My Quick Xoom Review

[dgree03]

I have had an iPad since july of last year, sold it yesterday in prepartion for the Xoom purchase today. Walked into Verizon purchased the Xoom and walked right out no hassle, no activation required. Here my Mini Review so far, with some comparisons to my previous 32gb ipad.


Hardware:
Nice heft, feels really solid and has that industrial feel. I do not feel I am going to drop it because it slips out of my hand... i always felt that way when holding an ipad.

its a 16:10 screen so it is wider than it is long. Should be perfect for movies.

Screen is a finger print magnet like ipad.

Software:

Gmail- is incredible on this thing. Drag and drop, color labels, etc. the workflow with gmail is priceless and so fluid. I cannot speak of the general "email" app because i only use gmail.

youtube- way way faster loading videos on this than it was on the ipad. it has some eye candy, which is always nice.. esp for android.

browser- Browser is great! and it loads pages faster than my ipad did. also it has tabs and THEY DO NOT RELOAD ON SWITCHING!! I had 8 tabs open... flipping through them flawlessly! As always using google account you can sync bookmarks and such between desktop and xoom.

Havent tried the music app yet

The gallery is like your standard vanilla android gallery.. loaded all my picasa pics from the cloud.

Other apps- there are very few "tablet apps" in the market. The 2 I did DL was pulse and accuweather. Pulse was pretty basic but did take advantage of the fragments. Accuweather is slick... but they need to polish up some pixelation i saw tapping the background "live" water.

Apps like facebook and kindle scale up nicely. While some apps dont like the speedtest app.

Speaking of speed test, i did a load on my wifi connection at 15mbps down and 3 up and i pull 14mbps down and 2 up. My ipad could never pull above 10mbps. I also noticed my signal holding strong than it did on my ipad.


Workflow is great!! This is what i have been missing on ipad... background task, unintrustive notifications.

Thats all I have right now... so far I am liking the decision i made. But i know i will be missing my apps the ipad had!!! Android cant match it yet... it will take some time.

 

[dave420]

Sounds cool. I'd like to go try one out at a store. I'd like being able to flip through tabs without the pages reloading.

 

[eaweber1]

played with one at best buy this morning....its pretty sweet. waiting to see what the ipad 2 has next week then its decision time!!! You are right though...the screen on the xoom is sick. they designed it to be landscape. great review.

 

[Chilean.Miner]

Sounds cool. I'd like to go try one out at a store. I'd like being able to flip through tabs without the pages reloading.

get icab browswer for ipad. viola!

 

[vincenz]

If only that had all the apps available in the app store, I think it'd be a killer device. Ah if only.

 

[Piggie]

This 1st page seem to back up the fact that the web browser on the Xoom, and the web experience, is way way faster than on the current iPad.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4191/motorola-xoom-review-first-honeycomb-tablet-arrives/6

Methinks Apple better be bringing the iPad2 up to speed fast on this issue.

 

[Piggie]

If only that had all the apps available in the app store, I think it'd be a killer device. Ah if only.

Don't worry they will come. Just have to have a little patience and give the Devs some time. Once they get to grips with what this can do, I'm sure great things will start to appear

Naturally it has a good year to catch up of course, and won't appear overnight.

 

[spacehog371]

All of the comparisons to the iPad would be relevant if you were comparing it to the iPad 2.

Did you expect anything else given you are comparing brand new hardware to hardware that is a year old?

 

[gloss]

If the iPad is not at least competitive with those page load numbers, I have to admit I'll be pretty disappointed.

Xoom looks pretty sweet. Here's hoping Android developers start hopping on the Honeycomb train soon.

 

[Gryzor]

Thats all I have right now... so far I am liking the decision i made. But i know i will be missing my apps the ipad had!!! Android cant match it yet... it will take some time.

Sounds like a biased review to support your decision, and given that apps are what ultimately make or break these things, it doesn't sound like a winner yet to me. Faster browser? Faster videos? GMail integration? Who cares? iPad isn't exactly a slouch and you can access GMail through Google Active Sync.

 

[dgree03]

All of the comparisons to the iPad would be relevant if you were comparing it to the iPad 2.

Did you expect anything else given you are comparing brand new hardware to hardware that is a year old?

You know, I didnt know what to expect. I mean I also grabbed a galaxy tab and returned it after 7 days, i thought my ipad was way way better. Speed and functionality....

Right now tho, we all know the Ipad is not out yet. We also know that the UI will not change at all on this version... so I think the comparisons are valid.

 

[gloss]

Sounds like a biased review to support your decision, and given that apps are what ultimately make or break these things, it doesn't sound like a winner yet to me. Faster browser? Faster videos? GMail integration? Who cares? iPad isn't exactly a slouch and you can access GMail through Google Active Sync.

Sounds like a biased review of a review from someone who's unwilling to look at the situation objectively.

