Anyone have a XOOM?

[GolfNut]

Looking at tablets for my birthday this year and so far like what I read on the Xoom. Not really thrilled with Apple stuff.

I have a BB Torch and looked at the playbook, but really it seems to only shine when bridged to the phone.

I don't need a 3g, just wifi. I can use my Torch for 3g and don't want to change plans and lose my unlimited data plan.

Mainly something for surfing, email, movies, a few games, some music, ebook reader a big plus.
Would like to hear pros & cons on the Xoom.

[Blueface]

I truly recommend you visit a local store and hold them all and toy with them.
May change your mind about the iPad.

Lots of great articles by cnet and computer magazines doing comparisons of tablets.
Research it well as you will find their sales very disappointing and when you read those articles of comparison, the reasons will stand out more.

Good luck.

[Blueface]

http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/i...erry-playbook/

http://reviews.cnet.com/2722-3126_7-1085.html

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2383637,00.asp

[Sawyer]

Originally Posted by Blueface

I truly recommend you visit a local store and hold them all and toy with them.
May change your mind about the iPad.

Lots of great articles by cnet and computer magazines doing comparisons of tablets.
Research it well as you will find their sales very disappointing and when you read those articles of comparison, the reasons will stand out more.

Good luck.

No flash on the iPad strikes it off the list automatically for me no matter how good it may be in other areas. It is not that big of an issue on my iphone, but for a tablet where the main function is pulling up web content, not having flash is a killer.

[CigarNut]

Originally Posted by Sawyer

No flash on the iPad strikes it off the list automatically for me no matter how good it may be in other areas. It is not that big of an issue on my iphone, but for a tablet where the main function is pulling up web content, not having flash is a killer.

I thought that the "no flash" thing was going to be a real problem for me too. After some experimenting on my wife's (gen 1) iPad I have not yet found a site that caused a problem for me.

The one problem I have with the Xoom is that people say that they have to root it in order to get it to work the way they want. I am not interested in a device that I have to root/jailbreak in order to make it usable...

[mithrilG60]

Originally Posted by CigarNut

I thought that the "no flash" thing was going to be a real problem for me too. After some experimenting on my wife's (gen 1) iPad I have not yet found a site that caused a problem for me.

QFT. I can think of precisely 1 site that I use on an infrequent but semi-regular (ie. visit 2 - 3 times a month) basis that doesn't render on my iPad2 because of the "lack" of Flash support. Every other website works just like it does on any desktop and laptop. Flash is a dying medium, thank god! The lack of support for it on any platform is hardly a reason to not buy that product.

In my personal opinion I don't think any of the Droid tablets are really able to compete with the iPad on an equal level, they all still feel very much like 1st gen technology with all the headaches, hiccups and gotchas that come along with that. The best way I can compare the 2 is that right now the Droids are best suited to the semi-geek, the kind of personal that buys an new computer then reinstall it with a Linux variant and spends hours reworking the GUI and interface to be "just so". The iPad is more suited to the person who doesn't care about the ability to do all the customization and would rather pick it up and have it "just work". The Playbook falls as a good alternative to the iPad if you don't want the geek factor of the Droids, and have a Blackberry already. It's great hardware with a few missing things due to it's rush to market and a couple really weird GUI decisions (video clips keep playing the background when you switch apps instead of auto-pausing for example).

To the OP, Blueface's advice is the most sensible you're going to get here: head to a BestBuy and actually play with the various tablets available to find the size and platform that makes the most sense for your needs, hell you may even find that none of them are quite there yet for what you want to get out of them.

[Sawyer]

Originally Posted by CigarNut

I thought that the "no flash" thing was going to be a real problem for me too. After some experimenting on my wife's (gen 1) iPad I have not yet found a site that caused a problem for me.

The one problem I have with the Xoom is that people say that they have to root it in order to get it to work the way they want. I am not interested in a device that I have to root/jailbreak in order to make it usable...

Originally Posted by mithrilG60

QFT. I can think of precisely 1 site that I use on an infrequent but semi-regular (ie. visit 2 - 3 times a month) basis that doesn't render on my iPad2 because of the "lack" of Flash support. Every other website works just like it does on any desktop and laptop. Flash is a dying medium, thank god! The lack of support for it on any platform is hardly a reason to not buy that product.

There are several sites a week that I get links to that will not work correctly on my iphone and I have to go to my laptop or desktop to check them because of lack of flash. When flash actually does die, then the iPad will become a viable option for me. For now, since there are still quite a few sites use flash to some extent, whether it be menus or animation/video, it is not on the list. I can see why it may not bother some people because most of the major sites have moved away from flash, but my browsing habits are not limited to major sites.

[Blueface]

FYI,
I have no issues with the lack of Flash as in can just use Puffin.
Don't skip a beat.

