Played with a Xoom today, still undecided

[Kyle Gibb]

Went over to the local BB and played around with the Xoom for about 10 minutes. Very impressed with speed overall and the browser - felt right at home from using Chrome. Fast app switching is great. Weight was not as heavy as I expected and feels much better when held in landscape then trying to use the iPad in portrait.

I have been on the fence about getting one once the WiFi version hits. I have my DInc CM7'd so tethering is easy. I've been wondering if any of you guys are students are could give feedback on how the Xoom fits in with classes and what not. $600 is kind of a lot to spend if I can't make use of it daily.

So, thoughts?

 

[Bossxii]

Not sure I can add much from a students point of view but my thoughts are as follows. I purchased the Xoom a week ago and picked up the I pad 2 on Monday with the intent to fully test out each tablet and decide which is the keeper. Today the Xoom was updated with Flash and while its not a primary factor it does help sway my decision to the Xoom for things like Amazon movies on demand, and several other sites I've found and simply not been able to use on the iPad at all.

The Xooms browser and quick controls are very impresive and responsive. I love Google's voice controls and the ability to swap and customize keyboards. I would have to say after learning no dock is needed to hook directly to a TV the Xoom wins round one of my prize fight. I am a tinkerer and while the iPad is a well built tablet, fast and easy to use with tons of apps the Xoom is new and the possibilities of what it copan do in the next few months is exciting.

I am working on some Youtube comparisons for the two devices and will hopefully have some posted in the next few days. So far the things I give points to the I pad for such as the IPS screen and apps, so far today do not outweigh tab's bowsing, Google voice control and Flash which even I its current state is working better than I expected.

 

[NewAge]

I am a student and love the Xoom.

It can't be used in all my classes, but the majority that have electronic syllabus, and online notes, the Xoom works great to grab notes or slides and type notes right from class. For better creation I had to get thumb keyboard and will soon be getting the Bluetooth keyboard.

I have a timbuk2 messenger bag that has a laptop sleeve. I had a 14" laptop that was to heavy once all my books where in the bag. I took the laptop back for the Xoom and have no regret. My girlfriend has a laptop and I have a desktop so the Xoom also fit with my family.

If you use Google docs and are already Android and use Chrome, the transition to Xoom is super smooth. Chrome bookmarks, contacts, applications (most), all sync to your Xoom, making setup easy. Things like thumb keyboard and Documents-to-go need to be bought. I wasn't able to find a native application to edit documents. That's where Google docs comes in nice.

Since my phone was connected to the Universities wifi, all the settings and passwords transfered to the Xoom. As soon as I hit their wifi it connected first time without me having to do ANYTHING. Same with home wifi.

Hope that helps.

 

[Menno]

I am a student and love the Xoom.


If you use Google docs and are already Android and use Chrome, the transition to Xoom is super smooth. Chrome bookmarks, contacts, applications (most), all sync to your Xoom, making setup easy. Things like thumb keyboard and Documents-to-go need to be bought. I wasn't able to find a native application to edit documents. That's where Google docs comes in nice.


Hope that helps.

Chrome applications sync? Is that what I'm reading?

 

[NewAge]

Not chrome applications, Android applications, that he purchased with his phone, as long as the email is the same. The Chrome bookmarks transfer. The option to sync with Google chrome in the browser settings does this. Not sure if it does passwords or anything else. And most of the Google applications have market or web versions with few exceptions, though an actual sync for Google apps used with Chrome would be nice.

 

[dwaynewilliams#WN]

I would love to have the Xoom, but it still doesn't really offer anything more than my EVO, just a bigger screen. But I still think that it is awesome.

 

[qnet]

Not chrome applications, Android applications, that he purchased with his phone, as long as the email is the same. The Chrome bookmarks transfer. The option to sync with Google chrome in the browser settings does this. Not sure if it does passwords or anything else. And most of the Google applications have market or web versions with few exceptions, though an actual sync for Google apps used with Chrome would be nice.

I don't remember the Crome bookmarks syncing with the Xoom browser.

 

[scorpiodsu]

To the OP, don't force yourself to buy something. Maybe a tablet is just not for you right now. And you're right spending 600 on something that you may not use each day or often isn't worth it. I'm sure with a lot of people who buy tablets, they have a lovefest with it for a week where they can't put it down but after a while the novelty wears off. And then there are those that actually use them productively. And people who buy just because it's the latest in tech. I will say don't buy one if you really don't have a need for it. Sure, tablets are the hottest gadgets now but don't feel like you have to get one and need other people to validate a purchase of something you may not use.

I have an iPad in my house and when I first got it, I couldn't put it down. And I still use it but not everyday. My wife and son use it more to watch netflix and some other apps. Honestly, if they weren't using it, I would have been sold it because even though it's a great device it's certainly not being used enough to warrant the price. I could do just fine with my phone and macbook. So again, get it if you will really find use. If not, ignore the hype about this or any other tablet because many will suffer buyers remorse and put it on eBay because they realized a couple months later they really didn't need it.

 

[frenzy757]

I don't remember the Crome bookmarks syncing with the Xoom browser.

they definitely do...I have bookmarks in the bookmark bar and folders and it syncs all of those...definitely a huge plus since i have a lot of bookmarks.

 

[2CupsWithString]

I would love to have the Xoom, but it still doesn't really offer anything more than my EVO, just a bigger screen. But I still think that it is awesome.

I have an Evo as well and have to say it's been a bit neglected so I got the Xoom. It's like an Evo and then some, I wouldn't say the platforms are the same.

 

[qnet]

they definitely do...I have bookmarks in the bookmark bar and folders and it syncs all of those...definitely a huge plus since i have a lot of bookmarks.

That's cool, maybe I just have to figure out how to set it up the next time and, will try it when I get the wi-fi model. I tried to look for that - when I had the Xoom - but, couldn't find it in the browser settings before.

 

[anon(58977)]

People

actually use youtube these days still?

Much to my wifes future dismay (mauaha) I just pre-ordered one from staples (wifiedition).

I love my android phone do 99.9% of all web, email, etc on it. Problem is, screen too small for constant use like that.

I never use my personal notebook anymore, so I sold that and decided a tablet would be right. I would indeed start reading books on it, watching videos, run apps use it to record info @ work, play, etc.

I've wanted a tablet for a long time and here we go!

 

[Kyle Gibb]

Thanks for the feedback guys, but honestly the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is way more attractive for me at $500. I just don't have $600+ to drop on a tablet =/

 

[whiteshadow001]

Thanks for the feedback guys, but honestly the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is way more attractive for me at $500. I just don't have $600+ to drop on a tablet =/

Agree with you there, I think I'll try the xoom out once I take this iPad 2 back after 14 days and give you guys a review. I'm really leaning towards the new sammys though

 

[Eazy123]

I would love to have the Xoom, but it still doesn't really offer anything more than my EVO, just a bigger screen. But I still think that it is awesome.

This. I use my Evo for damn near everything now. I can't find one thing the Xoom does that my Evo can't (that I need, anyway). Was playing with the Xoom at BB and it WAS slick, however. Maybe at $300 I would've bitten, but nah.