BlackBerry PlayBook gets iFixit tear-down

By on Apr 19, 2011 at 7:33 PM
Tablets April 19, 2011

The team over at iFixit spent the morning tearing down RIM’s brand new tablet for an in-depth look at the inner-workings of the BlackBerry PlayBook. There aren’t too many surprises, but the firm did discuss how difficult and costly it could be to replace broken parts. If you aren’t using a case for your PlayBook just yet, here’s one reason you might want to start:

“The front camera, rear camera, and top control buttons are all attached as one assembly, making the replacement of a broken power button or volume buttons very costly.”

iFixit also said that RIM chose to build a magnesium frame around the glass LCD display, which should give it some extra durability. If you do end up shattering that 7-inch front panel, it’s not the end of the world. The LCD isn’t fused to the glass, which means a replacement should be fairly easy on you, and your wallet. Hit the jump to see iFixit’s full gallery.

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20 Comments

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  • Anonymous

    After owning blackberry storm, I just am too damn scared to go back to anything RIM. Sorry, but I can’t trust their products anymore. Including having to wait forever for an update. Wonder if this Playbook will get anymore than 2 updates, if that. Good luck crazy people.

    • http://twitter.com/grahamfluet Graham Fluet

      It’s already been through over five revisions before the launch.

      • Anonymous

        Over 5? holy crap. Doesn’t that just show that it’s unstable? Lots of bugs? Unless these revisions are because of positives for the consumer such as copy/paste etc. I want positive additions. Refreshments in UI. This is RIM. They were first in the smartphone right? Why are they revising it over 5 times? LoL. That doesn’t sound right.

      • Anonymous

        First you complain you don’t get enough updates…give it up.

      • Anonymous

        So first you don’t want the PB because you never got updates on your storm and now that someone has said that it has gotten 5 that’s to many. You indecisiveness must steam from childhood issues or your a Republican.

      • Martin

        guys, he has an ipad so far up his butt he cant think straight.

        Apple gets it right the first time everytime right? Like the copy and paste that was there from day 1, the ability to choose custom ringtones from day one right? the mms availability from day 1? The antenna issues that werent an issue from day 1? the watching flash video files without a work around?

      • Anonymous

        you dorks have nothing better than to mock the lil guy, me. 5 updates? or fixes? theres a difference. and thats what the PB/RIM did/does. shut up sit down. I don’t even own an ipad. Hey kid, give me your PB so I can shove it up your rear end so you can clog up and explode into a million tiny glittery pieces, or whatever dorky shizz that saying goes.

    • RealDeal

      Slow or no updates is your carriers fault not RIM’s. I have had no fewer 10 OS updates to my Blackberry 9700 since I’ve had it. This is using all updates available and not relying on my carrier to release it. My carrier has maybe released 4 updates.

      • Anonymous

        This thing has Wireless or OTA updates so no reliance on Carriers.
        BB Smartphones are another story, carriers made the decision on OS versions.

    • Mattyfromma

      I agree with you, I also had a BB storm and what a piece of junk that was. Rim wont last to much longer as a company because they are afraid of change.

  • Max

    I think I see a 286 processor in there from 1987

    • Problem?

      U jelly bro?

    • http://twitter.com/Theonick Theo Walker

      And your an IDIOT ! But the world still turns.

      • Anonymous

        Can anybody spell you’re properly? Holy crap the online generation is uneducated.

      • http://twitter.com/Sweetrobbo Robby andrews

        I hate it when people use “loose” as “lose” all the time. ARGH! On another note, I really want to build my own tablet, like a custom PC.

    • Hiryu

      The key word being “I think”, its just another way of saying “I don’t know”.

  • @j_nathaniel

    Looks like the perfect addition to the pile of stuff I don’t want.

    • Hiryu

      Thats nice, but who cares what you want or don’t want. The world doesn’t revolve around you.

  • iMiiTH

    Oh god the bias here. The internals are pretty great, better than the iPad’s but what do you see emphasised in the article?

    “The front camera, rear camera, and top control buttons are all attached as one assembly, making the replacement of a broken power button or volume buttons very costly.”

    Jeez.

  • Nightfox111

    It’s the best built tablet out there, and no heat gun needed b/c RIM used a magnesium frame! A few more updates to the OS and so will the OS be… Besides, it’s already better then that laggy, viruse riddle OS call Android.

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