Xoom $800?

[MrWillie]

Just like when Android was released two years ago and you probably made the same statement. Today Canalys relased the Q4 2010 smartphone marketshare and showed Android is outselling iPhone 2 to 1. To think that Xoom or other Honeycomb tablets will flop because iPad is successful is simply idiotic.

The only people dissing Xoom on Android forums are Apple fanboys like you.

Actually no I didn't. I have NEVER owned an iPhone.

 

[xIGmanIx]

oh the irony of saying the xoom doesn't exist yet even though it has a delivery date against the ipad 2 with no confirmed spec sheet or delivery date. If you compare to the ipad that is out now to the shipping specs of the xoom, its a no contest, plus an OS designed for tablets from the ground up

 

[whooleytoo]

oh the irony of saying the xoom doesn't exist yet even though it has a delivery date against the ipad 2 with no confirmed spec sheet or delivery date. If you compare to the ipad that is out now to the shipping specs of the xoom, its a no contest, plus an OS designed for tablets from the ground up

People are saying compare shipping products with shipping products, or non-released with non-released. I think that's pretty reasonable.

Otherwise, it's just a bit silly.. How long to boot up an iPad? A few seconds. How long to boot up a Xoom? A couple of weeks waiting for it to release. A few more days waiting for it to be in stock. A day or two for it to ship. A few minutes unpacking. A few seconds to startup. Let's wait and see how they actually stack up against each other when both are released.

 

[Apple...]

The audacity of Motorola in this Superbowl commercial is unreal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndhuEUX1kIU

This is the same company which locks bootloaders on their Android phones in an attempt to stifle the community who provide custom ROMs (and in turn, software upgrades or enhancements) for their phones.

"It's time to live a free life". Yes it is Motorola, when you stop crippling your devices.

Ouch. Motorola/ Google need to stop bashing and start showing people why their product is so much better than x and y. A common argument: it has better specs. Uh huh. Specs mean almost nothing when compared to the actual user experience. I think it's funny to note that Samsung claimed to have moved 2 million Tabs, when most ended up being inventory stock.

On a different note, I think the Xoom will do fine sales wise. It looks decent, and I can't wait to try one out (never said I was buying one, though ).

 

[k995]

Much of this has been due to carrier limitations, budget prices, and buy one - get one, and you know it.

So apple can do all that as well.

What, 100 different models of tablets using various OS about to release? Can any of them do well once they carve up the non-iPad market?

thats called competition and thank god its there.

 

[kdarling]

The audacity of Motorola in this Superbowl commercial is unreal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndhuEUX1kIU

This is the same company which locks bootloaders on their Android phones in an attempt to stifle the community who provide custom ROMs (and in turn, software upgrades or enhancements) for their phones.

"It's time to live a free life". Yes it is Motorola, when you stop crippling your devices.

That's a popular misrepresentation of what happened.

One of the security features of the Motorola smartphones is a bootloader that checks for a good set of boot code. If it fails the checksum, the loader goes into a safe mode where it will only load correct software.

This was intended to prevent hackers from attacking government users etc, not to stop hobbyists. Unfortunately, some clueless Motorola PR folk jumped in with responses that weren't correct either.

As many of us electronic types know, Motorola has long been a friend of hobbyists; it's part of their DNA. They've recently released a statement that said:

"We apologize for the feedback we provided regarding our bootloader policy. The response does not reflect the views of Motorola. We are working closely with our partners to offer a bootloader solution that will enable developers to use our devices as a development platform while still protecting our users' interests. More detailed information will follow as we get closer to availability."

Now figure the odds of Apple giving support to jailbreakers.

 

[ChazUK]

That's a popular misrepresentation of what happened....

I was more referencing the differences between the CDMA Droid and the GSM Milestone than anything. I loved the design of the Droid when it was announced and considered getting one to replace my HTC Hero when it came out but once news started trickling out that the bootloader was locked and custom ROM development would be difficult I was put off of the thing. Thankfully the Nexus One came along and fixed my concerns. on what to get next.

The whole E-Fuse thing with the Droid-X and the Atrix bootloader comment on YouTube was a bit of a press screw up but I can't understand why Motorola don't do a simple solution like HTC did with the Nexus One (and Nexus S) where the bootloader could be unlocked via Fastboot.

The only reason why I can see that want so much control is to entice people into buying new hardware rather than getting the most out of what they have via software updates or performance tweaks.

To post an ad jabbing at Apple for the control they have when Motorola do their damnedest to make it hard for custom ROM development on their handsets reeks of double standards to me. The good thing is that there are plenty of clever people that can get around Moto's attempted locks so it's not al bad!

 

[Gordon Gekko]

I am not sure what you are trying to say here, Op. Are you trying to say 800 dollars is a lot of money or are you trying to say Xoom is too expensive? Because, it's not.

