“The quirk has prompted some analysts to describe the device, which is called PlayBook, in cautious terms,” Woyke reports. “In a Jan. 10 research note titled ‘RIM Fumbles the PlayBook,’ Current Analysis Research Director Avi Greengart writes, ‘The PlayBook is not a fully standalone device…it is astonishing that RIM would go this route.'”
“The PlayBook, in its current incarnation, does not include the kinds of personal information manager [PIM] applications that BlackBerrys do,” Woyke reports. “That means services like a calendar, contacts list and memos won’t appear on the PlayBook unless a BlackBerry is (wirelessly) connected to it. Corporate email accounts also don’t live “natively” on the PlayBook. In the absence of a BlackBerry, these email accounts must be accessed through a web browser.”
“RIM contends the PlayBook is a good investment with or without a BlackBerry… ‘On its own, this is a great standalone tablet,’ said Ryan Bidan, a RIM senior product manager in charge of the PlayBook, in an interview… ‘There have been some misconceptions about the role this device plays,’ says Bidan. Without a BlackBerry, the PlayBook is a solid, Wi-Fi-enabled tablet ‘in its own right,’ he contends. Add in a BlackBerry and the PlayBook becomes more useful because it gains additional capabilities, says Bidan.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Forget about battery issues. Forget about usability issues due to too small a screen (7-inch). Forget about RIM’s years-long string of failed pretend iPhones (Storm and Storm 2). Forget about the AppLack™. None of that even matters if RIM insists upon hamstringing their pretend iPad with the requirement that it connect to an antiquated device that is rapidly losing market share and mindshare. RIM’s “PlayBook” is using a losing playbook.
[Attribution: Electronista. Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Dan K.” for the heads up.]
LMAO! They call them crackberries for a reason, it’s obvious their management is on the rock.
Either this article is a joke or the Playbook is a joke.
I’m missing something.
Looks like they’re taking a page out of the palm foleo playbook.
I’m totally confused now.
We knew the PlayBook wouldn’t run any BlackBerry apps. We knew there wasn’t an ecosystem in place. We knew there wouldn’t be any of the popular apps available on iOS or even lesser platforms, but now we find out there’s no mail, calendar, address book or memo app?
It also doesn’t have 3G, so in practical terms, when traveling, you need a BlackBerry (if you have a PlayBook). Really is this thing is just an external monitor for BlackBerry devices?
Ok, that’s fine. I could see paying a hundred dollars or so for an external monitor for my smartphone. It would be great to show videos and presentations in conference rooms and…wait, what? This external monitor is only 7″, good God, this is just sad.
Just what we all feared…. the pending iPad killer! oh no! ;0)
Are you kidding me? So if I buy a PlayBook, I don’t have email, contacts or calendars unless I also buy a Blackberry?
Talk about DOA.
I want one!!!!!!!
LMFAO!
Rim has gone downhill fast.
I used to have a blackberry, and I did like it. Then the iPhone hit the street. Rim has turned into a joke. Beyond a joke really.
Also not shipping with the playbook . . . :
Testicles
The Playbook IS a POS I agree. However, the first step in the iPad manual requires that it be connected to a computer so, in truth, the iPad is not a stand alone device either. I’m just sayin…
If all the above is true, this product should not be launched.
Go ahead, laugh. Device tethering is the wave of the future. You just wait and see. It’s all over for Apple. Playbook rules!
Yea, let them laugh! I’m buying “2”!! Cant wait!
Foleo anyone??? I didn’t think RIM was THAT dumb.
In its previous incarnation, the PB was called the Foleo.
DOA.
So RIM’s strategy is to make this “PlayBook” a touch-screen accessory for a BlackBerry PDA… I can just see it now. Walk into coffee shop. Pull out PlayBook. Pull out BlackBerry. Turn on BlackBerry. Set up BlackBerry to be PlayBook’s “master.” Turn on PlayBook and “tether” to BlackBerry. Run out of time to do any web surfing and repeat procedure in reverse.
Meanwhile, iPad owner walks in and turns on iPad. Starts surfing…
@JB Tipton,
The difference is that the iPad is functional on its own. I know many people who have never synced their iPads back to their computers since first being set up, and even a couple of people who had it initially set up at the Apple Store.
Also, there’s a huge difference between connected to your computer to set up, back up and sync (if need be) and needing to not only do that but also carry around a BlackBerry…and even then not having the most basic of apps (email, calendar, address book).
This is RIM’s ‘Kin.
ist the the new Palm foleo ?
err, the new RIM foolyou ?
ugghh, where is the edit button?
No wonder SJ had to take sick leave. He’s very sensitive to user interface design.
And Laport was gaga over this?
Nice G-Wizz graphics but nothing under neath. No wonder they can bring it out quick. Its only part of something else…
Guess it will have a sticker on the box. Battery’s NOT included! as the next released item about it… You need to plug it in…
So… In order to use this very little screen you need to use another device with even more smaller screen? are $tupid or what??? Is there enough $tupid people to make a market for that?
Doubtlessly the clueless duds at Consumer Reports will rank it higher than the iPad 2
Surely, this is an attempt (in vain) by RIM to somehow drive new sales of their BlackBerry phones.
RIM’s hypothesis: as prospective customers will love the new PlayBook so much, they will be willing to also buy a BlackBerry in order to get a full “tablet functionality” of the PlayBook => Result: the success of the PB will also drive major sales growth of the BB!
The thing that really blows my mind is how a company can execute on such an obviously flawed hypothesis.
Eh, not to sound like a what ever but iPad is required to plug into itunes before you are off to the races. I know its not the same thign but … it would be nice to be able ot use it out of the box and not need to activiate it.