why? I hate Blackberry phones. I have two right now.

To each his own. I really hate typing significant emails on touchscreens.

Agreed.

+1 (love my berry though).

The NY Times list of mostly what you can't do with it yet

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/14/te.../14pogue.html?

Bluetooth tethering! If true, big savings
 

One review said that the new Blackberry playbook supports tethering (!) on Bluetooth to supported blackberry phones. IOW, you get a Verizon BT blackberry with unlimited data, you have it in your pocket and your tablet uses your phones data connection.

So one data plan, two devices. Too good to be true? Maybe. You have issues on battery life, etc. And will the carriers allow?

I used Verizon unlimited data internationally recently (the rep said yes, I am awaiting my bill). I could have a tablet with no extra data charge.

Will the Playbook use the BB phone's BIS connection or will you have to use APN to connect?
If it uses BIS that would be a game changer....unless the networks increase the monthly subs!

Nice review, well the first page is anyway - can't wait.

Picking up my 32GB model this morning. Demoed it @ a local Best Buy over the weekend. Ran very smooth and not on the latest OS version too. Screen was bright. Looks to be a very nice multi media device as well. Felt a bit heavy though.

As I'm on a corp BES I've already downloaded the Blackberry Bridge app of BB App World. I've read RIM is firing off QNX s/w updates rapidly so I'm thinking they've most likely released it a bit too early. Hardware is solid though.

Will probably leave the laptop @ home on short trips now.

Learning curve awaits me though - my first tablet.

I love tablets - but I haven't read any reviews that convince me I want this. The need for a Blackberry just to get email already makes it a non-starter in my book.

Yep however the email functionality is I believe on the way and will hopefully be here when it arrives in the UK.

I think one of the reviews summed it up that it was a promising platform with plenty of coming soon's (native email, Android apps, 3G, etc.). I guess they struggled with the question of releasing it without those features or waiting several months and being seen as behind the curve. I'm still debating whether I pick on up this weekend or not.

To me, that is the proof that RIM has lost their mind.

Who the hell sells a tablet without an email client? I understand the need for tethering ability, but to cripple it to the point where it'll only work when tethered is just insane.

Suspect retailers will be seeing a LOT of these things returned.

From what I've read about this, it appears this is little more than a wireless large screen for the blackberry you need to have to make it useful.

So i got a 16gb one at Best Buy today and am posting this from it. There seems to be 2 options for data. One is to tie to the phone which gets you essentially are large screen view of messages, calendar, etc. It does this via a bridge program you install on the phone to tie the two devices together via Bluetooth. One choice you have is the internet via the bridge to the phone's data plan. This seems to be the 'free' data plan as it uses what you are already paying for thru the phone. Let me say that viewing full htlm webpages this way is painfully slow! United.com never did fully load and the scrolling pictures at Hilton.com flashed repeatedly like a strobe. Not impressive. Web via wifi is a bit slower than my iPad but that may be a function of my hotel's connection right now. The issue seems to be that any other app besides the bridge internet needs the wifi connection. When riding in the car earlier with no wifi I could not attach to the weather app. Thus it seems like short of any apps, if the phone can do it, the book can too.

Overall, i like it so far but two hours of use is hardly a full flogging.