Former iPad1 Owner to Xoom User Experience (iPad2 all the way)

[RCGMac]

Someone was stupid enough to pay 729 dollars for an iPad? Nice...

Apple sells refurbished MBA for 849 dollars.

Works both ways, do you not have anything productive to add?

Thank you OP for sharing your input. I have an Android phone and the lack of apps is a bit annoying, although a lot of the big name apps are being ported over to Android. I have heard similar concerns about the weight of the Xoom too, even though the original iPad weighs the same. I believe it has something to do with a different weight distribution that makes the Xoom seem heavier than it is.

That being said, I am very happy with my new original iPad. At this time it works best for my needs (I use it as a kitchen computer, great cooking apps). Android will catch up in the tablet market just like it has in the phone market. Choice, especially if it is high quality, is a good thing.

 

[xIGmanIx]

not only that, but they seem to forget....you want to load files from your camera??$$$$ oh you wanted to hook up your ipad via HDMI?? $$$$ oh, you want have more memory? buy a whole new ipad

Works both ways, do you not have anything productive to add?

Thank you OP for sharing your input. I have an Android phone and the lack of apps is a bit annoying, although a lot of the big name apps are being ported over to Android. I have heard similar concerns about the weight of the Xoom too, even though the original iPad weights the same. I believe it has something to do with a different weight distribution that makes the Xoom seem heavier than it is.

 

[jdminpdx]

then the ipad is perfect for you, bigger and for the basic user, lack of 3rd party apps? what apps exactly couldn't you get to work on the xoom? That sound's more like user error than the OS, mine is overclocked to 1.5GHz and sips battery life. You make xoom owners look bad with your pitty party

Go away fanboy.

 

[PhoneI]

Its interesting that you liked the Xoom browser. In my limited Xoom time, I did not really like the browser very much. I just couldn't get used to the Android tap to zoom system. Its far better and cleaner on the iPad. It bothered my a lot.

 

[aohus]

Its interesting that you liked the Xoom browser. In my limited Xoom time, I did not really like the browser very much. I just couldn't get used to the Android tap to zoom system. Its far better and cleaner on the iPad. It bothered my a lot.

i'd have to agree with you on this part. zooming in and out is definitely snappier on iOS.

you can still pinch to zoom on the xoom, you dont have to tap to zoom in.

i liked the browser because of the xoom's resolution: 1280 x 800. Crisper text compared to iPad1 and 2, and one can view the entire webpage easily without having to zoom in to view any of the text.

 

[kettlecorn]

i'd have to agree with you on this part. zooming in and out is definitely snappier on iOS.

you can still pinch to zoom on the xoom, you dont have to tap to zoom in.

i liked the browser because of the xoom's resolution: 1280 x 800. Crisper text compared to iPad1 and 2, and one can view the entire webpage easily without having to zoom in to view any of the text.

And I think the 1gb of ram will help a ton. My android phone has 768gb of ram and i have 10 tabs open and surf flash and watch movies without a problem. Its the size of the screen and keyboard and my lack of patience that stops it from being used as a tablet. If a tablet like the xoom can offer that (which it does and more.. just not the apps yet) i'd be happy with the browsing experience.

 

[aohus]

And I think the 1gb of ram will help a ton. My android phone has 768gb of ram and i have 10 tabs open and surf flash and watch movies without a problem. Its the size of the screen and keyboard and my lack of patience that stops it from being used as a tablet. If a tablet like the xoom can offer that (which it does and more.. just not the apps yet) i'd be happy with the browsing experience.

i think you'd like the xoom, for its browsing capabilities, as well as the incoming flash support.

additionally, viewing web pages in portrait mode is a feast. one can easily type in web address as the form factor is narrower than the ipad when it comes to portrait mode.

 

[PhoneI]

i'd have to agree with you on this part. zooming in and out is definitely snappier on iOS.

you can still pinch to zoom on the xoom, you dont have to tap to zoom in.

i liked the browser because of the xoom's resolution: 1280 x 800. Crisper text compared to iPad1 and 2, and one can view the entire webpage easily without having to zoom in to view any of the text.

The resolution is only slightly higher. The screen is actually larger than the iPad so the DPI is lower. I greatly prefer the iPad screen. To test I viewed a picture side by side (on my iPad and Xoom). I found the image was far better on the iPad.

 

[dgree03]

Its interesting that you liked the Xoom browser. In my limited Xoom time, I did not really like the browser very much. I just couldn't get used to the Android tap to zoom system. Its far better and cleaner on the iPad. It bothered my a lot.

