Playbook, buy now or wait for 3G version?

Playbook, WIFI or wait for 3G version?

I see a number of SA vendors who have stock of Playbooks ranging from around R7000 - R10000 in price (double priced over the actual price of playbooks).

From what I understand these are only the WIFI version of the Playbook which either uses your home/office WIFI connection or is tethered to your BB phone for connectivity.

Would it be better to wait for their 3G models to release or is the WIFI perfectly ample for what one would need to do with a Playbook? Would appreciate anyone who has a playbook already and can offer some insight and feedback on the product?

I'll certainly wait for these to officially release through Vodacom / MTN and won't pay the 100% price hike from SA retailers who have brought them in prematurely.

Hi, played with a playbook today actually. Pretty much an extension of a blackberry and needs to be used in conjunction with a blackberry if you want to maximise the capabilities.

Thanks Phiber, that's pretty much how I envisioned using a Playbook ie. in conjunction with a BB phone. How was your experience with the Playbook?

I would also take it now IMO, I’m using a Galaxy Tab at the moment and it’s working out fine for my work and home purposes until i change it to something a more substantial. A Playbook or Asus Eee Pad are options. If you do decide to wait for a 3G version rather go with MTN. ****ty BIS on Vodacom is compelling reason enough, but another advantage i see is the fact that you can have dual sims with MTN linked to the same number. Which however, may end up making your BB handset obsolete lol.

Tressan said:

I would also take it now IMO, I’m using a Galaxy Tab at the moment and it’s working out fine for my work and home purposes until i change it to something a more substantial. A Playbook or Asus Eee Pad are options. If you do decide to wait for a 3G version rather go with MTN. ****ty BIS on Vodacom is compelling reason enough, but another advantage i see is the fact that you can have dual sims with MTN linked to the same number. Which however, may end up making your BB handset obsolete lol.

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Vodacom also has the dual sim option and it does not work the way you'd think, its a really old option developed in the days before hand free and bluetooth, its something to do with cars that had built in mobile phones, you could ahve 2 sims with the same number nut only 1 functions at a time, u turn on phone 2 the signal dies on phone 1, u turn off phone 2 and signal goes back to phone 1.

Its not possible to have 2 separate devices running the same number at the same time, thats why its not an advertised feature, the bluetooth car kit made it obsolete.

Personally i am getting the wifi edition, but am waiting for vodacom as then it will be sold at the correct price and not the extremely inflated one its running at now, once the provider start selling them the cash price will drop by almost 3 grand bringing it back in line as a competitor to the ipad as RIM intended it. The playbook 3G really is only for those who do not already own berries as it will have its own pin and own BIS service, it will still have bridge but you will have separate BBM, email, etc. If you already have a BB then may as well take the wifi.

As a note the wifi edition does not and will not come with native email, unless connected to a BIS enabled handset the email and BBM functions are not present, it will only be browsing and app use over wifi.

What do you guys think of screen quality?

Screen quality is phenomenal. I'm loving mine.. The size is perfect for my needs too. It's small and ultra portable. Great for travel and whipping out wherever you might be without seeming like massive geek

If you want to use it on the move, 3G is the only way to go. When is it due?

Neural said:

If you want to use it on the move, 3G is the only way to go. When is it due?

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The 4G units are due closer to the end of the year.