Xoom tablet VS Other tablet discussion

[KennyG123]

I am making this sticky thread to allow discussion of all other tablets and theie comparison to the Xoom. Feel free to discuss thoughts on upgrading, specs, and value of swapping. Please respect other members and their opinions. Flaming is against forum rules so again please be respectful.

Thanks
FNM

 

[DsturbD]

well as i just ordered my Xoom yesterday and it should be at my house this afternoon, and since it is my first tablet, i will say that i did a lot of research (no hands on though) on a few tablets before i decided to get the Xoom.

what i like about it is its history as being the first tablet with Honeycomb and one of the first to get ICS. And now will be one of the first to get JB so a big plus is the support for the device. Couple that with Google's purchase of Motorola and it seems like a match made in heaven

i know there are smaller, thinner, lighter tablets out there, but for the price and specs, its more than i need and i am sure i will be very happy with it

 

[okantomi]

I'll take this opportunity to say that imho, the OG Xoom on team EOS ROM is still the best tablet currently available. It will be even better once it has been updated to Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) later in July.

I have been hankering for a new toy and have been looking at the Nexus 7, in part because I know that team EOS is going to be developing for it. But I'm wondering if I'll really be happy with it, seeing as it is missing some important features (especially no sdcard slot). 7 inch form factor is really nice for reading and gaming. It's easy to carry around too, but I have no problems carrying my Xoom in my backpack. I'm not sure about getting it yet, but no matter, it certainly won't replace my Xoom.

I am kind of interested in the Transformer Infinity when it comes out, again because Team EOS may develop for it, but it's not a nexus tablet... Then, there may be a 10 inch nexus tablet coming out later in the year. What to do?

 

[Chaosgod27]

I think the XOOM is one hell of an excellent device that would last me for a few more years. Has great people backing it up and making this tablet one of the best for the long run. To be exactly honest I was never in the tablet market, but by chance I had $400 AUD left over from my HTPC build so I decided to spend it on the XOOM. Probably one of the best choices I had done, but also another problem I don't use my tablet all that often, since there is no need. I'm always in front of a computer or laptop so my tablet just sits there. But I'm trying to use it for other things, such as reading eBooks and mangas. Though I just do all of that on my phone, but on the tablet is a lot more nicer with the big HD screen. In short, I have no need for another tablet even if I got it for free it be sitting right next to my XOOM collecting dust, and I rather use the XOOM since it has a tough feel to it. The Australian MZ601 is very well built!

 

[1215kids]

Xoom is KING!

I've had the Xoom since it was first announced. (I was one of the lucky ones with a 25% off coupon, which they quickly ended) Since then I have bought and returned an Acer, an Asus, an iPad2, a Toshiba and have bought and kept an Archos 80 and a new iPad.

Having had and used various tablets I still prefer the Xoom for most uses. I have the Archos as a cheap backup if the Xoom goes down and I have the new iPad and use sometimes. The display is better than the Xoom but most other features are less useful than the Xoom.

I recently dropped the Xoom face down on the floor from my lap. I was sure I would have a broken screen. Apparently no worse for the wear. It Is Built Like A Tank.

ICS made the Xoom even more functional and if it should get JB then that would be even more reason to use and enjoy the zoom.

The new Google tablet sounds good but no micro sd card and no HDMI cripples it considerably.

Unless the Xoom gets broken or is stolen, I see no reason to update and there are no tablets on the horizon that interest me.

 

[jonsmith709]

Mine arrives Monday, cancelled my nexus 7 for it. As soon as it arrives in going to flash the US Rom to make it a Google device....thanks to XDA

 

[yosterwp]

I've yet to see a tablet that is as good as the XOOM. Period.

 

[063_XOBX]

I've yet to see a tablet that is as good as the XOOM. Period.

While I love my Xoom (first tablet and it's done a great job of making my netbook pretty much pointless) I wouldn't say that it's better than anything else out there. IMO the screen on the Xoom leaves a lot to be desired contrast wise especially compared to the Tab 2.

