Blackberry Playbook

By now I believe it should be public record that Ivan S. Harris is #teamblackberry to the heart. With that being said, for my loyalty, RIM, the company that produces Blackberry, has given me the privilege to test out and keep my very own Blackberry Playbook tablet.

One word...Amazing. Of course being that the Playbook is a Blackberry produced tablet, I carry a little bias by possessing the "keep it in the family syndrome". Although another brand tablet would be cool to use, the fact that I do have a Blackberry and can "bridge" my cell phone device to the Playbook which makes for a crackberry on steroids, I find this to be an amazing connection between smartphone and tablet.

The truth is this is a very good professional grade tablet and any Blackberry user will love the enhancements because with the Playbook being bridged to a Blackberry device you are pretty much put on the same playing field with those devices comparable to both the Droid and iphone OS platforms.

I really can't go anywhere without my Playbook and each day I find something new that I love. After 2 weeks of using the Playbook continuously, I am definitely satisfied with the first generation Blackberry Playbook Tablet and will recommend it to everyone!

Obviously with any first generation product there are bugs, quirks and other things that I feel could make the playbook better. First thing is making the bridging faster. I love the fact that the Playbook reads your Blackberry device transferring all data, calendar, memos and other phone items directly to the tablet.

If there is no wifi available the Playbook can surf the internet via your Blackberry’s browser while using your cell phone data usage but I have noticed when you do bridge with Browsers it freezes up the phone so be sure to stop all apps on your Blackberry during your Playbook browsing session.

This browser bridging is however different from tethering as there is no direct internet, wifi or modem connection but being able to use your Playbook as a “monitor” for your “Blackberry browser” in the middle of a no wifi zone is pretty cool.

One thing I have found to be frustrating is the landscape to vertical frame change lags dramatically especially while in camera mode or when viewing pictures the landscape won't turn to portrait at all. The transition is not smooth and the lag going back and forth can make it frustrating when I'm trying to show the Playbook off to friends.

Speaking of the Playbook's camera, the camera does have a front and back camera which is great for video chat but not having a camera flash is really depressing.

The other thing that I feel is really a negative is the fact you can't send a picture through email or bluetooth. The only way I could figure out how to send a photo I snapped on the Playbook’s camera was to upload it to Facebook...go figure.

I do however love the adobe flash installed to view websites to the full capacity.

Last but not least (Blackberry Messenger) BBM. Its almost like having a Blackberry with a 7 inch screen. I love being able to BBM my friends straight from the Playbook. I call my Blackberry Bold2 a key, kind of like having a push to start engine. As long as the Key is in close range, I can use the Playbook as if it is actually my Blackberry Bold2...I love it.

If I could get the Torch and Playbook to combine forces with speed, adobe flash and voice capabilities, this new generation of blackberry devices would be stellar and second to none.