The BlackBerry PlayBook's price and performance is garnering praise from reviewers. How will it compete with the iPad when it goes on sale Tuesday?

Prices for the PlayBook Wi-Fi range from $499 for the 16GB model, $599 for a 32GB, and $699 for the 64GB tablet. There are plans for a Sprint version to come later.

The PlayBook has a lot of appeal. Free tethering with RIM phones and wireless file transfer will be big draws for BlackBerry users.

Smaller than the iPad, its screen is 7-inches which makes for more agile handling than with Apple's tablet. The smaller form factor makes it more mobile whereas the iPad more accurately just portable.

It has a 3MP front and a 5MP rear camera. There is an Micro HDMI output and its sound quality has been praised. RIM claims a robust 10 hours of battery life.

Here is the but. RIM has gamed up on the PlayBook's hardware for a software fight.

Other than Flash, the tablet's software support is scant compared to the iPad. That said, not everyone needs tens of thousands of apps. The BlackBerry faithful who may appreciate the PlayBook's integrated features may find all they need or want in RIM's catalog of 3,000 or so apps.

The PlayBook is not the tablet for everyone, but it may appeal enough to BlackBerry's core to give RIM a fighting chance.

Photo Gallery: BlackBerry PlayBook

Mobile apps that warn drives of DUI checkpoints are the target of a group of senators who fired a letter to the mobile industry heavyweights.

The letter from Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Harry Reid, (D-NV), Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), and Tom Udall (D-NM) was sent to Apple, Google and RIM.

The letter calls for the ban of DUI checkpoint apps. "With more than 10,000 Americans dying in drunk-driving crashes every year, providing access to iPhone and iPad applications that alert users to DUI checkpoints is harmful to public safety," they state in the letter.

There are a number of apps available in the major mobile software markets that alert drivers from DUI checkpoints to speed traps which often depend on crowdsourcing.

RIM has responded swiftly and committed to removing the apps.

"RIM's decision to remove these apps from their online store proves that when it comes to drunk driving, there should not be an app for that," said  Schumer in a statement Wednesday.

Should tweets on DUI checkpoints be banned?

BlackBerry has picked the Triangle for its next office.

The Canadian maker of the iconic BlackBerry mobile phone confirmed this morning it plans to open a research-and-development facility in the Raleigh area.

Research In Motion, or RIM, held a two-day job fair last month and has already begun hiring.

RIM has its second outage in less than a week. North and South American Blackberry users have been without email service since late Tuesday. Phone and texting seem unaffected. AP reports some some users are reporting no internet capability.

UPDATE 9:30 AM: Most users reporting back to me say their email service is back, but a couple say they are still experiencing delays.

UPDATE 9:00 AM: On Twiiter, it is a mixed bag of tweets. Some users are reporting service. Others seem to still be without.