Motorola Xoom running on Google’s new Android for tablet is out for sale. The 10.1 inch Motorola Xoom costs $599 with a new two-year contract with Verizon or $799.99 without a contract. If you are wondering how good is it? The verdict on the first real competitor to iPad is out. Generally, Motorola Xoom was received very well by the top tech reviewers. However, the main concerns on the success of Motorola Xoom is its price and the imminent danger from iPad 2. Here is the round up of what the top tech pundits have to say about Motorola Xoom.
WSJ’s Walt Mossberg: Let the Tablet War Begin
The tech columnist from Wall Street Journal Walt Mossberg considers Motorola Xoom as the first real competitor to Apple’s iPad. In his week long test, Walt Mossberg found the Motorola Xoom hardware impressive. However, he was impressed even more by Google’s Android OS, Honeycomb. He called the Achilles’ heel of Motorola Xoom is its price and added that
While iPads come in a range of models priced all the way up to $829—none of which requires a cellphone contract—Apple’s entry price for the iPad is just $499. By contrast, the base price of a Xoom without a cellphone contract is $800—60% more. And even with a Verizon two-year contract at $20 to $80 a month—depending on the data limit you choose—the least you can pay for a Xoom is $600, or 20% more before counting the contract costs.
Then he goes on to advise consumers to wait for the next version of Apple iPad and decide to choose between the two based on the price.
Engadget: A lot to Like to About Xoom
The tech blog Engadget in its detailed review called Motorola Xoom a real contender for the “hearts and minds of” people looking for a tablet to buy. Engadget went on to say that, with Motorola Xoom’s impressive hardware specs, Google’e new software, and the ability to scale up to 4G makes Xoom to be the next stage of tablet evolution. In addition to the price on the negative side, Engadget says that,
The problem with the Xoom isn’t really about the core of the experience or the core of the hardware — it’s about the details. Too much in both the design (like those wonky buttons) or the software (like the feeling that this is all very much in beta) makes you wonder if this wasn’t rushed out to market in order to beat the next wave from Apple. Regardless, there isn’t much here for consumers right now. The Android Market is almost devoid of tablet applications, the OS feels buggy and unfinished, and the hardware has pain points that we find troubling. And that’s to say nothing of the pricing and carrier commitments being asked of first-time buyers.
Although the Motorola Xoom outclasses iPad in many ways, Engadget advises customers to take a wait and see approach until the end user experience improves and Google give us a real tablet stratgey. It ends the review by saying
Honeycomb and the Xoom are spectacular — unfortunately they’re a spectacular work in progress.
NYT’s David Pogue: Xoom Stands Out for Now
David Pogues did not really have anything to complain bout with regard to the hardware of Motorola Xoom. He says “Xoom continues Motorola’s recent streak of attractive, compact and well-built gadgets”. He goes on to say that to be the real competitor of iPad, hardware alone is not good and one needs the right software. And says Honeycomb, Google’s tablet software is much more important than the hardware. Impressed by software, he says
This is the real iPad competitor; Honeycomb tablets in every size, shape and price range will soon be arriving in stores.
David Pogue advises the people who are in the market for a tablet to wait for a couple of months to see Apple’s iPad 2, Blacberry PlayBook, and HP’s TouchPad. He completes the Xoom review by congratulating Motorola for coming up with a nice product in his own way
For xealous tablet fans, it’s an excellent, xesty tablet with a xany price tag — but a lot of xip.
Related posts:
- Motorola Xoom Tablet to Cost $799 for 3G and $600 for Wi-Fi Model
- Motorola Launches First Android 3.0 Tablet; Motorola XOOM, with Verizon
- Motorola Xoom Wi-Fi Model Available for $599 from March 27
- Verizon to Sell Motorola Xoom for $600 with Contract
- Best Buy Stores Accepts Motorola Xoom Pre-order
- How Does Apple’s iPad 2 Specs Compare Against Motorola Xoom?
- Tips and Tricks to Extend Motorola Xoom Battery Life