Welcome to the main event. This is the war everyone’s been waiting for, ever since the idea of an Android tablet first came into fruition. Now we’ve got a Honeycomb optimized tablet, the first of its kind, and the second generation of Apple’s main gun, the iPad, the tablet that got this wild ball rolling. Will iPad 2’s lower price (still 499) be enough to knock the Tegra 2-toting XOOM out of the park? Or will it be the XOOM’s open-source access and heavy-metal attitude that punches the iPad 2’s white-or-black front-having face into the dirt? Let’s have a lovely look!

First, lets start with the lady we’ve been working with for the past few days and weeks – the Motorola XOOM. This is the tablet that Google has worked on officially to optimize the Android Honeycomb experience. Inside this device, Android 3.0 Honeycomb thrives in a WXGA 10.1-inch display that’s got 1280 x 800 pixel resolution. The dimensions of the device are 9.80 x 6.61 x 0.51 inches (249 x 167.8 x 12.9 mm) and the weight is right around 25.75 oz (730 g). Also inside you’ll find a dual-core Tegra 2 processor by NVIDIA and a list of additional items a mile long: accelerometer, CDMA800 /1900 LTE 700, Rx diversity in all bands connection, GPS, headphone jack, Wifi 802.11 a/b/g/n, microUSB, HDMI out, Bluetooth 2.1, and over 8 hours of heavy-use battery time, with 24 hours of standby (with supposedly a max at 14 days.) As far as cameras go, the XOOM has a 2 megapixel webcam on front and a 5 megapixel 720p-capturing photo and video camera on the back with dual-LED flash.

Then there’s the iPad 2. This devices is running Apple’s new iOS 4.3, comes with a dual-core A5 processor by Cortex, has one camera on the front and other on back, the front being a VGA 30 frames per second webcam with audio and VGA-quality still shots. The back camera is capable of 720p HD 30-fps video again with audio and a still camera with unknown capabilities. The screen is the same 9.7-inch LED backlit LCD as the original iPad, but with a 33% thinner and 15% lighter frame and a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating.. Battery will last you up to 10 hours of heavy play, there’s a built in gyroscope, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, digital compass, HUSPA support, HDMI out, and a button that allows you to choose between insta-mute and screen orientation lock. Video support for the following: H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format. You can choose between Wifi and Wifi with 3G, The device is 9.5 x 7.31 x .34 inches and weighs in at 1.33 pounds.

+ for those of you who like a slightly different vision of the same info:

OS Android 3.0 Honeycomb
Display 10.1-inch WXGA 1280 x 800 Pixel Resolution Touchscreen
Weight 730 g
Dimensions 9.80 x 6.61 x 0.51 inches
Color Black [USA], Silver [EURO], Gold [SE] – all variations in back panel
Cameras – front, -back
Processor Dual-Core NVIDIA Tegra 2
Battery 8 hours heavy use (so says we), up to 14 days standby
Price $799 Verizon, $600 Verizon Wifi-Only, £499.99 Euro Wifi-Only
Connections accelerometer, CDMA800 /1900 LTE 700 (4G), Rx diversity in all bands connection, GPS, headphone jack, Wifi 802.11 a/b/g/n, microUSB, HDMI out, Bluetooth 2.1, mic, 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack, miniUSB

OS iOS 4.3
Display 9.7-inch LED-backlit IPS LCD 1024 x 768 Resolution Touchscreen
Weight 613g [AT&T], 607g [VERIZON], 601g [WIFI]
Dimensions 9.5 x 7.31 x .34 inches
Color Black or White – both variations in front bezel
Cameras VGA Webcam (unknown quality) – front, 720p Video (additional qualities unknown) -back
Processor Dual-Core Apple A5
Battery 10 hours heavy use (says Apple), up to 1 month standby
Price $499 16GB, $599 32GB, $699 64GB, $629 16GB+3G, $729 32GB+3G, $829 64GB+3G – all models include Wifi
Connections gyroscope, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, digital compass, HUSPA support, HDMI out, Wifi 802.11a/b/g/n, 3G, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR technology, mic, 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack, 30-pin dock connector port, GPS and Cellular location on 3G models

What are you primary concerns when looking into a possible tablet? Is it cost? Is it branding? Is it availability of certain apps? How about weight? How about the look of the actual device? Are you in to the new iPad 2 white? Would you like a XOOM silver Euro edition?

If you had to choose between the two right now, which one would come out on top?

We’ve got a slight bias in I think you know which direction, but at the risk of sounding like a betrayer to the cause, we wouldn’t mind having an iPad 2 lying around the house too.

276 COMMENTS

  1. My primary concerns with a tablet are. . .
    1. The OS. I’ll take Honeycomb any day over anything else I’ve seen thus far.
    2. The docking capabilities of the tablet & OS. Again Honeycomb comes out on top. Something like the Asus Eee Pad Transformer = tablet+netbook in one. You can’t have that with iOS as it does not support a mouse under any circumstance that I know up and some apps just need a mouse to be used easily. Also in this category Android comes out on top because you get more options while third party vendors attempt to strap something onto the iPad.

  2. iPad 2 wins again, everything else is a wannabe iPad. Xoom, let’s throw in more gizmo’s so geeks think it does more. In reaility it does a lot less then the iPad and does a whole lot less than the iPad 2 now. Meanwhile geeks “&” non-geeks are buying the iPad in droves, I think the choice most people want are clear and the numbers speak for themselves.

    iPad you can actually do stuff other than surf the web and play a game. Meanwhile Google is pulling apps from their store because of Maleware, congrats, you are officially the Windows OS on mobile devices. Fail! Antivirus software for your phone or tablet? Give me a break.

    What kind of review do you think you’re going to get from a web site called Android Community, fair? Hardly, it’s name alone speaks bias.

    • You can love your iPad 2 but to say that Android does less than iOS is just ridiculous. . . you clearly don’t know anything about Android. Please go back to your Apple sites and get a life. Why do you Apple trolls visit Android sites? You want to know what I hate most about Apple? Its fans like you!

    • They shouldn’t call it IPad 2, they should call it IPad 1.5 instead. It only have little upgrade from the previous model. They are barely including a dual core cpu, front and back cameras? Now they are really copying android tablets!!! I heard that IPad 3 will be out this year. Better wait for this version instead.

  3. The iPad 2 appears to have the advantage of lower price, better battery life, lighter, thinner, a more developed OS, an OS which allows for a consistent interface on the iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad, 60,000 native Apps and an additional 300,000 iPhone Apps, an easier to access and use App store, a plethora of third party cases, add-ons and devices that work with it, iTunes, and software such as FaceTime, GameCenter and AirPlay that allos iOS devices to share content with one another and with Apple TV.

  4. I dunno. I really want the XOOM to succeed but I think Motorola will have to find a way to cut the price for it to have a chance. (Maybe there making plans for that as I write this) I’m not really concerned about apps because there will be a viable Honeycomb market in no time.

    • I agree 100%!! Motorola needs to adjust it’s price and offer a wifi only version. If it wants any chance of attracting new tablet owners away from the ipad 2. I am on the fence about which tablet I am going to buy. Before, the xoom price came out I was all but ready to buy one and then I put the brakes on after I heard the price. The price was about $100 higher than I planned to spend. Plus, I really was thinking about a wifi only tablet, but the motorola decided not to release one. Now I am thinking about the ipad 2. I hope motorola changes it’s mind soon. The xoom is the one I prefer!

      • Ditto! Maybe the tablet purchase choices will be better later this year….or next. It might be a good idea to sit this one out for a while.

      • This is true to a point, but really how long are you gonna sit it out? You can wait on technology forever because there will always be something better and cheaper in the future! This will always be the case, so unless you plan to spend your entire life sitting it out, this is not the worst time to jump in. I’ve been waiting for a good tablet device for years. I love my mini-laptop (same size as netbook, but dual core, 1.5 years old) but sometimes it’s not as easy to use when you’re in odd places. I use my android phone constantly, but the screen is very small so it’s not the easiest thing to use all the time. I’m on the fence between iPad 2 and Xoom, but I’d really like one in the next week or two.
        Apple annoys me with their control and charging for everything, you own nothing. However this control allows them to make more stable products with consistent quality and no time spent getting stuff to work or fixing issues. There are so many iPads out there, that apps come out first and in far greater numbers. There’s really no comparison as far as simplicity and currently available applications for Apple, it ready to use and not worry about messing with.
        Android 3 is still buggy and incomplete; apps are few and not polished. With the very low number of devices out there, the apps will likely be slow to come, and inconsistent in quality. But there will be apps that do more things, far more modification possible, and endless things to do on the device. I like the aspect ratio better for movies, browser functions are/will be much better, and better hardware.
        I guess what I really want is the Xoom, in the thin chassis of iPod, running Android 3.0, but able to use and run iPad apps in addition to Android apps. I think I’m leaning towards iPad 2 slightly, and price is a big part of it. If I do go iPad 2, I’m sure it will be replaced by an Android device at some point down the road. I really like the browser on Xoom much better, and once it has flash, it will be that much better. If I could the Xoom for under $600, I’d pick it up today and forget about iPad.

      • Apple will empty your pocket. here’s why
        Ipad2 Wifi only version prices
        16GB-499$
        32GB-599$
        64GB-699$
        Ipad2 Wifi+3G version prices
        16GB-629$
        32GB-729$
        64GB-829$
        for 3G, you need to get it with AT&T or Verizon contract for 2 yrs or so, which costs b/w 20-30$ per month.
        additionally, smartcover(polyurethane)-39$
        smartcover(leather)-69$
        AV Adapter-39$
        Ipad camera connection kit-39$
        Ipad2 Dock-29$
        USB power Adapter-29$
        VGA Adapter-29$.

        A high-end Ipad2 with all Accessories and contract will bargain about 2000$ from you.
        A high-end Motorola Xoom (with 4G also) without contract will bargain only 800$.
        contract is compulsory in case of Ipad2, but is not in case of Xoom.

      • I’m on the fence wrt Xoom v. iPad2, but I really wish that people would not post misinformation. There is no ATT contract with the iPad, it is always month-to-month, $0, $15 or $25. Specifically:

        250 MB – $15, plus $15 for each additional 250 MB
        OR
        2 GB – $25, plus $10 for each additional 1 GB

        iPad plus Verizon is steeper: $20 for 1GB, or $35 for 3GB, or $50 for 5GB, etc. Not sure if you can go month-to-month.

        So it is actually the Xoom on Verizon that is the worse deal than the iPad on AT&T in this aspect–the Xoom hardware is only $600 with the data plan, but it is a full two-year contract at $20 a month for 1GB.

        Heck, I’m just confused enough by how to even pronounce the ‘Xoom.’ My former English teachers wouldn’t like my attempts, and I never took Mandarin! 😉

      • No contracts with verizon or AT&T on 3G iPad 2 – you can’t sign a contract even if you wanted too, it doesn’t exist.

      • Don’t you think it’s foolish to post a required charge for a USB adapter and power adapter that comes in the same box as the ipad? Plus, if you care about your money at all, you can just buy chinese made adapters for anything you listed above for less than 4-5 bucks each.

        Come on mate, love the products you choose, but don’t post propaganda.

      • Yes, but you don’t have to get data every month on the iPad like you do on the Xoom, there is NO CONTRACT, and you wouldn’t need all the accessories, especially considering some of them come in the box!

      • I agree with you, Im one week away of buy ing the iPad 2 if I dont hear anything about the Xoom Wifi only tablet.

