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Alternatives to Xoom!!

Which?

  • Asus Eee Pad Slider

    Votes: 2 25.0%
  • Motorola Xoom

    Votes: 6 75.0%

  • Total voters
    8
  • Poll closed .
I actually use my Droid X for many things I used to have to do on my laptop. But there are still a lot of things that it is too cumbersome, or just not possible to really do on an android tab at this point. I think a 7" tab is about as small you can go and really expect to be able to use it as a netbook replacement. 10" is now getting to be pretty large tho also IMHO. I think the netbook/laptop replacement will be something like the Asus transormer or slider. Something that can be either a tab, or a netbook/laptop. Also internal storage will need to be increased on these units to be able to really compete. I like the idea of a laptop replacement type tab, but think it is a little ways off from it being a reality yet.
 
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tablets aren't going to be ideal for schoolwork as you describe. Tablets are much more oriented towards content consumption than creation. If you need to type papers etc, get a laptop. you can even get laptops cheaper than a tablet anyway.

And for those that say you can get a keyboard addon for a tablet, its still running android (which has no real office suite) and that can cause all kinds of complications if you need to open/save/print/send office documents in school.

Try looking for a cheap refurbished or used laptop to hold you over, and start saving for a tablet.

you can get a cheap new laptop for $350-450, like this: Satellite C650D-BT2N13 Laptop

It has no office suite, but you can use googleDocs
 
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Meh, I'm getting behind the Xoom. While there will be plenty of other tablets to come out this year, the bottom line is still that Honeycomb is Google's focus on the tablet market. Any Android tablet that's going to be worth owning is going to be running it, so I might as well get the first one available.

Updates will undoubtedly come out over the first year, adding features and benefits. But the system, as shown, is already worth owning... and the rumored pricing is still very much in line with a decent model ipad... for hardware that does MUCH more.

I also disagree with the poster that the iPad 2 will be comparable. Until it is actually announced, we have no idea what functionality it will include. Even if it includes comparable hardware specs, I sincerely doubt Apple has made the type of consideration of retooling iOS specifically for a tablet form factor. In the last 3 iterations of iOS updates, the changes have been incremental at best; nothing that ever feels remarkably different.

It is safe to be confident that the Xoom is future proofed for at least the next year until we see 3rd gen tablets hitting the market. Whether consumers are willing to upgrade tablets every 1-2 years, like we do with our smartphones, is an entirely different matter though.
 
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Has anyone heard anything about LG's G slate Tablet? It's supposed to have a 3D screen and the ability to record 3D movies (although it still requires wearing those awkward goggles).

Personally, I think 3D is just a fad. But I have to admit, it would be a nice feature to have on a tablet for watching the occasional 3D movie (especially since I would never buy a 3D tv).

I am pretty set on getting the Xoom, but wonder if anyone had any thoughts on the G slate?

LG
 
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After seeing the price on the Xoom I pulled the trigger on a Nook color. For what I believe my uses will be for a tablet the Nook Color will be just enough. With an update supposed to bring 2.2 to the device and the XDA community that is behind it, the ability to function as an Android tablet is right there. Sure it will require a little bit of work, but for the cost savings I will be looking for the next big phone on Sprint to go with it.
 
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i picked up the Archos Ten 1. 16gb, wanted the Eeepad Transform due to the fact that i love me eeepc (Asus netboot with works great) but couldn't wait 3 more months for their tabs. Recieved and unboxed my At 101 today froyo was already loaded, haven't got to do to much spent a little while trying to get my wifi tether to work haven't loaded the gapps yet i wanted to see how much i could do before i decide to root. this thing is so light compaired to the cruz tablets kept for 3 days slow and waste of money unless you want to use for ebooks. i payed $343 for :cool: free 2day shipping from amazon($.60 for the mini hdmi plus shipping) haven't played with it but jumping from my rooted hero to this thing was at home. i'll be reporting back soon once i get the gapps and BT tether working. but hey it's gonna happen happy tablet hunting guys
 
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I would assume that Transformer is going to come sans keyboard. I think I remember reading somewhere that it will be like $200-$300 to add it - along with a keyboard it adds in like 16 hours of battery life in addition as well.



If Notion Ink would come out and say 100% for sure that they will upgrade to 3.0 I would get in on pre-order 2. I have been following in the last week or so, but there is to much ambiguity surrounding it at this time to pre-order.

