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RIM's Playbook On Clearance

Posted by timothy on from the 64GB-sounds-nice-doesn't-it? dept.

symbolset writes "Engadget reports that the much-maligned RIM Playbook tablet has hit the clearance skids. I've confirmed that all three models (16GB, 32GB, 64GB) are for sale on RIM's website for the same price: $299, or up to $400 off. The site says until February 4, but presumably that's 'or while supplies last.' If you're into clearance merch and rooting, the Engadget article includes instructions on getting Android and the Android market on the thing. If you'd rather have a tablet made for Android, the original Acer Iconia A500 may be a better choice at only a few dollars more — but without the capacious internal storage."

19 of 141 comments (clear)

  1. You know what they're doing... by grub · · Score: 5, Funny


    They can't compete at the higher price points so they're moving to a model where they lose money on every sale but hope to cover it with volume.

    Very smart, RIM, very smart...

    --
    Trolling is a art,
    1. Re:You know what they're doing... by Jaxim · · Score: 4, Interesting

      This may be what RIM needs to get people to adopt the Playbook and for developers to code for the Playbook.

      Before Christmas, my little (and might I say addicting) BOGGGLE app "Word ZigZag" ( http://goo.gl/5ga0j ) was only downloaded a few times a day on Blackberry Playbook's App World Store. But on and after Christmas, my app was downloaded about 3-4X as much.

      Perhaps a lot more people have the Blackberry Playbook because of the $200 Playbook "fire sales". And perhaps people will continue to buy them at the new $300 price.

      I know as a developer, I'm starting to look at developing for RIM's App World as much as I would for iTunes. http://goo.gl/5ga0j

    2. Re:You know what they're doing... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      If you lose money on every sale and add volume, you're losing loads of money fast. .

      Wow, you must be really smart.

    3. Re:You know what they're doing... by Hadlock · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I don't think RIM will die in 2013, but they're certainly circling the drain at this point. BBX/Blackberry 10 needed to be released in 2008/2009 as a complete rewrite, at this point they're going to end up as a novelty brand known for "how good their keyboards used to be before the buyout". Visually there's no difference between BB OS 3.5 (released in what, 2003?) and 7.0. At this point I think expecting a modern OS from them before 2014 isn't a realistic goal for them. Someone high up at RIM got all wrapped up in the idea that the iPad was the second coming of jesus, bet the company on it, and lost.

      --
      moox. for a new generation.
  2. No thanks. by SniperJoe · · Score: 2, Insightful

    No thanks. I've already got a fire sale TouchPad. At least HP had the brains to do that right and generate some buzz. RIM has made missteps along every part of the journey, including this one.

    1. Re:No thanks. by JAlexoi · · Score: 4, Informative

      $300 is a total fail. It's not clearance, because you can get a Fire for $200.

    2. Re:No thanks. by jjm496 · · Score: 2, Informative

      Sure, if you want half the RAM of the lowest model, no camera's instead of two, no microphones, no bluetooth, half the processor. But hey...it's android so it will have Skype...oh, wait.

  3. Who Cares about Rim, when there's Windows? by mrclisdue · · Score: 4, Funny

    The Windows 7 tablet is the greatest tablet ever. It is the top seller in Listanbul, Elbania, Drateskustan, Simbia and Australasia. It combines the superb technological hardware from Torchiba and the world class Microsoft OS, renowned and acclaimed for its ability to be snappy on all devices - phones, potatoes, tablets, netbooks and hot tubs.

    Android just totally sucks, and I can't figure out why anyone would want an iPad. Like "eewww."

    cheers,

    mrclisdue

     

  4. $299 still not worth it! by na1led · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Even at that price, I doubt they will sell much. The Kindle Fire is still cheaper, and who wants to pay $300 for something that may have no support in the next year. Rim should be selling these for $99!

    --
    -- By all means let's be open-minded, but not so open-minded that our brains drop out.
  5. Re:Firesale pt. II by grub · · Score: 2

    I was on the store and selected a 64 GB model but closed the window. Thankfully reality hit. We already have an iPad, iPhones, Samsung Captivate, iPod Touch... I don't need to spend $299 on what will soon be an unsupported trinket.

    --
    Trolling is a art,
  6. no native Skype = no Skype Video by blackfrancis75 · · Score: 4, Informative

    I set up one of these for my mother-in-law over Christmas. The #1 use she had for it would be video-calling her grandkids on Skype. Guess what? No native Skype app exists for Playbook. There are crappy browser-based IM sites that enable it to chat on the Skype network, but no way to get Skype Video to work on it.

