Atrix is a dud - Atrix 4G General

Looks like Motorola's decision to lock the bootloader is coming back to bite them in the ass. That's what they get for turning their backs on the developement community. It was the developement community that made the original Droid such a success but Motorola is too stupid to realise it.
http://blogs.forbes.com/ericsavitz/...lity-xoom-atrix-both-duds-pacific-crest-says/

I highly doubt the locked bootloader has much to do with it.. Only a small percentage of consumers know what a bootloader is.. All manufacturers are going to be locking down their phones.. HTC did with the Thunderbolt and it's doing very well.. I think it has more to do with price anyway.. That article mentions the XOOM too and its unlockable, but way out when it comes to price point..
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Don't underestimate the importance of the developement community. The Atrix is priced competetively at $199 with deals as low as$ 125. The Thunderbolt bootloader was cracked a long time ago wasn't it?
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App

go ask samsung how well the nexus s was selling lol

Exador said:
Don't underestimate the importance of the developement community. The Atrix is priced competetively at $199 with deals as low as$ 125. The Thunderbolt bootloader was cracked a long time ago wasn't it?
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
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not locked to the same level. HTC is just starting to lock down it's devices.

This has pretty much nothing to do with the bootloader and everything to do with usage and price.
The specs on the Atrix are awesome, but they are also far beyond what a normal consumer needs at this point so they aren't really taken into consideration.
The Inspire is a great phone that performs really well. When you hold and use both phones in the store, and you aren't a tech geek, it becomes hard to justify spending an extra $100 on the Atrix.
This isn't even taking into account a cheap iPhone 3G at $50, or any of the other smartphones that run well and cost quite a bit less.

I'd be interested to know if the analyst quoted in the article actually used the word "dud", or if the reporter used it as his interpretation of what the analyst said. And saying that a product's sales are “well below forecast” isn't particularly meaningful without knowing what the forecast was, just like a company claiming that sales "far exceeded expectations."
Nevertheless, I agree that Atrix sales are undoubtedly being hurt by the lower subsidized price of the HTC Inspire. Heck, the Atrix is priced the same as the 16GB iPhone 4. That's tough competition. I wouldn't be surprised if the Atrix price goes down to $99 in the not too distant future.
I think Moto's biggest marketing mistake with the Atrix was touting it with the laptop dock, rather than as a standalone kick-ass phone.

GoodFoot said:
I'd be interested to know if the analyst quoted in the article actually used the word "dud", or if the reporter used it as his interpretation of what the analyst said. And saying that a product's sales are “well below forecast” isn't particularly meaningful without knowing what the forecast was, just like a company claiming that sales "far exceeded expectations."
Nevertheless, I agree that Atrix sales are undoubtedly being hurt by the lower subsidized price of the HTC Inspire. Heck, the Atrix is priced the same as the 16GB iPhone 4. That's tough competition. I wouldn't be surprised if the Atrix price goes down to $99 in the not too distant future.
I think Moto's biggest marketing mistake with the Atrix was touting it with the laptop dock, rather than as a standalone kick-ass phone.
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Exactly people don't know about its ability as a phone alone.
I also agree with the OP. The dev community made the droid strong. This is what motorola deserves for locking the bootloader.

I think the best thing i've seen said about it in a review (which i think was just a Youtube review or something) was that it's basically the only future-proof phone on the market right now.... namely because of the dual core CPU.
Dud? I doubt it. Yea.... it doesn't sell as well as some phones.... but then again.... not everybody buys their phone because there's a piece of fruit on the back and a media player OS on the inside.
And no.... the idea of the locked bootloader would not be a deal-breaker. As it's been said... the majority of people don't even know what the bootloader is. Yea.... it may seem like a big deal if you're browsing around in tech community forums... but not so much in the real world or other forums. Take for instance a quick google search for "jailbreak/root poll"... just as an example as to how much the ability to crack your phone matters to people
Neowin.net:
Do you root/jailbreak your device?
Yes = 67 votes
No = 17 votes
Know how to, but don't want to = 9 votes
What is rooting/jailbreaking? = 1 vote
Going by that... you may say that rooting/jailbreaking is a HUGE factor on phone sales.
HomeTheaterLounge.com:
Is your Smartphone rooted/jailbroken?:
Yes = 7
No = 15
Bored and wanted to vote in a poll = 2
Not quite as drastic a result.... but also not nearly as many votes. I mean.... when you have people asking why the iPhone 4 doesn't use the 4G network because from what they understand it's the iPhone 4G.... do you REALLY think that the majority of the country/world is seeing a hackable bootloader as being a major selling point, when the majority could care less about even a simple root/jailbreak?

Exador said:
The Atrix is priced competetively at $199 with deals as low as$ 125.
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Or $24 at CarToys - argh!

Another consideration might be the advertising which presents "it's a phone, or a computer, or a phone" - which probably gets even some non-techies excited. Only to find that for that phone your talking $500 and another $240 per year to tether a dumb device to it ... very unfortunate.
Price the Lapdog (!) right (say $1-150), and do not charge tethering for something which is in no way increasing bandwidth use or enabling a second person to do anything on the data connection - and you might have a lot more takers, techie and otherwise.

GoodFoot said:
Nevertheless, I agree that Atrix sales are undoubtedly being hurt by the lower subsidized price of the HTC Inspire. Heck, the Atrix is priced the same as the 16GB iPhone 4. That's tough competition. I wouldn't be surprised if the Atrix price goes down to $99 in the not too distant future.
I think Moto's biggest marketing mistake with the Atrix was touting it with the laptop dock, rather than as a standalone kick-ass phone.
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Well Its already $99 at amazon wireless.

Yeah, I'd really like the reason for low sales to be the bootloader... but I honestly doubt that very much. The phone is really a great value at $200, by itself, but few people understand how much better it performs than the iPhone 4 because it is not marketed as a stand-alone device. The laptop dock is far too expensive for the average end user, and tethering charges are high as well as unwarranted.
Also, I think its presence on AT&T hurts Motorola a great deal. Most AT&T customers naturally equate "smartphone" with "iPhone", and see Android devices as mere iPhone wannabes. I would expect more of the Bionic on Verizon, though the lack of early hype for the Atrix won't help any. And naturally, if I were on Verizon, I'd be pretty pissed to be offered only half the RAM.

Lol 10 to one odds The author Eric savitz is on xda
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It seems like a decent Android phone (IMHO). I'm waiting for Gingerbread to get to the device. I might be waiting a while, but it would be a better user experience with that version of the software.
Is it a Dud? Don't think so having owned 3 Android phones (first with MotoBlur though).

best dud ive ever had

Yep.... even better dud than my previous phone..... you know.... one of those phones with some fruit on the back...... and commonly mistaken for a 4G-capable phone....

Yeah. I spent an hour the other night trying to convince the guy with the fruit phone that it did not/could not use the ATT 4G network. I finally gave up.

nsaia said:
Yeah. I spent an hour the other night trying to convince the guy with the fruit phone that it did not/could not use the ATT 4G network. I finally gave up.
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Coulda settled that with one word. Specifications. TADA! lol

Just a quick question what is all this talk about tethering charges?? Is this an American thing??? I have an AT&T atrix unlocked to Rogers using a laptop dock I bought from the source (in Canada) I am able to use the LTD without getting g charged for tethering... in fact I don't even understand why that would be considered tethering there is not supposed to be any internal components in the LTD except the extra battery so what are you tethering ??? The display??? Makes no sense...

