Very unbiased review of Xoom vs iPad 2 on Amazon - Xoom General

http://www.amazon.com/review/R2LLDLIHDUBV84/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt#R2LLDLIHDUBV84
Let's spread this around and vote it up!!

This is truly an unbiased reviews. It shows the XOOM the way it is, warts and all (not that there are very many warts).

Spot on review.

This is very good review I have no regrets for buying my zoom
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App

c1808us said:
This is very good review I have no regrets for buying my zoom
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is your 'zoom' better than my xoom?

The review might be unbiased, but it speaks of a very bad no-no about Motorola products: the bugginess of Honeycomb. This is bad because Motorola doesn't support their non-carrier products with updates and bug fixes. This means when Google updates Honeycomb to fix bugs, Motorola will never use it on the Xoom. What you get when you buy the Xoom is all you will ever have.
I'm glad I read that review. I really like the Xoom I played with at a local Best Buy and was contemplating getting one over an iPad2. Now, however, I know Honeycomb isn't perfect. That isn't to say there's anything wrong with Google mobile OSes, they all are buggy in the beginning, but it is a serious issue for the future. I know I would not ever receive any updates from Motorola...and you can't just flash a direct Honeycomb ROM from Google...so I won't bother with it since HC needs work. I will wait for the Samsung Tablet.

Mod edit: Play nice.

Mod edit: Play nice.

Mod edit: Play nice.

Mod edit: Play nice.

Mod edit: Play nice.

Mod edit: Play nice.

Mod edit: Play nice. (No one cares who you add to your ignore list.)

Grow up.
This has to be the most immature thread I've ever had to suffer through reading. Everyone needs to stop flaming each other, or we will remove you from our community.
I'm not closing / deleting this thread (yet), because I believe the original post has a review that should be read. But don't for a minute think I won't take action against disrespectful users.
We're all adults here, right? I'm here to be your moderator, not your babysitter. Grow up.

MartyLK said:
The review might be unbiased, but it speaks of a very bad no-no about Motorola products: the bugginess of Honeycomb. This is bad because Motorola doesn't support their non-carrier products with updates and bug fixes. This means when Google updates Honeycomb to fix bugs, Motorola will never use it on the Xoom. What you get when you buy the Xoom is all you will ever have.
I'm glad I read that review. I really like the Xoom I played with at a local Best Buy and was contemplating getting one over an iPad2. Now, however, I know Honeycomb isn't perfect. That isn't to say there's anything wrong with Google mobile OSes, they all are buggy in the beginning, but it is a serious issue for the future. I know I would not ever receive any updates from Motorola...and you can't just flash a direct Honeycomb ROM from Google...so I won't bother with it since HC needs work. I will wait for the Samsung Tablet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the second thread I've seen you mention that Moto doesn't update non-carrier devices. Can you provide some reference here? I'm trying to understand how you think that the XOOM isn't going to get updates, especially since it has already received one and there are more on the way. The XOOM is a Google experience device and will get updates, and quicker than the Samsung products which will have to wait for TouchWiz to be pasted over top. After watching many Galaxy S users on carriers in the US wait for Froyo Samsung would be the last manufacturer I'd purchase from.
Back to the review, I also thought it was balanced. iOS is always very polished though it may lack some functionality and features. What it does do it typically does well. The iPad 2 is a device that my wife would appreciate very much and the XOOM is a device that I would prefer and will eventually pick up. I spent a number of years with Nokia Maemo tablets, waiting for Nokia and the community to fix issues and develop. I see a way better experience to come here than I did there.

this sounds like a similar review someone gave awhile ago - I'm still hoping my Xoom comes through next week...
also yes as mentioned - Motorola won't be updating the OS on Xoom - Google will be providing the updates - which is fine - it's one of the good reasons to buy one over the Samsung

great review really... I know the iPad 2 has pros over the XOOM but most pros are due to lack of user knowledge (like interface or apps...) so this is a spot-on review for people like us who know their mobile OS
I can't wait to get mine ... damn best buy canada... april 15th pre-order

Gorgonesh said:
T he XOOM is a Google experience device and will get updates, and quicker than the Samsung products which will have to wait for TouchWiz to be pasted over top. After watching many Galaxy S users on carriers in the US wait for Froyo Samsung would be the last manufacturer I'd purchase from.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems a lot of people over here on the Xoom boards are desperately trying to convince themselves that the Samsung tablets will be horribly undated devices. While I can see by their track records that this may most likely be the scenario, they do actually manage to properly update some of their devices. And it should not be that difficult at all to update 2 tablets with little carrier interaction.
Considering the fact that the Samsung tablets have a better screen and a more thinner profile, I would most likely get them over the Xoom regardless of Samsung's interaction.

Gorgonesh said:
This is the second thread I've seen you mention that Moto doesn't update non-carrier devices. Can you provide some reference here? I'm trying to understand how you think that the XOOM isn't going to get updates, especially since it has already received one and there are more on the way. The XOOM is a Google experience device and will get updates, and quicker than the Samsung products which will have to wait for TouchWiz to be pasted over top. After watching many Galaxy S users on carriers in the US wait for Froyo Samsung would be the last manufacturer I'd purchase from.
Back to the review, I also thought it was balanced. iOS is always very polished though it may lack some functionality and features. What it does do it typically does well. The iPad 2 is a device that my wife would appreciate very much and the XOOM is a device that I would prefer and will eventually pick up. I spent a number of years with Nokia Maemo tablets, waiting for Nokia and the community to fix issues and develop. I see a way better experience to come here than I did there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I provided a link in my...erm...second post in this thread, I think it was. My main concern with buying devices of this nature that need updating often is that the makers might tend to disregard their products once they are bought. I'm not rich enough to take a chance on it. Motorola has been known to not support their products over their lifetime so that people will be moved to replace the product with a newer one. Motorola, Samsung, LG and pretty much all of the companies that make devices of this nature do the same. They are in this business with one motive: to make more money. They can't make money wasting time supporting older devices...even though they should. Motorola is in the worse position of them all because they are barely hanging on in the market.
When you know this about a company and then read user reviews that say the same thing, you know there is a serious issue. The link I posted was of a user review on Amazon that says the same thing I do. I already had this knowledge of Motorola prior to reading or knowing of the Amazon user review.
When I made my first post in this section...a completely different thread...I wasn't mindful of this concern with Motorola devices. Then, after having issued the post, I read this thread and started thinking about what I already know and have heard about not just Motorola but all of these device makers. It caused me to have a change of heart about seeking to acquire a Xoom or even the Samsung tablet, when it arrives.
This is why I made additional posts on the matter, to which some people accused me of trolling rather than understanding what had happened. They chose to quickly jump to the assumption I was being a troll rather than contemplating the situation and giving the benefit of the doubt. Their error is not my fault.
I own many Apple products and never respond negatively to people who spit out trash talk about them. I own many other products that get trash-talked from time to time. But I never respond negatively because I allow humans the freedom of saying what they want. They, however, refuse to allow me the same freedom.

Gorgonesh said:
This is the second thread I've seen you mention that Moto doesn't update non-carrier devices. Can you provide some reference here? I'm trying to understand how you think that the XOOM isn't going to get updates, especially since it has already received one and there are more on the way. The XOOM is a Google experience device and will get updates, and quicker than the Samsung products which will have to wait for TouchWiz to be pasted over top. After watching many Galaxy S users on carriers in the US wait for Froyo Samsung would be the last manufacturer I'd purchase from.
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Click to collapse
Agreed, I don't know where this perception is coming from.
Also, don't forget that HTC tablets will get delayed updates as well since they'll be running Sense for HC. Looks like Xoom might be the one getting the quickest updates since we're still on the stock HC experience.

