I'm missing something - the article refers to the Blackberry in the title as well as all over the article...
The comment about it being pathetic that Obama would be the first "emailing president" or the first president with a laptop in his office is unrelated.
I don't see how that has to be PR. Obama actually uses a Blackberry, Blackberry addiction is so common that there's a term for it (Crackbery) that even my dad would know, and their brand name has almost become a generic substitute for any smartphone with a keybad. Blackberry is the knew Kleenex or Xerox.
I don't think PG would suggest that every time you see a brand name its due to submarine PR.
The comment about it being pathetic that Obama would be the first "emailing president" or the first president with a laptop in his office is unrelated.