Considering a Xoom

[runawayprisoner]

From the early reviews it seems that the iPad2 is an evolution of the original as expected. The cameras are said to be pretty bad and battery life isn't much different than the Xoom. This is pretty much coming down to which OS I prefer having and at this point Android wins. Plus the only way I can get fast wireless internet is with the LTE upgrade when that becomes available on the Xoom.

There you go. Looks like the decision is set.

I'd still recommend that you hold out for the software update, though, just to avoid having to send your XOOM in to enable LTE.

 

[Ns1]

Android reboots are almost exclusively caused by user error. It is the user's responsibility to pay attention to what kind of junk they install on the phone. Not much unlike how a user should watch what they install on a Windows machine.

*installs crapware* *pc crashes a lot* "Man windows sucks" This applies to almost every problem anyone ever has on Windows and Android excluding actual defective hardware which isn't very common.

I leave my Droid X on the same boot for months at a time.

I don't watch what I install in iOS

 

[alent1234]

Android reboots are almost exclusively caused by user error. It is the user's responsibility to pay attention to what kind of junk they install on the phone. Not much unlike how a user should watch what they install on a Windows machine.

*installs crapware* *pc crashes a lot* "Man windows sucks" This applies to almost every problem anyone ever has on Windows and Android excluding actual defective hardware which isn't very common.

I leave my Droid X on the same boot for months at a time.

my fave was a few days ago

i open google Nav because i had to drive for work somewhere and i didn't know where the exact building was. plot my route and close Nav to look at something else. open Nav again and it's searching for GPS. i was on the road already so i just drove the 25 miles or so to the right exit and pulled over when i was close. rebooted my inspire and the GPS magically came back and the only ongoing process i have is 3G Data watch or whatever it's called to track my usage.

and a lot times hitting the slacker or pandora widgets will be fruitless and no response, and after a reboot it always works

iOS had it's own issues and was extremely laggy for me sometimes, but not like this

same with the Xoom and iPad 2 reviews. people said the Xoom crashed a few times while the iPad never crashed

 

[zerocool84]

Android reboots are almost exclusively caused by user error. It is the user's responsibility to pay attention to what kind of junk they install on the phone. Not much unlike how a user should watch what they install on a Windows machine.

*installs crapware* *pc crashes a lot* "Man windows sucks" This applies to almost every problem anyone ever has on Windows and Android excluding actual defective hardware which isn't very common.

I leave my Droid X on the same boot for months at a time.

What do you mean user error? Honeycomb on Xoom is buggy. I don't understand what's to question.

 

[poofyhairguy]

the killer combo is android phone and iOS tablet

I 100% disagree. The best combo is an iOS phone and an Android tablet.

iOS is better on my phone because when I actually need to look something up in a pinch is when I appreciate iOS's smoother interface. Also I have my phone with me at all times, so its nice having the OS with better games with me at all times. Now anytime I have to wait somewhere, just rip out the phone and play.

Android is better as a tablet because its more full featured, more like a real computer (which is what you want with such a large screen). I can't do anything fun (in a nerd's definition) with a iPad without using a computer to jailbreak it, and even then I am limited to what the Cydia folks have done. With my Nook Color (thanks to programs like Rom Manager, Root Explorer, and Astro file manager) I can hack the device ON the device like with a laptop. Just this morning I force installed three different keyboards using downloaded apks and these tools without touching my PC- THAT is a sea change in handheld device functionality.

 

[alent1234]

i still don't trust android's support for large apps and installing to SD card. with iOS there is no issue of only the first GB or 1.8GB being limited to app installs. before i got rid of my 3GS i had 13GB of apps on there with a lot being close to 1GB of data

android's widgets make looking something up like the weather a lot faster than app surfing on the iphone

 

[runawayprisoner]

I 100% disagree. The best combo is an iOS phone and an Android tablet.

iOS is better on my phone because when I actually need to look something up in a pinch is when I appreciate iOS's smoother interface. Also I have my phone with me at all times, so its nice having the OS with better games with me at all times. Now anytime I have to wait somewhere, just rip out the phone and play.

Android is better as a tablet because its more full featured, more like a real computer (which is what you want with such a large screen). I can't do anything fun (in a nerd's definition) with a iPad without using a computer to jailbreak it, and even then I am limited to what the Cydia folks have done. With my Nook Color (thanks to programs like Rom Manager, Root Explorer, and Astro file manager) I can hack the device ON the device like with a laptop. Just this morning I force installed three different keyboards using downloaded apks and these tools without touching my PC- THAT is a sea change in handheld device functionality.

I think the iPhone + Android tablet combo works only under conditions where you are financially challenged and you need to get the absolute best bang for your bucks.

And please don't me wrong. I'm not saying that that's bad. But that may not be the optimum option when you have, say... $300 more to spend.