Related

Nexus One first week sales = weak.((20k))

http://www.pcworld.com/article/1867...irst_week_of_sales_were_weak_report_says.html
Thats a ton of complaints coming out for only 20k sales.
Not being available in T-Mo stores really hurt sales. I think being able to see this screen and hold it in person would move a hell of alot more units.
he Nexus One didn't benefit from such a strong marketing push like the Motorola Droid (estimated $100 million), despite Google's phone featuring so-far unique Android features. This has reflected in poor first week sales for the Nexus One, as per the table below. (Click image above to enlarge)
Instead, Google chose a soft launch for the Nexus One, selling it through their website. But the steep $500 Google is asking for the unlocked device and the mixed reviews the Nexus One received didn't help to maximize first week sales.
Flurry's report mentions that the Nexus One lacks the "wow factor" and the general perception that the device is not seen as revolutionary, but rather just evolutionary from other Android phones.
Om Malik, of GigaOm, notes that Flurry's estimated sales numbers for the Nexus One might even be a bit far fetched. He mentions Google has been giving away the Nexus One to its employees and also lent it to many members of the media for reviews, which could have bumped up Flurry's analytics.
Next to the poor first week sales figure, the Nexus One has also seen mounting complaints over the 3G connectivity of the device and the lack of developer tools for the Android 2.1 platform.
In her review of the Nexus One, my colleague Ginny Mies notes that Google's phone "isn't quite the game-changer people hoped it would be, though it certainly trumps other phones in performance, display quality, and speed." Next to pros like a dazzling OLED display, snappy performance and sleep, slim design, she marks the lack of multitouch support and the software keyboard as cons.
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I'm actually glad. I dont want the nexus one to become a fashion icon like the iPhone did.
EDIT: YOU! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE
melterx12 said:
I'm actually glad. I dont want the nexus one to become a fashion icon like the iPhone did.
EDIT: YOU! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE
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awww Fuuudgdeeee
Had to be 2 new yorkers didnt it. lol
Agree with this though. Ive been saying I hope a ton of people want it but few get it. That way Google is pressed to resolve there customer service and HW issues and early adopters dont look like bandwagon jumpers for the latest fashion device.
On the flip side... I hope Google doesnt turn around and blame Tmobile. Tmo and Google have been continually bringing out Android sets I hope that relationship doesnt sour because of this.
Actually 20k in sales for a phone that has reportedly had the vast majority of users buy the unlocked version is pretty damn good (Leo Laporte mentioned it on TWiT on Sunday)
melterx12 said:
I'm actually glad. I dont want the nexus one to become a fashion icon like the iPhone did.
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As much as I give credit to Apple for what they've done with the iPhone, the iPhone has become the "razr" of phones.....the "Wal-Mart" of phones....
The bad press on this phone is silly. It takes nothing into consideration, bends around the truth, and just sounds misinformed. This phone had a soft launch, wasn't available in stores, no television ads, and wasn't really advertised by Google until the day of it's launch.
These soft launches make an impact. Word will spread and then it will pop up and explode on Verizon. I'm not even trying to defend the device, it just makes me angry seeing so much misinformed crap popping up on the web.
"But the steep $500 Google is asking for the unlocked device and the mixed reviews the Nexus One received didn't help to maximize first week sales."
Mixed reviews meaning angry fanboys? I don't get it. The thing runs Android really well, is fast as hell, looks great, has a good camera, etc. I have no idea what people were expecting. Android has been out, and this was stated to be an Android device.
mark925 said:
As much as I give credit to Apple for what they've done with the iPhone, the iPhone has become the "razr" of phones.....the "Wal-Mart" of phones....
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+1
everybody and their dog has an iphone. i'd rather have something few others do
To be honest, and trying to be unbiased, I think these numbers are ok for Google. Here's why I say that... given the marketing channel used here (online only sales and advertising), I suspect that Google is banking on a moderate rate of sales early on, with an increase a little later. Most people like to see and touch something prior to dropping hundreds of dollars on it. I think Google is counting on the early adopters to buy the phones, and then once we have them and others start seeing and playing with them, they will start buying. In theory, this should work the same as if the N1 would have been sold in stores, except the initial sales would be lighter and the rate of sales would be steeper after the first few weeks.
My proverbial 2 cents...
#1. It's hard for someone to drop that much cash on a phone unseen. Like others have pointed out, it's hard to sell a mobile phone without being able to "touch" it and play with it at a retail store.
#2. The N1 is one of the first handsets relatively available for purchase which has the Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. I honestly think the "hacking" community for the N1 will be similar of what the G1 (HTC Dream) has seen... In other words, the HTC Passion is basically the next great hacking platform as the HTC Dream experienced.
Cheers,
Kermee
So essentially 1 in 150,000 Americans (ROUGHLY, only considering domestic sales) are packin the N1 - Sounds like a pretty elite/exclusive group if you ask me
booloobunny said:
..."But the steep $500 Google is asking for the unlocked device and the mixed reviews the Nexus One received didn't help to maximize first week sales."
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Also, to add onto this...I don't think the price is steep at all. In fact it is cheaper than many other unlocked devices with lesser hardware. Also, it has been pointed out in many places that getting the unlocked version is cheaper than going with the subsidized version and mandatory plan.
When a phone can be purchased only from one location and one URL only gadget freaks like us know about it's existence. Some of my friends who think they are gadget freaks were shocked to see my phone over the weekend. They didn't even know about it yet. Forget the common man. Unless, the phone is sold in T-mobile, and B&M stores, it will be hard to sell like Driod.
Except for lousy T-mobile 3G inside buildings, I love this phone. But I am seriously thinking about returning just to go back to AT&T as I would like to stay with the best GSM carrier who gets most unlocked 3G phones so I can keep changing my phones every few months.
uansari1 said:
To be honest, and trying to be unbiased, I think these numbers are ok for Google. Here's why I say that... given the marketing channel used here (online only sales and advertising), I suspect that Google is banking on a moderate rate of sales early on, with an increase a little later. Most people like to see and touch something prior to dropping hundreds of dollars on it. I think Google is counting on the early adopters to buy the phones, and then once we have them and others start seeing and playing with them, they will start buying. In theory, this should work the same as if the N1 would have been sold in stores, except the initial sales would be lighter and the rate of sales would be steeper after the first few weeks.
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I agree. This seems similar to Gmail when it was in Beta....and Gvoice. Only certain people had it and it was invite only. This seems to make a launch more manageable (less volume) and the inital adopters are the ones who typically want it the most and spread the word to others for free.
I want one... I just don't want to pay $530 to be a beta tester. I think once the 3g issues are solved we'll see alot more people pay for the phone
once Verizon and vodaphone get this phone. Sales will SKY rocket.
Instore sales
The only way for a big change in sales would be to sell the Nexus One in stores, mainstream buyers are not going to spend premium money on a handset that they can not handle first.
There are not enough early adopters and tech heads like most of us on this site to make a major impact on sales. Plus many of us are holding off to see how the 3G issue gets handled before buying.
since they didnt really air commercial for the phone and it is only available online. the numbers are pretty good.
melterx12 said:
The HARDWARE to produce the Nexus One costs $175$. This price does NOT include licensing, manufacturing, advertising, shipping, Government Taxes, etc.
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Yeah... Putting the parts together... probably costs more than the parts themselves, including labor.
Sure, I could get the "parts" for my car too for less than a quarter of what it sells for... I wouldn't want to try to assemble it though!
Cheers,
Kermee
melterx12 said:
The HARDWARE to produce the Nexus One costs $175$. This price does NOT include licensing, manufacturing, advertising, shipping, Government Taxes, etc.
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...not to mention R&D
I still have people ask me when its coming out when I show them mine, this phone is still very "underground"
melterx12 said:
The HARDWARE to produce the Nexus One costs $175$. This price does NOT include licensing, manufacturing, advertising, shipping, Government Taxes, etc.
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Can you send me a link to where you found out the hardware only cost $175 for the nexus one. I would like to see how much the snapdragon proc costs, and the 512mb of ram, and all the other components in the phone, and just the cost of putting it together.
And I am not referring to licensing, manufacturing, advertising, shipping, Government Taxes, etc.
Just the hardware and the costs to put the phone together. I call bull**** on the $175 dollars.
That is how much it might cost to put together the iphone 3gs with much cheaper hardware. But the Nexus One hardware is another story.

