Xoom or Atrix Laptop Dock?

[Suicide Bobb]

Hi all, first post here. Congrats to the site owner, this was the first site that showed up under the google search "android forum"

So first off, I work for AT&T. I will be winning a free Atrix this month (yay!), and will actually receive it likely at the end of march. I can get a 40% discount of any accessories I want.

Now I'm stuck between getting the laptop dock and entertainment package (mouse, keyboard, remote, webtop dock) for $475 after my discount, or the wifi only Xoom for $600. I have heard that the laptop is good, but not great. The software in the Xoom will be superior (Honeycomb versus webtop-optimized Froyo), and it will be a 10.1" touchscreen, but it will also cost me $125 more.

I'm sure there are more advantages/disadvantages for each, and if you guys could help me point out those I would appreciate it. Right now, I'm leaning towards the Xoom from a technical standpoint, and the laptop/webtop for the "cool" factor. I would have never considered the Xoom before because it's original price of $800 was outrageous, but now with the wifi model it is relatively affordable.

Any help would be appreciated! Sorry if this has already been covered before, please just link me to the thread if so.

-Dylan

Btw, I have an iPad currently and will be selling it in order to get one of these. 256mb of ram is the key factor for the switch I doubt the iPad 2 will have more than 512mb, and the processor and screen will be the same. No thanks!

 

[Martimus]

Welcome to the Android Forums!

Personally I think the XOOM comes with an awful lot of "cool" factor. It should be a tremendous tablet with an OS that should work well with it. Personally I'm not thrilled with the concept of the Atrix lapdock but then again I see phones as phones, tablets as tablets, and laptops as laptops. The Atrix, if successful, will seriously blur the lines between these two technologies.

In reality, however, both are awesome choices. If you need a new phone with additional capabilities then the Atrix sounds like a great choice. If you want an awesome tablet, however, then I'd say XOOM...

 

[Suicide Bobb]

Welcome to the Android Forums!

Personally I think the XOOM comes with an awful lot of "cool" factor. It should be a tremendous tablet with an OS that should work well with it. Personally I'm not thrilled with the concept of the Atrix lapdock but then again I see phones as phones, tablets as tablets, and laptops as laptops. The Atrix, if successful, will seriously blur the lines between these two technologies.

In reality, however, both are awesome choices. If you need a new phone with additional capabilities then the Atrix sounds like a great choice. If you want an awesome tablet, however, then I'd say XOOM...

Thanks! There is definitely no wrong choice, just a best choice

I will be getting the Atrix though, so the decision is between the Laptop Dock and Webdock, or the Xoom.

 

[Martimus]

Thanks! There is definitely no wrong choice, just a best choice

I will be getting the Atrix though, so the decision is between the Laptop Dock and Webdock, or the Xoom.

Under the circumstances I guess I'd recommend getting the Atrix and the Xoom. This gives you the best of both worlds! And if you decide having the Xoom is overkill or simply not appropriate for your needs, you should be able to easily sell it for more than enough to buy the laptop dock and webdock.

 

[Suicide Bobb]

Thanks!! I appreciate your help!

Anyone else?

 

[xmr405o]

I agree. The atrix and the xoom is a very good combo. Do u want a honeycomb tablet or a gingerbread laptop?

That's a no brainer right?

 

[Suicide Bobb]

Well I wouldn't know actually, I've never had Android before

I might get the Inspire as well on my personal line...hah that would be ridiculous!

 

[EarlyMon]

Atrix + Xoom - no question, the better combo.

 

[xmr405o]

Well I wouldn't know actually, I've never had Android before

I might get the Inspire as well on my personal line...hah that would be ridiculous!

Oops, well then take our word for it....Atrix and Xoom is the better way to go.

 

[A.Nonymous]

I'm gonna disagree with everyone here and not recommend either. I've heard mixed reviews on the Atrix laptop thing. Everyone seems to like the concept, but people tend to disagree on how well it's implemented. Some people thing it's so-so and some people think it's a bad idea as Android isn't really geared to be a laptop OS.

I would hold off on the Xoom just because I am positive that either the price will fall within a few months of it's release (I can't imagine them selling a lot of those things at $800 plus a data plan) and/or other Honeycomb tablets will come out that will seriously compete with it for a lot less. Heck, you can run a hacked version of Honeycomb on the Nook Color right now for $250. I would be shocked if we didn't see a 7 inch tablet officially running Honeycomb for around $400 by June or July.

 

[EarlyMon]

^Hope you're right.

Sanjay Jha Confirms Motorola XOOM Will Be $799 at Verizon, Wi-Fi Only around $600 | Android Phone Fans

 

[A.Nonymous]

Deeply offended that anyone could even think I might be wrong.

 

[EarlyMon]

Don't quit your day job.

 

[Roze]

If you don't need a tablet right away, I suggest you hold off until CITA, when you get an idea of what all the OEMs have to offer for the year.

If you can't stand your iPad and NEED to replace it ASAP, I'd go with the Xoom

You can always get the laptopdock and see if you like it, if you don't, you can always return it.

 

[Suicide Bobb]

If you don't need a tablet right away, I suggest you hold off until CITA, when you get an idea of what all the OEMs have to offer for the year.

