$799 for the Xoom? Ouch!

[Menno]

Yes but why would anyone pay for 3g/4g when your phone can do it and you save $30+ a month because you dont have 2 4g bills. I understand having all that extra space is great but I dont know anyone who has a Ipad that actually uses it. Are you really going to put all your music and movies on there, you cant fit the thing in your pocket and use as a mp3 player. If you are in the airport more than 2-3 times a month then yes spend the 800 but i can bet you most people are just going to use it for the apps and email and only use 8gb of space at most.

It's for people like me who are considering getting this instead of a laptop. I have a desktop I use for heavy computing, but I want something mobile as well. I really like music, and have right around 30GB of it (I'd have more if I finished ripping my CD's) that I'd want a good chunk of it with me.

Sure, I couldget the wifi tether package for my phone and use that to connect the device whenever I don't have wifi, but I'm actually considering getting the plan, especially if I hold out for the one with LTE built into it. I work in a store where we can go for hours sometimes without heavy traffic. Something like this could make the day much easier to get through, even more so than my incredible

 

[Maikai.Guy]

If that were the case, then Apple wouldn't have sold many iPhones after antenna-gate.

Ahh! You make my point about lack of communication with an EXCELLENT marketing example!

Apple immediately and energetically addressed the bad press. Who can forget Jobs' ridiculing "gorilla grip" comments? Excellent marketing... BRILLIANT! He used what has become a common side-stepping device in the political world... playing the victim and responding with ridicule instead of answering a question/claim directly.

It was an immediate positive response to offset and diffuse the faulty antenna situation. And it worked fantastically. This is exactly why Apple is so successful. They truly have marketing savvy.

Apple recognized the public was primed for this type of response from the political arena and used it masterfully. Job's angry response, as if he had been insulted, and term "Gorilla Grip" were the primary focus of the press. And in doing so, Apple also redirected the press from the potentially more damaging issue; that Apple had intentionally programmed all their iPhones to report more signal strength (more bars) than it actually had. This offered iPhone users, and their friends, false "proof" that iPhones were superior technology.

Yes! Many thanks for bringing this up! It directly supports my point about how Motorola's silence is an inappropriate marketing response.

 

[dwboston]

Ahh! You make my point about lack of communication with an EXCELLENT marketing example!

Apple immediately and energetically addressed the bad press. Who can forget Jobs' ridiculing "gorilla grip" comments? Excellent marketing... BRILLIANT! He used what has become a common side-stepping device in the political world... playing the victim and responding with ridicule instead of answering a question/claim directly.

It was an immediate positive response to offset and diffuse the faulty antenna situation. And it worked fantastically. This is exactly why Apple is so successful. They truly have marketing savvy.

Apple recognized the public was primed for this type of response from the political arena and used it masterfully. Job's angry response, as if he had been insulted, and term "Gorilla Grip" were the primary focus of the press. And in doing so, Apple also redirected the press from the potentially more damaging issue; that Apple had intentionally programmed all their iPhones to report more signal strength (more bars) than it actually had. This offered iPhone users, and their friends, false "proof" that iPhones were superior technology.

Yes! Many thanks for bringing this up! It directly supports my point about how Motorola's silence is an inappropriate marketing response.

What exactly should Moto be responding to? There is no tidal wave of negative publicity, just a few mentions on the major tech blogs (and even they aren't really up in arms about) and people getting heated in various forums. The Super Bowl commercial barely made an impression, seeing as how it wasn't mentioned at all in the dissection of the best/worst SB commercials the next day. There isn't a significant level of awareness of the Xoom among the general public right now, so there's no way it's anything like Antenna-gate, which got non-stop coverage in the tech and mainstream press. All that's happening right now is frustration among tech forum nerds like us, mostly because there hasn't been a lot of info released, so people are filling that vacuum with speculation. The device will launch sometime in the next 2-4 weeks, most likely. There will inevitably be multiple versions. Beyond that, no one really knows anything right now.

