Look out! Ipad2 v. Motorola Xoom

[HowardH]

I have been watching this battle brewing with some interest as I'm the market to get one of these new fangled, flat keyboardless computing thingofamajigs.  The accusations and fur have been flying fast and furious the last couple of days with Apple haters saying the Xoom rocks and the Apple koolaid drinkers saying the world revolves around Cupertino and how could anyone not be immediately dragging themselves out of ICU to be the first in line for the iPad2.  I'm in both camps.  I have 3 macs and 2 iphones 4's so I guess you can call me an Apple believer even though they drive me crazy at times, ie. forcing itunes down your throat if you want to watch video, etc.  I had an Android Droid for awhile but wasn't happy with the experience so I went back to my iphone.  Specifically, I hated the way you had to use google to get contacts and calendar onto your phone.  A royal PITA.  After some careful consideration, I believe I'm going to get the Xoom.  Everything I have read is the Honeycomb software is outstanding, much more user friendly that earlier versions.  I also like they will have flash very soon and will enable the sd slot as well.  I'm not too worried about content even though there are only about 100 dedicated Android tablet apps so far verses billions and billions of Apple apps.  I would only use 8-10 apps anyway and the market has a way of catching up pretty quickly.  Apple has had a year's head start on Android in this regard - light years in computer time.  I think the Xoom is extremely capable, fast, upgradeable to 4g and I like the ability ( at least pretty soon we're told) to use flash and the sd card to transfer store and use music and video.  Which camp are you in?

 

[peter halle]

Howard,

I preface this by saying - To each their own.

I am an iPad owner and love it.

Not wanting to get into the fray about one versus the others, I offer:

"Peter, why do you like Festools?

They do what is promised and more."

"Peter, why do you like your iPad?"

"They do what is promised and more."

 

[HowardH]

Peter, you are correct.  There is no right or wrong here.  It's purely personal preference and what works best for your needs.  That's what makes this fun!  Competing companies with equally as good solutions.  I can't really say that about Festool, at least over on this side of the pond.  There isn't anything over here that really is the same class as Festool.  It stands alone.  Apple was first to the market and the did they ever capitalize on it!  Holy moly did they sell a lot of units.  Now comes the perceived competition - perceived because we won't know for several months just how much the public will take to ipad alternatives.  It's going to be interesting and no matter what, we win!

 

[GhostFist]

Competition is good for both sides. To be honest I don't know much about the XOOM at all or very much about Honeycomb (Android 3.0) other than it's a tablet specific version of the Android OS. I would think that Flash would be standard on 3.0 as it already is so on 2.2 as well as copying files to SD. Speaking personally I'm still not sold on the idea of a tablet at all as I don't see much use for them. Again to each their own

 

[tiralie]

I am waiting.
I have played around with the apple but I am still thinking I haven't seen enough other tablets to compare it to anything. I have heard the Motorola Xoom is still a "beta" not ready for prime time machine. But we'll wait and see, I would like to see Motorola have some success with their offering.
HP is releasing a tablet as well.
In Canada, the new ipad will be released (2 weeks) and Blackberry "Playbook" tablet is supposed to be released around that time as well. so it will be interesting to see if the Blackberry tablet actually gets released in the next couple weeks.
Tim

 

[GhostFist]

Playbook is supposed to be very functional and is rumoured to run Android apps while maintaining it's own OS. Could be good, could be rubbish. I've heard good things keep an eye out.

 

[GPowers]

Thing about the iPad is like the OF1400 it is part of the Apple system. The iPad ties in to the Apple universe, it is a remote for iTunes, it is a remote for Apple TV, It can Airstream iTunes to an AirPort router or an Apple TV. It can air stream video to an Apple TV. So Apple is Kind of like Festool it's products are part of a greater whole the "SYSTEM".

Microsoft has been trying for years and can still not pull it off, Google might some day but it will all be on the cloud.

 

[GhostFist]

Anything else can do those things without having to buy their complete line. Itunes is probably the worst music program out there as well. Bottom tier IMO

 

[upscale]

I am waiting. I have played around with the apple but I am still thinking I haven't seen enough other tablets to compare it to anything. I have heard the Motorola Xoom is still a "beta" not ready for prime time machine. But we'll wait and see, I would like to see Motorola have some success with their offering. HP is releasing a tablet as well.

