Here is my comparison. Blackberry Playbook vs Google Nexus 7.
Disclaimer. Blackberry Playbook user for over a year and Google Nexus 7 user for a week.
1. Built quality.
I've had Playbook for a while and it can take beating. Playbook is made of better materials. Rubber casing on Playbook does not feel as cheap as plastic on Nexus 7.
This one goes to PB
2. Design
I love slim profile of Nexus 7 and its weight which is noticeably less than Playbook.
This one goes to N7
2. Speakers
This goes to Playbook hands down. Having speakers in the front and on both sides of the screen creates far better listening experience. Rear N7 speaker is good but not as good as Playbook.
3. Display
This goes to Nexus 7. Playbook screen is brighter but letters are noticeably sharper on Google Nexus 7. Far better for eyes.
4. Performance
This goes to Nexus 7. Nexus 7 feels snappier than Playbook. I guess quad core cpu in N7 makes a difference
5. OS
This is tough one. This is my second "adventure" with Android. First time I had Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 and honestly I did not like it at all.
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean is way better than Gingerbread or Ice Cream Sandwitch on Samsung Galaxy Tab. I love Android customization options with widgets, live wallpapers etc. Google integration and notification solution is just awesome on 4.2. However, i find QNX to be more robust with its TRUE full multitasking and no button os. swipe function on Playbook. 7" screen is small realty and Playbook utilizes this space 100%. I find it annoying that Nexus 7 "control bar" is always visible when playing games and there is no way to hide it unless app allows for it. It is good that control bar is at least gone when watching movies. I strongly disliked it on Gingerbread. Also full support of flash on Playbook and its bridge integration with blackberry phones are strong assets. As long as Playbook and BB phone are connected through bluetooth, playbook is always connected to the internet. Seamingless tethering with no need for any extra steps. Email redundancy is gone with Playbook and BB phone combo. Finally having Android Player on Playbook is benefit as it allows to run both native QNX and many android apps on Playbook.
so this is draw at this point. I like both os for different reasons and it is hard to choose complete winner. I will revisit this once BB10 comes out on PB with its "flow" notification system.
6. The internet
Chrome is faster than Playbook browser. Chrome generates online pages way faster and offer more options than Playbook browser.
This one goes hands down to N7.
7. App store
Hands down N7. To be fair Playbook has gone long way since it was introduced. Now Playbook app store has good selection of apps and games. There are many great apps both native and android based. Android player works surprisingly well on Playbook. Having said that Android store app selection is just jaw dropping. The only minus of Android store is that many apps are made for phone not tablet. Also Rim is very aggressive and offers many games on Playbook at no charge that cost money on Android. Playbook has strong community and app builders that create some awesome stuff only available on Playbook. Like games Flycraft, Pacemaker or exclusive Amiga game on Playbook. Still Playbook has long way to go. Also I find that many titles do not get released at all or released late on Playbook.
8. Price
This hands down goes to Playbook. RIM offers crazy deals on Playbook now.
9. Connections and camera
this one goes again to playbook. Built in HDMI and BOTH front and rear cameras are great on Playbook. I could leave with no rear camera on N7 but HDMI should be already included in N7.
10. Future
Playbook as it is now is already done. With over 2,000,000 playbooks sold i think rim will eventually come out with Playbook 2 after BB10 is launched. future of Playbook and RIM. Google is 100% behind Nexus so i am not worried about its future support and development.
So this one goes to N7 as of today.
Final words. N7 is pretty cool tablet but i do not see myself selling Playbook. I think i will keep Nexus 7. There is a lot to be liked about N7. But there is a lot to like about Playbook as well. At its current prices Playbook is just awesome buy especially with BB10 coming out on Playbook in short few months.
Please welcome comments.
Update
11. Accessories
Playbook has far better selection of OEM accessories such as cases, shells,Bluetooth keyboard rapid charger etc. Nothing like that is offered by Google. There are some stuff for N7 on eBay but they not OEM and they are of questionable quality. RIm made PB accessories are high quality.
This one goes to PB
12. Battery
This one goes to N7. Battery will last longer on N7 than PB. However all "goodies" such as live widgets and wallpapers need to be kept to minimum. They are power hungry.