 

[qnet]

All that's happening right now is frustration among tech forum nerds like us, mostly because there hasn't been a lot of info released, so people are filling that vacuum with speculation. The device will launch sometime in the next 2-4 weeks, most likely. There will inevitably be multiple versions. Beyond that, no one really knows anything right now.

I think you nailed it. We all just want it and, there's no info on it, just rumors. It's fun when you can see something in action and think about what you want to do with it.

The Xoom is nothing more than a luxury for me. I have a laptop that I use mainly for my business and, the Xoom won't be replacing it. I 'll do some experimenting to see what I can do with it business-wise but, overall it will just be a big toy for me.

 

[Maikai.Guy]

What exactly should Moto be responding to? There is no tidal wave of negative publicity, just a few mentions on the major tech blogs (and even they aren't really up in arms about) and people getting heated in various forums. The Super Bowl commercial barely made an impression, seeing as how it wasn't mentioned at all in the dissection of the best/worst SB commercials the next day. There isn't a significant level of awareness of the Xoom among the general public right now, so there's no way it's anything like Antenna-gate, which got non-stop coverage in the tech and mainstream press. All that's happening right now is frustration among tech forum nerds like us, mostly because there hasn't been a lot of info released, so people are filling that vacuum with speculation. The device will launch sometime in the next 2-4 weeks, most likely. There will inevitably be multiple versions. Beyond that, no one really knows anything right now.

Wow. I suggest you do a google search on "Motorola XOOM", then review "news". Some of the best names in tech are saying some rather negative things as well as making incomplete comparisons to iPad.

Plus, I subscribe to a couple of financial services. Both now carry warnings that there is "negative press" regarding pricing and the impending iPad2 and other competition within the Android market. They say the tablet business is expected be about 20% of MMI's business and under performance in that area could significantly impact the stock.

You do realize that business analysts read what PC Mag, Engadget and even this site has to say... don't you? And then you should also realize there are literally millions of people, like me, (and of course company investors too) who have portfolios, have brokers, and subscribe to these reports... right?

I don't know how old you are. Forgive me if my assumption you are a 20-something is wrong. All this might not occur to the younger set, but believe me, everything that you are witnessing is causing ripples and WILL indeed have a significant influence on how many tablets Mot sells... for the resulting perception reasons... not just pricing.

PS: The warnings about negative press regarding pricing are self explanatory. I take the warnings about the iPad2 and other Android competitors as Mot not doing as good a job as they could have in differentiating their product + Android against iPad and iOS. It is, of course, tough to differentiate yourself against something that hasn't come out, but there are inherent iOS versus Android issues they could have underscored... and haven't.

 

[dwboston]

Wow. I suggest you do a google search on "Motorola XOOM", then review "news". Some of the best names in tech are saying some rather negative things as well as making incomplete comparisons to iPad.

Plus, I subscribe to a couple of financial services. Both now carry warnings that there is "negative press" regarding pricing and the impending iPad2 and other competition within the Android market. They say the tablet business is expected be about 20% of MMI's business and under performance in that area could significantly impact the stock.

You do realize that business analysts read what PC Mag, Engadget and even this site has to say... don't you? And then you should also realize there are literally millions of people, like me, (and of course company investors too) who have portfolios, have brokers, and subscribe to these reports... right?

I don't know how old you are. Forgive me if my assumption you are a 20-something is wrong. All this might not occur to the younger set, but believe me, everything that you are witnessing is causing ripples and WILL indeed have a significant influence on how many tablets Mot sells... for the resulting perception reasons... not just pricing.

PS: The warnings about negative press regarding pricing are self explanatory. I take the warnings about the iPad2 and other Android competitors as Mot not doing as good a job as they could have in differentiating their product + Android against iPad and iOS. It is, of course, tough to differentiate yourself against something that hasn't come out, but there are inherent iOS versus Android issues they could have underscored... and haven't.

