The BlackBerry PlayBook is set to be released over the next few months but will this iPad competitor be a big hit with consumers and business users?
Bloomberg spoke with multiple analysts and the sales estimates are varied. Some are bullish on the prospect of the BlackBerry Playbook by predicting more than 8 million units sold next year while others are expecting the device to be lucky to crack the 1 million mark.
To put that in perspective, the Apple iPad is expected to sell nearly 20 million units this year. The recently-released Samsung Galaxy Tab has also been a smash hit, as the Android-powered tablet has sold more than 1 million units in its first month.
The BlackBerry PlayBook has a lot of things going for it if the company can deliver on its promises. We’re talking about a dual-core processor, a brand-new operating system designed by QNX and maybe The Astonishing Tribe, multiple HD cameras, a 7-inch screen and a browser which can use Adobe Flash, Air, as well as native apps. Additionally, it will have the BlackBerry cache and security to make it palatable for many large businesses which want this form factor but are scared away by security concerns.
There are still many questions about the BlackBerry PlayBook though, as we don’t know when it will actually land in our hands. Additionally, rumors which said it would undercut the iPad may not be true, so pricing may be a big issue, particularly for consumers.
The biggest issue is that the BlackBerry PlayBook looks great compared to what’s on the market now but six or three months from now, it’s a whole different ball game. The iPad 2 will up the ante again, as will the Motorola Honeycomb Android tablet, the webOS-powered PalmPad and many other devices that should launch soon.
[Via Bloomberg]