So, I just spend an hour in Best Buy comparing the Xoom and iPad 2

[Bald Steve]

I was expecting myself to gravitate towards the iPad2 for what I was looking for, but was pretty floored by the Xoom. It's sick fast and being a pretty solid Android user I didn't have any problem whatsoever navigating around. I'm just used to more control over the system in Android. I didn't understand how to go back and forth between Apps on the iPad. It seemed like every time I wanted to jump around I had to click that round button (the only hard button) at the bottom, like there was no step back function. I absolutely hated Pages. You open these documents and I couldn figure out how to snap from page to page, so I was having to slide the document down and stop when it was a new page (though admittedly I'm not that familiar with Pages). On the Xoom in Documents to Go I was tearing through the demo docs.

Plus for iPad2, even though I don't care for iOS: I use macs at home for business (musician, composer, comic book creator here), and there is some fantastic iPad software for music composition, beat making, and a Final Draft app coming. I've seen in forums that most of these companies will not be supporting Android in the future (at least that's the party line I'm seeing now) and that's a real problem for me. Then there's the whole movies on the go thing. I have tons of those Digital Copies that come with Blu-Rays now and the DRM on them will not allow for play on Android.

Plus for Xoom: Do I really need a Final Draft app? Yes and no. I can write with swype (which I really prefer to standard typing) in D2G, but the formatting just isn't there. I don't know how much writing on the go I'll be doing, though. There are some music composition apps out there, but I've found most of them to be a little too hobby-level for what I do - The quality isn't there for professional-level application. However, the other reason I want a tablet is to convert my entire library of sheet music into PDF, and PDF2Go is lightning. Then there's flash support, expandable memory, and almost no learning curve.

I am really torn.

 

[xzigraz]

First of all, I am buying a XOOM on the 27th.

Now, I am trying to convince you to get a XOOM instead of an iPad2. All those music app on iPad, do you still need to make the final piece on a Mac? If the only thing you can accomplish on the iPad is some quick beat making but ultimately you will need a workstation to make the actual music, then why buy an iPad2?

I have a comic artist friend and he will not be able to draw comic on the iPad. He's still doing it on the Mac with Adobe.

With XOOM, you can do so much more, imho. There will be more and more apps coming to the Android platform because it has a bigger market share now. The memory is expandable, the processor is overclockable and gchat is just awesome. All you google related to stuff is nicely sync on this device.

There.

I was expecting myself to gravitate towards the iPad2 for what I was looking for, but was pretty floored by the Xoom. It's sick fast and being a pretty solid Android user I didn't have any problem whatsoever navigating around. I'm just used to more control over the system in Android. I didn't understand how to go back and forth between Apps on the iPad. It seemed like every time I wanted to jump around I had to click that round button (the only hard button) at the bottom, like there was no step back function. I absolutely hated Pages. You open these documents and I couldn figure out how to snap from page to page, so I was having to slide the document down and stop when it was a new page (though admittedly I'm not that familiar with Pages). On the Xoom in Documents to Go I was tearing through the demo docs.

Plus for iPad2, even though I don't care for iOS: I use macs at home for business (musician, composer, comic book creator here), and there is some fantastic iPad software for music composition, beat making, and a Final Draft app coming. I've seen in forums that most of these companies will not be supporting Android in the future (at least that's the party line I'm seeing now) and that's a real problem for me. Then there's the whole movies on the go thing. I have tons of those Digital Copies that come with Blu-Rays now and the DRM on them will not allow for play on Android.

Plus for Xoom: Do I really need a Final Draft app? Yes and no. I can write with swype (which I really prefer to standard typing) in D2G, but the formatting just isn't there. I don't know how much writing on the go I'll be doing, though. There are some music composition apps out there, but I've found most of them to be a little too hobby-level for what I do - The quality isn't there for professional-level application. However, the other reason I want a tablet is to convert my entire library of sheet music into PDF, and PDF2Go is lightning. Then there's flash support, expandable memory, and almost no learning curve.

I am really torn.

 

[p08757]

Steve - The Xoom is great for what I use. Im already part of the google ecosystem and all of my music and videos are DRM free, so the Xoom was perfect for me.

If you have lots of apps, and DRM music and videos, you may want to go with the iPad 2.

Its a tough choice, and Im sure you wont be disappointed with either.

 

[Bald Steve]

First of all, I am buying a XOOM on the 27th.

Now, I am trying to convince you to get a XOOM instead of an iPad2. All those music app on iPad, do you still need to make the final piece on a Mac? If the only thing you can accomplish on the iPad is some quick beat making but ultimately you will need a workstation to make the actual music, then why buy an iPad2?

I have a comic artist friend and he will not be able to draw comic on the iPad. He's still doing it on the Mac with Adobe.

With XOOM, you can do so much more, imho. There will be more and more apps coming to the Android platform because it has a bigger market share now. The memory is expandable, the processor is overclockable and gchat is just awesome. All you google related to stuff is nicely sync on this device.