I won't make any erroneous assumptions about your age or line of work, but behind all the bluster and smug superiority, it's clear that you're mainly annoyed that no official announcement has been made, hence all the carping about PR and marketing blunders. You're delusional about this alleged PR gaffe that Moto is committing by not commenting on a leaked, possibly erroneous Best Buy ad or giving a firm launch date. The Xoom has made virtually no impression on the mainstream press or public to this point, and won't until the launch date and info is announced and reviews start to hit from Mossberg, etc.

Who cares about warnings from your "financial services" and who's talking about the stock besides you? Pre-launch rumors are just noise. There were plenty of erroneous rumors and warnings about the iPad pre-launch - I hope those services weren't short AAPL on the basis of pre-launch rumors. All that matters in the end is the official information when it's confirmed by Moto or VZW. Everything else is just hype and conjecture until official announcements are made. Thanks for the update on your portfolio though.

 

[Tre Lawrence]

which is ironic considering we still have no idea what the price is.

If it is under $500, I'll revise.

Though, in all fairness, there is hardly any price that I would not consider too pricey for a tablet currently.

 

[Menno]

Wow. I suggest you do a google search on "Motorola XOOM", then review "news". Some of the best names in tech are saying some rather negative things as well as making incomplete comparisons to iPad.

Plus, I subscribe to a couple of financial services. Both now carry warnings that there is "negative press" regarding pricing and the impending iPad2 and other competition within the Android market. They say the tablet business is expected be about 20% of MMI's business and under performance in that area could significantly impact the stock.

You do realize that business analysts read what PC Mag, Engadget and even this site has to say... don't you? And then you should also realize there are literally millions of people, like me, (and of course company investors too) who have portfolios, have brokers, and subscribe to these reports... right?

I don't know how old you are. Forgive me if my assumption you are a 20-something is wrong. All this might not occur to the younger set, but believe me, everything that you are witnessing is causing ripples and WILL indeed have a significant influence on how many tablets Mot sells... for the resulting perception reasons... not just pricing.

PS: The warnings about negative press regarding pricing are self explanatory. I take the warnings about the iPad2 and other Android competitors as Mot not doing as good a job as they could have in differentiating their product + Android against iPad and iOS. It is, of course, tough to differentiate yourself against something that hasn't come out, but there are inherent iOS versus Android issues they could have underscored... and haven't.

If Moto should respond in anyway, it should be NOTHING more than the following:

"It's not our policy to comment on rumors and speculation, as such commenting only leads to more rumors and spectulation. We'll let the official press release speak for itself when it's released. Now, start a rumor about the iphone on T-Mobile to keep your SEO happy and stop bugging us."

You do realize that's why most people are reporting on it, right? SEO. We know next to NOTHING about how this thing will be priced. But posting about it means web traffic and web traffic means money. That's all this is.

You can't knock motorola for not differentiating their product after a SINGLE teaser ad.

This is like blasting a companies grand opening 6 months before it happens.

 

[Maikai.Guy]

I won't make any erroneous assumptions about your age or line of work, but behind all the bluster and smug superiority, it's clear that you're mainly annoyed...
... and conjecture until official announcements are made. Thanks for the update on your portfolio though.

Oh I didn't mean anything by it... I was just reflecting the tone back to you. Read everything with a fresh smile dripping from my mouth and you correctly read my messages.

If you knew me you'd know I feel superior to no one. Everyone has a specialty. I know more about some things than other people. Other people know many things I don't. The good news about getting old is that last part happens less frequently. Think about it. Do you feel smarter and more capable of understanding complex relationships now than you did last year? You do, don't you? Well so do it. That happens every year you're alive! That's food for thought. If you're sitting still in a rut, it's less, so make sure you don't get in a rut.

You shouldn't make any assumptions about me. I'll gladly share. I like talking about it. I'm in my 50's. BSEE from a good school, MSEE from a much better school, MBA from a GREAT School in London.