    It seems RIM don't even have enough momentum behind the PB to make it worth Skype's while to make this possible.

  7. Hurry! by Palshife · · Score: 4, Funny

    So last chance to buy a tiny tablet without email!

    --
    Attention deficit disorder is a complicated issue, spanning several major... HEY LET'S GO RIDE BIKES!
  8. Skype = Microsoft by Comboman · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Considering Skype is now owned by Microsoft who has absolutely no interest in promoting RIM's products, I'm hardly surprised.

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    Support Right To Repair Legislation.
    1. Re:Skype = Microsoft by gstoddart · · Score: 2

      Considering Skype is now owned by Microsoft who has absolutely no interest in promoting RIM's products, I'm hardly surprised.

      Well, since their goal is to sell Skype, and since people aren't exactly clamoring for Win 7 phones/tablets ... you'd think it would be to their advantage to actually sell the product and stop worrying about the platform.

      Hell, MS has started to support apps on iOS, so why would it benefit them to withold from RIM?

      If Microsoft is going to slavishly stick to "only on a Microsoft platform", they're going to lose potential revenue. Hopefully they're learning that if they can't control the platform, they might as well support it.

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  9. Not about discontinuation by jjm496 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This isn't about discontinuing them, in February RIM is releasing the new OS version. This leaves them with the choice to either recall the unsold units and reload the OS and repackage them, or get as many of them out there as they can now and avoid that cost. Either way it would mean a loss of money, but the more new users they pick up now the better in the long run. Once the newer ones come out with the new OS version loaded, who will buy old stock? Sell the units now and let the users install the upgrade themselves.

  10. Jokes Aside...Its pretty good if you own a BB by Karna99 · · Score: 3

    I bought one with the intention of trying it out and returning it. Its actually pretty good for what I need. Great display, get all my BB functions on it. Ebook and PDF reading is decent. Uses my BB mobile internet access for web browsing. The OS feels solid and polished. The 7" size is perfect, I find at 10" I may as well have a netbook or laptop. The media loves to dog pile on both losers and winner. Don't be an isheep, try it and make your own mind.

  11. I bought one. Took it back. Total bag of fail by Stu101 · · Score: 3, Informative

    I bought one. The form factor is lovely, the feel is great. That's where the good stuff ends.

    There is no calendar, no email (REALLY, TRULY - not even an app you can download, let alone a Gmail one). If you want to load android apps, you have to install the 2.0 beta (which doesn't include email and calender still in beta release but will in final one in Feb.)

    The side load of android apps is poor. The core google apps don't work (at least for me) but then again, I didn't really expect them to.

    I had it for about 6 hours and just took it back. If you have a BB then you may get somewhere, without, don't even bother. It will end up a glorified browser.

    The app store is also pretty crap. Angry birds is £5 to install if you want it. Android it's free. The number of apps is totally cack. No firefox app, no RDC type connector app, no VDI app.

    There are no ports of android underway etc, so you are stuck with QNX and it seems only the BB fanbois love it.

    --
    http://www.writeitfor.us - Writing IT for the IT generation.
  12. Re:PlayBook great with BB, Android and native soon by acoustix · · Score: 2

    I've owned a BlackBerry phone since 2004 and I've also been a BES admin since 2004. I had the 7750, 8303e, 8830, 9530 and now the 9930. The 7750 was a terrible phone, but great for everything else. My next two phones were absolutely amazing. The Storm (9530) left some to be desired for their first touchscreen phone. But the 9930 is fast, fast, fast.

    I also ordered a PB when they came out. I'm trying to justify its use for business, but so far I'm struggling. It's difficult to find apps that relate to my profession in IT. The fact that it was also released without native integration to BES is also a huge negative. Rumor has it (by developers) that RIM still isn't any closer to having native email/calendar/contacts on QNX and apparently this is true of both the tablet and phone version. I suspect that we will not see native apps until late 2012 at the earliest. I really hope that I'm wrong. I really think that BB has the best overall platform. However, RIM's management is completely messed up and needs to be replaced ASAP.

    --
    "A plan fiendishly clever in its intricacies"- Homer Simpson
  13. Really? by roc97007 · · Score: 2

    $400 off $299... RIM was trying to sell the Playbook for $700? No wonder it failed.

    --
    Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.