 

[Gryzor]

You know, I didnt know what to expect. I mean I also grabbed a galaxy tab and returned it after 7 days, i thought my ipad was way way better. Speed and functionality....

Right now tho, we all know the Ipad is not out yet. We also know that the UI will not change at all on this version... so I think the comparisons are valid.

That just says it all right there - you just can't handle not having the latest and greatest that the competition offers "just in case" it's better than what you have.

Oh, and FYI, the iPad came out months ago.

 

[Piggie]

All of the comparisons to the iPad would be relevant if you were comparing it to the iPad 2.

Did you expect anything else given you are comparing brand new hardware to hardware that is a year old?

You are quite right, and I think we should of course, given the fact Apple have had a whole year's head start, for the iPad2 to perform at least as well as the Xoom. Motorola's 1st offering. Especially as the Tegra2 has been out for quite a while now, 4 months in consumer products already.

In all probability iPad2 could well be up against the performance and user experience of Tegra3 in just over 6 months time, so, I am very much hoping it will at least Match something like the Xoom for web browsing speed.

Especially, as I say, Apple have had a whole year to perfect it.

 

[dgree03]

Sounds like a biased review to support your decision, and given that apps are what ultimately make or break these things, it doesn't sound like a winner yet to me. Faster browser? Faster videos? GMail integration? Who cares? iPad isn't exactly a slouch and you can access GMail through Google Active Sync.

Look i had the Ipad for long enough that I think I know what I am talking about. You sound like your offended that another competitor may have the Ipad's number. Its just a product, and for me coming from the Ipad world to this one, I thought there might be many people on the fence.. like I was.. and just want to give them some highlights on MY USAGE.

My only gripe is lack of OPTIMIZED apps. Which we ALLLLL know will come..

 

[Gryzor]

Look i had the Ipad for long enough that I think I know what I am talking about. You sound like your offended that another competitor may have the Ipad's number. Its just a product, and for me coming from the Ipad world to this one, I thought there might be many people on the fence.. like I was.. and just want to give them some highlights on MY USAGE.

My only gripe is lack of OPTIMIZED apps. Which we ALLLLL know will come..

I sound like I'm offended by the competition getting 1up on Apple? Why would I be bothered about that? iPad does more than enough already, and if the quality of apps on Android phones is anything to go by...don't hold your breath.

 

[maflynn]

What's the specs of the xoom, and how's the performance of honeycomb?

How do you think it measures up against the iPad. The iPad has a lot of polish and ease of use. Apple is great at making sure the details are taken care of.

My opinion of android after using it for a while, is that it has an unfinished feel towards it, and while apps can plug those holes just having them there, is my point.

 

[dgree03]

That just says it all right there - you just can't handle not having the latest and greatest that the competition offers "just in case" it's better than what you have.

Oh, and FYI, the iPad came out months ago.

Haha, you knew I meant Ipad 2, because I just told you I HAD the first gen ipad.

I think it just shows that I am open to what else is out there, I am not a apple worshipper. I have numerous apple products and I keep them if i feel they are better than the rest. When i got my galaxy tab, I didnt feel like it was better than my ipad! This time I didnt hold onto my ipad because I was going to do 1 of 2 things

Get and Ipad 2
Get a Xoom

Both of which would require that I off load my old ipad to get the most money i could for it.

What I am saying RIGHT NOW is... if the Ipad 2 doesnt come with a UI refresh.. IN MY OPINION.. the xoom has it beat on UI and FUNCTIONALITY.

Where the Xoom falls behind is lack of apps and price of entry.

 

[dgree03]

What's the specs of the xoom, and how's the performance of honeycomb?

How do you think it measures up against the iPad. The iPad has a lot of polish and ease of use. Apple is great at making sure the details are taken care of.

My opinion of android after using it for a while, is that it has an unfinished feel towards it, and while apps can plug those holes just having them there, is my point.

I have been using it more since i posted the thread and I honestly think that the UI of honeycomb should of been what Android was from the start! It has the polish of iOS, but it has alot of workflow functionality that makes it a more complete device than the ipad in that regard.

Meaning, that its lack of apps wont hurt as much as when the Ipad first came out, because i feel iOS NEEDS apps to fill holes.. more so than android does.

That being said, I would not call Honeycomb as user friendly as iOS. But its way closer than gingerbread or froyo are.

I think since it is more like a "Desktop OS" environment, it will be familar with average users who work with windows or even OSX daily.

Ipad still has Honeycomb beat on market apps, but i feel native apps on xoom boast better functionality than ipad counterparts.

Honeycomb needs a media client of sort for average users to match iOS also. I love not having to use itune and being able to mount my Xoom as a HD... but I understand not all people want that.

 

[maflynn]

Honeycomb needs a media client of sort for average users to match iOS also. I love not having to use itune and being able to mount my Xoom as a HD... but I understand not all people want that.