      • I agree with you, Im one week away of buy ing the iPad 2 if I dont hear anything about the Xoom Wifi only tablet.

  8. Android, of course. I have an iPad and find it lacking in many ways. Lack of interfaces SDMicro, USB, etc., to name a few. And oh….what about flash?

  9. I agree the Xoom price is too high. Sure it has better specs than the iPad and the iPad2, but to be honest I don’t know how many consumers actually notice that stuff. It didn’t come out of the gate with Flash support or LTE which I think hurt it in the eyes of the spec noticing crowd, most of us here. I played with one for a while at the Vz store and it’s very quick. But like everyone else who’s not a fanboy, I really don’t need a tablet for personal use. I’d rather have a laptop or netbook.

    • Sure, Xoom is little too pricey. But you are buying a product mainly because everybody else is getting it? Why do you care about other consumers when you are buying this for yourself? Unless of course you don’t care about spec. As for LTE, Flash, SD card slot not activated at launch, I agree it’s a little disappointing but it’s better than have NONE at all on iPad 2.

  10. I would choose the Xoom if they lowered their price. If they do not lower their price they’re going to lose out on many potential buyers.

  11. I have no preference at this point, but I have to say that all of the Apple photos displayed were studio quality and the Xoom were cell phone in the garage, bad lighting, still in-the-box shots. What’s up with that?

      • I called on this and was told by apple that the GPS is not getting signal from satellite, but from the cellular carrier and only works when subscribed to a 3G carrier. He had put me on hold while checking with the tech department first. Is this correct?

      • I called on this and was told by apple that the GPS is not getting signal from satellite, but from the cellular carrier and only works when subscribed to a 3G carrier. He had put me on hold while checking with the tech department first. Is this correct?

  13. Actually, I suspect that within a few weeks there will be several 10-inch tablets based on Honeycomb. One contender is eLocity A10.32 for example (still to be released), and of course Galaxy. So I think there will be a choice of prices and feature lists.

  14. @ 499 there is no competition. A lot of people only want wifi on a tablet. Like to see what HTC has around the corner.

  15. All these new tablet PC’s mark the end of the iPad.

    Apple needs to stop marketing the proprietary sales model they’ve been going at for years. It failed against windows, it failed against android, and it will fail in tablets.

      • Right… just like how many Macs they sold in the 80’s and how many iPhones they sold until Android. They have a great product, and they sell a lot of them. However, there staying power in a market is minimal because the proprietary and refuse to let their products work with anything else other than Apple. (Generally speaking)

        The iPad was not the first tablet PC, and it isn’t the last. People will forget all about the iPad just like they did the iPhone once android was released.

      • I’m pretty sure Android has been out for a couple years, and people are still quite aware of the iPhone.

      • spoken like a true fandroid. as much as i’m for android, the specs and price of the iPad 2 sealed the deal for me.

      • How did the specs seal the deal? Some are missing (front and back camera) and some are lower or less (screen resolution, expandable memory, micro/mini usb)…

      • I said some of the specs are missing. There is no spec for the cameras on the iPad2. It just says that the cameras are there. So, how does “Test” think the specs are better if they aren’t known?

      • LOL, he (and I) just thought you meant that the cameras were missing from the product. We didn’t look at the words close enough. Our bad.

      • “refuse to let their products work with anything else other than Apple.”? You must be joking. Pages works with word, keynote works with power point, and numbers works with excel. All new apple desktops comes with “bootcamp” (for free) which allows your apple hardware to run windows software.

        I respect friendly competition but you (and politicians) need to get their facts strait before posting lies

    • Failed? While i love Android Dearly, Apple has become the second wealthiest corporation on Earth behind Exxon Mobile. They Surpassed Microsoft in every category. Microsoft sells Licenses so they’ll always be more plentiful. I have an Android tablet now and will get the xoom, but i keep my iPad because of its security ratings, and Google doesn’t do much for security. My business requires a lot of personal and corporate data to be computed in the tablet. All thanks to the Cydia jailbreak community which forced Apple to up its security from its browser to its boot-matrices. The hacker community, unknowingly albeit, forced apple to make one of the most secure devices ever in my business opinion. Xoom is my favorite play thing, iPad is my business tool.

  16. What initially turned me off of the Xoom was that it doesn’t ship with 4g (i dont want to part with it for a week+ and risk it getting damaged in shipping), no flash yet, no working sd card yet and lack of charging via micro-usb (a HUGE minus to me). But i’ve wanted a tablet forever, iPad is lame, adam didn’t deliver, tab is too small/expensive/crappy, the $99-$149 android tablets running 1.6 aren’t worth their price and have no market access. Xoom was the first thing to get excited about so i bit the bullet. I just picked up the Xoom today at best buy, and its simply awesome.

    I wanted a tablet mainly to read websites, blogs, news, etc as well as programming books and such that either are not available on kindle or do not format well on an e-reader. And I really needed a tablet for development and testing.

    The price is a bit high sure, but when you compare it to what else is out there, it is a clear winner and the price is very fitting considering the competition. $799 off-contract actually seems like a deal for something I will use everyday.

  17. Can someone help me understand why everyone is asking for a Wi-Fi only version?

    You can buy the Xoom with no contract (pay $30 bucks for 1 month to get it activated), then have no 3G after.. thus, Wi-Fi only.

    Is it just the price people are concerned about when saying Wi-Fi only version is needed? Or am I missing something?

    PS – I bought the Xoom this week.. and love it. The only issue I have is that the salesman told me that I could use Microsoft Excel, Word, Powerpoint using Docs to Go. Docs to Go isn’t supported on Xoom to date.

    PPS – In looking to support MS Word, Excel, etc, I stumbled upon Evernote. Awesome, awesome app. I will use Google Docs and am all good…

  18. Can someone help me understand why everyone is asking for a Wi-Fi only version?

    You can buy the Xoom with no contract (pay $30 bucks for 1 month to get it activated), then have no 3G after.. thus, Wi-Fi only.

    Is it just the price people are concerned about when saying Wi-Fi only version is needed? Or am I missing something?

    PS – I bought the Xoom this week.. and love it. The only issue I have is that the salesman told me that I could use Microsoft Excel, Word, Powerpoint using Docs to Go. Docs to Go isn’t supported on Xoom to date.

    PPS – In looking to support MS Word, Excel, etc, I stumbled upon Evernote. Awesome, awesome app. I will use Google Docs and am all good…

    • Actually, Verizon dropped the one month minimum commitment. So you can use it as WiFi only off-contract from day one. Most places I will be using it has wifi, for everything else I can tether it to my Evo.

      • Thanks for the reply. I think many people are misinformed or Apple fans that want to cause confusion.

        I ended up buying the 1GB per month because $25/mo isn’t much to make sure I can use anywhere I don’t have Wi-Fi. I will use Wi-Fi 99% of the time, with the exception of when I’m a passenger on a road trip or rare instances I’m not in a Wi-Fi enabled spot.

        (I also did the $25/mo w 2 yr agreement because I figured I’m getting 8 months free of connection w/ the reduced price).

    • The WIFI only version will be $200 cheaper when it comes out. The only way to get the price down on devices is get them away from the carriers. When you can buy them everywhere the price will come down to the price of netbooks.

  19. Xoom and iPad are both great Tablets. iPad 2 hardware looks awesome. However the Android 3 OS on the Xoom is significantly more advanced than the iOS. More options, less static, active widgets to have everything at your finger tips. Google really nailed a Tablet OS. Puts the right functionality on the desktop. Really intuitive OS for work and play. iPad more for play. My son has an iPad and I use a Xoom because it has a more intuitive interface at your finger tips and is great in a business environment. iPad cool for kids. Old interface. Xoom and Android 3 have leapt ahead in real life functionality!

  20. Xoom wins hands down.
    higher resolution
    More RAM
    better camera on the back
    Better front camera
    Equal equal processors
    Most damning is the Xoom will be 4G while iPad 2 will forever be stuck on 3G

    • Have you actually compared them in person, or just by specs alone? I’ve got news for you. I just played with a Xoom for about 30 minutes today, and it’s sluggish. What good is all that processing power and RAM if it hasn’t been put to good use? By all means the Xoom should be lightning fast, but I can tell you, it’s not.

  22. I love DROID and google but I have to say I love the apple products as for my DROID X 720p camera was kind of bad. The iphone 4 however had the best camera/camcorder I have ever seen. so I’d also go with ipad 2

    • This is a perfect example of why comparing tech specs is a waste of time. I develop mobile apps, and includes both Apple and Android devices. I have yet to see any Android phone’s camera produce the color and clarity of the iPhone 4’s. In digital optics, megapixels mean nothing more than the pixel dimensions of the file that is saved to the device. Quality of optics is another matter entirely. Same holds true for processing and memory. If it’s not used efficiently, it’s all for nothing.

  23. I love Droid, but what really separates the iPad series (also iPhone and iPod Touch) from the rest of the droid systems is the apps. I have been highly considering the Xoom and have an Evo as well as an iPod Touch 4G, and the big difference really is what you can get on each system…for the best Android apps, there’s usualy something much better on the iOS devices, if not just as good, and for every good Droid app, there’s 100x more of it on the iOS. To be truthful, I’ve had 100x more fun on my iPod Touch 4G than my droids, so much so I’m thinking of not getting the Xoom and getting the iPad 2 instead. For whatever little better specs the Xoom has, iPad 2 is thinner, pretty fast, and the apps you can get on it on the Apple App Store makes Androids market place look pretty sad in comparison. It’s all about content and simplicity for most people, and this is why the iPad 2 will coninue to rule the tablet market, no matter if the Xoom is a little better spec wise

    • As an EVO and iPod touch 4 owner myself I agree completely. while the XOOM is tempting (very tempting) the iPad 2 just offers so much more in terms of ready to use and well made applications and that’s value there. Add in the fact the cost is still under the Xoom, it’s hard to ignore. Now if the Xoom really is $540 at Sams like reported, I may have a change of heart, but doing that would mean I’d wait months, if not a year, until Android can catch up with Apps. By that time, iOS5 may end up getting the things we miss on Android (widgets and notifications) Now I love my EVO, as a phone it’s amazing with how it works, but the games aren’t even a 1/10th of the iOS ones.

    • As an EVO and iPod touch 4 owner myself I agree completely. while the XOOM is tempting (very tempting) the iPad 2 just offers so much more in terms of ready to use and well made applications and that’s value there. Add in the fact the cost is still under the Xoom, it’s hard to ignore. Now if the Xoom really is $540 at Sams like reported, I may have a change of heart, but doing that would mean I’d wait months, if not a year, until Android can catch up with Apps. By that time, iOS5 may end up getting the things we miss on Android (widgets and notifications) Now I love my EVO, as a phone it’s amazing with how it works, but the games aren’t even a 1/10th of the iOS ones.

      • I don’t get how tablet discussion ends up this way. If you want to play games you can buy any console (PS3, Xbox360, Wii) for less than the price of an iPad or Xoom. If you’re talking about portable gaming then there is the Nintendo DS, DSi and 3DS coming soon as well as the Sony NGP. If you want portable iOS or Android games I’m pretty sure it doesn’t get anymore portable than a cell phone in your pocket. I sincerely hope nobody is trying to justify the purchase of a tablet as a portable gaming device.

      • Why not? A device that you can use to consume information in many different ways AND play unique games for the cost of lunch or less? Considering the high volume of App Store sales being in the “games” category, I’d say you’re in the minority here. There’s no reason why console and/or PC gamers can’t enjoy games on their tablet too.

