Blackberry Playbook vs. Samsung Tablet

[LostInTruth]

Blackberry Playbook: $199.99
http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/blackberry-blackberry-7-16gb-playbook-with-wi-fi-prd-38548-001/10166454.aspx?path=23b031eb638e47e33187b8ebfbaee3c 9en02

Samsung Tablet: $249.99
http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/samsung-samsung-7-16gb-galaxy-tablet-with-wi-fi-white-gtp6210uwr/10195198.aspx?path=cfbb8f57da3f3ab420748e1c8dbac06 aen02

They are both the same size (7") with 16GB, however, I already had a Blackberry Playbook (never used it though) but was underwhelmed by the size of the screen. Now I feel like possibly giving the Blackberry Playbook another chance (so indecisive!), but want to get a Tablet that fits my needs. Don't want to spend the money on an iPad as I have an iPhone and will most likely get the next gen iPhone when it comes out later this fall.

Basically, I only want a Tablet for web surfing, watching shows/movies on occasion, good selection of apps, minimal typing (like on RFD/emails/occasional word documents). Don't feel like another laptop, and the current one I have burns and shuts off randomly too frequent.

Btw, would I get a Trade In credit from Best Buy if I gave my old laptop - it's one of the 2007 Toshiba Satellite? Any recommendations for tablets would be nice and looking to spend at most up to $350. Thanks!

[LostInTruth]

Shoot - I meant to put Blackberry Playbook vs. Samsung Tablet vs. Other in thread title :facepalm:

May a kind mod please edit my title? :)

[spandexninja]

Samsung Tablet will have way more apps available than the Playbook, and the battery lasts longer. However, you should wait until the end of June to see what the Asus / Google 7 inch tablet has to offer.
http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/asus-rep-claims-google-nexus-tablet-will-arrive-june-1084484

[sandikosh]

Buy the Samsung. The Playbook is dead.

[LostInTruth]

^^ Thanks to you both - the Samsung Tablet does look nice, I'll have to read into more reviews. Does it also support iTunes?

Sidenote: Wonder what the price for Asus/Nexus Tablet will be?

[spandexninja]

^^ Thanks to you both - the Samsung Tablet does look nice, I'll have to read into more reviews. Does it also support iTunes?

Sidenote: Wonder what the price for Asus/Nexus Tablet will be?
I don't know of any iTunes support on the Galaxy Tab (or any Android tablet).

The Asus tablet will be $200-250 with a Tegra 3 processor (significantly faster than anything in this price range). We'll probably have to pay an extra $50 for customs + shipping from the US

[LostInTruth]

^^^ Thanks - I might have to look into an iPad then because all my tunes are on iTunes and then I sync them to my iPhone. :(

[Double_J]

I do not use itunes but apparently you can sync your itunes from the pc/mac to the playbook (via desktop manager). I also remember hearing about an app that does this for blackberry too (it might have been for the phones though).

If you tried the playbook when it the OS was 1.0, it might be worth another look.

[mikeo007]

The Playbook is EoL, don't touch it with a 20ft pole.

[themagekiler]

read up on isyncer it's a android app that suppose to allow you to use itunes

[gnuman]

The 16Gb version is EOL. RIM is supposed to release a 4G/LTE version of the playbook.

[nasa25]

The Playbook is EoL, don't touch it with a 20ft pole.

If I had a 20 foot pole right now I could physically touch my playbook in my office. Who told you the playbook was eol?

[Abel4Life]

If you can get a Grade A quality Playbook at $125ish then its a good deal for what it can do. That's what I did and it meets my needs. Don't need apps I'll never use and 10 Angry Bird style games.

-Internet
-Email
-Some apps (news/stocks)
-Some games
-E-Reader
-Memos
-Camera/Video

[Double_J]

^ on my 64GB playbook I have 4 angry birds games (for my kids). :)

[bembol]

If you love watching VIDEOS on-the-go/tablet, BlackBerry PlayBook is THE CHOICE with Swipe from the Bezel.

