So does the Xoom use data while not in active use. I mean if you have the 1gig Vz plan and say you left it over night charging will it be using the data? Or does the entire device hibernate.
It will only use the 3G if there is an app doing something. Like polling the weather (weatherbug) or checking gps location etc.
I've had mine for about a week, but I'm 50/50 on keeping it. It's awesome. Don't get me wrong. But I'm not sure if it's worth the $800. I love Android but 3.0 feels very incomplete. The Market UI is extremely fragmented and flaky. No update on when we might be getting flash. (I REALLY WANT TO TRY PLAYON WITH THIS THING!)
I don't use it for much except playing jet-car stunts on it. I might browse the web on it a bit, but even the web browser is kinda jacked. Dolphin doesn't work 100%.
I know all of this stuff will eventually get ironed out. I like being an early adopter, but I'm not sure if I'm going to be keeping this one. Might just have to bite the $70 re-stocking. I don't know. I'm going insane on whether or not to keep it.
I really only want to use it for video and occasional games. I think the Archos 101 might be a better choice, at less than half the price. Yea, it's not as great a tablet but it does what I need it to do. I wish they would come out with Flash within the next 7 days to make this decision a lot easier. Come on Motorola! I believe in you!
[QUOTE=dbldwn02;2399669]I've had mine for about a week, but I'm 50/50 on keeping it. It's awesome. Don't get me wrong. But I'm not sure if it's worth the $800. I love Android but 3.0 feels very incomplete. The Market UI is extremely fragmented and flaky. No update on when we might be getting flash. (I REALLY WANT TO TRY PLAYON WITH THIS THING!)
I don't use it for much except playing jet-car stunts on it. I might browse the web on it a bit, but even the web browser is kinda jacked. Dolphin doesn't work 100%.
I know all of this stuff will eventually get ironed out. I like being an early adopter, but I'm not sure if I'm going to be keeping this one. Might just have to bite the $70 re-stocking. I don't know. I'm going insane on whether or not to keep it.
I really only want to use it for video and occasional games. I think the Archos 101 might be a better choice, at less than half the price. Yea, it's not as great a tablet but it does what I need it to do. I wish they would come out with Flash within the next 7 days to make this decision a lot easier. Come on Motorola! I believe in you![/QUOTE]
This is a well balanced and interesting Xoom review.
Quote:
The Motorola XOOM hardware is very well executed, and when LTE is enabled it will be the fastest mobile device around. Both the XOOM and Honeycomb show great potential to turn the tablet into a great mobile device. While a tad heavy for prolonged use in the hand, the XOOM is otherwise comfortable and fun to use. The display is beautiful and the Honeycomb interface looks gorgeous.
The problems I encountered using the XOOM can be attributed to the newness of Honeycomb. These will no doubt be remedied with updates by Google and Motorola, and I suspect the system will be a solid product in the not-to-distant future. Unfortunately, at $799 the XOOM is awfully expensive to be in essence a beta test device, and I can’t recommend buying the XOOM until the issues get addressed.
Screen? I thinks it's awesome very nice to the eyes, smooth. If you think the screen is bad you either got a bad one or need to see an eye doctor.
Maybe the one at my local VZW just had a bad screen. It was running some kind of verizon app. I did browse around on the home screen and played angry birds though. Doesn't the text on the homescreen look like it's made to fit similar to the way texts look when you put your browser to 90% zoom? It also just looks a bit dim and grainy compared to the iPad's lower res screen.
Then again, it might just be a defective unit based on how no one seem to have an issue with it.
While I am asking about Honeycomb, I am asking here in the Xoom forum because the Xoom is the only place (legit anyway) that has Honeycomb.
Are you finding Honeycomb to be unstable like the article says? If not unstable, are you have honeycomb specific issues?
Just curious - so much of the threads so far have been about the Xoom specificly but I am not sure I have seen much discussion on Honeycomb on a tablet experience chatter.
Thanks all.
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I haven't had much of any problem with mine. I've had the rare force close but it hasn't been but two or three times since I got it. Honeycomb and the Xoom just work for me.
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I have never had to engage a hard reboot, but I have had to reboot it a couple times. Mostly because the web was slow. I think we need to see more apps made specificially for honeycomb before we call it a failure. Also Google will support there OS and we will see improvements.
Awesome! Thanks guys! It sounds like some Apple wank going overboard with unfounded critism then. The article really made it sound bad and I had heard no such thing. Made me wonder if I had missed some thread about honeycomb stability.
On a side note - I have an iPod touch. Damn apps crash all the time. On apple products they don't call it a force close. they just freeze up and then disappear. Or worse, just freeze up.
