Farewell Xoom

[phenomenon88]

*Let's keep this civil please, it's all based on personal preference*

Well, I just came back from Best Buy. Returned the Xoom. Funny BB Mobile guy said shortly after the Ipad 2 announcement he got a few calls on the Xoom return policy. We actually both had a laugh.

I was honest with him when he asked why I was returning it. iPad 2.

Here is my take on it. I LOVE the Xoom, I really do. It does SO friggin much but at the end of the day I would do what my friend down in LA was doing. I asked myself what I was doing on the Xoom that I wasnt doing on the iPad and if the cost made sense. And after serious thought, it didnt make sense.

2 weeks ago I had a 16GB wifi only iPad that I took everywhere with me. I did everything on it. I browsed, I read books, I had it setup in the back seat for my son to watch movies while on car trips, I used the countless apps available, Netflix, music, etc. Used the thing to its full advantage.

Then I caught wind of the Xoom, the price was high, yes but I love Android too and thought why the hell not. I had a nice tax return and some extra cash to spend.

After a few days I was starting to realize that for ME, the difference in my usage between the 2 just wansnt that different. And truth be told, the cost just wasnt worth it to me in the end.

I can do the same on the iPad 2 (FOR MY PURPOSES) for less money. Granted I am grabbing the 3G version but at 629, its easier on the wallet.

I will miss you Xoom. I really will

I have the same puzzle,but did you get your full refund?

 

[watchout4d]

Honestly at this point without a price drop the Xoom has been a PR mistake from almost the beginning. It wins CES 11, then prices fly around between $600 to $1200. Then they finally release only a 3G version. It doesn't support flash, the sd card slot needs to be upgraded. It may eventually support LTE with an upgrade. The camera features are buggy. I really want a XOOM, and I really want honeycomb so I can do what I want with the OS and the tablet just like my Droid X is mine and I did what I wanted with it. Then IPAD 2 announcement is made and nothing from Motorola.

Just seems like the Xoom has been a mess with everything except the first thing it did good. Motorola needs to up the ante to win me back. I'd love to have one, I have the money, but I'm not buying a half working tablet no matter how great it can or will be. I don't buy electronics on potential.

I'd also like to say, everyone bashing apple. I have 2 win 7 laptops(hp / dell), and a win 7 desktop I don't use anymore. My wife has a macbook pro 17. The only one we can keep in our lap after a year is the macbook pro. Both laptops after a year had the batteries go bad even with proper care and conditioning of the batteries. One that you have to keep plugged in gets so hot it will cause 1st degree burns if you don't put a fan on it, that is if it doesn't cut off. My wife's macbook pro is 2 years old and still kicking like its brand new. Battery life is great, its perfect. I feel a lot more comfortable with the battery life on an IPAD2 then any other tablet just from experience.

The Motorola Xoom has been a train wreck from the beginning. Apple laid out the format for launching a tablet perfectly, and Motorola ignored everything. Apple-- launched the iPad and now iPad 2 with clear cut information, launch date, models, accessories, PRICE, availability. Apple offered multiple versions at multiple prices and features from the jump, and sold 15 million tablets. Motorola sees all this and does the opposite.

 

[watchout4d]

I agree very much and, that's my situation. I really like the Xoom & Android but, it just isn't there yet. I'm seriously thinking about returning it also. If I never had a Ipad, I might think differently.

It has nothing to do with being uninformed or a Apple fanboy (I'm far from that). The Ipad just works better IMO. I don't do a lot on these devices but, when I do do something I want it to work and, not crash when I'm right in the middle of something.

The only app I remember crashing on the Ipad is Netflix and, they updated that very quickly. The whole experience for me involving the Xoom has been negative from the beginning, even before it came out ( all the stupid rumors & leaks , with no real info). Everything from the rude Best buy employees, to the Verizon guy at Costco screwing up and, putting me on a contract when I paid full price.