      • Why is it ridiculous, exactly? Because you say it is? I don’t know anyone personally that owns a tablet and uses it only for gaming. But there’s no reason why gaming can’t be a major consideration for those in the market for a tablet. People have high expectations for what their mobile devices can do for them… and the market reflects that demand.

      • I wouldn’t hold your breath waiting for the Android Marketplace to catch up to the Apple App Store. There’s much more development overhead for Android devices than Apple devices. Developing for iPhone and iPad is more cost effective and presents far less headaches than Android.

      • False statement.

        As a developer for all platforms (iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, Symbian, MeeGo, & LiMo), I assure you, iDevice development has more overhead than Android.

        Heck, just to TEST your app for iDevices will cost you $100-300.

        Android: Free.

        In fact, with the introduction of Adobe AIR for BlackBerry, even BB Development overhead had dropped dramatically, costing the same as developing for Android.

      • Actually, I think the G in 4G (as in a 4G network) has something to do with speed, and not the network’s generation, but otherwise, “Yeah! What he said!”

  24. With the help of Tegra 2, this will be a better alternative than PSP. Perfect for all gamers and people who prefer to watch their favorite movies or series at their tablet. I just hope that Android 3.0/Honeycomb will complement this device the best way possible. And of course, the much talked about high-resolution camera is something techies should consider. Xoom the clear winner!

  25. Im a business person and I think the iPad is an awesome device, but I notice that all the mention is how good is the ipad for games, movies, pictures, music and stuff. dont get me wrong I like it too because everything is in one place( I used to have and iPhone but I switch to a Droid phone (HTC)), but What about people who uses it for other things too, for example work, business? what about Multitasking? I have a computer business and I have to be connecting remotely to my customer and run different programs at the same time remotely. I know im capable of doing these things with the Xoom, I dont think iPad would be a good choice here.

    • You are exactly right. This is why Honeycomb tablets will rule the market quicker than analysts think. Just look at something like the Asus Eee Pad Transformer–a tablet/netbook hybrid. You can play with it like a tablet then “transform” it into a netbook and use it more like a normal computer. This is why it is important for the tablet to be able to dock to a keyboard and mouse–iPad fans can’t get the mouse part through their head.

      And there are some very productive apps already available for Honeycomb not to mention the full browser will allow you to use Google Docs, zoho, etc. . .

      Apple is all about getting their customers buy more products thus the iPad still needs a computer to activate and sync–just ridiculous. That’s Apple’s strategy–these devices are halo products designed to get customers tied into their expensive ecosystem, thus the customer doesn’t feel they can leave because of the high costs they’ve put into their Apple ecosystem.

      Complete opposite mentality with Android.

    • If you haven’t noticed already, a lot of business people use the iPad, beause it has the apps, the productivity apps, the many many accessorries, and it does do multitasking. Weather you use the iPad 2 or Xoom, you can do multiple programs at the same time remotely, it’s just the iPad has better business apps to get the job done.

      • And once the Honeycomb platform is out and about, the same will be true for the XOOM, right? Or what are you saying

        Chris “Burnsy” Burns
        R3 Media LCC c/o Android Community

        [phone] +1 (320) 248 1388
        [aim] idealneo
        [twitter] @androids @t_chrisburns

  26. Actually, I think BOTH tablets look awesome! What a great time to be a consumer. Choice is great.

    To me, that is one of the best attributes of Android – choice. Not one size fits all; multiple phone types, with and without keyboards, screen sizes, and various carriers, and multiple tablet sizes and manufactures. Apple, not so much choice.

    However, if I was an iPod user with a large investment in iTunes, I’d pick a iPad2 for sure. I think Apple has a done a great job at converting their iPod users into iPhone and iPad users. And they keep it very simple; the only choice is the amount of storage. Apple products are very good and they have done a terrific job of making them a status symbol; e.g. identifying them with celebrities and making people want to be seen with them to be part of the herd. I suppose in this way, Apple has turned into the talking head in the iconic commercial where the runner destroys the screen with a sledge hammer.

    Considering Android had no eco system like iTunes to start with, they have done a terrific job, but I feel there is much more room to improve. Amazon for music, Blockbuster sucks for videos. iTunes kills here. And I am sure marketplace will get better in time.

    Honeycomb makes Android a real competitor for phones and tablets, and the applications will continue to grow. Regardless how one may want to spin the device count and who owns the largest share, I think it is safe to assume that Android and Apple own over 60% of the market and if I were a developer, I’d love to have my software offered on both platforms.

    At the end of the day, the OS should not be something consumers think about – only form, fit, function and price. What meets your need?

  27. Actually, I think BOTH tablets look awesome! What a great time to be a consumer. Choice is great.

    To me, that is one of the best attributes of Android – choice. Not one size fits all; multiple phone types, with and without keyboards, screen sizes, and various carriers, and multiple tablet sizes and manufactures. Apple, not so much choice.

    However, if I was an iPod user with a large investment in iTunes, I’d pick a iPad2 for sure. I think Apple has a done a great job at converting their iPod users into iPhone and iPad users. And they keep it very simple; the only choice is the amount of storage. Apple products are very good and they have done a terrific job of making them a status symbol; e.g. identifying them with celebrities and making people want to be seen with them to be part of the herd. I suppose in this way, Apple has turned into the talking head in the iconic commercial where the runner destroys the screen with a sledge hammer.

    Considering Android had no eco system like iTunes to start with, they have done a terrific job, but I feel there is much more room to improve. Amazon for music, Blockbuster sucks for videos. iTunes kills here. And I am sure marketplace will get better in time.

    Honeycomb makes Android a real competitor for phones and tablets, and the applications will continue to grow. Regardless how one may want to spin the device count and who owns the largest share, I think it is safe to assume that Android and Apple own over 60% of the market and if I were a developer, I’d love to have my software offered on both platforms.

    At the end of the day, the OS should not be something consumers think about – only form, fit, function and price. What meets your need?

  28. After playing with my Xoom for 8 hours non-stop last night, I can say its a truly amazing device. Google really nailed the tablet experience with Honeycomb. Its so simply and intuitive, virtually everything is only one or two clicks away. Googles native tablet apps are amazing. Gmail, Books and Maps work way better than even desktop equivalents. The music player, YouTube and Gallery blow similar iOS apps out of the water.

    The experience is totally different than what you get from iPad or even Android phones. This isn’t a large iPod Touch or Android phone, this is a totally new class of device and experience (OK, I know that sounds a bit Steve Jobsish, but it’s true this time). I even want to play games on it now, something i never wanted to do on my phones.

    My only complaints are the same as those echoed by everyone else: it’s a bit big and heavy, lack of tablet specific apps and crashes here and there (especially Android Market, which looks beautiful as is easier to find apps, when not crashing).

    I’m really impressed with the battery, I used it for over 8 hours playing games, watching videos, installing apps, reading books, and it still had 60% left with WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth all enabled (Airplane mode on though since I don’t have 3g service for it).

    I would still have to give a nod to iPad just because it has more tablet apps, but once more devs (like myself) get their hands on this, you will see some pretty awesome apps made available. When combined with the other benefits of Android over iOS, there just is not a comparison, Xoom wins hands down.

    • @Scott

      rumors are flying that the Xoom wifi only model is only $539. if that turns out to be true Id be very happy as I have absolutely NO intention of buying any apple device now or in the near future. after my iphone 4 contract is up, I really cannot see myself buying another one.

  30. I wish that I could put Honeycomb on the iPad 2. I do not owe an Apple Product or never have. I have a SGS and waiting on the SGS II. I can not deny nor should anyone else on here, but Apple products are simply beautiful! I want one so bad but I just can’t deal with their restricted OS. Although no OS to date can compare to it’s user friendliness and smoothness (the closest to it’s buttery smoothness, is WP7)

  31. I wish that I could put Honeycomb on the iPad 2. I do not owe an Apple Product or never have. I have a SGS and waiting on the SGS II. I can not deny nor should anyone else on here, but Apple products are simply beautiful! I want one so bad but I just can’t deal with their restricted OS. Although no OS to date can compare to it’s user friendliness and smoothness (the closest to it’s buttery smoothness, is WP7)

  32. I own iPod touch, ipod, iPad, Xoom and SGS Fascinate, the only reason I spend so much time on the Android OS/hardware instead ios even there are so much apps on ios, is the ability to custom your ROM, overclock and do so much more on Android. True you can jailbreak ios but this is where it stays. 3 days after getting my Xoom it was running @ 1.5GHz, have ever seen Honeycomb at that speed? Please check it out. To summarize ios is tailored more towards the simple average user and Android is more towards the techy user. Honeycomb is simple enough for the average user but it can go beyond “jailbreaking ios”

  33. Honestly hands down iPad 2.
    Xoom 4g is $800 for 32 gb and iPad 3G is $829 for 64 gig.

    First of all tablets are all about Internet browsing experience , good software and good multimedia.

    Internet browsing
    iPad – 6/10
    1.No flash
    2.Can’t download anything
    3.Safari lacks lot of features compared to desktop
    4.better battery

    Xoom
    9/10
    Flash coming soon.
    Browser gonna give many better features.
    4g support.

    Multimedia :
    iPad 10/10
    Nothing to say. Faster graphics. Better graphics.

    Xoom
    8/10
    Xoom needs to improve.
    Only 100 apps is not small.
    But I bet 3/4th apps of iPad are crap.
    Xoom has flash.
    Xoom has widgets.
    Xoom has better output 1080p.

    Price :
    iPad is 3G but Xoom is 4g + Xoom supports 1080p but iPad only720p.

    ipad
    9/10
    Xoom
    8/10

    Overall iPad 2 has guts with Xoom.
    But I think both are awesome.

    • The bottom line for many of us is that you can’t get a Xoom for below $800. Many of us are getting the lowest capacity because otherwise it would be too expensive. Even if 16gigs is going to put a damper on what I can store, it’s still the best option, at only $500 or so. Xoom doesn’t have an “entry-level” version.

  34. Screen:

    iPad 2 is bigger and really sharp looking.
    Xoom is even sharper, and its 16:10, but its smaller
    For me iPad 2 wins. Somebody else might like 16:10, even if its smaller
    (this also guarantees backwards compatibility for iPad 2. When its this sharp, there is absolutely no reason to upgrade it vainly and lose vast software library)

    Processing power:
    Both have similar tech, but Xoom vastes processing power into more pixels.
    iPad 2 wins

    Software:
    There is not even competition in this. iPad won by so big margin, that you cannot even see the Xoom.
    I want tablet for music applications and games, and Android has problems with its sound management,
    which is why there are no music applications even coming for it. Android is actually ridiculed in music scene.

    Apple it self has made impressive recording software for iPad, and numerous synthesizer manufacturers already have their products in iStore, which are increasingly ambitious.

    iPad already has games like Dead Space and Chaos Rings, a Final Fantasy -like quality game from Square Soft. These are games that are not considered to be profitable enough to make even for the Wii, let alone for Android.

    Every ambitious application arrives for iPad. iPad is popular enough for software makers to use effort, time and money for their apps. Android has sold much, but its market is fractured and you have to make applications to work with other Android devices too. I bet, actually I know it in advance, that there wont be many applications, that push Xoom. My Samsung Galaxy S suffered the same fate. It was supposed to be powerful phone, but the software support is miles away from iPhones.