Disclaimer. Blackberry Playbook user for over a year and Google Nexus 7 user for a week.
1. Built quality.
I've had Playbook for a while and it can take beating. Playbook is made of better materials. Rubber casing on Playbook does not feel as cheap as plastic on Nexus 7.
This one goes to PB
2. Design
I love slim profile of Nexus 7 and its weight which is noticeably less than Playbook.
This one goes to N7
2. Speakers
This goes to Playbook hands down. Having speakers in the front and on both sides of the screen creates far better listening experience. Rear N7 speaker is good but not as good as Playbook.
3. Display
This goes to Nexus 7. Playbook screen is brighter but letters are noticeably sharper on Google Nexus 7. Far better for eyes.
4. Performance
This goes to Nexus 7. Nexus 7 feels snappier than Playbook. I guess quad core cpu in N7 makes a difference
5. OS
This is tough one. This is my second "adventure" with Android. First time I had Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 and honestly I did not like it at all.
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean is way better than Gingerbread or Ice Cream Sandwitch on Samsung Galaxy Tab. I love Android customization options with widgets, live wallpapers etc. Google integration and notification solution is just awesome on 4.2. However, i find QNX to be more robust with its TRUE full multitasking and no button os. swipe function on Playbook. 7" screen is small realty and Playbook utilizes this space 100%. I find it annoying that Nexus 7 "control bar" is always visible when playing games and there is no way to hide it unless app allows for it. It is good that control bar is at least gone when watching movies. I strongly disliked it on Gingerbread. Also full support of flash on Playbook and its bridge integration with blackberry phones are strong assets. As long as Playbook and BB phone are connected through bluetooth, playbook is always connected to the internet. Seamingless tethering with no need for any extra steps. Email redundancy is gone with Playbook and BB phone combo. Finally having Android Player on Playbook is benefit as it allows to run both native QNX and many android apps on Playbook.
so this is draw at this point. I like both os for different reasons and it is hard to choose complete winner. I will revisit this once BB10 comes out on PB with its "flow" notification system.
6. The internet
Chrome is faster than Playbook browser. Chrome generates online pages way faster and offer more options than Playbook browser.
This one goes hands down to N7.
7. App store
Hands down N7. To be fair Playbook has gone long way since it was introduced. Now Playbook app store has good selection of apps and games. There are many great apps both native and android based. Android player works surprisingly well on Playbook. Having said that Android store app selection is just jaw dropping. The only minus of Android store is that many apps are made for phone not tablet. Also Rim is very aggressive and offers many games on Playbook at no charge that cost money on Android. Playbook has strong community and app builders that create some awesome stuff only available on Playbook. Like games Flycraft, Pacemaker or exclusive Amiga game on Playbook. Still Playbook has long way to go. Also I find that many titles do not get released at all or released late on Playbook.
8. Price
This hands down goes to Playbook. RIM offers crazy deals on Playbook now.
9. Connections and camera
this one goes again to playbook. Built in HDMI and BOTH front and rear cameras are great on Playbook. I could leave with no rear camera on N7 but HDMI should be already included in N7.
10. Future
Playbook as it is now is already done. With over 2,000,000 playbooks sold i think rim will eventually come out with Playbook 2 after BB10 is launched. future of Playbook and RIM. Google is 100% behind Nexus so i am not worried about its future support and development.
So this one goes to N7 as of today.
Final words. N7 is pretty cool tablet but i do not see myself selling Playbook. I think i will keep Nexus 7. There is a lot to be liked about N7. But there is a lot to like about Playbook as well. At its current prices Playbook is just awesome buy especially with BB10 coming out on Playbook in short few months.
Please welcome comments.
Update
11. Accessories
Playbook has far better selection of OEM accessories such as cases, shells,Bluetooth keyboard rapid charger etc. Nothing like that is offered by Google. There are some stuff for N7 on eBay but they not OEM and they are of questionable quality. RIm made PB accessories are high quality.
This one goes to PB
12. Battery
This one goes to N7. Battery will last longer on N7 than PB. However all "goodies" such as live widgets and wallpapers need to be kept to minimum. They are power hungry.
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