My Thoughts On The Blackberry Playbook and Ipad Comparison Video

I’ve embedded the new video from Blackberry comparing the (yet unreleased) Playbook (their vapourware slate, well until it is in the shops it is not really real) to the iPad.

Now these videos are interesting to me for a couple of reasons. The first is that it gives us a sneak peak at what may be coming our way. But it doesn’t really give us any really useful comparison between the two devices. Basically what we are seeing in the video is a comparison between a prototype and a version of the iPad that will no longer be valid by the time a final version of the prototype hits the shelves.

And that is the point, already the iPad has moved on to version 4.2.1 of iOS4, by the time the Playbook hits the shelves of stores the iPad will be on it’s second hardware iteration.

Now I don’t know what the spec of the next iPad will be. All we do know is that it will be better spec’d than the current iPads. Maybe faster processor, more operating RAM, front facing camera, who knows? I can only speculate, or try and make logical guesses.

Why do I call the Playbook in the video a prototype? Well it can’t be a final production model, or it would be out in the shops. So Blackberry must be doing some final bits and pieces to the Playbook. Even at the launch, sorry announcement of the intent to release the Playbook no one could get a hands on. Which would imply that it isn’t at the moment in a usable state to let press and public get their hands on it.

And between now and when the Playbook finally hits the shelves things can change dramatically in what was shown and what is released.

So while interesting I’ll wait until I can see a true comparison between the two competing devices of final off the shelf products. Until then take these sort of videos with a pinch of salt.