I am on my second xoom. The first one was jacked up and I had to return it, it was crashing every time I shut it off and iHad to do a hard reset every time I wanted to use it. This one is great, there are a few programs that don't work properly but they are probably designed for a phone not a tablet.
Just purchased a Xoom. It's a super tablet. The display is gorgeous and the speed of the browser is amazing. I don't understand why so many people like the iPads. Don't they bother comparing the specs?
If you like Android, I would recommend getting one.
This is indeed an excellent review. The two sentences I took away from it are those:
Quote:
Although the Xoom has a lot to offer, the product feels very incomplete. A surprising number of promised hardware and software features are not functional at launch and will have to be enabled in future updates
I guess what they are saying is that the Xoom/Honeycomb combination is not ready for prime time. It is probably smart to wait a few months before dishing out $800.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by whs37
I guess what they are saying is that the Xoom/Honeycomb combination is not ready for prime time. It is probably smart to wait a few months before dishing out $800.
That's a fair bet. Hopefully in that time the price will have come down enough or the WiFi version will be available for folks.
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DAMN, the Xoom is an Awesome device. I returned my iPad 2 today and got a Xoom instead because I was not floored by the iPad 2 (it's just a bigger iPod Touch). I can't believe how fast the Xoom operates. It's lighting quick as far as changing screens, downloading Apps and just in general. Tegra 2 definitely makes a difference. I am running Dual Networks (B/G & N @ 2.5ghz AND 5ghz) and the Xoom can see both my Wireless N and connects to either flawlessly. I am running it @ 5ghz (65mbps). That's really cool. Installed Flash 10.2 and it ROCKS (now this is a Real Tablet Internet Browser). Using Dolphin HD and Websites load pretty damn fast. I am having a great time playing with this thing. I gladly eat crow. Can't wait for MicroSd and USB to get working. Angry Birds and Dungeon Defenders look really good and run very smooth. One of the big reason I like Android is it runs Emulators with virtual ease. I have SNES & NES loaded with many of my favorite games from those systems. I could not figure out a way to load Emulators on the iPad 2 and this is huge for me. The camera(s) on the Xoom are ALOT better on the Xoom as well. I am a believer now.
One Negative compared to the iPad 2 is the weight. The Xoom is alot heavier and will take some time to get used to. Other than that I have no qualms
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Glad to hear that you like it, and thanks for the honest opinion.
My daughter has a Ipad 2, and I've messed with it some. While it is solid and smooth, it is pretty much, as you said, a big ipod. There is virtually no customization available, and is basically grids of icons. She let me "play with it as much as you want." After just a short while I was bored with it. That's just my opinio. She loves it though and I support her decision to buy it.
I am waiting on my Wifi Xoom to come in...I can't wait!
Enjoy your new Xoom, and keep us informed as to your thoughts.
We have a thread called new reviews coming in for this. Plus that review is crap. "You are better off getting an I pad 2 or blackberry playbook" key phrase "blackberry playbook" lost all credibilty there. Also $40 software to play videos properly?!
Also my favorite quote "software isn't up to date" reviewer wants attention
For the life of me, I do not understand why android/honeycomb requires so much horsepower to get all tasks to run smoothly. Take a look at WP7. Many of those phones are running on a gen1 snap dragon, and they run silky smooth compared to the Atrix, which still has a sluggish, chunky feel to me, but features the latest and greatest hardware.
You pick up the iPad1, and it has crap hardware compared to the Xoom, but it responds so much quicker and smoother.
Edit: I think the reviewer is going a little overboard though, and the Examiner isn't exactly a tech site.
For the life of me, I do not understand why android/honeycomb requires so much horsepower to get all tasks to run smoothly. Take a look at WP7. Many of those phones are running on a gen1 snap dragon, and they run silky smooth compared to the Atrix, which still has a sluggish, chunky feel to me, but features the latest and greatest hardware.
You pick up the iPad1, and it has crap hardware compared to the Xoom, but it responds so much quicker and smoother.
Edit: I think the reviewer is going a little overboard though, and the Examiner isn't exactly a tech site.
Atrix has motoblur slowing it down and that software isn't perfect yet.
I pad has no os the os is probably less than 100mb big and it can't do that much compared to this
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Are you a fanboy or just a troll? This is the same guy that wrote the prior "bad" review you posted (it was actually a bad review, but not about the xoom, the review itself was very subjective and the write seemed to have an agenda other than objectively reviewing the Xoom.)
Edit: I see this post was moved, but it was a reply to phillymonster posting a 2nd review by the same author - that 2nd review didn't get moved here (just to clarify my post here.)
Last edited by NCTurner; March 19th, 2011 at 12:16 PM.