Currently live in the Northeast. Started my career in 1984 (took two years out to join the ARMY when the hostages were taking in IRAN in 1979. Came back finished college and worked in the Advanced System Development group of NCR, where I met my wife. She was impressed with me because the ASD group were kewl back then. Most of us were Harley guys. I had a 1972 stroked Sportster. We could stop the production line just to take a look as something. Our dress code was sneakers jeans and polo shirts. It was a violation of the dress code at the time, but we got away with it. We had "flex hours" which meant we would roll in late and have a coffee meeting in the cafeteria while everyone else had to go to work.

Then was offered a job with Deutche bank. I know what you're thinking... it was not IT. I was still a designer. They linked me up with two young English solicitors (we were based in London) and established their first go at internet security. It all got scrapped because their targets kept changing, but I got the MBA out of the deal and an experience of a lifetime. How many people get to live and work, really blend, in another country for almost two years. Make friends, go out on dates.. I could have wound up there easily.

A job offer I couldn't refuse in San Jose. Came bake and worked for... I lost count... startups. The last startup I joined did better than the others and was absorbed into a semiconductor manufacturer you'd all know and love. Heck, even I love them and I'm still with them.

BTW, when you're in the fifties and planning for retirement, you too will have a portfolio and it wont seem odd at all to mention it to someone. IN fact, you will take an active part in your investments/holdings and have daily conversations about it with more than a few like minded people. Suddenly, attending a call in person becomes an event you'd actually like to attend. Weird... like that hair that begins to grow out of my... but I digress.

Back to the superiority thing. I do not think I am superior to you. I simply think I have more education and experience in this matter than you. In fact, I would feel quite qualified for the job... if I wanted to go in that direction right now. I also feel confident about it because I have conversations with analysts who agree. Now that's something I actually might do in retirement... seems like fun... the analyst thing, not the agreeing thing.

What I would like you to do is be so kind as to look at the introductory front page of this very website. You will see that AT&T apparently monitors this site. They saw a "leak" of their new service plans... not yet released, mind you... and immediately did damage control. You might have to go through a fews stories to find it, but it's there. That's an example of marketing staying on top of things and performing damage control. Even if it were true, I'm sure those same people would have called with facts and figures showing how just about no one will be harmed by their new plans, other than a total bandwidth hog. She's explain how they abuse the system and are few and far between. Even though it's wrong, by the end of the article you'll be on her side. This is another example of damage control for a product and service that has not yet released yet.

I highly recommend an MBA at some point in your life. Don't get it soon after the base degree. I know quite a few of them and they just don't "get it". I think it's something you need to have some experience and maturity to fully appreciate it.

So... I hope that didn't come off an condescending in any way. It was not meant to be. I am an engineer who has spend some early formative years in England. That's two cultures that go straight to the point without the coddling bit. Please do me the favor of assuming the coddling bit and the fresh smile while you read and you'll get it right.

 

[Maikai.Guy]

If Moto should respond in anyway, it should be NOTHING more than the following:

"It's not our policy to comment on rumors and speculation, as such commenting only leads to more rumors and spectulation. We'll let the official press release speak for itself when it's released. Now, start a rumor about the iphone on T-Mobile to keep your SEO happy and stop bugging us."

You do realize that's why most people are reporting on it, right? SEO. We know next to NOTHING about how this thing will be priced. But posting about it means web traffic and web traffic means money. That's all this is.

You can't knock motorola for not differentiating their product after a SINGLE teaser ad.

This is like blasting a companies grand opening 6 months before it happens.

Oh... read what I wrong the other guy. It's to you too.

It's not a teaser add, it as a full Superbowl Ad... an Ad of ads! The best of what they can do. You calling it a teaser only supports my points.

The "Grand Opening" isn't in 6 months. It's less than a month.

You guys seem fixated on being right and you're not giving any explanations, data or marketing examples where this type of Zero communication approach worked.

I'm a very open minded guy. splain it to me.

