Motorola Xoom and Apple iPad 2 Reviewed [The Competition] 54
by Dieter Bohn Tue, 15 Mar 2011 1:04 pm EDT
Want to know what the TouchPad is up against? Look no further than two comprehensive reviews of competing tablet products posted by our friends at Android Central and TiPb:
In both cases, speed is one of the defining characteristics in this brave new world of big touchscreens. In both cases, there's a sense that the operating system is better than expected but doesn't quite live up to its potential. In both cases, yes, the tablets are (ostensibly) available to purchase today instead of in June.
Anybody looking to buy one of these tablets today or are you holding out for the TouchPad?
54 Comments
"Anybody looking to buy one of these tablets today or are you holding out for the TouchPad?"
None of the above.
The Ipad 2 is tempting at that price point. I am a huge fan of webOS so i have decided to give HP a chance and wait 3 more months to see what the touchpad will be like once i can get my hands on it.
Fight it man.. buy a 1st gen ipad cheap. I got the pre minus and the first gen ipad and i cant camp out a lil while longer.. just gadget lust. haha
I'll wait for the TouchPad before I buy a tablet. I'm going to see which tablet is the best between the PlayBook, iPad, and TouchPad. The Xoom is too unrefined for my taste. Actually, it's Honeycomb to blame, the Xoom has great hardware.
Spoken like a true webOS fan. Always waiting.
Bought the iPad2 and it is head and shoulders a better experience than the Xoom. Xoom = laggy, complicated. Touchpad is yet to be seen so I will wait for that!
Definitely getting a touchpad, but will probably get a xoom and even a playbook when it's available. Sort of a tech **** I am... Already have the iPad 1, cant see any real reason to upgrade....
I'm waiting on the TouchPad to be released. Once it is, I'll have to play with all the options before I can make my decision.
Honestly, I'm worried about apps for the TouchPad. They will be nowhere near what's available for the iPad.
Also, why buy 2 webOS devices? I know you can do the touch to share and text forwarding, but I can be exposed to many more apps by having a webOS phone and an iOS tablet.
Exactly! That's why I'm going for the Veer and iPad 2 :)
Holding out for the Touchpad II, with touch stone v3 that has (hopefully wireless) 1080p HDMI out and perfect flash support, to watch hulu (both paid and non paid) and netflix, etc..
I want my TouchPad II to be a portable HTPC.. or HTT (Home Theater Tablet)
Just heard that HP announced that the TouchPad II would be available...wait for it..."in the coming decades".
Good luck waiting Rumpelstiltskin!!!
I think you mean Rip Van Winkle. Sorry I posted this below too.
Rumpelstiltskin and Mikey47, just a couple of average trolls.
Based on the last feed that was put up b4 this one (about app developers) I am now kind of hesitant about buying a touchpad just bcuz I dont know how well it will be supported.. I am a big fan of webos but as of just 30mins ago, I am starting to have real concerns about the support for this product. I just recently purchased a pre 2 with all the hopes of shedding the old problems of pre-, just to find that pre- still seems to have more support than the pre 2. I burned a sprint contract, and signed a 2 year contract with verizon at a higher price just to have more problems.. Sidenote, had the evo, loved it but I love webos more, and I am hoping they get the devs and everything on the same page soon so we can have some much needed success. I mean we have been dealing with problems since it came out, now can we please have a reward. so to answer your question, I was waiting to buy one, now I have to see how our support is going to be.
I will be keeping my smartphone a Palm (one of the new models), but I doubt I'll get the TouchPad. I already have an iPod Touch 4G to get the iOS apps, and I don't really like Android - so neither of the reviewed tabs get my $$.
I think the TouchPad has several challenges:
-Will it be fast enough?
-Will it ever get apps?
-No Gesture area
As a devoted Pre user, I lament the omission of a gesture area on the Touchpad. The Playbook has a gesture area, is quite fast, and should have a very healthy app catalog.
It's the one I'm keeping my eye on.
yeah i was really disappointed when they said it wouldn't have the gesture area. when i first heard HP was making a tablet i thought it would have been a great idea to put the gesture area all the way around it (like RIM did with the Playbook). i for one love the quickwave launch bar and use it often. wouldnt it be awesome if you could use a quickwave launch bar on every bezel? why HP, why?