What's all the freaking fuss about? - Xoom Pricing

[RANT]
Hello All,
I've been taking look at the threads here and frankly, there is way too much whining and complaining about pricing on the Xoom, and how Moto is now losing customers, and how they have ruined the product launch, blah blah blah.
The 32 GB WiFi + 3G iPad is $729 retail. Xoom is set at $799 - what do you get for an extra seventy bucks? Android HC, VZ network, Tegra 2, the ability to drop an SD card in there for loads more storage, and so on. Is that really so unreasonable? Apple has sold millions of iPads at that price point.
And so what if a new iPad (with new, even more 'magical' properties) will be released this summer, dropping the price of the first one...it's still an Apple device, meaning it runs a locked-down OS. If you love Apple and their designs, hey, more power to you, I'm not here to flame your choice. For me: no thanks.
Some have said that they have a rig at home that cost around 800 bucks and it does so much more than a tablet, so the cost for the Xoom is unjustified. Perhaps...but can you take that rig with you everywhere you go? Portability is a premium, so that comparison is an epic fail - it's apples and oranges. "Hey, my bicycle is better than your treadmill!" - huh, really?
And sure, there's a markup because it's new and it's a first, but that is true for every other new piece of tech. The first iPhone adopters paid $600 for their phones! Have we forgotten that little tidbit?
I will admit, it is disappointing that leaks indicate that the Xoom will not receive subsidized pricing through VZ (though I'd like to remind folks that, as far as I have seen, there has yet to be any official word from Big Red on that).
But seriously...if you are disappointed because the price point places this device out of your reach, too bad so sad, go flash another ROM or something, and don't fill these forums with pages of complaints. I'm definitely looking forward to the days after this device is released, so that actual Xoom users can post their reviews, questions, advice, tips, workarounds, and solutions.
[/RANT]
[FLAMING] ...no doubt it's coming.
i agree.
although I think that the attitude would be a lot different if we were all used to the non-US way of buying cellular devices.
the price is not so much an issue to me considering the hardware. I am not saying I don't have sticker shock, but the price is not the determining factor for me. if the device does everything i need it to then i will buy it. if it lacks something I need, I won't buy it.
khov07 said:
[RANT]
Hello All,
I've been taking look at the threads here and frankly, there is way too much whining and complaining about pricing on the Xoom, and how Moto is now losing customers, and how they have ruined the product launch, blah blah blah.
The 32 GB WiFi + 3G iPad is $729 retail. Xoom is set at $799 - what do you get for an extra seventy bucks? Android HC, VZ network, Tegra 2, the ability to drop an SD card in there for loads more storage, and so on. Is that really so unreasonable? Apple has sold millions of iPads at that price point.
And so what if a new iPad (with new, even more 'magical' properties) will be released this summer, dropping the price of the first one...it's still an Apple device, meaning it runs a locked-down OS. If you love Apple and their designs, hey, more power to you, I'm not here to flame your choice. For me: no thanks.
Some have said that they have a rig at home that cost around 800 bucks and it does so much more than a tablet, so the cost for the Xoom is unjustified. Perhaps...but can you take that rig with you everywhere you go? Portability is a premium, so that comparison is an epic fail - it's apples and oranges. "Hey, my bicycle is better than your treadmill!" - huh, really?
And sure, there's a markup because it's new and it's a first, but that is true for every other new piece of tech. The first iPhone adopters paid $600 for their phones! Have we forgotten that little tidbit?
I will admit, it is disappointing that leaks indicate that the Xoom will not receive subsidized pricing through VZ (though I'd like to remind folks that, as far as I have seen, there has yet to be any official word from Big Red on that).
But seriously...if you are disappointed because the price point places this device out of your reach, too bad so sad, go flash another ROM or something, and don't fill these forums with pages of complaints. I'm definitely looking forward to the days after this device is released, so that actual Xoom users can post their reviews, questions, advice, tips, workarounds, and solutions.
[/RANT]
[FLAMING] ...no doubt it's coming.
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Most are more pissed about the forced carrier activation. You add that on top of the price it truly becomes unreasonable. I was willing to pay the 800 although it would hurt but I understand. But if they force me to get something I don't want then its a no go. That's the majority of the issues.
The fuss is about being almost one hundred (!!!!) dollars more than the market leader that basically created the market.
Ignoring the ipad 2 is absolutely idiotic. Its unreleased just like the xoom. The ipad 2 will be much closer in terms of specs at the same price points as now.
The fuss is over the xoom just flat out being overpriced. Sorry, Moto is 0/2 this year so far. Lots of people let down by the atrix and xoom pricing. Just look at their Facebook or twitter. Its not an accident.
I agree with the OP for the most part.
I also agree with the second post.
I should be able to walk into a non carrier store and purchase the device without paying 20-55 extra bucks to activate it.
That said, I think the ad being spread around was either a pre print mockup or a hoax.
It has spelling mistakes so it can't be the final print version or they'll look like morons - easily fixed before print of course, we'll see.
800 for a choice piece of kit? I'll probably bite but I will wait a few days for the reviews and teardowns to happen, to make sure this is indeed the geek gadget I have been waiting for.
I think it's that there isn't a "middle ground." Sure, it's the same as a 32GB 3G iPad, but at least with the iPad you had the option of a 16GB WiFi-Only iPad, here there isn't an option, take it or leave it. I think that's the main issue. The iPad was available to different levels of consumer spending, the Xoom isn't. You just don't have the option, it's top of the line or nothing, and that's the issue.
Plus, $799 is misleading if the fine print is true. To activate WiFi you need at least a month of a data plan. So tack on $35 activation and $20 for a month of slow-ass service, and it's another $55. Plus, whatever it takes you as far as time to cancel the plan, you know Verizon isn't going to just make it a quick 30 second phone call to cancel the monthly service.
Honestly, just this data plan to enable WiFi is enough to make me say no. What the hell good is a tablet with zero internet connection. They should have given 1 month free service, not this additional $55 crap.
So yeah, true price is $855 for a tablet.
Another issue I have is the MOtorola Cliq. For a year they said they would update the OS, and it was in testing, and this and that, and then last week...Nothing. They canceled the update and gave a big "screw you" to their customers. That kind of attitude isn't really a company I wish to support. In 6 months from now, when they anounce the Xoom 2 and Honeycomb 3.5, will the Xoom get an update or will we be left high and dry? The companies track record leaves much to be desired.
I just have a feeling Xoom customers are going to get shafted by Motorola, and this WiFi data thing is just the beginning. It's making me very hesitant to pick up a Xoom.
You know that feeling you get when you're about to do something really stupid and at the moment you do it a loud "OH $HIT, BAD IDEA" resounds in your head? I get that feeling when I consider buying a Xoom.
well, I'm not too worried about the price. I doubt the price will be $800 anyway. When the ipad was announced everyone was speculating on the price between 800 - 1200, and it ended up not even being close.
I am an avid stock trader, and keep my ear to the street... Wall Street that is! I took a gander at Motorola Mobility (MMI) and their stock is down a little over 3% today on that pricing fear, so it isn't only people in our community that thinks it's a little high.
But like I said, I'm not worried about it costing $800, because in their Q4 earnings conference call they hinted at the price of the Xoom should be $700. Either way I'm getting this bad boy.
They are also releasing several different tablets this year ranging from 7inch to 11 inch, along with wifi only models.
Here is the article I was paraphrasing.
http://www.trefis.com/articles/3836...-up-20-of-motorola-mobilitys-value/2011-02-07
Hopefully this helps get the word out about pricing.
Comparing anything to an apple product doesn't make sense. Apple products are over priced, over hyped and meant for the non tech-savvy/sheep. /rant
I'll only consider the xoom if there are custom roms for it, and also at a lower price as the OS is free.
Dual core laptops have been under $400 for years now.
britoso said:
Comparing anything to an apple product doesn't make sense. Apple products are over priced, over hyped and meant for the non tech-savvy/sheep.
I'll only consider the xoom if there are custom roms for it, and also at a lower price as the OS is free.
Dual core laptops have been under $400 for years now.
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well, overpriced apple products seem to be cheaper than the xoom according to the Best Buy ad...
I do agree that custom ROMs will be awesome, but for me not the deciding factor. I just really like the new OS, and if I like it, then other people will too. I'm not too picky.
I think the deciding factor will be either the bootloader, or if I cannot activate it where I am currently. (I'm deployed to Iraq, and no VZW cell towers lol)
Sirchuk said:
I think it's that there isn't a "middle ground." Sure, it's the same as a 32GB 3G iPad, but at least with the iPad you had the option of a 16GB WiFi-Only iPad, here there isn't an option, take it or leave it. I think that's the main issue. The iPad was available to different levels of consumer spending, the Xoom isn't. You just don't have the option, it's top of the line or nothing, and that's the issue.
Plus, $799 is misleading if the fine print is true. To activate WiFi you need at least a month of a data plan. So tack on $35 activation and $20 for a month of slow-ass service, and it's another $55. Plus, whatever it takes you as far as time to cancel the plan, you know Verizon isn't going to just make it a quick 30 second phone call to cancel the monthly service.