Related

Everybody chill! =)

Just wanted to say - I got my Xoom, and yes, I do see some freezes and weird behavior every once in a while.
It doesn't bother me though.
We're all early adopters helping to push Honeycomb forward. Since Xoom is the only tablet atm that uses honeycomb, and it's a pure "Google Experience Device", I'm sure we'll have updates from ElGoog soon and often. Plus, this device is a heaven for developmental though and experimentation, so I'm sure we'll see great things from our local genuises at XDA.
So everyone chill and enjoy a rare opportunity to be there when it all starts =)
DarkDvr said:
Just wanted to say - I got my Xoom, and yes, I do see some freezes and weird behavior every once in a while.
It doesn't bother me though.
We're all early adopters helping to push Honeycomb forward. Since Xoom is the only tablet atm that uses honeycomb, and it's a pure "Google Experience Device", I'm sure we'll have updates from ElGoog soon and often. Plus, this device is a heaven for developmental though and experimentation, so I'm sure we'll see great things from our local genuises at XDA.
So everyone chill and enjoy a rare opportunity to be there when it all starts =)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have had mine since the doors opened at Costco here in South Florida and I have not had one freeze or force close. I think people may be loading up apps that are not designed for Honeycomb causing issues. For the most part, I am sticking to Honeycomb apps only with a few exceptions. I am also not loading alternate launchers like ADW. I suspect loading things like this will cause problems.
Yea I couldn't agree more.just be patient.we'll have a flash update coming within two weeks also.I love my Xoom
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
keitht said:
I have had mine since the doors opened at Costco here in South Florida and I have not had one freeze or force close. I think people may be loading up apps that are not designed for Honeycomb causing issues. For the most part, I am sticking to Honeycomb apps only with a few exceptions. I am also not loading alternate launchers like ADW. I suspect loading things like this will cause problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 mines never froze, fc'd or lagged either. Its a little slow rotating sometimes but its not an issue.
Sent from my HTC Vision using Tapatalk
I read a post yesterday, I can't remember by who, saying that this "Early Adopter" argument is invalid. I believe it was because it would be easy for all tech-companies to take advantage of this and release crappy products that they know consumers will eat up and look past the issues because they know they are "early adopters". As much as I don't like to repeatedly mention Apple, it doesn't seem that they release products riddled with bugs and expect their consumers to shrug it off and say "Oh yea, we're just early adopters, these bugs don't matter!".
Nothing can be perfect obviously, but things can be more perfect than others. Why release something so unfinished when you can release it later in a more complete state? I don't have a Xoom yet, but it seems that Honeycomb was rushed out the door much too quickly. Did Google do this to beat the iPad 2 in the market race? We all know it will still easily sale millions.. they could've waited.
Apple doesn't release products before they are ready? Really? Have you used an iPhone 4 and tried to make a phone call? Did you used an Ipad when it first came out? It had no software for it. Once competition comes and millions of people buy android tablets, the developers will come.
While I agree I would of prefered and more polished Honeycomb, there are ALWAYS growing pains with new technology...especially with brand a new OS. My xoom, like wine, will only get better with age.
Just give it time. It isn't a half assed product....it just needs some software updates. Lets all be happy that soon the mod community is going to do things with it that won't be possible with other devices.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
Yeah. It's not halfassed. Only about 5% assed.
I think the update will work wonders.
Eclair~ said:
I read a post yesterday, I can't remember by who, saying that this "Early Adopter" argument is invalid. I believe it was because it would be easy for all tech-companies to take advantage of this and release crappy products that they know consumers will eat up and look past the issues because they know they are "early adopters". As much as I don't like to repeatedly mention Apple, it doesn't seem that they release products riddled with bugs and expect their consumers to shrug it off and say "Oh yea, we're just early adopters, these bugs don't matter!".
Nothing can be perfect obviously, but things can be more perfect than others. Why release something so unfinished when you can release it later in a more complete state? I don't have a Xoom yet, but it seems that Honeycomb was rushed out the door much too quickly. Did Google do this to beat the iPad 2 in the market race? We all know it will still easily sale millions.. they could've waited.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just wonder how you can give a valid opinion about something you don't own. It would be like me giving an opinion on a ferrari italia.
Eclair~ said:
I read a post yesterday, I can't remember by who, saying that this "Early Adopter" argument is invalid. I believe it was because it would be easy for all tech-companies to take advantage of this and release crappy products that they know consumers will eat up and look past the issues because they know they are "early adopters". As much as I don't like to repeatedly mention Apple, it doesn't seem that they release products riddled with bugs and expect their consumers to shrug it off and say "Oh yea, we're just early adopters, these bugs don't matter!".
Nothing can be perfect obviously, but things can be more perfect than others. Why release something so unfinished when you can release it later in a more complete state? I don't have a Xoom yet, but it seems that Honeycomb was rushed out the door much too quickly. Did Google do this to beat the iPad 2 in the market race? We all know it will still easily sale millions.. they could've waited.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i am using my bt keyboard on the xoom. honeycomb is quite e finished product in terms of its normal use. ive not had one freeze or rrreboot. i had one force close becasue i tried to run a rdp/vnc app. it force closed and i move to next app which did work for controlling my pc. you have people on here either talking without owning the product or loading things not designed or updated for this hardware OR software. such as flashlight apps, launchers, etc. ive used all the apps designed for tablets in the market and ive had no issues. ive played the couple of free games (which performed quite well) and used things as simple as the weather app. smooth sailing. i WOULD like to see more apps (like dish networks sling app) but thats not moto or googles fault.
the bugs ive read about in most topics dont happen to me. im gonna be testing the 720 rip playback later as i havent moved much media to mine yet.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
keitht said:
I have had mine since the doors opened at Costco here in South Florida and I have not had one freeze or force close. I think people may be loading up apps that are not designed for Honeycomb causing issues. For the most part, I am sticking to Honeycomb apps only with a few exceptions. I am also not loading alternate launchers like ADW. I suspect loading things like this will cause problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, I was first in line at my South Fla Costco...lol. You must have gone to Flagler.
I've had a few FC's but I'll admit they were mainly on the first day. Since then I've been good.
colbyb25 said:
Apple doesn't release products before they are ready? Really? Have you used an iPhone 4 and tried to make a phone call? Did you used an Ipad when it first came out? It had no software for it. Once competition comes and millions of people buy android tablets, the developers will come.
While I agree I would of prefered and more polished Honeycomb, there are ALWAYS growing pains with new technology...especially with brand a new OS. My xoom, like wine, will only get better with age.
Just give it time. It isn't a half assed product....it just needs some software updates. Lets all be happy that soon the mod community is going to do things with it that won't be possible with other devices.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The iPhone4 was a design decision. Had they waited 3 more months it still would have had that same problem.
The iPad had over a thousand third party apps at launch, what are you talking about?
And Android isn't going to compete in the tablet world by releasing beta tablets with buggy software. A normal user would have returned the Xoom after seeing 7 apps at launch, no flash at launch, non functional SD card slot, buggy OS and apps force closing. If normal users see this as their first impression of a Google tablet, that will stick with them for a while. The "early adopter" nonsense is absolutely the worst argument that anyone could make.
atoy74 said:
Hey, I was first in line at my South Fla Costco...lol. You must have gone to Flagler.
I've had a few FC's but I'll admit they were mainly on the first day. Since then I've been good.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I went to Pompano Beach Costco. The Verizon guy there gave me trouble with the activation thing. I had to keep pushing him to call more people. Each person he called at Verizon didn't know about the change that activation is not required. Hopefully I helped anyone that came after me
I had two freezes while playing cordy. There was an update for it yesterday that seems to have fixed it. Other than that I have not had any stability issues, just some minor graphical issues.
As far as Apple stability goes am I the only one old enough to remember the axiom "never buy a first Gen apple product."? Apple is somewhat notorious for problems with first Gen products.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
muyoso said:
The iPhone4 was a design decision. Had they waited 3 more months it still would have had that same problem.
The iPad had over a thousand third party apps at launch, what are you talking about?
And Android isn't going to compete in the tablet world by releasing beta tablets with buggy software. A normal user would have returned the Xoom after seeing 7 apps at launch, no flash at launch, non functional SD card slot, buggy OS and apps force closing. If normal users see this as their first impression of a Google tablet, that will stick with them for a while. The "early adopter" nonsense is absolutely the worst argument that anyone could make.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm glad you knew this, I was starting to think I had no argument.
JanetPanic said:
I had two freezes while playing cordy. There was an update for it yesterday that seems to have fixed it. Other than that I have not had any stability issues, just some minor graphical issues.
As far as Apple stability goes am I the only one old enough to remember the axiom "never buy a first Gen apple product."? Apple is somewhat notorious for problems with first Gen products.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you can say the same with most companies that release version 1 products.
Eclair~ said:
I read a post yesterday, I can't remember by who, saying that this "Early Adopter" argument is invalid. I believe it was because it would be easy for all tech-companies to take advantage of this and release crappy products that they know consumers will eat up and look past the issues because they know they are "early adopters". As much as I don't like to repeatedly mention Apple, it doesn't seem that they release products riddled with bugs and expect their consumers to shrug it off and say "Oh yea, we're just early adopters, these bugs don't matter!".
Nothing can be perfect obviously, but things can be more perfect than others. Why release something so unfinished when you can release it later in a more complete state? I don't have a Xoom yet, but it seems that Honeycomb was rushed out the door much too quickly. Did Google do this to beat the iPad 2 in the market race? We all know it will still easily sale millions.. they could've waited.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Obviously they could have waited, its about supply and demand. The demand was there, so they got it out as fast as they could in working order. It has its problems, software problems, I love it it and didnt want to wait a day longer. They know what they're doing, google isn't Microsoft lol. It works, we want it, were willing to sacrifice a little functionality to be able to have it now, we love it , if you don't like the problems then thats your problem dont cry about i, either don't get one or wait to get one, everyone who bought it knew for the most part what types of problems we might come across, nobody is making you buy it nor keep it! You have no right to speculate on why they should or should not have released it like this, only the right to not buy or use it
parrotheadmjb said:
Obviously they could have waited, its about supply and demand. The demand was there, so they got it out as fast as they could in working order. It has its problems, software problems, I love it it and didnt want to wait a day longer. They know what they're doing, google isn't Microsoft lol. It works, we want it, were willing to sacrifice a little functionality to be able to have it now, we love it , if you don't like the problems then thats your problem dont cry about i, either don't get one or wait to get one, everyone who bought it knew for the most part what types of problems we might come across, nobody is making you buy it nor keep it! You have no right to speculate on why they should or should not have released it like this, only the right to not buy or use it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry but a user has every right to gripe about the limitations of the product they purchased.
Google has a history of releasing buggy products, and improving them over time. its just how they do it. (a la google tv, nexus one launch, etc) does that make them a bad company? no. but to a mainstream (non techie) user who uses the product as is, the xoom out of the box is somewhat of a disappointment because of some basic feature limitations at launch. (no software sd support, no flash support, lack of proper video encoding support, which is a surprise as Google is normally great with cross compatibility). I personally feel that the Xoom launch was rushed in order to get as many early adopter sales before the iPad2 hits. I'm verrry sure that had the xoom been released the same time as iPad2 launch date, xoom sales numbers would be much lower.
i was an avid iPad user (gave it away), and currently awaiting for the xoom to arrive in the mail. i'm looking forward to using it.
What you are totally missing is the fact that the majority of apps look and work just fine. None of this "2x" bull crap that apple did with there tablet launch. I ask, did you purchase an Ipad when it first came out? Do you own a Xoom? If no to one or both counts, you lose some credibility with your argument.
No one is giving Motorola or Google a pass, but there is some kind of understanding with new gear. That is not an excuse, but something to take into account. I personally love xoom, both for what is and what it can and will be. You want a completely bug free and flawless piece of equipment, make it yourself. If you have ever ran your own company, you would know that every prouduct and system goes through some level of growing pains.
Too many people think the xoom is supposed to magically outsell the I pad...which will never happen. Apple, if nothing else has done an AMAZING job at marketing and creating demand for their sometimes sub par, at least technologcally, products. That being said, android is picking up steam and offering a solid competition to the ios system. Does it still have a ways to go...sure. But it is heading that way and things are only going to get better from here.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
aohus said:
sorry but a user has every right to gripe about the limitations of the product they purchased.
Google has a history of releasing buggy products, and improving them over time. its just how they do it. (a la google tv, nexus one launch, etc) does that make them a bad company? no. but to a mainstream (non techie) user who uses the product as is, the xoom out of the box is somewhat of a disappointment because of some basic feature limitations at launch. (no software sd support, no flash support, lack of proper video encoding support, which is a surprise as Google is normally great with cross compatibility). I personally feel that the Xoom launch was rushed in order to get as many early adopter sales before the iPad2 hits. I'm verrry sure that had the xoom been released the same time as iPad2 launch date, xoom sales numbers would be much lower.
i was an avid iPad user (gave it away), and currently awaiting for the xoom to arrive in the mail. i'm looking forward to using it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You just contradicted yourself, you said
1. They have the right to complain about the product being released too early
2. Google has a history of releasing buggy products
---
They have no right to complain, they knew in advance or they don't possess the ability to think
Also, you can just return it.... but no *****ing about the obvious is a better idea
Well, the no software argument is pointless, you'll have to wait here. Phone Android didn't start with that much apps either, same for iPhone, Windows, any OS.

