Xoom $799?

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

I think the price is ok. The nearest 3g ipad is $729 vs $799 for the xoom which has better specs.

You forget that there's an iPad for $620.

 

[Cruisin1]

Hi Everyone,
Found this on SLickDeals
I posted a hot deal I found for the Motorola XOOM for $599 after promo code OCNNSB25 applied at checkout at the Motorola Store.
http://www.store.motorola.com/dp/B004N8J86M?pubid=987654

If the code doesn't work register here for a new one:
https://motorola-global-portal.custhelp.com/ci/documents/detail/2/2011-OCNN-Registration

Here is the hot deal posted on the AnAndTech Forum Hot Deals Thread:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2145773

Motorola XOOM with no Contract is $799 and after 25% off it is $599

Update the Code No Longer works - and now it only applies to accessories... It was working when I tried it 40 minutes ago contemptlating if I should get it...

Took advantage of this and got me my xoom. I wasn't planning on buying one (799 was rediculous to me). Once I got the option to purchase for 599 off contract and the free case and free 2 day shipping I had to jump on that. 30 day return policy if god forbid the ipad2 blows it out of the water... from what I'm reading thought the ipad2 will be bumped up specs only 512MB of ram though... and a camera on the back (same resolutions screen though... blah!).

 

[Monster_Munch]

You forget that there's an iPad for $620.

No I didn't, I was comparing the 32GB ipad to the 32GB xoom.

 

[mammador]

So why is the Xoom so overpriced? Both the Galaxy Tab and iPad are hundreds of dollars below that.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

So why is the Xoom so overpriced? Both the Galaxy Tab and iPad are hundreds of dollars below that.

Galaxy Tab is a 7" tablet. And the iPad has the benefit of vertical integration.

 

[Monster_Munch]

So why is the Xoom so overpriced? Both the Galaxy Tab and iPad are hundreds of dollars below that.

32GB iPad with 3G = $729
32GB Xoom with 3G = $799

That's $70 difference, hardly overpriced considering the xoom also has cameras, hdmi, dual core, bigger screen etc.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

32GB iPad with 3G = $729
32GB Xoom with 3G = $799

That's $70 difference, hardly overpriced considering the xoom also has cameras, hdmi, dual core, bigger screen etc.

But it's a year old.

 

[Monster_Munch]

But it's a year old.

So the ipad is overpriced then, not the xoom.

 

[Bateluer]

http://www.droid-life.com/2011/02/25/how-to-unlock-the-motorola-xoom-bootloader/

 

[zoiks]

I want a xoom for $599 (no contract). Saw the deal rather late and it was dead by then
If anyone who bought one wants to sell theirs let me know.

 

[MagickMan]

If there isn't a model for five Franklins it'll be doomed, mark my words.

 

[MrX8503]

The built in browser identifies an Android phone so for some sites it loaded up the mobile site instead of the full site but it is basically desktop Chrome with tabs and the like.

Then its not a desktop browsing experience. The Xoom is mobile browsing which makes the tablet dead to me.

Only the Playbook offers close to desktop browsing experience.

No I didn't, I was comparing the 32GB ipad to the 32GB xoom.

Is there a 16GB Wifi Xoom available for purchase?

 

[Bateluer]

Then its not a desktop browsing experience. The Xoom is mobile browsing which makes the tablet dead to me.

Only the Playbook offers close to desktop browsing experience.

Is there a 16GB Wifi Xoom available for purchase?

The WiFi Xoom has only been 'announced'. There's no release date. Lets hope it makes an appearance while there's still interest. Competition for android tablets is going to be fierce. Drag your feet, customers go else where.

You can recreate a desktop browsing experience with the Android Browser by using the method below. I think this also works in reverse on some desktop browsers, to make them identify as a mobile browser.

Open the browser, type in "about:debug" into the address bar.

Then, menu > more > settings, scroll down to UAString and select "Desktop".

Alternatively, Dolphin HD and Opera Mini have this setting a little more user friendly in the browser settings. I'm not sure about Skyfire or Firefox Mobile though.

