I want to love the Blackberry Playbook tablet and its new Version 2.0 operating system. After all, the PlayBook OS will be the basis of Research in Motion's future BlackBerry smartphones' BlackBerry 10 OS, and it has a clean, simple, inviting design. Also, you can now access your email, calendar, and contacts using native clients without having to bridge via Bluetooth to a BlackBerry smartphone, one of the most inane limits of the original BlackBerry PlayBook OS. See also: New iPad review.
To be sure, PlayBook OS 2.0 offers solid enhancements, a few of which even outclass the competition. But overall, the operating system and its apps are too limited; it's passable as a sort of business communications appliance but not quite up to snuff with what a "real" tablet can deliver, as any iPad or Android tablet owner can tell you. Competing iPads and Android tablets offer much more functionality, and they're easy to use. They don't confuse simple with simplistic, as the BlackBerry PlayBook sometimes does. And they don't have the too-small (7 inches), too-ugly (a heavy black slab) form that characterize the PlayBook; RIM has not yet updated the actual hardware. (Also see: Group test: what's the best tablet PC?)
If you want a reminder of all that was wrong with April 2011's original PlayBook OS and the still-current hardware, read our original Blackberry Playbook review. Here, I focus on what's new in the PlayBook 2.0 OS.
BlackBerry PlayBook 2.0: Pleasant business apps that don't always work right
You may rejoice that the BlackBerry PlayBook now lets you access email, calendars, and contacts directly, over a Wi-Fi connection. That means you don't need a BlackBerry smartphone to use the PlayBook -- except you probably still do. I was able to connect to my corporate Exchange account and my personal IMAP account, but I didn't get all my email as I did when I tethered to a BlackBerry Bold.
For example, the PlayBook won't sync messages older than 30 days, so some messages -- like my folder of standard reference info sent via email -- are permanently out of the PlayBook's reach. Of course, over time, your folders build up any history you want to retain, so that's a small ding. The PlayBook 2.0 OS doesn't let you create or edit folders, as iOS 5 does, and continues that annoying longstanding RIM BlackBerry "feature" of leaving a copy of a message in your inbox even if you move it to a folder (casting doubt as to whether the message was actually moved, and preventing you from keeping a clean inbox).
A bigger issue was that in syncing to my IMAP account, the PlayBook saw none of its folders, a problem I didn't have on the Bold. In the PlayBook OS, you can't specify IMAP or POP for email accounts, as you can on other PC and mobile OSes. An obscure error message when I checked my personal account's settings suggested that the PlayBook could not connect via IMAP, instead defaulting to POP. There is no way to say for sure. What I do know is that I've never had this issue with any other OS that supports IMAP, whether PC or mobile. Other reviewers have noted syncing problems as well.
You can add Twitter to the Messages app that handles your email, but all you get are your Twitter direct messages, a nice option if you use direct messaging as a parallel email system, but not if you want to post or even read tweets. For that, you'll need a dedicated Twitter app. Sadly, the Twitter "app" included with the PlayBook is a link to the Twitter site, and it doesn't even log you in with the Twitter credentials you set up in your Messages account. Even sadder is the reason for using the Web app: There is no native Twitter app for the PlayBook. In fact, PlayBook app selection in RIM's App World app store is sparse.
The Messages app is laid out nicely, with clear controls and a simple but effective interface. It's an example of good mobile UI design, one of the PlayBook's strengths. The Calendar app has a similarly clean, highly usable design, while supporting sophisticated repeating events that Apple's iOS has yet to tackle.
The Contacts app is the most surprising, in good and bad ways. For example, most of the usual contacts editing and searching capabilities are present, but you can't create groups, a flaw shared with iOS, or even view them, a flaw shared with no other vendor. Another flaw: Despite allowing you to separate work from personal contacts, the PlayBook doesn't let you change which group it assigns your existing contacts to -- not the most useful implementation of the concept.
