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BB Playbook
- Thread starter margriet
- Start date
No but it should.
I have one, and its overall an utterly pointless device.
I rather use my iPad one (without flash) instead of it.
I'm curious (and not being facetious), what is it that you do on your iPad that the Playbook can't do....except see things about 3.1" bigger.
From what I know, the FB games thing can be done (albeit, with a bit of stutter and slower speeds from time to time).
I'll be honest, I have taken a look at The Wife's Playbook and it's really not that poor a device as everyone makes it out to be (except from an Apps perspective). I think it's just that the "BlackBerry" brand has been slaughtered and has lost a lot of customer goodwill. The Playbook, however, is really cool and works quite well.
I'll be honest, I have taken a look at The Wife's Playbook and it's really not that poor a device as everyone makes it out to be (except from an Apps perspective). I think it's just that the "BlackBerry" brand has been slaughtered and has lost a lot of customer goodwill. The Playbook, however, is really cool and works quite well.
There is an utter lack of decent apps on the PB. The flash is dodgy at best, so yea while it is technically possible to play Facebook games on the PB, its finger spasming difficult.
I'm not saying that my iPad 1 is better as such (tho it is) its just that there are many, many free apps to keep you busy and the battery lasts better. The Playbook is a nice solid device. It feels like quality. But as soon as you start the thing up its just
.
And whats up with the battery. You actually have to turn the thing off when you are not using it? Not sleep mode, but off as in 'wait 7 minuets for the damn thing to turn on again' off.
If you forget the thing in sleep mode for a day or two and you want to use it, you'd thing you can plug it in and use it while its charging? Nope. Chuck Testa! You have to wait about 6 hours before wee little book has enough juice to play again.
My wife (being the ultimate Castleville addict) has desperately tried to make FB games work, but the browser/flash keeps crashing, and trying to navigate the screen without a mouse is so frustrating she had to give up.
Honestly, I would say rather get a Samsung note, get the little adapter thing and plug a mouse into that and then you can FB to your hearts content.
If you need a bigger screen then go for the Galaxy Tab, AFAIK a mouse will work on that too. Hell if you have to have something import a Kindle fire. Imo its also crap with the Amazon flavour of Android on there, but at least its got android.
I'm not saying that my iPad 1 is better as such (tho it is) its just that there are many, many free apps to keep you busy and the battery lasts better. The Playbook is a nice solid device. It feels like quality. But as soon as you start the thing up its just
. And whats up with the battery. You actually have to turn the thing off when you are not using it? Not sleep mode, but off as in 'wait 7 minuets for the damn thing to turn on again' off.
If you forget the thing in sleep mode for a day or two and you want to use it, you'd thing you can plug it in and use it while its charging? Nope. Chuck Testa! You have to wait about 6 hours before wee little book has enough juice to play again.
My wife (being the ultimate Castleville addict) has desperately tried to make FB games work, but the browser/flash keeps crashing, and trying to navigate the screen without a mouse is so frustrating she had to give up.
Honestly, I would say rather get a Samsung note, get the little adapter thing and plug a mouse into that and then you can FB to your hearts content.
If you need a bigger screen then go for the Galaxy Tab, AFAIK a mouse will work on that too. Hell if you have to have something import a Kindle fire. Imo its also crap with the Amazon flavour of Android on there, but at least its got android.
There is an utter lack of decent apps on the PB. The flash is dodgy at best, so yea while it is technically possible to play Facebook games on the PB, its finger spasming difficult.
I'm not saying that my iPad 1 is better as such (tho it is) its just that there are many, many free apps to keep you busy and the battery lasts better. The Playbook is a nice solid device. It feels like quality. But as soon as you start the thing up its just
And whats up with the battery. You actually have to turn the thing off when you are not using it? Not sleep mode, but off as in 'wait 7 minuets for the damn thing to turn on again' off.
If you forget the thing in sleep mode for a day or two and you want to use it, you'd thing you can plug it in and use it while its charging? Nope. Chuck Testa! You have to wait about 6 hours before wee little book has enough juice to play again.
My wife (being the ultimate Castleville addict) has desperately tried to make FB games work, but the browser/flash keeps crashing, and trying to navigate the screen without a mouse is so frustrating she had to give up.
Honestly, I would say rather get a Samsung note, get the little adapter thing and plug a mouse into that and then you can FB to your hearts content.
If you need a bigger screen then go for the Galaxy Tab, AFAIK a mouse will work on that too. Hell if you have to have something import a Kindle fire. Imo its also crap with the Amazon flavour of Android on there, but at least its got android.
Hehehe. There you have it.
MandM
Senior Member
I have a Playbook and am extremely happy with it, especially after the OS2 release. I don't understand the noise about no apps, as I have found what I needed and more. I do use my Playbook for business applications more than gaming. I also use it as an e-reader, and have successfully loaded the Android version of the Kindle app, but I also use a Blackberry-specific app for that purpose. I just prefer the Playbook's size over that of the iPad and love that I can get access to my BIS internet with it. I recently bought the mini-hdmi to hdmi connector and now we can browse the internet using our Blackberry phones as remotes and the LED TV in the bedroom as our screen. Absolutely love it!
Madman88, have you tried reloading your OS? I don't have that much of a waiting time to restart it. Also, I can really recommend the charging pod over the included charger, it really speeds things up.
Edit: I also have to add that I bought mine in Canada while they were on special and only paid R2500. This obviously adds to my enjoyment of it! It's just amazing how overpriced things are in SA.
Madman88, have you tried reloading your OS? I don't have that much of a waiting time to restart it. Also, I can really recommend the charging pod over the included charger, it really speeds things up.
