When you do the math, the PlayBook writeoff of $485 million is actually worst than it appears. The Playbook initiative has burned $1.5 billion in cash and the only thing going up is the inventory of unsold Playbooks.

RIMM had hoped to sell the Playbook, a seven inch tablet for $799 but thought $699 would sound better. Later it dropped the price to $599. When sales did not materialize, RIMM dropped the price to $399. Subsequently, the price has been dropped to $299 and Best Buy is selling them for $199. The company even had a buy one get two free special.

Reuters reports that special, turned into a stampede in Indonesia, and RIMM’s Indonesia CEO, will be charged with negligence police said. More>>