The reason why the price is so cheap is because no one wants to buy it. RIM doesn't have the technical capability to slap together a tablet, so it outsources this to Quanta. The Playbook is no different to the numerous clones you can buy at Shenzhen for same price or lower. No doubt the playbook can do a lot of things, but its processor is slow, its touchscreen sensitiveness  lags and its design bulky by comparison. RIM sold the playbooks at a loss. RIM might not be around in a year's time, due to the fact that it is a victim of the ever changing tech landscape. Nokia is another company that will suffer in the near future.