*OFFICIAL* Xoom vs iPad 2 Discussions

[rushmore]

Either tablet will make folks happy, depending on what you want

For me:

Xoom = Flash, game emulators, drag & drop

iPad = great app ecosystem

I "kind" of chose both, since have a 64gb iPod 4 and a gTablet. I would also have a Xoom if it had USB host and I would have given the gTablet to my wife.

Must admit there are a bunch of great apps on Apple. I have almost 19gb of apps on my iPod, of which at least 80% work fine on the iPad (per the iTunes device info).

 

[Kalison]

Either tablet will make folks happy, depending on what you want

For me:

Xoom = Flash, game emulators, drag & drop

iPad = great app ecosystem

I "kind" of chose both, since have a 64gb iPod 4 and a gTablet. I would also have a Xoom if it had USB host and I would have given the gTablet to my wife.

Must admit there are a bunch of great apps on Apple. I have almost 19gb of apps on my iPod, of which at least 80% work fine on the iPad (per the iTunes device info).

Agreed. I think it's awesome to have choices. Things will only get better from here!

 

[Pure745]

Hi,

I'm currently in the market for an iPad, but as an Android lover (Droid X), I recently read a review on Forbes saying the Xoom was superior for business use.

I am going to use this table for an outside sales/consulting job. Primarily going to take notes on meetings, clients, and will have presentations loaded on it.

Will also be using to organize my calendar, contacts, and email (both work and personal).

Can anyone give me some reasons/insight and detail as to specifically why either or is better for business use?

Thank you in advance!

 

[crazie.eddie]

Well, since you're already an Android user, if you kept your business contacts on your Droid X using Google Contacts, then those contacts will also be on your Xoom. That's if you're using the same Google account on the Droid X and the Xoom. Yes, you can use the same Google account on multiple devices. I use the same Google Account on my HTC EVO and my Xoom. What this also means is, if you already purchased apps for your Droid, you will not have to purchase them again to use on the Zoom, since the purchase history is stored on your Google Account, not by device.

Basically, as long as you're using Google's cloud technology (Google Calendar, Google Contacts, Gmail), you should have no worries syncing between both devices.

 

[zipur]

...Basically, as long as you're using Google's cloud technology (Google Calendar, Google Contacts, Gmail), you should have no worries syncing between both devices.

Point of information, the IPAD will also download these directly. As said before over and over again. it a personally decision go to BB and play with both then see what fits you. Both have good and bad. As long as you are here the comments will swing Xoom if you go to IPF for apple you will get even more comments for the IPAD (Many more owners there).

 

[rjoudrey]

Point of information, the IPAD will also download these directly. As said before over and over again. it a personally decision go to BB and play with both then see what fits you. Both have good and bad. As long as you are here the comments will swing Xoom if you go to IPF for apple you will get even more comments for the IPAD (Many more owners there).

Because the experience curve is steeper on the Xoom you may be better doing a 14 day trial on each. The iPad is splashier the first day or two but I think the Xoom may have more substance and customizations in the long run.

 

[Old Member]

After selling my Xoom on eBay I bought a 64GB iPad 2 at Target. I bought the smart cover, Bluetooth keyboard, Bigstream to connect it to my projector in my classroom, and a stylus to use with Notesplus. There are several things that I miss from Android OS. I miss the ability to download apps without having to reenter my password again each time that I try to download one. I miss the ease of sharing photos with social networking websites. I miss the gmail app in the Xoom, Apples mail sucks. The la k of customization isn't as awful as I'd imagined but I do miss my widgets. Swiftkey keyboard has me spoiled and the stock iPad keyboard leaves a lot to be desired. The rear camera is a huge joke compared even to my old LG Dare. It takes horrible still photos. Not really sure why Apple even bothered to put it on there. Finally, most of all I HATE syncing through iTunes.

The fact that Netflix, Huluplus, and iTunes movies just work out of the box is amazing. The ability to stream my iPad to my projector easily is AMAZING. I know that is not a big deal to many people, but for me it's huge. It sucks that apps like Time Warner Cable streaming live TV isn't there for Hineycomb or any Android device. It's a really nice feature. True not all channels are there but Cartoon Network, Disney, XD, and Animal Planet are and my kids love it. I really haven't missed Flash one bit. The games available are overwhelming after coming from Android. Sure most really good ones cost, but they are worth it. I teach 3rd grade and there are more iPad 2 education apps than there are apps for the Xoom.