Me three. I posted elsewhere about "flow" being the defining characteristic of webOS multitasking, and I think the gesture area is crucial to that quality. I really don't get the elimination of the gesture area unless, as others have said, they're sticking webOS on hardware originally meant for another OS.
They try to keep things as simple as they can, they've put their eye on the actual winner of the contest, that's Apple. Simpler is better
Design challenges would grow exponentially if they go the complicated way. The accidental touch of the gesture area is bay far the most scaring thing for a non webOS user the first time they use it, imagine that on four bezels
Gestures are not obvious, they improve the experience of the advanced user, but the average user has not the mood to learn even those little things, is better for expanding the platform to keep it simple. I think the Playbook approach is mistaken, right now iPad has the key, and is better to follow the steps of the winner
But I'll miss the gestures too :-(
iPad2 on order for the wife.
I'm waiting for comprehensive review of production TouchPad to decide if I'm buying that.
I may end up waiting for a future TouchPad since it doesn't have two features I REALLY wanted: SD slot (or equivalent expansion) and Digitizer (because I want to draw, not fingerpaint)
I'm holding out for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 or the Blackberry Playbook or the HTC Flyer with Android 3.0.
yeah Honeycomb is pretty nice for sure. i played with the Xoom over at a Verizon store and thought it was quite functional
I played with the Xoom at Verizon also. I love Honeycomb and I will not buy an Android tablet that is not a Google Experience tablet. Also I'm looking for a tablet that is in the 7" to 9" size range.
will pre 2 have touch to share capability with touchpad or only pre 3?
nope :/
No. Only the Pre3 and the Veer will have the touch-to-share feature.
the veer can too? i thought it lacked that function
Having used both an iPad and the new iPad 2 extensively, I'm definitely going to hold out for a TouchPad. Sure, the new iPad 2 is pretty fast, but I'm just spoiled by how fluid and easy webOS is.
amazing how similar my thinking is to some of the previous posts.
I am going to buy my wife an iPad2...I am waiting to see what HP has for me.
I am becoming EXTREMELY disappointed about the Pre and its support...we own two in our family and our Sprint contract is up August 1.
I am ready to look around, HP/Sprint. Make it worth my while to stay.
I'm holding out for the Touch Pad. I think HP with webos has a better view of the future and I want to support that... Plus, I really can't stand the attitude of most Ipad sporting kids on BART, don't want to be identified with them...
Not interested in the Xoom (they must be really proud of their product because their price is ridiculous).
Ipad2 isn't that much better to me than the original Ipad but their pricing for the Ipad2 is worthy of consideration and competitive.
I'll wait to get my hands on the Touchpad before I buy a tablet. I might just end up with no tablet at all.
The Pre3 is a must for me. I'll definitely be getting it. My Sprint Pre minus (launch day Pre owner) is on its last toes (was on its last leg months ago Lol).
you best get it a prosthetic!
I have an iPad and plan to get a TouchPad when they are released. That assumes that it is at least as capable as my existing iPad. If so I'll have it, if not then no. Sort of simple really. I don't feel they owe me anything. Why should I? Yes I bought a Pre and now have a Pre 2 but that was my choice. They make stuff and I buy stuff. It is in their interest to release good hardware with good software supporting it. If it is good I'll buy it. I won't lie, I hope they do as I much prefer WebOS to any of the alternatives. However if they don't then I'll stay as I am or get something else. I won't get angry and post about how they let me down or complain about how HP don't care about their loyal customers. This ain't personal... is it? ;o)
If everyone on this site are going with another tablet, then what the heck are they doing here on this site. The question here dieter, are you going to buy the touchpad. It sound like you want something other than the touchpad. I'm waiting for the touchpad. Those that are getting non hpalm devices, they should be representing on their site. NOT ON THIS ONE.
he reviews apple and android products. there is noting wrong with him showing us what the TP is competing against. this is a perfectly valid post.
Spouse has an iPad & a Pre, so we regularly live in both iOS and WebOS worlds. The tablets are impressive, IF you have the right apps! I'm in no hurry for a tablet, but, to me, the key to a successful tablet is (as mentioned already):
Performance Capable Device (fast, fluid)...
