PlayBook No Longer Available on Major Retailers' Websites
Is RIM's PlayBook being phased out to make way for a new tablet?
RIM's PlayBook hasn't had the easiest life. Launched to lukewarm reviews in April of 2011, the device didn't fly off the shelves as fast as RIM hoped. This was evidenced by the hefty price cuts the tablet has seen around the world over the last few months. However, if you haven't yet snagged one, you might want to do it soon, as word on the street is that the PlayBook is getting pretty hard to find. At least online.
ComputerWorld reports that Wal-Mart, Best Buy, RadioShack and Staples no longer have the PlayBook listed on the online stores. Canada's Future Shop and Best Buy are both sold out of the 16GB and 64GB models (and are selling off the 32GB models at a discounted price). If you want, you can grab the 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB at a heavy discount from Amazon.
Whether or not this means there's a new PlayBook on the way remains to be seen. Computerworld cites Bob O'Donnell, program vice president for clients and displays at IDC, as saying he doesn't think RIM is ready to give up on the market just yet. However, the company just recently released a 4G version of the tablet in Canada and it seems shortsighted to update the current PlayBook for 4G networks if there's another PlayBook on the way.

if you using your tablet more then just reading ebook and internet.. dont buy it.
I see a tablet as a tool to get some specific work done. In that sense, the Playbook does it right. Yep it is another tool that you have to learn to use. For those who buy a tablet with the same criterias as they'd buy a Vuitton handbag, then be happy, don't fuss and go get the brandnamed one.
Not found it limited at all. I guess some folks find it doesn't enable them to make their crappy pics even more crappier (instagram) and so throw a kiddie fit and hand it back.
However, spend a bit more time with it and you find it's some serious hardware and system. It certainlt does everything I want and more. It's also far better made than a lot of cheap Android tablets such as the Nexus etc.
Audio and video quality is very good too. In fact after seeing mine a few of my friends have bought one too and they love it.
I would point out that we are all over the age of thirty so don't tend to petulantly rage quit over not having every hipster app of dubious value.
That at-loss dirt-cheap is there for a reason, would've do much better going Nexus 7 or Galaxy Tab. Software for BlackBerry is pitiful compare to Android's offering (official Play market) everything there is $$$, those that were available for free has quite low quality to it.
I saw Android 2.3 compatibility layer to it and rushed (thinking the APK must narrow its declaration to Gingerbread level) but SURPRISE, in addition to that this must be repackaged and distributed as pseudo-native BAR package and a * says it might be broken API not fully compatible, which means it is STILL useless. I agree to the + side the fans points to but the - points really outweighs the + that is why it is a fail, not a BB bashing thing, price, market rate, they all speaks out this tablet is a fail.
My previous concern of non-RIM environment not withstanding, the software support side of this tablet is quite horrible. It is fit for narrow uses that the thing already have on its ROM, namely Web, YouTube, PIM, but not a lot beyond that.
I do have finger-X'd for native Android mod apply to PlayBook.
Smooth hardware, nice first-on experience and I agree on the +. However horrible app software-support out weighs any nice thing this has. You are much better coughing up extra money for likes of Nexus 7 or Galaxy Tab 2. Plus the Android 2.3 compatibility layer is deceptive; it counted on me or you rushing out on this point but it calls for pseudo-native repackaging to BAR by the developers and * broken Gingerbread API.
Incredible value for the money. If you are looking for a tablet to do e-mail, browse the internet, watch video online etc...then this will kill it.
The OS is actually really nice to work with once you learn the basics (takes 5 minutes).
The only downside is that it doesn't have as big of a selection of apps as android or ios (as should be expected).