RIM’s Tablet to Go On Sale April 19, Pricing Borrows From the iPad’s PlayBook

Research In Motion offered up more details on its long-awaited PlayBook on Tuesday, announcing that the tablet should hit shelves on April 19 and will sell for basically the same price as a comparable iPad.

That means the 16GB model will sell for $499, a 32GB for $599 and a 64GB model will sell for $699, each with Wi-Fi connectivity but without a cellular modem. RIM plans to offer models with connectivity from Sprint and other cellular carriers later in the year.

RIM said that Best Buy stores will take pre-orders for the Wi-Fi PlayBooks starting immediately.

“Previews of the BlackBerry PlayBook have generated tremendous excitement and we know that customers are eager to get their hands on one,” RIM’s Craig McLennan said in a statement. “We share that excitement and we are very pleased to announce that customers can begin placing their orders with Best Buy today.”

The April 19 date is a little bit later than the first quarter timing that the company had originally targeted.