Ethics Question

[3devious]

Please don't move this to the All Things Root section right away as I want the opinions of those who don't root their devices as well.

There are some UI issues with the Xoom that Gizmodo reminded me of that are going to annoy the hell out of me now (thanks, Gizmodo.) I think that most of the solutions around the annoyance would involve rooting the device or just might not be possible until someone does something with the main UI.

I have not yet had my Xoom for a full week and am considering returning the device to Verizon as even though I only got it for ~$450, I am not convinced it is worth the money. Would I it be ethically bad for me to root the device and return it if I still wasn't satisfied with it. (This assumes that I would be able to put it back to the same state it was in when I go it?)

 

[Mitchrapp]

If you're going to return why root?

 

[Germwise]

Why root at all? What do you gain right now? no roms,

 

[PSkeptic]

If you restore to factory prior to returning it, no problems, IMO.

 

[gamul1]

You titled this thread correctly in my opinion - this is an ethical question first. It does not matter if you can return the Xoom to factory conditions after rooting it. To me, that is unethical. If you go that far and root it, I think you should then own it.

Just my opinion but I'm sorry - I think people are often too willing to bend the rules in their favor without caring about if its right or wrong. Its good to see you're at least considering the ethics of this.

 

[Tech Addiction]

How did you get it for just $450.00?

 

[zipur]

come on let us in on the $450,00 deal

 

[Tech Addiction]

And he thinks it's not worth $450.00??? It has a Barometer for gods sake.

 

[marctronixx]

interesting question. i guess morally if you break it, you own it.. like if you go to a store and break a glass table due to neglect or something that you were not going to purchase. welp, in most cases you just bought that, so i see the need to ask the question.

however since you do feel its unethcial (why else would you post this if you were not on the fence?) you now know this information, so if you proceed with the root and then unroot and return, you have done an unethical act and should be punished!

you cant have it both ways.. either keep it and root, thus accepting full ownership or return and purchase the next best thing.. the flypad2.

and remember, even after you root it, you are violating VZWs terms since they state rooting these deivces breaks any warranty... so you will still be doing nefarious actions even if you DO keep the gadget...

 

[3devious]

I agree with you guys, I was just curious what you thought about it.

come on let us in on the $450,00 deal

I got the subsidized price for getting the $20 data plan + an employee discount (I don't work at Verizon but I was able to get another 25% off + 20% off data through the deal my place has with them.)

And he thinks it's not worth $450.00??? It has a Barometer for gods sake.

Maybe it's because I am an old lady. (Gene Simmons had it right: Men want sex and women want everything.)
If I didn't already have an android phone, I would think the Xoom was the most amazing thing ever. I've gone from being wowed by all of the things that android can do to expecting those things at a bare minimum.

I was just thinking about how far I might have to go to get immediate access to the app drawer when I am not on the home screen and started believing that I might need a new launcher or something and that kind of launcher might need root. I doubt that those things will be out before my trial is over and since I don't have the chops to do that myself, the point is moot for what I am going to end up doing.

I just let myself peel the plastic coating off of it today, so I will probably end up keeping it.

I also am desperately trying to see how well I can mess around with some mapping applications (like make a map on my pc, publish it to the internet or atleast put a copy of it on the tablet) and annotate that map out in the field. I want to be able to send that annotated map back to my PC. If I get that cranking, I have a great excuse to keep it.

 

[Mitchrapp]

If anything, sell it. I'll give you $455 for it

 

[3devious]

I still have the contract, so I wouldn't be ready to unload it.

Mulder, it isn't that I think that the price is a bad deal, I just want to make sure that I can get a lot of use out of it (I'm not too thrilled about spending $450 on a toy. That is why I am trying to get the mapping stuff going.)

 

[Tech Addiction]

I agree with you guys, I was just curious what you thought about it.



I got the subsidized price for getting the $20 data plan + an employee discount (I don't work at Verizon but I was able to get another 25% off + 20% off data through the deal my place has with them.)



Maybe it's because I am an old lady. (Gene Simmons had it right: Men want sex and women want everything.)
If I didn't already have an android phone, I would think the Xoom was the most amazing thing ever. I've gone from being wowed by all of the things that android can do to expecting those things at a bare minimum.

I was just thinking about how far I might have to go to get immediate access to the app drawer when I am not on the home screen and started believing that I might need a new launcher or something and that kind of launcher might need root. I doubt that those things will be out before my trial is over and since I don't have the chops to do that myself, the point is moot for what I am going to end up doing.

I just let myself peel the plastic coating off of it today, so I will probably end up keeping it.

I also am desperately trying to see how well I can mess around with some mapping applications (like make a map on my pc, publish it to the internet or atleast put a copy of it on the tablet) and annotate that map out in the field. I want to be able to send that annotated map back to my PC. If I get that cranking, I have a great excuse to keep it.

First I apologize for referring to you as a guy, that was my bad manners assuming. Second, I can tell you that Launchers will not require root. It may take a little longer for the developers to catch up but they will I assure you. Beautiful Widgets just tweeted that they got their two xooms today for developing apps so thats a good sign. I would hang in there if you can handle the cost. I'm sure in a few weeks you will start to see some amazing things coming for the Xoom and again sorry for the slip.

 

[wynand32]

I'm curious: why is rooting considered "breaking" the device? I'm not well-versed in rooting Android, so I'm really wanting to know. Does rooting do something to the device that can't be returned to a factory state?

 

[ghodzilla5150]

As far as I am concerned, Root Away. I Root ALL my Devices if possible. To hell with the corporations. They will bend you over any chance they get (nickel and dime you to death) or will promise features but when the device is sold said features WON'T be there and you will have to wait for an update. This is unethical to me. If you are not ready don't allow your potential customers to become beta testers. As soon as I got my HTC EVO it was rooted the same day. Same as my Nook Color (just installed SuperUser tonight). I have no shame in Rooting and taking advantage of said Root (Free Wireless Tether on HTC EVO). I don't care as I know they don't care about me.

 

[3devious]

Do you need an android mapping application? Or can u acheive this solution with any device? I just wonder if you should get an off contract device. I'm not too sure about getting a 2 year contract on any tablet right now unless u can fanangle contracts on a family plan..

That's fair. I've looked at this solution on the iPad and the experience unacceptable. I do a lot of mapping in the field and analysis at work. There are some specialized devices available for these tasks but I decided to look for a more versatile device that could do the things that I do for mapping and some of my other mobile activities. I also am attracted by the ability to develop open source based solutions to these problems vs. being at the mercy of companies like the makers of the Trimble. ESRI has promised to support Android in the same fashion they support iOS.

If the OP is squeamish about how much they would use a tablet, I wonder if a netbook is an option. She can get an ASUS 1015PEM, upgrade the ram and get accessories and still spend less. Plus she can tether the device to her phone and avoid another contract or monthly fee. She'll give up touch but get tons more functionality.

I had an ASUS netbook and loved it. I'm not sure a netbook with the overhead of windows is going to have the power to handle how bloated Google and Microsoft's mapping services are. Maybe a Linux version with OpenStreetmap content.

My platform isn't really written in stone but folks like me want everything in the world and want to pay as little as possible for it.

I would also like something that I could hand over to an idiot and they wouldn't feel completely lost when they try to do anything. Well maybe I'd hand said idiot someone else's tablet not mine, ha! My lot in life is to make it easier for idiots to do their job to support even bigger idiots.