I love my Xoom - Tablet Evolution - 1 Week Opinion

**2CupsWithString** · 03-03-2011, 07:13 PM

It's been a week of non stop use for me.

I thought this thing would sit on my coffee table and be a go to Wiki device with some email accounts and angry birds tied to it and let me just say I was wrong. Before I got the Xoom, I really wanted a tablet but wasn't quite sure how it would fit in to my every day life.

I got my Evo on launch day and wouldn't give it up, but the Xoom is becoming my go to communication device, my go to stats for work device, admin device, default browsing device and I've played more games in the last week on my Xoom than I have on my xbox or PC combined in the last 6 months.

Honeycomb is the base of a true new version of Android, this is really more like a super fast portable PC than like a handset.

Android handsets are great and you can do a lot on them, but the Xoom, everything just seems easier and it's so fast it makes the tedious type of stuff a tad more pleasurable because:

a) I'm not fumbling around a smaller screen and
b) when I do things I feel like I'm on Star Trek:TNG and I've just checked the ship's logs for the overnight watch.
c) It's faster than waking up a PC
d) I can get to more information faster than switching tabs on a browser
e) You can bring it practically anywhere
f) The battery lasts forever

I have to say, this is an awesome device and as well the Thumb Keyboard app is a MUST HAVE - it changed the whole input experience drastically. I hope Moto or other tablet OEMs or Google start buying licenses in bulk and just release it on anything 7" or bigger.

I know there's been some threads focusing on the Xoom's competition the last 24 hours - please, direct your attention here:

About your doubts:

If you're concerned about Adobe Flash, or your favorite apps being Honeycomb compatible, or Google updating the market, or the 4G upgrade, or the sdcard, or whatever it is, just realize owning a Xoom right now is like investing in the future. You're ahead of the curve waiting for literally more than a thousand different things to catch up and inter-operate with each other. All of these issues will be worked out in due time (which I believe to be extremely short if you've seen the number of app updates in the last week).

This is a tremendously awesome piece of hardware made by one of the world's best companies that has been around for quite some time. The software was literally designed by some of the smartest people on the planet.

**Holsum** · 03-03-2011, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by thefredelement

It's been a week of non stop use for me.

I thought this thing would sit on my coffee table and be a go to Wiki device with some email accounts and angry birds tied to it and let me just say I was wrong. Before I got the Xoom, I really wanted a tablet but wasn't quite sure how it would fit in to my every day life.

I got my Evo on launch day and wouldn't give it up, but the Xoom is becoming my go to communication device, my go to stats for work device, admin device, default browsing device and I've played more games in the last week on my Xoom than I have on my xbox or PC combined in the last 6 months.

Honeycomb is the base of a true new version of Android, this is really more like a super fast portable PC than like a handset.

Android handsets are great and you can do a lot on them, but the Xoom, everything just seems easier and it's so fast it makes the tedious type of stuff a tad more pleasurable because:

a) I'm not fumbling around a smaller screen and
b) when I do things I feel like I'm on Star Trek:TNG and I've just checked the ship's logs for the overnight watch.
c) It's faster than waking up a PC
d) I can get to more information faster than switching tabs on a browser
e) You can bring it practically anywhere
f) The battery lasts forever

I have to say, this is an awesome device and as well the Thumb Keyboard app is a MUST HAVE - it changed the whole input experience drastically. I hope Moto or other tablet OEMs or Google start buying licenses in bulk and just release it on anything 7" or bigger.

I know there's been some threads focusing on the Xoom's competition the last 24 hours - please, direct your attention here:

About your doubts:

If you're concerned about Adobe Flash, or your favorite apps being Honeycomb compatible, or Google updating the market, or the 4G upgrade, or the sdcard, or whatever it is, just realize owning a Xoom right now is like investing in the future. You're ahead of the curve waiting for literally more than a thousand different things to catch up and inter-operate with each other. All of these issues will be worked out in due time (which I believe to be extremely short if you've seen the number of app updates in the last week).

This is a tremendously awesome piece of hardware made by one of the world's best companies that has been around for quite some time. The software was literally designed by some of the smartest people on the planet.

couldn't have said it better. i havent put my tablet down at all. especially since i get all my shows and movies on it directly without having to do a thing. what is better then just watching "modern family" download to your device while you browse?

good on ya!

**88 FLUX** · 03-03-2011, 07:30 PM

I don't know why anyone would want that piece of crap. Tablets are garbage. Except the iPad. The iPad rules.

Just kidding. I'm posting this from my Xoom which I love love love.

