4G LTE Blackberry Playbook, 32 GB, $550 From July 31

[utfrazier]

If anyone waiting for 4G LTE Blackberry Playbook, it will be available from July 31 for purchase. It will only be available in 32 GB version, and has 4G LTE connectivity.

The price will be $550 for outright purchase.

The current 32GB version (non 4G) is $250. So whether the extra $300 worth it or not depends on the user. Some people may take benefit from the 4G LTE connectivity.

Source: http://mobilesyrup.com/2012/07/23/4g-lte-blackberry-playbook-launching-july-31st-will-retail-for-549-95/

[gamer602]

so hot

[fudge_u]

Happy I sold my 32GB Playbook a few days ago. I'll admit the browser is prolly one of the best I've used on a handheld device, in terms of website compatibility, and the email client is pretty good too. I think they did a great job with OS2.0. However, with the release of the Nexus 7 tablet I think the Playbook is overpriced in comparison. I'd gladly pay $259 for a 16GB Nexus 7 over a $250 32GB Playbook. Blackberry devices in general are underpowered compared to Android and Apple devices. Over $500 for a Playbook that supports 4G LTE is pretty outrageous. I think RIM just dug their own grave.

WG

[zz000ter]

Old processor TI OMAP 4430 dual core @ 1 GHz while new CPU = 1.5GHz dual-core processor
Old ram = 1 GB new ram = 1GB RAM
Old camera = 5MP rear camera, new camera =5MP rear camera
Old resolution = 1024 x 600 and new resolution = 1024 x 600

So just a small CPU boost plus the LTE

NO BIG DEAL

[aeba7]

I love my playbook! It makes for an excellent drink coaster. In all seriousness, the only thing that can save the playbook is if RIM gives us the ability to load android onto it (none of that sideloading crap), and even then, its going up against the likes of the Nexus 7 and upcoming Acer A110.

[ppnndd]

omg, what is RIM thinking...

[davewxw]

this is not a deal....and not even remotely hot....

[curtis]

Who would dare to be caught with one?

[nsx]

:arrow:

Moved from "Hot Deals" to "Computers & Electronics"

[petert]

They dug their own grave alright, sold my as well. It takes like 4-5 mins just to get it start up. One of the beauty of using a tablet is being able to do IM, video voice... ete... Rim provides ... zil, nada.

[djemzine]

Plus mods, you might want to merge this with this thread instead as it was created before hand:

http://forums.redflagdeals.com/blackberry-playbook-4g-lte-july-31st-550-a-1206171/

[wikkid_bigshot]

Oh lawd...

[CheeseDie]

Hahahahahahahahah!

This is like taking a crappy fwd car and adding a supercharger, the car is still flawed in a bad way, just faster.

$550 these clowns did not learn from the first time? They should have just stuck with 3g and charged max $100 more.

Ice cold. Ill buy it for 200 when rim tanks and apple buys them out for patents and scraps the company. Rim might not be in red but they are not growing and shareholders are the #1 priority. If there is any way for the ceo to pay back holders of stock by chopping up and selling rim then that is it. Employees are the last people who are on the list of priorities. Every day that rim workers show up they are stealing investor's money.

That said i still want one since i sold the 32GB pb i bought for about $135 but wifi tablets are leaches.

[george__]

who is going to actually buy this?

[WorldIRC]

550 is MSRP. Minimum monthly plan for contract on Bell will be $20 / month = $720 over 3 years. Expect $150 - $200 for hardware pricing on contract.

[zz000ter]

this will be for business purchases and not for the regular consumer

[Gee]

this will be for business purchases and not for the regular consumer

I doubt it.

I use my BlackBerry 9900 for business and an iPad for everything else. Including work. It has replaced 80% of what my notebook use to do.

[george__]

I doubt it.

I use my BlackBerry 9900 for business and an iPad for everything else. Including work. It has replaced 80% of what my notebook use to do.

I own a Bold 9900 too :D. People make fun of me :(

[newdeal]

Here is the problem with this. The playbook was a dud at full price, they dropped the price and it was still a dud. Now RIM is losing money and people have lost faith in the company. That is a recipe for no one to want to pay top dollar for a device. Its like paying $399 for a touchpad right now. Th will sell pretty much none of these and have another huge loss of a quarter

[CheeseDie]

who is going to actually buy this?

rim employees, akin to pigs guven no choice they will consume thier own digital fecal excrement and call it sales on the balance sheet. The rest will get stolen from the back of a tru.... Oh wait...

[bembol]

They will never learn.

