First look at the BlackBerry PlayBook browser against the iPad

posted by Daniel P. / Nov 16, 2010, 8:59 AM

First look at the BlackBerry PlayBook browser against the iPad

RIM has outed a comparison video to show how svelte the browser on its upcoming "professional-grade" tablet BlackBerry PlayBook is, compared to Safari, as found on the iPad.

The preview is, naturally, focused on Flash-heavy websites that the iPad is not able to display properly (or at all), which the PlayBook runs without many hiccups. The test also shows its Java and HTML5 rendering speeds, proving the 7" tablet's superiority in that department. We would be worried to directly compare a 7" tablet to something that is almost 3 inches bigger, but RIM obviously thinks it is a David vs Goliath scenario, where the little guy overcomes with ingenuity.

It is definitely worth watching, be it only to see the default keyboard in action (hint: there is a huge space bar in the middle). In the end, RIM clarifies that this is still a prototype, and the final results will be improved even further. Things are looking good, and with the rumored competitive pricing for the BlackBerry PlayBook, it might become one more thing for Apple to worry about. Or not.

What does everybody think, would you buy the PlayBook because of its superior browsing performance, or thousands of quality apps are more important for you?

source: RIM

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12 Comments

1. android_hitman unregistered

superb ipad sucks

posted on Nov 16, 2010, 9:20 AM 0

2. DontHateOnS60

Posts: 872; Member since: Apr 20, 2009

Playbook > iPad simply because Apple is so locked down and doesn't have the features of the others.

posted on Nov 16, 2010, 9:33 AM 0

3. JeffdaBeat unregistered

Are you serious? I'm sure you were one of those idiots that saw a picture of the Blackberry Storm and said it was going to kill the iPhone and we see how that turned out. Even my Torch is having touch screen problems. I'll wait until the phone is out before I say it's better than the iPad. Judge electronics based on how quick they are after a month of usage and not from when you first open the box...

posted on Nov 16, 2010, 10:41 AM 1

4. jtucker1987

Posts: 89; Member since: May 06, 2010

I couldn't have said it better myself!!

posted on Nov 16, 2010, 11:21 AM 0

11. perch unregistered

First of all ipad is OKAY at best and second RIMS BROWSERS ALL SUCK. Almost every single one of their devices render differently and have their own style guides per device. So not impressed what so ever about the playbook it will be a piece of crap like the rest of their products. RIM please go under im begging you.

posted on Nov 17, 2010, 2:49 PM 0

5. Droid X Doug unregistered

The one thing that really annoys me about the iPad is the lack of Flash support. The challenge for RIM/PlayBook is to do 2 things at once - get Flash on the PlayBook to the level of a desktop PC experience and get a critical mass of applications available for the device/OS. Otherwise, the Android tablets will take over the 7 inch tablet space. Steve Jobs is going to look back in about 2 years and wonder what possessed him to pass on the 7 inch tablet segment.

posted on Nov 16, 2010, 1:54 PM 0

10. yourdad unregistered

7 inch? coming from a guy with droid x in his name? look, the ipads screen is like the same size as playbook itself... droid x has an oversized screen, ipads screen is perfect and responsive, you just dont have one, which is why you hate it

posted on Nov 16, 2010, 7:12 PM 0

6. JeffdaBeat unregistered

Droid X Doug...the funny thing is a good amount of sites are dropping flash for HTML5. I was saying the same thing a few months ago, but then I saw that I can even play CNN video on my iPhone because they converted over. Flash is going to go away at a faster rate because web developers want people to access their info no matter what phone they have. If I enable Flash, you block out a good chunk of smartphones, not just the iPhone. If you have HTML5 video on your site, EVERYONE can access it. I'm down for waiting for that instead of trading out my iPhone 4.

posted on Nov 16, 2010, 2:41 PM 0

8. CRICKETownz

Posts: 980; Member since: Oct 24, 2009

i'm sure adobe is not so clueless to think that their flash technology is going to last forever. i'm sure they are working on something that will be more cross compatible with all platforms and end-users. don't think they would be around as long as they have if they believed in not reinventing themselves. flash as well as html5 if that happens on a mobile phone is overrated. i have flash and the phone isn't strong enough to run a lot of flash-supported functions that i would like. stuttering, terrible scrolling, etc. i'm sure that would be the case for html5 as well. its a nice idea, but thats as far as it goes...flash is available so that mobile phones can say that they have flash support. actual performance is a diff. story. basic sites like pizzahut.com or verizonwireless.com work well but a site like abc.com doesn't work well at all. i can see flash working more seamless on a tablet but haven't tested it as of yet. html5 hits and it will be the greatest thing since sliced bread for about an hour until there is a better alternative on the verge of releasing. gotta love technology.

posted on Nov 16, 2010, 4:36 PM 0

7. donpeppino9

Posts: 67; Member since: Jan 24, 2010

how about living for the now and the near future... sure people are slowly changing over to html5 but not everyone will. You will want that flexibility in your device. Ipad fails in this department and in a few others. Its sad people are hypotnized by apple products... get a clue.

posted on Nov 16, 2010, 4:15 PM 0

12. commoncents unregistered

thank you

posted on Nov 17, 2010, 2:50 PM 0

9. CRICKETownz

to Apple's defense, they have created the reputation of having reliable products. i know a few guys that build computers from scratch and although most of them agree that Apple is ridiculously overpriced they all say that Apple computers are a lot more reliable and satisfying out of the box than any PC out there. Unfortunately, Apple attracts the 90 percent of those consumers that think their products are cute/trendy and are totally oblivious to what they can actually do.