Reports have BlackBerry maker Research in Motion looking to beat the Apple iPad’s $499 initial price point when its PlayBook goes on sale next year.
It looks like RIM sees the Apple iPad as the primary competition for its forthcoming PlayBook BlackBerry tablet: a report in BusinessWeek has a RIM executive saying the PlayBook will cost less than $500 when it reaches consumers in the early part of 2011.
Apple’s entry-level iPad is available for $499, and comes with 16 GB of memory and Wi-Fi connectivity, with prices ranging up to $829 for a version with 64 GB of onboard storage and 3G mobile connectivity. RIM’s PlayBook will be based around a 7-inch touchscreen display (compared to the 10-inch display in all Apple iPads), and initial versions of the PlayBook won’t offer 3G mobile connectivity either: instead, they’ll tether up with users’ BlackBerry phones, making the proposition of taking the PlayBook mobile a multi-device, high-cost affair.
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Is there any internet in another tablet device given the widespread attention and positive adoption of the Apple iPad? Would you consider purchasing a BlackBerry tablet? Should RIM stick to the smartphone industry?
If I want a palm size touch pad, I would stick to large touch screen smart phone, If I want a touch pad, I will go for minimum 9″ to help ease my eyes. Just don’t make sense to buy another 7″ something in between. I think RIM will find it out the hard way.