For the life of me, I do not understand why android/honeycomb requires so much horsepower to get all tasks to run smoothly. Take a look at WP7. Many of those phones are running on a gen1 snap dragon, and they run silky smooth compared to the Atrix, which still has a sluggish, chunky feel to me, but features the latest and greatest hardware.
You pick up the iPad1, and it has crap hardware compared to the Xoom, but it responds so much quicker and smoother.
Edit: I think the reviewer is going a little overboard though, and the Examiner isn't exactly a tech site.
I've been an android user for years and will continue to support the platform but I really agree with you here. Android is not maturing like I hoped it would. It's one thing for developer apps not to perform because google doesn't really have control over how an app is coded but core Android needs alot of stability work. I was hoping Honeycomb would change that but it hasn't really. Android is still full of force closes, sluggish UI behavior and just general random unresponsiveness. I'm sorry, but you don't get that with the iPad or the iPhone. I really expect more from google especially on their experience devices. Can we stop adding features and do a stability overhaul? Adroid will never gain significant ground if google doesn't give it a good dose of fluidity....
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I don't have a tablet yet so I can't comment on that experience, but for android phones at least the reason the UI is a little more sluggish and not quite as smooth is largely because android doesn't have hardware (GPU) acceleration of the GUI. WP7 and iOS have this feature.
This feature came in honeycomb, but all of the currently released apps have it off (since the feature didnt exist before). As more and more apps update and create tablet specific version with HW acceleration I think the user experience and smoothness is going to improve a lot over the next few months.
Another thing that can slow android down is it allows true multitasking, so if you don't watch yourself you can end up with 9999 things running just like on your PC and slow your device down. But I think the pros outweigh the cons with multitasking. WP7 and iOS both have locked down pseudo multitasking.
i havent had my xoom slow down really. Force closes here and there yes, but again that is kinda expected for many apps still. Overall its not at its top form right now. Hopefully once they get the SD card update and other bug fixes it will be where is needs to be.
The playbook will be a great SMALLER tablet. there is no doubt that RIM is going to get this thing right. The OS will not be like anything you have seen from RIM before. There are just a couple thing that deter it from being something i really have to have. The xoom is something i have to have though lol
Hmm, I am really confused. On the one hand I have read that people use Honeycomb on a Nook Color which really has modest specs - and they think that the performance is "acceptable". Then I hear that Honeycomb on a powerhouse like the XOOM limps along.
The truth is probably somewhere in the middle and it might have to do a lot with the expectation level.
The fact that is more worrysome is that Honeycomb crashes so often. That means it is not ready for prime time and Google is using everybody as Beta (or Alpha) testers. It also shows that Google is not yet a software development house with serious testing and release procedures. Apple, Microsoft or IBM are far ahead in that respect. The Google stuff looks more like piecemeal put together with band aids and rubber bands.
Hmm, I am really confused. On the one hand I have read that people use Honeycomb on a Nook Color which really has modest specs - and they think that the performance is "acceptable". Then I hear that Honeycomb on a powerhouse like the XOOM limps along.
The truth is probably somewhere in the middle and it might have to do a lot with the expectation level.
The fact that is more worrysome is that Honeycomb crashes so often. That means it is not ready for prime time and Google is using everybody as Beta (or Alpha) testers. It also shows that Google is not yet a software development house with serious testing and release procedures. Apple, Microsoft or IBM are far ahead in that respect. The Google stuff looks more like piecemeal put together with band aids and rubber bands.
I have not heard of Honeycomb crashing. It's never happened to me. Links please?
I guess the right word is "Force Closes" which I equate to crash because it stops me from doing what I was about to do.. But maybe there is a slight difference. E.g here:
Quote:
"Android is still full of force closes" - from posting # 134 in this thread. And I have seen a lot more of those.
I guess the right word is "Force Closes" which I equate to crash because it stops me from doing what I was about to do.. But maybe there is a slight difference. E.g here:
I've had a few of those on some apps. That is more likely the app itself then Android.
[QUOTE=whs37;2448535]Hmm, I am really confused. On the one hand I have read that people use Honeycomb on a Nook Color which really has modest specs - and they think that the performance is "acceptable". Then I hear that Honeycomb on a powerhouse like the XOOM limps along.
The truth is probably somewhere in the middle and it might have to do a lot with the expectation level.