**DNicolasL** · 03-03-2011, 07:33 PM

I played with the XOOM for about 20 minutes and it blew my mind. Its so much better than an iPad. I don't feel that the price is that high when you are comparing the two.

Sent from my HTC EVO 4G

**thegunslinger1** · 03-03-2011, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by ock

I don't know why anyone would want that piece of crap. Tablets are garbage. Except the iPad. The iPad rules.

Just kidding. I'm posting this from my Xoom which I love love love.

I hated you...then I lol'd

**IronStar** · 03-03-2011, 07:40 PM

Have you tried tethering your Xoom to your Evo for data services?

**2CupsWithString** · 03-03-2011, 07:42 PM

Originally Posted by IronStar

Have you tried tethering your Xoom to your Evo for data services?

Yup, I have CM7 w/4G so I tether the 4G over WIFI for the Xoom.

**88 FLUX** · 03-03-2011, 07:47 PM

WiFi tethering works perfectly with the Xoom on my Nexus One. Since they both have the native hotspot feature, I should turn both on and make both use each others connection instead. Lol

**cparker5** · 03-03-2011, 08:05 PM

A bit of hyperbole here, I was almost expecting to read that it was magical!

**rohdawgeleven** · 03-03-2011, 08:13 PM

Originally Posted by Holsum

couldn't have said it better. i havent put my tablet down at all. especially since i get all my shows and movies on it directly without having to do a thing. what is better then just watching "modern family" download to your device while you browse?

good on ya!

Care to expound on this?

Love my Xoom also.....@thefredelement, you pretty much helped me make my decision after your reviews. Thanks.

XOOM!

**Holsum** · 03-03-2011, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by rohdawg11

Care to expound on this?

Love my Xoom also.....@thefredelement, you pretty much helped me make my decision after your reviews. Thanks.

XOOM!

yea for the tv shows download droidtv.

**bmbriefs** · 03-03-2011, 08:35 PM

I'm just happy to us a tablet os that was actually designed for a tablet.

**dmcman73** · 03-03-2011, 08:54 PM

As an IT guy, this has proven to be one of the best tools in my arsenal. I can walk around the office with it to support users, RDP into my servers from any desk in the office and manage a users account, SSH into my linux boxes, review log files on all my servers without being tied to my desk, retrieve all my emails and reply to them comfortably, read all my news, watch some videos for entertainment, create word and excel documents, carry ALL of my technical books and documents on the device (in PDF and EPUB format), take notes and 1000's of other things. I love this thing. Before I was walking around with a netbook but that was still awkward even though it was smaller. Couldn't really hold a netbook with one hand and use the mouse pad and keyboard with the other and always fearful the drive failing from all the moving around it got.

When I am out of the office I have Mobile Admin from rove on it to RDP into my servers and I am currently looking for a good SIP program so I can attach to my VOIP PBX system at the office.

**bayskipper** · 03-03-2011, 08:57 PM

absolutely correct about the Thumb Keyboard app - be sure to choose the 10" keyboard. The Xoom's form-factor is so much nicer with it!

**Puterguru** · 03-03-2011, 09:00 PM

Originally Posted by thegunslinger1

I hated you...then I lol'd

Hahaha, same here. I think I'm going to pick up the WIFI version from Sam's Club.

**CD1X** · 03-03-2011, 09:06 PM

just bought the bluetooth keyboard for my Xoom today and WOW.....I was already attached but now im just GLUED to this thing....My Desktop is starting to collect dust now....I Absolutely love the Xoom!!!! $600 well spent if you ask me.

**woodsb123** · 03-03-2011, 09:21 PM

Hi everyone, it's good to see some Xoom owners here who are really enjoying this great device. I don't currently own the Xoom yet, will be getting it in about a month. My question is, it seems like each one of you who responded are not having the issues other people on this forum and others that I've been reading are having. I would like to ask a favor from each of you. Seeing that you are able to successfully view movies, tv shows, connect to your office network, & such could you please indicate which apps you are using to achieve these tasks. I'm sure all of us here would be grateful for this info. For those who have already indicated the app used to perform certain tasks, let me be the first to say - Thank You.

**KoukiFC3S** · 03-03-2011, 10:28 PM

I love my Xoom as well!

Sure it doesn't have the 4g or flash when it does, it'll feel like a new device!

**Nchaka** · 03-03-2011, 11:26 PM

Excuse me for butting in
Question about flash... Does Flash work at all on the Xoom? Can you use flash 10.1 until 10.2 comes out? The reason I ask is that my online course requires flash (for reasons unknown). I tried to log on at best buy and it worked. The online course won't let me logon on my iPhone (nothing that resembles flash- thank you Steve Jobs!)
And thanks to everyone for the great info and reviews.

