Playbook instead of Kobo Vox?

evrdazed · 12-29-2011, 05:11 AM

Hi Everyone,

Now that you can get the BB Playbook on sale for 199, is anyone getting it instead of the Kobo Vox? I had a KV but had to return it because I found it to be too under-powered for what I needed. I just picked up the Playbook, and with its Kobo app pre-installed, i find that it is doing and performing the way I wish the KV had performed. Apps wised, the PB does not have access to the android market (yet) so there is not much available. I didn't find that the KV had much apps available to it either, so it's a tie. I am so far very happy with the Playbook and wonder if anyone out there is also taking the plunge.

hpulley · 12-29-2011, 07:43 AM

I have one of each. I got a 32GB Playbook and a 32GB microSD card for the Vox which I bought first but once my kids started playing Angry Birds, Cut the Rope and reading color Vox kids books I kind of lost it so I got a PB32 for myself. My wife and kids use the Vox more these days but I still use it at times.

There is no Overdrive app for the Playbook but hopefully they will repack the Android version into a .par file in February if BBOS 2.0 finally ships. I am running the beta.

The Playbook Kobo app won't show Vox only books which is too bad. Perhaps one day...

The PB is faster for sure being dual core 1GHz but it needs more memory. Android Java apps seem to use memory more efficiently than native QNX apps. My PB runs out of memory easily while my Vox never does even with half the RAM.

Both are small players really compared to iPad and the Kindle Fire seems to be selling like hotcakes. Lots of other Android choices too but few in the $199 range that compare.

People have the Vox running Android market now so it has he app edge. Even after BBOS 2.0 the Playbook will still require app makers to put a .par version in their appstore so I am not sure how that will go.
I am in Ontario Canada so I like to support both as local companies.

oldyellr · 12-29-2011, 08:59 AM

The $200 Playbook is a bit nebulous. I have a friend at RIM who was getting a bunch of them for Christmas for folks, but there was a Fedex screw-up and now they're expected in January. As for the ones on sale during Boxing Week, they were sold out first thing in the morning. Very limited supply. However, one that I've seen is smoother and faster than the Vox. While the Playbook has a Kobo app, what's the deal on Overdrive to borrow library books? Does it ir doesn't it work on the Playbook. Oh, and the Kindle Fire is not available in Canada presently.

mr_nobody · 12-29-2011, 10:09 AM

Overdrive is NOT compatible with the playbook and on overdrive's facebook page, they have indicated they have no plans to develop an app for it.

I know the playbook has beefier hardware than the vox but honestly, I would much rather have the broad app selection on android than the "promise" that someday "some" android apps will run on the playbook. I have no faith in this company's (RIM's) future whatsoever. I'll stick with the vox, thanks. :P

hpulley · 12-29-2011, 12:37 PM

No Overdrive app on Playbook, strangely it is available on my bridged Blackberry Bold, app for one but not the other. Lots more Blackberries sold.

Android apps on Playbook is NOT vaporware. I have the 2.0 beta and the dev kit to repackage Android apps for Playbook. It does work. Overdrive could do this essily if they wanted to do so.

RIM still makes billions of dollars each quarter so they are not dead yet, far from it. Uphill battle on tablets though.

JIMMCCRANK · 12-30-2011, 12:09 AM

I was using a Vox and wasn't pleased. Too slow for one and locking up occasionaly didnt't help. I bought a 32G BB for myself on the boxing day sales and couldn't be more pleased. Much faster and the cameras make it head and shoulders better than Vox. I just set the Vox up for my 5yr old grandson to use so it isn't a complete waste.

The Terminator · 12-30-2011, 12:29 AM

The camera is a nice touch, but the Blackberry app market seems to suck. Apps that are free on Android and IOS are $5 from BB, like Google Maps.

Not to mention that Gmail isn't available anymore (Seems like a marketing trick from Google to help the death of blackberry

)

I'm not putting down the device, just the app market. If it was running Android I would think a bit more about buying one.

hpulley · 12-30-2011, 05:26 AM

The Playbook can run Gingerbread actually but that is a serious rooting job, as in no more BBOS.

The Terminator · 01-01-2012, 12:08 AM

Yeah and I'm not going to try out some fancy rooting stuff and end up with a $200 brick.

hpulley · 01-01-2012, 07:09 AM

I wasn't recommending that sort of rooting, just saying it has been done (still won't have market support). Get an Iconia or similar if you really want a 7" Android tablet with market access built in.