Honestly, just this data plan to enable WiFi is enough to make me say no. What the hell good is a tablet with zero internet connection. They should have given 1 month free service, not this additional $55 crap.
So yeah, true price is $855 for a tablet.
Another issue I have is the MOtorola Cliq. For a year they said they would update the OS, and it was in testing, and this and that, and then last week...Nothing. They canceled the update and gave a big "screw you" to their customers. That kind of attitude isn't really a company I wish to support. In 6 months from now, when they anounce the Xoom 2 and Honeycomb 3.5, will the Xoom get an update or will we be left high and dry? The companies track record leaves much to be desired.
I just have a feeling Xoom customers are going to get shafted by Motorola, and this WiFi data thing is just the beginning. It's making me very hesitant to pick up a Xoom.
You know that feeling you get when you're about to do something really stupid and at the moment you do it a loud "OH $HIT, BAD IDEA" resounds in your head? I get that feeling when I consider buying a Xoom.
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OK, so there is no wifi-only version yet, a reasonable objection. There likely will be, just like with the Galaxy Tab, so a little patience is all that's needed.
I do agree that requiring payment of at least one month of data with VZ is unreasonable for those that aren't looking for 3G data service, but again, a wifi-only version will likely be released.
Regarding the iPad 2, someone earlier said that ignoring it would be 'idiotic'. I strongly disagree - it doesn't really matter what specs/pricing/magic it will have, it's still iOS. The market leader doesn't necessarily make the best product for every potential customer, wouldn't you agree?
As I mentioned in another thread, I believe this device will be more successful in the corporate arena. For mobile workers, 3G data service is a necessity, so the lack of a wifi-only option is moot. A tablet is supremely useful for a mobile workforce, especially one with an open OS.
My only true disappointment is that it seems (so far, but once again, no official word yet) that there will be no carrier-subsidized pricing.
khov07 said:
I do agree that requiring payment of at least one month of data with VZ is unreasonable for those that aren't looking for 3G data service, but again, a wifi-only version will likely be released.
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I wonder though, can they really make the WiFi only model that much cheaper than the 3G model? I mean, if you're paying $55 to "activate" WiFi (which, this is essentially what you're doing if you aren't interested in 3G) then shouldn't the WiFi only model be the same price, $800, but with WiFi already turned on? I guess you could reduce the price a little, but it shouldn't be very much if that's the only difference.
Currently, Motorola is making people pay for a standard feature. I wonder how the disclosure will work. If it doesn't say "Monthly data plan required for WiFi access" on the package, aren't they setting themselves up for a lot of returns or a lawsuit?
csseale said:
Most are more pissed about the forced carrier activation. You add that on top of the price it truly becomes unreasonable. I was willing to pay the 800 although it would hurt but I understand. But if they force me to get something I don't want then its a no go. That's the majority of the issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This.
I'm disappointed but unsurprised by the Xoom price. I've said on this and other forums that the price is comparable to the iPad, but I had still hoped that it would be a little less ($6-700).
Really though, I'm more annoyed by the Verizon nastiness than anything else. Forced activation? I also think that their cost/gigabyte is way too high.
I'm still excited for the Xoom, but I'm no longer planning on being a day-one purchaser. Instead I'll wait to see how the G-Slate and T-Mo's data pricing compares.
I just read this in the Engadget comments:
Igor Kovalenko 43 minutes ago
I work for MOTO and I have no idea what is this about.
My best guess is that this actually refers to the WiFi Hotspot feature - turning that on does actually require "entitlement check" with a carrier. But there is no SW provision (known to me anyway) to somehow block turning on simple WiFi. The initial setup does not require Verizon activation either - you can "skip" and use WiFi for Google setup. At least that is the case on all preliminary SW builds I have tried so far. I don't think that will change.
If Verizon and/or BestBuy have invented something like this, then the best they can do is simply not sell it to you without Verizon account.
Some guy that claims to be a Moto tester over on the engdaget thread about this says it's probably talking about the wifi hotspot functionality which would cost 20$ plus the activation fee.
According to him he's seen nothing in the builds that would prevent basic wifi from working.
Hearsay of course, but it sounds logical.
First of all, I disagree with the original poster's comments about people complaining too much. I think people should complain if they think products are overpriced. Although this might not change Moto's price strategy in the short term, I'm sure the sale figures will eventually reflect the public's discontent. This will make companies like LG, HPalm, etc reconsider their future tablet prices.
Honestly, I don't mind the complaining at all because it lets me know who is going to buy and not going to buy. I, at this point am not planning to buy, feel better that there are others like me that can't afford it. Actually it's not about the price (i actually can afford it); because honestly what's the difference between 700 and 800? I think it's all about value. People want to get a device that they can justify getting.
I think others complaining about the pricing is just as valid as the original poster's complaint about Verizon charging initial service fees. It's all cheap shots that ultimately will work only for dedicated Android developers, rich people, and people who can't take the pressure.
Now I gotta go to class. I'm Late!
asianxtreme said:
First of all, I disagree with the original poster's comments about people complaining too much. I think people should complain if they think products are overpriced. Although this might not change Moto's price strategy in the short term, I'm sure the sale figures will eventually reflect the public's discontent. This will make companies like LG, HPalm, etc reconsider their future tablet prices.
Honestly, I don't mind the complaining at all because it lets me know who is going to buy and not going to buy. I, at this point am not planning to buy, feel better that there are others like me that can't afford it. Actually it's not about the price (i actually can afford it); because honestly what's the difference between 700 and 800? I think it's all about value. People want to get a device that they can justify getting.
I think others complaining about the pricing is just as valid as the original poster's complaint about Verizon charging initial service fees. It's all cheap shots that ultimately will work only for dedicated Android developers, rich people, and people who can't take the pressure.
Now I gotta go to class. I'm Late!
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Click to collapse
Far be it from me to restrict anyone's 1st amendment rights, but shouldn't complaints about product pricing be fielded in the right forum? A tech forum geared toward the development community filled with pages of complaints about pricing seems like wasted space.
How about a discussion here on XDA regarding, you know, the actual technology at hand?
I look forward to getting the device in my hands and discussing issues like performance, battery life, the Honeycomb UI, features, glitches, Exchange synchronization, and all the great things XDA is known for.
khov07 said:
Far be it from me to restrict anyone's 1st amendment rights, but shouldn't complaints about product pricing be fielded in the right forum? A tech forum geared toward the development community filled with pages of complaints about pricing seems like wasted space.
How about a discussion here on XDA regarding, you know, the actual technology at hand?
I look forward to getting the device in my hands and discussing issues like performance, battery life, the Honeycomb UI, features, glitches, Exchange synchronization, and all the great things XDA is known for.
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Click to collapse
Which would be the right forum? The forum description says: "Discussion about the Motorola Xoom tablet (general Q&A, tips & tricks, etc)". Seems like this is the perfect place for this sort of talk.
Xevilious said:
Which would be the right forum? The forum description says: "Discussion about the Motorola Xoom tablet (general Q&A, tips & tricks, etc)". Seems like this is the perfect place for this sort of talk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
exactly what I was going to say^^^.
There isn't a forum for "ranting" and there isn't even one for you for "ranting about ranting (but still really ranting)" lol.
Also, the right forum for you to discuss the specs and such should be development.
No, judging from other devices.. development is for things such as ROMs, and kernels. Not specification discussion. That would also go in General. Anything referencing the Xoom in a general sense (may that be discussing it's specs, bashing it's prices, etc. would go in General.
I think.
If you look over to the Nexus One General section, you'd see they actually discuss tablets and whatever else there. Without the threads being deleted. "General" seems really for you to discuss Android with people who own the same device as you.
asianxtreme said:
exactly what I was going to say^^^.
There isn't a forum for "ranting" and there isn't even one for you for "ranting about ranting (but still really ranting)" lol.
Also, the right forum for you to discuss the specs and such should be development.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL - thanks for the lecture and the laughs, noobs. When you have contributed to the community, let us know.
Back to the subject at hand...
This looks to be a great piece of hardware that may or may not be priced well. In three weeks we should know whether or not it lives up to the hype, and VZ gives you 30 days anyway to try it out (corporate customers anyway).
The G-Slate really doesn't seem to thrill me much. The 3D thing is pretty gimmicky, and is sure to carry a price premium of its own, for a very limited use.

