Following an analyst note blasting a tablet hoping to compete with the iPad, maker Research in Motion responded, saying its PlayBook tablet “offers superior performance with comparable battery life.”
Tuesday, Kaufman Bros. analyst Shaw Wu told investors RIM’s tablet has a battery life of just a “few hours” compared to the iPad’s 10 hour lifespan or Samsung’s six hours. As a result, RIM has delayed introducing the PlayBook until later in 2011 for “a bit of re-engineering.”
In a statement, RIM said Wu’s conversation with “industry and supply chain sources” was likely based on “pre-beta” units that did not include power management. “RIM is on track with its schedule to optimize the BlackBerry PlayBook’s battery life and looks forward to providing customers with a professional grade tablet that offers superior performance with comparable battery life,” the Ontario-based company announced.
RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie has touted the PlayBook as “way ahead” of the iPad and that his device “redefines what a tablet should do.”
