BlackBerry PlayBook - Tablet - 16 GB - 7" TFT ( 1024 x 600 ) - rear camera + front camera - Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

I received this for Christmas after looking long and hard at the Android and iPad alternatives. My wife has an iPad, so I was aware of the capabilities of the Apple product, but I could not justify spending £400 when this alternative was available for just over £200. I am so glad I did, because this little tablet is a beauty.

Pros

- The 7" screen is perfect for me. Not too big to make it bulky, so easy to take away on trips.
- The screen quality is superb, easily better than the iPad. HD video playback is excellent.
- The OS is fantastic, I really do not understand why anyone would pick iOS or Android over this product (with the exception of the Cons below) because it is so smooth and fast. The swipe gestures become second nature. It does proper multitasking on the fly and it is genuinely the best OS I have used on any mobile device. I also own an iPod touch and Samsung Galaxy S mobile phone, neither of which can compare.
- Great build quality. It feels heavier than expected, but it is clearly a quality product.
- The standard apps are of good quality. I particularly like the YouTube app, which is the best I have used.
- Good sound quality, both through the onboard speakers and headphones.
- Blackberry software for Mac worked perfectly for back-ups and syncing with iTunes.
- Built in cameras are of good quality, video is also much better than I expected.
- The built in web browser is great. It is the closest to a genuine desktop browser I have seen with access to Flash sites available.

Cons

- Lack of native email/calendar app at the moment, though this is due to be sorted with the release of OS2 in February. Gmail works perfectly through the browser.
- The number of Apps available is smaller than Android or Apple, however that is not to say it is a problem. Those that are available are usually of good quality and I have not had an issuing finding what I need or a suitable alternative. This will also improve with Android compatibility arriving in OS2.
- Battery life is good rather than great - 7 hours is about the norm with wi-fi turned on.
- The on/off switch could be better designed.

Overall, I am really pleased with this tablet. Blackberry has received some poor press recently, which I believe is undeserved. This is a quality product and is much better than some reviews on the early software gives it credit.

Buy this and you will not regret it.

I am going to keep this short. I am 60 years old and this is my first tablet,I own a high end laptop so know my way around without being an expert. This Playbook is an excellent product,after two days use I am very pleased with it. Set up was fine and was achieved with a free phone call to excellent Blackberry support. I have transferred 800 songs at 128 onto it from itunes...very easy. I have transferred music videos and one film and BBT episodes onto it with no trouble. Sound is Ok and with headphones terrific. Surfing the web is very fast,I have soon got used to all the gestures. Youtube looks and sounds great,flash videos play fine. I have used BBC iPlayer and the playback is fine ,I have listened to BBC radio through iplayer and works fine so no need to buy apps for these functions. Ch4od works fine as does ITV player (no apps needed there too). the built in media player is very good and plays instantly . Free weather as well. Screen picture is excellent. Mini usb cable is included as is a small tight cover and cleaning cloth. 10 out of 10 for the Blackberry Playbook,at the reduced price (launched at £399) it is an absolute steal. I paid £169. my yahoo email works fine and if you look at it in messages it is very large and readable. Well thats it......

I decided to buy the BlackBerry Playbook for office work and I just love it!

The size makes it ideal to use in the office and in meetings. It's about the same size as a moleskine note so thats ideal. Everybody is making a big problem about it not having an e-mail client on it, but it works just great with the blackberry phone e-mail.

Through the BlackBerry Bridge you get a "mirror" of whats on your Blackberry phone and have direct access to your mail and agenda. Great thing is that your tablet doesnt need 3G or a wireless connection because it uses the phones access to sent and receive e-mail. It works great! Also it supports Flash making it possible to watch youtube movies and all websites, something the iPad lacks. Had to get used to the typing on it, but got used to that very fast.

Only got positive comments about it and even the CEO wanted to take a good look at it when I did a presentation from it. All in all a great device for a price of under the iPad2.

Highly recommended!