Blackberry confirms PlayBook specs and launch date

The Blackberry PlayBook is headed to the US and Canada on the 19th of April with an entry price of $499.

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The Blackberry PlayBook will launch in the US and Canada on April 19th 

RIM has released pricing and specification details of the PlayBook tablet, many of which, on paper, beat the iPad 2.

US and Canadian stores will see the tablet arriving on the April 19. The PlayBook with Wi-Fi comes as either an entry level 16GB model costing $499, or more expensive 32GB or 64GB versions priced at $599 and $699. Those prices match the comparable iPad 2 models.

RIM has said that the PlayBook is headed for the UK in Q2 this year, between April and June but pricing of the tablet in the UK is yet to be announced.

The PlayBook looks to have a very similar specification sheet as that of the iPad 2, which went on sale in the US two weeks ago and goes on sale internationally on Friday.

The RIM device will include a 1GHz dual-core processor, 7” 1024x600 WSVGA capacitive LCD touch screen and the Blackberry Tablet OS. Dual cameras capable of recording full 1080p footage actually put the PlayBook slightly ahead of the iPad 2 in the imaging department.