Considering a Xoom tablet -- input sought

[Rick_In_Houston]

I've been doing some comparison shopping and I've found what looks to be a really good deal on the Xoom. In reading some of the early reviews, however, it seems as though many reviews referred to the "wonkiness" of some of the software, the limited availability of apps on the Market, the requirement of accessories to get the most out of the device, etc.

My questions are: have these issues been resolved via updates/patches? What are your current impressions of the Xoom?

FWIW, the model I'm considering is the 32GB WiFi.

Thanks,

Rick

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[Pharoah]

the xoom is a very good product currently with all the updates.there truly has never been a lack of apps.maybe a lack of tablet specific apps.there are more and more apps released everyday.so even that is not so much anymore.

[ggrant3876]

I've been doing some comparison shopping and I've found what looks to be a really good deal on the Xoom. In reading some of the early reviews, however, it seems as though many reviews referred to the "wonkiness" of some of the software, the limited availability of apps on the Market, the requirement of accessories to get the most out of the device, etc.

My questions are: have these issues been resolved via updates/patches? What are your current impressions of the Xoom?

FWIW, the model I'm considering is the 32GB WiFi.

Thanks,

Rick

Welcome to the forum.Glad you decided to join us. I would rather have my Xoom than any of the other android tablets. First and foremost the Xoom will get updated before any of the other tablets being a Google Experience Device.

[jblalock77]

Welcome to the forum.

[timrock]

i have a 32gb wifi. the only issue i have with this device is the inability to write to the sd card. Thats it. Other than that, i have no major complaints that would warrant me to seek another device. Oh, full usb thru the OTG cable would help also, but its not a deal breaker, and i know these things are available thru root, but im not ready for that just yet. Waiting to see what ICS can do for me in these areas. So if you can get a good deal and dont mind the issues i just mentioned, i say go for it, or look at the other devices available in that price and range and see which ones you like.

Also, ICS will bring apps for both phones and tablets together, so there should be no limit on apps.

[Rick_In_Houston]

i have a 32gb wifi. the only issue i have with this device is the inability to write to the sd card. Thats it. Other than that, i have no major complaints that would warrant me to seek another device. Oh, full usb thru the OTG cable would help also, but its not a deal breaker, and i know these things are available thru root, but im not ready for that just yet. Waiting to see what ICS can do for me in these areas. So if you can get a good deal and dont mind the issues i just mentioned, i say go for it, or look at the other devices available in that price and range and see which ones you like.

Also, ICS will bring apps for both phones and tablets together, so there should be no limit on apps.

Thanks all for the replies thus far. (and please, keep 'em coming!)

timrock, is there any sort of integration between the Xoom and the Motorola Android phone? (wife has an Atrix)

Ability to write to SD would be nice, but it wouldn't be a deal-breaker...especially if ICS addresses that. I could wait a month or two.

Follow-up question to my original: have any of you used DolphinHD browser on the Xoom? I use it on my mobile device (Samsung Galaxy SII Epic Touch) and I thoroughly dig it there (as opposed to the stock Android browser, which is underwhelming IMO), but I'm curious about its performance on a tab.

[fish1552]

For the money would would be hard pressed to find much of a difference between the 4 major Android tablets. One has full sized USB ports, another has no SD card, one has bad issues with the screen glass being easily scratched, - and I believe 2 have bad screen bleed issues.
The rest all have manufacturer user interfaces (UI) so they do have some pros and cons there too. Some like flavored UIs, but I like mine vanilla.

Overall though, I doubt you will be disappointed in your purchase. You may have a few minor issues, but then every device has it's quirks. The issue is whether you can deal with them or if they are deal breakers. You are lucky in that you've come in at a point wjen the updates have fixed many of the issues from earlier this spring.

As far as needing the accessories? I bought the dock to make it easier to watch movies when plugged into my tv, but by no means do you need any accessory to get *better* use out of it - unless you like to listen to music on it. Then the HD dock *does* help a lot with it's speakers. Keyboards or mice? I used mine at first, but lately, it has sat on the shelf collecting dust.

I would at least go to a store that has a few of the tablets and try them all out and see which you prefer if you aren't 100% sold yet. That should help you decide which fits you best. But if you don't, I doubt you will be that uoset with yourself with your Xoom. I know I'm not.

>> Xoomin' <<

[twowheelz]

I've been doing some comparison shopping and I've found what looks to be a really good deal on the Xoom. In reading some of the early reviews, however, it seems as though many reviews referred to the "wonkiness" of some of the software, the limited availability of apps on the Market, the requirement of accessories to get the most out of the device, etc.

My questions are: have these issues been resolved via updates/patches? What are your current impressioimns of the Xoom?

FWIW, the model I'm considering is the 32GB WiFi.

Thanks,

Rick

I'm not sure where those comments of earlier reviews come from, although that was then this is now. As with most devices updates come and with those come changes. And change happens all the time with these. You really can't keep up. New month, hell for that matter new week, new device. Just when, something new. I just wanted a tablet running android. It was between this or a asus transformer. Both the xoom and asus are my top two when it comes to tablet performers, imo. You want a app surrounded tablet, well apple wins out there but android is chipping away every hour.

[timrock]

Thanks all for the replies thus far. (and please, keep 'em coming!)

timrock, is there any sort of integration between the Xoom and the Motorola Android phone? (wife has an Atrix)

what type of integration?

Follow-up question to my original: have any of you used DolphinHD browser on the Xoom? I use it on my mobile device (Samsung Galaxy SII Epic Touch) and I thoroughly dig it there (as opposed to the stock Android browser, which is underwhelming IMO), but I'm curious about its performance on a tab.

I use Dolphin HD and also have Dolphin Tab installed as well. I have been going back and forth between Dolphin and Opera. Opera has some features that i like, such as when i download stuff, for each download, i can tell it where to save to. Cant do that with Dolphin. Dolphin is smoother than opera. The gestures are great.

[Flyer91]

On a Xoom forum you are probably not going to get too many people saying not to get one, but I will ...... sort of.

My wife and I each have had our 32gb wifis since last Feb, and it started out pretty good.
Each update has made improvements in some areas, but for my use (mainly as a browser and Netflix viewer/receiver for my motorcoach's home theater) I have had more issues with it crashing the browser, loading the web sites much slower with each update, and lately the market will not allow me access to my apps.
The keyboard editing has always been terrible ... no .... make that worse than terrible!! It works sometimes, then just goes to sleep then won't place the cursor at the same place as the pointer icon and .... well, it just sucks.

Although I do feel that the Xoom has better technology, and I am going to keep mine if for nothing more than my use in the coach, I will get an iPad.
The iPad just has too much momentum behind it. Maybe because it it more restrictive, or that it has some satanic mojo-advantage behind making it so popular, the fact is ......... that it is just kicking butt on every other tablet combined in sales, and that relates to much more "everything" for the lions share of users.
I've held out for as long as I could, but I am definitely iPad bound ........ even thought my Xoom will have a loving home until (and beyond) it's orphaned.

So, my 'current' recommendation to anyone looking for a tab is to get an iPad, unless you specifically want a droid device, and if so ........ flip a coin on the ones that have the features you want/need.