What's surprising in a good way is the Contacts app's integration with other services. If you're viewing a contact and click the Twitter button, you can see that person's last tweet in your Twitter stream. There's a similar capability to see a contact's current LinkedIn status, as well as any appointments you have with this person. A lot of mobile OSes offer social networking hubs to collapse all your streams in one place, but usually in a lowest-common-denominator approach. The PlayBook approach is useful and smart -- a model for every competitor.
The PlayBook also includes a basic version of the Documents to Go productivity app (RIM owns its creator), which allows you to edit and create Word and Excel files, but not PowerPoint files. The app is OK for light use, but in no way compares to Apple's iWork suite for iOS or the Quickoffice suite for iOS and Android. A big flaw in the PlayBook version of Documents to Go (which does not occur in its iOS or Android versions) is its lack of support for cloud storage services such as Dropbox and Box.net, where your files are likely to reside.
All in all, the PlayBook is fine for calendars and contacts, as well as email if the sync issues are fixed. But that's the heart and soul of what the PlayBook can do for you -- and it can do it only if you have a Wi-Fi connection or are tethered to a recent BlackBerry smartphone to access its 3G connection.
BlackBerry PlayBook 2.0: Basic Web browser with great HTML5 support
The PlayBook's Web browser is nothing special. It offers basic bookmarking capabilities, the ability to add bookmarks to the home screen as if they were apps, and a browser history -- much like every other mobile browser. The URL field doubles as a search field in the omnibar approach gaining currency among modern browsers. And the Android-like previews of open browser windows is quite usable. The PlayBook is one of the few mobile OSes to support Adobe Flash, which Adobe itself is discontinuing after the current Version 11 for Android and PlayBook OS. There are the security controls over cookies and private browsing that you'd expect.
But you can't copy and paste text or graphics from the Web pages displayed on the browser -- an odd limitation. The browser self-identifies as a desktop browser, so you get full Web pages when using the PlayBook. I wish there were an option, as there is on some Android devices, to change that self-identification to instead view a mobile-optimized site. There are times when a full website's design emphasizes tiny text and elements that are hard to access on a 7-inch screen like the PlayBook's.
Where the PlayBook's browser shines is in its HTML5 support: It scores 354 out of 475 points in the latest HTML5Test.com tests, beating the previous champ iOS 5's new score of 305 and the Android 4 "Ice Cream Sandwich" score of 256.
NEXT PAGE: two ways to manage a PlayBook >>
Comments
awundrin said: I just purchased two Blackberry Playbooks 64GB for around 240 which I believe is a real steal My wife and I both love the Playbook Its fast smooth and easy to use The cameras are impressive One thing that really impresses me is the sound quality Its great and surprising for such a little tablet I like the 7 size and with FLASH on board this tablet is a much better buy than the bigger iPad thats heavy and doesnt have flash I can see myself enjoying this tablet for couple of years at least
Tjake2163 said: When I bought the BB PB back in Dec 11 I loved the speed but the playtoy features were very lacking It appeared very basic in nature and the os was severely lacking I sold both I had bought and wound up cm7 on refurbed nook colors A friend of mine is selling his old PB amp getting the new one So I am giving the PB another look with the newer os amp supposedly better app world I will inform as soon as I have another view of it
Disappointed said: Not a particularly professional reply Matt as an editor of a magazine and not one that would encourage me to read or rely upon other PCAdvisor reviews If a user complains that a reviewer has omitted factual information that is readily available if they care to dig just a little such as the 32GB and 64GB versions being available but commenting that 16GB seems limiting without mentioning these then as a writer myself I would consider this review as being shallow in terms of research by the writer and not particularly useful to the general tablet buying populace Your response should really be less disappointing and more pragmatic if you want to engender reader loyalty perhaps along the lines of well ensure future reviews by this writer are more balanced and in-depth rather than a dismissive youre entitled to your opinion It gives us your audience that you frankly dont give a toss about us Youd be a wiser man to remember that the readers are YOUR customers and we choose where we spend our reading money which pays your wages
