RIM first announced its 7" PlayBook tablet way
back in September of 2010. Here we are six months later, and RIM is just
now getting around to revealing pricing for the tablet.
Best Buy has the 16GB PlayBook (Wi-Fi model) on pre-order
for $499.99. Even though pricing has been made available, we still don't
have a shipping date for BlackBerry's answer to the iPad/iPad 2. The 32GB and
64GB Wi-Fi models should be priced at $599 and $699 respectively, mirroring the
pricing of Apple’s
iPad 2.
In addition to Best Buy, the PlayBook will be available
at a number of U.S. retailers including Office Depot, Stales, and Radio
Shack. It will also be available from the three largest U.S. wireless carriers
(Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint).
"The BlackBerry PlayBook is an amazing tablet that is
already being widely praised as a multi-tasking powerhouse with an
uncompromised web experience and an ultra-portable design," said Mike
Lazaridis, President & Co-CEO, Research In Motion. "Given the high
level of customer interest in the BlackBerry PlayBook, we are particularly
pleased to be working with such an amazing lineup of retail partners."
The PlayBook features a 7" (1024x600) display, 1GHz
dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, HDMI output, and dual cameras (5MP rear, 3MP
front). The 0.9-pound PlayBook runs RIM's BlackBerry Tablet OS.
