Will I buy the BlackBerry PlayBook? I told you there I might buy a PlayBook after buying one of the forthcoming BlackBerry phones to be announced at BlackBerry World during the first week in May. I’m not the only one thinking this way: BlackBerry PlayBook; a good reason to buy a BlackBerry smartphone.

But which new BlackBerry phone. BGR’s RIM’s 2011 BlackBerry lineup explained showed several choices, including a Bold Touch and a 3rd generation Storm (albeit under a different name).

BGR giveth, BGR taketh away. RIM to announce only one phone at BlackBerry World? reported:

“We’ve heard from two independent sources that RIM is planning on announcing only one handset at BlackBerry World next week, the BlackBerry Bold Touch (or whatever name it ends up launching with). Yeah, that’s right… the company has six major products in the pipeline, all currently set to be released between June and September, and it is only going to announce one of them at the biggest Blackberry event of the year. We’re told this was a last minute change, and if it ends up panning out, well, it’s just plain stupid.”

I’m not all that broken hearted; I was planning on the Bold Touch anyway. A variant is reported to be coming to Verizon, when reported to be July. June would be nice of course

The BlackBerry PlayBook is out! There’s a lot to like. QNX OS, 7” form factor, muscular specs (1 GHz dual-core processor, 1 GB RAM).  And I’ve always liked Berries, though I’ve drifted away of late because RIM has been living in the past in its phone designs. So will I succumb to the siren song of this latest, greatest gadget? Here are my thoughts, and I’d be very interested in yours.

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BlackBerry is my favorite OS. But I also like large capacitive screen phones. Currently I can’t have both. The closest is the Storm 2. But its screen size is only 3.25”. Nowhere close to the new standard of 3.7” (Droid, Nexus One, etc.), much less the 4+” screen of the HD2 and other phones.

Further, the Storm 2 is a disappointingly incremental refresh of the original Storm, which I still use while … waiting. As one of my students told me when returning the Storm 2 for the Droid, the Storm 2 is so … yesterday. I agree. The Storm 2 is what the original Storm should have been. But the original Storm was released November 21, 2008. That’s right, 2008. RIM, it’s 2010.

Rumors are that RIM will have exciting new device news at WES 2010, which will take place April 27-29. I guess I can wait that long. But if RIM disappoints me … again … then its probably time to move on.

CrackBerry (picture source) poses this question (and possible answers).

I tend to agree with Crackberry. Big Red probably is being very careful that the device first passes its technical review. The release of the original Storm was beset with technical problems and bad press which chilled enthusiasm for the device. Big Red does not want history to repeat itself. Deferring its release of the Storm2 for a few weeks is a far smaller price to pay.

Also yet to be announced are whether Big Red will offer any special upgrade to owners of the original Storm (like me). My guess is no, we’ll be in the same boat as everyone else. But at least my one year anniversary date (Storm, not wife) is coming up, so I soon will be able to more inexpensively upgrade (Storm, not wife).

It must be coming soon. RIM now has the Storm2 (model 9550) on its website. Not much information yet. Certainly no launch date, price or upgrade options yet. But RIM’s making the Storm2 official means its release date is imminent. Though when? Speculation seems divided between later this month, or next.

In the meantime, CrackBerry (the picture source) has a comprehensive review (plus specs and an image gallery) to study if you’re one of those persons trying to decide whether to get the Storm2 as an upgrade or new device. I’m one of those persons. Do I upgrade my Storm? I’m thinking … and weakening.