Android also does text wrap... which is a godsend compared it iOS browsing. And xoom browser is faster and more capable than the iOS browser

Function>Form

 

[DeathChill]

Android also does text wrap... which is a godsend compared it iOS browsing. And xoom browser is faster and more capable than the iOS browser

Function>Form

Uh, you're just making stuff up:

http://www.sencha.com/blog/motorola-xoom-the-html5-developer-scorecard/

Engadget:

Bansod’s specific complaints about the rendering engine’s limitations are accurate, but it’s important to remember that he’s speaking from the perspective of a Web developer. The issue here isn’t that the Android browser is failing as a day-to-day Web browser, it’s that it doesn’t support the kind of dynamic and visually sophisticated functionality that is needed to make mobile Web experiences that match the elegance and refinement of native applications.

In light of Google’s vocal enthusiasm for using the Web as an application platform, it’s a bit surprising that the company is so far behind Apple in supporting that vision on a mobile device. When I tested toolkits like JQuery Mobile and Sencha Touch on the Xoom, the gaps in the Honeycomb browser’s rendering engine were painfully apparent. Animated transitions stuttered and certain visual elements were not rendered correctly.

 

[PhoneI]

Android also does text wrap... which is a godsend compared it iOS browsing. And xoom browser is faster and more capable than the iOS browser

Function>Form

Except when its time to zoom in on anything, then its crap.

 

[kettlecorn]

Except when its time to zoom in on anything, then its crap.

I dont know if thats true but xoom should be able to zoom.

 

[PhoneI]

I dont know if thats true but xoom should be able to zoom.

It can zoom. It just cant zoom well.

 

[kettlecorn]

It can zoom. It just cant zoom well.

lol i was kidding. pointing the irony that if it is true, a device called xoom cannot zoom well

 

[sciwizam]

OP, if you want Honeycomb in lighter weight, Samsung announced a Galaxy Tab 10.1 at CES this January, weighs 600 grams (1.32lbs). Also, Samsung has another tablet announcement at this month CTIA, rumors are it's a 9" tablet.

http://galaxytab.samsungmobile.com/

 

[kdarling]

My main gripe, however, as stated earlier, is the weight. Its just too heavy and uncomfortable to use.

Isn't the Xoom the same weight (1.6 lbs) as the 3G iPad ?

That said, I also thought it felt heavier. Isn't that weird?

 

[iserian]

It is hard to go back to browsing on the pad after you browse on the xoom for a while. Here is hoping that the pad two solves the browsing experience.

 

[jdminpdx]

Isn't the Xoom the same weight (1.6 lbs) as the 3G iPad ?

That said, I also thought it felt heavier. Isn't that weird?

Its the shape of the device really...for me at least. Both the iPad and Xoom are basically the same in weight but the iPad is much more comfortable to hold and use

 

[chrono1081]

Isn't the Xoom the same weight (1.6 lbs) as the 3G iPad ?

That said, I also thought it felt heavier. Isn't that weird?

I think it has to do with the bulkiness of it. It feels heavier to me too, like when big boxes that weigh nothing feel heavy because they are bulky, only opposite.

 

[aohus]

Its the shape of the device really...for me at least. Both the iPad and Xoom are basically the same in weight but the iPad is much more comfortable to hold and use

most definitely true. theres no doubt that the iPad form factor is easier to handle than the xoom with its thinner bezel.

additionally, yes, the 1.5lbs iPad1 is about the same weight as the Xoom 1.6lbs. It definitely feels noticeably heavier than the iPad. It could have to do with the distribution of weight.

The weight distribution on the iPad is much more uniform than the xoom.

Which makes me wonder. DAMN. Apple put a LOT of thought into EVERY aspect of the iPad. I'm quite amazed really, and this coming from an android enthusiast.

 

[PhoneI]

It is hard to go back to browsing on the pad after you browse on the xoom for a while. Here is hoping that the pad two solves the browsing experience.

It wasn't for me at all. In fact when I was browsing on the Xoom, I kept finding myself to want to reach for my iPad instead.

 

[No1up]

I would go with the iPad simply because of the over M on the back!

 

[aohus]

I would go with the iPad simply because of the over M on the back!

/facepalm

 

[zenio]

so this entire thread is going to be used to bitch about the OP's image size? LOCK PLEASE

It's called free speech. Nice eh?

 

[HXGuy]

most definitely true. theres no doubt that the iPad form factor is easier to handle than the xoom with its thinner bezel.

additionally, yes, the 1.5lbs iPad1 is about the same weight as the Xoom 1.6lbs. It definitely feels noticeably heavier than the iPad. It could have to do with the distribution of weight.

The weight distribution on the iPad is much more uniform than the xoom.

Which makes me wonder. DAMN. Apple put a LOT of thought into EVERY aspect of the iPad. I'm quite amazed really, and this coming from an android enthusiast.

Perfectly said. It's funny to see so many people complain that the iPad's bezel is too thick...as if Apple didn't have a choice in the matter and that's as thin as they could go. Of course they could make it thinner but it would not be as easy to handle.

The Xoom is .31" longer than the iPad, add in that it's .27lbs heaver as well, and when you are holding it...the fact that it's longer makes it feel quite a bit heavier.