Am I missing where the Xoom discussion is at?

[wnrussell]

Self-proclaimed iPad freak Robert Scoble blogged at Scobelizer: “For the past few days I’ve had a Motorola Xoom. I accepted a loaner because I wanted to prove that it would suck next to an iPad. One problem: I’m falling in love with it.”


He said Xoom handles multitasking better. Xoom also has won points for its more powerful Android Honeycomb OS, its higher rez screen, better sound, HDMI jack for high def and front- and back-facing cameras.
That camera advantage is expected to be short-lived. Next Wednesday, Apple will be announcing an iPad refresh and there is every expectation that iPad 2.0 will include cameras. David Pogue said in New York Times: “If the new iPad doesn’t have a camera or two, I’ll eat a tablet.”


Scoble stopped short of recommending that his father buy a Xoom—at least this year: “Why? No apps that have been specifically designed for the 10-inch tablet, which in my experience does demand new apps. Yes, Android phone apps ‘stretch’ to bigger sizes a lot better than iPhone apps did when stretched up, but sorry we haven’t seen great apps like the History of Jazz, Aweditorium, NPR, BBC, Flipboard, Heritage, etc, like what you see on iPad.”
He said Xoom needs apps to succeed. He predicts Xoom will be the No. 2 to iPad’s No. 1.

[FAUguy]

So I've been using one for two days now and there's a major delay in typing in forums, not sure why. Overall it's a nice device but would like a memory card slot (SDHC or microSDHC). Also, you can't charge the device via the microUSB port, but have to use a special charging cable.

[serebralassazin]

Doesn't it have a memory card slot that isn't functional yet (needs a software update if I am recalling correctly)? For what I use my laptop for I think I can get away with having a tablet but I am waiting to see what the ipad 2 offers (except for cameras) and what updates/apps are released for honeycomb before seriously considering picking one up. My nerd lust is on high though.

[Trey1475]

Yes... Can we get an official thread stickied or something... I looked all over the forums (Verizon) for a discussion on the xoom...

[Trey1475]

Anyway.. I think Im going to purchase one tomorrow at Best Buy at full price.. I was going to wait for the ipad2 but I think Im set on the zoom since Im sure the ipad2 is going to be the same as the ipad first generation with a camera, faster processor and more ram. Worst case scenerio is I can take it back... As far as the Apps.. Google just released the SDK to developers so it will take a minute before the native apps start to kick in... The ipad didnt have a ton of apps when it first came out either. It's just a matter of time before Android gets up to par. I heard Adobe Flash is coming within the next 2 or so weeks. Cant wait till Netflixs and Hulu get on here.

[Trey1475]

So I've been using one for two days now and there's a major delay in typing in forums, not sure why. Overall it's a nice device but would like a memory card slot (SDHC or microSDHC). Also, you can't charge the device via the microUSB port, but have to use a special charging cable.

I thought I read that it does have a micro sd card slot... You have to wait for the next patch to be able to fully use it.

[FAUguy]

I thought I read that it does have a micro sd card slot... You have to wait for the next patch to be able to fully use it.

There is a small slot on the top, and when I opened it up there is a clear peice of plastic in there that says its to be used with a SIM card after the 4G upgrade.

[FAUguy]

There is a small slot on the top, and when I opened it up there is a clear peice of plastic in there that says its to be used with a SIM card after the 4G upgrade.

I looked again and found it hidden. After you remove the 4G SIM door, look at the inside or the slot, and at the top there's another clear plastic filler. When you pop that out, it says "Replace with microSD only after Android system update". I haven't put one in there yet to see what would happen.

Edit: I tried both a 2 and 16 GB card and the XOOM wouldnt recognized them. I can understand it needing a hardware update for 4G, bit it having a microSD card slot that can't be used at launch is pretty lame. Who forgot to add that part to the Honeycomb OS?

[Aurelian]

I think by this point it's pretty clear Google and Motorola together were rushing the Xoom out the door as quickly as possible to have an iPad competitor out before the next iPad arrived.

When you ship without some of the features that are supposed to define your advantages (Flash, removable storage), you're clearly focused on getting it out quickly over getting it right. It's pretty telling, too, that there were about 16 Android 3.0 apps on day one (a few more on day two) where the iPad had over 1,000 native apps.

