Thechavo09 wrote:Looks like the Xoom will get a 4G update soon.

http://gizmodo.com/5844931/xoom-owners-can-finally-upgrade-their-obsolete-tablet-to-4g-lte

I don't think that applies to the Wi-Fi version. That would only apply to the 3-G versions purchased from Verizon.

Thechavo09 wrote:Looks like the Xoom will get a 4G update soon.

http://gizmodo.com/5844931/xoom-owners-can-finally-upgrade-their-obsolete-tablet-to-4g-lte

3G Xooms will get an update to 4G. Wi-fi Xooms like this remain Wi-fi Xooms.

I own this tablet! And I love it!

This is a great device for any elderly person wanting to be connected to the world!

You would have to be out of your mind to spend this kind of money on a last-gen tablet with the new lifecycle and Amazon tablet coming out. Save your money for something decent, Honeycomb is practically abandonware, and I'm as hardcore an Android fan as they come.

I've got both a Xoom and a Galaxy Tab 10.1. I love the Galaxy and tolerate the Xoom. The Xoom is heavier and has less battery life. It also has a stupidly positioned power switch in back and has separate USB and power cables, so you can't trickle charge, which I find annoying.

That said, you can read books, watch movies, play music, and generally enjoy this tablet for what it is. It's not a terrible buy, especially not at this price. It's certainly better than the Viewsonic tablet that keeps popping up here, and since it's already running Honeycomb, you don't need to root it before it's useable.

xaronax wrote:You would have to be out of your mind to spend this kind of money on a last-gen tablet with the new lifecycle and Amazon tablet coming out. Save your money for something decent, Honeycomb is practically abandonware, and I'm as hardcore an Android fan as they come.

Abandonware? It's as "abandonware" as Windows 7 or OS X 10.7. Ice Cream Sandwich doesn't even have a release date yet. Abandonware? Seriously?

When my Viewsonic Gtab died (that was a craptastic experience!) I picked up a Xoom for substantially more money, and have been very happy with it. Great screen, good size and weight for my delicate little hands, very intuitive software.

Refurb or not, this is a great price.

Wow, these things have dropped in price. I want one, now I only need to think of an excuse to get another tablet.

cellobarney wrote:Nope. Not on the day that the Kindle Fire came out for $199. Bad timing, Woot.

And yet they are both being sold by the same company

Ive had my xoom for a couple of months and it is an awesome device. I can watch MLB.tv using the dolphin browser without issue. flash video is no problem what so ever (I wish there was a Hulu app for Android) and it also make a great book reader. Despite not being a 3G/4G model, If you buy it, you will not be disappointed. (I use my Clear Apollo 4g wifi hot spot for internet).

Android seems like the hip thing to do these days. Anyone own a XOOM and recommend it?

I also recommend getting an Otterbox for this device as well, works awesomely with it

mattlscc wrote:Android seems like the hip thing to do these days. Anyone own a XOOM and recommend it?

Yes, best 499 I have spent, take it with me everywhere

I bought this last time. The hardware is not as good as an iPad, but I much prefer Honeycomb.

Cons:
- it's widescreen instead of 4:3, and 4:3 is better for reading, comics, manga, etc.
- the screen is a bit dull compared to an iPad, especially outside.
- It's certainly not as thin as an iPad 2.

Pros:
- Android Honeycomb over iOS. And once you get this and connect it to Wifi it will soon be upgraded from 3.1 to 3.2. I have so much more control with this than I did with the iPad.
- You can plug it in with a non-proprietary micro-usb cable. What a concept!
- Swype or Swiftkey X, either are infinitely better than the iPad's crappy keyboard.

Best browser: Dolphin HD - much better than safari, especially with addons.
Best comics reader: Perfect viewer.
Other readers: Zinio (magazines), Kindle.


Honestly, I'm waiting for some better 2nd gen Android hardware, specifically a better screen like the XOOM 2, but I did abandon my iPad 1 for the XOOM just for the customizability and I don't regret it. So if that's the kind of person you are (and you know who you are), $350 is not a bad deal for a ten inch tablet.

editorkid wrote:Abandonware? It's as "abandonware" as Windows 7 or OS X 10.7. Ice Cream Sandwich doesn't even have a release date yet. Abandonware? Seriously?

Seriously. Windows 7 will get at least one more service pack, and I'm sure OSX will get a handful of patches. I can almost guarantee that Honeycomb will see nothing more than bug fixes by individual carriers until it is abandoned in favor of ICS. It's already happening.

You can get a refurb iPad for the price of this , and not have to deal with the ridiculous Android market and its apps that don't quite work on your device for any number of reasons (video driver, video resolution, OS version, what have you). Android sucks.

groundz wrote:Doesn't the Xoom need to be docked in order to use the HDMI out functionality? It says so on the CNET review...

No it doesn't. You can use the cheapy micro HDMI to HDMI cable adapter and use your Xoom on any HDTV. I've done it without docking.

I want too bad i have no dough!

Can you plug an internet stick into the USB port

xaronax wrote:Seriously. Windows 7 will get at least one more service pack, and I'm sure OSX will get a handful of patches. I can almost guarantee that Honeycomb will see nothing more than bug fixes by individual carriers until it is abandoned in favor of ICS. It's already happening.

Um, except that Google now owns Motorola so they will keep that thing updated. So, yeah.

xaronax wrote:Seriously. Windows 7 will get at least one more service pack, and I'm sure OSX will get a handful of patches. I can almost guarantee that Honeycomb will see nothing more than bug fixes by individual carriers until it is abandoned in favor of ICS. It's already happening.

