Pulled the trigger last night on Xoom Wifi

[Dollyllama]

I decided to pull the trigger on a Xoom last night. By pulling the trigger, I mean I happily purchased a Xoom, not that I got angry at it and shot it.

I've been eagerly anticipating purchasing an Android tablet for the primary purpose of developing apps. I've been following several devices over the past few months and narrowed my choices down to the Xoom, the Acer Iconia a500, Asus Eeepad Transformer, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.

With all things being relatively equal, I whittled my choices down to the Samsung and the Xoom...Although I like Acer and have had good experience with their products (yes, even support...I am a teacher/IT specialist for a school district and always had fast turn around with repairs/replacements from Acer), I just didn't like the feel of the Acer a whole lot, combined with a small dev community in addition to (currently) locked bootloader eliminated it from the running....the Asus looks too gimmicky and plasticy/toyish to me.

The Samsung looks very nice, but I'm concerned about the potential lack of ports, backlight bleeding, slightly less responsive touch screen than the xoom.

The Xoom was the clear winner for me primarily because of 1.) a large, thriving development community, 2.) Build quality 3.) Tried and true: I have owned a motorola Droid, Droid X and am extremely happy with those products. 4.) Xoom has been out a few months and has had the chance to be thoroughly reviewed/tested/go through growing pains.

As I said earlier, I'm also a teacher, so I have my summers off...I plan on devoting my summer to Android development and I'm excited to be joining the Xoom community! I look forward to learning a lot and also contributing wherever possible.

 

[wang1404]

I decided to pull the trigger on a Xoom last night. By pulling the trigger, I mean I happily purchased a Xoom, not that I got angry at it and shot it.

I've been eagerly anticipating purchasing an Android tablet for the primary purpose of developing apps. I've been following several devices over the past few months and narrowed my choices down to the Xoom, the Acer Iconia a500, Asus Eeepad Transformer, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.

With all things being relatively equal, I whittled my choices down to the Samsung and the Xoom...Although I like Acer and have had good experience with their products (yes, even support...I am a teacher/IT specialist for a school district and always had fast turn around with repairs/replacements from Acer), I just didn't like the feel of the Acer a whole lot, combined with a small dev community in addition to (currently) locked bootloader eliminated it from the running....the Asus looks too gimmicky and plasticy/toyish to me.

The Samsung looks very nice, but I'm concerned about the potential lack of ports, backlight bleeding, slightly less responsive touch screen than the xoom.

The Xoom was the clear winner for me primarily because of 1.) a large, thriving development community, 2.) Build quality 3.) Tried and true: I have owned a motorola Droid, Droid X and am extremely happy with those products. 4.) Xoom has been out a few months and has had the chance to be thoroughly reviewed/tested/go through growing pains.

As I said earlier, I'm also a teacher, so I have my summers off...I plan on devoting my summer to Android development and I'm excited to be joining the Xoom community! I look forward to learning a lot and also contributing wherever possible.

Welcome aboard.

To my opinion tho the Acer iconia is the best looking one out of all 4. Nonetheless, the xoom might looks boring at first but its the build quality that wins everything. Its just so solid. Did you get the free portfolio case from Motorola btw? Idk if that deal is still on or not. But I have the case, its originally worth 40 dollars but its well spent money. The case adds protection and a very professional looking to the xoom.

PS: I never knew the Acer was locked down.

Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App

 

[ElCamino]

I just picked up the motorola Xoom yesterday sunday at the best buy exchanging the acer iconia A500. The reason was because the gps problem also the rocker switch for the volume control not working and also the voice recognition mic was not working all the time. So far so good with the motorola. By the way congratulations on the Xoom.

I'm testing the Xoom on the way to work.

 

[Dollyllama]

Welcome aboard.

To my opinion tho the Acer iconia is the best looking one out of all 4. Nonetheless, the xoom might looks boring at first but its the build quality that wins everything. Its just so solid. Did you get the free portfolio case from Motorola btw? Idk if that deal is still on or not. But I have the case, its originally worth 40 dollars but its well spent money. The case adds protection and a very professional looking to the xoom.