  35. Screen:

    iPad 2 is bigger and really sharp looking.
    Xoom is even sharper, and its 16:10, but its smaller
    For me iPad 2 wins. Somebody else might like 16:10, even if its smaller
    (this also guarantees backwards compatibility for iPad 2. When its this sharp, there is absolutely no reason to upgrade it vainly and lose vast software library)

    Processing power:
    Both have similar tech, but Xoom vastes processing power into more pixels.
    iPad 2 wins

    Software:
    There is not even competition in this. iPad won by so big margin, that you cannot even see the Xoom.
    I want tablet for music applications and games, and Android has problems with its sound management,
    which is why there are no music applications even coming for it. Android is actually ridiculed in music scene.

    Apple it self has made impressive recording software for iPad, and numerous synthesizer manufacturers already have their products in iStore, which are increasingly ambitious.

    iPad already has games like Dead Space and Chaos Rings, a Final Fantasy -like quality game from Square Soft. These are games that are not considered to be profitable enough to make even for the Wii, let alone for Android.

    Every ambitious application arrives for iPad. iPad is popular enough for software makers to use effort, time and money for their apps. Android has sold much, but its market is fractured and you have to make applications to work with other Android devices too. I bet, actually I know it in advance, that there wont be many applications, that push Xoom. My Samsung Galaxy S suffered the same fate. It was supposed to be powerful phone, but the software support is miles away from iPhones.

    • What do you mean by “iPad is bigger”? The iPad has a 9.7″ screen and the Xoom 10.1″ And do you really think a Tegra 2 is gonna be “wasting” processing power on pixels?? Do you even know what you’re talking about???

      • Yes I know. This is very simple.

        iPad is 71 square inches and Xoom is only 64 square inches.
        iPads 9.56″(h) * 7.47″(w) = 71 inch² is quite simply NOTICEABLE bigger than Xooms 9.8″(h) * 6.6″(w) = 64 inch².

        Although I prefer 16:10 in tv, in tablets its harder to decide, which aspect ratio is better. But since Xoom is this much smaller, its easy to me. When it comes to tablets, I want them as big as comfortably possible.

      • I don’t know abotu the original iPad, but the specs up there show 9.5 X 7.31 X .34. It might be a little wider but wouldn’t you rather have a larger tablet height wise if you were concerned about gaming controls? With a larger landscape view your hands wouldn’t croud the screen as much. Besides all of that, if gaming is all you’re looking for there are a lot better portable gaming devices out and more coming out in the near future that are far than a tablet. Not to mention they all cost less than an iPad or a Xoom.

      • Oh I forgot.
        I surely am getting Nintendo 3DS for gaming too, but I’m also impressed by that Dead Space and the support coming from Square Software. Those turned my gamers head and I though that in addition to hand held Nintendo experience I could get my big screen kicks from iPad 2.

      • Actually, he does. The eXoom screen does use a lot more power which is why it has to be recharged so often. What he means by smaller is the width aspect. 16×9 is great for movies shot in that aspect but not so good for most games, projects and web surfing. It is what it is and might I suggest that you practise what you preach.
        Cheers,
        mhikl

  36. I couldn’t help it and I went into a Verizon store and purchase a Xoom. After a night playing with it and comparing to iPad 1, I decided to return it. I tried to convince myself to like the Xoom but it kept disappointing me. And I hated the feeling of limited to Apple iDevice.

    There are my observation in a regular user stand point
    1. iPad has a more refined/polished UI. Apple put a lot of effort on the detail of all the desktop element icons, shadows, wallpapers, dock bar. Giving a warmer and friendly feeling. Xoom give me a feeling of cold and dark. From page to page navigation, iPad 1 is also smoother than the Xoom.
    2. Apps (I understand this is not OS related but it add to the whole experience) – Kindle has a build in dictionary function on the iPad, you tap and hold a word the defination pop open at the bottom of the screem. On Xoom, it pop open a menu and you need to select “Other” and select a link to link to website, and Kindle will get to the background, you will need to back a page to get back to it. For pulse – I still could figure out how to add a page to it. The + button can only add but cannot remove by tapping it again. Don’t know how it work. Netflix, I knew I am sacrifying it if I jump ship.
    3. Video – I put a 720 mkv video in the Xoon, no sound, I think it is codec problem, how do I fix it. Play back was kind of jerky. For iPad, I don’t even bother , I know it would be a nightmire, but come on Xoom, I have high expectation on your Tegra 2!!
    4. Form factor. Xoom is longer and thinner. Although it weigh about the same as the ipad 1. I feel heavier holding horizontally because it is longer, and I found myself holding it that way most of the time except for ebook.
    5. Charger, with Xoom, I again become a charger slave. With iPad, I can find charging cable wherever I am whoever I asked, I can find usb ac/dc adaptor anywhere. As a matter of fact, I don’t even need a adaptor, I charge from any PC.
    6. email. I like how apple is consolidating all email account into one app. On the Xoom, I need one icon for my gmail and one for my yahoo email on the home page, talking up two slots on the home page. Maybe I just didn’t put enough time figuring out how to do it.
    7. Xoom couldn’t detect my iPhone MyWi hotspot.
    8. $800 vs $620

    What I like about the Xoom
    1. The possibility of flash and java. ipad is useless on alot of webpage.
    2. Until I see flash, the bigger thing I like about the Xoom now is the freedom of loading music and video from any computer or website.

    I am NOT a apple fan boy and I am looking forward to break away from the Apple lash. Hope Motorola can put their act together. Or Samsung, can really make their tablet more competable.

    • I also appreciate that I can walk into an Apple store (here in the Chicago area, there are several that are a short trip away) for support.

      Or I can go to Apple.com and have an Apple rep call me right away.

      That kind of support is a big deal for me. There are so many stories of people walking into Apple stores with hardware that they busted, and Apple just giving them a new one on the spot.

    • Fair and honest analysis, Kekeki,

      Wish I could test both out. Look at my post which outlines why Apple produces such results. The google John Gruber and his site, Daring Fireball. He’s a very intelligent designer and writer. You obviously have natural curiosity.

      Cheers
      mhikl

  37. Another, clear comparison:

    Xoom 10.1″ HD screen 16:10
    ipad2 9.7″ screen 4:3

    Xoom 1280×800
    ipad2 1024×768

    Xoom 150 pixels/inch (ppi)
    ipad2 132 pixels/inch (ppi)

    Xoom video recording 720p | ipad2 video recording 720p
    Xoom video playback 1080p | ipad2 video playback 1080p

    Xoom 2 Cameras 5Mp / 2Mp (Dual-LED flash, automatic autofocus)
    ipad2 2 VGA cameras

    Xoom Stereo Speakers
    ipad2 Speaker

    Xoom 3.5-mm stereo headphone minijack
    ipad2 3.5-mm stereo headphone minijack

    Xoom 1Gb RAM
    ipad2 512Mb RAM

    Xoom 1Ghz Tegra2 dual-core processor
    ipad2 1Ghz A5 dual-core processor

    Xoom 32Gb memory (expandable to 64Gb via SD)
    ipad2 16,32,64Gb (without a possibility of expanding)

    Xoom 10 hours battery
    ipad2 10 hours battery

    Xoom 5 Sensors: Proximity, Ambient light, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Barometer
    ipad2 3 sensors: Ambient light, Accelerometer, Gyroscope

    Xoom 4G/3G/WiFi/Bluetooth
    ipad2 3G/WiFi/Bluetooth

    Xoom USB
    ipad2 –

    Xoom HDMI built-in
    ipad2 HDMI via connector (sold separately)

    Xoom SD (32Gb)
    ipad2 –

    Xoom Digital compass
    ipad2 Digital compass

    Xoom Assisted GPS
    ipad2 Assisted GPS (in models with 3G only)

    Xoom Specially created for tablet computers Android Honeycomb
    ipad2 scaled phone OS ios 4.3

    Xoom 3LM Encryption Technologies
    ipad2 –

    RenderScript graphics engine
    ipad2 –

    Xoom Android WebKit
    ipad2 Safari WebKit

    Xoom Tabbed web browsing
    ipad2 –

    Xoom Flash
    ipad2 –

    Xoom Integrated Google Services
    ipad2 Google Services

    Xoom Google Books
    ipad2 iBooks

    Xoom Corporate Sync, POP3/IMAP (embedded), Corporate Directory Lookup (GAL)
    ipad2 –

    Xoom Anodized aluminum case, soft touch
    ipad2 Aluminum case

    Xoom is an obvious winner. It could be compared only to 32Gb wifi+3G ipad2. And it beats that ipad2

    easily. Open your eyes. If you want only ipad2, buy and don’t try to compare. If you want a really

    better tablet computer, think again. If Motorola had Xoom 6-devices line-up (like Apple) Xoom 4G for $799 would be the most fully-packed of them.

    • Just a few suggestions:
      iPads RAM hasn’t been officially released nor dissected so it’s a good idea to keep that blank,
      You could put that iPad supports a USB port but only if you buy an overpriced adapter.
      Standby battery life is a useful fact too, as is wireless N support.
      Also the iPad can support tabbed web browsing, just not with safari. Though I prefer all the third party browsers to safari in the first place.
      Last thing is the iPad 2 does have an ambient sensor, to detect when to lock the screen when the Smart Case is closed. That or its a magnet. Either was its neat feature and a sensor that could be mentioned.

      Thanks for the clear comparison!

    • But if you’re just comparing specs, you’re getting a very small part of the story.

      Have 100 people test both devices, and then tell us which “beats” the other. For people who post on forums with their gaming rig’s specs in their signature, no doubt Xoom will win. For the rest of us, I have a feeling that the iPad 2 will be the favorite.

      • Wrong. The iPad 2 kills the Xoom’s GPU. So the iPad 2 would be the gaming rig.

        Also the 4:3 aspect ratio gives it a huge 1up over the Xoom. Who wants to use a widescreen tablet in portrait.

      •  I’m sorry but that comment was just retarded. Who wants to use a widescreen tablet in portrait? It’s supposed to be used in landscape in the first place. Youtube, browser, homescreen, work best in landscape. Hi-def movies especially, since they fit that aspect ration. The only apps that look good IMO in portrait are google body and google books.

    • Good post, MagicUniverse. Saves a lot of looking up. Now if only specs made the best beast. I have been reading on the eXoomforum and it has been a fun ride. Tonnes of returns and cries for help. I’ve seen the screen in action and it is patchy in play, a common complaint. But this might be fixed with some update. And I don’t believe Flash for the eXoom is here yet. You might have pointed that out, bud. There are other aspects promised but not yet supplied. That is called Vapourware, soft or hard. And the dog’s not cooked until it’s on the platter and tastes cooked.

      If you read my previous post you will see why the eXoom and any droid tablet doesn’t have a chance. Apple has been working on their tablet for ten years. They started slowly and polished until the jewel shone. Specs are spartan and serve the unit and with each iteration the iPad will shine brighter and brighter. The competition waited for the iPad to be birthed and then where in mad scrambles to copy and catchup. Honestly, MagicUniverse, how do they catchup to something that has R&D and focus for ten years and is now in its second iteration and the third one in the works. The eXoom has been released, but it isn’t finished and awaits some very important parts which may never see the sun of this planet.

      The experience is the message. The forums I joined and have been reading say the experience is in the dreaming stage and we all know, not all dreams come true.

      Cheers,
      mhikl

      • Specs are what makes things work. If you don’t think a screen, graphics card, internal storage, RAM, ports, or CPUs are important, than why don’t you take them out of your computer and see how it does?