Xoom any good?

Thinking of getting the xoom over the samsung tab 10.1 are people happy with the xoom?
Sent from my GT-I9000
If you want a supported device get a xoom. I think the new gtab will launch with 2.1 and get 3.0 in about 8-12 months. (JK, but seriously Samsung has a proven track record of ZERO support for their devices)
iammodo said:
Thinking of getting the xoom over the samsung tab 10.1 are people happy with the xoom?
Sent from my GT-I9000
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're probably going to get a bunch of people yelling at you for asking a question that has been asked many times over.
I'll answer though.
In short, yes it's good. It's excellent in my opinion.
Currently all Tablets running Honeycomb are going to suffer from having relatively few apps. This was the case when the first iPad was released. Luckily there are plenty of developers out there dedicated to creating quality applications for Honeycomb. Within a month or two, there will be an influx of applications and people will wish they had purchased the Xoom when they had the chance. With production numbers dropping there is no telling what Motorola's next design might be. It could be a locked down version like the Atrix phone kind of similar to what happened with the original Droid that was running vanilla Android. The Droid 2 had Motoblur and a locked bootloader; currently, owners of the original Droid are enjoying Gingerbread by Peter Alfonso.
Here are some current complaints:
1) No SD card support yet
2) LTE Upgrade will take 6 days
3) Application selection is limited
4) Performance seems low for a dual core product
My response:
1) It is coming and currently the unit has 32 GB of internal storage, are you running out already? If so, sit tight and you will be able to expand it to 64GB really cheaply.
2) Better than waiting 3 months on the release of the Xoom altogether, and if you are using it Wifi only like I am tethering it to my Epic 4G, LTE is irrelevant.
3) This will change with time, early adopters syndrome
4) As Google releases new versions of Honeycomb this will be addressed. Additionally there are already kernels bumping the speed from 1Ghz to 1.5Ghz creating a 50% performance increase out of the gates.
Anyway, it's all preference. I love Motorola's products so I got the Xoom.
This is like walking into an Apple store and asking if Macs are any good. What are you expecting?
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App
Having never owned a tab before, the xoom is my first experience and I think it's awosme.
Matter of fact i loved the xoom so much i dumped my iphone 4 and got an HTC inspire for my everyday phone.
I personally have only one complaint and that is it's very susceptable to glare.
kjdocs said:
Having never owned a tab before, the xoom is my first experience and I think it's awosme.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well you're not alone, no one here has probably used the Tab 10.1 before because it isn't out yet! lol.
But seriously OP, coming to a Xoom forum asking a question that's been asked in detail a million times already is ridiculous. You're gonna get pretty polarized answers... Every other post in this forum is about how good/bad the Xoom is, just read.
anywho, back to the OP's question,
i'd wait it out and get that samsung. its thinner, lighter, cheaper, and has a better display than the xoom. but lets not get ahead here, those samsung tablets at CTIA were mockups.
as for updates, do not worry about that, as updates will be coming since the new gtab's will be a near google experience device. CNET has reported that the TouchWiz updates could possibly be an optional update. And tbh, i kinda like the new touchwiz UI.
personally, i'd wait.
aohus said:
anywho, back to the OP's question,
personally, i'd wait.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung is evil incarnate, having just come from a Samsung Fascinate, I can tell you touchwiz is the most godawful piece of software you could ever have on your device. Not becuase it isnt good, touchwiz isnt all that bad, but, and this is a BIG bit, YOU WILL NEVER GET UPDATES. EVER. PERIOD. THANKS FOR PLAYING BUY OUR NEXT PRODUCT TO GET A SOFTWARE UPGRADE! No thank you. Not playing that game again. Not now. Not ever!
I can't wait to see if the GTabs will get updated. That is one of the main reasons people seem to be using to prevent others from liking them. Luckily the general population could care less about going from Android 2.2, to 2.3, and for those who can't wait... rooting is the alternative. Or buying another device.
Thanks to everyone that posted USEFUL comments.
I was at work and posted from my phone, so didn't want to risk reading 100's of threads.
This would be my first tablet so dont want spend £500+ and get a laggy device.
I have clicked "thanks" for everyone who left a useful comment.
It does not really matter if it's close to stock. Example the g2.
If you're one of those folks that always want the updates first you basically need a Google experience device.
Sammy seems to be the worst out of all the oems though.
Also look at the vodafone nexus one as far as updates that are tied to carrier goes.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
Motorola has already said that the report on cutting back on manufacturing xooms is 100% BS
I'm also considering buying a Xoom... I was going to buy the Galaxy tab 10.1, but yesterdays announcement kind of changed that, i don't want to wait until June.
So i have two options now, buy a Xoom or the original Galaxy Tab 10.1 (now renamed to 10.1v in EU).
About Xoom, i like the idea of clean Android, updates, USB and microSD slot. I have a feeling that Xoom will get more support in XDA forums also.
I'm not sure i like the extra 131g.
About Galaxy Tab 10.1v, i actually like the original design more, i don't care that it's 2mm thicker then the new one.
But I'm sure I don't like the idea of not getting any updates or getting a update with that TouchWiz UX.
Considering all this and that you have actually hold the 730g Xoom in your hand, which would you buy?
The Touchwiz UI they put on the tab isnt the same as one on the phones. But still, even that has to be revamped when new version of android comes out. Samsung is the worst when talking about updates. I liked the design of the original GTab 10.1 too, but thinking of updates, I went ahead and got the xoom. Samsung just needs to stop putting **** on awesome device like that and make the damn thing go into shame.