PS: I never knew the Acer was locked down.

Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App

Thank you for the heads up on the case...I got a zagg for the screen, (some people don't like them, but I seem to have good luck with getting them on with no bubbles etc), but I was looking for a cover...I'll definitely check it out.

As far as the Acer, I agree it looked solid but the dev community was really small over there (been following a few weeks)...and still having trouble with getting clockwork running etc...

I just picked up the motorola Xoom yesterday sunday at the best buy exchanging the acer iconia A500. The reason was because the gps problem also the rocker switch for the volume control not working and also the voice recognition mic was not working all the time. So far so good with the motorola. By the way congratulations on the Xoom.

I'm testing the Xoom on the way to work.

thanks! Oh...by the way, testing on the way to work only if you're a passenger.

 

[blackte4]

Welcome to team xoom. I hope you had a chance to update to 3.1. It brings new life to the xoom. Check it out. Next will be the sdcard fix. Then we will have the best tablet on the market.

 

[jiwengang]

Welcome aboard.

To my opinion tho the Acer iconia is the best looking one out of all 4. Nonetheless, the xoom might looks boring at first but its the build quality that wins everything. Its just so solid. Did you get the free portfolio case from Motorola btw? Idk if that deal is still on or not. But I have the case, its originally worth 40 dollars but its well spent money. The case adds protection and a very professional looking to the xoom.

PS: I never knew the Acer was locked down.

Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App

Quite opposite... I think ACER ICONIA looks so ugly... but that is pure personal opinion and I do respect your view on Acer =)

Xoom to me looks "Bold and solid", boring maybe another word to describe it but the full metal jacket is definitely something I like, again personal opinions =)

Welcome on board to OP!

 

[Vdubtx]

I also picked up a Xoom this weekend. Got the Zagg screen for free with the promo Best Buy had on the website. Haven't had a chance to put it on. Screen definitely needs something on it with the print magnet that it is. The Motorola case intrigues me, anyone have a link to the case for free as mentioned above by wang1404?

 

[Dollyllama]

I also picked up a Xoom this weekend. Got the Zagg screen for free with the promo Best Buy had on the website. Haven't had a chance to put it on. Screen definitely needs something on it with the print magnet that it is. The Motorola case intrigues me, anyone have a link to the case for free as mentioned above by wang1404?

What day did you buy yours? I didn't see the promo and paid full price for my screen protector...BB is very good with honoring things so do you have a link or something where I could check that promo out...I'd like to get my $30 credit.

 

[brijahn]

You have to buy it through bestbuy.com to get the free screen protector.. I'm sure they would refund the price of the screen protector as a price match if you asked.

 

[ElCamino]

Tha

nk you for the heads up on the case...I got a zagg for the screen, (some people don't like them, but I seem to have good luck with getting them on with no bubbles etc), but I was looking for a cover...I'll definitely check it out.

As far as the Acer, I agree it looked solid but the dev community was really small over there (been following a few weeks)...and still having trouble with getting clockwork running etc...



thanks! Oh...b
y the way, testing on the way to work only if you're a passenger.

Yeah only in traffic jams... Use google maps to check traffic conditions worked great.

 

[ElCamino]

I unboxed the motorola Xoom in the parking lot, and install the 3.1 update worked great.

 

[ElCamino]

I unboxed the motorola Xoom in the parking lot and installed 3.1 update works great.

 

[jjank11]

I decided to pull the trigger on a Xoom last night. By pulling the trigger, I mean I happily purchased a Xoom, not that I got angry at it and shot it.

I've been eagerly anticipating purchasing an Android tablet for the primary purpose of developing apps. I've been following several devices over the past few months and narrowed my choices down to the Xoom, the Acer Iconia a500, Asus Eeepad Transformer, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.