    • What about docs like exvel spreadsheets? On my android phone it suckd… Is it better on xoom? Cause im planning to buy one but i would like to be able to work on my tablet

  38. Xoom obviously has better hardware. But apple serves a user in a matchless way. I as a software engineer admire apple’s excellent user interface and industry design. Xoom has great potential however. I hope both stay in active competition so I always have a choice. I have an IPad 1 and I’m happy with it. My next tablet may be a Xoom but that all depends on my budget.

    • You’re a thinking man, Howard GAO. Fair criticism, not quite right, but fair. Better specs don’t always match power and price and other parts. But, what the hay. Apple has been “under-powering” forever. Yet they rule when it comes to quality and compatibility. Now Apple has price under rule. Cool.

      Here is how Apple rules when it starts a new project:
      1. Take something small, simple, painstakingly well considered.
      2. Cut features to derive the absolute minimum core product they can start with.
      3. Polish those features to a shiny intensity.
      4.Have a media event were Apple reveals this core product as its Next Big Thing and releases the product for sale.
      —These original releases tend to be minimal technically, but radical conceptually.
      5. Make continuous iterative improvements on a regular basis and miracles happen, aka OSX, iPod, iPhone, iPad.
      (Notice how Apple gets criticism for under powered products that lack razzle-dazzle. They do this on purpose. Now you know why.)
      [I made these notes form John Gruber, author of Daring Fireball. A version of this summary appeared as “Apple’s Constant Iterations” in the April 2010 print issue of Macworld.]
      I can’t give you the url as my post would then look like spam and wouldn’t pass. Google and ye shall find.
      Cheers,
      mhikl

      • You copied from a Macworld article but it still passed? Wow. So, what was your point? It sounds like you’re calling everyone but Apple supporters idiots.

  39. Xoom obviously has better hardware. But apple serves a user in a matchless way. I as a software engineer admire apple’s excellent user interface and industry design. Xoom has great potential however. I hope both stay in active competition so I always have a choice. I have an IPad 1 and I’m happy with it. My next tablet may be a Xoom but that all depends on my budget.

  40. iPad wins here :

    1. iPad is simple and easy to handle. Suppose u have an app u can either download it from pc or right into device. Updates come automatically and iTunes does every single job for u including saving the progress of ur app.
    Even if reset entire iPad the application preserves ur old data until u delete it both from iTunes and device.

    2.iPad suffers no compatibility issues. Unlike galaxy mobile users who suffered too much lag and iOS doesn’t address such issues. even if u lose ur device remotely wipe everything and alsono malware. Google recently removed huge malware apps from marketplace.

    3.apps. Many think that apps are useless and I agree but there are many advantages.
    For example u are facebook app.
    U get notifications,no need to log in multiple times , no need to worry about Internet malware and u can get everything organised even easier than mobile version of facebook on browser.

    Most of these things are missed on browser.

    So apps make device to be handy and make it more simple to use at the same time makes it
    productive. And also saves battery.

    iOS has tonnes of apps.

    5.games/multimedia :
    iPad wins

    6.price.

    Even though Xoom got guts. Xoom got no good software to support it’s hardware.
    And what’s use of tetra when not even single game related to unreal engine doesn’t show up on marketplace or even good

    • First off, it’s “you” not u, and iTunes is a nightmare of application and should be avoided at all costs. And I’m pretty sure that apps don’t save battery power, as they sync at scheduled times, and even still, the Android Marketplace has over 200,000 apps and supports a myriad of devices. The Xoom’s Tegra2 processor will allow for greater utilization of multitasking, and the difference between 1280×800 and 1024×768 is huge.

      • i prefer having a wider selection and thats what ITunes brings to the user, and thank you for pointing out that he put “u” and not you. Grammar Nazi. Also, you’re a giant faggot and i bet you take it in the butt with your transexual girlfriend. Assblocking cock rubbing dick pussy ass bitch

      • Hey Curtis Blalock, you were doing really well until you added the naughty bits. I know it is hard to be polite to Droidfans (I call them Envyboys) but if it is any conciliation, they are terribly dispirited having to support what they know are poor copies of what they envy. Envy is their torment. Understand that and smile and then take the high road. You feel better after the match this way. (I sometimes add the girly part, but I always try to be clever about it. Then it’s art, eh? And art is in the eye of the beholder. ha ha.)

        Keep up the good fight, CB.

      • Why don’t you refrain from calling people rude if you’re going to be rude? And maybe while you’re at it, you can wake yourself up from the dream you’re in where going into depth about how writing (bad) comments is an “art” makes you look cool. Try making a good point, or any point, or just getting a life instead of replying to every Android supporter in the world with biased comments.

      • Hey Curtis Blalock, you were doing really well until you added the naughty bits. I know it is hard to be polite to Droidfans (I call them Envyboys) but if it is any conciliation, they are terribly dispirited having to support what they know are poor copies of what they envy. Envy is their torment. Understand that and smile and then take the high road. You feel better after the match this way. (I sometimes add the girly part, but I always try to be clever about it. Then it’s art, eh? And art is in the eye of the beholder. ha ha.)

        Keep up the good fight, CB.

      • Skunal_Babu can use “u” for “you” if he wants. I find that when droidfans have to debate, they look for grammar probs.

        Apple designs and the rest copy. When droid makers copy they think the specs are what count so size is increased without understanding the costs involved in dollars and power. That is why the screen lags and sound sputters. It is sloppy build that screams, “Ain’t done!” loud and clear with eXoom. And it also accounts for its horrid price. What is really cool is the 16×9 screen. Great for movies shot in that form. Not so great for those not so shot. Not so good for vertical viewing and working in text. Kinda skinny. I suppose this was supposed to be one-upmanship. Funny how the competition rides this horse instead of just making something that actually works, well or very well. Double it is viable for most games but maybe black bars will help heal the situation.

        Now, apps syncing and battery power. Yes, I understand that the eXoom has poor batter life what with all the hungry mismatched hardware, but remember to carry your charger with you at all times and be within distance of an outlet and you should be fine. Just a little piece of advice you will need to follow often.

        Now, if you are going to spout facts, please understand what you are trying to regurgitate. This has been like a turkey shoot. But fun, Jmruland.

      • i don’t see why either of you are bashing either device there both fine pieces of equipment i have both and both have there strong an week points and the xooms battery life is exceptional i plug it in before i go to bed and the next morning its good to go for another 10-15 hours when it says 8 hours of heavy play that mean something that utilizes every function which you never are doing all the time so yea 10-15 hours which is more than adequate as with the ipad which get about 10 hours of heavy use so probably 15-20 hours of normal usage which is amazing

        if you got either of them as a gift no sane person would say awww this sucks cause neither of them do god, get of yourselves

      • do you even have a xoom cause all your doing is detering people who don’t not to buy them, and falsely anyone who has a xoom can easily render your arguments useless cause all the things you say aren’t true stop bashing a product you don’t know

      • OK, YOU don’t even use “u”, and I smell an Apple fanboy.
        “Apple designs and the rest copy”? Eh, no. Tablet computers were invented WAY before the iPad. Oh, yeah, one more thing. Specs ARE what count! I’m not sure if you knew this, but better specs mean better product!

      • Skunal_Babu can use “u” for “you” if he wants. I find that when droidfans have to debate, they look for grammar probs.

        Apple designs and the rest copy. When droid makers copy they think the specs are what count so size is increased without understanding the costs involved in dollars and power. That is why the screen lags and sound sputters. It is sloppy build that screams, “Ain’t done!” loud and clear with eXoom. And it also accounts for its horrid price. What is really cool is the 16×9 screen. Great for movies shot in that form. Not so great for those not so shot. Not so good for vertical viewing and working in text. Kinda skinny. I suppose this was supposed to be one-upmanship. Funny how the competition rides this horse instead of just making something that actually works, well or very well. Double it is viable for most games but maybe black bars will help heal the situation.

        Now, apps syncing and battery power. Yes, I understand that the eXoom has poor batter life what with all the hungry mismatched hardware, but remember to carry your charger with you at all times and be within distance of an outlet and you should be fine. Just a little piece of advice you will need to follow often.

        Now, if you are going to spout facts, please understand what you are trying to regurgitate. This has been like a turkey shoot. But fun, Jmruland.

    • and actually buy a xoom before you comment on it cuase i have both and neither are worse than the other and the reason not many tablet specific apps for xoom yet is because the program hasn’t been out for that long many people are working on apps for it so soon when the developers put the finishing touches on them there will be a rush of apps

  41. Xoom vs iPad :
    U need to but $129 dock in order to support HDMI.
    While iPad no need just $69 for cable and that connector.

    Xoom 4G 32 gig $800
    iPad 3G 32 gig $629

    100 apps on honeycomb.
    65k on iOS.

    Operating System and Manufacturer

    Yes, the OS is both a pro and a con. But I find it to be a con for one main reason, manufacturer custom UIs. Now, I’m well aware that the Xoom is a Google Experience device and therefore will not ship with any customizations from Motorola, but that doesn’t really persuade me enough that there won’t be stuff I wouldn’t want on the device, from either Motorola or Verizon.

  43. I now have the Xoom and would not imagine going to an ipad2. In a couple of the months the Xoom will support Adobe, have removable memory, 2 better cameras with more universal video chat options that are not dependant on wifi to work (which defeats the point of meaningful video chat anyway), a better processor, better screen resolution, HDMI out ( with no need for a docking station), customizable home screens, and the potential for DNLA. Did I mention that it will be moving at 5-12Mbs over Verizon’s 3G network in the near future? Fact is the UI for Apple is the only advantage and it is a slight one. I can’t believe what I am reading on this post! Its like one of those “I don’t care” videos on youtube! If you you are already in the tank for Mac just say that before you pretend to put out an objective post! Everything from a capability standpoint is superior on the Xoom! The fact that the Google map peels back to go to layers in Google maps is not an advantage because it looks cool. The fact that Google maps on android is a full blown GPS system with 3d maps and integrated street view is an advantage that is worth talking about. Buy what you want but in 6months to a year your Ipad 2 is going to seem like old technology while the Xoom will be ready for everything that comes out in that time. All without the tedious constant need to cable sync ever thing.

  46. Hardware specs tell only a part of the story. Aesthetics, ease of use, and content are as important. Also people have different requirements: some want a device for social networking, light browsing, music and books, while others dream about one device to replace all others. I think there is room for both devices. In fact just like cars, clothing, housing. etc. I expect to see hundreds of variations. The computer will finally be personal 🙂

    • omg ur what every comment exchange needs this is pure true sure some people say some shirts are better some people say mac is better but its just a choice of preference and both have stayed around despite apple fans saying the pc would fail and the other way around and its the same here

  47. Hardware specs tell only a part of the story. Aesthetics, ease of use, and content are as important. Also people have different requirements: some want a device for social networking, light browsing, music and books, while others dream about one device to replace all others. I think there is room for both devices. In fact just like cars, clothing, housing. etc. I expect to see hundreds of variations. The computer will finally be personal 🙂

  48. I agree choice is good. I also acknowledge and respect the fact the Apple started this whole thing and Apple does win on style points. But to for me it ends there. What i am actually impressed with is the strength of the loyalty of Apple users. The reviews I have seen so far just do no justice to the Xoom! They compare the 2 devices as if the Xoom will not support Flash because Adobe doesn’t have the software ready yet. The web experience on the Xoom will be sooooo much better its not even worth discussing. And a year from now when 4g is almost everywhere the ipad 2 will seem like old technology. Not to mention DNLA etc……

    • Good post, but are we sure about the 4G situation? Is wireless internet going to render 4G obsolete (there’s more free wireless everywhere you go)? I live in Chicago, and I use a combination of wireless and 3G on my phone. I guess it would be cool to have unlimited 4G for watching Netflix on the train, but 3G suffices for most everything.

