I'm facing a similar decision. I love ipad2s hardware but don't like the locked down ios. I think I'll go with the xoom.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Decisions: iPad 2 16g $499 or Xoom wifi $539?? **Pics added**
- Thread starter Gix1k
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Tough call and I've been debating this myself. Specs aren't too far off but the xoom is a bit better. Xoom OS is much nicer. I got to play with one for 20 minutes yesterday at Best Buy, I was quite impressed with the speed of browsing, I'm so used to the ipad checkerboard. The only thing that stopped me was it was true that the xoom screen looked washed out and not as good as the ipad1 next to each other. Option 3 wait a bit and see what gets released this summer.
I toyed with the idea of a xoom and after countless youtube xoom videos, I've concluded that the iPad really is the more polished device with apps that are truly beautiful.
I think at the end of the day, simplicity really does win. The xoom's ability to truly multitask seems cool but in reality, for me, if I need to do heavy multitasking - I should probably be on a computer.
The iPad however, is an amazing media consumption device and a pretty good tool for creatives and content.
It's all about usability and lifestyle and the iPad really marries the two perfectly for me.
Hopefully you make the right decision! Gluck
I think at the end of the day, simplicity really does win. The xoom's ability to truly multitask seems cool but in reality, for me, if I need to do heavy multitasking - I should probably be on a computer.
The iPad however, is an amazing media consumption device and a pretty good tool for creatives and content.
It's all about usability and lifestyle and the iPad really marries the two perfectly for me.
Hopefully you make the right decision! Gluck
I played with a xoom for a hour and i thought it was a amazing tablet however, i will be buying a white ipad2 as i loved my original ipad.
for me the market really suck i had many android phones, and was never happy with it.
for me the market really suck i had many android phones, and was never happy with it.
Last edited:
Faced with a similar decision, I decided to get both. Granted, that wont work for most people, but it works for me.
I just downloaded a new content pack for Infinity Blade and I am dying to see how it plays on the new iPad. That and the couple hundred apps I have make spending $829 - whatever I can sell my iPad 1 for a no brainer. However, I am keeping my Xoom. Live wallpapers just never get old for me...
I just downloaded a new content pack for Infinity Blade and I am dying to see how it plays on the new iPad. That and the couple hundred apps I have make spending $829 - whatever I can sell my iPad 1 for a no brainer. However, I am keeping my Xoom. Live wallpapers just never get old for me...
same here
similar decision here as well.........i am going ipad2 wifi because of the available content, despite liking the android OS better......i can jailbreak to get most of the remaining functionality I want/need.
similar decision here as well.........i am going ipad2 wifi because of the available content, despite liking the android OS better......i can jailbreak to get most of the remaining functionality I want/need.
Well, I hate that I must install it on all my PCs. I hate that I gotta use it to do anything with the device. My Android's, I plug in, it mounts..I create folders and dump stuff to it. My PC or every other one like it. The sheer fact I must have iTunes just annoys me. One more thing, I have never really used an iPad any more than in a store for 10 mins at a time, several times....but they seem too much like an iPod Touch with a bigger screen to me. Nothing separates it from the Touch or iPhone other than screensize...well, the dual A5s now.
This is ultimately the route I am going to take.
Last edited:
I thought the XOOM was ok for the 48 hours I had it, but I missed all my apps that I rely on daily. I also hated that its 95 percent landscape only. I kind of got bored with it since it had no apps. For some reason, the browsing experience is still better on my iPad. Zooming in on a web page on the XOOM felt weird to me.
Again, I didn't hate the XOOM, I just kept finding myself reaching for my iPad when I wanted to do something.
I will add the Motorola is a terrible company that has a history of outright screwing their customers and has abysmal support. For their Cliq XT phone, they outright lied and said thy would supply OS updates. They have since announced that those updates will never happen. I will never give this company more of my money.
I too was thinking about a xoom but decided agains it because they are so open.
They pretty much allow anything and anyone on that market place and it will end up like Windows choking with viruses and spyware.
My whole life is on my computers and devices so I need a secure platform.
I saw this on engaged the other day and it confirmed to what I thought already.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/google-spikes-21-malicious-apps-from-the-market-with-big-downloa/
Also there is the Eco system of apples iProducts, just take a look at how many aftermarket items that are out there and made for iPod, iPhone and iPads, there are thousands and you can find stuff on any street corner or shop.
Anyway that's some of the reasons why I'm sticking with Apple's devices.
They pretty much allow anything and anyone on that market place and it will end up like Windows choking with viruses and spyware.
My whole life is on my computers and devices so I need a secure platform.
I saw this on engaged the other day and it confirmed to what I thought already.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/google-spikes-21-malicious-apps-from-the-market-with-big-downloa/
Also there is the Eco system of apples iProducts, just take a look at how many aftermarket items that are out there and made for iPod, iPhone and iPads, there are thousands and you can find stuff on any street corner or shop.
