Eeek. Rim Playbook is ripped a new one

[kennyc]

[kennyc]

An actual ON TOPIC post:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/22585..._progress.html

[RockdaMan]

Originally Posted by kennyc

An actual ON TOPIC post:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/22585..._progress.html

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...8&postcount=98

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...8&postcount=98

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2384013,00.asp

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-...22-703458.html

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-...ablets-751148/

[Noah98]

My on topic response would be that the Blackberry Playbook is a seriously flawed device. I messed around with it again yesterday, and having it sitting right next to the Samsung Galaxy Tab didn't do it any favors. The playbook had a slightly nicer screen, and the OS was unique and interesting. Other than that, the Galaxy Tab is much nicer. The biggest disappointment is the design. The Playbook had a terrible power button, a chunky bezel, and a boring design. The Galaxy Tab looks really nice, and is easier to hold. While the OS isn't that exciting, at least everything works well, and the app selection is far superior.

My response to all the silly bickering: why is it so hard for people to accept that two different companies can create quality devices for different audiences? I'm not sure where all the apple hate comes from, and where all the snap judgments of android comes from as well. Apple product are not just for "blind sheep consumerists" as has been suggested (although as with every stereotype, there are those that fit that description) and android users are not all "techie nerds."

If we compare the best android tablets with the ipad 2 we should be able to objectively see that neither is perfect, but both have unique advantages. The important consideration is how important the advantages and disadvantages of each device affect the individual user's needs. We are not talking about fundamentally flawed devices or extreme price variations. Those are issues that go beyond preference. If a device is ridiculously expensive, or lacks critical features, then it is fair to render a harsh judgment. In the case of the Blackberry Playbook, the combination of design flaws, app scarcity, lacking features, and high price justify the criticism.

As an ipad 2 user, and former android user (although I still have a Pandigital Novel, and probably will buy an eee Transformer of Galaxy Tab wifi when I can afford it) I can try to give an unbiased assessment. I could care less about the different companies. I have no loyalty to any brand, I just know what I want.

In sum:

android tablet advantages = 16:9 screen, slightly higher resolution, micro sd support, Native Flash Video, Flash Games, HDMI ports, open ecosystem, widgets, live wallpaper, better notification system, phone apps scale up better (although still not perfect, and some require the Spare Parts app)

ipad 2 advantages = 4:3 screen, more vibrant colors on the screen, lighter, and more aesthetically pleasing design, many more quality, tablet specific apps (including Netflix), less buggy software, skype with video (although only the phone version)

As an ipad 2 owner I can definitely say that, yes, it would be nice to have an sd card slot and an HDMI port, rather than having to buy adapters for each. But, for me, it is all about the apps. Netflix, Pages, Garage band, imovie, Infinity Blade, etc. Hell, there are so many free and .99 quality apps, that are made to take advantage of tablets, that I'm set for years to come already. The second most important thing for me is the screen. I love the more vibrant colors (although the eee Transformer might be able to match in that area, the Xoom, definitely not even close), and I prefer the 4:3 aspect ratio because I hold my tablet in portrait mode the majority of the time. Third, I use Netflix all the time. I never use widgets, not even on my laptops. I don't see the point of having mini views of my apps since I don't stare at my homescreen. For example, if I want to check a sports score, I can tap my ESPN app, or enable notifications. I can't see myself ever using HDMI at home. My laptop has HDMI, so I can watch videos on my TV through it. If I'm going to watch a movie at home, I'm not sure why I would use my tablet. If I really wanted to, I could use airplay or buy the adapter. Micro sd is a bummer, but it really isn't that big of a deal to hook the device up to my laptop and go through itunes. If I want to send pictures, my camera has an eyefi card, so I can wirelessly send pictures to the ipad 2 anyway. And finally, I haven't come across a website yet that I use that requires native flash support.

Before I bought the ipad 2, I spent way too much time at Best Buy testing all of my favorite websites on both the Xoom and the ipad 2. None of them didn't work on the ipad 2, and videos that didn't play natively, worked fine on Skyfire or their respective dedicated apps. The Xoom even seemed to be a bit more sluggish. I would actually like to challenge someone to give me a list of quality websites that the ipad 2 can not handle effectively either through an app, or Skyfire, that an android tablet can. Having the option of Flash support would be nice, but there is no doubt that flash is still buggy and there are some issues that can slow down the browsing experience. Still, playing flash games would be nice.

Again, these are my personal preferences (not based on apple brainwashing) and will surely be different than users with different needs. For example, if video was really important to me, the 16:9, higher resolution screen would be more important.

I do miss live wallpapers though...

So, can't we all be realistic and admit that each device is unique, and not marginalize the advantages that each possesses?

[kennyc]

Thanks Noah98!

[pphilipp]

Originally Posted by Noah98

So, can't we all be realistic and admit that each device is unique, and not marginalize the advantages that each possesses?

Well said.
I could almost see myself writing that.
Finally someone brings accuracy and maturity to a forum where none seems to be. I have been tempted to report silly, unproductive bickering to the forum masters at large, but have refrained.