 

[Baconator]

NERDS! LOL JK (don't take offense) haha I get like this too. It is funny when you see people get all hyped up lol.

 

[TreyDaPrince]

Whoa testosterone is flying in this room. Everyone should just settle down. You read the last 3 pages of this thread and you wont know what the hell the topic is about.

 

[c-lord]

It's for people like me who are considering getting this instead of a laptop. I have a desktop I use for heavy computing, but I want something mobile as well. I really like music, and have right around 30GB of it (I'd have more if I finished ripping my CD's) that I'd want a good chunk of it with me.

Sure, I couldget the wifi tether package for my phone and use that to connect the device whenever I don't have wifi, but I'm actually considering getting the plan, especially if I hold out for the one with LTE built into it. I work in a store where we can go for hours sometimes without heavy traffic. Something like this could make the day much easier to get through, even more so than my incredible

Cool thanks for answering my question! I love music also but I just use Pandora when i out and about. I like making mixed mp3 cds for my car though. Cant you tether your phone for free since its rooted? I would try both to see if the speed is that much faster. If is faster then it might be worth the extra $ a month.

 

[Maikai.Guy]

NERDS! LOL JK (don't take offense) haha I get like this too. It is funny when you see people get all hyped up lol.

Guilty as charged!

Whoa testosterone is flying in this room. Everyone should just settle down. You read the last 3 pages of this thread and you wont know what the hell the topic is about.

Point taken.

 

[tntdroid]

Confirmed best buy price, date, $20 data a must and they still can't spell.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

 

[Menno]

Oh... read what I wrong the other guy. It's to you too.

It's not a teaser add, it as a full Superbowl Ad... an Ad of ads! The best of what they can do. You calling it a teaser only supports my points.

The "Grand Opening" isn't in 6 months. It's less than a month.

You guys seem fixated on being right and you're not giving any explanations, data or marketing examples where this type of Zero communication approach worked.

I'm a very open minded guy. splain it to me.

Ok.. Mororola ad said NOTHING about specs, pricing, hardware, capabilities, etc.

Instead it showed a guy using a product that most people have never heard of before.

That spells teaser ad. Just like the original Droid Does commercial. When it was done doesn't change that. In fact, if anything it makes it more likely. Or did you miss that VW and several other companies used their super bowl ads to tease new products without really revealing them (VW Beetle commercial)

You (and websites) are trying to give motorla a hard time for not playing PR Control with the supposed "Failed marketing" when they've BARELY started marketing the device.

We're not giving any data because THERE ISN'T SUPPOSED TO BE COMMUNICATION YET. That's what I've been trying to tell you. You're writing off a companies marketing approach before they've really even started it. Yes, they blew a TON of money on that superbowl ad. but that ad was NOT intended to get people to purchase the product (thus the lack of information). it was there to make people aware that a product exists.

What you're doing is akin to people who wrote off the Droid Does campaign as a failure after the first ad (also released less than a month from launch) because it didn't explain anything. And then, what happened? They created MORE ads, that did explain the device, building on that initial teaser, creating a theme. That's your evidence, and as a bonus, it's from the exact same company pairing.

They took a product that was unknown to a lot of people and turned it into THE term people use to describe android, no matter what the carrier. And it all started with a "Teaser" ad that didn't explain anything and that a lot of people wrote off as a failure (or at least hard to understand)

You might have a lot of experience, but we're talking about a company with a track record of doing the very thing your criticizing them for and turning it into a amazing success. That's why I'm saying you're over-reacting.

The fact of the matter is that a MAJORITY of Motorola's potential market (including tech heads) won't be swayed either way by this leaked news because they don't care about it. Those of us that post online, especially on sites like BGR, Engadget, and Android central, are the extreme minority of an already small group of tech enthusiasts. We might be loud, and we might be able to get our opinions echoed by hundreds of websites, but that doesn't mean anything when it comes to public perception as a whole.