+ Apps (office, vt100 SSH, kindle, nook, box.net, pandora, googledocs, sketchbook-pro, Atlantic Monthly, New Yorker, etc.) The device is simply a screen -- the Apps are the ecosystem.
+ Low Weight (1.5 lbs is a little heavy. Lighter is better.)
+ Hi Battery Life (10 hrs is the new expectation. Higher is better.)
+ $499 (again, the new expectation.)
Based on using Pre and iPad, Palm/HP needs to match iPad 2 on these to be a player -- and they have a ways to go on each of these, I think. I want the WebOS tablet to be a contender, but I'm concerned that it's spec'd like 'last year's model' and because of that it won't attract developers. (After my Pre experience (stuck at 1.4.5) I'm not following Palm down any more rabbit holes of expectations -- the device needs the apps before I buy.)
I plan to buy a tablet in the next 6 months, so I have time to wait & see. I think these devices are becoming the new 'paper' for the near-term and that we'll all use them. 10-inch tablets seem the right size to me - I'm not sure about smaller ones. I already use Spouse's iPad to markup technical PDF's for example. Hard to imagine doing that on a 7in. screen.
I was planning on holding out for the touchpad but I broke down and got the ipad2. I really like the ipad and can't seem to put it down. I have a sprint pre minus so I am really hoping sprint gets the pre3 and if they do I am definitely getting the touchpad. There are still some thing that webos does better then ios but hp needs to make sure that webos has a fast user experience on the touchpad and have the most popular apps.
Well I will consider getting a touchpad if there are apps. I mean Windows Phone 7 has been out for maybe 6 months or so and they have 10,000 plus apps already. Web OS doesn't have nearly that many and its been out far much longer. I love the iPad and the thinness of it. But again I don't like iOs very much its just plain ole boring. The Xoom is to me to pricey and I will not be switching to VZ to get it. I at the moment am wating to see what Sprint has up it's sleeve at CTIA maybe the rumor of a HTC 10 inch tablet is true and i'll be grabbing that and the EVO 3D I already have a EVO and a Pre on Sprint. But HP needs to push for some major app development or it'll be a failure no matter the speed the weight ect...
I was waiting for the TouchPAd but decided to skip it and get the iPad2 cause it is out now and has more apps and it is 2nd generation. TouchPad will be like in Beta.
I am waiting on the touchpad!!!!!
TouchPad for sure! Had the Ipad n didn't like it so gived it to my bro... Android has no chance of seein my pretty penny!
TouchPad all the way. Regardless of how many apps will be available or not at launch, the OS is the most important aspect to me in my day-to-day. I've had my original Pre since day 1, 6/6/09, and have loved the fluidity of webOS ever since. There is simply no comparison. Homebrew has really helped fill the void for some much needed functionality too. My 2nd phone for work is an Epic 4G ad as cool as it is with all the toys it has, my Pre is my main line and is just way more efficient to use. I've watched all the videos on the TouchPad and it's just a logical evolution of the OS that debuted almost 2 years ago s no matter what comes out between now and Summer, I feel the TouchPad the best option.
Multitasking is in the DNA of webOS and no other company has designed their OS to be as efficient, sans RIM's rip with the Playbook which wasn't all that groundbreaking whenI played around with it at CES a couple of month's ago. Everybody's dfferent though so it's good that formats are pushing on to improve / try new things. The rebirth of webOS officially begins this Summer and I'm hopeful that no matter where the platform ranks overall after a year of solid sales effort, I know it will make more of an impact more quickly than it did before and we really have HP to thank for that once the corporate machine unleashes it. Lastly, #1 doesn't always mean the #1 choice...sales figures aside.
I'm a WebOS fan(im written this with my pre minus). I would love to get the touchpad but I can't. I need HDMI, sd card slot rear facing camera yes I would use it. I can't spend money on something that doesn't feel my needs.
I've noticed one thing from both reviews regarding the rear camera:
"And beyond that -- it's not like you're going to be running around with a 10-inch tablet as your point-and-shoot camera, right? A 10.1-inch, 1.6-pound point-and-shoot camera. Nope. Not so much. (Even though the new camera app in Honeycomb is much improved.)"