Good points, I can't stand people who say ignorant things. Let's be clear: widgets, customization, and live wallpapers do not make up a great tablet. They can be a part of the experience. Just cause the iPad os only works as a launcher does not make it inferior to the Xoom. If widgets determined the power of an os, my 3,000 dollar pc would be useless. As I stare at the screen there are no widgets, no live wallpapers, just icons and short cuts, sound familiar? Yet my expensive pc is very capable, list too long to even write. iPad is the same way. When you pick up a tablet you want to do something, email, docs, Internet, surf, there is only so much that can be done at the UI level.

 

[cguella]

- To get 4G LTE to work you need a chip upgrade require sending in for installation at some point in future
- The SD card slot does not work yet
- Flash isn't ready yet but will be soon (Adobe's fault?)

All of these things make it seem like a rushed or botched launch plan. And at that price you have to take a step back and ask is it worth it? And IMHO, after having felt and used the Xoom, my Galaxy Tab 7" form factor works better for me and quite honestly will get more use because of the smaller size. I find all of the 10" too clunky to the point of: "If I am going to that much trouble (to carry 10" tablet) I might as well use my $700 SSD 13 inch 8 hour ACER timeline laptop that has a keyboard and native software support with a working SD port and 4G LTE USB modem..."

 

[gtricecakes]

I never had this problem on my iPhone 4. Talk about something blown way out of proportion

Just because you didn't have a problem doesn't mean others did not...obviously. If it's such a big deal where people have to buy a bumper case, then I'd say it wasn't "blown out of proportion". Just sayin'.

I like how this thread turned into a iPhone thread...

 

[PookiePrancer]

Based on everything in the OP, it seems to me he doesn't need an iPad 2 either; by his own words, his original iPad did everything he needed it to, and did it very well. Methinks someone is just chasing the latest, hottest gadgets and suffering buyer's remorse. Can't say I blame him, as I'm fighting the same urge; but my Tab does everything I need right now, and neither the Xoom, or the iPad 2, or the upcoming Tab 2, have convinced me they're worth the upgrade money. Also battling the same issue with a prospective new car

 

[htowngator]

If you have a current iPad there is no reason to get an iPad 2 unless you want something just a little bit faster and slimmer. Otherwise identical OS and the option to "facetime" someone else who happens to also have an iPad2, Mac, or iPhone 4. Seems awfully limited to me, but hey go for it if you have the extra cash.

 

[jonhcox]

Give it a shot if you have the money. Give it a few days and get some hands on time. At BB you have 14 days to return it with no restocking fee. I was able to get all my money back after giving it a good run.

This is the best advice guys and gals. I might reconsider and get a Xoom if they drop the price a skosh. I am still completely blown away by the utter lack of proper marketing for this device. Best Buy's display was poor at best. Frankly, Moto's sales numbers for the Xoom will never eclipse those of the iPad. Especially given the joke that the marketing company is tossing everyone. Damn shame, as the device is super fast and Honeycomb is the beginnings of something special.

 

[jonhcox]

Good points, I can't stand people who say ignorant things. Let's be clear: widgets, customization, and live wallpapers do not make up a great tablet. They can be a part of the experience. Just cause the iPad os only works as a launcher does not make it inferior to the Xoom. If widgets determined the power of an os, my 3,000 dollar pc would be useless. As I stare at the screen there are no widgets, no live wallpapers, just icons and short cuts, sound familiar? Yet my expensive pc is very capable, list too long to even write. iPad is the same way. When you pick up a tablet you want to do something, email, docs, Internet, surf, there is only so much that can be done at the UI level.

Well said.

 

[TuxDotKing]

Good points OP. Personally, I'll think I'll be opting for a Xoom, but I'm waiting for Intel to show a MeeGo tablet before settling on the Xoom. Call me picky, but the 'other 3' (BB QNX (don't know the exact name for the Playbook OS), WebOS, iOS) are all lacking certain things that are important to me. iOS would be my next choice after MeeGo or Android though, it's kinda nice jailbroken.

 

[Preach2k]

I have a question.. On this forum and others I found people who claimed to pay up to $700 on a smart phone without a contract. Why are some of these same people complaining about the cost of the Xoom?