All in all, I LOVE my Dinc, couldn't see myself ever getting an iPhone but for ME, not for everyone, for MY NEEDS the iPad 2 is there. Even with all the things I don't like, it is the closest to delivering all that I need.

 

[frenzy757]

good that the Xoom works for you. Hulu, Netflix all stream via play on and works great. YOu can also stream movies you have on your computer as well. It is on both the ipad 2 and xoom so I guess its kind of a wash.

To me, if I was going to go back to a non-customizable OS, id go with the playbook. To me, the swiping action on an ipad is not needed...I am swiping just to see more apps? I like swiping through home screens on my xoom...if there is no "homescreen" then I'd rather have QNX.

I sold my ipad 2 for a xoom and I am very happy. Streaming 4 baseball games via mlb.tv on my xoom with flash is just amazing.

 

[Old Member]

good that the Xoom works for you. Hulu, Netflix all stream via play on and works great. YOu can also stream movies you have on your computer as well. It is on both the ipad 2 and xoom so I guess its kind of a wash.

To me, if I was going to go back to a non-customizable OS, id go with the playbook. To me, the swiping action on an ipad is not needed...I am swiping just to see more apps? I like swiping through home screens on my xoom...if there is no "homescreen" then I'd rather have QNX.

I sold my ipad 2 for a xoom and I am very happy. Streaming 4 baseball games via mlb.tv on my xoom with flash is just amazing.

I contemplated playon, seriously contemplated it prior to selling my Xoom but I resented paying for two services and having to leave my desktop on in order to do something that SHOULD be native by now. Doesn't it tick you off a little that Android is no longer a new platform yet no one has developed a workable Netflix app yet much less HuluPlus? You are right the swiping motion is stupid on the iPad.

 

[EarlyMon]

Probably only Netflix and Hulu can develop those as native apps without hitting the DCMA.

 

[Old Member]

Probably only Netflix and Hulu can develop those as native apps without hitting the DCMA.

Agreed. It makes no sense why they wouldn't. Google needs to lean on them a bit. The laws of supply and demand SHOULD apply here. With 1/3 of the marketshare in smartphones Android should warrant apps like those. However, with all the diversity out there in hardware and manufacturing it is difficult to make it consistent. I believe that they could lay the app out and put the pressure on the manufacturer and Google to make it work with them. As it is Netflix and Hulu are missing out on a pretty substantial piece of the pie. Netflix is about $8/month. Having to pay for a slingbox or Playon on top of that to do something that should be native is just silly. In time hopefully all those things will come to Android. When they do I will be first in line to get one (assuming I need one then). I just couldn't wait any longer.

 

[frenzy757]

I agree Cincy. It is really bad that netflix/hulu/mlb.tv don't have apps out.

I had the time warner app, netflix, and mlb.tv on my ipad 2. They were really great things to have. However, i can play mlb.tv with flash on my xoom pretty well, and playon is a work around. I agree native apps need to come out for Android (IMO) to realllly hit the mainstream hard and stay.

For me though, I realized that I mostly watch netflix on my PC/TV when I am at home. I have had the need to stream netflix only a few times. On airplanes, I have no data so local movies are king for me, which I think the Xoom does fine with. So I realized that while no netflix hurts...it didn't really affect me that much. It will be cool to have it though if/when it comes.

The time warner app was also great around the house, but I could only use it at home, which again, limited its use for me. I just wanted a tablet that was more of a laptop replacement (I have a desktop for home and tablet for the road)...and Android is closer to that for me by far. I also love the google services.

If I need a laptop, I'll use my work issued one anyways...no need for me to personally own a laptop.

 

[PSkeptic]

The ability to stream my iPad to my projector easily is AMAZING. I know that is not a big deal to many people, but for me it's huge.

Just an aside, you can stream any device with an HDMI out to a projector:
Amazon.com: HDMI to VGA HD15 (Male) Cable: Electronics

Amazon.com: MINI HDMI to VGA Cable: Everything Else

It's not an iPad exclusive. I do it on my tablet right now

 

[Old Member]

Just an aside, you can stream any device with an HDMI out to a projector:
Amazon.com: HDMI to VGA HD15 (Male) Cable: Electronics

Amazon.com: MINI HDMI to VGA Cable: Everything Else

It's not an iPad exclusive. I do it on my tablet right now

You can't stream wirelessly with the Xoom to my knowledge. As a teacher I need to be able to walk freely around my classroom while I teach and place my device in my students hands.