CallMeCynical said: Not that anyone would ever be getting preferential treatment from certain advertisers No sure its all very objective NOT
Guy said: I dont get it - I really dont I bought the playbook for my wife mother and brother Its small fast and convenient The only thing Apple has on the Playbook is the number of applications for the IPAD - thats marketing only The Playbook is way better - you can put it in your pocket and in two seconds connect it to a TV with a HDMI cable 3 from Amazon
Matt Egan said: What detail has been missed We reviewed the 16gb version
Fixer1963 said: If you want more than 16GB I suggest you buy the 32GB model or maybe even the 64GB model When bloggers miss basic details such as this Who hasnt been in a retail store and seen the 3 models side by side it makes you wonder how much effort was put into researching the rest of the postPersonally I have a 64GB PlayBook Best purchase I made in technology last year
Matt Egan said: Thats totally irrelevant to this post and Im afraid I dont yet know enough about it to comment it being a US court case
Joel Jeremias said: httpwwwgmanetworkcomnewsifthey dowith the ebookswhy not do itwiththeir devicesThe suit citesthe lateco-founder ofApple SteveJobs whoreportedly saidWe will changeto a modelagencyfor whichyoupay attentionpricesand wecarry30 and yes consumerspay alittle more butthatswhat you wantanyway
Matt Egan said: Nope Im not a speaker on behalf of Apple I think the fact that Apple is now a 600bn company probably explains how users feel about Apple For the record I personally own one iPhone two Android tablets and a PlayBook And I am writing this on a Windows PC I get as annoyed as the next man about the deification of Apple but with respect youre projecting your bias on to me
Joel Jeremias said: you areaspeakerof the companyAppleSothisclearYou andmany if notrefer to theuserreviewson amazon ebay etc etcI saidusers notcommentators
Joel Jeremias said: Hablo espaol sera por eso y estoy en mi laptop ahahahahah
Matt Egan said: If I could understand your sentence I presume I would be insulted Fortunately a spider seems to have been crawling across your keyboard as you attempted to make sense By all means have another go
Joel Jeremias said: AsyoupayappleI found thatApplehasa monopoly onthe ballsofthe mediaand experts
Joel Jeremias said: Basic Web Browserthen theApple andAndroidbrowsersare a realwasteGarbageBecause theplaybookhas the bestnevagador the only thingisyou open your eyesIknow that a 499APPLEisoverratedPerhapsit is only fairand 199of thePB
Matt Egan said: Dont be sorry thats all good news A counter argument would be that you would be happier if you were installing apps - Apple smartphone and tablet owners install and use a lot more apps PC Advisor is visited by a lot more Android users but the iOS apps are used a lot more But if youre happy youre winning so who cares Im having a play with the PlayBook and will get around to writing a review In summary I must say that I do like it but it is limited when compared to the iPad or the better Android tablets
Jonathansmith709 said: Sorry but I had an iPad 2 and my daughter had the Sony s we both prefer the Playbook and the size is perfect yes it is short of apps compared to the other oss but how many apps does the average person use On my android phone not that many
Matt Egan said: Im using the PlayBook right now to find the positives Keep you posted But for the record that a single app has been better received on the PlayBook than it was on Android is not in itself newsworthy for PC Advisor Nice as it is to hear
Ed Coleridge said: httpappsburlockorgunexpeWhy doesnt PC Advisor report on the positives
Ed Coleridge said: Messaging My folderslabels appear just fine both google and hotmailApps Are coming RIM has signed up 6600 developers in the last 3 weeks and have a backlog of thousands of apps yet to be introduced I agree that the lack of native twitter app isdisappointing but blaq is an excellent alternativeDocs to go Supports boxnetBrowser Other reviewers rate it as the best browser available You fail to mention the new reader featureKeyboard you fail to mention the new keyboard featuring technology that isnt available on some other tablets yet swiftkeyBlackberry Bridge No mention of the excellent remote control featuresDid you even use a playbook