      I had Clear wireless internet, which tried to apply the 4G name to its technology, and the speeds sucked. I’m not sure if the different 4G tech is better in terms of speeds and connectivity.

      With my upcoming iPad 2 purchase, I expect to almost never be using it except within wireless coverage (my house, Starbucks, hotel, library, etc.). I feel that I will probably skip 4G devices, and wait until there’s a new, broadband-like standard.

  49. G Man,

    I have a Xoom for over 4 days now. After the first night, I decided to return it. Why did I get the device if I know I am going to pay for $70 restocking? Because I didn’t plan returning it, because I hate being limited by Apple.
    But reality kicked in, now I am realized I am spoiled by the IOS UI (details, performance, easy to use) and all the available apps which, reminded me how painful it was when iPad 1 just came out, and I had to wait for the release of my favorite app.
    Xoom is my first Android experience. I was impressed that I could torrent videos directly into the device and playback there without going thru a PC anyhow. And I was also impress that, right from the device, I can SMB connect to all my windows share folders to gain access to all my media. That’s one of the main feature I wish tablet can do. But than, after then, after I loaded a 720p video into the device, disappoint kicked in, the Tegra 2 can’t handle 720p mkv, and Xoom can’t handle and playback 5.1!
    Xoom does show some promise, but that’s it for me. I can’t step back and use something 80% functioning and 20% promising. Right now, the iDevice give me 100% what they promise and it does it nicely, seamlessly and effortlessly. I am just a regular user, in a customer product stand point, the quality of the iDevice is unmatchable today.
    Motorola, they did one thing very right for Xoom, “Time to market”, it couldn’t be better, beating iPad 2 with a nice margin. But as they realized how importance it was, they also understand their product is not fully ready, they have no choice but scarifying the product readiness.
    Xoom is the first of it kind to market and it shows good potential. I truly believe in a year, Android based tablet will ready. It will be fully functional, UI will be artistically crafted, hardware component will be monstrous, and it will shine big time.

  50. G Man,

    I have a Xoom for over 4 days now. After the first night, I decided to return it. Why did I get the device if I know I am going to pay for $70 restocking? Because I didn’t plan returning it, because I hate being limited by Apple.
    But reality kicked in, now I am realized I am spoiled by the IOS UI (details, performance, easy to use) and all the available apps which, reminded me how painful it was when iPad 1 just came out, and I had to wait for the release of my favorite app.
    Xoom is my first Android experience. I was impressed that I could torrent videos directly into the device and playback there without going thru a PC anyhow. And I was also impress that, right from the device, I can SMB connect to all my windows share folders to gain access to all my media. That’s one of the main feature I wish tablet can do. But than, after then, after I loaded a 720p video into the device, disappoint kicked in, the Tegra 2 can’t handle 720p mkv, and Xoom can’t handle and playback 5.1!
    Xoom does show some promise, but that’s it for me. I can’t step back and use something 80% functioning and 20% promising. Right now, the iDevice give me 100% what they promise and it does it nicely, seamlessly and effortlessly. I am just a regular user, in a customer product stand point, the quality of the iDevice is unmatchable today.
    Motorola, they did one thing very right for Xoom, “Time to market”, it couldn’t be better, beating iPad 2 with a nice margin. But as they realized how importance it was, they also understand their product is not fully ready, they have no choice but scarifying the product readiness.
    Xoom is the first of it kind to market and it shows good potential. I truly believe in a year, Android based tablet will ready. It will be fully functional, UI will be artistically crafted, hardware component will be monstrous, and it will shine big time.

  53. I see your point. Realistically speaking its a matter of preference. I feel like I would be stepping back to an ipad2 as I simply cannot tolerate a mobile web experience on a device the size of a tablet. Since I KNOW that adobe flash is a few weeks away I is tolerable to surf without it. Thinking that I would NEVER get it would not be tolerable. As far as the video playback I am playing 1080p with no problem so I am not sure about that one. Ipad does at launch what they promise because they don’t promise much. Its the same thing as the 1st one with a better processor and inferior VGA front facing camera. Personally I like the fact that my tablet gets better over time. In a year 3g devices will seem archaic and I’m not looking to buy another device next year.

  54. I see your point. Realistically speaking its a matter of preference. I feel like I would be stepping back to an ipad2 as I simply cannot tolerate a mobile web experience on a device the size of a tablet. Since I KNOW that adobe flash is a few weeks away I is tolerable to surf without it. Thinking that I would NEVER get it would not be tolerable. As far as the video playback I am playing 1080p with no problem so I am not sure about that one. Ipad does at launch what they promise because they don’t promise much. Its the same thing as the 1st one with a better processor and inferior VGA front facing camera. Personally I like the fact that my tablet gets better over time. In a year 3g devices will seem archaic and I’m not looking to buy another device next year.

  55. I test-drove the Xoom last week, and overall, I was very impressed…

    …however, price might drive people away (even at a rumored $600 for a wi-fi only version, that’s a bit steep for a tablet — ANY tablet — that’s not a FULL pc).

    I have yet to try out the iPad 2, so I won’t knock it.

    But given that I’m a pure, Grade A, 100%, No Additives, No Preservatives, All-Natural Geek, my preference — and loyalty — remains with Android.

    So, I will patiently wait to see what HTC has in store with their two Honeycomb tablets yet to be announced (minus the Flyer, which is running Android 2.4).

  56. I think Xoom is disappointment.
    First is price.
    Second is nasty strategy :
    Why would they release flash in future ? I mean when they tested it with flash.
    It would have performed too bad interns of browsing experience and battery.
    So first they are waiting for good reviews by all and release update slowly.

    3.even after such a big hype compared to iPad 2.
    Where are people ? Stepped back to wait for iPad 2.
    This is apple’s annoying strategy to slash down Xoom.

    4.motorola didn’t fulfil anything.
    No flash.
    Need to buy 129$ to support HDMI.
    Still no apps. No FUN.
    Heavy price. So I can get a decent console like PS3 + first gen iPad for that price. With more fun.
    or I can buy old iPad and purchase like 50-100 apps for that price and still be left out with $150-$100.
    No wifi model. Still. Yet to be released.

    Still no 4G. For network.
    Heavy weight and heavier than iPad.

  57. I think Xoom is disappointment.
    First is price.
    Second is nasty strategy :
    Why would they release flash in future ? I mean when they tested it with flash.
    It would have performed too bad interns of browsing experience and battery.
    So first they are waiting for good reviews by all and release update slowly.

    3.even after such a big hype compared to iPad 2.
    Where are people ? Stepped back to wait for iPad 2.
    This is apple’s annoying strategy to slash down Xoom.

    4.motorola didn’t fulfil anything.
    No flash.
    Need to buy 129$ to support HDMI.
    Still no apps. No FUN.
    Heavy price. So I can get a decent console like PS3 + first gen iPad for that price. With more fun.
    or I can buy old iPad and purchase like 50-100 apps for that price and still be left out with $150-$100.
    No wifi model. Still. Yet to be released.

    Still no 4G. For network.
    Heavy weight and heavier than iPad.

    • Finally, someone has a brain. Great job, Skunal_Babu.
      I’m having so much fun. It’s a great show here. It’s a battle of wits with the unarmed. What do all the other tablet makers have that Apple doesn’t: Vapourware, promises and faulty equipment. What are they missing: distribution system, stores, apps, third party extras, knowledgeable support staff, a successful history, customers. What a lark. But at least you can return wares that you don’t find satisfactory. Now that’s a plus.

    • Finally, someone has a brain. Great job, Skunal_Babu.
      I’m having so much fun. It’s a great show here. It’s a battle of wits with the unarmed. What do all the other tablet makers have that Apple doesn’t: Vapourware, promises and faulty equipment. What are they missing: distribution system, stores, apps, third party extras, knowledgeable support staff, a successful history, customers. What a lark. But at least you can return wares that you don’t find satisfactory. Now that’s a plus.

      • Ohhhh! NOW I see! I’ve read all your comments, and now they make sense! You’re an Apple fanboy who can’t come up with any GOOD arguments, so you just insult people instead!

    • Finally, someone has a brain. Great job, Skunal_Babu.
      I’m having so much fun. It’s a great show here. It’s a battle of wits with the unarmed. What do all the other tablet makers have that Apple doesn’t: Vapourware, promises and faulty equipment. What are they missing: distribution system, stores, apps, third party extras, knowledgeable support staff, a successful history, customers. What a lark. But at least you can return wares that you don’t find satisfactory. Now that’s a plus.

  58. Love my Xoom. Video conferencing with anyone. Better resolution. Soon to be 4G. No need to buy your music from iTunes. Plenty of apps to let you download to your hearts content. I already have two iPod Touches. I don’t need an over-sized touch. Once I bought my DroidX, I never went back. Lot’s of apps for playing music. As an audiophile, the one thing I hated about the Touch was no multi-band equalizer. No problem with the Xoom or Droid X. The iPad is definately for the non-techie people. And hello, the IPad will most likely never support flash. Easy choice for me. Take the Xoom and the discount with Verizon. It will work out to about $13 a month for the 1 GB plan, after you factor in the $200 discount.

    • “I already have two iPod Touches. I don’t need an over-sized touch.”
      I already own an 11″ TV, I don’t want an over-sized one.

      • Nubby, Nubby, Nubby. Did all that thinking give you a widdle headache? Woo been listening to too many other stupid people. At least try to come up with your own widdle ideas.
        Nelson is going hysterical and says, ha ha.

      • Um, why don’t YOU try to come up with… well, ANY ideas. Or is your “widdle head” only smart enough to make fun of other peoples’ “widdle heads”?

    • Big ipod touch? Are people still calling it that? It’s so ignorant… If you call it a big IPod touch you obviously have never used one. It is in a way a big iPod touch from the outside, but it is just so much more than a big touch. And have fun with your apps, because they will eventually infect your piece of crap device with malware. LOLOLOLOLOL. Apple is… Let’s ask Charlie sheen. Duh, Winning.

  59. Honestly, why do people even put price into arguments -__-. One thing Apple has advantage in price is it has retail stores. Motorola, Samsung, HTC, etc. don’t have retail stores. So they have to sell it via second and third retailers, which means they have to pay the retailers something to sell their products as well as taxes. I’m also guessing people that complain about price don’t care that the people that work for these companies want to get paid to make a living.

    • I’m pretty sure running retail stores is a lot more expensive than paying commission to 3rd party retailers. So your point is moot.

      • Rabin, are you challenging JHC for stupid Queen. Like you set up a store to lose money? Good one.
        Neson says, ha ha.

    • I’m pretty sure running retail stores is a lot more expensive than paying commission to 3rd party retailers. So your point is moot.

  60. Price is higher because the device has better hardware. Tegra processor, better front camera, chipped for 4G etc. You get what you pay for. It is correct that the tech savvy view the comparison as as a no brainer win for the Xoom but the user interface is not THAT difficult for the novice to learn. I heard flash push will begin in waves and could be as early as tonight! Once that happens, it is no contest. After having flash for soon long on my phone, not having it on my tablet has been TORTURE!!! One year (probably less) from now 3G will seem like dial up in most populated areas. I honestly can’t see someone paying less money for the iPad. Except for the die hard “I don’t care ” people. Its like buying a Bently and not having power windows or leather seats. The car is still a beauty but definatley lacking essentials.

