RIM Recalls PlayBooks Thanks to Software Glitch

Oh, RIM, can nothing go right for you? Now, on the back of a lackluster launch, the already crippled PlayBook is having yet more problems. RIM is recalling around 1,000 faulty BlackBerry PlayBook tablets.

Sure, 1,000 may not sound like much, but if I was being mean I might suggest that I'm surprised that RIM has shifted that many. The affected units (check your serial number at Engadget) suffer from a dodgy OS build that prevents them from loading software on boot. Here's the official line from RIM, as related by the CrackBerry blog:

RIM determined that approximately one thousand BlackBerry PlayBook tablets (16 GB) were shipped with an OS build that may result in the devices being unable to properly load software upon initial set-up.

The majority of the affected devices are still in the distribution channel and haven't reached customers. RIM is working to replace the affected devices.

In the small number of cases where a customer received a PlayBook that is unable to properly load software upon initial set-up, they can contact RIM for assistance.

It appears that there's not much to worry about, as most of the problem PlayBooks are still unsold (that's one advantage of being unpopular, we guess), and RIM has certainly acted smartly and swiftly. However, along with the other launch problems of RIM's piece of beta hardware, it adds up to yet another headache for the company.

And one last thing: Why on Earth were RIM's engineers dickering with OS builds when they should be finishing up the email, messaging and contacts apps already?

Official Statement from Research In Motion regarding recall of approximately one thousand BlackBerry PlayBook units [CrackBerry]

See Also:

• DOA: Blackberry PlayBook to Ship Without Mail, Messaging or ...
• Could Flash Be Holding Back BlackBerry PlayBook?
• PlayBook Tablet Has a Spotty Day One in San Francisco