Nice try,
You can't compare a current gen product (XOOM) w/ your competitor's last-gen product. Doesn't matter if Motorola only used the 1st gen as their reference. They need to anticipate that their competition is not sitting still.
XOOM was only released a few weeks before the iPad 2. XOOM should only be compared to iPad 2 and not the iPad 1. Yes, it is fair to compare current shipping products to their current competitor's shipping products.
Again, nice try and trying to change the subject at hand.
What about a real world test slash review by a fairly reasonable user (ME) that receives/answers email, surfs the web, edits technical documents, writes new documents, downloads/views iTunes rentals, fools too damn much with GarageBand, edits musical scores, draws pictures for the machinists, and plays music day in and day out?
The reviews are in, the iPad is a most capable machine. Talking about the first iPad, not the iPad2.
The iPad is solidly built and the screen is bright and sharp. The Xoom is smaller and it feels cheap. The Xoom's screen is also difficult for Bob to read.
I looked at the Xoom and I was not really impressed. Nothing against the Xoom, just not impressed. As an aside, I looked at keyboards yesterday and not one of the after-market wireless keyboards cones close to Apple's version. I bought the KB with the dock. Metal and polymers, well built and thin; Zaggmate's unit was inferior in my opinion and I can't see how it will stand up over the long term.
So forget the performance tests you find on the web. Or look for many reviews and tests and decide on your own. Remember, most comparisons found on an Apple-centric site will tell you just how bad the Xoom stinks and many reviews on an Android site will praise the Xoom and decry the iPad.
I found one to counteract the one that started this thread. Apparently both suck and both rule and both are filled with problems and both are great. Or just the opposite.
The Xoom has a shorter battery life according to CNET and compared to the iPad. The test results I saw compared video performance. Then again, you might find just the opposite on another web site. All I can report is this: the fact that I can download and watch a few iTunes rentals and fiddle with lots of crappy apps; surf the web, visit YouTube, work on projects like writing and editing, send endless email messages and still have plenty of power left over, adds one more reasonable reason for selecting the iPad: great battery life proven daily in the real world, by a real user.
Besides, no such thing as a Xoom a year ago.
I say, look at both units and spend a little time with each. Only you know what you want. Something new will arrive that kills all current units; of this there is zero doubt.
Try writing a few thousand words on each unit. Watch some YouTube, and review currently available apps. Chances are, you will make a good choice. Forget how great you think the iPad or Xoom keyboard is and take both for a spin. If you need to write daily, your choice might already be made.
Bob