Not that I really use OS 2.0's new features but it's a great improvement. My 32GB PlayBook is 7" Video Player.

[mikeo007]

If I had a 20 foot pole right now I could physically touch my playbook in my office. Who told you the playbook was eol?

Common sense. They stopped manufacturing playbooks a while ago, and have EoL'd the best seller because they ran out of inventory. They are taking huge losses on the Playbook now, and you think they'll keep selling them? They have to rethink their strategy on the tablet market, and they are.

[jjj112]

Common sense. They stopped manufacturing playbooks a while ago, and have EoL'd the best seller because they ran out of inventory. They are taking huge losses on the Playbook now, and you think they'll keep selling them? They have to rethink their strategy on the tablet market, and they are.

lol. they stopped the 16gb. let me think for a minute. common sense. how can you say the PB is EOL. when RIM say it I'll believe it

[mikeo007]

lol. they stopped the 16gb. let me think for a minute. common sense. how can you say the PB is EOL. when RIM say it I'll believe it

So you would continue selling something that continually lost you money? I'm sure glad you don't run a business.

[gilboman]

So you would continue selling something that continually lost you money? I'm sure glad you don't run a business.

that's why they stopped selling the 16gb PB?:cheesygri

[insync44]

Blackberry Playbook: $199.99
http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/blackberry-blackberry-7-16gb-playbook-with-wi-fi-prd-38548-001/10166454.aspx?path=23b031eb638e47e33187b8ebfbaee3c 9en02

Samsung Tablet: $249.99
http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/samsung-samsung-7-16gb-galaxy-tablet-with-wi-fi-white-gtp6210uwr/10195198.aspx?path=cfbb8f57da3f3ab420748e1c8dbac06 aen02

They are both the same size (7") with 16GB, however, I already had a Blackberry Playbook (never used it though) but was underwhelmed by the size of the screen. Now I feel like possibly giving the Blackberry Playbook another chance (so indecisive!), but want to get a Tablet that fits my needs. Don't want to spend the money on an iPad as I have an iPhone and will most likely get the next gen iPhone when it comes out later this fall.

Basically, I only want a Tablet for web surfing, watching shows/movies on occasion, good selection of apps, minimal typing (like on RFD/emails/occasional word documents). Don't feel like another laptop, and the current one I have burns and shuts off randomly too frequent.

Btw, would I get a Trade In credit from Best Buy if I gave my old laptop - it's one of the 2007 Toshiba Satellite? Any recommendations for tablets would be nice and looking to spend at most up to $350. Thanks!

The "old" tablet by Samsung, mentioned above, is soon to be replaced by the Tablet 2 7 inch with ICS. According to reports the above Samsung Tablet will never get ICS. I would wait for at least a month. the Tablet 2 debuts at $249.99 and the Tablet 1 price will probably drop further to get rid of inventory.

However, if you do not wish to wait its a good Tablet probably the best of the 7 inch ones. In lots of ways Apps is what makes the Tablet experience pleasurable and, in that category, the Playbook come up far short.

The 16GB Playbook has discontinued production due to lack of sales.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/06/07/rim-playbook-16gb-version_n_1578428.html

[mikeo007]

that's why they stopped selling the 16gb PB?:cheesygri

They stopped selling it because they ran out of stock. They stopped making them a while ago.
I'm not saying they'll stop talents altogether, but the current line of Playbooks is dead. They're just clearing out stock now.

[Double_J]

They are releasing a 4G playbook, and also another wifi model. They are both going to have a slightly faster CPU, and nfc.

They are clearing inventory to make way for newer models.

[ssbtech]

So you would continue selling something that continually lost you money? I'm sure glad you don't run a business.

They're barely losing money on them as they're quite affordable to make. Their low price point helped them to get more PlayBook into the hands of consumers, which drove development and interest in the platform.

Sent from my PlayBook.....