Will the Xoom fail at Launch?

http://briefmobile.com/will-the-xoom-fail-at-launch
Arcadia310 said:
http://briefmobile.com/will-the-xoom-fail-at-launch
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I hope it doesn't bomb, but I think it will. If it is a success, I will be surprised.
My hope is that the other companies planning on launching Honeycomb tablets learn a little from this (likely) failed launch and try to avoid the many mistakes made by Verizon, Best Buy, and Motorola. I'm more interested in Honeycomb succeeding than the Xoom or any one device, but this has not been a good start.
I posted the first comment there, to me he seems to be a huge Apple fan lol.
"You got it all wrong, they have been vocal winning best of CES a bit over a month ago when it was announced and then again during MWC a few days ago. Meanwhile we heard directly from the CEO a week back on the exact pricing of the 3G model and WIFI version. Meanwhile commercials have been airing regularly.
Also if you want to compare this next gen tablet to the old dominant one, I feel you must compare at least the price of the WIFI only model with the same 32gb gives you the exact same $599.99, I feel you are giving an overly Apple biased argument when you put a dual core 1ghz CPU up against a single core as well as the Xoom having 4 times the ram, expandable data space through a microSD slot, HDMI out, a front and rear facing camera a true widescreen with 16:10 aspect ratio running at a higher resolution on what some are saying is the best tablet operating system to date.
Yes I'm planing on picking one up on Thursday and I feel it will more then likely out feature the iPad 2 as well.
Typed from my iPad."
The video of the last Engadget podcast had a valid point. When Android first came out, the iPhone was thought to be an insurmountable force. It was believed that there was no chance of it succeeding against the iPhone. Not only did it exceed expectations, it seems to have exceeded the iPhone period.
The XOOM is a real tablet, moreso than anything in existence. It is more capable than the iPad in both functionality and in the fact that it's a tablet OS designed on a tablet for a tablet. It's not a desktop OS on a tablet like Windows 7, or a phone OS lazily modified for a tablet like iOS. This means that, while the XOOM 3G may not be ringing true to the tune of some people's wallets/budgets, it will do well among many of the people who have been waiting for a real tablet, like me. I don't know how many of me there are, but we will know in a month. Also, we will know even moreso when the WiFi-Only version is released, which I pray is no later than the end of Q1 2011 b.k.a March. The first thing I will be doing is making a series of videos showcasing the power of video streaming on the device. My phone can handle streaming of AVI.. but I haven't managed to stream 1080p MKV yet.
Your question should be more will XOOM fail period, because launch is not a fair indicator. By price alone, the original launch will possibly be underwhelming. Many people will be waiting for the cheaper WiFi-only version. Others will be waiting to see if the device has a locked bootloader, while some may be waiting for LG, Samsung(though I can't see why anyone would trust them after they abandoned the Galaxy Tab 1 after less than 6 months), or the multitude of other tablets. Some people will also be waiting(futilely) for the sure to be underwhelming iPad 2 announcement of 1 or 2 real improvements and a bunch more fancy bull. The last group will still be on the fence about needing a tablet. You might see a fair uptick in a few months before the next school year if any of these proves useful for students.
The sheer amount of options in the next 6 months is really going to make it hard to gauge the success of Honeycomb, which is the real question. It's about Honeycomb, not the XOOM.
The Xoom will fail. I don't even know if I'll buy one anymore, and I was the biggest fan of it after CES. If I buy one, it will likely be the wifi version. The nail in that coffin is the ridiculous restrictions on activation. Requiring 3g activation, plus charging $200 more for a 3g/4g radio is outrageous. I don't think I would have even taken a second look at the $800 price tag if I 1) didn't have to pay more to activate, and 2) didn't know that they're charging $200 just for the 3g radio.
We have to vote with our wallets, and my wallet says that a 3g/4g radio isn't worth $200 and carrier restrictions will not be tolerated.
setite said:
The video of the last Engadget podcast had a valid point. When Android first came out, the iPhone was thought to be an insurmountable force. It was believed that there was no chance of it succeeding against the iPhone. Not only did it exceed expectations, it seems to have exceeded the iPhone period.
The XOOM is a real tablet, moreso than anything in existence. It is more capable than the iPad in both functionality and in the fact that it's a tablet OS designed on a tablet for a tablet. It's not a desktop OS on a tablet like Windows 7, or a phone OS lazily modified for a tablet like iOS. This means that, while the XOOM 3G may not be ringing true to the tune of some people's wallets/budgets, it will do well among many of the people who have been waiting for a real tablet, like me. I don't know how many of me there are, but we will know in a month. Also, we will know even moreso when the WiFi-Only version is released, which I pray is no later than the end of Q1 2011 b.k.a March. The first thing I will be doing is making a series of videos showcasing the power of video streaming on the device. My phone can handle streaming of AVI.. but I haven't managed to stream 1080p MKV yet.
Your question should be more will XOOM fail period, because launch is not a fair indicator. By price alone, the original launch will possibly be underwhelming. Many people will be waiting for the cheaper WiFi-only version. Others will be waiting to see if the device has a locked bootloader, while some may be waiting for LG, Samsung(though I can't see why anyone would trust them after they abandoned the Galaxy Tab 1 after less than 6 months), or the multitude of other tablets. Some people will also be waiting(futilely) for the sure to be underwhelming iPad 2 announcement of 1 or 2 real improvements and a bunch more fancy bull. The last group will still be on the fence about needing a tablet. You might see a fair uptick in a few months before the next school year if any of these proves useful for students.
The sheer amount of options in the next 6 months is really going to make it hard to gauge the success of Honeycomb, which is the real question. It's about Honeycomb, not the XOOM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the launch will fail as far as selling a high amount of units and establishing a brand name. Once the iPad 2 and other Honeycomb tablets hit the market, the playing field will be a lot different than it is now. The Xoom will be forgotten about. Even if it isn't forgotten about, it'll be VERY hard for Motorola to get a good amount of sales with it. Since the G-Slate and GT 10.1 are so evenly matched, the sales will basically be split. Unless one of the tablets are much cheaper than the others and has decent television marketing.
Arcadia310 said:
I think the launch will fail as far as selling a high amount of units and establishing a brand name. Once the iPad 2 and other Honeycomb tablets hit the market, the playing field will be a lot different than it is now. The Xoom will be forgotten about. Even if it isn't forgotten about, it'll be VERY hard for Motorola to get a good amount of sales with it. Since the G-Slate and GT 10.1 are so evenly matched, the sales will basically be split. Unless one of the tablets are much cheaper than the others and has decent television marketing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is not true. Something I watched today, maybe the Engadget podcast, said that the G-Slate is going to be 1000$. This is perfectly believable because its got what the XOOM has + useless 3D features. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is not evenly matched. It has a smaller size but IIRC it's missing a microSD card slot, hdmi, and usb. The only way to get USB, and maybe HDMI is to use hard to find PDMI cables. It might be cheaper out the gate, but any discount will be mitigated or obliterated by the need to pay high price pdmi adapters that 99.9% of us don't have.
I think we will see the WiFi-Only 32GB version released around iPad 2 time for 600$. I am hoping they release a 16GB version too to compete at the 500$ price point, but I don't think it will matter. Honeycomb will not be for people who are happy with the iPad, as such I don't think the 500$ price point is as important as people think.
Of course, only time will tell.
setite said:
This is not true. Something I watched today, maybe the Engadget podcast, said that the G-Slate is going to be 1000$. This is perfectly believable because its got what the XOOM has + useless 3D features. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is not evenly matched. It has a smaller size but IIRC it's missing a microSD card slot, hdmi, and usb. The only way to get USB, and maybe HDMI is to use hard to find PDMI cables. It might be cheaper out the gate, but any discount will be mitigated or obliterated by the need to pay high price pdmi adapters that 99.9% of us don't have.