How is the Motorola Xoom? The best, or not?

I had a chance to play with a Xoom briefly at a local Best Buy and was pleasantly surprised how well I liked it. It felt solid and significant and looked very nice. Honeycomb was...well...pure honey. It left me with the distinct desire to own one. Though recent test have the iPad2 blowing it away, the iPad2 doesn't have the higher res display of the Xoom. I would much rather watch the Xoom display than the iPad2.
But I need people;s experiences with the Xoom since it is a significant investment for me. I would buy the full-priced WiFi-only version, that's why it would be such a significant investment...no subsidized pricing. However, knowing what I know of Motorola's support tactics, we all really should be boycotting them rather than considering buying anything from them. They never update any non-subsidized products. If you own a Moto device from a carrier, you wil eventually get updates and bug fixes. But it you buy one outright, you are abandon as soon as they have your money.
I paid a 1000$ for mine and I am very happy.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
Based on what I read in another thread about some bugs in HC, I've decided to either wait for a Google produced tablet with HC or stick with Apple and wait for an iPad with a higher res display. I know Google and Apple take good care of their customers with updates, support and bug fixes so it won't be a worry to me. The carriers and other manufacturers tend to be greedy and slight their customers. I won't take a chance on them.
MartyLK said:
Based on what I read in another thread about some bugs in HC, I've decided to either wait for a Google produced tablet with HC or stick with Apple and wait for an iPad with a higher res display. I know Google and Apple take good care of their customers with updates, support and bug fixes so it won't be a worry to me. The carriers and other manufacturers tend to be greedy and slight their customers. I won't take a chance on them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The xoom is a google experience device. Its like the droid of tablets.
Sent from my Motorola Olympus
MartyLK said:
I had a chance to play with a Xoom briefly at a local Best Buy and was pleasantly surprised how well I liked it. It felt solid and significant and looked very nice. Honeycomb was...well...pure honey. It left me with the distinct desire to own one. Though recent test have the iPad2 blowing it away, the iPad2 doesn't have the higher res display of the Xoom. I would much rather watch the Xoom display than the iPad2.
But I need people;s experiences with the Xoom since it is a significant investment for me. I would buy the full-priced WiFi-only version, that's why it would be such a significant investment...no subsidized pricing. However, knowing what I know of Motorola's support tactics, we all really should be boycotting them rather than considering buying anything from them. They never update any non-subsidized products. If you own a Moto device from a carrier, you wil eventually get updates and bug fixes. But it you buy one outright, you are abandon as soon as they have your money.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What test blew the Xoom away?
MartyLK said:
I had a chance to play with a Xoom briefly at a local Best Buy and was pleasantly surprised how well I liked it. It felt solid and significant and looked very nice. Honeycomb was...well...pure honey. It left me with the distinct desire to own one. Though recent test have the iPad2 blowing it away, the iPad2 doesn't have the higher res display of the Xoom. I would much rather watch the Xoom display than the iPad2.
...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+ The Android OS is more friendly for everyday use. I owned a iPad, loved it, but when I got the Xoom, I realized that a tablet could be way better To say it simply, with honeycomb you have everything at hand with a simple touch, while on the iPad you have to browse through many screens to get things done. Huge difference if you want to use a tablet more productively and not for incidentally browsing, reading etc.
For example:
Picture this, I have four very active email accounts. I have a widget for each of them on my desktop. When I want to check my mail I just press home and I directly see the the new messages in each mailbox. On the iPad I first had to open the mail app and then I had to click on each of the different mailboxes to see the new messages. What a usability difference....
And this is just one example. I think Android tablets will definitely be a tough competition for the iPad. Didn't expect that till I did the switch myself. Lot of potential.
Sistum Id said:
What test blew the Xoom away?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
The only comparison tests i've seen the xoom won! Unless of course you mean the hype/BS test on the iforum site.
Sistum Id said:
What test blew the Xoom away?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The synthetic benchmarks that anandtech ran that every Steve worshipper in the land uses as ipad 2 purchase validation.
It showed the tegra as sort of lacking in the graphics department. Personally, I didn't buy a xoom to play games, I have a PC and PS3 for that.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App
MartyLK said:
But I need people;s experiences with the Xoom since it is a significant investment for me. I would buy the full-priced WiFi-only version, that's why it would be such a significant investment...no subsidized pricing. However, knowing what I know of Motorola's support tactics, we all really should be boycotting them rather than considering buying anything from them. They never update any non-subsidized products. If you own a Moto device from a carrier, you wil eventually get updates and bug fixes. But it you buy one outright, you are abandon as soon as they have your money.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My 2 cents for you, I looked at the Xoom simply as something to use while 'someone' is on my laptop for hours at a time. My nice new Dell Win7 laptop cost a little more than a Xoom, and it does so much more, so I personally don't look at the Xoom as a "PC replacement". It's something I plan to use at home mostly. I bought the WiFi only one because I didn't want to be tied to Verizon for 2 years, because we really don't know how long Moto is going to put the effort into the Xoom. I don't want to potentially be paying Verizon a monthly fee for a lightly/none supported product in months 12-24 down the road.
The clamor about "Xoom has no apps" is total BS. Having 10,000 apps that make fart noises isn't something to tout. Not everything is perfect, but I'm the type that wants to personalize my device. I think Ipad has it's place as does the Xoom. People that bash either just have incomplete lives with nothing better to do. In my opinion, Ipad is more mainstream, it's what the 'unwashed masses' will flock to, because it has a consistent and simple interface, stability and requires the person to be less involved with 'setting things up'.
I'm not a 'media intensive' person...I could give 2 ****s how Youtube works on the Xoom. I have not tried the HDMI output yet, but in using 'TV' apps I'm happy that I have the option, if I take a trip where I have WiFi that I can stream music/video (I don't care that it's not in 1080p, I can live without it on even a 6 hour trip). I'm intelligent enough to read the postings here, to find apps that let me stream Dexter Season 5, which is NOT out on Netflix yet, so THAT was cool to me. I did try the NHL.com Gamecenter streaming of live games and it worked pretty good.
Also, I have an EVO through Sprint, so for $30 a month I can activate it's HotSpot feature and get unlimited data. So in my mind, if I really want to use it 'away from home' for whatever reason someone has I can also turn on/off the Hotspot feature whenever and they prorate the $30/mo to the day. So if I turn the feature on/off for 5 days in the month, it costs me $5 for that month. I could decide to be lazy too, and just leave it enabled all month, and I think that's a better deal than a 2 year contract w/ Verizon with a monthly data cap. Of course what I am doing requires 'effort' that so many people just don't want to put into things.
To me, I guess having the 3/4G options would be nice at times, but really, where outside of Home does a person really need to whip out their tablet? You going to take it to a movie or dinner, or to the ballgame? If so, why did you pay to attend something and then stick your face in your tablet? Or if you are on a bus/train, why don't you just stick a big "please rob me" sign on your back? If you are using it for 'work' chances are that you need to use it for more than a few minutes and likely for data intensive things, so your likely only going to be 'working' someplace with WiFi....if your company doesn't have WiFi (like mine) that's probably a sign that you employer doesn't want your WiFi device at work