 

[Skillz1318]

iPad 2 is def a great tablet for ease of use and number of applications. Having Netflix, Hulu, Skype (w/ video), and the countless ipad apps and iphone apps that already exist is a huge bonus. At $499 the Xoom needs to release a lower priced model (wifi only) to compete. I'm def torn between devices after announcement...

 

[pixelslave]

I might. It depends on where the xoom is at by then. If Motorola announced a WiFi only version at 600?bucks tomorrow, I will say that I would take that over the ipad 2. Its primarily cost at this moment.

They already announced that -- it's just not available for sale right now. No release date was announced.

 

[NVNJ]

iPad 2 is def a great tablet for ease of use and number of applications. Having Netflix, Hulu, Skype (w/ video), and the countless ipad apps and iphone apps that already exist is a huge bonus. At $499 the Xoom needs to release a lower priced model (wifi only) to compete. I'm def torn between devices after announcement...

You're not alone my friend. My Xoom is actually boxed up in my car right now.
I'm deciding if I will keep or send back to best Buy today.
never owned an Ipad or any Apple device for that matter.

 

[flashpiti]

They already announced that -- it's just not available for sale right now. No release date was announced.

The problem is Moto and Google still have not made a compelling argument for what you more can actually accomplish on the Xoom that you cannot do on the ipad. People keep throwing out specs, but never what the tablet actually does with them.

 

[Joelist]

The basic problem with the Xoom is the price. It beats the iPad and the iPad2 spec wise, and Honeycomb is a far more powerful OS than iOS. But the price is killing it.

And the argument about WiFi vs. 3G is invalid - it is the perception of the consumer that counts. They see $799 vs. $499 and that makes the choice.

 

[crbuckn2]

watch the videos of each tablet. the xoom just claims things, the ipad2 actually shows them in use. no doubt the xoom will do nothing but increase in functionality, but to us "instant gratification" junkies i dont want to suffer through painfully slow startup like i did with the D1.

 

[jsandgren10]

I really like android more than IOS on my ipad. I will take an android smartphone any day over an iphone. However when it comes to the tablets while the zoom has some nice stuff on it I think the ipad fills the tablet market better for my lifestyle.

The main plus about the ipad that I like is the way it works with itunes and my apple tv. I don't own any mac and probably never will but when it comes to entertainment stuff apple just does it better. I like being able to buy a movie on my appletv having it automatically sync to the computer overnight and be ready to install on the ipad when I travel somewhere.

If I were to use a tablet for all business use I may consider the zoom more but in my opinion a tablet is more of a toy/gadget than a true business tool like a laptop. We will have to wait and see if the XOOM will be able to push through.

 

[scorpiodsu]

The problem is Moto and Google still have not made a compelling argument for what you more can actually accomplish on the Xoom that you cannot do on the ipad. People keep throwing out specs, but never what the tablet actually does with them.

Exactly. Specs never tell the whole story. There is not much more you can do on the Xoom right now. I'd rather have 65,000 apps than be able to put widgets on my desktop.

That's what I found the biggest problem with Android devices.... they never show people why they should buy it. They worry about touting specs but don't show people what's so great. If some of these companies had 1/4 of Apple's marketing savvy they'd be better off. But they just put beefy specs on a product, put it on the shelves and expect people to shell out hundreds of bucks on it. How about you actually spend some time marketing your devices and show users something they haven't seen and why it's the best in it's class. They don't do this and this is why Apple kills them. Apple spends time demoing products and features and it makes people salivate over it. Other devices just say "here we are.... buy one". Well show me why I should buy one.

 

[jeregano]

Based on the OPs use case a rooted Color Nook would be sufficient and only run $250 ($200 if you buy off ebay today).

My thought exactly. I originally looked at how I would use a tablet, what I would use a tablet for, and what I NEEDED from a tablet to do that and I realized my usage I could get out of the iPad 16G wifi only. I could not justify $500 for that usage. I then saw that for half the price I could have a rooted Nook Color and it would do every thing I wanted/needed from a tablet (basically I am confident it does 95-98% of everything an iPad 16/32G wifi only will do), was half the price, and I personally prefer the 7in form factor. So yeah, doing the same thing with the info given in the OP I agree that a NC would have been sufficient for this user.