I think we will see the WiFi-Only 32GB version released around iPad 2 time for 600$. I am hoping they release a 16GB version too to compete at the 500$ price point, but I don't think it will matter. Honeycomb will not be for people who are happy with the iPad, as such I don't think the 500$ price point is as important as people think.
Of course, only time will tell.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
$1000 converted from UK currency?
Devices in other countries always cost much more than they do in the US. Heck, the Optimus 2X is like $750 if you convert Korean currency to US dollars. I hardly believe that will be the final price. Was $1200 the final price of the Xoom? No it wasn't. Even with 3D technology, it still won't release anywhere around that.
Arcadia310 said:
$1000 converted from UK currency?
Devices in other countries always cost much more than they do in the US. Heck, the Optimus 2X is like $750 if you convert Korean currency to US dollars. I hardly believe that will be the final price. Was $1200 the final price of the Xoom? No it wasn't. Even with 3D technology, it still won't release anywhere around that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well no one really thought the XOOM was 1200$. Apple fanboys perpetuated that nonsense to hurt the device, but it was obviously a placeholder price as they always are.
About the 1000$.. I just heard it on Engadget podcast, I expected them to use US money. If its 1000$ GBP.. that's crappy reporting. Though I have to say I don't see the LG being competitive with 3G. I'm going to be so i can preorder a xoom in 9 hours
setite said:
Well no one really thought the XOOM was 1200$. Apple fanboys perpetuated that nonsense to hurt the device, but it was obviously a placeholder price as they always are.
About the 1000$.. I just heard it on Engadget podcast, I expected them to use US money. If its 1000$ GBP.. that's crappy reporting. Though I have to say I don't see the LG being competitive with 3G. I'm going to be so i can preorder a xoom in 9 hours
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If they're "Apple" fanboys what does that make you? I can't stand when people are biased like this its immature as hell dude.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App
There is a huge "Netral" camp of comsumers out there, who should really be the primary target of both Apple and Non-Apple tablet producers.
From this perspective, if , assuming Apple follows the same style by releasing iPad 2 at 499/599/699 for wifi-only version and reduce iPad 1 by 100 USD for each level, XOOM has a VERY VERY hard time to justify its 800 price tag with comparable iPad 2, whose functionality is rumored to be comparable to current "state-of-art" tablets.
And one important point, from marketing point of view,
1. Still a lot of people are seen as very cool by carrying an apple product around, but not by carrying a Dell/Motorola around. Sony may be better.
2. Was there ever/is there going to be a long line like the one on first launching day of iPhone 4 for Motorola's XOOM? where it is gonna be? Best Buy's store front???
Again, I am not an Apple fanboy, and in fact, I hate their arrogant attitude and monopoly behavior (subscription policy etc etc), but just at the time I am about to happily find the best Android tablet come out to compete with iPad, I saw the price tag... ouch! Unfortunate decision, They thought their brand carry such a premium???
Arcadia310 said:
If they're "Apple" fanboys what does that make you? I can't stand when people are biased like this its immature as hell dude.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA App
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Click to collapse
Correction. LG won't be competitive with 3D, not 3G.
I am simply stating that anyone who thought the 1200$ price was legit is either an idiot, a noob, or intentionally fear mongering. I knew instantly that 1200$ was the typical price holder we always see initially in BBY and other retailers systems in the month(s) leading up to a release. When the HTC EVO first showed up in systems it was listed at well over 1500$, thought I don't recall the number. So if someone is knowledgeable of the industry, and thought 1200$ was legit, they are an idiot. If they were knowledgeable and perpetuated the price, like most of the Engadget raging commenters, they are a fearmongering Apple/Palm/Nokia-boy. Or simply a troll.
I currently choose Android. I do not pretend that Apple is complete crap. They serve a purpose, and I can see that. A fanboy is someone who can't see that.
I wonder what your issue is that you call me immature.
setite said:
Correction. LG won't be competitive with 3D, not 3G.
I am simply stating that anyone who thought the 1200$ price was legit is either an idiot, a noob, or intentionally fear mongering. I knew instantly that 1200$ was the typical price holder we always see initially in BBY and other retailers systems in the month(s) leading up to a release. When the HTC EVO first showed up in systems it was listed at well over 1500$, thought I don't recall the number. So if someone is knowledgeable of the industry, and thought 1200$ was legit, they are an idiot. If they were knowledgeable and perpetuated the price, like most of the Engadget raging commenters, they are a fearmongering Apple/Palm/Nokia-boy. Or simply a troll.
I currently choose Android. I do not pretend that Apple is complete crap. They serve a purpose, and I can see that. A fanboy is someone who can't see that.
I wonder what your issue is that you call me immature.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The fanboy comments are always so immature. I just skip past them.
keitht said:
The fanboy comments are always so immature. I just skip past them.
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Click to collapse
I'm confused. Am I being labeled as a fanboy?
setite said:
I'm confused. Am I being labeled as a fanboy?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No no no... not you
keitht said:
No no no... not you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok good. I mean I love Android, but I have always considered myself reasonable in my assessments. I have switched allegiances too willy nilly to be a true fanboy. I was swinging the apple banner till the evo release.
jiwengang said:
There is a huge "Netral" camp of comsumers out there, who should really be the primary target of both Apple and Non-Apple tablet producers.
From this perspective, if , assuming Apple follows the same style by releasing iPad 2 at 499/599/699 for wifi-only version and reduce iPad 1 by 100 USD for each level, XOOM has a VERY VERY hard time to justify its 800 price tag with comparable iPad 2, whose functionality is rumored to be comparable to current "state-of-art" tablets.
And one important point, from marketing point of view,
1. Still a lot of people are seen as very cool by carrying an apple product around, but not by carrying a Dell/Motorola around. Sony may be better.
2. Was there ever/is there going to be a long line like the one on first launching day of iPhone 4 for Motorola's XOOM? where it is gonna be? Best Buy's store front???
Again, I am not an Apple fanboy, and in fact, I hate their arrogant attitude and monopoly behavior (subscription policy etc etc), but just at the time I am about to happily find the best Android tablet come out to compete with iPad, I saw the price tag... ouch! Unfortunate decision, They thought their brand carry such a premium???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hate to compare anything with the idevices. But when you first see the $800 price tag. It makes everybody thinks motorola over price it compared to the ipad. but come on, the ipad has only half the features in the xoom. 64 gb ipad with wifi plus 3g is $829. that's $30 more than the xoom. The only thing that version has over the xoom is storage. Xoom on the other hand has sd card slot.
For the record, I just check best buy site yesterday. pre order is now on back order, so are the accessories. I'm just not sure if I can trust that source though. Seemed pretty fast.
ps: I was the first one pre order the thing at my local best buy.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
wang1404 said:
I hate to compare anything with the idevices. But when you first see the $800 price tag. It makes everybody thinks motorola over price it compared to the ipad. but come on, the ipad has only half the features in the xoom. 64 gb ipad with wifi plus 3g is $829. that's $30 more than the xoom. The only thing that version has over the xoom is storage. Xoom on the other hand has sd card slot.
For the record, I just check best buy site yesterday. pre order is now on back order, so are the accessories. I'm just not sure if I can trust that source though. Seemed pretty fast.
ps: I was the first one pre order the thing at my local best buy.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Xoom accessories were "backordered" right off the bat at BB.com. They were never in stock.
It comes with no flash.... So yes.
You have to download flash 10.1 from the market. Flash will work w/ this tab.

