How the iPad 2 could cost you more than the Xoom

[Chiefcrowe]

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-the-ipad-could-cost-you-more-than-the-xoom-2011-03-08

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

For most users, it won't cost more.

 

[dguy6789]

I don't think there's really anything in there that is eye opening that people didn't already know. I think every cellular connectivity model of both devices costs too much. Wifi only is what I would get. iPad 2 vs Xoom basically boils down to the iPad 2 being the superior device at launch, the Xoom being the superior device eventually once the software is mature. I don't think many people would disagree.

 

[sivart]

My favorite quote of the article...and all too true.

Regardless of whether the iPad 2 is actually better or cheaper, the Wizard of Oz has successfully wooed the world to think it is. And in the age of the Internet, where there are no facts, only opinions, isn’t that what matters?

 

[Monster_Munch]

For most users, it won't cost more.

Wrong. The wifi xoom is cheaper than the wifi ipad2, and if you buy any apps then it's a lot cheaper.

 

[dguy6789]

Wrong. The wifi xoom is cheaper than the wifi ipad2, and if you buy any apps then it's a lot cheaper.

There is a Wifi Xoom that is under $499? I would love to see that. Before capacity difference is mentioned, the 16GB Wifi version of the iPad 2 is the true iPad 2, everything else is unimportant. It is what the vast vast majority of sales will be. That is what the Xoom has to be able to compete with. Nobody anywhere is going to care that the $799 Xoom is cheaper than the $829 iPad 2.

 

[runawayprisoner]

By the way, XOOM for $799 + $60 SD card = $859, for something like 32GB solid-state + 32GB flash.

iPad 2 3G 64GB = $829. There's just no competition.

If you seriously need the SD slot, and a USB slot, they sell adapters. Both for $29. Only photographers or advanced users would really get any use out of those, but they don't require new software to work.

 

[Strk]

There is a Wifi Xoom that is under $499? I would love to see that. Before capacity difference is mentioned, the 16GB Wifi version of the iPad 2 is the true iPad 2, everything else is unimportant. It is what the vast vast majority of sales will be. That is what the Xoom has to be able to compete with. Nobody anywhere is going to care that the $799 Xoom is cheaper than the $829 iPad 2.

Isn't it the same price when they both have 32gb on the WiFi only version? Personally, I think the 3g versions are pointless with the plan prices.

Regardless, while I can see Motorola having issues getting a low price, I just can't figure out how companies like LG or Samsung can't give more for the money when they actually manufacture a lot of the parts -- especially Samsung, since they make the SoC, memory and display (anything else actually inside these things?)

 

[zerocool84]

By the way, XOOM for $799 + $60 SD card = $859, for something like 32GB solid-state + 32GB flash.

iPad 2 3G 64GB = $829. There's just no competition.

If you seriously need the SD slot, and a USB slot, they sell adapters. Both for $29. Only photographers or advanced users would really get any use out of those, but they don't require new software to work.

Well I wouldn't say only photographers and advanced users would get their use out of a SD or USB slot. Regular people use those all the time but as we've seen, not everyone needs it and the $800 Xoom just isn't a deal.

 

[runawayprisoner]

Well, with the iPad, the need to transfer files on and off between the tablet and a computer just isn't there.

You know for sure that if the iPad is to be truly useful, there should always be a network of some kind for it to connect to, and the network connection can be used to transfer files between the iPad and another computer just fine.

Beyond that, it's a lot faster to plug the iPad directly into the computer instead of plugging a USB drive into the computer. The rationale behind a USB drive or something of the sort is that... it's useful when two computers aren't connected in some way. But you can connect the iPad to any computer using its dock connector, and that just really defeats the purpose of the USB drive.

Most people would think they need a USB port on any device, but it's not true when you count mobile devices which can connect directly to the host computer in the USB drive's stead.

 

[Monster_Munch]

I don't know about US prices but in my country it goes like this.

32GB Xoom Wifi with hdmi out = £449
32GB iPad2 with optional hdmi dongle = £499 + £29 = £528

So nearly £90 more for the equivalent ipad, but you get a lower resolution screen and an inferior web browser. The xoom is much better value.

 

[runawayprisoner]

The inferior web browser is only when the software update that includes Flash will come. Whenever it will.

Adobe just issued a statement regarding Flash 10.3 for Android, and it won't be here until about Fall 2011. Not sure if that's what the XOOM will have, because that means it's pushing things back further.

As it is right now, the iPad web browser is superior because it can view more videos, has more websites built specifically for it, and it supports a lot more web standards.

And the iPad screen has a better viewing angle, and better color reproduction. The higher resolution is only slightly, and that is if you don't want the better IPS panel.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

I don't know about US prices but in my country it goes like this.

32GB Xoom Wifi with hdmi out = £449
32GB iPad2 with optional hdmi dongle = £499 + £29 = £528

So nearly £90 more for the equivalent ipad, but you get a lower resolution screen and an inferior web browser. The xoom is much better value.

Where is it saying that the 32GB Wifi Xoom is 449 pounds?

 

[runawayprisoner]

Where is it saying that the 32GB Wifi Xoom is 449 pounds?