Android 3.0 is awesome and has a lot of strong points, but the Xoom isn't going to look as compelling to Joe Casual User when the next-gen iPad catches up in features next week and will cost him $499 when even the Wi-Fi Xoom (whenever it ships) will cost about $599. In spite of what Motorola thinks, most people don't feel so shackled by Apple that they're going to jump ship.

(For reference: I've already used the Xoom, Galaxy Tab 10.1, and Optimus Pad through my job, so I'm definitely familiar with Android 3.0).

[serebralassazin]

Anyway.. I think Im going to purchase one tomorrow at Best Buy at full price.. I was going to wait for the ipad2 but I think Im set on the zoom since Im sure the ipad2 is going to be the same as the ipad first generation with a camera, faster processor and more ram. Worst case scenerio is I can take it back... As far as the Apps.. Google just released the SDK to developers so it will take a minute before the native apps start to kick in... The ipad didnt have a ton of apps when it first came out either. It's just a matter of time before Android gets up to par. I heard Adobe Flash is coming within the next 2 or so weeks. Cant wait till Netflixs and Hulu get on here.

I understand its still new and the SDK was just realized, I meant to say I wanted to give it some time before making a choice to see what came out for it. Supposed I could have made it clearer. Hopefully flash is a bit more useful on the XOOM then on my X. I honestly don't find much use for it on my phone. Some content says its not optimized for mobile and its a bit buggy or sites just aren't optimizing their videos for mobile I guess.

[Trey1475]

I think by this point it's pretty clear Google and Motorola together were rushing the Xoom out the door as quickly as possible to have an iPad competitor out before the next iPad arrived.

When you ship without some of the features that are supposed to define your advantages (Flash, removable storage), you're clearly focused on getting it out quickly over getting it right. It's pretty telling, too, that there were about 16 Android 3.0 apps on day one (a few more on day two) where the iPad had over 1,000 native apps.

Android 3.0 is awesome and has a lot of strong points, but the Xoom isn't going to look as compelling to Joe Casual User when the next-gen iPad catches up in features next week and will cost him $499 when even the Wi-Fi Xoom (whenever it ships) will cost about $599. In spite of what Motorola thinks, most people don't feel so shackled by Apple that they're going to jump ship.

(For reference: I've already used the Xoom, Galaxy Tab 10.1, and Optimus Pad through my job, so I'm definitely familiar with Android 3.0).

You really think the ipad2 is going to cost the same as the first generation ipad... I really doubt it. But we will see on March 2nd.

[Aurelian]

You really think the ipad2 is going to cost the same as the first generation ipad... I really doubt it. But we will see on March 2nd.

Yes. Bank on it, it's that certain.

The $499 price has been one of Apple's key advantages, and the company has said twice in fiscal results calls that it prides itself on pricing the iPad "aggressively." Part of why Apple can do that is because it has made long-term deals on displays and flash memory that make it cheaper -- not to mention the economies of scale from already having sold over 14 million of the first generation.

I'm actually not entirely sure why Motorola charges what it does on the Xoom, unless that 1280x800 display is just that much more expensive (and I doubt it's $70 more expensive). The cameras it's using cost perhaps $5-10 in raw parts, based on what I've seen for the Galaxy Tab. Remember, Apple hasn't dropped its price at all for about a year; the new model can easily go to a dual-core processor and add cameras without hiking the price. Not sure if it'll increase capacity.

Again, the Xoom is a good device, but Motorola's willingness to bend over backwards for Verizon may have given Apple free rein, even if it's just for a critical few weeks. That $599 Wi-Fi Xoom should have at least had a release date by now.

[kingoanklebreak]

The ipad price will most definitely be the same. To me, the best thing Verizon and Moto can do is lower the price. The updates and apps will all come in good time.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

[Jam08]

its always the price competition that get's tougher. the cost and expenses in development, both hardware and the software side is the deciding factor, but not to mention the name/ brand that has in the market.. maybe what the manufacturers and carriers can do is to lower down thier cost.. so lot more will acquire and get replacement for their not so long purchased mobile phones.

[sk33]

For me, I always said that I won't pay to be a beta tester. That's why I never bought first generation Apple products or the original Android phones. The more I read about the Xoom, the more I think that I'll be paying quite a premium to be a beta tester.