Have to say that having worked with RIM products for some time I expected the negative reviews. To be honest the more balanced reviews out there were actually pretty positive about the device itself.
I'm not sure how it works, but I get the impression that expectations are manipulated in this market.
For example, why are apps so important? I've actually seen people write that without an app based of 200,000 they're not interested in a device, but that is ridiculous.
And does it really matter that the device doesn't have an email client? Not for me certainly. I never use an email client except when working at clients.
As long as the device has the apps you need why do you care? I download and buy the occasional app, as do many I guess, but I doubt I've downloaded more than 20 apps in 2 years. I have pretty well everything I could want. Not too many games but enough. Having a few thousand more apps might be nice, but the main thing I want is content.
The other aspect to this is that whereas when Apple release the iPad with a couple of thousand dedicated apps its fantastic. When RIM do the same its a disaster.
Same with the iPhone. Lousy battery life at launch - not a problem. The Playbook was panned on the rumour of poor battery life.
I just don't believe in coincidences. I read somewhere that a number of prominent reviewers and analysts are courted by Apple. It certainly appears that some at least didn't even look at the device but manage to write a negative review.
Personally I feel RIM messed up their marketing on this. Explicitly targeting at enterprise would have generated buzz in the business world (which I've experienced already) and most likely easily have consumed the initial manufacturing run.
And once the other features were added, RIM could have targeted consumers. Meaning they could launch with expectations managed but with a tantalising glimpse of what was possible entertainment wise with Need for Speed etc.