And you really need to stop spreading this 'Only the Playbook offers desktop browsing' crap. Its been proven wrong so many times, its not even amusing any more.

 

[runawayprisoner]

A lot of Android custom ROMs enable UA String setting by default so you don't really need that about:debug trick. It's actually only used for stubborn websites that insist to serve themselves as mobile sites to web browsers they don't recognize.

So as soon as Xoom gets Flash, it'll be as desktop as you can get.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I played with it today at the Engadget meetup. Honeycomb is nice. There are more hiccups and slowdowns than an iPad, but overall, its decently fast. But this can be due to the 3D transitions. 3D transitions are nice, but sometimes it might be too much? Shrug.

The device is solid. Nice.

I played Angry Birds on it and it forceclosed TWICE. Honestly, my Apple friends were like "Dude WTF" but I tried to defend the device. Angry Birds still doesnt' run fully smoothly, but I believe this has to do with fragmentation, and with proper coding I believe it should be able to run 60fps smooth.

Other than that, I view the Xoom as a HUGE step forward in tablet experience. Android 2.2 like the Galaxy Tab is just a joke. Proper gmail browsing is essential as in the iPad, the email viewer was revamped for tablet view. Using the 2.2 view on a Galaxy Tab is kinda ridiculous. I'm really thankful for a reading pain. Honeycomb is huge, but I suspect the iPad 2 might still inch out a little better. However, the gap has closed tremendously. It'll be interesting.

 

[zerocool84]

I played with it today at the Engadget meetup. Honeycomb is nice. There are more hiccups and slowdowns than an iPad, but overall, its decently fast. But this can be due to the 3D transitions. 3D transitions are nice, but sometimes it might be too much? Shrug.

The device is solid. Nice.

I played Angry Birds on it and it forceclosed TWICE. Honestly, my Apple friends were like "Dude WTF" but I tried to defend the device. Angry Birds still doesnt' run fully smoothly, but I believe this has to do with fragmentation, and with proper coding I believe it should be able to run 60fps smooth.

Other than that, I view the Xoom as a HUGE step forward in tablet experience. Android 2.2 like the Galaxy Tab is just a joke. Proper gmail browsing is essential as in the iPad, the email viewer was revamped for tablet view. Using the 2.2 view on a Galaxy Tab is kinda ridiculous. I'm really thankful for a reading pain. Honeycomb is huge, but I suspect the iPad 2 might still inch out a little better. However, the gap has closed tremendously. It'll be interesting.

What you said goes along with pretty much every review I`ve read. Everywhere says the software sucks and it`s buggy. I'm sure with time it`ll get better but even though I`d still wait if I wanted a tablet since there`s so much coming out this year. Right now is the worst time to buy a tablet.

 

[MrX8503]

And you really need to stop spreading this 'Only the Playbook offers desktop browsing' crap. Its been proven wrong so many times, its not even amusing any more.

What I'm saying is true, so I don't know how Ive been proven wrong. You may be able to replicate desktop browsing on android but it's not native. If it's not native then it's not a feature and it's not something I'd praise Google for. If RIM put in the effort to give us that experience then they get my props.

 

[Pliablemoose]

I'm thinking the tablet market will be having problems growing at the price points I'm seeing,

With the iPad covering the low end (wow, an Apple product covering the low end, hell is a few degrees cooler now...), and notebooks getting a lot better, http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/17/hp-pavilion-dm1z-with-amd-fusion-review/ The HP dm1z is less than $500, has much better performance than a netbook, good battery life & is a no brainer to recommend to someone looking for an affordable ultraportable

After a year of owning an iPad, I still love the form factor, but am finding a notebook is the only replacement for a notebook, and the multi-media features of a tablet are easily replicated on virtually any notebook.

With a phone that has a decently sized lcd (4" or larger) and a notebook, I really find no need for a 3rd device.

 

[UNCjigga]

Alright, I got one. Took advantage of the Verizon employee program special that they're offering through the 28th. $100 off instant, plus an additional $200 off instant after activating a 1-year, $10/month plan for 1GB of data. Total with 2-day shipping and tax was ~$542...not bad.