Anyway that's some of the reasons why I'm sticking with Apple's devices.
The iPad 2 looks to be the one for you then, my friend. But like others have mentioned, go out and test a Xoom and get a feel for it.
I wasn't aware of this (the bold). Thanks for responding again. I appreciate your experience and thoughts on both.
Hell, I'll go buy a Xoom today and play with it all weekend. I'll report back my thoughts on it later.
Seems like you've already decided what you need to get. Get Xoom and move on. I for one dont like the idea of using the iTunes, but I barely used iTunes anyways when I had my iPad, I only use it for browsing and watching netflix and some Mickey Mouse show for my daugther
. In paper, XOOM is better on specs, no doubt about that, but if I were you, I'd buy whatever think it's best for your personal use. It's all personal preference. Good luck buddy!
Seems like you've already decided what you need to get. Get Xoom and move on. I for one dont like the idea of using the iTunes, but I barely used iTunes anyways when I had my iPad, I only use it for browsing and watching netflix and some Mickey Mouse show for my daugther
I'm getting a Xoom tonight and test drive it for 10 days or so...
I'll share my findings with the xoom
Screen quality is sub par
Aspect ratio is nice only for video. Sucked for everything else
Built in apps, which are the only ones, kept crashing
The fact that to add 4g you have to send it off to moto for a week to replace a board
Same android jerkiness while scrolling
Quickly on both....
Xoom:
Flash... pending
SD card... pending
USB host... pending
Google Voice... pending
Google Docs App... pending
smooth h264... pending
skype... pending
4g... pending
ipad2:
computer-free updates....never
flash....never (frash)
1GB RAM....never
4g.....never
custom ROM.....never
custom launcher.....never
widgets.....never
Xoom:
Flash... pending
SD card... pending
USB host... pending
Google Voice... pending
Google Docs App... pending
smooth h264... pending
skype... pending
4g... pending
ipad2:
computer-free updates....never
flash....never (frash)
1GB RAM....never
4g.....never
custom ROM.....never
custom launcher.....never
widgets.....never
Going by your replies, you've obviously made up your mind.
But store these numbers in the the back of your head while you take your new Xoom for spin.
Xoom + 100 App = $539
iPad 1 + 65000 Apps = $399
iPad 2 + 65000 Apps = $499
Granted maybe 3/4 of those iPad Apps are complete crap. But that leaves 16250 Apps to play with.
Also going by the 3/4 convention, 75 of those Xoom Apps are going to be Crap. So will you be happy with just 25 Apps.
Last edited:
You forgot Live wallpapers on that list. Sorry to keep bringing this up but I am absolutely giddy about my aquarium live wallpaper...
LOL!! My mind is 90% made up on the iPad. I like the size and the apps. I just know i'll HAVE TO jailbreak it when it's available. When my iPhone was jailbroken, I really enjoyed it. After this Xoom test drive this weekend, i'll be 100% sure what I am doing.
Just found this...
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/118978/20110304/apple-ipad-2-motorola-xoom.htm
Just found this...
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/118978/20110304/apple-ipad-2-motorola-xoom.htm
Last edited:
yeah it neat but eats your battery way to fast, i never could use it on my phone as it would drain itYou forgot Live wallpapers on that list. Sorry to keep bringing this up but I am absolutely giddy about my aquarium live wallpaper...
Dammit. When I get bored at work I come here and get sucked in.
To the OP- I owned the iPad 1 and have played with a Xoom. I sold my iPad in anticipation of the Xoom, because I have an HTC Inspire as a cell phone and thought it would be nifty to be able to tether. Then I started to look at what I truly used the iPad for to determine if the Xoom was going to be a good fit for my needs. The Xoom is fast, Honeycomb is a great start, and build quality wasn't bad. The one I played with had camera issues. One of my issues with the original iPad was that I thought it got heavy after a little while. So for me that ruled out the Xoom as it is heavier. After it was said and done, I'm more excited to see what is done with iOS 5. I think given the capabilities of the new processor, it will be the better experience for me.
My advice- don't let specs fool you. It's all about the individual user experience.
To the OP- I owned the iPad 1 and have played with a Xoom. I sold my iPad in anticipation of the Xoom, because I have an HTC Inspire as a cell phone and thought it would be nifty to be able to tether. Then I started to look at what I truly used the iPad for to determine if the Xoom was going to be a good fit for my needs. The Xoom is fast, Honeycomb is a great start, and build quality wasn't bad. The one I played with had camera issues. One of my issues with the original iPad was that I thought it got heavy after a little while. So for me that ruled out the Xoom as it is heavier. After it was said and done, I'm more excited to see what is done with iOS 5. I think given the capabilities of the new processor, it will be the better experience for me.
My advice- don't let specs fool you. It's all about the individual user experience.
I'm a member
Thanks for the input. I, too, feel size is a huge factor. That is why I am getting the iPad. I will drive the Xoom for a few days and see how it plays with me.