@ austonja, well stated, now this was one of the best replies I have read in a while.
Sistum Id said:
What test blew the Xoom away?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3d tests. but apple is vying for top mobile gaming platform so you can see why.
I think you are asking the wrong question. Of course the Xoom is not the BEST...but then NO product fulfills that criteria for me. The Xoom is excellent. I enjoy it greatly, and there are reasons I picked it over the other options which are still valid. I am satisfied with my choice, but it was a choice, and given slightly different thinking, I am sure I would have been happy with the iPad 2 or the other new Honeycomb tablets when they arrive. I personally think you would not regret a Xoom purchase...but that is just my opinion.
Xoom is decent, but its just the hardware. Before the end of the year I'm sure we will be seeing some great devices that will trump the xoom. Also 2012 I'm sure will be a very exciting year for tablets. Very excited to see what will happen
If now talking about Honeycomb, I believe from what I see is so far the best. Once it get its kinks worked out and we go through a few updates Honeycomb will be the best OS out there for tablets. Honeycomb>IOS>Palm(HP)>blackberry qnx
Sistum Id said:
What test blew the Xoom away?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4216/...rmance-explored-powervr-sgx543mp2-benchmarked
http://blog.laptopmag.com/ipad-2-graphics-performance-blows-away-motorola-xoom-original-ipad
http://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/982268-ipad-2-gpu-blows-away-other-tablet-gpus-including-the-xoom/
http://www.getlaptopreview.com/lapt...e-blows-away-motorola-xoom-original-ipad.html
http://www.tablets.com/uncategorized/the-ipad-2s-powervr-gpu-blows-away-competition/
http://techscrunch.com/tablets/ipad...hz-dual-core-cortex-a9-and-powervr-sgx543mp2/
http://phonegear.eu/ipad-2-graphics...way-ipad-1-and-tegra-2-powered-motorola-xoom/
http://appmasters.wordpress.com/2011/03/13/ipad-2-graphics-blow-away-all-other-tablets/
http://androidforums.com/general-ta...-2-these-14-example-have-changed-my-mind.html
http://www.toteo.com/tech-gadgets/2012-ipad-2-graphics-much-faster-than-ipad-1-motorola-xoom.html
http://osxdaily.com/2011/03/25/ipad-vs-ipad-2-graphics-performance/
http://felixonline.co.uk/preview/tech/1100/ipad-2-blows-away-rivals/
http://www.digitalninjastl.com/blog...d-2’s-graphics-the-infinity-blade-test-shows/
There are many more that came up in Google search but I got tired of listing them all.
Eclair~ said:
None of those sites you listed performed the test again and some of them were simply just forums discussing the information Anandtech presented to us. They only posted Anandtech's graphs and reported the information back again. Therefore it was still "one review" and the fanboys can still say "Just one review!". I'm not trying to be negative, I get your point and what you were trying to prove. The iPad 2 is more powerful than the Xoom and anyone who claims otherwise is... in denial, or a fanboy.
You sound kinda hostile.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry about sounding hostile. It isn't meant. I have had a bad day already. Having been infracted for responding to hateful people and those very same people have not been infracted. When you are an innocent person who wants nothing more than to express views and allow others to express their views and you get accosted for it, it leaves you with a seriously jaded view of life and humanity. It makes a person hope there truly is something to the 2012 myth because I've had my fill of the hatred people love to spew.
As far as the iPad2 goes, I wouldn't buy one of those either. I don't like looking at highly visible pixels on a screen. The iPad2's 1024x768 res is just way too low for this day and time. I did love the display of the Xoom and was yearning for a Xoom...until I was reminded it would be supported by Motorola. But I did read a post that said Google would be updating the Xoom. If this is true...and I'm trying to get confirmation of this in another thread...I may yet acquire a Xoom. As I said, though, I won't get one through or locked to carriers. It would be the full-priced one with WiFi only.
Eclair~ said:
I do hope that when a Honeycomb tablet beats these benchmarks that it receives just as much press.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
when that happens i hope there are some games that make having that horsepower useful. as of right now i don't think there are any games on the android platform that would benefit. that would be as crappy as paying for 2 cpu cores but having apps only utilize one...
The iPad is a finished product. It's a good one, too. (My wife has the iPad 1.)
The Xoom is not finished, and it approaches the new iPad already.
The iPad is never gonna suck, but it's pretty obvious the Xoom has the potential to kick it's ass. However, I have very little faith that Google, Motorola or Verizon will bring it to that point. We'll need to rely on the Android development community for that.
In my opinion, the only time a Xoom will ever be really great is when it's rooted and has a custom ROM installed.
MartyLK said:
The sad part is, I predicted someone would waste their time to say that. It seems people would rather post negative light about others than useful information.
The *reason* why I posted all of those was because the fanboys would come back and say, "Aha! Just one review! That doesn't mean anything!"
However, knowing that someone would complain that all of those links weren't needed, I chose that direction rather than allowing the fanboy/girls a voice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you for real? Go back and read all of your posts in this thread.
You posted that many links to show how people reported on the ONE benchmark? What does that have to do with anything? Not one of those sites re-ran or even confirmed the benchmark themselves, so it is relavent to point out that you could have and should have posted only one link.
You're trying to find fault for some reason in a product you don't own and then post it on the forum. You have to see why this might make me thing you're trolling for no reason.
If you don't like Motorola based on one forum post, that's fine. If you don't like the Xoom based on one test, that's fine. If you don't like it because you actually tried it and tested it for a long time, that's another story. Posting links we have all seen (weeks ago), doesn't help anyone on this forum or help anyone decide to/not to buy something that you don't even own.
Just how I feel about this whole thread.
Psychokitty said:
The iPad is a finished product. It's a good one, too. (My wife has the iPad 1.)
The Xoom is not finished, and it approaches the new iPad already.
The iPad is never gonna suck, but it's pretty obvious the Xoom has the potential to kick it's ass. However, I have very little faith that Google, Motorola or Verizon will bring it to that point. We'll need to rely on the Android development community for that.
In my opinion, the only time a Xoom will ever be really great is when it's rooted and has a custom ROM installed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the problem with Motorola products, the BIOS and bootloader are locked. The only time a custom ROM can be flashed is if it's based on an official Motorola ROM. That's one of my biggest concerns about Motorola. They hinder the XDA community from doing their magic on Motorola devices. If Google releases an updated Honeycomb ROM that deals with bugs and provides performance enhancement, the XDA community can't use it on Motorola devices until Motorola makes an official ROM out of it.
MartyLK said:
That's the problem with Motorola products, the BIOS and bootloader are locked. The only time a custom ROM can be flashed is if it's based on an official Motorola ROM. That's one of my biggest concerns about Motorola. They hinder the XDA community from doing their magic on Motorola devices. If Google releases an updated Honeycomb ROM that deals with bugs and provides performance enhancement, the XDA community can't use it on Motorola devices until Motorola makes an official ROM out of it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Xoom is completely unlocked. Unlocked bootloader (with standard sdk tools you can unlock it), and there are no signature checks, at all. We can modify the xoom software however we want.
Learn your facts before you post.