[Gee]

I own a Bold 9900 too :D. People make fun of me :(

No one will argue that you are way more productive on a BlackBerry over any other phone. The others are too busy playing Angry Birds

[bridonca]

I am in the woods reading this thread, using a $140 Playbook, bluetooth tethered to a $50 Nokia E71, using a $10 data plan, and I have to ask, what is the point of this product? I do not know anyone that does not have a tablet and a phone that is together, especially if they travel. So a tablet with a 3G/4G radio seems a bit pointless, and overpriced, but that may just be me.

[george__]

No one will argue that you are way more productive on a BlackBerry over any other phone. The others are too busy playing Angry Birds

Yeah angry birds. I play it on my BB too ><. But a lot of companies are now building contingency plans using iPhones with services similar to BES... So when that day comes when these services are "free" to the general consumer I might jump ship. Also the Bold 9900 has less "heat" because all blackberries look so similar. Less likely for it to get stolen than a iPhone :D

You could use a tablet with 3G/4G radio for surfing the web 24/7 or using it as a tethering device or using it to create hot spots for wifi.

[Mayoo]

rim employees, akin to pigs guven no choice they will consume thier own digital fecal excrement and call it sales on the balance sheet. The rest will get stolen from the back of a tru.... Oh wait...

Stats saying something else !!!!

http://mobilesyrup.com/2012/07/16/blackberry-playbook-has-19-of-the-canadian-tablet-market-share-ipad-drops-to-56/

BlackBerry PlayBook increased from 4% and now has 19% of the Canadian tablet market share, iPad drops to 56%

[george__]

The playbook after the OS update is actually VERY useful. It is perfect companion with the blackberry... Plus it is so damn cheap. But I don't see the point of getting one with a radio inside of it.

[fudge_u]

Stats saying something else !!!!

http://mobilesyrup.com/2012/07/16/blackberry-playbook-has-19-of-the-canadian-tablet-market-share-ipad-drops-to-56/

BlackBerry PlayBook increased from 4% and now has 19% of the Canadian tablet market share, iPad drops to 56%

RIM’s PlayBook has captured 19% market share (up 4% from their last report). RIM went from 15% to 19% not 4% to 19%. The main reason for the increase in sales is the price drop, and then the discounts on top of the price drops. When you have the only sub-$300 tablet on the market, it's easy to get sales, especially when the average consumer doesn't know the difference between the many different flavours of tablets. I expect the Nexus 7 sales to blow everything else out of the water, as long as something cheaper and better doesn't come out.

WG

[kool1]

So not hot - wrong section.

I think you are far better off getting a good data plan and tethering to your phone.

[george__]

So not hot - wrong section.

I think you are far better off getting a good data plan and tethering to your phone.

Data plans in Canada are soo expensive -_-"

[ShadowVlican]

Oh silly RIM...

[Gee]

I am in the woods reading this thread, using a $140 Playbook, bluetooth tethered to a $50 Nokia E71, using a $10 data plan, and I have to ask, what is the point of this product? I do not know anyone that does not have a tablet and a phone that is together, especially if they travel. So a tablet with a 3G/4G radio seems a bit pointless, and overpriced, but that may just be me.

I use to tether my iPad to my BlackBerry 9900. The problem was, it killed the battery in 2 hours.


Yeah angry birds. I play it on my BB too ><. But a lot of companies are now building contingency plans using iPhones with services similar to BES... So when that day comes when these services are "free" to the general consumer I might jump ship. Also the Bold 9900 has less "heat" because all blackberries look so similar. Less likely for it to get stolen than a iPhone :D

You could use a tablet with 3G/4G radio for surfing the web 24/7 or using it as a tethering device or using it to create hot spots for wifi.

Our company allows you to use any device. If you have a BlackBerry, it is BES, if you're on an iPhone / iPad, we use Mobile Iron. I use a BlackBerry for communications and an iPad to replace my notebook. I can safely tell you that, the security provided by Mobile Iron is good. But it is no where near as good a BES. Not to mention, the security does not negate the flaws with iOS. Apple makes consumer products, not business products. If Angry Birds is your priority, then by all means, use an iDevice for everything. But I doubt your boss will like you wasting time playing Angry Birds when you should be working.


The playbook after the OS update is actually VERY useful. It is perfect companion with the blackberry... Plus it is so damn cheap. But I don't see the point of getting one with a radio inside of it.

I originally purchased the new iPad with just WiFi and tethered it to my 9900. After using it this way for a month, I went out and bought another iPad with LTE.

The worse thing that can happen is your cell phone dies because you ran down the battery using Mobile HotSpot and you're stranded without a phone.


So not hot - wrong section.

I think you are far better off getting a good data plan and tethering to your phone.

