The Nook Tablet and Kindle Fire both look like tabula rasas next to the BlackBerry PlayBook with all its ports and logos.

Though it's been out since April, the PlayBook boasts the same processor and RAM as the Nook Tablet in a similar package (7" multi-touch display, custom OS, native app store). Unlike the Kindle and Nook, though, BlackBerry promised a more complete tablet experience and included front and rear cameras on the PlayBook. Needless to say, the device never really caught on with consumers.

The question begs to be asked: was BlackBerry seven months early to the party, or are the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet ultimately doomed to the same fate as the PlayBook?