From heaven to Hell in 5 weeks

Two months ago, I was getting ready for my vacation (first one in six years) and a trip to US (Going next week). I spent several days checking forums, sites, magazines, everything that would help me choose the best tablet, and Xoom looked like the best option.
I never liked Apple and Ipad. To 'restricted' I’m my opinion. It's like a fine car that doesn't allow you to change the gear, break, accelerate or even steering. Basically the only think you can do is to insert address in the GPS and horn!
I have a Samsung galaxy S and so fat it’s the best phone I have ever had. I already had HTC, Kaiser, Blackberry, Motorola, LG, Nokia, etc and this is, by far, the best one. At first it was terrible: slow, too may Samsung bloatware, terrible battery live, but after flashing few cooked roms it transformed itself to a new device. It was Clark and now became Superman.
Back to the Tablets, when I was looking for the best tablet for me I checked other tablets as well: Samsung didn't had micro SD slot, no HDMI output and it also had almost the same weight as Xoom. Rim Tablet was too "Blackberry alike", and with an unknown OS. LG didn't have all the option as the Motorola Xoom and Ipad is… Ipad. So Xoom looked like the best option available. I decided to pre-order the Wi-Fi version to be delivered to the hotel address because I was afraid of a possible shortage. I have only one shot and I couldn`t miss it. Also this way I would be able to use it as my main computer during the trip. The Xoom is already waiting me on the hotel front desk…
….But I wish it wasn’t. In few weeks Xoom changed from the best available option to the worst option in the new Android market.
First, Motorola wasn’t able to keep up with other companies. Samsung did a major strategic movement and decided to re-design their table. Samsung created a tablet that weight just like an Ipad, and almost 30% less than the Xoom with almost the same specs as the Xoom. Samsung included a MicroSD slot, a much better screen (Super IPS) and HDMI while keeping same price as an Ipad 2. I can get the 16gb version for 100 less than the Xoom and I will still able to buy three or more 16gb MicroSD. Looking at the Samsung tablet make you feel like Motorola isn’t even trying. Bulkier, heavier an more expensive (ok 32gb is the same price, but they didn’t include a 16gb version which is cheaper if you think that you can get a 16gb MicroSD for 30 now.)
In the meantime Motorola is fighting itself: news that they will drop the production of Xoom, e-mails sent to Xda to remove .dump file, locket bootloader on the atrix and droid phones. It looks like Motorola is attacking the only thing that could save the Xoom: The community that could help support the device by making customs rom and other improvements.
In my opinion, it looks like Motorola is working hard to prevent customs Roms to the Xoom
So I keep asking myself if I should keep the Xoom, and the short answer is: No. I shouldn’t
I will be needing a tablet during my trip and I still haven`t decided if I should keep my Xoom until I can get a Samsung Tab or if I should send it back to Amazon and get a Asus Transformer. I am afraid that keeping the Xoom for too much time I won`t be able sell it in the future. I`m feeling like I am with a time bomb on my lap and if I doesn`t sell it fast enough it will blow.
And I have no doubt that it will be much easier to sell an Asus Transformer or an Acer A 500 than sell the Xoom in the near future. Hey, the transformer have a different strategy (that it can also be used as a netbook) so I may ending keeping it (but I still like Samsung Tab 10.1 best).
For now, Xoom is just better than nothing because there are no other android devices available. From April 24th (Acer A500 launch) it will face the competition of Acer. After that Asus and Samsung. The truth is that I haven`t even open the Xoom box, but I’m already with bitter taste in my mouth.
Some people talk about Xoom having the premium price. You paid more because you wanted to have the first Android device in the market ahead from everyone. OK, but would you pay this “premium price” if you knew that it would only last four weeks? That after 4 weeks you would have 4 new and better options (cheaper ones) available? Also, how much “premium price” you’ll have to pay? You already paying it in dollars, but you already paying it in the fact that the OS have bugs (like Mem space bug), that the SD card doesn’t work, that the screen is worst than every other device. How much you’ll have to pay as premium price?
Now I just need to know how can I return an unopened Xoom to Amazon and have a refund to purchase and Acer or and Asus for 200 bucks less.
It’s sad when you haven’t event received a new gadget but you already have give up on it, but it is worst when you realized that even the manufacture have already give up on the device.
isnt the galaxy tab shipping with FROYO? with Samsung's track record, I doubt it'll get honeycomb in 2011, gingerbread is a more realistic goal, maybe near christmas?
Xoom is a great tablet and I'm sorry that you've decided to return it without even using it.
This same thread has been posted too many times, and needs to be added to a forum FAQ or something. "Should I buy x if y is coming out soon?" turns into "Should I buy y if z is coming out soon?". At some point you just have to make a purchase and accept that no technology is going to be "the best" for very long
Wait, you haven't even opened the box and we get this long rant?
Use the device, let your experience guide your choices. The simple fact is that the Xoom is a powerful and beautiful slate, if you are one of us who love it out of the box.
We have root, we have overclock and regardless of the Xoom platform Honeycomb will have a strong community support even if because it is Android.
I for one am a power user and love my Xoom, it's attractive and does it's job well for my tastes.
Regardless, you need to experience the thing in your environment before you decide it isn't worth your time. Normally the hurdle would be the purchase, but you've already passed that one. Take the time to configure and play, then decide!
Dubar said:
isnt the galaxy tab shipping with FROYO? with Samsung's track record, I doubt it'll get honeycomb in 2011, gingerbread is a more realistic goal, maybe near christmas?
Xoom is a great tablet and I'm sorry that you've decided to return it without even using it.
This same thread has been posted too many times, and needs to be added to a forum FAQ or something. "Should I buy x if y is coming out soon?" turns into "Should I buy y if z is coming out soon?". At some point you just have to make a purchase and accept that no technology is going to be "the best" for very long
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Galaxy Tab 10 is not shipping with 2.2. Launching with 3.0.
LordLugard said:
Galaxy Tab 10 is not shipping with 2.2. Launching with 3.0.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my bad, must be thinking of the older one; I feel sorry for anyone who bought that oversized phone that doesnt make calls
After using honeycomb, 2.x just doesnt make sense on a tablet
edit: I cant wait for all these new tablets to come out so people can start to differentiate between problems with the xoom and problems with honeycomb.
It's amazing how you've managed to out dumb every single other post in xoom general with this ridiculous pointless rant.
You've not even opened the box and you're complaining about the xoom.
The xoom is the most unlocked device moto has ever produced, it won't ever be locked.
You have nothing to backup your claims at all. There is nothing about the new tablets coming out that will reduce your enjoyment of the xoom. If you keep worrying about the next tablet and then the next tablet you will never have a tablet, and never be happy.
The xoom is a wonderful device with a lot going for it and nothing samsung or acer does will change that for me.
Honestly its your fault for ordering something so far ahead of time, especially a device like this that had almost no chance of selling out.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App
I'm sure that the description "From Heaven to Hell" seems a bit dramatic to most readers, but if thats the way you feel, you will probably never be happy with the Xoom even after the upgrades & updates.
The more I read the more I realize the Xoom really is only going to one of the best tablets after it's hacked, overclocked and running a high quality custom ROM. This is the way I always intended to use the Xoom, though I am learning that I really am in the minority of users. Those consumers having no intention of hacking the tablet are likely to be disappointed when comparing it to a more "finished" product.
I add my experience to this post only to help illustrate the importance of considering the intended use of the product by the individual giving his opinion of it. Critics of users who are dissatisfied with the Xoom seem to overlook that relevance and chastise them unjustly. Inevitably, every thread that includes negative opinions of the Xoom turns to **** as a polarized pissing contest ensues.
The ironic good part of this usual course of behavior is that waiting for these updates will give everyone a chance to get this crap out of their system so that by that time we can get busy talking about nothing but development, improvements and ROMs. Won't THAT be great?!
Sorry if you think that what I wrote is 'ridiculous pointless rant', but what a wrote is just what I am feeling so I am probably feeling ridiculous pointless right now.
About pre-ordering, yes it was a bad call. But I was in the US last thanksgiving and I spent two weeks trying to get a Xbox Kinect with no luck. I just didn`t want that to happened again. I also pre order a 3DS in the same way as the Xoom.
I agree that there is nothing from the new tables that would keep me from enjoying the Xoom, but that's not so simple. It's human nature to search for the best, and have the best. So I can say that except for some users that actually try several devices in order to choose the right one, most of the consumers will just choose the ones that looks the best. And between too devices, one 30% lighter and with the same specs, most of the users will go for the lighter even without testing.
I know that I am responsible for what happened but I think that what you should realize is that this will be the most typical scenario for the Xoom in the next weeks. Do you think that most of the consumers will act as XDA user and will do their homework (even then some XDA users will return theirs Xoom) or they will make their decisions like I did, in an impulse purchase?