Gmail 'app' is still on my Playbook but it is just a shortcut.

Gmail and Google maps works fine in a browser. Honestly I think people are gaga for apps when often a web page is just as good. What does a gmail app give you? Many 'apps' are just web page shortcuts anyways. If a map app can access GPS to run as a navsys then I see it but many apps give you nothing over the mobile web page.

Kappafun · 01-02-2012, 06:52 PM

If you are unhappy with the Vox due to performance issues, what about the Nook Color? It is more powerful and otherwise is about the same. I believe it has better battery stats than the Vox

LauraPony · 01-02-2012, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kappafun

If you are unhappy with the Vox due to performance issues, what about the Nook Color? It is more powerful and otherwise is about the same. I believe it has better battery stats than the Vox

Not sure where the OP is from, but in Canada it is very hard to access and get full use of either the Nook Color or the Kindle Fire.

hpulley · 01-02-2012, 07:53 PM

Acer Iconia A100 7" is more expensive though it goes on deep sales once in a while.

Anjohl · 01-03-2012, 01:02 AM

I spent some time with the BB today at futureshop and the build quality is most definitely on a higher level than the Vox. I am gonna switch I think.

evrdazed · 01-03-2012, 02:36 AM

I am from Canada so Kindle Fire and Nook is not really an option. Even if they were, all the reviews have said that the KF is also underpowered, and frankly, after using the Kobo Vox, I am really against the Gingerbread user interface. Yes, I wish the BB PB has more apps, but I can find almost everything on the web, and the QNX OS true multitasking is a pleasure to use. Unless Kobo can offer some astounding hardware in its next release, I am off of the Kobo Vox wagon (still love my Kobo Touch).

12-29-2011, 05:11 AM	#1
evrdazed Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: Kobo Touch	Playbook instead of Kobo Vox? Hi Everyone, Now that you can get the BB Playbook on sale for 199, is anyone getting it instead of the Kobo Vox? I had a KV but had to return it because I found it to be too under-powered for what I needed. I just picked up the Playbook, and with its Kobo app pre-installed, i find that it is doing and performing the way I wish the KV had performed. Apps wised, the PB does not have access to the android market (yet) so there is not much available. I didn't find that the KV had much apps available to it either, so it's a tie. I am so far very happy with the Playbook and wonder if anyone out there is also taking the plunge.

01-01-2012, 07:09 AM	#10
hpulley Addict Posts: 288 Karma: 29760 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Vox, Playbook32	I wasn't recommending that sort of rooting, just saying it has been done (still won't have market support). Get an Iconia or similar if you really want a 7" Android tablet with market access built in. Gmail 'app' is still on my Playbook but it is just a shortcut. Gmail and Google maps works fine in a browser. Honestly I think people are gaga for apps when often a web page is just as good. What does a gmail app give you? Many 'apps' are just web page shortcuts anyways. If a map app can access GPS to run as a navsys then I see it but many apps give you nothing over the mobile web page. Last edited by hpulley; 01-01-2012 at 07:13 AM.

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12-29-2011, 07:43 AM	#2
hpulley Addict Posts: 288 Karma: 29760 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Vox, Playbook32	I have one of each. I got a 32GB Playbook and a 32GB microSD card for the Vox which I bought first but once my kids started playing Angry Birds, Cut the Rope and reading color Vox kids books I kind of lost it so I got a PB32 for myself. My wife and kids use the Vox more these days but I still use it at times. There is no Overdrive app for the Playbook but hopefully they will repack the Android version into a .par file in February if BBOS 2.0 finally ships. I am running the beta. The Playbook Kobo app won't show Vox only books which is too bad. Perhaps one day... The PB is faster for sure being dual core 1GHz but it needs more memory. Android Java apps seem to use memory more efficiently than native QNX apps. My PB runs out of memory easily while my Vox never does even with half the RAM. Both are small players really compared to iPad and the Kindle Fire seems to be selling like hotcakes. Lots of other Android choices too but few in the $199 range that compare. People have the Vox running Android market now so it has he app edge. Even after BBOS 2.0 the Playbook will still require app makers to put a .par version in their appstore so I am not sure how that will go. I am in Ontario Canada so I like to support both as local companies.