There.

This is actually a good point - It's not like any of the music cues I'm doing for TV wouldn't have to go through Pro Tools and be mastered anyway. Would be nice to have something pro quality on the go, but still - I think you have acheived your goal here. Wifi-only FTW.

I had another likely stupid question, too - I've bought a ton of apps for my DX. When I sync to the Market for the first time with a Xoom I'll be able to redownload them to it for free, right?

 

[EpicRavensFan]

Im not sure about paid apps, as I have never actually bought an app. But all of my free ones downloaded.

 

[shingi_70]

Yep they are linked to your google account

 

[R8trfan#IM]

I was able to download my DX paid apps to my Xoom.

 

[timmyboy188]

The first night I had the Xoom, I wanted to take it back. I told myself to LEARN IT, and not to give up on it, as I think theirs a bit of a learning curve for Android systems in comparison to Apple's software. I have a Macbook and iPhone4, and I love them. But for a tablet, I wanted something more well rounded, and this Xoom is just that. I like that I can learn something new about what it can do, I love my Xoom, I'm glad I gave it a chance, nothing but good things coming for it.

 

[Bossxii]

If you buy a tablet for what it will evolve into over the next few months...the Xoom is hands down the way to go. If you want a tablet that you already know what it's like get the iPad 2. I've owned the Xoom now for two weeks and the iPad 2 since the 13th. Both are great tablets and while all my previous Apps from my first iPad are ready and waiting I fi d myself drawn to the Xoom because I enjoy browsing, watching TV via Slingplayer and watching movies. The Xoom IMO takes all three hands down. The aspect ration allows the video to be larger than on the iPad. The speakers on the Xoom are louder and crisper, while the quick controls and the stock browser are very nice to use vs the iPads locked in place controls that are not really in a easy spot to get to. Controls wherever my thumb or finger is really makes browsing more enjoyable. I will admit I'm not a fan of Flash, but after loading it up and messing around it really makes it feel like your on a real computer vs having to go in and out of various apps to view content. Sure, there is an app for most sites, but to simply stay in the browser and deal with sites as I do on my desktop just feels more natural.

Not that the Xoom is without issues. First, while the screen ratio is great, the iPad's IPS screen side by side really makes the Xoom look a bit dull, and the viewing angle is much better on the iPad. This is a consideration as I do share content and have others watch various videos for work. However overall usability wins out over the screen difference.

Bottom line is both are being returned... as I will be buying the Xoom wifi this Sunday as my choice in tablets. The file system, expandability of the SD card, the ability to actually attach files when sending emails is huge for me, and more than one to an email is a also more like a desktop experience. The speakers are very impressive given the size of the device and for entertainment purposes I simply prefer the wide screen over 4:3. Google's very solid integration of voice control sets a standard beyond anything any app will ever bring to the iPad. It makes Dragon dictation look like a beta release. The ability to customize the keyboard should I chose to is there. Notifications and multitasking vs task switching really is noticeable when working with the devices side by side. Last but not least is the fact the Xoom offers all those positives while being in it's infancy as an Android tablet. We all know how quickly the Android market can grow and with Xoom as the "google tablet" the updates will come often.

I admit it took a few days to really explore the Xoom, but I can see the potential and it's going to be a fun ride getting there.

 

[chrisharmful]

I can tell you this, I took my Xoom to work (I work at a university) and showed it to a friend who works in the IT department. Next thing I know, it was being passed around to all the department heads because they wanted to check it out. Turns out the iPads some of the departments on campus bought aren't cutting it and the campus is looking for alternatives, namely the Xoom or the WebOS pads. The reasoning, VPN support, or that's what the IT guys said.

 

[Bossxii]

I can tell you this, I took my Xoom to work (I work at a university) and showed it to a friend who works in the IT department. Next thing I know, it was being passed around to all the department heads because they wanted to check it out. Turns out the iPads some of the departments on campus bought aren't cutting it and the campus is looking for alternatives, namely the Xoom or the WebOS pads. The reasoning, VPN support, or that's what the IT guys said.

iPads support VPN, built right into settings. Scary if the IT dept doesn't realize this.

 

[barkomatic]

I don't think you should choose a tablet at all. Since you are already a mac user, a macbook air is as portable as the iPad but can handle some of the software you need. A netbook PC would of course be the cheaper alternative to the air.

Both the iPad2 and the Xoom are little more than toys at this point. They are things you take with you on long trips to pass the time.

 

[qnet]

iPads support VPN, built right into settings. Scary if the IT dept doesn't realize this.

I agree.

 

[chrisharmful]

iPads support VPN, built right into settings. Scary if the IT dept doesn't realize this.

I never said they were smart, they work for the State so...

I was just intrigued that they would even consider something like the Xoom, or the Web OS stuff.