After all the talking, Blackberry Playbook is all set to go on sale for $449 after nearly a months delay in its launch. While the delay rumors have previously been attached to battery performance, RIM has denied. Making a tablet isn’t a cake baking and a months delay isn’t very unusual in the tech world, but the latest rumor points to Cupertino for Playbooks delayed launch.
It is believed that Apple shipped as many as 2.6 million iPad 2 units in March alone and they are ordering upwards of 4 million iPad 2s each month from April. And the rumor claims that since Apple had booked most of the supplies of touch panels (from Asian suppliers), RIM had no option but to wait extra to get their production in order. Apple has volumes, cash reserves and a head start in the touchscreen market. With the global shortage in touch panels, would Apple’s relation with component suppliers, coupled with the volume it generates upset the suppliers for other tablet makers?