  61. Price is higher because the device has better hardware. Tegra processor, better front camera, chipped for 4G etc. You get what you pay for. It is correct that the tech savvy view the comparison as as a no brainer win for the Xoom but the user interface is not THAT difficult for the novice to learn. I heard flash push will begin in waves and could be as early as tonight! Once that happens, it is no contest. After having flash for soon long on my phone, not having it on my tablet has been TORTURE!!! One year (probably less) from now 3G will seem like dial up in most populated areas. I honestly can’t see someone paying less money for the iPad. Except for the die hard “I don’t care ” people. Its like buying a Bently and not having power windows or leather seats. The car is still a beauty but definatley lacking essentials.

    • G Man. Specs and Vapourware. Good way to live your dreams. Now, go to the eXoom forum and see all the returns and cries for help. It’s in the toilet, bud and will be dead in six months. Note this on your calendar. You girls are so funny.

      • You know, every one of your posts is the same thing. Making fun of smart people with a (kind of) non-biased view. Why don’t you tell us which one you support? Or are you just here to make yourself feel good?

    • LOL, have you even used the Xoom? DOA (more like brain dead sheep) are those folks lined up at Apple stores who have been brainwashed into thinking they need Apple products as much as air, food, and water.

      Give credit to Apple for thinking outside the box to create a product for people who cannot think outside of the box. Give Google credit for creating something inside the box for users/developers who think outside of the box.

      • the ipad is basically a “rip-off” of several tablet devices created in the late ninety’s even though they weren’t specifically popular apple just took the basic idea and with better technology now beefed it up so no one is rlly copying anyone hell are all cars created just a rip off of the original oh yea i just bought a jaguar but i would easily trade up for the very original model

        are current pc’s and macs just rip offs of the original computer ever developed no there the same idea made better so even though u think other companies are just copying and could never make anything better, what there actually doing is just making apples idea better just as apple made the original tablet idea better…

        so enjoy the rest of your ignorant life

  63. Ok, I am the biggest Apple fanboy ever. Now obviously I’m going with the iPad2, But the Xoom is very nice also. Some people complain about the price but you are getting what you paying for, nice camera, 1GB of RAM, etc. Even though the Xoom has nicer specs, I am attracted to the ipad by the clean interface and simpleness and the thousads of apps to choose from. Also I find that iTunes is a simple way to take care of iDevices or any device

  64. Just had a LONG discussion with a long-time PC fanatic and electronics store manager. Yes, the Apple “walled garden” is frustrating. I’m not fond of this impersonal business model at all (though stock holders love it).

    Personally, I’m dual platform (helps with working with publishers). And I like both PCs and Apple. The iPad2 and the new XOOM are both capable machines (yes, the iPad feels better in the hands, slicker, less clunky). But in the end neither machine is worth a damn without apps.

    So… what do you want to do?

    I’m in art and music, I associate with the worlds top acts as instrument designer and consultant. I need my art and music presentations to shine, and I want a slew of cutting-edge art and music apps to work with on my platform(s). Right. Apple iPad2.

    Anyway, in my discussion with the PC store manager, after all his endless apple-bashing, I brought up art and music apps. “Oh,” he said, “Get an iPad. Way more art and music apps there.” Well, I already knew this. I’d browsed the android market as well as the apple app store. This PC-based, android man confirmed my choice.

    As to “apple people” being non-tech, that’s total BS! I’m in touch with people all across the world in technology – apple machines are common workhorses in their homes and studios.

    I’m the instigator of the hottest DIY tech movement in electronics (some readers will guess who!), and, even being “dual,” I prefer the apple platform. It’s because I’m a tool user (grew up in a German hand tool workshop) that I recognize a good tool when I use one! Hey – the apple is a good tool, airbook, pod, pad or desktop (my bluray PC gets jealous).

    OK – I enjoyed knowing how to keep my old ’69 Chev Impala working. But never needing to re-gap plugs, clean points, replace rotors, rebuild a carb or clutch (1971 Capri) makes hopping in my Accord a pleasure. I don’t miss the tune-ups and rebuilds at all. My tech streak is fulfilled at my electronics bench. My Apples have done all things needed without tweaks or rebuilds.

    Calm down! As I said, I’m DUAL. And it’s the APPS.

    PC? Bluray writing and desktop games. The rare specialty app.
    Apple desktop? Everything else.
    Tablet? iPad2 (again, it’s the apps, more, and art-music heavy)

    And if art and music (creation, not listening) is your main thing: Apple everywhere… pod, pad, laptop, air and desktop. The only thing I do art-wise on the PC is archive large vid projects: bluray burning.

    So… the electronics manager was right on all counts. The apple walled garden sucks. But the iPad is a better art and music tool, and this fact alone obliterates the nit-picked comparisons usually coughed-up as these things hit the market.

    Now here’s something really interesting. A good number of my die-hard PC friends are either playing with apple now, having “Hackintosh” parties (installing the Apple OS on their PCs), or simply switching over to apple altogether. I know of no one switching from mac to PC. What’s up?

    Really, I see as much of a desertion here as a battle! May the best platform win!

    • So what do you do when art and music aren’t your cup of tea? I hate not being able to load my custom apps on a SD Card and load them right there. What about software development or Web site modification? Can Macintrash, I mean Apple, really deliver?

      • Yes, Macintrash can deliver. Most PC applications can run on Mac, Macs can run Windows, and it looks cooler too! iMac Core i7 or even the 12-core Mac Pro can prove that Macs can be used for developing (Heck, even a MacBook Air can do basic programming and design!) By the way, don’t say what you don’t know, Blah, Blah, Blah…

      • Wait, you like to develop your own apps, and want to use them on your own device. Pretty sure you can set yourself up as a developer and do just that with the iPad, even without jailbreaking, how else do all those people who make apps do it.

      • Wait, you like to develop your own apps, and want to use them on your own device. Pretty sure you can set yourself up as a developer and do just that with the iPad, even without jailbreaking, how else do all those people who make apps do it.

  65. I just carnt wait until i get the xoom, I personally wouldnt even look at the ipad2, who wants to be stuck with itunes, the xoom i think is the best looking tablet out of the 2, i reckon it has the best features, and it has now got honeycomb 3 on it.

    • haha rlly this poll was done on an apple website people who are on a apple website are there to buy apple things

      people don’t go around websites looking for polls to do

      • Ah, a classic engadget commenter.
        *Doesn’t argue a point with any kind of logic.
        *Flat out insults
        *Terrically rude

        and finally…cares so much about brand wars that they get personally angry about it.

      • still, polls are retarded crap!!
        The poll was from before the Xoom even came out, and we all know that Apple will always be large like that. Just not that frigging large

      • still, polls are retarded crap!!
        The poll was from before the Xoom even came out, and we all know that Apple will always be large like that. Just not that frigging large

      • Calm down man, it’s only a tablet, you didn’t invent it, no need to get so personally involved in it.

        Also, “polls are retarded crap”, nice, vague statement, no actual numbers or logic to back it up.

      • Calm down man, it’s only a tablet, you didn’t invent it, no need to get so personally involved in it.

        Also, “polls are retarded crap”, nice, vague statement, no actual numbers or logic to back it up.

      • Ah, a classic engadget commenter.
        *Doesn’t argue a point with any kind of logic.
        *Flat out insults
        *Terrically rude

        and finally…cares so much about brand wars that they get personally angry about it.

  67. The doa comment is definately an “I don’t care” person lol. I agree with the notion that apple is better for creating music. As for storing and listening to music I think its a wash but the Xoom 3d interface for mp3 is pretty tight. I don’t make music or movies so those things are not relevant to me. For everything else, I prefer the Xoom. Just depends on what you need to do. Adobe and 4g are the insurmountable deal breakers for me.

  68. Funny How You gotta pay for and HDMI Adapter ($40) + Cable ($20-$30), Photo Upload Adapter ($30) – That Puts the price up to $600 + Tax for a 16GB IPad 2 (WIFI ONLY). Motorola Xoom is ($799) Given out of the box you have those already built in minus the HDMI Cable .. + 3G/4G .. IMO the Motorola Xoom is worth it .. It’s more what works for you .. I sync everything thru google .. so .. Its great for me ..

  70. U gotta be a fandroid. @Adobodawg

    In order to mirror Xoom to ur hd tv. U need 129$ dock first.
    = $928 total.

    Go and buy ur self good earphones as no standard jack.

    Spend around $30-50 here as given earphones are bad.

    = $958-$978.

    Lmao most websites open up in Xoom with horrible mobile versions and also stretched versions. Aghhhh.

  71. U gotta be a fandroid. @Adobodawg

    In order to mirror Xoom to ur hd tv. U need 129$ dock first.
    = $928 total.

    Go and buy ur self good earphones as no standard jack.

    Spend around $30-50 here as given earphones are bad.

    = $958-$978.

    Lmao most websites open up in Xoom with horrible mobile versions and also stretched versions. Aghhhh.

  81. Lol true. I think if you want an ipad 2 your best bet is to buy the wifi only from apple and then wait for the 4g mifi card from big red.

  83. Ahhhh the debate rages on when it really shouldn’t. The Xoom outclasses the iPad2 on every aspect expect slim form factor which really is .12 inches in difference. Other than that:

    1. Better Cameras. Do I really have to lay it down for ya. Google talk is nearly identical to facetime and doesnt require…..although it can use….WiFi………um, options.
    2. HDMI output without having to buy more Apple hardware to make it happen.
    3. 4g – not yet but it will and long before there is an ipad 3…..eg….ipad2 will never have it
    4. Flash – xoom has it…..ipad1,2,3 never will and until something else is standard on the net….give me the option to turn flash on or off….but no option is not an option
    5. microsdHC slot – Ipad 1,2 ????? NOPE. What can i do with that anyhow???? Oh i dont know….have a card for music, one for movies, one for work….etc etc…..options…..Ipad where are you???
    6. An LED flash…..is it on the ipad….nope.
    7. True multitasking and not some integrated bar that lets me see what I ran and not what is truly running……which one has it….oh ya XOOM.
    8. Price – well id pay 75 buck for better hardware…but throw in the WIFI only version with expandability and the prices match for better hardware and more options.
    9. OS – okay here is the personal preference part…..if you like limitations…..Apple is your boy. If you like to be able to do what ever you like as far as customization….well…..I think you know where this is going.
    10. Speakers……stereo vs mono…..its an actual PHYSICAL DIFFERENCE you cant debate it….um XOOM.
    11. Xoom – flagship Google tablet gets updates as soon as they are available…..bye bye fragmentation argument.
    12. Battery – APPLE HAS THE EDGE….barely….or so it seems.
    13. Apps – poor argument. Android 3.0 hasn’t been around long enough to have a pile of worthless apps…yes apple has more, but how many of them are truly usefull…..that aren’t already on Android…..hmmmm um not many. The options for piles of garbage apps will be there on Android….they just need more time to give the developers of said garbage some time.
    14. Screen resolution – Well….again we know the answer here.
    15. Processors – well Apple doesn’t want to release the specs because they, “dont think it should be so much a hardware discussion as much as it is about the user experiece”

    Um……Thats easy to do when you dumb your OS down sooooo much the user experience is so simple my friends 1 year old can use one.
    NVIDIA Tegra 2 vs Apple …..give me a break……oh did I mention the Tegra2 has been overclocked to 1.5 Ghz already?