[mikeo007]

They're barely losing money on them as they're quite affordable to make. Their low price point helped them to get more PlayBook into the hands of consumers, which drove development and interest in the platform.

Sent from my PlayBook.....

They were losing upwards of $70 on the 16GB playbook. You don't make products to barely lose money. The playbook was a flop, they're re-thinking their tablet strategy. They've got to stop competing with the iPad and start competing in the $300 range. Right now, the Playbook has too high of a cost to be sold in this price range.

[CMvan46]

^^^ Thanks - I might have to look into an iPad then because all my tunes are on iTunes and then I sync them to my iPhone. :(

your answer is air sync. It's an android app that takes music from iTunes and syncs it with the Android app. I have it but don't use it. I have a galaxy phone and ipad though so I don't know how the app works with the tablet as I've never tried. If you don't mind tinkering then there are ways you can get the music to any other device.

Although the ipad gets a huge recommendation from me as well but if your only wanting up to $350 wait a month and see about the new wave of tablets that are coming.

[66xx66]

The "old" tablet by Samsung, mentioned above, is soon to be replaced by the Tablet 2 7 inch with ICS. According to reports the above Samsung Tablet will never get ICS. I would wait for at least a month. the Tablet 2 debuts at $249.99 and the Tablet 1 price will probably drop further to get rid of inventory.

However, if you do not wish to wait its a good Tablet probably the best of the 7 inch ones. In lots of ways Apps is what makes the Tablet experience pleasurable and, in that category, the Playbook come up far short.

The 16GB Playbook has discontinued production due to lack of sales.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/06/07/rim-playbook-16gb-version_n_1578428.html

you might want to do some research

http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/samsung-samsung-7-16gb-galaxy-tablet-with-wi-fi-white-gtp6210uwr/10195198.aspx?path=cfbb8f57da3f3ab420748e1c8dbac06 aen02

AKA Samsung Galaxy Tab Plus will be getting ICS

http://www.androidcentral.com/galaxy-series-ics-updates-arriving-today-say-samsung-canada

[LostInTruth]

Thanks to you all! :)

I will wait a little bit longer until I make up my mind. I think I might just have to give in and get an iPad.

[Double_J]

Get them all and then return the one you like least. I tried the ipad but it didn't meet my needs and certainly wasn't worth the extra $$$.

For many others the ipad is best. So just try em all and chuck the others back :)

[insync44]

you might want to do some research

http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/samsung-samsung-7-16gb-galaxy-tablet-with-wi-fi-white-gtp6210uwr/10195198.aspx?path=cfbb8f57da3f3ab420748e1c8dbac06 aen02

AKA Samsung Galaxy Tab Plus will be getting ICS

http://www.androidcentral.com/galaxy-series-ics-updates-arriving-today-say-samsung-canada

Yeah, that Article was written in April, and its now mid-June. I have yet to hear any of the 7 inch or 10 inch "old" Galaxy Tabs getting ICS. At least I haven't on my 10 inch Galaxy.
In July, according to BB and FS, the Galaxy Tab 2 will be arriving with ICS installed and added, up to 32GB Expansion SD Slot. For that alone, plus the regular $249.99 price, its worth waiting less than a month. Could be on sale for $199.99 as introductory offer, maybe.

I really cannot see Samsung introducing ICS on their older Tabs when the new ones are so similar i.e. same speed, same RAM.

Don't worry I've done my homework, since I have a Galaxy Tablet, and I'm annoyed that Samsung is the last, among the major Tablet suppliers, to upgrade their OS. Their are lots of Apps that don't work on my 3.2 OS. Plus I can't even sell the damn Tablet. since Telus have been giving away freebies there is a glut of 10.1 Samsungs on Craigs List.

My advice stay away from Samsung Tabs at Dealership or buy cheap from Craig's.

[LostInTruth]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I don't think I can go through the hassle of buying and returning tho, I've done it too many times lol :razz: Honestly, giving this crappy laptop I just want something of quality now.