As a google experience device, it should receive consistent updates as they are controlled by google. There have been pretty consistent updates thus far and the Xoom as received every honecomb update upon release. I actually got an update notice today. In the event that things do move away from honeycomb to ICS, there's nothing that rules out the possibility of running it on the Xoom. It's much more preferable than a device that has updates completely controlled by the producer and has a bunch of bloat on it.

The screen isn't as smooth to scroll your fingers over as the iPad, which makes scrolling a page or playing Angry Birds less enjoyable. However there are some glass sprays on the market that supposedly help (not Windex).

editorkid wrote:No, mine has had two updates just since I received it from Woot on July 21. You're going to have to be more specific about what bugs you think it has; I haven't found any. I'm not sure what tablet you're thinking of, but I'm sure it isn't this.

i couldnt find the post i was reading the other day where it was talking about it along side the new xoom 2 coming out. but here is a link to an article when the xoom came out.

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=146415

Just spent $218 on a Kindle Fire 20 minutes before I saw this on Woot. Curse you Amazon (and Woot) for charging me sales tax.

So, um, how easy does the screen clean for those "messy" people that might use it?

:p Cant resist putting it out there

If anyone wants to buy this for me for Christmas... I'd let em!!

tbq wrote:Just spent $218 on a Kindle Fire 20 minutes before I saw this on Woot. Curse you Amazon (and Woot) for charging me sales tax.

Cancel the order.

In for one. Been waiting ever since these came out for the prices to hit this level. Even refurb, the specs are worth it. At this price, I can make reasonable performance and use arguments against an equivalent cost notebook. I can't do that at $500,

Not sure I can get all that excited about the Amazon Fire. Spec comparisons to iPad 2 and Nook Color are here: http://thisismynext.com/2011/09/28/amazon-kindle-fire-vs-ipad-2-vs-nook-color-numbers/

I looked at the Nook Color when it came out and couldn't get excited about it. The Fire is comparable. Both are aimed at primarily being ebook readers / media players built upon Android. Applaud them for adding to the Android base of devices, but my interest in a tablet is more generalized. There's no competition in my mind between the Fire and the Xoom.

Now I just need to remain calm while I wait for Woot's shipping process to kick in! :-)

I bought this one a few months ago, and I love it. I use it constantly. It's fast, and it can even run one of my favorite MMOs, Vendetta Online! Having a mostly-stock Android experience is also great to have, IMO. I've even used it with an HDMI cable to give presentations at work.

I only wish it was 3G and that could set it up with my current cellular provider.

I think it's well worth $350.

carolethacker wrote:Can you plug an internet stick into the USB port

No. It's not a USB host port. You can only hook up with a computer to transfer files.

tonyflo04 wrote:Ive had my xoom for a couple of months and it is an awesome device. I can watch MLB.tv using the dolphin browser without issue. flash video is no problem what so ever (I wish there was a Hulu app for Android) and it also make a great book reader. Despite not being a 3G/4G model, If you buy it, you will not be disappointed. (I use my Clear Apollo 4g wifi hot spot for internet).

If you look on XDA they have a hacked flash apk that works for hulu

carolethacker wrote:Can you plug an internet stick into the USB port

I know several of the dev sites (such as XDA) have a USB host fix for the xoom, whether or not it would work for this, i do not know, but definitely something i would look into

greyfade wrote:No. It's not a USB host port. You can only hook up with a computer to transfer files.

You can make it work with USB devices, though I'm not sure what all will work. I know some people have used it with keyboards and mice (wired or wireless with a USB connected base).

cellobarney wrote:Nope. Not on the day that the Kindle Fire came out for $199. Bad timing, Woot.

I agree with you on that one!

Jesda wrote:The screen isn't as smooth to scroll your fingers over as the iPad, which makes scrolling a page or playing Angry Birds less enjoyable. However there are some glass sprays on the market that supposedly help (not Windex).

Brillianize works great for this. It's a good cleaner. It will not harm the screen and it will not harm the aftermarket scratch protectors. It leaves a slick anti-dust anti-fingerprint coating. Just spray it on and buff until dry with a soft cotton cloth. My fingers just effortlessly glide across the screen and it takes a while before fingerprints start showing again.

superstargoddess wrote:I agree with you on that one!

I feel they are completely different products. The amazon kindle fire is more a product for competing with the nook color and the XOOM is more to compete with the ipad. Just my 2 cents having both a Xoom and a Nook Color

sixcmtall wrote:So, um, how easy does the screen clean for those "messy" people that might use it?

I will answer you completely deadpan - Like the iPad, this thing is a glossy finger grease and everything else magnet. I just wipe it clean with a soft kleenex, just like the iPad. I haven't /tried/ to scratch it, and I wouldn't risk a rough napkin, but it seems pretty unscratchable so far.

I've been playing with the question of an android vs an iPad2 for a while and after reviewing the XOOM realized that since I mostly need it to read pdf files at work or on the road it will surpass the iPad on a cost-benefit basis. Of course, when the iPad3 comes out I'm sure I'll get the Apple itch once again - but for now I'm glad this deal was here.

The Xoom wouldn't be my first choice in tablet. I've had my hands on it and it's heavy, lacks ports, and Honeycomb isn't nearly as stable as it should be -- still needs time to mature. I've got benchmarks and some concise testing notes here: http://www.carrypad.com/2011/06/29/motorola-xoom-testing-notes-and-benchmarks/

Many of you will likely be more interested in the Kindle Fire, that Amazon just announced today, which is 7" and runs for just $199:

http://www.carrypad.com/2011/09/28/amazon-announces-kindle-fire-tablet-and-new-kindle-e-readers/

Edit: Oh and I forgot to mention. It's got a barometer. Yes, really.

One last edit: The video editor is a joke. Do not purchase this device if you are looking to edit videos with it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-71ciL4dSo

Looks like a refurb of this is sold at Newegg for $379.99.