RIM BlackBerry PlayBook

At launch, you can buy one of three versions of the tablet, all identical except for varying amounts of built-in storage. All current models are Wi-Fi-only, but 3G and 4G models are on the way. The 16BG model will sell for $499.99, the 32GB for $599.99 and the 64GB for $699.99—the same prices and capacities as the Wi-Fi-only Apple iPad 2.

Included with the PlayBook is a soft carrying pouch. And we also got our hands on optional rubber and leather cases from RIM. None of the cases have magnets or special interactions with the tablet, unlike the Apple iPad Smart Cover, which can wake up the iPad or put it to sleep by simply moving the cover on or off the tablet's screen. The cases have cutouts for the Volume and Power buttons, and for the front- and back-facing webcams. Pricing has not yet been announced for either case.

The PlayBook runs a new operating system, optimized for tablets, called the BlackBerry Tablet OS. In the past few months, other competitors have redesigned their mobile operating systems to be optimized for tablets as well (like Google's Android 3.0 and HP's upcoming WebOS 3.0 for the HP TouchPad.)

Check out our full BlackBerry PlayBook review to see how the latest tablet stacks up against the competition. And hit the slideshow below for the unboxing photos.

iPad 2, Xoom or PlayBook: Which one is the Hottest in Tablets Rate

It seems like an eternity that we talked about the Motorola Xoom and the RIM BlackBerry playbook. In fact, we did. For months, long enough for the iPad 2 made its debut, the press and analysts ask: What tablet would rule the performance and speed? What would be the best apps? How about the best user experience?

Until recently, all we had was hardware specs to compare the contenders, and we could only guess how well they can perform.But now that the two most popular non-Apple tablet market hit, we can answer these questions. We tested the iPad 2, Xoom, and PLAY, and have quality time to compare features in Apple's IOS with Google's Honeycomb and RIM's Tablet OS.
The biggest question of all remains: In the long term, not only tablet participant has the chops market dominated iPad topple?

If you can wait until later this year to get into the game, we'll probably have a clearer answer, like other tablets as promising second-gen Samsung Galaxy Tab, HP TouchPad, LG G-Slate, and HTC Flyer is on the horizon. But if you want to take a tablet today and you are located ON A iPad, which the Xoom and the play-though not perfect from the port is your best bet. Check out full reviews for the iPad 2, Xoom and playbook, and compare the key specs in the table below.

Apple iPad2
The clear standout in the ever-widening sea of tablets, the Apple iPad 2 brings a slimmer design, faster processing, dual cameras, and FaceTime video chat to a tablet that already had a leg up on the competition.







Motorola Xoom
The Motorola Xoom for Verizon Wireless is the best Android tablet yet, but with a lack of key features (like full Flash video and SD card slot support) and mediocre apps at launch, it doesn't measure up to the Apple iPad.





RIM BlackBerry PlayBook

When RIM pushes out the updates to make the BlackBerry PlayBook a better tablet for e-mail, video chat, and productivity, we'll revisit this rating. For now, though, the PlayBook is outmatched by competitors with more versatile and complete feature sets.