With all things being relatively equal, I whittled my choices down to the Samsung and the Xoom...Although I like Acer and have had good experience with their products (yes, even support...I am a teacher/IT specialist for a school district and always had fast turn around with repairs/replacements from Acer), I just didn't like the feel of the Acer a whole lot, combined with a small dev community in addition to (currently) locked bootloader eliminated it from the running....the Asus looks too gimmicky and plasticy/toyish to me.

The Samsung looks very nice, but I'm concerned about the potential lack of ports, backlight bleeding, slightly less responsive touch screen than the xoom.

The Xoom was the clear winner for me primarily because of 1.) a large, thriving development community, 2.) Build quality 3.) Tried and true: I have owned a motorola Droid, Droid X and am extremely happy with those products. 4.) Xoom has been out a few months and has had the chance to be thoroughly reviewed/tested/go through growing pains.

As I said earlier, I'm also a teacher, so I have my summers off...I plan on devoting my summer to Android development and I'm excited to be joining the Xoom community! I look forward to learning a lot and also contributing wherever possible.

Welcome to the club!!!!! You will not be disappointed. Especially when you get 3.1 update. You just have to be a bit patient with support with regards to apps/games. My xoom has almost completely replaced my laptop which I did not think was possible and has also literally reduced my phone use to mostly wifi hotspot and txt. As for cases, I have the zoogue and think it is simply awesome. I would also suggest getting thumbkeyboard app. Happy xooming to you!!!!!

 

[Dollyllama]

Welcome to the club!!!!! You will not be disappointed. Especially when you get 3.1 update. You just have to be a bit patient with support with regards to apps/games. My xoom has almost completely replaced my laptop which I did not think was possible and has also literally reduced my phone use to mostly wifi hotspot and txt. As for cases, I have the zoogue and think it is simply awesome. I would also suggest getting thumbkeyboard app. Happy xooming to you!!!!!

Awesome! Thanks for the tips! I was actually wondering about keying...i used swype on my phone and nook color and thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread until FlexT9 was the app of the day on Amazon app store Saturday... it's hands down better than swype and although it's great on my phone and i use my nook color primarily in portrait mode when reading/replying to forums/ emails, it just isn't going to cut it on a landscape tablet... even on nook color I might give it a try... certainly looks worth the small investment.

Sent from my Nook Color using Tapatalk

 

[dustin4863]

I was about to buy the wifi model also checked craigslist and found a 3g for 500 I had to take it even if it was used

Sent from my Xoom using XDA App

 

[erzhik]

Congrats and welcome. you are now officially a Xoomer.
I recommend Thumb Keyboard beta (its on a forum here in Apps). Best keyboard I ever used.

 

[wang1404]

Awesome! Thanks for the tips! I was actually wondering about keying...i used swype on my phone and nook color and thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread until FlexT9 was the app of the day on Amazon app store Saturday... it's hands down better than swype and although it's great on my phone and i use my nook color primarily in portrait mode when reading/replying to forums/ emails, it just isn't going to cut it on a landscape tablet... even on nook color I might give it a try... certainly looks worth the small investment.

Sent from my Nook Color using Tapatalk

Like many others have said, the best way to type is using thumb keyboards. They are Thumb Keyboard which is available as a beta version in apps section, and Swiftkey . And I think the thumb keyboard is better than swiftkey even though they use the same method. The swiftkey version I have is the first beta, I haven't updated so Idk what has changed. But For why swiftkey is worse:
1. The keys are much smaller
2. Prediction is, well, not finished.
And others... lol

You might like the honeycomb city theme. It makes my xoom looks like its from the future.

Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App

 

[senjeng]

If you like Swype, try Slideit. *Really* like it on my Xoom. Its keyboard can be made about 66% smaller (towards the right side) with the 33% to the left useful for numbers and symbol drawing. I find the sliding on the smaller area easier in landscape mode, plus quick number entry in the draw area. Not available yet in the Amazon store, tho I've suggested it to the Slideit guys, only in the Android marketplace, but you can get a fully working 15 day demo to try it out before laying down the money. For some reason I'm all thumbs with Thumb keyboard