Let's look at iPad 32GB wi-fi + 3G model. That costs 729 dollars.

Motorola Xoom has 32 GB storage, 5 megapixel Camera on the back and 2-3 megapixel camera on front with HDMI output and better screen than iPad.

800 dollars sounds like they did a good job. However, it's hard to say if this is subsidized price or full price.

If you look at smart phones like Droid X or iphone 4, they can be expensive like 600-700 dollars easily. So, what did you really expect to be? 499 dollars?

No. IT WiLL NOT HAPPEN! STOP DREAMING IN YOUR WORLD. THESE TECH PRODUCTS COST MONEY AND THEY WILL CHARGE YOU MORE ON FIRST GENERATION FOR DEVELOPMENT COSTS AS WELL. STOP LIVINg IN A WORLD THAT ALL the TABLETS WILL BE AS AFFORDABLE AS IPAD BECAUSE IT WON'T BE.

Also, they have wi-fi model in place, so we will see how much this will cost. However, you are saying ouch because this is expensive? No, it is not expensive.

I agree. If you do not need to purchase a 2 year contract for mobile broadband data the price is on par with the iPad.

 

[kdarling]

The whole E-Fuse thing with the Droid-X and the Atrix bootloader comment on YouTube was a bit of a press screw up but I can't understand why Motorola don't do a simple solution like HTC did with the Nexus One (and Nexus S) where the bootloader could be unlocked via Fastboot.

Yes, HTC is well known for their tacit approval of hackers. They used to even host a forum dedicated to hacking their ROMs. Not sure that's still around... probably their lawyers had a heart attack. You know how that is.

The only reason why I can see that want so much control is to entice people into buying new hardware rather than getting the most out of what they have via software updates or performance tweaks.

As an embedded device developer, I know that the reason would more likely be simple: some engineer working on the bootloader thought it would be a nice safety feature. He/she wouldn't be thinking of any grand control or sales plot, except how best to make sure their stuff was solid.

To post an ad jabbing at Apple for the control they have when Motorola do their damnedest to make it hard for custom ROM development on their handsets reeks of double standards to me.

See above. They weren't trying to stop valid developers, and they've said they're trying to figure out a way to help them as well as be safe.

 

[HarryKeogh]

Looks tempting but I'll probably go with the iPad 2 and give the iPad to the wife.

I already got suckered into buying a Droid X and giving up my iPhone because of the Droid X's better specs. But the user experience isn't nearly as intuitive and fun (the App Store blows away the Marketplace) as the iPhone's and I'm afraid I would experience the same thing by going to a different brand of tablet.

 

[MrWillie]

I agree. If you do not need to purchase a 2 year contract for mobile broadband data the price is on par with the iPad.

No, it's not... If you do not need or want 3G, the iPad can save you money. If you want 16 gigs of storage, the iPad can save you even more. Xoom one model at launch $799, (or $699, who knows?), iPad $499- $699 at launch, to $829 later.

This is the KEY mistake Android tablet makers are making. One device, with everything on it, and a everything on it price tag, whether you want it or not.

I was at Fry's in Austin over the weekend. Galaxy Tab still $799. No one was even looking at it, but every iPad on display had someone trying it out.

Yea, Motorola says they will release other models LATER. But that's later, they need it now. (On launch day).

 

[Piggie]

No, it's not... If you do not need or want 3G, the iPad can save you money. If you want 16 gigs of storage, the iPad can save you even more. Xoom one model at launch $799, (or $699, who knows?), iPad $499- $699 at launch, to $829 later.

This is the KEY mistake Android tablet makers are making. One device, with everything on it, and a everything on it price tag, whether you want it or not.

I was at Fry's in Austin over the weekend. Galaxy Tab still $799. No one was even looking at it, but every iPad on display had someone trying it out.

Yea, Motorola says they will release other models LATER. But that's later, they need it now. (On launch day).

Much better price in UK

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-Gal...75TU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1296597899&sr=8-1

 

[brentsg]

AT&T is selling iPhone 3GS for $49. That't cheaper than Droid's buy one get one free. Your point is?

That is a very recent development.

Besides, the point is that won't be the case with the tablets. There won't be any "buy one, get one" that relies on carrier subsidy to exist.

That's the point. The phone market and tablet market aren't the same. I MUST have a phone, so why not take a nifty gadget free (or nearly). I'm going to have to pay the monthly fees anyways, so I'm not worried about the contract.

I don't need a tablet. It's a luxury device, so it has to stand on its own.

 

[Apple...]

Looks tempting but I'll probably go with the iPad 2 and give the iPad to the wife.

I already got suckered into buying a Droid X and giving up my iPhone because of the Droid X's better specs. But the user experience isn't nearly as intuitive and fun (the App Store blows away the Marketplace) as the iPhone's and I'm afraid I would experience the same thing by going to a different brand of tablet.