Edit: I also have to add that I bought mine in Canada while they were on special and only paid R2500. This obviously adds to my enjoyment of it! It's just amazing how overpriced things are in SA.
Last edited:
Dolby
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Yea the iPad has some pretty dumb designs too ... my jaw dropped when I learnt how limited the device actually is ... no hotspot, below average wifi, limited use of 3G, no ability to receive a warning SMS when data is depleted, copy/paste to send an attachment (wtf?), difficulty in loading files to the device, flaws/bugs in the OS, camera quality from 15 years ago ....
And this from the #1 tablet in the world?
There's no device that is perfect.
And this from the #1 tablet in the world?
There's no device that is perfect.
I was all excited about the new os. I installed it and.. meh. the expected flood of droid apps has not happened. I must admit tho, I do like the size of the thing over the ipad. I'll say again, I love the hardware. The size is cool, the screen is good.
They just have to dump that os and put Android on it, THEN it will be an awesome device.
Yea I got to admit, the iPad designers have got some really dumb ideas. I mean wtf with sms's? Even the playstation Vita can recieve sms's.
I agree with you. I recently read an article on the bb site, apparently there is an upgrade that will come with built in email functionality.. That is great news, but what sucks about the playbook is there is no built in 3G/4G modem. I want RIM to release one with built in 3G and the device must have its own blackberry pin. This bridging rubbish will not work for me. I am due for an upgrade, and i dont want to spend ridiculous amounts for data so the plabook will do just fine for me. I shall wait until but i dont know how long ill have to wait
zulusailor
Active Member
Also have a Playbook and pretty well couldn't survive without it. Apps? Well I'm not an app person. Looking at the hundreds, if not thousands on BB App world seems to me that if you want to spend a lot of money to play kids games (and also play the 100s if not 1000s free ones), you're more than adequately catered for. Also the new native email on OS2 works fine.
For me the real plus is the BB Bridge feature. I don't need 3G or similar. As long as I have a cell signal I can browse, email and the whole nine yards. Just spent a week at the Berg with my wife where the resort's Wi-fi was pathetic. Throughout I was connected while my wife's iPuddle sat useless in her suitcase.
For me the real plus is the BB Bridge feature. I don't need 3G or similar. As long as I have a cell signal I can browse, email and the whole nine yards. Just spent a week at the Berg with my wife where the resort's Wi-fi was pathetic. Throughout I was connected while my wife's iPuddle sat useless in her suitcase.
MR.C
Executive Member
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I have 1 but I don't have a laptop. I love it for its size and build quality. Got telkom adsl trial atm so I hardy use bridging but when trial period is over, I have no problem with bridge browsing over 3G.
I got few educational apps for my litie but I don't take it to work and for me its adequate. I never drained the battery completley, when the battery is low I plug in the charger and put the display to about half brightness, never had to wait 6 hours to start using it.
Also, takes about 3-4 mins to start up, not 7 mins.
Honestly, I can live without it as its a luxury, not a necessity but makes sitting in bed while browsing much easier that sitting at the pc.
I got few educational apps for my litie but I don't take it to work and for me its adequate. I never drained the battery completley, when the battery is low I plug in the charger and put the display to about half brightness, never had to wait 6 hours to start using it.
Also, takes about 3-4 mins to start up, not 7 mins.
Honestly, I can live without it as its a luxury, not a necessity but makes sitting in bed while browsing much easier that sitting at the pc.
...what sucks about the playbook is there is no built in 3G/4G modem. I want RIM to release one with built in 3G and the device must have its own blackberry pin. This bridging rubbish will not work for me. I am due for an upgrade, and i dont want to spend ridiculous amounts for data so the plabook will do just fine for me. I shall wait until but i dont know how long ill have to wait
3G, I have come to learn, is a very overrated thing. You really don't need it and there is no need to pay additional for a facility that you really don't need. I'm guessing you don't like bridging because the BIS is slow as **** (Vodacom). With the advent of 3G mobile devices which can Hotspot (like the OS7 BlackBerries and pretty much any phone that's been coming out over the last several months), 3G on a tablet is pointless. All you do is hotspot on your phone, connect via wifi from tablet to phone and browse away (very similar principle to bridge).
In your up coming upgrade, make sure your phone has hotspot functionality and don't waste your money on 3G on a tablet - use that additional money you would have spent on the tablet on data, rather.
I don't understand what you're saying about this? If you're saying iPad is better, so why settle for Playbook then I say (in the same fashion of analogies and idioms): "Why pay for a private jet when all you want is to commute 10km from home to the office?" Highly exaggerated, but you get the point. It's about sufficiency. Why pay R6,800 for something, when you use 35% of its functionality, when you can buy a competing product with a 95% utility for R4,200? It's econominally and financially silly to go for the former - you're paying R2,600 more for something, 65% of which you don't use.
It's like buying a 20 bedroom mansion when you're a bachelor and have no intention of getting married.
I already have a 9900 but don't have a tablet. Thing is, hotspot functionality chows battery (FYI bb9900 is got the worst battery life ever) and the range for wifi is not that good.. i want to be able to not have my phone and still be able to access the internet.
It's like buying a 20 bedroom mansion when you're a bachelor and have no intention of getting married.[/QUOTE]
LOL
I'm not saying the iPad is better. Or rather I'm not saying that the iPad is the best (cos I think that anything is better than a PB).
Bread is adequate, some of it even delicious. Some people may prefer bread to cake, but how can you honestly make an accurate judgment unless you have had both? I'm not calling the decision into question, rather the basis for the judgement.
Product killer, right there.
I've owned a BB. Most BB users who dismiss apps simply don't know what is out there - productivity and otherwise. You simply can't compare BB appstore with Android and Apple stores and app availability.
But to each his own. If you're happy with your Playbook, good for you!