BlackBerry PlayBook Panned By CriticsBlackBerry PlayBook Panned By Critics

Gellar says, "RIM has desperately been trying to position the PlayBook as a standalone product, one that doesn't have to be used in conjunction with a BlackBerry phone in order to be useful. Unfortunately, that's just not the case. The BlackBerry PlayBook can pair with any BlackBerry device running BlackBerry OS 5 or higher . . . and act as an amazing extension of your phone--one that includes all of your personal and corporate email, BlackBerry Messenger, contacts, and other important apps. But these key apps are not available without a paired phone. There is no native mail app, contacts app, or calendar app."

Mossberg writes, "To get [email, contacts, and calendar] with your $500 PlayBook, you must use it with a nearby BlackBerry phone connected to it wirelessly over a short-range Bluetooth connection. Once this link is made, these critical applications pop up on the PlayBook's screen. But when I broke the connection, the apps became grayed-out and the data they held disappeared. It is all stored on the phone. This odd system, aimed at pleasing security-concerned corporate customers, doesn't work with other smartphones."

Pogue quips, "The PlayBook does not have email, calendar, or address book apps of its own. You read that right. RIM has just shipped a BlackBerry product that cannot do email. It must be skating season in hell. (RIM says that those missing apps will come this summer.)"

The application situation is a dire one. According to the reviews, the PlayBook will have access to 3,000 applications when it launches on April 19. The PlayBook apps are, however, of amazingly poor quality if we're to believe Gellar, Mossberg, and Pogue. Many are simply missing, such as Facebook, Twitter, GPS, video chatting, and so on. Remember how RIM announced that the PlayBook will be able to run Android applications in an emulator? Well, that's not available yet, and won't be for months. It is also worth pointing out that those Android applications will not be optimized for the PlayBook.

In their summaries, Gellar, Mossberg, and Pogue all say pretty much the same thing--the PlayBook isn't done, can't compete with the iPad, and doesn't offer enough core features.

Gellar writes, "RIM has really made big advancements by acquiring powerhouses like QNX and TAT, but there's only so much you can do with a limited time frame. I can't help but feel like the PlayBook, as it stands now, is an unfinished product. The hardware is there, but the software is buggy at times, and the apps are severely lacking and almost non-existent in terms of quality. While the Web browser is extremely solid, with no native email, or calendar, or contact apps, the PlayBook isn't a very good standalone product."

Mossberg says, "RIM says it is planning to add built-in cellular data, email, contacts, calendar, and the other missing core features to the PlayBook this summer, via software updates. But until then, I can't recommend the PlayBook over a fully standalone tablet, except possibly for folks whose BlackBerrys never leave their side."

Pogue is the most brutal in his conclusion: "Remember, the primary competition is an iPad--the same price, but much thinner, much bigger screen, and a library of 300,000 apps. In that light, does it make sense to buy a fledgling tablet with no built-in email or calendar, no cellular connection, no videochat, no Skype, no Notes app, no GPS app, no Pandora radio, and no Angry Birds? You should also know that even now, only days before the PlayBook goes on sale April 19, the software is buggy and still undergoing feverish daily revision. And the all-important BlackBerry Bridge feature is still in beta testing. It's missing important features, like the ability to view email file attachments or click a link in an email."

Bottom line? The PlayBook isn't ready yet.

Recommended Reading: Gartner Predicts iPad Dominance Can RIM Stay Relevant? RIM Starts PlayBook Hype Machine Android Steals Market Share From RIM, Microsoft, Palm RIM PlayBook To Get Native Email Eventually RIM's PlayBook Will Run Android Apps See more by Eric Zeman