[AD720]

Originally Posted by CigarNut

I thought that the "no flash" thing was going to be a real problem for me too. After some experimenting on my wife's (gen 1) iPad I have not yet found a site that caused a problem for me.

The one problem I have with the Xoom is that people say that they have to root it in order to get it to work the way they want. I am not interested in a device that I have to root/jailbreak in order to make it usable...

What have you heard specifically about that? Just curious...

[GolfNut]

Yeah, I've been reading all the reviews. I just watched a nice comparison video on you tube as well.

Was hoping to hear from some actual users here.

[Blueface]

Originally Posted by GolfNut

Yeah, I've been reading all the reviews. I just watched a nice comparison video on you tube as well.

Was hoping to hear from some actual users here.

I hope you do get that feedback.
Unfortunately, it is going to be as varied as which cigar should I smoke.
I think once you accept a tablet's limitations and that it is not a netbook or laptop, the rest really boils down to what feels better to you personally.
I toyed with every one them, repeatedly.
Stop by a Best Buy near you and have some free fun to feel them for yourself.

[Eleven]

Do your homework. I was thinking about the Xoom, but was unaware of it's limitations until the Acer EEE Pad Transformer came out. I saw a side by side comparison and after that, I wouldn't consider the Xoom.

Sorry I don't have first hand experience to help, but every single review I have read says the Xoom is severely limited compared to other tablets available these days.

Originally Posted by Eleven

Do your homework. I was thinking about the Xoom, but was unaware of it's limitations until the Acer EEE Pad Transformer came out. I saw a side by side comparison and after that, I wouldn't consider the Xoom.

Sorry I don't have first hand experience to help, but every single review I have read says the Xoom is severely limited compared to other tablets available these days.

I have not read any reviews, limited in what kind of way?

[jledou]

It might still be looking into rooting the nook color for right now considering the price. IMO the Android tablets are a step behind the ipad but may leap it within the year if you see the prices come down and amazon steps in to provide a universal app store.

[lbowles2]

Originally Posted by jledou

It might still be looking into rooting the nook color for right now considering the price. IMO the Android tablets are a step behind the ipad but may leap it within the year if you see the prices come down and amazon steps in to provide a universal app store.

I'm thinking about doing the same thing with a Nook Color. I don't really want the added size of the 10" tabs.

[AD720]

Originally Posted by jledou

It might still be looking into rooting the nook color for right now considering the price. IMO the Android tablets are a step behind the ipad but may leap it within the year if you see the prices come down and amazon steps in to provide a universal app store.

Originally Posted by lbowles2

I'm thinking about doing the same thing with a Nook Color. I don't really want the added size of the 10" tabs.

I just sold my Nook Color which I had hacked to run full Android OS. The hardware is definitely lacking, really weak speaker for one, no FF (or RF for that matter) camera, iffy multitouch screen. It made a GREAT eReader but not a great tablet.

I got a Samsung Galaxy Tab on a woot sale last week, it should be here soon and I'll post up my experiences. In the 7" range I've heard really good things about the Dell Streak 7.


To the OP: The XOOM looks awesome, it's top of class with hardware and running the latest Android OS. I haven't had my hands on one personally. The Transformer seems to be the latest and greatest.

[jledou]

Originally Posted by AD720

I just sold my Nook Color which I had hacked to run full Android OS. The hardware is definitely lacking, really weak speaker for one, no FF (or RF for that matter) camera, iffy multitouch screen. It made a GREAT eReader but not a great tablet.

I got a Samsung Galaxy Tab on a woot sale last week, it should be here soon and I'll post up my experiences. In the 7" range I've heard really good things about the Dell Streak 7.


To the OP: The XOOM looks awesome, it's top of class with hardware and running the latest Android OS. I haven't had my hands on one personally. The Transformer seems to be the latest and greatest.

Thanks for the feedback on the Nook Color Andrew. Interested to hear how the Tab actually performs as I have heard good things about it.

[AD720]

Originally Posted by jledou

Thanks for the feedback on the Nook Color Andrew. Interested to hear how the Tab actually performs as I have heard good things about it.

Will do.

I forgot to mention the thing that bothered me the most about running th Nook Color as a tablet - no hardware buttons!

I don't want to discourage you too much but I think that for $250 there are better options for not much money more. That wasn't really the case just a few months ago to a year ago when the NC rooting really got started as an alternative to higher priced tablets.

[Blueface]

Just ran across this article.
Interesting stuff.
http://appadvice.com/appnn/2011/06/j...ce-build-plans

[AD720]

10" Galaxy Tab coming very soon, might want to hit the pause button until then -

http://www.bgr.com/2011/06/02/verizo...th-for-529-99/

http://www.bgr.com/2011/06/02/samsun...lability-soon/