...and you'd be right. Specs mean nothing - the user experience does.

 

[Piggie]

...and you'd be right. Specs mean nothing - the user experience does.

Except when you are talking about Women's shoes, Handbags etc. Which may be the most uncomfortable and impracticable designed things you could imagine.

But the look and brand name are all the matters

 

[baummer]

Pricing is officially out. Here's the breakdown:

• $799 for unsubsidized Verizon model
• $600 for Wifi only model

Via http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/02/16/us-mobile-fair-motorola-idUKTRE71F4E120110216

 

[nomik2]

Pricing is officially out. Here's the breakdown:

• $799 for unsubsidized Verizon model
• $600 for Wifi only model

Via http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/02/16/us-mobile-fair-motorola-idUKTRE71F4E120110216

Should note that they are both 32gb, where the wifi matches Apple's pricing and the Verizon 3G/4G is $70 more.

Really competitive pricing imho...not to mention you can expect to see carrier subsidies on these for people planning to have constant data on it.

 

[AZREOSpecialist]

I love Apple and Apple products. With that said, I think Android 3.0 is going to exert a lot of pressure on Apple. Android 3.0 looks and feels much more like a robust desktop operating system versus iOS which is overly simplified and doesn't provide functionality that many business users demand.

iOS is too app-centric and the screen layouts need to change or allow customization. iOS does not make the iPad a useful productivity platform, it's geared toward content consumption via apps. Personally I can't wait to get my hands on an Android 3.0 tablet to see how it compares to the iPad. Tablets have some great screen real estate, it's about time we saw an OS that made good use of it!

 

[poloponies]

I love Apple and Apple products. With that said, I think Android 3.0 is going to exert a lot of pressure on Apple. Android 3.0 looks and feels much more like a robust desktop operating system versus iOS which is overly simplified and doesn't provide functionality that many business users demand.

iOS is too app-centric and the screen layouts need to change or allow customization. iOS does not make the iPad a useful productivity platform, it's geared toward content consumption via apps. Personally I can't wait to get my hands on an Android 3.0 tablet to see how it compares to the iPad. Tablets have some great screen real estate, it's about time we saw an OS that made good use of it!

You're comparing an OS to a device. There is no iOS on a tablet without an iPad and for Honeycomb to take off it needs a device, or two, or three. The problem is there will soon be scores of Honeycomb devices battling it out for dominance in the market. Apple can chug along quite well on its growing segment of the market and coexist in a world with Honeycomb. We know a new version of iOS will show up this year and Apple reads the same news stories that the rest of us do, so they're well aware of what the competition has to offer.

If they continue to offer a superior experience they will continue to grow their base, it's just that simple. Not every tablet sold in 2011 needs to be an iPad.

 

[DeathChill]

Should note that they are both 32gb, where the wifi matches Apple's pricing and the Verizon 3G/4G is $70 more.

Really competitive pricing imho...not to mention you can expect to see carrier subsidies on these for people planning to have constant data on it.

To be fair the price is "around $600", so it could cost slightly more. We'll have to wait and see.

 

[EazyWeazy3]

Can't wait to see what the fuss is all about with this Xoom.

 

[Apple...]

Pricing is officially out. Here's the breakdown:

• $799 for unsubsidized Verizon model
• $600 for Wifi only model

Via http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/02/16/us-mobile-fair-motorola-idUKTRE71F4E120110216

Thanks. I'm surprised you dug this thread back out.

Can't wait to see what the fuss is all about with this Xoom.

Same here. I'm waiting for Engadget's full review.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Ouch. Motorola/ Google need to stop bashing and start showing people why their product is so much better than x and y. A common argument: it has better specs. Uh huh. Specs mean almost nothing when compared to the actual user experience. I think it's funny to note that Samsung claimed to have moved 2 million Tabs, when most ended up being inventory stock.

On a different note, I think the Xoom will do fine sales wise. It looks decent, and I can't wait to try one out (never said I was buying one, though ).

Except there have been thread after thread on "I hope there are cameras" "I hope they have double the memory" " I hope there is better resolution or retina" lol on the last one.

So people do care about specs.

 

[ZBoater]

Can't wait to see what the fuss is all about with this Xoom.

Me too. If it lives up to half the hype I'm getting two.

 

[Piggie]

Except there have been thread after thread on "I hope there are cameras" "I hope they have double the memory" " I hope there is better resolution or retina" lol on the last one.

So people do care about specs.

Yes they do, especially Apple enthusiasts.

You watch, if Apple produce something of a better spec than other's that's all your hear about. How great the retina display is, how rubbish all other displays are in comparison.

Unless the apple item is of a lower spec, then all of a sudden, specs don't matter, only nerds worry about specs and it's all about the "user experience" that matters.

You can actually see this happening over time.