More info from this article:
RIM to launch tablet PC powered by new operating system
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By Windsor Genova | September 22, 2010 6:21 PM EDT
The BlackPad features a 7-inch touch screen and one or two built-in cameras. It has a Bluetooth and can connect to the Internet via mobile phone networks using a BlackBerry smartphone.
Instead of the BlackBerry 6 operating system, the BlackPad will run in an OS built by QNX Software Systems and chips made by Marvell Technology Group.
This is the big difference between Apple and others I was talking about earlier. Normally, Apple announces products that either are immediately available or will be available very soon. The product is finished, Apple is just building up supplies for the launch.
Every other company seems to have the need to announce something far in advance in order to say “Don’t buy the current competitor’s product, we’ll have something on the market soon!” This tactic traces back to IBM IIRC.