Blackberry Playbook discontinued by Futureshop/Bestbuy

[yearoftherat]

Another tablet bites the dusts

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/909/screenshot20111002at102.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/40/screenshot20111002at102.png/)

I'll still pass.. no native e-mail or messaging, what were they thinking.

[stevenma188]

I'll pick one up when it is $99 :)

[runner2k]

I've tried to use the Playbook and it has a horrible UI.

I did not like it at all. $99 would be the recommended price IMO either...

[iconicrocket]

I'll wait for it to hit $98.

[iconicrocket]

The touchpad was a better deal at $99

:cool

[PearlM3]

Haha I thought it was gonna be the "IPad" killer.....oh silly blackberry fan boys lol

[XTOTHEL]

Haha I thought it was gonna be the "IPad" killer.....oh silly blackberry fan boys lol

omg but it's the best! it does flash!

flashflashflashflashflashflashflashflashflashflash flashflashflashflashflashflashflashflashflash

[stevenma188]

Pfff Touchpad does flash too.

[Darkice]

lol the only way il get a ipad or playbook is if its 50$ otherwise not worth the money


I'll pick one up when it is $99 :)

[Pillbox2010]

Only reason this version is being discontinued is because they are releasing an updated one very soon that will included native email and messaging.

I personally don't care about native email and messaging as I already run a blackberry for work, no need to pay for another data service. I have wifi everywhere I go pretty much as well.

[PCLoadLetter]

lol the only way il get a ipad or playbook is if its 50$ otherwise not worth the money
You won't see an iPad with a price tag of $50 in a very long time my friend.

[Darkice]

lol ya u will , if its stolen


You won't see an iPad with a price tag of $50 in a very long time my friend.

[XTOTHEL]

Only reason this version is being discontinued is because they are releasing an updated one very soon that will included native email and messaging.

I personally don't care about native email and messaging as I already run a blackberry for work, no need to pay for another data service. I have wifi everywhere I go pretty much as well.

Shouldn't that be possible through a software update?

[Scottobot]

How embarrassing for RIM..

[tweak_s]

I actually very much enjoy the interface on the Playbook. Its actually one of my favourite interfaces to be honest, maybe even More so than Honeycomb 3.1 which is saying a lot because I really like that OS.

RIM's big mistake with the Playbook was mainly comprised of two areas IMO: 1) Not launching with native apps ready (such as email, calendar, contacts. BBM I would understand was not attainable due to being a Wi-FI only device without bridging). 2) App development. RIM's playbook OS is an entirely different platform and they should have been more aggressive in ensuring that good apps were available. Sure, the Playbook is going to get the Android App Player, however, that too should have been more ready when the Playbook launched, in fact many people thought that it would come with it.

The Bridging feature is something very cool though; to be able to share your Blackberry Data plan without having to pay a "sharing fee" is very cool.

The Playbook is not dead guys, there will be a newer version along with RIM"s newer phones I would assume. I just pray to god that they get it right this time because its a shame when a company that was known for making such great products fails so hard. (I'm not turning this into a device vs. Device thread, Blackberry's are better at some things and worse at some things)

[The Wolf]

PlayBook is not discontinued.

However, I've said it before and I'll say it again now. I don't REALLY think a "tablet market" exists like these companies think it does. I think it's more of an "anything Apple makes" market. Apple makes slick things and markets them very well... I really think that whoever makes the big decisions at RIM underestimates or ignores Apple's "cool factor" and the role it plays in their success.

Also, nobody from RIM ever claimed the PlayBook would be an iPad killer.

*all views expressed in this post are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer*

[ElectroJay]

Both my sisters were able to snag a Touchpad for $99. Why they didn't inform me about the deal is beyond me but they're rather happy with the device. But for a $299 Playbook? Um... better to spend a little more and do it right when iPad 3 comes out.

[Aitch]

PlayBook is not discontinued.

However, I've said it before and I'll say it again now. I don't REALLY think a "tablet market" exists like these companies think it does. I think it's more of an "anything Apple makes" market. Apple makes slick things and markets them very well... I really think that whoever makes the big decisions at RIM underestimates or ignores Apple's "cool factor" and the role it plays in their success.

Also, nobody from RIM ever claimed the PlayBook would be an iPad killer.

*all views expressed in this post are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer*

Estimated 45-50 million tablet sales for 2011 might not be a HUGE market compared to all other electronics, and only about 10% of the smartphone market, but that is still a significant market to be in. The main problem is that Apple hit one out of the park, and too many other manufacturers are trying to become the viable alternative. However you can only really compete if you have a whole ecosystem prepared to support the system, along with the hardware. Android comes close, but with too many manufacturers involved one standardized competitor can't really emerge. Blackberry is way behind the curve, both in development of their OS and support of (and by) app developers. Amazon Fire may be a legitimate competitor, because they are hitting a very attractive price point to get the hardware out there, and then hoping to recoup the costs based on content sales.

[The Wolf]

The trouble at RIM has always been a divided focus. Apple has one OS, and essentially one form factor. Dividing your product across multiple OS's and touch vs tactile devices is almost always going to fail in comparison.

Regardless, I think it's sad when I see people from my area root for RIM to fail. Waterloo Reigion owes a large amount of its economic success over the last decade and a half to RIM. Their products are not for everyone, especially young consumers, but people would be wise to realize what they've done for them, directly or indirectly.

[Aitch]

I would love to see Blackberry return to real competitiveness. I personally dislike my wife's Curve, and BB in general because Android suits my preferences much more, and both iOS and Windows Phone rank higher on my list than even BB OS 7. But I think its ridiculous to want them to fail, especially as a Canadian or someone from the region. Having said that I understand why the larger community is turning against them, since they seem to have their heads in the sand, and I think that attitude catches on easily as it becomes uncool to like BB.

[Soulsofmischief]

The trouble at RIM has always been a divided focus. Apple has one OS, and essentially one form factor. Dividing your product across multiple OS's and touch vs tactile devices is almost always going to fail in comparison.

Regardless, I think it's sad when I see people from my area root for RIM to fail. Waterloo Reigion owes a large amount of its economic success over the last decade and a half to RIM. Their products are not for everyone, especially young consumers, but people would be wise to realize what they've done for them, directly or indirectly.

+1

i couldnt agree more, although I am an Iphone user I would be very happy to see BB come out with innovative new devices rather than just play keep up.

[Default User]

ROGERS is offering it for free when you subscribe to 2 or more services.

[PCLoadLetter]

lol ya u will , if its stolen
I don't even think you'll see a stolen one for that cheap lol.