12-29-2011, 08:59 AM	#3
oldyellr Evangelist Posts: 486 Karma: 26106 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Vox, Amazon Fire 7	The $200 Playbook is a bit nebulous. I have a friend at RIM who was getting a bunch of them for Christmas for folks, but there was a Fedex screw-up and now they're expected in January. As for the ones on sale during Boxing Week, they were sold out first thing in the morning. Very limited supply. However, one that I've seen is smoother and faster than the Vox. While the Playbook has a Kobo app, what's the deal on Overdrive to borrow library books? Does it ir doesn't it work on the Playbook. Oh, and the Kindle Fire is not available in Canada presently.

12-29-2011, 10:09 AM	#4
mr_nobody Evangelist Posts: 440 Karma: 26671 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: kobo mini, nexus 7 (2012), kobo vox	Overdrive is NOT compatible with the playbook and on overdrive's facebook page, they have indicated they have no plans to develop an app for it. I know the playbook has beefier hardware than the vox but honestly, I would much rather have the broad app selection on android than the "promise" that someday "some" android apps will run on the playbook. I have no faith in this company's (RIM's) future whatsoever. I'll stick with the vox, thanks. :P

12-29-2011, 12:37 PM	#5
hpulley Addict Posts: 288 Karma: 29760 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Vox, Playbook32	No Overdrive app on Playbook, strangely it is available on my bridged Blackberry Bold, app for one but not the other. Lots more Blackberries sold. Android apps on Playbook is NOT vaporware. I have the 2.0 beta and the dev kit to repackage Android apps for Playbook. It does work. Overdrive could do this essily if they wanted to do so. RIM still makes billions of dollars each quarter so they are not dead yet, far from it. Uphill battle on tablets though.

12-30-2011, 12:09 AM	#6
JIMMCCRANK Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: vox & playbook	I was using a Vox and wasn't pleased. Too slow for one and locking up occasionaly didnt't help. I bought a 32G BB for myself on the boxing day sales and couldn't be more pleased. Much faster and the cameras make it head and shoulders better than Vox. I just set the Vox up for my 5yr old grandson to use so it isn't a complete waste.

12-30-2011, 12:29 AM	#7
The Terminator Retired Posts: 2,552 Karma: 37638420 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver Island Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Optimus One (2.3), Nexus 7 (4.2)	The camera is a nice touch, but the Blackberry app market seems to suck. Apps that are free on Android and IOS are $5 from BB, like Google Maps. Not to mention that Gmail isn't available anymore (Seems like a marketing trick from Google to help the death of blackberry ) I'm not putting down the device, just the app market. If it was running Android I would think a bit more about buying one.

12-30-2011, 05:26 AM	#8
hpulley Addict Posts: 288 Karma: 29760 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Vox, Playbook32	The Playbook can run Gingerbread actually but that is a serious rooting job, as in no more BBOS.

01-01-2012, 12:08 AM	#9
The Terminator Retired Posts: 2,552 Karma: 37638420 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver Island Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Optimus One (2.3), Nexus 7 (4.2)	Yeah and I'm not going to try out some fancy rooting stuff and end up with a $200 brick.

01-02-2012, 06:52 PM	#11
Kappafun Member Posts: 16 Karma: 594730 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Montreal, QC, Canada Device: Sony eReader PRS-600, Kobo Vox	If you are unhappy with the Vox due to performance issues, what about the Nook Color? It is more powerful and otherwise is about the same. I believe it has better battery stats than the Vox

01-02-2012, 07:53 PM	#13
hpulley Addict Posts: 288 Karma: 29760 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: Kobo Vox, Playbook32	Acer Iconia A100 7" is more expensive though it goes on deep sales once in a while.

01-03-2012, 01:02 AM	#14
Anjohl Zealot Posts: 105 Karma: 559568 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: Kobo Touch	I spent some time with the BB today at futureshop and the build quality is most definitely on a higher level than the Vox. I am gonna switch I think.

01-03-2012, 02:36 AM	#15
evrdazed Junior Member Posts: 7 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: Kobo Touch	I am from Canada so Kindle Fire and Nook is not really an option. Even if they were, all the reviews have said that the KF is also underpowered, and frankly, after using the Kobo Vox, I am really against the Gingerbread user interface. Yes, I wish the BB PB has more apps, but I can find almost everything on the web, and the QNX OS true multitasking is a pleasure to use. Unless Kobo can offer some astounding hardware in its next release, I am off of the Kobo Vox wagon (still love my Kobo Touch).