BlackBerry PlayBook Wi-Fi, 16 GB

The BlackBerry PlayBook from Research In Motion (RIM) is a sleek looking device that packs in powerful features with a new operating system. The initially enterprise focused tablet from RIM has gone on to ensnare the consumer market too. This touch-based tablet runs on the QNX OS, which is the first microkernel based end-to-end real time operating system, prepared to give smooth multi-tasking experience.

The PlayBook is powered by a Cortex A9 Dual Core processor with PowerVR SGX540 graphics and 1 GB RAM that complement the operating system and give you PC like experience in a smaller form factor. The PlayBook sports a 7-inch LCD capacitive touchscreen that has a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels. The high resolution screen also has 4-finger multi-touch and gesture support features.

A 5 megapixel camera is loaded at the back of the PlayBook that can record Full HD 1080p videos in MPEG format. There is also a 3 megapixel front-facing camera that allows video chatting. The user interface of this RIM device is noteworthy as it combines features from webOS and iOS.

Design RIM has designed the PlayBook in a form factor that is easy to carry around. The device has a metal chassis with rounded edges that renders it a sophisticated look. On the top edge is the power button of the tablet, along with the volume rocker and play/pause button. If you don't prefer the power button, you can also start the PlayBook with a simple swipe-to-wake gesture touch.

The 425 g weighing BlackBerry tablet has dimensions of 130 x 194 x 10 mm. The two stereo speakers are neatly placed alongside the screen bezel, that give superior audio output. The Ambient Light Sensor present in the PlayBook is responsible for auto-adjusting the brightness of the 7-inch screen. Other sensors loaded into the tablet device include accelerometer, gyroscope and digital compass. The latter, along with GPS helps you navigate your way to any destination.

Storage and Memory The BlackBerry PlayBook uses a standard 5300 mAh Li-Po battery, which, once fully charged, lets you go unplugged for up to 7 hours. The PlayBook does not have a microSD memory card slot. You can choose from 16, 32 or 64 GB internal storage space as per your requirements.

Connectivity and Features The Bluetooth connectivity in the PlayBook lets you pair a keyboard and mouse to it for ease of use. Other connectivity options include a micro HDMI port, a micro USB port, a charger connector and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. The unique feature of the HDMI output is that it can show separate contents on the tablet and the TV to which it is connected. This means you can run a video on the TV while surfing the net on your tablet at the same time.

You can surf the Internet on the PlayBook through Wi-Fi on a Webkit browser. Apart from this, there are various useful features present in this tablet device that make it a must-have gadget. The RIM tablet has the copy and paste feature and packs in Word, Sheet, and Slideshow to Go from DataVis. The browser comes integrated with the Adobe Flash 10.1 and built-in support for HTML 5 giving an enhanced Web experience. Also present is a customized version of the Adobe Reader.