Leaked information confirms that RIM PlayBook is arriving in Q1 in North America, set to cost $500

posted by Alex I. / Nov 19, 2010, 9:43 AM

Leaked information confirms that RIM PlayBook is arriving in Q1 in North America, set to cost $500

RIM is set to join the tablet battle and one by one, details about the BlackBerry PlayBook start to emerge. After the news that the PlayBook will cost "below $500", we understood that it is set to have "module cavity" and now we have even bigger news – the rumoured release date of the RIM tablet.

According to DigiTimes, a daily online-media from Taiwan that often provides inside information from the Asia-Pacific region, the PlayBook is set to be released in Q1 of 2011 in North America and Q2 2011 worldwide. It cites Gregory Wade, the regional Vice-President for Asia Pacific of RIM, and along with the PlayBook's release date, the article says that 4G technology will be used by the tablet, although it doesn't specify whether it's WiMAX or TD-LTE.

Unsurprisingly, Gregory Wade says that the PlayBook will target business users and promises some (expected) features like tight security and Flash support. The bad news is that, according to this rumour, the price of the RIM PlayBook is set at $500. If this is true, it turns out that all this talk that it would cost below the above-mentioned sum only means that it would be priced at $499.99, which we find neither charming, nor amusing.

The BlackBerry PlayBook is advertised as the first "professional tablet" and its OS is the newly-acquired QNX. This OS is RIM's answer to its shrinking sales and it's set to be at least partly adopted by the future BlackBerry phones.

source: DigiTimes

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8 Comments

1. narley

Posts: 357; Member since: May 14, 2009

FFFFFLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOPP!

posted on Nov 19, 2010, 10:56 AM 0

2. achilles

Posts: 54; Member since: May 27, 2010

I dont understand why Rim doesnt sell the PlayBook for 199.99? If they did this, they would make money on the shear number sold! It would easily become the# 1 Tablet and everyone would praise them.

posted on Nov 19, 2010, 10:57 AM 0

4. zerglisk

Posts: 544; Member since: Feb 09, 2010

I would say anything below $349 is okay for a 7" tablet (forgot if this is a 10" or 7"), but $199.99 is just too cheap to even get its material cost back.

posted on Nov 19, 2010, 11:26 AM 0

3. zerglisk

The playbook must be selling cheaper than its competitors otherwise it will most likely not do well in the future. Look at the example of Galaxy S tablet... Also, DO NOT CONTRACT THE DAMN TABLETS

posted on Nov 19, 2010, 11:24 AM 0

5. remixfa

Posts: 14605; Member since: Dec 19, 2008

well, in perspective if its 500 full retail, if they do a contract that would put it in line with cellphones for 200ish on contract which would make it the cheapest "major" tablet at the moment. problem is with an android tablet launching almost daily at every price range, and the eventual ipad2 for all u apple idiots, how is it going to compete? ill buy the first one that has prime parts, is sub300 without contract, and can properly display my digital books for college through the pearson website.

posted on Nov 19, 2010, 12:42 PM 0

6. pumah unregistered

Went to the Verizon store today and saw the new phone and tablets. Well, didn't bother with one of them, but the Galaxy Tab was really nice and the perfect size. It cost 600. without a contract, just a data plan. So I don't know if other carriers are going to contract tablets or not, but Verizon is not.

posted on Nov 19, 2010, 9:33 PM 0

7. smpdx

Posts: 127; Member since: Nov 02, 2010

@Pumah Verizon doesnt even give you the option to contract the tablet.

posted on Nov 20, 2010, 8:47 PM 0

8. Dollgrin

Posts: 19; Member since: Nov 21, 2010

With Sprint you can contract. I like it, but it's a little small for me. I guess I'm one of those "apple idiots" who likes the iPad. It was cheaper for me to get one of those than a tablet pc since I use it a lot for school, but to each their own. I love blackberry and I'm looking forward to playing with one of these when it comes out.