    There are more (little ones like widgets, barometer etc etc), but the above are the big ones. Apple fan boys…..I’m not an Android fan boy….just someone who isn’t blinded by the Kool-Aid Apple keeps feeding you. Hardware is hardware. The Xoom and the Ipad are sexy machines…the question is not….”are they sexy”, but rather “which is sexier” Xoom is way sexier as an overall package.

    The list above (1-15) is just plain ol fact about options. Options Apple refuses to let you, the consumer have. Take off the blinders Apple fan boys and join a truly progressive movement.

  84. Ahhhh the debate rages on when it really shouldn’t. The Xoom outclasses the iPad2 on every aspect expect slim form factor which really is .12 inches in difference. Other than that:

    1. Better Cameras. Do I really have to lay it down for ya. Google talk is nearly identical to facetime and doesnt require…..although it can use….WiFi………um, options.
    2. HDMI output without having to buy more Apple hardware to make it happen.
    3. 4g – not yet but it will and long before there is an ipad 3…..eg….ipad2 will never have it
    4. Flash – xoom has it…..ipad1,2,3 never will and until something else is standard on the net….give me the option to turn flash on or off….but no option is not an option
    5. microsdHC slot – Ipad 1,2 ????? NOPE. What can i do with that anyhow???? Oh i dont know….have a card for music, one for movies, one for work….etc etc…..options…..Ipad where are you???
    6. An LED flash…..is it on the ipad….nope.
    7. True multitasking and not some integrated bar that lets me see what I ran and not what is truly running……which one has it….oh ya XOOM.
    8. Price – well id pay 75 buck for better hardware…but throw in the WIFI only version with expandability and the prices match for better hardware and more options.
    9. OS – okay here is the personal preference part…..if you like limitations…..Apple is your boy. If you like to be able to do what ever you like as far as customization….well…..I think you know where this is going.
    10. Speakers……stereo vs mono…..its an actual PHYSICAL DIFFERENCE you cant debate it….um XOOM.
    11. Xoom – flagship Google tablet gets updates as soon as they are available…..bye bye fragmentation argument.
    12. Battery – APPLE HAS THE EDGE….barely….or so it seems.
    13. Apps – poor argument. Android 3.0 hasn’t been around long enough to have a pile of worthless apps…yes apple has more, but how many of them are truly usefull…..that aren’t already on Android…..hmmmm um not many. The options for piles of garbage apps will be there on Android….they just need more time to give the developers of said garbage some time.
    14. Screen resolution – Well….again we know the answer here.
    15. Processors – well Apple doesn’t want to release the specs because they, “dont think it should be so much a hardware discussion as much as it is about the user experiece”
    Um……Thats easy to do when you dumb your OS down sooooo much the user experience is so simple my friends 1 year old can use one.
    16. RAM – 1GB vs 512 MB – Xoom wins with 1GB of RAM.

    NVIDIA Tegra 2 vs Apple …..give me a break……anyone who knows anything about hardware and video hardware knows NVIDIA is tops……anyone played a game that said, “NVIDIA. The way it was meant to be played” THESE PEOPLE KNOW GAMES AND VIDEO. Apple….okay pretty colors……simple OS…is that who I want making my CPU….a CPU designed for a simple OS….its no wonder Apple doesnt want to release their CPU specs.

    oh did I mention the Tegra2 in the Xoom has been overclocked to 1.5 Ghz already?

    There are more (little ones like widgets, barometer etc etc), but the above are the big ones. Apple fan boys…..I’m not an Android fan boy….just someone who isn’t blinded by the Kool-Aid Apple keeps feeding you. Hardware is hardware. The Xoom and the Ipad are sexy machines…the question is not….”are they sexy”, but rather “which is sexier” Xoom is way sexier as an overall package.

    The list above (1-16) is just plain ol fact about options. Options Apple refuses to let you, the consumer have. Take off the blinders Apple fan boys and join a truly progressive movement.

    • I totally agree!!!!
      I was listening to the radio recently and even IT analysts said that IPAD far away from being the best product and concede to other tablets. BUT nobody can understand the successful sales of IPAD.
      I might admit is the Idea.
      Of course Xoom is much better from every perspective and don’t understand people who r still running after IPAD.   Even new View PAd 10 is gonna beat IPAD.  

    • Holy sweet mother of Jesus nobody gives a flying f**k about flash! You droid fanboys need to stop acting like anyone uses flash anymore. Wow you get a lot of ads from the Internet. That is what flash gives you. Advertisements. Not anything else. Maybe a few videos, but they are converting into html5 so hahhahahahahahahah flash sucks.

  85. If people are still giving I pad 2 the edge they are the people that have either already been played by Apple marketing and are trying to justify their purchase or they are the people who have already purchased a Mac computer, Apple TV, an iPod touch, iPhone 4, and are anxiously awaiting the ipad3 (the very fact that Apple is leaking its launch already speaks to the inferiority complex of the ipad2). Jobs’ statement that he doesnt want to focus on specs as much as experience is the funniest thing I have ever heard. He doesnt want to focus on specs because the ipad2 is significantly inferior in almost every category. Better cameras, processor, customzation, twice the RAM, better screen resolution, built in HDMI and the list goes on. I wouldn’t want to focus on the specs either if I were Steve Jobs.

    • Actually, so you aren’t giving a double standard to droid and apple fanboys, there are actually more droid fanboys that rant about xoom being “better”. And they can only give specs as a reason the xoom is better. Sad.

    • you know what? You’re also one of the lame ducks that wastes time trying to promote the stupid xoom… People are already flocking to the ipad

      • The fact that it limits you to using ONLY apple’s software to do anything on your iPad.  Remember Microsoft Antitrust in Europe and America in the 90’s and early 2000s?  Hint: There was nothing “wrong” with internet explorer either – we were just forced to use it.

  87. Lets forget for one moment that the iPad is outselling the combined effort of all Android tablets 20:1.

    Specs lie — the iPad 2 is several times faster than the Motorola Xoom in games, which is the only reason someone would care about OpenGL performance, except that even the UI on the Xoom is choppy as hell because of this. Nvidia *might* know how to make desktop GPU’s, but the Tegra-2 is a horrid pile of steaming guano.

    Then there’s the app issue (Xoom has few; and even fewer are any good) and the Flash issue (web works better without Flash); sure, it has a slightly better camera, and can do more out-of-the-box, but five minutes later, you realize that Android still has a very long way to go before it’s really ready for prime-time.

  88. Let it be known that I an not a fanboy of either side.. I am a google user…voice, mail, docs, chrome ect. and just got my first android phone. I have a Imac and ipod touch. Now lets not forget about all the things that Android lets you do by default. Like custom ROMs which just like the phone the tablet will have..and the ability to sync with google anything (talk, voice, contacts, bookmarks the list goes on) OTA no tether needed. Google, the more you use it the more you will get out of your android. Built in HDMI and upgradable to 4g. Plus micro sd which means expandable memory. If have an ipad and your running low on memory you have to choose between content and getting a bigger ipad. I am a tech guy so hardware is a big issue with me, I want the one that can do more. The app market is not there yet but it is growing at a rapid rate. Apple blows the doors off Android in both markets. Grant it that both markets are full of crap and a few good apps. Bottom line if you are not a super user and don’t mind not having options get the latest ipad/ipod touch/iphone. Want options and an expandability? Do you actually care about better hardware? If so get a tablet running Honeycomb. (XOOM) Don’t get me wrong, I like apple and they have so many great products, I probably would have had an iphone if they were available through my carrier(still not btw) before the androids came. If there were not so many people that needed a dumbed down OS or apple fanboys, this wouldn’t even be a contest.

  89. Look at benchmark scores for the A5 vs Tegra 2. That pretty much puts all debate to rest. Tegra 2 is nothing in comparison. In some Megaflop bechnmarks, the Tegra 2 in the Xoom was outperformed by the first generation iPad. Its clearly stated and benchmarks don’t lie. It’s not even a fanboy contest right now, it’s just a fact. Though, one can argue they like the Android interface more than Apple’s iOS, (which I like both) but the truth is: A5 crushed Tegra 2 this round. Brutally.

  90. OH! Not to mention Android stopped making Honeycomb and decided to combine it with the next Android update because it was such a failure as a whole. Good job guys.

    • I am very sorry, but I dont get this. Google “stopped making” Honeycomb? This is not a product that is manufactured, so you cant really “stop” making it. And the next version, Icecream sandwich tries to unify the mobile phone and the tablet experience. It does not “combine” anything with anything else.

  91. The big thing that turns me away from the xoom is that it is no were near as fluid as the ipad. after about 20 minutes of use and customization the home screens start to act sluggish and jitter a little. i could use the ipad for hours and never have a problem with it.

    I am aware that the xoom can have widgets and such that could slow down the devise but that leads me to my next point, and how Google OS is so unrefined. ipad does not allow anything on it that will bog down the devise and google does.

    •  Which particular part of the Android OS are you talking about where Google lets programs “bog” down the device?

  92. The big thing that turns me away from the xoom is that it is no were near as fluid as the ipad. after about 20 minutes of use and customization the home screens start to act sluggish and jitter a little. i could use the ipad for hours and never have a problem with it.

    I am aware that the xoom can have widgets and such that could slow down the devise but that leads me to my next point, and how Google OS is so unrefined. ipad does not allow anything on it that will bog down the devise and google does.

  93. Well I have to agree about the device being sluggish after some time of use but I don’t think what slows it down is the extra features like the widgets and so on.

    However, there is couple of facts that disappoint me about the Xoom.

    First thing is that if you live in Canada you will notice the missing applications, Like Google Books,

    Featured Tablet Apps in the Market witch is one of the most important things to have, Street View in Maps also 3D Buildings. You can’t open PDF. and so on. I will be posting the other missing things after I experience more with it. But all these features I mentioned are available in the US

    I do also have an iPad 2 and I was comparing them, the iPad 2 browser does open webpages a little faster than the Xoom, may be because of the flash in the Xoom that is slowing it down, I have to confirm that. I also noticed switching between apps in the iPad 2 is also faster than in Xoom. These are facts it is not saying I am an apple fan infact I hate apple because it took BSD and closed the source code. There is also one more thing to mention why the iPad 2 might be a little faster than Xoom for now. Since iPad 2 application are made using Object-C witch is built on the fastest language C. On the other hand, Xoom application are built using Java witch is way way slower than C or C++ or even Object-C. I am still waiting for more updates for the Xoom since it still on it’s first ages.

      • Unfortunately some people don’ know ‘ chat and normal conversation are totally different. 

        P.S.
        due to lack of arguments SOME ipad lovers stick to absolutely irrelevant things    

      • That’s true. Actually, I don’t even really care about this forum. The Xoom is much cooler, it’s just that I already own Apple products so it’s easier for me to integrate the iPad 2 into my lifestyle.

      • Unfortunately some xoom fanboys troll around everybody that likes the iPad better than the xoom.

  95. I have android on my phone and google docs sucks… Is it the same on xoom? I want that tablet but i would like to (for example) use formulas in excel… Or is it some other app better to use with docs? Can some body help before i buy it?

  96. You know why apple doesn’t talk about its ipad 2 vs other tablets? They don’t need to. All these lame ducks trying to promote the xoom are just waste their time. Apple knows the secret: simple but elegant. Most people don’t need the bunch of stupid features on the xoom, which results in a high price. They go for the ipad, which has the nessesities that they need and want. Also the fluid motion of everything on the ipad 2 from the design to the music fading when you close an app. Android honeycomb 3.0 has everything bumpy and rocky, which leads to confusion.

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