Email Applications
The PlayBook does not have a dedicated email application. Instead, you get links to Yahoo Mail, Gmail, and Hotmail. When you click on them, the browser launches the related website. No integrated inbox! This is a major negative here. Would it have been too hard to write a dedicated email application?
Video
I loaded some 720p resolution videos and they played back flawlessly. This device has an HDMI jack and supports HDMI Out from the tablet to your TV. I did not test that, but having that capability is a plus.
Web Browsing
The real strength of the device is the HTML5-compliant browser that supports Flash. I even was able to bring up a Javascript object on a school-related website that does not render on the iPad. Web browsing was quick and the pages looked fine. This is the best capability of the PlayBook for me. It passed my PizzaHut.com test and rendered the site, which is flash-heavy, very well.
Facebook Application
I reviewed the Facebook application, version 2.0.0.987. It worked well, but did not look as nice as the website or the Android application that I use on my phone. However, it looked very clean and supported the Facebook chat app. I was able to get a Long Beach, CA beach report from my cousin on chat and the newsfeed was readable. Refreshes were quickly processed.
Clicking on the Twitter icon also launched a web browser, the mobile Twitter webpage. It worked well.
Weather
The AccuWeather.com application was very nice. I set my home city and got very clear forecasts and current conditions, without ads. This is one of the better weather apps that I’ve seen yet. I liked it better than the Weather.com Android app that is full of ads on my Droid2.
Document Reading
The PlayBook comes with Adobe Reader and Word To Go, Sheet To Go and Slideshow To Go. Documents looked fine. Keep in mind that there is no file editing here.
Missing Apps
There were some important apps that were missing from the AppWorld app store, such as:
- Skype. Note that if you have a buddy with a PlayBook, there is a video chat application that you can use to talk with them. There was not a cross-platform video chat application, though.
- Kindle. I like having my Kindle books on my Windows 7 tablet and my Droid2 phone, and I would like to have them on the PlayBook. I’m out of luck.
- DLNA Client. I was hoping to see a DLNA-type client that could stream my home server videos, like AirPlay for iOS. No dice. If you want to watch videos, you need to load them onto the device.
AppWorld
The app store is called AppWorld and it’s visually appealing and is well laid out. The search results come up quickly and it’s easy to go through the options quickly. Unfortunately, there were not that many applications to choose from. RIM really needs more options to extend the core functions of the PlayBook.
BlackBerry Desktop Software
One thing that I really don’t like about the iPad is the need to use iTunes to load content onto the device. RIM goes with a similar approach to loading and backing up data onto the PlayBook, using a software called BlackBerry Desktop Software. It was much easier to use than iTunes. I set up a directory from the home server to synch videos to the PlayBook. Synching was easy and quick. While I prefer the Android drag and drop approach, this worked well.
BlackBerry Tablet OS
The OS reminded me of webOS, and that is a good thing in my opinion. Running applications run in card-like windows and are closed by flicking them up to the top of the screen, just like on webOS. The system is snappy and responsive, and setup options are clearly laid out and easy to adjust.
Hardware
I really like the hardware. The device control buttons are well placed. The screen is bright and readable with decent viewing angles. Setting up the WiFi was very easy and I was online in a matter of minutes. It’s quality hardware. My only nit is the power button. It is very hard to press down. I’d also prefer some expandable memory options, but I can live without that.
Cost
The 16GB PlayBook is $449.99 on BestBuy.com. The smallest iPad2, the 16GB version, goes for $499.99.
Overall Assessment
The PlayBook is a very nice piece of hardware. The form factor is too small for my tastes, but I see why this would be a convenient size for some people to take in the briefcase while travelling. The screen is very clear and readable and the device responds quickly. It is built solidly.
Without a BlackBerry handset, it is limited by the lack of an email application, and also lacks applications for cross-platform video chat, Kindle ebook reading and a DLNA client. Now, there is an ebook application called KoboBooks, and it looks nice, but I really prefer the Kindle application. While I really like the hardware and the OS, I don’t have a BlackBerry anymore and the lack of an email app is a critical missing link. For me to take the PlayBook plunge, I’d need to be able to save a bit more than $50 from the iPad2. I give it a 3/5 Worth A Look. Note that I have a buddy with a BlackBerry who has agreed to review this tablet with BlackBerry Bridge. I’ll do a separate post with his feedback soon, so stay tuned!
I have been running a Playbook for work evaluation since they were made available in the UK and I agree with all the sentiments in the article. It is a great little device just needing a few more Apps to make it really usable. In use, there are a few gripes in the Bridging with the blackberry device. For example, you can’t seem to trigger a refresh of email from the tablet. This with some other menu options still have to be done from the BB.