Here:
http://www.coolsmartphone.com/2011/03/01/motorola-xoom-priced-up-in-the-uk-449-99/

Ad was pulled, though, so not sure what happened there.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Here:
http://www.coolsmartphone.com/2011/03/01/motorola-xoom-priced-up-in-the-uk-449-99/

Ad was pulled, though, so not sure what happened there.

http://crave.cnet.co.uk/laptops/mot...t-will-match-ipad-2-uk-price-at-500-50003022/

Says the price was a holder. But to talk about your point. Most people aren't going to be needing the HDMI output, so it's nice not to have it built in and get it if you need it.

 

[runawayprisoner]

http://crave.cnet.co.uk/laptops/mot...t-will-match-ipad-2-uk-price-at-500-50003022/

Says the price was a holder. But to talk about your point. Most people aren't going to be needing the HDMI output, so it's nice not to have it built in and get it if you need it.

That wasn't my point, though. I was merely replying to your post. Monster_Much was the one that brought up the HDMI point.

And either way, Europe gets screwed on prices a lot worse than US.

 

[NaOH]

I don't get this insistent misunderstanding that to watch videos on webpages you NEED flash. HTML5 has the innate ability to allow developers to embed media into their webpages which works perfectly on the iOs browsers. They even have flash like HTML5 games and animations. The days that we tout a browser having Flash capabilities as a big big plus are slowly going away. Especially since most other devices can't even run flash on websites well enough to tout it as a feature.

 

[akugami]

Xoom. Great hardware. Software still in beta. Congrats all you early Xoom adopters. Have fun with your OS and apps crashing. Don't worry, the update for your non-functional SD card reader will come soon too. Flash will come in an update soon as well.

I think the Xoom was released too early. I think Motorola wanted to get a jump on the iPad 2. Forget about Flash for a second which is a major criticism of the iOS devices which lack it. How do you justify shipping a product that crashes regularly? Ars Technica reported it to be crashing about 5-8 times a day. Anandtech is also reporting crashes as well as some users from various forums. That's unusable IMHO and totally inexcusable.

 

[QueBert]

I don't know about US prices but in my country it goes like this.

32GB Xoom Wifi with hdmi out = £449
32GB iPad2 with optional hdmi dongle = £499 + £29 = £528

So nearly £90 more for the equivalent ipad, but you get a lower resolution screen and an inferior web browser. The xoom is much better value.

The Xoom is a buggy POS, which Motorola may or may not fix. As it stands, it's not stable at all and has next to no apps available for it. In it's current state it would have to be $299 for me to even think about wanting one.

Moto dropped the ball BIG TIME here.

 

[zerocool84]

I don't get this insistent misunderstanding that to watch videos on webpages you NEED flash. HTML5 has the innate ability to allow developers to embed media into their webpages which works perfectly on the iOs browsers. They even have flash like HTML5 games and animations. The days that we tout a browser having Flash capabilities as a big big plus are slowly going away. Especially since most other devices can't even run flash on websites well enough to tout it as a feature.

People think Flash and for some reason only associate it with Flash videos. There`s more to Flash than just videos. The fact of the matter is that there are still thousands upon thousands of Flash sites, restaurant menus, smaller sites, etc that probably will never get updated. If you don't need it great for you but there are still people that would need it. It`s like someone saying because they don't have any use for apps that it`s not an important feature. It`s still important for many people today and can only enhance your web experience by actually being able to visit the whole web. It`s not like someone can't turn it off if they don't need it on a mobile device but then if they do need it they can turn it on.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Not to mention many Market apps depend on Flash.

 

[MikeyLSU]

that sounds like the same thing Mac people try to say.

"sure your computer is faster and half the price, but after you buy all this software you don't need it will be close to the same price"

You can never assume buying extras like the article does. Very few people will want those thing, a cheap price for the product is the number 1 selling point for electronics as long as it is not a gimped down version.

 

[Bateluer]

Xoom. Great hardware. Software still in beta. Congrats all you early Xoom adopters. Have fun with your OS and apps crashing. Don't worry, the update for your non-functional SD card reader will come soon too. Flash will come in an update soon as well.

I think the Xoom was released too early. I think Motorola wanted to get a jump on the iPad 2. Forget about Flash for a second which is a major criticism of the iOS devices which lack it. How do you justify shipping a product that crashes regularly? Ars Technica reported it to be crashing about 5-8 times a day. Anandtech is also reporting crashes as well as some users from various forums. That's unusable IMHO and totally inexcusable.

Wonder who will fix it first? Google & Motorola or XDA & Community?

 

[MrX8503]

The author also forgets to mention that when you sign up for a data plan on the XOOM to get the $200 savings you're locked in.

I'm not sure why people think a subsidy is free money.

 

[Monster_Munch]

The Xoom is a buggy POS, which Motorola may or may not fix. As it stands, it's not stable at all and has next to no apps available for it. In it's current state it would have to be $299 for me to even think about wanting one.

Moto dropped the ball BIG TIME here.

If by "next to no apps" you mean 150,000 apps, then yeah.