**Gameboy70** · 03-04-2011, 12:32 AM

I remember reading that 10.1 doesn't work on dual core devices.

**calidude#ac** · 03-04-2011, 12:45 AM

Originally Posted by thefredelement

It's been a week of non stop use for me.

I thought this thing would sit on my coffee table and be a go to Wiki device with some email accounts and angry birds tied to it and let me just say I was wrong. Before I got the Xoom, I really wanted a tablet but wasn't quite sure how it would fit in to my every day life.

I got my Evo on launch day and wouldn't give it up, but the Xoom is becoming my go to communication device, my go to stats for work device, admin device, default browsing device and I've played more games in the last week on my Xoom than I have on my xbox or PC combined in the last 6 months.

Honeycomb is the base of a true new version of Android, this is really more like a super fast portable PC than like a handset.

Android handsets are great and you can do a lot on them, but the Xoom, everything just seems easier and it's so fast it makes the tedious type of stuff a tad more pleasurable because:

a) I'm not fumbling around a smaller screen and
b) when I do things I feel like I'm on Star Trek:TNG and I've just checked the ship's logs for the overnight watch.
c) It's faster than waking up a PC
d) I can get to more information faster than switching tabs on a browser
e) You can bring it practically anywhere
f) The battery lasts forever

I have to say, this is an awesome device and as well the Thumb Keyboard app is a MUST HAVE - it changed the whole input experience drastically. I hope Moto or other tablet OEMs or Google start buying licenses in bulk and just release it on anything 7" or bigger.

I know there's been some threads focusing on the Xoom's competition the last 24 hours - please, direct your attention here:

About your doubts:

If you're concerned about Adobe Flash, or your favorite apps being Honeycomb compatible, or Google updating the market, or the 4G upgrade, or the sdcard, or whatever it is, just realize owning a Xoom right now is like investing in the future. You're ahead of the curve waiting for literally more than a thousand different things to catch up and inter-operate with each other. All of these issues will be worked out in due time (which I believe to be extremely short if you've seen the number of app updates in the last week).

This is a tremendously awesome piece of hardware made by one of the world's best companies that has been around for quite some time. The software was literally designed by some of the smartest people on the planet.

Couldn't help but cringe a little when I read this whole thing.

**thechidz** · 03-04-2011, 12:47 AM

I'm pretty impressed, but waiting for flash and some great apps before I start gushing

**kesnik** · 03-04-2011, 06:00 AM

I walked into verizon on 03/02 to check out the xoom. I couldn't leave without one. I questioned how much I would use a tablet but then I used the xoom. I am very impressed with the speed (processing/graphics). I can't seem to put it down. IMO this will replace my laptop which I just used for couch surfing or surfing in bed. I still use my desktop for gaming and serious browsing/comparisons/shopping.

I didn't signup for a contract, I was able to buy the device retail with no ties to Verizon, however I did want the ability to connect to 3g or 4g down the line.

Some other things that i was impressed with:
Amazing battery life - 6+ hrs with heavy use and I only depleated the battery halfway

Honeycomb OS - Just wow. Android 2.2 is cabable but the GUI seems raw. I didn't expect honeycomb to be so polished.

Room for improvement:
The widgets are not resizable - I want to have a scrollable twitter or gmail widget 2 wide by 5 or 6 tall. I would love a feature like Launcher Pro has for resizing widgets.

auto rotate still has some lag

Not a xoom problem but but why can't make a call through gmail like I can on the compter or, for that matter, through google voice. I can access the google voice website but the app will not install on the xoom.

maybe someone can clarify (I haven't tried yet) - can you charge with the usb connection? or just the dedicated power connection?

-Kesnik

**rohdawgeleven** · 03-04-2011, 06:32 AM

Originally Posted by kesnik

Not a xoom problem but but why can't make a call through gmail like I can on the compter or, for that matter, through google voice. I can access the google voice website but the app will not install on the xoom.

maybe someone can clarify (I haven't tried yet) - can you charge with the usb connection? or just the dedicated power connection?

-Kesnik

Google Voice is not available for the Xoom (yet) due to the lack of "required telephony"

Can't charge through the USB, just the power connection....nobody seems to know why they did this.

**2CupsWithString** · 03-04-2011, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by rohdawg11

Google Voice is not available for the Xoom (yet) due to the lack of "required telephony"

Can't charge through the USB, just the power connection....nobody seems to know why they did this.

A USB connection will not always deliver enough juice to charge this thing. I haven't been "hurting for a charge" since I got it and charge it every other evening.

I would appreciate getting some GV love on this thing though, that's for sure.