Current Event Post 1
Topic: Tech/Science
Title: Blackberry's PlayBook Tablet
Writer:
Publication Name: CNN
Date of Publication:
Length: 343 words
Main Idea:
Apple's iPad has been doing so well financially that Blackberry developed its own product for the tablet market, the PlayBook. The PlayBook is smaller than the iPad and has twice the processing power with dual core processing. It also has four times the available memory, with 1 GB of RAM as opposed to 256 MB of RAM on the iPad. No one would want these kind of specs for their personal computer and the screen is really too small for doing any serious work or play. However, this is a breakthrough in a different market: the tablet market.
Tablets are much tinier than laptops and desktops and are designed that way to be able to be taken more places than laptops. To have two reasonable processors and a gigabyte of memory in such small devices opens up much more flexibility for developers and those whose business revolves around easy access to the web no matter where they go. While quad-core laptops are currently hitting the market as the new best in affordable, dual-core tablets with more and more memory.
The PlayBook will be released in 2011 and is something of a gamble for Research in Motion. RIM's Blackberry Torch wasn't an instant hit, and RIM is hoping the PlayBook does better.
Conclusion:
Computing power is getting better and better every year, manifesting in more and more convenient devices. The iPod Nano is an example of how small computers can become and still be fast. Intel supercomputers, with hundreds of processors, are examples of how powerful computers can become and still fit in a box. Now all sizes in between are being tested and produced. Computers have integrated into the lives of Americans and are still a growing commodity.
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Technology is getting smaller and compact, in a good way. This new type of computer proves that people demands more portable devices that could be easily transported to different places. This decrease in size happened for mobile phones as well. Phones weighed more than a kilogram when it was first invented. As technology advanced, phones got smaller. Now the mobile phone is the most popular and best selling type of communication device for average citizens. This compact computer is another technology that might be sold to millions of people around the world. Hopefully, this invention can get us out of depression
ReplyDeleteThis is a sad attempt at Blackberry trying to combat Apple in the market. Although the tablet is a rising new idea, it is completly impractical and the only reason it worked for Apple is because they have hundreds of thousands of die-hard supporters. I believe that instead of the tablet taking off, the gap between cell phones and laptops is slowly going to be closed and there will be no need for any sort of tablet.
ReplyDeleteSome people prefer blackberry smart phones over and ipod any day. But nothing can really beat an Ipad. Blackberry is once again copying Apple, they did it with there BlackBerry Storm, and now the PlayBook. Yes, for people who's jobs revolve around the internet, and not typing up or downloading things, but thats not a very big portion of people. BlackBerry could have done this better. They could have made the memory space bigger to make it more functional of more people.
ReplyDeleteI am disappointed that yet again, another company had fun copying a remarkable product. It's hilarious, just like the Zune, lots of companies just rip off ideas from apple cause they lack the creative minds to come up with the product in the first place. So high-five to blackberry for having no imagination.
ReplyDeleteMany consumers in the market prefer blackberry smart phones over apple products. One of the key problems with the apple Ipad is that it's size and shape are extremely inconvenient, and there is not flash compatibility. It seems with increased processing power blackberry has accounted for that problem, as well creating a more convenient shape. Although it does seem like blackberry just ripped this idea off of apple, the use of tablets instead of laptops is becoming an industry standard, and it is what the future of home computing is moving towards.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like every time Apple comes out with a new product, Blackberry just has to go copy it. No matter what, the Ipad will and still is better than Blackberry. But I agree with Madison that people do like the Blackberry phones better than Iphone. But it's different with the Ipad.
ReplyDeleteI think that most of the other commenters here have been right: blackberry likes to copy whatever apple does. However, this is going to be a little smaller, so that might help them because it's like a mix between the ipad and the ipod touch. And it seems like kind of a waste of memory because there isn't a big enough screen to really do anything.
ReplyDeleteIt's really amazing to look at how far technology has come just in our lifetimes. My new phone has literally twice the processing power and memory of my first computer, and it fits in my pocket. Yes, the iPad was more innovative than the Playbook, and it will probably be considered more innovative than the next competitor. Both are amazing devices. I think that this competition is good. In a capitalist society, competition like this is what drives innovation. Apple took a big step with the iPad. Blackberry tried to one-up that by offering a comparable product with prettier system specs. Motorola is rumored to be whipping out their own tablet next year. Competition like this forces the innovative companies to continue being innovative. Apple will have to throw something else out there thats bigger and better than the iPad, in order to stay ahead of the game. And this all translates to more options and cooler gadgets for us, the consumers. The more the merrier.
ReplyDeleteI think it is very interesting how a non-Mac company made a better version of the iPod. I also have to disagree with what she said about the screen being too small, I think it is the perfect size because it can fit in your pocket and is also big enough.
ReplyDeleteI think this kind of competition between companies is healthy. It pushes technology to the limits as they race to create smaller and better computers and electronics, even if its just for out personal entertainment.
ReplyDelete