If you can't stand your iPad and NEED to replace it ASAP, I'd go with the Xoom

You can always get the laptopdock and see if you like it, if you don't, you can always return it.

Yeah, the lack of RAM and the frequency at which it crashes, freezes, etc. is pushing me over the edge.

 

[Roze]

Yeah, the lack of RAM and the frequency at which it crashes, freezes, etc. is pushing me over the edge.

Ouch That so doesn't sound like Apple haha...its hidden secret that it doesn't want its buyers to know!

I think the best action for you is to use both of them for a week and see how you like. They do have a 15/30 days return policy if you don't like it

 

[Mostly Harmless]

I would get the Atrix and play around with that a while to make sure you like Android and if you do then I would also get a tablet. I wouldn't rush into buying both things, specially if you already have a tablet (ipad). You won't get the full android experience because the Atrix is running motoblur (has to be the worse skin out there, well maybe 2nd behind touchwiz) but the rest of the phone should make up for it.

Since I get tether for free with my Nexus One I plan on purchasing a tablet (probably the Xoom, I have been wanting an android tablet for a long time) with just wifi only and using the N1's mobile hotspot to connect to the internet, should save me a bunch of money (wifi version is cheaper and no additional monthly fees).

 

[danalingga]

I think it is depended on what you need. Atrix is more as cell phone while XOOM is tablet PC. So, if you need cell phone, go for Atrix but if you need computing function, go for XOOM.

 

[EarlyMon]

Yeah, the lack of RAM and the frequency at which it crashes, freezes, etc. is pushing me over the edge.

The docking option is artificially overpriced.

The Xoom is one of the top-line Android tablets.

It runs a new version of Android where things like the user interface are optimized for a larger, higher-resolution screen. That version is called Honeycomb, it's being initially optimized for tablets. Some of the new tablets announced just this week are running the earlier non-optimal version of Android.

The Atrix runs the stable version of Android for phones called Froyo.

We believe that by around the end of the year, all of these newer more advanced devices will run a unified version of Android that get optimized by the maker for either a cell or a tablet.

But right now today - the Atrix + Xoom is your best bet.

I predict you'll love them. But - in case you have any issue with the Xoom, you'll be able to eBay or Craigslist it in the first month, sell it for $700, buy the dock for $500 and come out 200 ahead.

Personally, I think once you have the combo, with each running the optimized version of Android suitable for its screen size and use, you'll be way happy and not look back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7zheLybA-Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGtXmtAzzQw

 

[Roze]

From the review on the laptop dock, a lot of the reviewers have said that the keyboard/mouse pads are not on par as a normal laptop.

I think it is depended on what you need. Atrix is more as cell phone while XOOM is tablet PC. So, if you need cell phone, go for Atrix but if you need computing function, go for XOOM.

No the OP won the Atrix (for free). His/her question was whether to get the laptop dock or the Xoom.

The docking option is artificially overpriced.

I predict you'll love them. But - in case you have any issue with the Xoom, you'll be able to eBay or Craigslist it in the first month, sell it for $700, buy the dock for $500 and come out 200 ahead.

I agree with you that the dock is overprice but as it's an accessory, the OP will be able to use his/her employee discount of 40%. So the laptop dock will only cost $300. So for his/her situation, it's not as bad. Though I still think the dock should be no more than $250 :/

 

[EarlyMon]

I agree with you that the dock is overprice but as it's an accessory, the OP will be able to use his/her employee discount of 40%. So the laptop dock will only cost $300. So for his/her situation, it's not as bad. Though I still think the dock should be no more than $250 :/

True - but my impression is that Suicide Bobb is in an either-or situation and this is all brought on by short-term finances and a bonus.

A Xoom would sell fast on eBay for over $600 if not his best choice initially.

I wouldn't even guess on the saleability of the dock at any price at this point. By your own assessment, it's a $250 component - I'd be pressed to pay over $150.

So - either by discount or by use case - I think the $600 Xoom is more economically sensible than the $300 dock - in my opinion, only.

PS - You're right - I keep overlooking his discount. It's been years (ok - decades ) since I've been in that sort of situation and back then, for me, it was usually a one-time deal.

 

[Roze]

So - either by discount or by use case - I think the $600 Xoom is more economically sensible than the $300 dock - in my opinion, only.

You forget, EM, that Bob, can return the laptop dock within 30 days as it's an accessory back to the store to get a full refund. So if he uses it for the first couple of weeks and doesn't like it, he can always return it to AT&T and get a Xoom. I think it's the best solution that Bob tries the dock out first. I mean for all purpose the Xoom IS the best choice for most people, espeically those that are advid Android users.

 

[EarlyMon]

So - if the Xoom is the best choice, why add a dock to a phone and get a partial solution with unoptimized software?

You couldn't give me that dock.

 

[Suicide Bobb]

As I said before, i do plan on trying both out before I purchase either. The laptop dock is at our store, so I will have A LOT of downtime with it to get a good feel for it. We also have the webtop dock setup.

I will have less time witness the Xoom, but chances are that that's the one i will be going for.

I will root the Atrix and get free tethering, then tether it to the Xoom. I get unlimited data on my company phone (Atrix)