I'm waiting too, not exactly for the same things you are, but not too far removed from them. Right from the get go, I've been prejudiced against all things Apple and especially Apple users. When their stated arrogance and snotty comments are directed at me for being a Windows user, I retaliate.

So Apple Ipad being completely discarded, I too am waiting for the Motorola Xoom or the HP Slate to appear in Canada. I'll be able to compare them side by side and that comparison includes Android 3.0 against the tablet version of Windows 7 which is going to be on the HP Slate. I want something small enough to easily slide into a backpack. I'd have eventually gone the netbook route, but that market has all but evaporated with the Tablet market entering the fray. The only dark horse in this fray is the Asus products about to hit the market. I'll just have to wait and see.

 

[fritter63]

ie. forcing itunes down your throat if you want to watch video, etc. 

"It's not the best way... but it's darn good one!" - John Wayne

 

[GhostFist]

 

[GhostFist]

In all seriousness, I recommend you wait a bit before rushing into buying a new tablet of any kind. Honeycomb is brand new and from what I'm reading needs a few minor updates/tweaks. iOS is expecting an update, and there's more competitive devices that are bound to release shortly. Personally I'd still bank on an Android device as there are way more options/flexibility with it but you're better off holding out for anything.

 

[BTDT]

If you aren't in a rush and not a rabid/loyal fan of any brand I would wait. Pretty soon there will be a plethora of manufacturers offering tablets. Besides the ones listed in this thread the BlackBerry Playmaker promises to be a strong competitor.

Heck, I read one article this weekend that mentioned that the iPad v2 was a small upgrade that was timed to disrupt the entry of their competition and keep the spotlight on Apple. The speculation was that there may be an iPad v3 by Christmas.

Brad

 

[upscale]

Heck, I read one article this weekend that mentioned that the iPad v2 was a small upgrade that was timed to disrupt the entry of their competition and keep the spotlight on Apple. The speculation was that there may be an iPad v3 by Christmas.

Sounds like a shrewd guess. I suspect that Apple is desperately trying to sell as many iPads as possible before the tablet glut hits mainstream. At that point, they will be forced back to a reasonably small percentage just because of the sheer numbers of competitors. And, that's even before one or more of those competitors becomes really popular.

 

[GhostFist]

I don't think anyone will suddenly capture the rabid fan base that Apple has. Apple products, if anything look cool, they have a design aesthetic about them that is unmatched in their field and they market the hell out of that. They sell a lifestyle and people want in regardless of how the hardware performs. The closest I've seen on the smartphone market is HTC. they have some sweet looking mean machines. We'll see. Certainly good to have some stiff competition in this market.

 

[fritter63]

It's not about cost and specs (like Jobs said last week). It's about the Ecosystem.

As another company we know says, "The system is greater that the whole..." (or something like that).

 

[Kodi Crescent]

How about this one:

"Kodi, why do you have an iPad?" (when I eventually buy one)

I'm too tired to shop and compare.

 

[jgag]

for Peter [cool]

Q: John why won't you be be buying a new ipad 2 or iphone, I thought you said your iPad was great?
A: it is - but the people that run the AppStore - don't have the same understanding of customer service I do...

Q: so is that why you like Festool?
A: yes both the product and the after-sales service deliver above my expectations...

 

[richard.selwyn]

for Peter [cool]

Q: John why won't you be be buying a new ipad 2 or iphone, I thought you said your iPad was great?
A: it is - but the people that run the AppStore - don't have the same understanding of customer service I do...

Q: so is that why you like Festool?
A: yes both the product and the after-sales service deliver above my expectations...

Typing this on my iPad I'd be interested to hear about your AppStore experiences. Apart from Apple software I have only bought 99 cents apps - the rubbish ones I binned almost straight away (I know I just wasted a dollar but having just been in the US you don't get much for a dollar). I have, however been reluctant to buy more expensive apps - particularly a navigation app, so any of your feedback would be interesting.
Regards,
Richard

 

[Eli]

For the first year or so, I didn't pay for a single app. If it wasn't free, I didn't want it. The most expensive one I've purchased to date was about 25 bucks (Rigger Ref) and worth every penny. I just use 'maps' for navigation.