The fact that is more worrysome is that Honeycomb crashes so often. That means it is not ready for prime time and Google is using everybody as Beta (or Alpha) testers. It also shows that Google is not yet a software development house with serious testing and release procedures. Apple, Microsoft or IBM are far ahead in that respect. The Google stuff looks more like piecemeal put together with band aids and rubber bands.[/QUOTE/]
As a person who has a Nook Color (running Honeycomb) and a Xoom this assumption is complete BS. The Nook Color is acceptable but runs Alot slower than a Xoom in terms of performance. Neither of my devices has ever crashed because of Honeycomb. The Xoom runs Honeycomb buttery smooth. The speed of the Xoom is very, very impressive. There is no lag whatsoever that I have encountered. You have to remember that Honeycomb is the first true tablet OS (unlike the iPad which is just running an OS that is blown up from their iPod touch). I know because I had a I pad 2 and exchanged it for a Xoom and glad I did. Honeycomb is a real tablet OS and it runs amazingly well for a first iteration.
I guess the right word is "Force Closes" which I equate to crash because it stops me from doing what I was about to do.. But maybe there is a slight difference. E.g here:
That refers to the app crashing, not the OS. completely different. there are many apps not coded to work specifically for the xoom. They will run but not as intended perhaps and may crash sometimes. The OS itself has never crashed for me
OK, I gather that Honeycomb does not crash but the applications do at times. That does not really make me feel any better because after all it is the applications that I want to run without disruptions.
So the problem is not with the Android developers but with the way Google controls the apps that are being made available for Honeycomb. Maybe the way Apple controls apps has some advantages after all.
well not exactly...any android app that was made for 2.2, 2.1 1.6 etc can probably be laoded onto the xoom. but the app since it was not built for HC (3.0) might not work correctly
Its like loading an app that was built for windows XP back in 2002 might not run correctly on windows 7. Its not MS fault really that the apps dont work correctly. The developer just needs to change some small parts of his code probably and it will work as it did before.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by whs37
OK, I gather that Honeycomb does not crash but the applications do at times. That does not really make me feel any better because after all it is the applications that I want to run without disruptions.
So the problem is not with the Android developers but with the way Google controls the apps that are being made available for Honeycomb. Maybe the way Apple controls apps has some advantages after all.
OK, buy an iPad, next! The Xoom was not mean't for people like you.
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[QUOTE=ghodzilla5150;2448679]
Quote:
Originally Posted by whs37
Hmm, I am really confused. On the one hand I have read that people use Honeycomb on a Nook Color which really has modest specs - and they think that the performance is "acceptable". Then I hear that Honeycomb on a powerhouse like the XOOM limps along.
The truth is probably somewhere in the middle and it might have to do a lot with the expectation level.
The fact that is more worrysome is that Honeycomb crashes so often. That means it is not ready for prime time and Google is using everybody as Beta (or Alpha) testers. It also shows that Google is not yet a software development house with serious testing and release procedures. Apple, Microsoft or IBM are far ahead in that respect. The Google stuff looks more like piecemeal put together with band aids and rubber bands.[/QUOTE/]
As a person who has a Nook Color (running Honeycomb) and a Xoom this assumption is complete BS. The Nook Color is acceptable but runs Alot slower than a Xoom in terms of performance. Neither of my devices has ever crashed because of Honeycomb. The Xoom runs Honeycomb buttery smooth. The speed of the Xoom is very, very impressive. There is no lag whatsoever that I have encountered. You have to remember that Honeycomb is the first true tablet OS (unlike the iPad which is just running an OS that is blown up from their iPod touch). I know because I had a I pad 2 and exchanged it for a Xoom and glad I did. Honeycomb is a real tablet OS and it runs amazingly well for a first iteration.
The people who think their nooks are running honeycomb have never used a xoom.
OK, buy an iPad, next! The Xoom was not mean't for people like you.
Now you are getting personal. I have developed operating systems when you were not even born - like in 1961. I can tell a good OS from one that is not ready for the market - and the apps are part of the bundle.
I will definitely not buy an iPad, but there are other options. Just wait another few months.
The people who think their nooks are running honeycomb have never used a xoom.
I can somewhat agree with this. Is the Nook Color running Honeycomb, Yes. Is it running HC like the Xoom is capable of, Heck No. The Nook Color is running the bare minimum of Honeycomb, while the Xoom is a full on HC tablet and runs it really smoothly.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by whs37
Now you are getting personal. I have developed operating systems when you were not even born - like in 1961. I can tell a good OS from one that is not ready for the market - and the apps are part of the bundle.
I will definitely not buy an iPad, but there are other options. Just wait another few months.
Google does and will not control who writes the apps. If you want this kind of control buy an ipad. For someone whp has been involved for so long you show little understanding of open platforms.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by whs37
Now you are getting personal. I have developed operating systems when you were not even born - like in 1961. I can tell a good OS from one that is not ready for the market - and the apps are part of the bundle.
I will definitely not buy an iPad, but there are other options. Just wait another few months.
By the way what operating system did you develop in 1961?
. No need to start a new thread though. Maybe a mod could move it to the "Reviews are coming in" thead.
NewXoom