ATT is much more pro-active when it comes to social networking and blogging sites. This is a good thing for them, but it's NOT the MO of Verizon, or motorola. It's not the standard procedure for Apple, HTC, or Samsung either. Just because ONE company performs a certain way doesn't mean they ALL have to do it or they've failed.

In fact, considering one of the most well-liked tech companies in the world (Apple) takes a hard stance against commenting on rumors, what does that tell you? No matter what you or I think about Apple they have a very positive brand position with most consumers, and if they're ok with newpapers and blogs throwing around outright lies about their products, maybe Motorola isn't failing as hard as you claim by doing the same.

 

[Menno]

Confirmed best buy price, date, $20 data a must and they still can't spell.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

10:1 some other company will offer it without the data requirement.

And since you don't pay for the service up front, you can walk out and cancel the data even IF you get it at best buy and all you'll have to pay (if anything) is a pro-rated amount for the data used.

Best buy won't really get any commission on the data plan unless you keep it active for more than a month anyway, so it's no skin off their backs. And since it's activated in the system, you can't take it down the street and activate it somewhere else, which prevents anyone else from getting any possible commissions.

I have training on this tomorrow. We'll see if there is any requirement on Verizon's end, though honestly I have no idea how they can require a data plan activation considering that hasn't worked on any device thus far, and I don't see Google helping them do this.

 

[dwboston]

And the full retail price on the HTC Thunderbolt is going to be $749. $50 more for a 10.1 Honeycomb dual-core 3G/4G tablet doesn't seem so far-fetched now.

 

[ckeegan003]

And the full retail price on the HTC Thunderbolt is going to be $749. $50 more for a 10.1 Honeycomb dual-core 3G/4G tablet doesn't seem so far-fetched now.

Even at $200 more than the full retail price of the Droid X, the Xoom price made total sense. People are just delusional.

 

[Maikai.Guy]

Ok.. Mororola ad said NOTHING about specs, pricing, hardware, capabilities, etc.
...
... we're talking about a company with a track record of doing the very thing your criticizing them for and turning it into a amazing success.
...
We're not giving any data because THERE ISN'T SUPPOSED TO BE COMMUNICATION YET.
....
You're writing off a companies marketing approach before they've really even started it.

You are dismissing the fact that Motorola officially announced during CES and even won best of show. They have listed all the typical specs for a device one would give the public and the press: the CPU, clock speed, memory sizes, peripherals, accessories, etc...

You're also dismissing the fact that they nearly went under.... I mean gone! Seriously. Motorola was bleeding serious red ink for years. They luckily hit another winner with Droid, but if that had been six months later, Motorola would not be there today. So much for their amazing success machine. RAZR to brink of bankruptcy to Droid.

Not started marketing yet? Their website has been live since early January. They've released videos of it. They've released it to famous people to carry around, show off, tweet with it, and get buzz going. They've sent units around the world on a road show so the press can report hands-on experience. The device was featured in Google's intro of Honeycomb. Motorola spend million$ on a major SuperBowl commercial. Actual store arrival is just 12 tiny days away! Whatever... We'll just have to agree to disagree because is seems abundantly clear to both of us, yet we see things 180 degrees from each other.

The real news is it looks pretty clear that Motorola is going full steam ahead with the $799 price. I was hoping their strategy was to head-fake to $799, but actually release lower. It's pretty clear any hope of that is fading quickly.

The plan is still to purchase on arrival day (hopefully still the 24th). I'll be on a 20+ hour flight on the 26th. My head will explode if I don't have a new XOOM with me to play with.

The next thing to hope is for Motorola will make a pre-order announcement during Mobile World Conference in Barcelona.

BTW, dumped half my holdings of MMI today. Success of Motorola's tablet business is no longer a sure thing in my mind and being 20% of their stock value... the risk versus reward is out of wack. The $799 price, coupled with zero effort to justify it to the market will significantly harm shipping numbers, IMHO.