Specifications

Alternative Tablet – RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook
In the tablet PC wars, it is clear to any observer that Apple's iPad 2 is the current winner. Even
finding a real competitor is challenging in the current environment. The #2 spot is shared among
many tablets running Google's Android OS, from manufacturers like Samsung, Acer, and others.
The commonality among all of these tablets, Apple included, is that the primary focus for the
machine is on personal entertainment.
This leaves out the user who is more focused on personal productivity. While there are some
high-spec tablets running the Windows 7 OS, serious professional users should also take a close
look at the new PlayBook from Research In Motion (RIM), the maker of the BlackBerry
smartphones.
Primary Specifications
The PlayBook comes out of the box well equipped. The processor is a 1.0 GHz dual core unit,
and buyers can choose from 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB of onboard storage. 1GB of RAM is
standard on the device. The screen is a 7" capacitive display with 1024x600 resolution, and
supports HD video output. Accessories can be attached via micro USB and micro HDMI ports on
the device. Both Flash and HTML5 are supported, so the current trend of running applications
from the cloud instead of from the device should be no issue.
The feature set of the PlayBook positions it well in the market. While there are advantages to
tablets with larger screens, the 7" models definitely win on portability. The PlayBook's weight,
just less than one pound, means that users will find it less burdensome than a larger device. From
a size standpoint, the PlayBook is the size of a basic e-book reader, but has the function set of
any tablet device.
The Major Advantage
One of the best selling points of the device is the BlackBerry Bridge. This system allows the user
to connect the PlayBook to a BlackBerry smartphone, and to use the phone's data plan to connect
the tablet to the internet. This is also a shortcoming as the PlayBook does not include an email
or contact manager. It expects you to use your smartphone for that information.
The User Experience
There's no such thing as a free lunch, and no perfect tablet either. The PlayBook is praised for
the ease of multi-tasking, and for the stability of its operating system. In fact, the new QNX
operating system addresses nearly all of the complaints from earlier BlackBerry OS releases, and
users are hopeful that the QNX migration to RIM's cell phones will not be far behind. The speed
of the startup, the light weight/portability, and the Bridge connection are also well-received.
Complaints include limited application support, but BlackBerry promises an Android player in