparent to non-blackberry users who are stuck with WiFi only, and might cause a few to switch over (or even dump their iPad also) seeing as its unique to the playbook. its the way the iPad should work with the iPhone but sadly never will. A WiFi device, even with native email, is only useful with a connection and the Bridge does that perfectly as a value-addon at no cost. It should be a huge selling point but sadly seems to get missed.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[mandony]

because Bluetooth 2.0 has a max theoretical speed of 3Mbps, whereas 3G is up to 14.3Mbps and 4G is 14.4Mbps+

Unfortunately the current BB 9900's, the only BB series having "4G", limit PB to EDGE or low 3G due to low BT speed. Hopefully this speed problem will be resolved if the 9900's are upgraded to 'WIFI HotSpot', or, likely incorporated in BB ONX series coming out 'later in the year'.

That being said, the networks don't seem to be interested in dedicated network tablets due to lack of consumer interest. Many of the newer smartphones will have WIFI HotSpot capability.

[Barljo]

Well, for me it's like this...

I live on an Island in the UK, served by two mobile companies. When I travel to England, I am roaming - I have a small roaming data allowance per month, but not much at all.

I have a PB at the moment, but I'm planning on getting a 3g version when available to put an 'English' sim in when I'm roaming and increase my data usage allowance that way.

When home on this Island, I'll either get a data-only sim from my provider for a fiver a month or most likely just bridge (as they're very good and haven't blocked bridge or tethering).

Either way, I'm looking forward to a new release and the excitement (and inevitable trolling!) it will bring...

[badger906]

the exact reason i got a playbook was because id ordered a blackberry and knew i could bridge! i pay �37 a month as it is for mobile phone and internet, plus my home internet and telephone, why on earth would i want to pay extra for another internet device!

3mbps is more than fast enough for on the go browsing.. i have 1.2mbps at home.. 3g on my phone is like lightning in comparison!

[xxplosive82]

Because the Bridge Browser does not work for me on VZW. My phone keeps rebooting when I try to Bridge Browse for any length of time. The rest of the Bridge functions work as advertised, but the Browser is non-functional.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[papped]

Because the Bridge Browser does not work for me on VZW. My phone keeps rebooting when I try to Bridge Browse for any length of time. The rest of the Bridge functions work as advertised, but the Browser is non-functional.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

Something must be wrong with your 9650 OS.... I've bridge browsed many times on VZ network + VZ 9650 + PB....

That said, the 3g/4g models are kinda pointless unless you just have straight cash to burn. There's no point in paying for an additional data plan EVEN IF you don't bridge, since you could just pay for tethering and use it on any device, rather than paying a whole new data fee for a single device...

[mandony]

I have a PB at the moment, but I'm planning on getting a 3g version when available to put an 'English' sim in when I'm roaming and increase my data usage allowance that way..

It is questionable if this will be available.
The way that Apple makes their network iPad is to lock it to a specific carrier.
What you ask for is 'roaming' and or ability to change the SIM from carrier to carrier much like an un-locked BB phone.
It is unknown what, if any, arrangements RIM will make with their carriers since no carriers are known to have signed on.
In your unique case, the 'best' thing to do may be to use the current PB. Get some sort of 'international' or UK related plan with BB Internet.

[xxplosive82]

Something must be wrong with your 9650 OS.... I've bridge browsed many times on VZ network + VZ 9650 + PB....

That said, the 3g/4g models are kinda pointless unless you just have straight cash to burn. There's no point in paying for an additional data plan EVEN IF you don't bridge, since you could just pay for tethering and use it on any device, rather than paying a whole new data fee for a single device...

I've re-installed the OS several times, and it still doesn't work. Its so frustrating because of people saying it works for them. It even happened to me on two diff. Phones... The 9930 and 9650.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[BBThemes]

Unfortunately the current BB 9900's, the only BB series having "4G", limit PB to EDGE or low 3G due to low BT speed. Hopefully this speed problem will be resolved if the 9900's are upgraded to 'WIFI HotSpot', or, likely incorporated in BB ONX series coming out 'later in the year'.

well thats just totally wrong.

firstly the 9810 and 9850/60 have '4G' radios capable of 14.4Mbps, secondly in theory ANY phone with a speed of over 3Mbps would mean you wouldnt notice a huge difference, so even the Bold 9000 is capable of 3.6Mbps so thats not really a consideration.
secondly, why would you wish to limit the PB to edge? thats insane, let it run at the max 3Mbps that BT allows it to.

and lastly, a `wifi hotspot` is another silly idea in that sense, because carriers charge tethering for using the wifi hotspot in most devices, so there would be little to no difference between using the hotspot or a 4G PlayBook. other than of course the small matter that those on CDMA cant use wifi hotspot and make calls at the same time which is a negative not a positive.

[BBThemes]

I've re-installed the OS several times, and it still doesn't work. Its so frustrating because of people saying it works for them. It even happened to me on two diff. Phones... The 9930 and 9650.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

are you having issues using the normal browser when your bridged? since the update i just use the normal browser, the bridge browser is kinda redundant unless you have seperate bookmarks between the two.

[papped]

Wifi hotspot also murders your phone battery insanely bad... It's not even funny how much faster the drain is.

[xxplosive82]

are you having issues using the normal browser when your bridged? since the update i just use the normal browser, the bridge browser is kinda redundant unless you have seperate bookmarks between the two.

Yep, happens when using the regular Browser too... And apps.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[jonty12]

It is questionable if this will be available.
The way that Apple makes their network iPad is to lock it to a specific carrier.
What you ask for is 'roaming' and or ability to change the SIM from carrier to carrier much like an un-locked BB phone.
It is unknown what, if any, arrangements RIM will make with their carriers since no carriers are known to have signed on.
In your unique case, the 'best' thing to do may be to use the current PB. Get some sort of 'international' or UK related plan with BB Internet.

Actually not quite. My father in law just visited us in NY from Edmonton with his iPad2. It has a Rogers SIM in Canada, we stopped in at AT&T here and picked up an AT&T SIM, popped it in, activated it on the AT&T network and away we went. No issues. He used the AT&T SIM in the U.S., and put his Rogers SIM back in when he got back into Canada.

[tayl0rd]

Sounds like whatever you're browsing is eating up your memory. Go easy on the porn video sites. The PlayBook will kill an app without warning when it's low on memory. The browser seems to take precedence, but it will become lethargic or just plain unresponsive when memory is low. Next time open up Settings, tap About, select Hardware and look at the memory.