 

[zerocool84]

Alright, I got one. Took advantage of the Verizon employee program special that they're offering through the 28th. $100 off instant, plus an additional $200 off instant after activating a 1-year, $10/month plan for 1GB of data. Total with 2-day shipping and tax was ~$542...not bad.

If you don't have a smartphone that's good but if you already do that sucks.

 

[Adramalech]

I finally returned my Xoom. I picked one up on release day at CostCo and when I took it home I noticed that there was a ding in on the top left portion. So I take it back and exchange it for another one. I enjoyed using the device but then notice that it has a cluster of pixels stuck in green. I then returned the unit again and this time just took my money back.

For the price I paid for the unit (789 dollars + tax), this thing better be flawless. I guess I will wait for other Honeycomb tablets to be released and/or see what iPad 2 brings to the table.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

What you said goes along with pretty much every review I`ve read. Everywhere says the software sucks and it`s buggy. I'm sure with time it`ll get better but even though I`d still wait if I wanted a tablet since there`s so much coming out this year. Right now is the worst time to buy a tablet.

Why do you say this? For Apple clearly it's because the iPad 2 is around the corner, but Android alternatives are going to be the same no? Isn't this equivalent to jumping on the Droid when Android 2.0 came out?

 

[foghorn67]

Why do you say this? For Apple clearly it's because the iPad 2 is around the corner, but Android alternatives are going to be the same no? Isn't this equivalent to jumping on the Droid when Android 2.0 came out?

No. Not the same. I had some good apps from day one on the Droid. Because the G1 and others have been out for some time.
This is different. Needs time for Tablet specific apps to flesh out.

It will be interesting once others start building Honeycomb tablets.
And with the WebOS tablets, and the new iPad.
...And the Playbook. Honestly, I am holding out for the playbook.
It looks awesome. And it will run Android apps. So if any developers are interested in expanding their market, it sounds like an easy port.

 

[zerocool84]

Why do you say this? For Apple clearly it's because the iPad 2 is around the corner, but Android alternatives are going to be the same no? Isn't this equivalent to jumping on the Droid when Android 2.0 came out?

This is Android's first real foray with a tablet OS. Obviously from the reviews and first hand experience from people as you have posted, the kinks need to be ironed out. Especially seeing how ridiculously expensive the Xoom is. I say wait until later in the year once the kinks of Honeycomb get worked out and iPad 2 is out. There will be much better competition later this year especially with the HP Touchpad and Playbook which are huge names as well and see how those are. Just my personal opinion as we're still early in the competition of tablets. When the original Droid come out, Android was at least semi-mature and there was no real competition other than the iPhone. There's much more competition coming up in the very near future.

 

[Viper GTS]

So here i sit on my couch with my three hour old xoom. I picked it up at cotco for the 90 day return policy but i doubt i will need that long.

First, a big FU to Verizon for requiring me to sign up for an account. i would gladly have paid the $55 to walk out with the device having paid the activation and required month without giving you my name, address, and ssn. FU for not letting me immediately cancel your stupid service that i dont want.

On to the devIce itself:

Build quality is great - nice and solid just like the ipad. The screen is disappointing coming from my galaxy s but i suppose that is to be expected. it is severely lacking in contrast and the black level is shameful. The screen size is great for some things (web) but awful for others. Like typing this post. its to wide in landscape o thumb type on but the lack of feedback makes tpuchtyping dangerous. in portrait thumb typing is possible at constant peril of dropping it over the top of your hands. i know this isnt a content producing device but the occasional web post shouldnt be this hard.

I could excuse these for solid software but i think we all know the state of honeycomb. crash crash and more crash. youtube and vevo both played one video and now force close every time. yes i have restarted. rockplayer plays avi and mkv containers beautifully on my galaxy but this with double the hprsepower cant handle the mkv in either software or hardware and avi only in software. avi plays ok but the screens shortcomings mean that is somewhat less than satisfying.

when its not crashing the hitches and generalyinconsistent graphics performance are simply unacceptable for this cost and hardware specs.

so... i want to like thos thing but so far it is not a great experience.

Viper GTS