Totally agree. Data on cell phones are a rip off, but we have no choice. I added a device with Rogers for $12 and I share my 6 Gig between my BlackBerry and my iPad


Data plans in Canada are soo expensive -_-"

Damn right, it is the only part of the business that carriers care about. They are practically giving voice away. Why not? No one uses it anymore. People rather text people who are sitting next to them.

To be fair, the infrastructure is not cheap and to provide coverage across Canada is a daunting task and a huge expense.

[george__]

@Gee - What about android platform, what do they use? Also does anyone at your work use Windows Mobile products?

[pennywize]

Stats saying something else !!!!

http://mobilesyrup.com/2012/07/16/blackberry-playbook-has-19-of-the-canadian-tablet-market-share-ipad-drops-to-56/

BlackBerry PlayBook increased from 4% and now has 19% of the Canadian tablet market share, iPad drops to 56%

A bit misleading. The report was conducted sometime in the Spring of 2012 of only 1,000 Canadians.

[Mayoo]

A bit misleading. The report was conducted sometime in the Spring of 2012 of only 1,000 Canadians.

Human nature to defend when a report puts Itoys down .. here is the other report back in feb http://mobilesyrup.com/2012/02/15/rims-blackberry-playbook-has-15-of-the-canadian-tablet-market-share-report-says/

[Gee]

@Gee - What about android platform, what do they use? Also does anyone at your work use Windows Mobile products?

Mobile Iron works across all platforms including Android and Windows Mobile

It is not the most elegant solution, but it does work.

Our work place is mainly BlackBerry, but we do have some iDevices now, no Android or Windows yet....

If I was to ever leave BlackBerry, I would probably go to an Android. I can't see myself using an iPhone.

[weedb0y]

Why not just have your it guys setup activesync

[george__]

Doesn't look like Mobile Iron Works has something like BESx (freee).

@weedb0y good point. This article (http://mail2web.com/blog/2011/01/activesync-bes-email-calendar-contacts-phone-2/) says both activesync and BES are decent!

[Gee]

Doesn't look like Mobile Iron Works has something like BESx (freee).

@weedb0y good point. This article (http://mail2web.com/blog/2011/01/activesync-bes-email-calendar-contacts-phone-2/) says both activesync and BES are decent!

If you have BES or BESx, why would you want to use Mobile Iron?

The point of Mobile Iron is to try and secure all devices. As I stated earlier, it is a decent product, but no where near as good as BES

[george__]

If you have BES or BESx, why would you want to use Mobile Iron?

The point of Mobile Iron is to try and secure all devices. As I stated earlier, it is a decent product, but no where near as good as BES

I want to play around with it ><

[Gee]

I want to play around with it ><

I don't know if they offer a trial. Couldn't hurt to ask.

[george__]

I don't know if they offer a trial. Couldn't hurt to ask.

Meh I'm a individual and I won't actually use it for everyday (I'm one person). Won't bother them but still pretty cool software.

[hugh_da_man]

Wow I can't believe RIM is actually releasing this.

They need to hire a CEO with vision from one of the other mobile companies and build a hardware design team. At this point they could just hire Yves Behar and it would automatically make people more excited about their products. RIM keeps making products that most people don't want but they have the technical ability to actually make good products if they hire someone with some kind of vision.

[sleepyguy]

disaster... just drop the playbook already... you've lost millions. They should work on the next 'great' handheld device... once/if that is successful then start to branch out again.

[sandikosh]

If anyone waiting for 4G LTE Blackberry Playbook, it will be available from July 31 for purchase. It will only be available in 32 GB version, and has 4G LTE connectivity.

The price will be $550 for outright purchase.

The current 32GB version (non 4G) is $250. So whether the extra $300 worth it or not depends on the user. Some people may take benefit from the 4G LTE connectivity.

Source: http://mobilesyrup.com/2012/07/23/4g-lte-blackberry-playbook-launching-july-31st-will-retail-for-549-95/

$550? Does RIM enjoy writing off inventory?

[globalc]

after everything that went on with the original, they still set it at 550, more than even the ipad.

wow.

[ichpen]

Human nature to defend when a report puts Itoys down .. here is the other report back in feb http://mobilesyrup.com/2012/02/15/rims-blackberry-playbook-has-15-of-the-canadian-tablet-market-share-report-says/


Hehe.. True, just read it. 1000 Canadians surveyed. Wonder if it was a 1000 Canadians in the Waterloo region. :)

I'm wandering if the LTE PB will use repurposed hardware from the wifi version.

[kwanyeung20]

wow $550 :) buy buy buy

[george__]

wow $550 :) buy buy buy

Nutty YOU