If you're well integrated into the apple ecosystem then iTunes isn't bad. I think the way itunes was handling the syncing of my music was fine. I had a lot of issues trying to sync my android phone and music (which was all itunes). There was no client that offered the same level of integration, ease of use then what apple has with itunes and iOS.

Now that I'm back on iOS as opposed to android, I see what I was missing and appreciate the ease of use like I hadn't before

 

[Androidpwns]

Workflow is great!! This is what i have been missing on ipad... background task, unintrustive notifications.

Thats all I have right now... so far I am liking the decision i made. But i know i will be missing my apps the ipad had!!! Android cant match it yet... it will take some time.

Gradz man! I can't wait to pick one up soon... enjoy

 

[Gryzor]

Haha, you knew I meant Ipad 2, because I just told you I HAD the first gen ipad.

You said "Ipad" - as written text, it's hard to defend.

I think it just shows that I am open to what else is out there, I am not a apple worshipper.

I'm not an Apple worshiper (note the spelling) either, I'd never own a Mac OS-based computer as my main machine. I use iPhone because it's also my portable music player and has masses of speaker-dock support, and iPad was the first commercial tablet to actually do what it supposed to.

I have numerous apple products and I keep them if i feel they are better than the rest. When i got my galaxy tab, I didnt feel like it was better than my ipad! This time I didnt hold onto my ipad because I was going to do 1 of 2 things

Get and Ipad 2
Get a Xoom

Both of which would require that I off load my old ipad to get the most money i could for it.

What I am saying RIGHT NOW is... if the Ipad 2 doesnt come with a UI refresh.. IN MY OPINION.. the xoom has it beat on UI and FUNCTIONALITY.

Where the Xoom falls behind is lack of apps and price of entry.

Based on a few YouTube videos, it fails on more than just lack of apps and price of entry. It looks tacky for a start, and the interface is nowhere near as user-friendly as that on the iPad.

You are what they call an "indecisive perfectionist", and will never be happy with anything.

 

[The Governor]

If only that had all the apps available in the app store, I think it'd be a killer device. Ah if only.

Just curious, but what apps do you want that android doesn't have? I'm aware that apple has more apps compared to android, but what apps can't you get with android?

 

[spacehog371]

You know, I didnt know what to expect. I mean I also grabbed a galaxy tab and returned it after 7 days, i thought my ipad was way way better. Speed and functionality....

Right now tho, we all know the Ipad is not out yet. We also know that the UI will not change at all on this version... so I think the comparisons are valid.

Well, let's be clear. The Galaxy Tab was a disaster.

The Xoom is no doubt a great piece of hardware, and it sounds like Honeycomb has taken care of a lot of my annoyances with Android and brought it at least kind of close to iOS. I plan on going to Best Buy today or tomorrow to play around with it.

I just don't think comparisons should be made between the iPad 1 and the Xoom as far as speed goes.

Everything else is fair game.

The main reason I wouldn't buy an Android phone or tablet is the applications. My friend has a Droid X, and far as I can tell, the applications ****ing suck. Not just they aren't up to par with iOS, they just flat out blow. The best applications on Android almost all started on iOS.

All of my friends games (except the ones from iOS) look like ****** flash games from the early 2000's ported over to the phone. To this day, the applications on the Android market are just generally of a much, much lower quality than even mediocre iOS apps.

I'm not sure if this will carry over onto the tablets, but as far as I'm concerned, the Android market is in worse shape as far as quality apps goes than the iTunes App Store was when it launched. And, the tablet marketplace is pretty much non-existant at this point, obviously a terrible way to launch given what was available for the iPad at launch.

 

[dgree03]

If you're well integrated into the apple ecosystem then iTunes isn't bad. I think the way itunes was handling the syncing of my music was fine. I had a lot of issues trying to sync my android phone and music (which was all itunes). There was no client that offered the same level of integration, ease of use then what apple has with itunes and iOS.

Now that I'm back on iOS as opposed to android, I see what I was missing and appreciate the ease of use like I hadn't before

I had that same issue, syncing my music from itunes to my android phone. Then i found Isyncr and my life was saved... so I manage my library still in itunes than I use isyncr to sync my music wirelessly!

You said "Ipad" - as written text, it's hard to defend.


I'm not an Apple worshiper (note the spelling) either, I'd never own a Mac OS-based computer as my main machine. I use iPhone because it's also my portable music player and has masses of speaker-dock support, and iPad was the first commercial tablet to actually do what it supposed to.


Based on a few YouTube videos, it fails on more than just lack of apps and price of entry. It looks tacky for a start, and the interface is nowhere near as user-friendly as that on the iPad.

You are what they call an "indecisive perfectionist", and will never be happy with anything.

Why dont you tell me what ELSE it fails on since you have one in your hands right now?? Ill wait...