Beyond that, jailbreaking an iPhone or iPad isn't limited to what Cydia folks can do. Strictly speaking, it's limited to what you can find and access via Cydia, but it's not as limited as you think it is.

On an iPad or iPhone, you can make such modifications to the device as well, and you won't need a computer for anything at all.

If I have $300 more to spend, I would definitely go for an Android + iPad or iPhone + iPad combo for many reasons.

 

[finbarqs]

this, as people predicted, has come down to a iOS vs. Android argument again. OP says he prefers android already, and I would like to add my opinion as well:

Wait for the Playbook (which still feels like it's underwater when scrolling) or the HP Touch Pad. Those are the ONLY 2 tablets that have FULL FEATURED browsers (Well touchpad claims to be full featured)

In regards to the "User error" with Android crashes... Kind of reminds you have Windows! This will ultimately become a "windows vs. OSX" argument as well... where as Android are for people who indecisive (let's face it, people with android get sick of their 'custom homescreen' after a while) while iOS gives you no choice at all! (except you can re-arrange your icons). iOS is for the majority of the world of idiots, while android are for the more sophisticated-tech-savvy, I-can-fix-anything people.

I'm gonna see if Playbook still plays hulu when it is released! (or if they got rid of that water-slow-smoothness, in favor of iOS/WP7 smoothness)

 

[zerocool84]

An update is getting rolled out tomorrow but I'd still wait a few months to see what more competition like Blackberry and HP roll out.

http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/10/motorola-xoom-update-rolling-out-tonight-brings-required-enhan/

 

[finbarqs]

hopefully, it'll address a lot of issues people are having with xoom

 

[zerocool84]

hopefully, it'll address a lot of issues people are having with xoom

Well it's an update for an update that's coming later lol.

 

[runawayprisoner]

Then exactly why do Motorola XOOM users need to update again?

I read the primary function is a fix for Daylight Saving, and... that's it? It's like an update to say they are updating regularly just so they can reel in more last minute buyers hesitating.

 

[zerocool84]

Then exactly why do Motorola XOOM users need to update again?

I read the primary function is a fix for Daylight Saving, and... that's it? It's like an update to say they are updating regularly just so they can reel in more last minute buyers hesitating.

Huh? It's an update. What's the need to question an update? iPhone needed an alarm update. If something needs to be updated then update it. It doesn't matter how much or how little it needs to be updated for anything. You do realize that Daylight Saving changes this weekend right?

 

[Anneka]

I 100% disagree. The best combo is an iOS phone and an Android tablet.

iOS is better on my phone because when I actually need to look something up in a pinch is when I appreciate iOS's smoother interface. Also I have my phone with me at all times, so its nice having the OS with better games with me at all times. Now anytime I have to wait somewhere, just rip out the phone and play.

Android is better as a tablet because its more full featured, more like a real computer (which is what you want with such a large screen). I can't do anything fun (in a nerd's definition) with a iPad without using a computer to jailbreak it, and even then I am limited to what the Cydia folks have done. With my Nook Color (thanks to programs like Rom Manager, Root Explorer, and Astro file manager) I can hack the device ON the device like with a laptop. Just this morning I force installed three different keyboards using downloaded apks and these tools without touching my PC- THAT is a sea change in handheld device functionality.

I agree with you 100%. This is also because Android as an OS has the same experience and even more on the table market. Apple was long in research in the phone department before Android was seeing any mobile platform

 

[KentState]

Went to the local Verizon store to play with one. It was exactly what I was expecting in an Android tablet. I probably screwed around for a good 45 minutes. My only hesitation is wanting to play with the iPad2 first and secondly the they had no clue about not needing activation or a data plan. I'm on the fence anyways about if I should do the data plan or just wait until I upgrade to the Bionic and use the hotspot feature.

 

[runawayprisoner]

Why not just get a WIFI XOOM instead?

 

[Munky]

I think the iPhone + Android tablet combo works only under conditions where you are financially challenged and you need to get the absolute best bang for your bucks.

And please don't me wrong. I'm not saying that that's bad. But that may not be the optimum option when you have, say... $300 more to spend.

Beyond that, jailbreaking an iPhone or iPad isn't limited to what Cydia folks can do. Strictly speaking, it's limited to what you can find and access via Cydia, but it's not as limited as you think it is.

On an iPad or iPhone, you can make such modifications to the device as well, and you won't need a computer for anything at all.

If I have $300 more to spend, I would definitely go for an Android + iPad or iPhone + iPad combo for many reasons.

It depends on the user preferences. I would prefer Android for both phone and tablet, because I find Apple's HW and SW too limited and restrictive.

 

[runawayprisoner]

But you gotta admit you haven't used Apple's HW and SW extensively, and you are only basing that assessment on what you've read.

Even if you have in fact been an avid Apple user for many years, I suspect that means you never jailbroke nor intend to.