[LostInTruth]

Argh I hate being so damn indecisive. Went to check out Tablets at Best Buy yesterday, then got sucked into looking at laptops! I was playing around with iPad/Tablets and found myself leaning more towards a laptop... Basically, I left empty handed lol.

What do you guys think of this?

ASUS 10.1" Netbook featuring Intel Atom N2600 Processor
http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/asus-asus-10-1-netbook-featuring-intel-atom-n2600-processor-1025c-mu17-wt-white-english-1025c-mu17-wt/10205535.aspx?path=d7b1b0613d68ac6c0b29da18093dec8 cen02

Mainly I was looking at the HP/Asus laptop; which ones would you recommend? Not a gamer here, but would prefer crisper screen display to watch shows/movies.

[mikeo007]

Stay away with anything that has an Atom processor. Performance will likely be slower than a $200 tablet.

Edit: Just checkout out that computer, it is terrible. Possibly worse than your old one. 1 GB RAM...

[LostInTruth]

Stay away with anything that has an Atom processor. Performance will likely be slower than a $200 tablet.

Edit: Just checkout out that computer, it is terrible. Possibly worse than your old one. 1 GB RAM...

Damn, thanks. I'll admit I got suckered by the price! :cheesygri

So should I mostly be looking at the intel processors? I heard reps talking about i5? In terms of video specs what should I look for?

[thetim]

If you love watching VIDEOS on-the-go/tablet, BlackBerry PlayBook is THE CHOICE with Swipe from the Bezel.

Not that I really use OS 2.0's new features but it's a great improvement. My 32GB PlayBook is 7" Video Player.

I agree with Bembol. I really enjoy watching videos on my PB, I have a micro-HDMI->HDMI cable that I can hook up to my TV and use my BB as a remote control, if desired.

If you want a ton of apps or certains apps that aren't on the PB, then would advise buying whichever platform has what you want. I really enjoyed the portability of the PB when I was taking the bus around, etc., and used the BT bridge ability to do web browsing on the PB while using the BB's data plan.

[weedb0y]

I have all three and ipad has been taken over by my 2 year old. I use my playbook extensively and would recommend it for 200. One of the best browsers, portability and it does everything.

I even have it synced on activesync at work using my Android configuration.

[LostInTruth]

I agree with Bembol. I really enjoy watching videos on my PB, I have a micro-HDMI->HDMI cable that I can hook up to my TV and use my BB as a remote control, if desired.

If you want a ton of apps or certains apps that aren't on the PB, then would advise buying whichever platform has what you want. I really enjoyed the portability of the PB when I was taking the bus around, etc., and used the BT bridge ability to do web browsing on the PB while using the BB's data plan.


I have all three and ipad has been taken over by my 2 year old. I use my playbook extensively and would recommend it for 200. One of the best browsers, portability and it does everything.

I even have it synced on activesync at work using my Android configuration.

Thanks!

Only thing is I no longer have a TV so everything will be watched via online, hence why I'm now leaning towards a laptop. Don't really trust Toshiba anymore - what do you think of HP/Lenova/Asus? Loking for quality video (non gaming) and good speed.

[LostInTruth]

Using the Samsung tables and it's pretty cool :D

[DougO]

Thanks!

Only thing is I no longer have a TV so everything will be watched via online, hence why I'm now leaning towards a laptop. Don't really trust Toshiba anymore - what do you think of HP/Lenova/Asus? Loking for quality video (non gaming) and good speed.

One thing I'm disappointed with is the lack of domestic TV apps with the IPad. There are a ton of apps for Chinese TV for instance but virtually nothing for Canadian, US or UK TV. The Playbook on the other hand has several good ones, most costing only $1 - $2. And it's easy to set up proxies on the PB. The help file in Tablet TV shows you exactly how to do it using free proxy services. Very nice...

Check out Sears for deals on tablets. I notice several reduced by as much as $200 this past weekend.

Not giving up my Playbook though...