Just look how many people stood on the line to purchase an Ipad 2 in the first day. None of these people were able to fully try Ipad before buying it. They just went for the one that looked the best.
And so this will probably happens with Android devices too. Most of people will go for the one with better specs or, in a secondary decision path, for the cheaper one. Very few people will go for the `right one for me`.
I just don't think that Motorola will hold on the Xoom if they start getting low sales numbers and high return rates. Motorola hasn't show that it will support Xoom if it fails in sale, and that's, combined to a POSSIBLE decision to prevent custom rooms (like they did in some Droid and Atrix phones) will turn out to be doom fall to Xoom users.
Psychokitty said:
I'm sure that the description "From Heaven to Hell" seems a bit dramatic to most readers, but if thats the way you feel, you will probably never be happy with the Xoom even after the upgrades & updates.
The more I read the more I realize the Xoom really is only going to one of the best tablets after it's hacked, overclocked and running a high quality custom ROM. This is the way I always intended to use the Xoom, though I am learning that I really am in the minority of users. Those consumers having no intention of hacking the tablet are likely to be disappointed when comparing it to a more "finished" product.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with the fact that Xoom will be a much better device after hacked and with custom Rom. I just don`t know if that will happen. Just look at the Atrix forum and the petition to have an unlocked bootloader. If I`m wrong please let me know but we are not sure, at this time, that there will be custom roms avaiable to the Xoom.
If I may throw my 2 cents into the can...
Yes, it looks like cheaper, and slimmer or lighter tablets are coming around the corner. Acer and Asus have it right in the price. Samsung built a thinner mouse trap, if you will, with redesigning the 8.9 and 10.1 Tabs.
Here's why the Xoom is my pick to date: Stock Android Device. Yes, all these tablets will have Honeycomb, but the OEM's are placing UI's on top. Granted, They don't appear to be too obtrusive to the Honeycomb experience (thank you Samsung for figuring that out) it will still be an issue when updates are released. I learned my lesson on the phone side and bought the Nexus S, and am so, so glad I did. Now, I don't want to get into a discussion of who the updates will be coming from, but it's obvious that a stock operating system will get the updates much, much faster than any devices with custom UI's. Samsung will have one, Asus will have one, hell HTC wants to put frigging Sense on their tablets. Yes people, you HTC tablet owners will get to stare at that stupid clock widget all day long on a bigger screen.
Look, I understand that the Xoom is way too expensive, I look at my Best Buy account and cringe, but I'm glad I pulled the trigger and bout the Xoom. It may not be a "Nexus" device per say, but for the joy of having the "pure Google experience" I'm all about the Xoom.
Dandarebr said:
I agree with the fact that Xoom will be a much better device after hacked and with custom Rom. I just don`t know if that will happen. Just look at the Atrix forum and the petition to have an unlocked bootloader. If I`m wrong please let me know but we are not sure, at this time, that there will be custom roms avaiable to the Xoom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the only thing stopping the development of custom roms right now is the lack of HC source code, so if the xoom never gets custom roms then no 3.x device will
chrisharmful said:
If I may throw my 2 cents into the can...
Yes, it looks like cheaper, and slimmer or lighter tablets are coming around the corner. Acer and Asus have it right in the price. Samsung built a thinner mouse trap, if you will, with redesigning the 8.9 and 10.1 Tabs.
Here's why the Xoom is my pick to date: Stock Android Device. Yes, all these tablets will have Honeycomb, but the OEM's are placing UI's on top. Granted, They don't appear to be too obtrusive to the Honeycomb experience (thank you Samsung for figuring that out) it will still be an issue when updates are released. I learned my lesson on the phone side and bought the Nexus S, and am so, so glad I did. Now, I don't want to get into a discussion of who the updates will be coming from, but it's obvious that a stock operating system will get the updates much, much faster than any devices with custom UI's. Samsung will have one, Asus will have one, hell HTC wants to put frigging Sense on their tablets. Yes people, you HTC tablet owners will get to stare at that stupid clock widget all day long on a bigger screen.
Look, I understand that the Xoom is way too expensive, I look at my Best Buy account and cringe, but I'm glad I pulled the trigger and bout the Xoom. It may not be a "Nexus" device per say, but for the joy of having the "pure Google experience" I'm all about the Xoom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with most everything you said however, where is the microSD card support on Xoom? These new tablets are releasing with functional slots. For a flagship device for Honeycomb, I am a bit disappointed. I have had my Xoom since day 1 and being as patient as possible with this but seeing other honeycomb tablets release with microSD support is a slap in the face.
dandearebr,
notice this...
regarding development of android device you must have development device, until now the development device supported by google are : G1 (legacy, not supported anymore), Nexus One, Nexus S and Motorola Xoom... the last three have unlock bootoloader officially, not by doing a hack, G1 Dev are coming unlocked from the first day of release (except G1 T Mob)..
so now, are you sure the next coming HC tablets have official unlock bootloader? "fastboot oem unlock"
Droid, Desire, Xperia etc, they are not development device, so is Atrix and others..the only way to put custom android to that product is hacking the bootloader..
Atrix have a good bootloader lock, afaik until now, no one have succes unlock milestone bootloader..so atrix will do the same..
now, one million dollars question for u, are u sure u want to buy next tablet that we dont know about their bootloader? u love custom rom right?
Dear Dandearebr
You will never get "perfect" tablet because there is no definition of such. There are expectations that are constantly changing, also they are very personal and subjective.
Your opinion is based on reviews and vocal complainers baseless in most of cases.
Xoom is very solid tablet capable of replacing of laptop. I am sure that it will get updates and will be useful for a least a year, year and a half. Then it will be a picture frame.
BTW, it has amazingly powerful sound. Listening online radio is very enjoyable.
My opinion is based on experience using Android since 2009, starting with HTC G1, then MyTouch, Galaxy S, Samsung Galaxy Tab 7". Xoom is a different animal because of Honeycomb and it is a big step forward.
Personally I prefer 7" tab with phone capability and pocketable size.
Classic buyer's remorse. We've all been there. My suggestion is to follow through and return it. You will never likely be happy with it, regardless of how well it functions for you.
Happily typing from my unlocked, rooted, overclocked Xoom.
Please return it so that real users don't have to clean up after you and kiss your boo-boos. Sheesh, you don't need a Xoom, you need a mom!
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
So have you actually used the device?
God, return it.
Then when the XYZ tablet you want comes out you will go cry to those forums that ZYS v2.0 tablet is coming out.
I don't get why a lot of you are getting all defensive and starts attacking a fellow member, just because he's having a much better look at the future than us early adopters. I mean, be honest guys! A lot of us here are all wishful thinking about the opposite of what the OP has said! Yeah, we all might be happy for now, as the Motorola Xoom is the only tablet available that's actually competing with iPadLock2. But a few days, weeks from now, with all these tablets coming out and (hopefully not) the chance of Xoom reaching it's end of life/production. Along with threats of locked bootloader and a chance of not getting any update support from Motorola (FACT: XOOM is NOT the developer TAB from Google), we might just end up flooding this forum with threads just like the OP's.. Let's face it, no one knows about Xoom's future.. Heck I don't even know if Jha even knows the Xooms future at this point.. But the fact that Xoom's sale wasn't really that good, due to motorola's marketing strategy and price, with the iPad 2's overwhelming, and the upcoming flooding of Honeycomb tablets with better specs and/or pricing, our Xoom tablet could very well just end up as a very expensive paperweight.. Don't get me wrong, I am very happy with my Xoom! It meets my daily needs but the fact that it hasn't yet reached it's full potential due to Honeycomb's infancy, the FC's and limited apps worries me. I mean, we all know how these companies are.. If their product doesn't sell, they stop the production and support/updates. Add to that the threat on the XDA community regarding the Dump files and chances of the Bootloader getting locked, helps me understand the OP's sentiments/rants.. Let's face it, this is not the Developer's TAB like what we all hoped it would be when we bought it. Without the support from Motorola and the XDA community, this product we're defending would actually just end up like what the OP has said on the title of this thread. So let's just get along and stop bashing the OP just because he still has a chance to change his mind. Me, I would advice the OP to just return/sell the Xoom and wait for a few the upcoming tablets before it's too late. Because if he does, he would have a much better look at the future of the Xoom. Who knows, he might even see Motorola getting crazy coming up with a 16GB version, with better pricing and unlocked bootloader! Now that would be a win/win situation for the OP and us early adopters!! My fingers are crossed..........
Perfect! There really is no more to debate on this, and just no reason to bash the OP. Nobody knows anything for sure yet. I'm in it for the long haul, but only because I intend to be an end user of custom ROMs. I WILL be disappointed with how much I spent on the Xoom if that doesn't ever happen.

