RIM Said to Plan Tablet for November to Take on Apple's IPad

[OilKiller]

Research In Motion Ltd., maker of the BlackBerry smartphone, plans to introduce a tablet computer in November to compete with Apple Inc.’s iPad, according to two people familiar with the company’s plans.

The device will have roughly the same dimensions as the iPad, which has a 9.7-inch diagonal screen, said the two people who wouldn’t be identified because the plans haven’t been made public. The device will include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless technology that will allow people to connect to the Internet through their BlackBerry smartphones, the two people said.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-0...le-s-ipad.html

[MRCboicgy]

I'd totally buy one of it has a pen input. Don't get me wrong, I love touch, but if i need to scribble a ton of notes as i walk, finger doesn't do it for me. It's not like a SmartBoard where you generally write few things with your finger, in large strokes

[Flames0910]

Originally Posted by MRCboicgy

I'd totally buy one of it has a pen input. Don't get me wrong, I love touch, but if i need to scribble a ton of notes as i walk, finger doesn't do it for me. It's not like a SmartBoard where you generally write few things with your finger, in large strokes

Could totally see RIM going this route so they're not going head to head. Just like physical keyboards vs touchscreens.

I like how they're removing 3G and adding easy tethering instead. Makes sense if you're business traveling and staying in hotels.

[temple5]

The only credible source for this rumor is that rim purchased the "blackpad" domain name.

[alltherage]

If you're like me you want to see what this looks like. Here's an unofficial mockup from intomobile.com

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by Flames0910

I like how they're removing 3G and adding easy tethering instead. Makes sense if you're business traveling and staying in hotels.

This seems like a huge mistake for the following reasons:
1. Surfing on the Blackpad in a 3G area will drain both my pad battery and my phone battery
2. I now have two devices to recharge - am I going to have to haul around two chargers, or will I daisy chain them to one charger? Either way, I need at least two cables now
3. Can I tether and make a call at the same time? Not all networks will support this, in the US at least
4. What happens when I move out of tether range. Let's say I have IM or Skype on my Blackpad, tethered to my phone, and I move to another room or floor in an office with my phone, just out of range - will I drop messages on my IM client as a result?

Palm tried this with the Folio, and it wasn't tenable. Similarly, you don't see MiFi's setting the world on fire either.

Plan sharing between devices is the way to go, I think. The cost of the 3G radio, at purchase time, is only like $130 on an iPad, which amortized over the life of the device is almost negligible.

[Acey]

Originally Posted by MRCboicgy

I'd totally buy one of it has a pen input. Don't get me wrong, I love touch, but if i need to scribble a ton of notes as i walk, finger doesn't do it for me. It's not like a SmartBoard where you generally write few things with your finger, in large strokes

You can use a faux stylus on the iPad.

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19512_7-10443415-233.html

[Flames0910]

Originally Posted by alltherage

If you're like me you want to see what this looks like. Here's an unofficial mockup from intomobile.com

I'm less than impressed by this...

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by Acey

You can use a faux stylus on the iPad.

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19512_7-10443415-233.html

I have one of those, and as you can see, the tip is not very fine. You might as well be writing your friend a note with a crayon.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Flames0910

I'm less than impressed by this...

Well no sh1t, they used a monster 1" bezel and just zoomed a OS6 screen. I mean look how much real estate their mockup is giving to the clock/status bar (1/3 of the screen)

[Torture]

"unofficial mockup"

We really have no idea what it's going to look like, I think we're going to have to be a little patient.

[Rathji]

The more players in the tablet market the better.