On the Bench Tonight...![](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/test-equipment-anonymous-(tea)-group-therapy-thread/?action=dlattach;attach=1042996;image)
Yesterday, I picked up a used
BB PlayBook at the Thrift because it was only CAD$20 and I wanted something to leave by the bedside for my evening ritual of a little dark chocolate treat while reading a few webcomics. In my defense, the thing was in like new condition, and the build quality was VERY satisfying with decent heft and feel. I REALLY thought it was only a few years old.
![Confused :-//](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/confused0024.gif.pagespeed.ce.5xOqKkq0Co.gif)
For those who care:
https://youtu.be/58XI03Wnjo8 If I'd taken the time to research on the web before buying I might have realized that it is in fact not a tablet PC but some misbegotten child of a marketing wanker's closed-ecosystem wet dream, which can't even be used or wiped without being connected to their server umbilical cord. Oh, and the damned thing is like 7-8 years old.
![Face Palm :palm:](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/xfacepalm.gif.pagespeed.ic.EBDwh1hCfo.png)
Nonetheless... after finding all this out, I decided to try and get my $20 worth of satisfaction from the little bastard thing; I deleted a bunch of unnecessary crap and got the included web browser working okay (between having to stop & click CANCEL every 15 minutes as it demanded that I sign into the previous owner's BB account) and with about 7 tabs loaded with some of my favorite webcomics (those that hadn't already updated to current SSL standards), it still seemed reasonably responsive, if a complete PITA to get even those few pages "started".
So this afternoon I grab it to waste a few minutes on a long drive to look at a house; got talking with my wife between pages. It worked okay for a few pages while tethered to my phone, then I clicked on another tab and the browser crashed. When I restarted it, all my tabs were gone, as was my history; doubtless because I wasn't signed into the BB servers.
![Roll Eyes ::)](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/rolleyes.gif.pagespeed.ce.XcUK202Yqt.gif)
I thought about what a PITA it was to get those few pages tabbed, and the fact that half the webcomics I wanted to use it for wouldn't even load; and I seriously thought about just beating it to death with a TDFN or scrapping it out for... What...? Some ancient LiPo flat cells, a touchscreen useless for pretty much any other application, and maybe a couple tiny speakers...?
That was when I threw the damned thing out the window.
So... now you know why I have THIS
[ ? ] "On The Bench" tonight instead of something useful, interesting or amusing like my own "retro" adventures with getting some use out of an old tablet, which I'd planned to do. Because there really was no adventure; just a cautionary tale without any pictures to prove it.
![Face Palm :palm:](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/xfacepalm.gif.pagespeed.ic.EBDwh1hCfo.png)
mnem
![Popcorn :popcorn:](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/EatingPopcorn.jpg.pagespeed.ce.yJ6TmC5fSa.jpg)