http://www.ubergizmo.com/2011/11/blackberry-playbook-native-email-calendar-and-contacts-app-spotted/

Most Playbook issues are software related; most Fire issues are hardware related. Next month, RIM will be releasing that email client update and other patches can follow, so the Playbook will be get better.

On the other hand, Amazon can't issue a patch that would add RAM, storage, bluetooth, a GPS or extra cameras; the Fire will always remain a very limited device, while the Playbook has far more potential even if RIM folds a couple of years from now.

You think the two devices are equivalent?

Dude.

Compare the specs yourself. Notice what the Fire lacks compared to the most basic of Playbooks.

16GB Playbook:
CPU: 1 GHz TI OMAP 4 4430 dual core
Display: 7", 1024×600,Capacitive touch sensitive.
Storage: 16 GB
RAM: 1 GB
GPS
3-axis accelerometer-gyroscope
Magnetometer
Camera 1080p HD video: 5 MP rear, 3 MP front
Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n)
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
Micro-USB
Micro-HDMI

Now, the far shorter list of the Fire:
CPU: 1 GHz TI OMAP 4 4430 dual core
Display: 7", 1024×600,Capacitive touch sensitive.
Storage: 8 GB
RAM: 512 MB
Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n)
Micro-USB
3.5 mm stereo socket
Accelerometer

I got my wife a Kindle Fire for Christmas and I do think it's a very nice device (and good enough for her needs), but aside for the CPU and screen in no way is it equivalent to the lowest end Playbook feature-wise; GPS + Bluetooth + twice the RAM + Twice the Storage + 2 Cameras + gyroscope + Magnetometer + HDMI out justify the $99 difference. I do like Android a whole lot (even have my own Android tablet) but it doesn't make me blind to the fact that at this price, the Playbook is an excellent value.

I own a hacked Viewsonic g Tablet as well and it more than meets my needs but I agree it's not the best as an ereader, so my own wife wasn't that interested in it. However, as soon as she saw the Kindle Fire's price and specs, she expressed far more interest than for any other tablet so far.

Amazon is going for casual users unwilling to pay the much higher cost of the admittedly superior iPad; sounds like Wii (when it was launched) vs other, "better" consoles, doesn't it?

I've had the pleasure of meeting the Slashdot crew waaaaaay back in 1999 (I think at ALS); seeing the people responsible for my favorite geeky site was very cool (and so were they). It will be strange to not have CmdrTaco on the only website I've visited almost every day since 1998.

Thanks dude, you made many days spent at work a lot more enjoyable.

I also recently bought the g-Tablet, a splendid tablet once flashed with another ROM (aside from the screen, which isn't as bad as I had feared based on all the reviews I read). Viewsonic completely dropped the ball on their customization of Android, making a tablet superb hardware specs (same CPU as the Xoom) slow and unstable. It's sad that there are multiple hacker developed ROMs that completely crush the stock version performance- and stability-wise.

Google's announcements do mean that Honeycomb ROMs are still many months away, which is unfortunate. Still, XDA developers have done a fine job with Froyo; with gingerbread ROMs in the works, I don't feel bad about having to wait a bit more for Honeycomb.

Yeah, I remember the show. My geeky teenage self liked it and was disappointed when it got quickly canceled.

You're cute when you confuse the problem and the solution.

Or you're a bit slow. Either way, rock on, you sweet, sweet kid.

Which is exactly why it would be huge and relevant news if there was something that could make Twitter run way better. It's a perfect example, as it is a very well know websites, with very well known problems related to scalability.

Thank you for helping me prove the point, by the way, that was mighty kind of you.

Scaling. If something turns out to be robust and fast enough for Twitter, it is definitely of interest to anyone working on significantly large and busy websites.

The point is like in any other hobby: because to the person indulging in said hobby, it's fun.

It doesn't have to be fun to anyone else; I don't find anything entertaining about knitting, yet millions knit because they like to. Good for them.