RIM offers $99 PlayBook to employees, Best Buy stops selling them
So, you’re looking to boost interest in a nice piece of hardware that’s been overlooked because of a competitor’s product? Just cut its price by 60%, like RIM has done with the BlackBerry PlayBook. Still not satisfied with the results? Why not get the people who work for you to help evangelize the darn thing and get as many out into the wild as you can.
That’s got to be what RIM is thinking, dangling $99 PlayBook tablets to its employees just in time for the biggest gift-giving season of the year. Pick up a slate for your mom and dad, the kids, or even your co-workers for the big staff holiday party.
At half the price they’re selling for to the general public, RIM is no doubt going to sell plenty of PlayBooks to its employees — many of whom are probably now banging their heads on their desks for having bought one earlier this year.
It’s yet another HP-copycat move. Just recently, HP announced that it had one final batch of TouchPads inbound, but that they were earmarked for sale to employees only — also for just $99.
RIM is clearly making a push to swell the PlayBook ecosystem and drum up some developer interest. Chris Wade’s already interested enough, having publicized the first PlayBook root last night.
As good as this news is for RIM employees, it looks as though Best Buy is ready to wash its hands of the under-loved tablet. Online orders placed for the PlayBook are now beign cancelled according to user reports in the company’s forums, though refurbished 16GB models were still available for $149.
You can’t blame Best Buy for the move. They also put a good deal of effort into the TouchPad, only to have HP inexplicably pull the plug on it after barely a month on retail shelves.
(Source: geek.com)