 

[dannykavs]

I also just picked up a Xoom. I've been in the market for a tablet over the last few weeks and considered a bunch. While the Ipad does offer a lot app wise, the additional tablet apps just didnt interest me. So ios was a non starter.

I use a Gnex and love it to death. I figure I'll stick with the google ecosystem. As soon as I found out the Xoom was getting Jellybean my mind was all but made up. I have a jellybean rom running on my nexus and it seriously does perform at another level. It just made me realize that I didnt need the latest quad core processor to run like a beast. So with that In mind I didnt go out searching for the latest tegra 3 android tablet. I've tried other android phones that werent stock android and I never enjoyed them.

Here's what I love about the Xoom:
- built like a tank, some say its too big...I love quality feel it has
- micro sd slot, thanks
- hdmi out, wicked
- in line for Jellybean in a few weeks
- everything works like it should...wifi, gps, cameras

Its not the flashiest tablet...doesnt have a cutting edge processor.....no next gen display....it just does the job for me.

 

[rubber guard]

as long as the next full size (read: 10.1/8.9) Nexus/GED has a good processor (1.5+) and has decent screen to go along with vanilla jb, ill be on board.

Ill be on board faster if google is selling it w/ the same strategy as the Nexus 7.

 

[okantomi]

While I love my Xoom (first tablet and it's done a great job of making my netbook pretty much pointless) I wouldn't say that it's better than anything else out there. IMO the screen on the Xoom leaves a lot to be desired contrast wise especially compared to the Tab 2.

Yeah, I agree that hardware-wise, the Xoom is no longer bleeding edge, but software-wise, there is nothing really out there on ICS to touch it, and with Jelly bean custom roms that will come, this thing is going to scream. Right now, everything just works (on the configuration in my signature, at least), and that's more than some android tablets can claim. Transformer Prime, I'm talking about you, lol...

One thing I really hate is the disrespect the Xoom gets outside of the Xoom community, and it's started to resurface again now that the Nexus 7 is being called the 1st "nexus" tablet, when we know that that was actually the OG Xoom. I'm still torn about whether I want to add a Nexus 7 to my stable of Android devices, or wait for something more satisfying.

 

[Mandelbrot.Benoit]

I too have been itching for an upgrade to my release day Xoom but once I loaded the JB ROM I realized what a waste of $200 the Nexus 7 would be. The Xoom on JB will satisfy me until the next version of Android which I will bet the Xoom will get though unofficially. It has been an up and down past year-and-a-half for the Xoom but one I don't regret and look forward to another year at least.

 

[yosterwp]

While I love my Xoom (first tablet and it's done a great job of making my netbook pretty much pointless) I wouldn't say that it's better than anything else out there. IMO the screen on the Xoom leaves a lot to be desired contrast wise especially compared to the Tab 2.

I always felt that what the xoom lacks in hardware, it makes up in software. I completely agree about the screen. But with the xoom, that same screen is going to be showing jelly bean officially. Speaking of Jelly Bean I can't wait for it to drop on our xooms!

I guess its fair to say that the xoom does have some shortcomings, but so does all other tablets. But with the xoom, there is a good amount of support from Google and Motorola, being a GED at least in the U.S. That fuels development even more and it's a great thing when an awesome community backs the xoom too! In a way, it makes up for some of them.

But I completely understand what you were saying. Good point

 

[wesamothman]

Putting some thoughts here

I've owned many tablets in the past, ranging from Apple to Android. One thing for sure that made me love my xoom on top of many other tables is that Team EOS roms are great and their efforts developing customization are the one thing that makes me stick to the xoom.

When rooted, you feel like you have the power on top of your device to do anything you like. if you brick your device, it is still recoverable due to the amazing community support for it.

Price wise- it is affordable.
ROM size it a bit small compared to phones but ROM Images (system) are designed to fit just ok.
Screen: very responsive especially with ICS better than HC.
Charge time: very fast.

