My $800 question

[2CupsWithString]

Will I be able to walk in to a Verizon store on 2/24 (Thursday morning) and buy a Xoom out right without setting up any kind of Verizon wireless account? I'm thinking it should be the same as walking in and buying a phone off contract, am I thinking correctly?

 

[zmenchhofer]

you can but it will be useless, from what you see, to activate the WIFI you must have 1 month of VZW service, and I would ASSUME you have to have a VZW account to do so.

 

[2CupsWithString]

I didn't see that advertised with Verizon though, only Best Buy - If that is the case for every Xoom with a cell radio, then my next question is, does anyone know how the Xoom's boot loader looks?

I don't see a soft lock on Wifi as a problem that won't be able to be over come with some community development.

 

[zmenchhofer]

I have no idea what the boot loader looks like... but i will on Thursday 3 days 1 min

 

[anon(52425)]

No. Verizon will not let you buy one outright without setting up service. Its not a contract but you are required to have a month of service.

 

[2CupsWithString]

No. Verizon will not let you buy one outright without setting up service. Its not a contract but you are required to have a month of service.

I just feel like I want the extra $56 to have value and it feels like a waste. Spending $800 on the latest and greatest I can come to terms with but this feels like wasting money.

I was hoping it'd be like walking in to Verizon and buying an off contract phone in which case they ask you for info to set up but you can just say I'm buying it out right to give to whoever or do whatever with. I've been really hot on this Xoom since it was rumored and displayed a few times so I want it pretty bad, just having some trouble getting over this hump.

In the scheme of things I guess the 4G version will be out and the price will most likely be lower at some point so maybe I should just chalk it all up to early adoption.

 

[_AnFreud_]

I may wait for the wifi only to come out. I actually like the silver back to it.

 

[Stang68]

I just feel like I want the extra $56 to have value and it feels like a waste. Spending $800 on the latest and greatest I can come to terms with but this feels like wasting money.

I was hoping it'd be like walking in to Verizon and buying an off contract phone in which case they ask you for info to set up but you can just say I'm buying it out right to give to whoever or do whatever with. I've been really hot on this Xoom since it was rumored and displayed a few times so I want it pretty bad, just having some trouble getting over this hump.

In the scheme of things I guess the 4G version will be out and the price will most likely be lower at some point so maybe I should just chalk it all up to early adoption.

I don't know. I thought you could just buy a tablet outright at Verizon stores. What if you ARE buying it for a friend, you know? I would at least try, thefredelement.

 

[anon(52425)]

Before going to best buy and preordering, I thought the same thing and called Verizon. It was a no go. They said what has been widely known, 1 month of data out the door.

 

[2CupsWithString]

I am going to get the 1 month and then after the rep and I are all done I'll say OK, I'd like to cancel my data now.

 

[DreamSTi]

WIFI will not be locked out fyi.