Let motorola know this!

http://www.facebook.com/motorola?sk=wall&filter=1
http://twitter.com/#!/Motorola
Go there and bomb the wall, and tweet their lights out
They need to release the dam wifi version, or announce it THIS WEEK, at no more then 499$
We all just saw the ipad 2 (march 11, 499$)
Not sure if moto just wants to throw away thier sales
but let them know about it, pressure is good
As the saying is right now, if they dont act, apples gonna make more money on smartcovers then moto is on xooms
I don't know. 550 maybe but not 500.
- Full FLash
- 1280 x 800 screen
- SD Card
- USB Hosting
- 1G RAM
Even if iPad is a better selling more desired product, 550 - 600 sounds right. 500 would just be to compete, but the extra specs and capabilities warrant a 550 - 600 price tag.
Unfortunately, most people don't care about the better specs. But Moto can't just give those away.
fair enough, id happily dish out 550
but they need to announce the dam thing, and get it on the shelves
Totally agree. They are losing shares and sales as we speak.
SS2006 said:
http://www.facebook.com/motorola?sk=wall&filter=1
Go there and bomb the wall,
They need to release the dam wifi version, or announce it THIS WEEK, at no more then 499$
We all just saw the ipad 2 (march 11, 499$)
Not sure if moto just wants to throw away thier sales
but let them know about it, pressure is good
http://www.facebook.com/motorola?sk=wall&filter=1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am sure they are aware of what is going on with their competition. They already have a UK WiFi only model about to be released and there were even leaked ads with pre-order info. They also already announced a WiFi only for US around $600 coming. We all want things now. I waited over a year to get a Honeycomb tablet and it was worth the wait. Google should have anticipated this earlier and had this out last year. I think their mistake was spending too much time and resources on ChromeOS which I have zero interest in. But here we are, the beginning of an exciting year of Android tablets and Honeycomb.
I obviously know they're aware, not sure if I came off that way
What I went is let them know the customers are demanding something or else theyll lose them for being complacent
keitht said:
I am sure they are aware of what is going on with their competition. They already have a UK WiFi only model about to be released and there were even leaked ads with pre-order info. They also already announced a WiFi only for US around $600 coming. We all want things now. I waited over a year to get a Honeycomb tablet and it was worth the wait. Google should have anticipated this earlier and had this out last year. I think their mistake was spending too much time and resources on ChromeOS which I have zero interest in. But here we are, the beginning of an exciting year of Android tablets and Honeycomb.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The UK announcement is 499 pounds (aka 800 USD)..so thats useless
and ya we heard theres a US one around 600, but NOTHING official or no report from them, just saying, if ur gonna release a tablet ONLY to verizon for 800$..and google wants to get Gingerbread out there, why the hell not make it available to everyone.
Its a TABLET not a PHONE, why tie it with a friggin provider
Just saying iPad 2 is gonna have the edge here if they dont act
SS2006 said:
I obviously know they're aware, not sure if I came off that way
What I went is let them know the customers are demanding something or else theyll lose them for being complacent
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am sure we will have a wifi only version of the Xoom next month. But what we really need is for some of these other companies to get their stuff out as well so their are more choices and competition. It seems like Google decided to give Motorola all the love for the first honeycomb tablet which is why we are not seeing any others release now. This may have been to fine tune the OS before making it more widely available to others, I don't know for sure. But the bottom line is, Honeycomb tablets are not going away and I suspect we will see so many by the end of the year it will be difficult to decide which to buy.
Moto CEO said the US wifi version would be $600. He sounds reliable to me...
Sent from my Droid using XDA App
If they (Google + Manufacturer) want to win the tablet war, they must do drastic movement: Sell them CHEAP! As cheap as possible ...
Don't take too much profit, break even is OK, even lost!
Just take a lot of users whatever the cost is!
Then pump the apps apps and apps as much as possible.
For sure, this will win the tablet war.
About loosing money, if I remember correctly, Microsoft did not make any profit on the earlier Xbox/360. And they are now very competitive.
PRICE IS EVERYTHING for this LEVEL of device. Remember, PRICE is the key for users to buy tablet.
With less money, people can buy iPad 2 which is more or less the same "experience" to use AND has tons of very good quality of apps.
Set aside that SD Card slot (iPad has 64GB model) and OS customization. Those are nice, but for majority they are less important. They dont stare for hours in the home screen!
Come on Google, you can do it.
DatterBoy said:
I don't know. 550 maybe but not 500.
- Full FLash
- 1280 x 800 screen
- SD Card
- USB Hosting
- 1G RAM
Even if iPad is a better selling more desired product, 550 - 600 sounds right. 500 would just be to compete, but the extra specs and capabilities warrant a 550 - 600 price tag.
Unfortunately, most people don't care about the better specs. But Moto can't just give those away.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
BBruin66 said:
Moto CEO said the US wifi version would be $600. He sounds reliable to me...
Sent from my Droid using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Action..not words
Moto CEO has said that wifi-only Xoom will be around $600. That's pretty reliable, but by no means cast in stone. Another pricing signal is the the UK pre-order peep, which was for £500, or close to $600 US once the 20% VAT is removed.
That said, iPad2 is the undisputed tablet leader, and with the Xoom's dearth of software support (and missing features, like SD slot and Flash), having a price higher than the base iPad price is a death knell, especially with other cheaper Honeycomb alternatives on tap.
Come April, I'd expect the wifi Xoom to be toeing the $500 price point, as will many of the so-called premium vendors (HTC, Samsung, et al). Other vendors like Acer & Dell, who don't have smartphone offerings to protect their pricing, will be cheaper, and with the same specs.
SS2006 said:
The UK announcement is 499 pounds (aka 800 USD)..so thats useless
and ya we heard theres a US one around 600, but NOTHING official or no report from them, just saying, if ur gonna release a tablet ONLY to verizon for 800$..and google wants to get Gingerbread out there, why the hell not make it available to everyone.
Its a TABLET not a PHONE, why tie it with a friggin provider
Just saying iPad 2 is gonna have the edge here if they dont act
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Sorry to correct you, but you can't just do a straight conversion in price from GBP to USD and call it a day. There is a VAT etc. in the UK and the prices are inflated. Take about 20%-25% off the price and you'll be more in the ballpark of what the US will pay for the WiFi version. $600USD sounds about right, $200 less than the 3G version. I would not be surprised at all (well, maybe a little) if the WiFi version also coincides with a 3G/4G price drop.
I agree with what you're saying and I don't think you're alone. Motorola will notice (or has noticed already) that they're gonna get slaughtered if they don't have a WiFi version, and dont lower the prices to be AT LEAST competitive, if not undercutting, the competition. And they gotta do it like yesterday.
I want to be positive and say that Motorola know what they're doing, but the way that they launched only the 3G version with no word on the WiFi one is just sad. My theory, which I don't think is any secret, is that Verizon has Motorola by the balls, and is trying to get as much out of the 3G version as possible before the WiFi comes out. They wanna ride the wave and the early adopters and then let the WiFi out. There is no single manufacturing reason why the WiFi model isn't ready right now. Its on their freaking product webpage ffs (along with the GSM variant I might add) lol.
e.mote said:
Come April, I'd expect the wifi Xoom to be toeing the $500 price point, as will many of the so-called premium vendors (HTC, Samsung, et al). Other vendors like Acer & Dell, who don't have smartphone offerings to protect their pricing, will be cheaper, and with the same specs.
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I really hope so, for Motorola's sake. That $499 price point is one that gives you way more exposure than anything. Like I said I think they're trying to ride the "first honeycomb tablet" wave until they get shafted by iPad 2 and the other 3.0 tablets coming out, then they'll play ball and maybe get some decent sales numbers.
I've said before that I'm 100% willing to hand Motorola (or Samsung/LG, for that matter) $600 right now for the WiFi version of this type of tablet, but I'm not gonna overpay for the 3G version I'm not gonna use. The $500 point just has to happen for general consumers to put it next to the iPad though.
Youre right about the price. The price isnt what concerns me. Its just the availability and lack of announcements
I agree with you, Verizon has them by the balls
And thats why you dont give your tablet to a frigin provider
Like The iPad just goes right to bestbuy, brilliance
..idiots @moto
SS2006 said:
Youre right about the price. The price isnt what concerns me. Its just the availability and lack of announcements
I agree with you, Verizon has them by the balls
And thats why you dont give your tablet to a frigin provider
Like The iPad just goes right to bestbuy, brilliance
..idiots @moto
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The one thing that Apple gets right is they don't late carriers push them around with the iPad. They sell it directly from Apple.com either the WiFi version or 3G with no strings attached and if u wanna activate later you can. No carrier BS. Not to mention that the 3G and WiFi versions go on sale the same exact day lol.
Motorola is getting blown up hard over their pricing and availability of different models/versions. I think they probably would've started selling the WiFi now if it weren't for other pressures/commitments.
DatterBoy said:
I don't know. 550 maybe but not 500.
- Full FLash
- 1280 x 800 screen
- SD Card
- USB Hosting
- 1G RAM
Even if iPad is a better selling more desired product, 550 - 600 sounds right. 500 would just be to compete, but the extra specs and capabilities warrant a 550 - 600 price tag.
Unfortunately, most people don't care about the better specs. But Moto can't just give those away.
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Add to this from what I have read GPS even in the wifi model!
Motorola just lost me. I'm returning my xoom and I'll wait for whatever WiFi options come later down the road. I won't buy Apple. Motorola needs to get their [email protected] straight. Too pricey and lack of options will be their demise. Give people what they want.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA App
With the 32GB iPad 2 releasing at $599 Moto has to match or beat that price. You can guarantee they will do that. $550 would be a big win for Moto and the customers.
Even at the lower price and added hardware specs the device still will not even come close to what Apple will see in sales. One thing Apple has done well and continues to do well is advertise. This unfortunately is where Moto is lacking with the Xoom. Superbowl commercial was nice and money well spent. But what have we seen since then? If you stopped 30 random people on the street and asked them what a Motorola Xoom was, maybe 15 of 30 would know. You would be hard pressed to find someone who did not know what an iPad was. Every night when I am watching the tube, I see that damn iPad commercial with the annoying piano in the background. Moto needs to take a risk and pour some funds in to advertisement. They now have a solid piece of hardware to compete with Apple. Let the rest of the world know that and get aggressive with your attack.
I don't think $550-$600 is too much to ask for this fine piece of hardware and if they want to make an attempt to keep up with the competition, Moto needs to get the WiFi only version out fast. Next Friday is coming up quick and still no word from Moto on a US release date. :/
B Dizzle said:
With the 32GB iPad 2 releasing at $599 Moto has to match or beat that price. You can guarantee they will do that. $550 would be a big win for Moto and the customers.
Even at the lower price and added hardware specs the device still will not even come close to what Apple will see in sales. One thing Apple has done well and continues to do well is advertise. This unfortunately is where Moto is lacking with the Xoom. Superbowl commercial was nice and money well spent. But what have we seen since then? If you stopped 30 random people on the street and asked them what a Motorola Xoom was, maybe 15 of 30 would know. You would be hard pressed to find someone who did not know what an iPad was. Every night when I am watching the tube, I see that damn iPad commercial with the annoying piano in the background. Moto needs to take a risk and pour some funds in to advertisement. They now have a solid piece of hardware to compete with Apple. Let the rest of the world know that and get aggressive with your attack.
I don't think $550-$600 is too much to ask for this fine piece of hardware and if they want to make an attempt to keep up with the competition, Moto needs to get the WiFi only version out fast. Next Friday is coming up quick and still no word from Moto on a US release date. :/
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In the past week I've seen a lot of xoom commercials, far more than iPad, although I'm sure my brain has tuned them out by now.
That vendetta one is on every hour.
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AT&T - Atrix at "end of life"