Concerned about Non-US Updates...

Like all Xoom owners across the world, I’m looking forward to the 3.1 Honeycomb update, and while I’m happy that some of our American cousins are enjoying their newly enhanced Xoom. I’m very disappointed at Google/Motorola’s plan (or lack of) to update Xoom outside of the US.
From different stories I read, Google/Motorola will update non-Verizon Xoom in “several weeks”. This sound to me like Google/Motorola don’t care about the rest of us, and will get to it when they have time, so we could be waiting MONTHS for the same update.
The fact Google/Motorola did not give any concrete timetable for non-Verizon Xoom update makes me fear the worst.
It’s funny to me that Google can make pledge to keep new android devices from multiple manufactures updated for 18 months. Yet they can't even manage to roll out a simple update for one device from a single manufacture they worked closely with.
Love or hate Apple, at least they can roll out IOS update across multiple devices at the sometime. Maybe their devices really are magical.
I hope I’m wrong and all Xoom will receive the update in the next couple of weeks.
P.S. this incompetence can only be blamed on Google/Motorola as Xoom sold in UK have stock firmware came directly from Motorola, so there isn’t the mobile carrier delay get device updated.
I wonder when people will stop complaining about update schedules. I mean transparency is nice, but it also has the ability to affect stock prices of publicly traded companies.
They can't tell us as much as you would like them too. Pretty simple.
I can honestly assure you that you will get the update eventually, probably a lot sooner than you think.
No need to sound alarms that your device isn't being supported.
You do realize several weeks means at most 4-6 weeks.... this is because the current 3.1 update is phase updating so it might mean every 3g Xoom might not have the update until "several weeks" from now.... Also your claim of Apple releasing iOS to multiple devices in 1 day is irrelevant. Apple manufactures all their products which is limited to at most 4 phones.... Google does not...
Basically there is nothing you can do and the rant is in all honesty kind of pointless and selfish....
I'm not worried about the update, but it would be nice as a Canadian to actually be able to use some of Google services. I bought my Xoom on the premise that I'd be able to at least view the public domain books, only to learn that the tablet app wont function at all.
I'll take the blame on that one, but the fact is it's really difficult to get excited about these new features when their existing services have yet to move out of the US region. Apple was able to release iBooks in Canada shortly after the US launch. Likewise, they were able to get videos on iTunes at roughly the same time as the US. It's clearly possible.
Hopefully content providers will start cooperating with Google. I don't see how they think they have any other choice - and they wonder why people in Canada pirate more media than anywhere else in the world.
I know it’s has only been one day, but is it too much to ask for simple acknowledgment on when the update will come apart from the vague term of several weeks? As a consumer I don’t care about Google/Motorola stock prices.
The Apple comparison is not irrelevant, Google and Android manufactures already have bad reputation for either not updating their devices (Sony) or update them VERY slowly (Samsung, Dell). Any major delay getting all first Honeycomb tablet updated will only put more people off choosing Honeycomb and buying ipad.
I’m currently enjoying using my Xoom and do not consider it’s worthless, I wish to have an idea on when I can start enjoy the new enhancements.
I’m only look for similar treatment from Google/Motorola on a device I paid for. If you guys consider asking for equality is whining then so be it.
Elysian893 said:
It's been ONE day, jesus.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
one day but the anouncement said "will start rolling today." You'd think they could get a few of these updated in 24 hours. Since they said "today" it should have been rolling as soon as they anounced it.
Trolling responses deleted. Let's keep this thread free from the immaturity I've grown to know and love in this sub-forum.
Seriously, though. While this was not voiced the best way possible and this is far too early to complain, this is a somewhat valid concern. More trolling and I will close the thread and issue infractions.
PS. Incredibly flame-worthy trollbait of a title changed to something more accurately reflecting the OP's message.
All the *****ing about when people are going to get my update reminds me of the saying.. "the foods terrible and the portions are too small"
Frankly if google were to try to release 3.1 to all xoom users (domestic/out of the us, 3G and Wi-Fi) at the exact same time I guarantee it would mean that some people's 3.1 updates would get delayed even more until the update was ready for everyone.
Yes it would be great if they did updates like Apple but google has much more hardware variety to deal with and more carriers to deal with. Let alone carriers that want to mess with the OS so it's not "stock" anymore. so obviously it's not as easy for them.
People sound like my 3 year old that cries that he can't have a toy. The same toy he didn't even know about 2 minutes earlier. He is perfectly content until he realizes there is something he doesn't have.
Dan
Im more concerned without when we will get stock images for european 3g, right now, even if we get an update in the next few weeks, those of us that have modded cannot ota update cause we can't flash back to stock.
Failing that, im happy to get a stock image for 3.1, but getting information out of Motorola, if you are non-us is like trying to get blood from a stone.
Macbots drool as I XOOM through the Galaxy to my hearts Desire.
I’d like to apologise for the old thread title, it was meant in jest, and not inflammatory.
I’m not too concerned about when the update is coming. Only that I wish Google/Motorola given us a rough timeline on update for different regions, I’d have been content with a single slideshow on this matter.
Let us look at the bigger picture:
Unlike the smartphone market, Android is playing catch up to Apple in the tablet market, The Xoom is very important to Google as they need to use this 1st true Android tablet to capture people’s attentions and produce a good user experience similar to the ipad.
This update is even more important in this regard, as it include fixes for long lists of bugs for 3.01. Which is not the most stable OS to start with especially compared to IOS.
Therefore, to have Xoom outside the US running on older and buggier software for any length of time more than necessary will only produce more negative user experiences that spread by press reviews and words of mouth.

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