BlackBerry PlayBook

The BlackBerry PlayBook is a hand held tablet device which, along with others, is aiming to go head to head with Apple’s iPad series. 

The version I tested was the entry level 16GB Wi-Fi version retailing at £399 but 32GB, 64GB and WiFi+3G variants are also available.

                                                Specifications

Height         5.1" / 130mm                                                              1GHz dual-core Cortex-A9 CPU

Width          7.6" / 194mm                                                              1 GB RAM

Depth          0.4" / 10mm                                                                Symmetric multi-processing.

Weight       0.9 lbs /    425g                                                           3G/4G network access.

7" LCD display, 1024 x 600 screen resolution                              Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n

Multi-touch capacitive screen                                                       Bluetooth® 2.1+EDR

Design and Build.

When handling the PlayBook for the first time you cannot help but notice the impressive build quality.  The device feels study and robust and with its smaller compact design this makes it an attractive alternative as well.  However, for its small size the PlayBook is not a light piece of kit and I certainly knew it was there while carrying it around.

Screen & Sound

For me the most impressive feature the PlayBook has to offer was the clarity of its 7” 1080p HD screen. Images are crisp and clear, colours are vibrant in nature, videos play smoothly with action scenes having a real pop to them and with on tearing or ghosting being found only helps the experience.   Viewing text is also easy, with no eye strain being experienced after an hour’s reading.

The two stereo speakers also produce a good quality sound with both music and voice coming across clear.

Battery

When using the PlayBook for video I would average approximately 4 – 5 hours, whereas viewing web pages only would extend the battery life to between 6 - 8 hours.  When fully depleted the PlayBook took approximately 4 hours to recharge back to 100% using the standard plug.  By purchasing the Blackberry rapid charging pod you are able to reduce the charge time by up to 50%. 

Buttons, Connectivity & Camera

Along the top edge you will find the power button, as well as buttons for operating the volume and playing/pausing your media.  Also along the top you will find an audio jack socket for your headphones.

Meanwhile along the bottom you will find a miniUSB socket to connect the device to a PC, a miniHDMI to connect to a TV or Projector, and finally the power sockets.

The PlayBook comes with both front (3 Mega Pixel) and rear (5 Mega Pixel) facing cameras for use with video chat, video captor or for just taking photographs.  Being that images can be captured in 1080p the final results are impressive.

Touch Functionality

I found the touch functionality for the PlayBook to be a little disappointing, with it not being as responsive as I would have hoped.  On numerous occasions I found myself having to press on a link several times before it loaded a page.  Additionally if you have a group of links located close to each other it was difficult to select link you desired and would often load the wrong link.  

Operating System

For the PlayBook, BlackBerry has chosen to adapt their own RIM operating system currently in use on all their mobile phone devices.  Although RIM has been successful ported to the PlayBook, it does come with one major drawback which I will touch on shortly. 

Like other tablets currently on the market RIM for PlayBook includes all the standard apps you would expect such as a web browser, music player, video chat, YouTube and ‘App World’ which is BlackBerry’s utility to download new applications to your PlayBook.

Now onto that one major disadvantage.  Currently the BlackBerry PlayBook lacks any form of email application.  You do have the option of using a web based email account such as Google’s Gmail or Microsoft’s Hotmail but due to the limitations of the touch screen, it is no way near as user friendly as a built-in email application.  Blackberry has said that an email application is in development, but the time it takes for them to release this vital function could be the deciding factor in whether the PlayBook is a success or failure.  Only time will tell.   

Conclusion

For me the BlackBerry PlayBook is a good little device and if you are planning on using it more for recreational use then with its HD screen should defiantly be worth your consideration.  However if your primary use will be as a business tool then, in its current state at least, I would have difficulty recommending it.

I really want to like the PlayBook but ultimately for me I can’t help feel that Blackberry has rushed its release with its lack of an email application and issues with the responsiveness of the touch screen.  In the long run Blackberry’s eagerness to release the PlayBook may cause it more harm than good.

Jamie Freer

Information Systems Officer

NMBS Ltd.