Interesting post from the Moto forums today. This makes perfect sense given the way AT&T has been going the last few months:
"posted 3:08 PM by billsite34
I was at an ATT store this morning inquiring about a laptop dock for my Atrix. They couldn't find it on their website(discontiued), then they said that the original Atrix was at "end of life" as far as ATT was concerned. I take this to mean that ATT will no longer support the Atrix and not push for ICS from Motorola for it!"
https://forums.motorola.com/posts/ae343df67e?post=ae343df67e&start=301
ugh. F motorola.
next phone won't be a motorola. sadly. don't much like any of the other phones.
Sadly I will probably go with a Samsung. If I were to get one tomorrow, it would be the Skyrocket (there's LTE here).
Yeah, I would go back to samsung (skyrocket) I had a captivate before the ATRIX.
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And just because Att will not carry it anymore you think it's the end of the Atrix?
Sent from my OC'd Motorola ™ Atrix® via XDA premium
Eh, get used to it. Buy whatever is the best phone at the time and understand that it will be completely outdated in 6 months.
Oh, and don't buy the hype that the ATT store salesmen sell. Some of them are a little dense.
stewartsoda said:
Eh, get used to it. Buy whatever is the best phone at the time and understand that it will be completely outdated in 6 months.
Oh, and don't buy the hype that the ATT store salesmen sell. Some of them are a little dense.
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Couldn't agree more. I have a close friend who works at a corporate store and all he says is that they are told to push IPHONEs. I tell him Fkuc you my friend, and then we have drinks.
phro321 said:
Couldn't agree more. I have a close friend who works at a corporate store and all he says is that they are told to push IPHONEs. I tell him Fkuc you my friend, and then we have drinks.
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your friend better be picking up that tab...!
(for being a douche).
stewartsoda said:
Eh, get used to it. Buy whatever is the best phone at the time and understand that it will be completely outdated in 6 months.
Oh, and don't buy the hype that the ATT store salesmen sell. Some of them are a little dense.
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Its one thing for a carrier to stop selling a phone after that, but if the phone is only supported by the manufacture for 6 months, there is a serious issue. Especially given that a bar has been set for about 2 years by both Apple and Google on Nexus devices, and that 2 years is the length of the average US contract.
I think this is being read into wrong though. AT&T most likely is just no longer selling the OG model, not Motorola discontinuing support.
I have not given up on ICS yet, but I think it is unlikely to come to the Atrix 4G. I realized that when I recognized the Atrix 2 was a cost reduced version of the 4G. My theory is that MOTO marketing f'd up big time when they over priced the Atrix and accessories. The Atrix 2 was doomed because the Atrix name was damaged beyond reclamation.
I don't see any new phone presently available that is significantly better and some worse. Posts like the one that started this thread hasten the day when I say, "enough already" and install cm7/9.
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Following up on myself, I don't understand why Moto won't just say what their plans for the Atrix 4G and ICS are and take the heat and get it over with.
The guys who run the forum at moto remind me of the man who played piano in a cathouse and always claimed he never knew what was going on up stairs.
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Atrix, dead in a year. 3GS going on 3 years. Makes me sick...
BravoMotorola said:
Atrix, dead in a year. 3GS going on 3 years. Makes me sick...
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I'm a little surprised Atrix is getting dropped cause it was such a big deal when it came out. If Apple makes the iPhone 5 with a bigger screen, I'm getting it. Atleast Apple won't drop support for it. That's one of the reasons Android pisses me off. Stop making 200 different Android phones a month, and concentrate more on updates. You've got phones coming out that people forget about in a month.
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so much for a device demoed and praised at CES..
Time Line:
Q1:
CES Jan 2011: Demonstrated and Praised as one of the best devices at that CES.
Feb/March 2011: Launched
Q3:
GB update
Q4:
Still GB updates
end of Q4:
EOL
im not purchasing any moto devices on older OS anymore..
should have not purchased Froyo atrix while GB was around and shall not purchase GB Razr when ICS is around..
/* Rant mode off
I still do not regret purchase of atrix; thankful to QUALITY of dev support it is receiving. Even pre-Betas for atrix are more stable than final releases of my older devices (captivate and vibrant)
But for a general user who wouldnot think of anything beyond rooting...this is kind of abuse :-/
Guys its not MOTO. ATT has final say on all updates for its phones. Only way around it is the Icrap and A Nexus.
Once Google slows the OS updates down to once maybe twice a year like they plan it will be less of a prob
Sent from Gotham
zelendel said:
Guys its not MOTO. ATT has final say on all updates for its phones. Only way around it is the Icrap and A Nexus.
Once Google slows the OS updates down to once maybe twice a year like they plan it will be less of a prob
Sent from Gotham
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Click to collapse
ATT is not the only vendor but looking at the update history so far, it would be too late to expect ICS for atrix considering delay in GB update.
I believe the statement this guy posted is true regarding the Atrix 4G and AT&T. If you look on the AT&T website you cannot buy the laptop dock anymore on either the regular store or the premier store. AT&T previously told me that when an item is removed from there instead of being marked "out of stock", it's gone for good. AT&T is selling off Atrix accessories, and I do believe they are done with the Atrix. Will they still sell it?...............sure, until the stock is depleted.............will it still be around for a long time?.............sure............the refurbs will be going round and round for years to come.
What is perturbing is that this phone lasted a measly 6 months or so, as was already stated. Nobody disputes that phones come and go, new models are released, etc.............what is messed up is that people who purchased "the most powerful cell phone on the planet" were lied to about the specs by both AT&T and Moto, one case in point being 1080p recording which we never got, and have suffered lack luster support from both entities.
I love my Atrix, and will keep it as long as devs are putting out new ROM's, etc., but I am up for an upgrade again in less than 2 months, and will look for something with more support. Unfortunately I am stuck with AT&T for the time being because I have a family plan with 5 phones on it, and who would pay early termination on 5 phones?
This is my 4th Android phone. Like someone else said, 3gs was supported for least 3 years. I think I want to try an apple phone next. We shouldn't have to rely on outside people/unofficial support for the next version of Android.
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Deggy said:
This is my 4th Android phone. Like someone else said, 3gs was supported for least 3 years. I think I want to try an apple phone next. We shouldn't have to rely on outside people/unofficial support for the next version of Android.
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+3
With all the law suits apple is winning, they will have the only phones anyways. Haha
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The reason they push a new product every 6 months or so is reflected on the attitudes of most android forums; never satisfied, always desiring something more from their devices. People make lateral device changes (Atrix to Moto RAZR for example) instead of upgrades because there is some level of constant dissatisfaction with their Android device. Companies such as motorola are catering to this, and making tons of money in the process. Why bother support a device for multiple years when people are willing to shell out gobs of cash for Android's 'flavor of the week'? It makes more money for the company and the carrier.
You have to remember that the carrier not the device manufacturer decides what phones make it to market. Apple was wise to keep their warranty and product support in-house, and their quality and support reflects as much. Other phone manufacturers are bent over the carriers' knee. The carrier dictates how long the phone is supported, what accessories are available, and how software updates get pushed. Apple was wise to circumvent all this BS, and look how many iPhone accessories there are in every store, how Apple pushes software updates via their own program, ultimately you get an overall better product that is supported for much longer, while still maintaining profitability.
I love Android as a product, but what an abysmal business model for an open source-based OS. The only thing that keeps me going on Android are the occasional product gems such as the Atrix and the unofficial support provided from devs around the world.
Lets face it, Android owners still look to Apple as the golden standard.

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