Awesome if the transformer does come sans keyboard. Otherwise I think the pricing goes the way of the Atrix.
Notion has confirmed that they are going to be working on Honeycomb. Course they have had problem with information giving in the past. But this was from the blog post yesterday (Eden being the OS on the Adam):

"The current OS is Android 2.2 with necessary components borrowed from Gingerbread. Notion Ink will NOT be updating to Gingerbread, but will be directly migrating to Honeycomb in future. There will be constant updates on the OS and most of the new updates will be for the new applications from our partners. Eden will have timely updates for more feature additions and 3rd party softwares which will be provided. You can install any application (Android 1.6 and above) on Adam."
 
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Finally got my Archos 101 up and running with market and have bluetooth tethering through my sprint hero running CM6 rc1. i haven't played to much on it i'm working on getting my wii remotes set up correctly (works but want to change button config). I downloaded the nesoid lite from the market and checked out a couple games both work great.i'm really starting to like this thing I believe it may be a little while before i root. i do have to reboot at least twice a day but i haven't managed to run the battery out yet. Oh one thing i have run into is that i can't find all of the apps on the Market but have found them though various xda searches or what not. i do have all the files if one may need.... peace
 
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I am eyeing the galaxy tab 2 and the unnamed toshiba tablet. Both have very similar tech specs to the xoom (10.1" same res screen, tegra 2, etc).

The xoom looks great and is certainly coming out first, but I'm willing to wait a month or two and get an equal device for a lot less $$.

Some points in the alternatives' favor:

* samsung builds and manufactures most of its own parts, so the price could be lower than xoom
* samsung already announced 16gb model, which should be cheaper
* samsung is noticeably lighter than xoom and toshiba tablet

* toshiba tablet has nice ergonomic exterior surface with interchangeable colors (meant to be durable, spill resistant, and easy to hold)
* toshiba tablet has confirmed removable battery


It will be interesting to see reviews of all 3 head to head, but I dont think you can lose with any of them. All are pretty similar in terms of size and specs.
 
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I am eyeing the galaxy tab 2 and the unnamed toshiba tablet. Both have very similar tech specs to the xoom (10.1" same res screen, tegra 2, etc).

The xoom looks great and is certainly coming out first, but I'm willing to wait a month or two and get an equal device for a lot less $$.

Some points in the alternatives' favor:

* samsung builds and manufactures most of its own parts, so the price could be lower than xoom
* samsung already announced 16gb model, which should be cheaper
* samsung is noticeably lighter than xoom and toshiba tablet

* toshiba tablet has nice ergonomic exterior surface with interchangeable colors (meant to be durable, spill resistant, and easy to hold)
* toshiba tablet has confirmed removable battery


It will be interesting to see reviews of all 3 head to head, but I dont think you can lose with any of them. All are pretty similar in terms of size and specs.


Don't forget that the toshiba has a full sd card slot as well as full size usb with usb host. Of course it lacks a rear camera if you're into that.
 
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Nice lil chart from droid-life seems the xoom has set the bar still even after MWC

http://www.droid-life.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/xoom-gslate-tab-flyer1.jpg


The LG G-Slate looks pretty comparable. I wonder what N/A means. If that means that it doesn't have expandable memory, that is a big one for me. I need the microSD slot...

If that means that it hasn't been announced yet then I will continue looking at it. I also wonder how 3d will affect the battery life. Probably a major hog.
 
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The LG G-Slate looks pretty comparable. I wonder what N/A means. If that means that it doesn't have expandable memory, that is a big one for me. I need the microSD slot...

If that means that it hasn't been announced yet then I will continue looking at it. I also wonder how 3d will affect the battery life. Probably a major hog.

If you take close look N/A = not annouced, if the device doesn't have it they use "no".
 
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The LG G-Slate looks pretty comparable. I wonder what N/A means. If that means that it doesn't have expandable memory, that is a big one for me. I need the microSD slot...

If that means that it hasn't been announced yet then I will continue looking at it. I also wonder how 3d will affect the battery life. Probably a major hog.
TechRadar's walk-around shows no signs of a memory card slot, so it's highly doubtful, unless you can remove the back or something.

Hands on: LG Optimus Pad review | MWC 2011
 
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In defining alternatives to the Xoom, you have to be fair and agree that there are multiple tiers of tablets and at the moment I think the Xoom is in the top tier of android tablets. You can consider one of the many $200 - $300 tablets out there instead of the Xoom, but its not an equal alternative. You would be settling for a lesser tablet.

In the Xoom class of tablets, I think there is the Toshiba and the LG. Maybe the ASUS tablets but I don't know much about them. If size is not important you can add in the new HTC Flyer too maybe and the Samsung.

Tablets like the adam and the Nook are no where in the same category as the Xoom. and in fact, I think they are two or three tiers below the Xoom.

You get what you pay for and the pricing of these tablets does seem to aling to the quality of the tablet.
 
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