BlackBerry PlayBook with Wi-Fi come in three models, featuring 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of storage at $499, $599 and $699 respectively, this tablet release for the US and Canada on April 19 and go on sale in Best Buy stores and Best Buy Mobile stores in the US, as well as Best Buy and Future Shop stores in Canada.
Would-be customers in the US and Canada can place orders from today. "Previews of the BlackBerry PlayBook have generated tremendous excitement and we know that customers are eager to get their hands on one," said RIM's regional managing director for North America, Craig McLennan.
An influx of Android apps made for phones is thus unlikely to be a killer selling point for the PlayBook, which is why RIM is also continuing its efforts to persuade developers to make native apps for its tablet too.
BlackBerry Playbook Features :
• 7" 1024x600 WSVGA capacitive LCD touch screen
• 0.9 lbs (425g) and 5.1" x 7.6" x 0.4" (130mm x 194mm x 10mm)
• 1 GHz dual-core processor
• BlackBerry Tablet OS with support for symmetric multiprocessing
• MP3, AAC and WMA audio playback
• Support for high resolution video playback (H.264, MPEG4, WMV)
• 1080p HDMI output
• Dual 1080p HD cameras for video conferencing and video capture (3MP front and 5MP rear)
• 1 GB RAM memory
• Up to 64 GB internal storage (16, 32 and 64 GB models)
• GPS, Orientation Sensor (Accelerometer), 6-Axis Motion Sensor (Gyroscope), Digital Compass (Magnetometer)
• Stereo speakers and stereo microphones
• Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n) connectivity
• Bluetooth 2.1+EDR support
Many features from BlackBerry Playbook give it parity with the iPad 2,but in in some cases put it slightly ahead. The main difference is in the screen size, which at 7" gives it slightly less than half the total area of the 9.7" iPad.
iPad is heavier at 601g (1.33 pounds) and of course larger (9.5" x 7.31") though it is apparently thinner at 0.34in.