Speaking of JB, I don't have a single doubt that Team EOS would make it for us.

 

[tumpy]

You're telling me that Samsung, HTC, Sony and Google itself with Nexus devices have magical powers that gives them the ability to update their devices while the little Motorola can't do anything?
Think before posting, please.

To each his own, i love my little motorola, xoom first to get HC, ICS and soon to be JB, all of google (TM) product will get jb first, I wonder what samsung htc and sony will do for an OS when google stop releasing the source code, Motorola will be one step ahead of your samsung, htc and sony,..

 

[okantomi]

To each his own, i love my little motorola, xoom first to get HC, ICS and soon to be JB, all of google (TM) product will get jb first, I wonder what samsung htc and sony will do for an OS when google stop releasing the source code, Motorola will be one step ahead of your samsung, htc and sony,..

Since several threads were merged, this conversation has taken a bit of a turn, but to back-up your point, my Samsung GS2 E4GT phone still has not received the official upgrade to ICS, probably more due to Sprint than Sammy, but we are running custom roms based on leaked builds. They work fine but it's been quite a long time to wait for OTA and source.

The OG US Wifi Xoom has gotten every official upgrade just as fast as possible, and our devs get them to us even faster and much improved!

---------- Post added at 12:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:07 PM ----------

I too have been itching for an upgrade to my release day Xoom but once I loaded the JB ROM I realized what a waste of $200 the Nexus 7 would be. The Xoom on JB will satisfy me until the next version of Android which I will bet the Xoom will get though unofficially. It has been an up and down past year-and-a-half for the Xoom but one I don't regret and look forward to another year at least.

Can you use it as a daily driver, or are you just test-driving right now until the full version comes along?
I will admit that I'm tempted to try it, but nightly 114 is already so smooth and lag-free that I'm at least pretty satisfied for daily use.

 

[Mandelbrot.Benoit]

Can you use it as a daily driver, or are you just test-driving right now until the full version comes along?
I will admit that I'm tempted to try it, but nightly 114 is already so smooth and lag-free that I'm at least pretty satisfied for daily use.

I am sacrificing a lot test driving the JB preview. BT, sound, data isn't working but enough is working to at least show the smoothness and lag free experience we should expect with JB. I was getting tired of the lag when hitting the "recents" button, home screen scrolling etc. Much more responsive on JB but in hindsight I have lost more than I gained and it may not be worth it for most.

 

[gruhahn]

My Xoom

I'm running a stock Xoom M604 Xoom. It's running ICS, which was slow to rollout here in Canada, but it came all the same. The updating of the OS is one of /the reasons I chose Xoom. I use it for most day to day things, as well as using it to control a friends DLNA amp. The "variety" of apps available for Android and iOS are moot, as there are so many redundant and useless apps for both platforms. I like not being locked in by the manufacturers whim, which is why I won't consider an iPad or iPhone. Only complaint I have with my Xoom is scrolling between the desktops. Which is a minor complaint vs iOS, because we actually have desktops I love the stock keyboard. It's large enough that I can still impress people with typing speed in Teamview sessions. I'm not a bleeding edge type, so thus far my Xoom has all the horsepower I need.

 

[okantomi]

I am sacrificing a lot test driving the JB preview. BT, sound, data isn't working but enough is working to at least show the smoothness and lag free experience we should expect with JB. I was getting tired of the lag when hitting the "recents" button, home screen scrolling etc. Much more responsive on JB but in hindsight I have lost more than I gained and it may not be worth it for most.

OMG! EOS Jelly Bean! That's all I can say.

 

[bs296]

OMG! EOS Jelly Bean! That's all I can say.

I completely agree and cannot wait another second for it.

I haven't personally tried any quad core tablet, however there's no comparison between my xoom and my old advent vega (which was good, but the viewing angles were terrible) and with my dad's galaxy tab 10". they're all terribly sluggish.