My only disagreement is a matter of personal taste... I absolutely love 4x3 and detest 16x9 ratio. Seeing wide ratio almost has caused me to walk past a few devices in a store's showroom.

My biggest gripes apply to both systems... Why can't either incorporate true accurate 'undo'? If I screw up while using Android or iOS, I've screwed up! Even twelve year old basic Wince allowed some undo functions. I strongly believe Apple has chosen the right road that simple is better, but I do wish there could be a little hidden 'steroid' mode for those who desire a little extra manual over-ride. With Android, I do wish there were more civility and working together between Google and the hardware and app companies.

[bhartman36]

Originally Posted by =X=

Well if you like the Playbook's UI so much you might also want to look into the HP TouchPad. Playbook stole heavily from WebOS UI. (BB exec so much as admitted in doing so).

http://www.precentral.net/touchpad-hands-on

=X=

It really surprised me that RIM was so blatant about it.

[SCION]

Good stuff Noah.

[RockdaMan]

Originally Posted by Noah98

I would actually like to challenge someone to give me a list of quality websites that the ipad 2 can not handle effectively either through an app, or Skyfire, that an android tablet can. Having the option of Flash support would be nice, but there is no doubt that flash is still buggy and there are some issues that can slow down the browsing experience.

Great post, and you got some karma from me.

I second your challenge.

[Noah98]

Originally Posted by pphilipp

My only disagreement is a matter of personal taste... I absolutely love 4x3 and detest 16x9 ratio. Seeing wide ratio almost has caused me to walk past a few devices in a store's showroom.

Yeah, I feel the same way. When I had my rooted nook color I kept wishing that it had 4:3 when browsing in portrait. I think HP is the only other company offering a 4:3 tablet (excluding low end devices like the Pandigital and Cruz).

[pphilipp]

Originally Posted by Noah98

Yeah, I feel the same way. When I had my rooted nook color I kept wishing that it had 4:3 when browsing in portrait. I think HP is the only other company offering a 4:3 tablet (excluding low end devices like the Pandigital and Cruz).

For several months I owned the cheap Chinese Utopia Froyo tablet. The best thing about it is the 8" 4:3 screen. The screen has a whole slew of fans... offering almost a perfect compromise between an iPad screen and the majority of 7" tablets. There's several YouTube videos which praise the screen... small size and aspect ratio. Of course build quality and notorious 'beta' release limitations prevent almost all of the Chinese tablets from offering real competition.

[RockdaMan]

Originally Posted by pphilipp

I absolutely love 4x3

Why can't either incorporate true accurate 'undo'?

Agreed.

[RockdaMan]

Originally Posted by pphilipp

For several months I owned the cheap Chinese Utopia Froyo tablet. The best thing about it is the 8" 4:3 screen.

http://www.shenit.com/utopia-apad-im...cortex-a8.html

[Latinandgreek]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

We don't object to Ipad users choosing to go without an SD card slot. We object to you saying that they are better off without an SD card slot, to you refusing to accept that having an SD card slot is simply better.

Besides, I would venture a guess that the vast majority of Ipad buyers are not even aware of this, they choose the Apple products and don't even know the specs. So very few are actually "choosing" not to have an SD slot.

Now look me straight in the eye and tell me that you (as a user) would not prefer to have the very same iPad2 but with an additional SD slot at the same price?

I, an iPad2 user, would love to have the added SD card slot ability at the same price. It is my understanding that some work arounds exist that would allow me to have it (jailbreaking, some sort of dongle), but I can't see myself following that route. However, I bought the iPad because I liked the price, screen size and shape (I primarily bought it to read scanned or non-reflowable PDFs, and to use video Skype on the fly, and I find the screen size and shape is fantastic for reading. I have since found many other, surprising uses for my iPad, thanks to the many free apps I've been able to find for it.) and I loved that there were so many apps available for it. I so very rarely used the SD card slot on my Sony PRS-505, instead preferring to delete books after reading them, that I figured that an SD card slot, while a very nice extra, probably wasn't a deal breaker for me personally. I side load my content through iTunes, or I use Dropbox, which is quite handy, and I delete video content after I am done watching it, and books after they are no longer needed. I do not listen to music on my iPad, nor do I keep many pictures on it.

As for flash, I downloaded iSwifter, a free app that reportedly allows users to view sites that use flash, converting the flash to html5 through some sort of server. I haven't yet had to use the app, so I can't comment on how well it actually renders flash. Apparently, there is some sort of jailbreak workaround for flash as well, but again, I can't see myself going down that route. I haven't yet come across a site that I haven't been able to render on my iPad. I do think that the iPad would be an all-round better device if it included flash and an SD card slot, but those particular functions weren't a deal-breaker for me, and so far I am very happy with my purchase.

Sorry for being off topic.

Originally Posted by Noah98

My on topic response would be that the Blackberry Playbook...

Great post (I'm not quoting it in its entirety, as it is quite long). I agreed with many of your points in this post.