 

[zipur]

I went from the Xoom to IPAD2 and I'm not looking back. There is good and bad about both devices but there is So much more out there for the IPAD, Apps, cases, add-on.
There is something to be said about the leading device!

cheers

 

[Deleted User]

I went from the Xoom to IPAD2 and I'm not looking back. There is good and bad about both devices but there is So much more out there for the IPAD, Apps, cases, add-on.
There is something to be said about the leading device!

cheers

I fully understand and must agree that their are a lot more apps for the ipad which makes it "better" in terms of entertainment and whaatnot, but I bought the Xoom and stand by my choice mainly because Android has the future potencial and I know soon they will have a lot of good apps...Personally I think they will all end up being in the amazon appstore but hey thats just me.

 

[beefyy]

I struggled with the I pad vs xoom a little bit but went with the xoom ultimately because Android supports flash and I can go to a website instead of needing an app. I had an I pad user tell me that an I pad was more user friendly, but I just said back that I don't need an app if I can go straight to the website I want ... guess what the response was..

 

[Mitchrapp]

Android rocks.

 

[PSXBatou]

I went from the Xoom to IPAD2 and I'm not looking back. There is good and bad about both devices but there is So much more out there for the IPAD, Apps, cases, add-on.
There is something to be said about the leading device!

cheers

I went from a iPad 1 to the Xoom. I'm not sure if you remember, but when I bought the iPad one at launch there was absolute crap available for the first 3-6 months of its life. At one point a month or so in I was wondering why I bought it since most apps ended up being re-sized iPhone apps.

In time developers and accessory makers will start supporting android tablets more, just as it took time for the iPad to gain steam for support I fully expect the same for my Xoom.

It's a new market, give it time. There is money to be made, I am sure people will answer that call

 

[Mitchrapp]

There's so many apps for the Xoom. Just need to look in the right place. The one thing the pad might have an advantage on, the app store is a bit better organized. But the apps are there. I think people initially got stuck on the "featured" area and assumed those were the only ones working for the Xoom. So much out there.

 

[Bob Maxey]

There's so many apps for the Xoom. Just need to look in the right place. The one thing the pad might have an advantage on, the app store is a bit better organized. But the apps are there. I think people initially got stuck on the "featured" area and assumed those were the only ones working for the Xoom. So much out there.

Should not compare iDevice apps to Xoom apps. Simply no comparison. Apps for iDevices are far more polished than most native Android tablet apps. It ain't going anywhere until developers decide to write them.

Xoom/android will get there, but not yet.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Should not compare iDevice apps to Xoom apps. Simply no comparison. Apps for iDevices are far more polished than most native Android tablet apps. It ain't going anywhere until developers decide to write them.

Xoom/android will get there, but not yet.

That's one mans opinion. I think what you see is "made for the Xoom, honeycomb" etc.. But there are a ton of apps that aren't tablet optimized that work like they are.

 

[Bob Maxey]

That's one mans opinion. I think what you see is "made for the Xoom, honeycomb" etc.. But there are a ton of apps that aren't tablet optimized that work like they are.

Yes, they will work, just like iPhone apps will work on my iPad. But that is not what I am talking about. XOOM users need native Android tablet apps. They will come, but it is up to developers.

I like android, but if I were a serious developer, I would be developing iDevice applications because of the growing market for them.

One could argue about the importance of the look and feel of the applications people use and how important that is. I would argue that how good they look is why they sell in many cases. When talking about iPad apps written for the iPad, many have no equal in the Android world. Many are simply stunning and beautiful.

 

[Bob Maxey]

Android rocks.

Absolutely it does.

It is the perfect opening act for the iPad. Gets people use to a tablet until they take the training wheels off and embrace the power and beauty of the iPad.

But hey, Rock on Android, you crazy diamond. Or shine on, perhaps.

Big Smiley

 

[Mitchrapp]

Yes, they will work, just like iPhone apps will work on my iPad. But that is not what I am talking about. XOOM users need native Android tablet apps. They will come, but it is up to developers.

I like android, but if I were a serious developer, I would be developing iDevice applications because of the growing market for them.

One could argue about the importance of the look and feel of the applications people use and how important that is. I would argue that how good they look is why they sell in many cases. When talking about iPad apps written for the iPad, many have no equal in the Android world. Many are simply stunning and beautiful.

Not anymore stunning and beautiful than the Android apps I have. They have more, I'll give you that, but it stops there. And I've seen Android apps that have no equal.