"iPad 2 is too big to use as a regular camera anyway. There’s a reason no major manufacturer makes a consumer grade camera with a 9.7-inch screen. It’s just too loud and obnoxious to use as your daily shooter or tourist cam. Trust me, I tried."
Yet everyone complains that the TouchPad doesn't have a rear camera. Sure, it's a "cool" thing to have, but how many people would really use it that often?
I have an iPad 2 on order and I plan on getting a Pre 3 on Sprint this summer.
Hi,
My name is Jason... and im a gadgeholic. everyone just say it in the mirror. I am such a junky i almost bought a xoom just to play with it for a few days. I am rocking a 1st gen iPad and a pre minus. I love my pre minus. Just dwindling away for a sprint pre 3 date now that we know touchpad is june. Hopefully i can sell enough blood before then.
for $250 bucks i might go with the nookcolor honycomb hack. i really dont need the camera's. just a decent multimedia machine.
I bought a nook color for $200 during the March ebay price break from B&N and rooted it without honycomb. I am using it for book reading first and tablet second. The Android 2.1 is OK but with some application mod, it becomes somewhat bearable now but I couldn't resist the $200 price tag. There is a lot of app for sure on the android market to make the nook color tablet quite usable for $200 in my opinion. I don't see myself getting a real tablet for any time soon.
A lot of you are assuming Sprint gets the Pre3. I don't know if that is likely.
I am not getting a tablet. Maybe a TP2 if they bring back gestures.
I will love to buy one when it comes out, BUT being a day 1 sprint pre owner, I think I'm just going to wait about 6 months after the toucbpad and pre 3 is released and just see how it does. If the app situation changes then I'll defenitley buy but if it's just another repeat of all the other palm releases and if sprint doesn't get the pre 3 then I guess I'll have to another os...... Sad, so sad. I wish these brainiacs @ hp would get their s**t together
By Mikey47 on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 01:39:58 EDT newScore
"-1Just heard that HP announced that the TouchPad II would be available...wait for it..."in the coming decades".
Good luck waiting Rumpelstiltskin!!!"
I think you mean Rip Van Winkle. Just sayin
Considering I was a pre - owner, I'm going to let palm's tablet game mature, instead of being a beta tester. My OG iPad should hold me over for the touchpad drop date, if I don't see any movement in their app space I'll probably just get a iPad 2 and settle with that for a while. Also, to answer some people's confusion on a rear facing camera on a tablet, I'm pretty sure that's more for the convenience of pressing a button and showing your webcam party what you're looking at, and quick "on the couch pictures". Those with kids can attest to the fact you can never have too many cameras if you wanna catch those special moments
Okay, my two cents.
I went with a Xoom tablet.
I'm a big fan of WebOS, and I really do believe that it's the most elegantly designed mobile OS out there. I want to see it succeed. I want to see it be SEEN by the rest of the world who're running on their iOS or Android blinders.
I don't like Apple. The product itself is good, the umbilical to iTunes is reprehensible, and the cult of personality which drives their marketing push is far, far too saccharine for me to swallow. I'm one of those people who just "don't get it".
I don't mind Android as much. Less umbilicals, more open. Still Big Brother when it comes to personal information, but I've managed my personal data bleed well enough, I think, to where it's a mild concern instead of a paranoid panic attack.
Saw the specs of the Xoom, then I saw it in action. I'm familiar with the iPad (have to support my office execs who fall into the "iOS blinders" category). Clumsy and pedantic OS compared to WebOS.
Then I used the Xoom. You know, the experience in Honeycomb is pretty OK.
It's fast; has a very good rendition of Chrome for its browser; it's a solid music player. Still working out the video codec conversions for my homebrew video rips to not be choppy on Xoom playback, but other streaming video is solid and pleasing.
What broke my will for waiting for the Touchpad? The realization, that some of you have echoed, that I'd just be beta'ing it for HP, yet again, like I did (and still do) with my Pre Minus. That, and, if I'm sinking half a grand into a tablet, heck with it, I want more solid app support than what WebOS enjoys.
I think WebOS is poised for a breakthrough over the next year. I fervently hope so. I like seeing the good guys win.
For now, though, I'll settle not for the Great Satan, but the Really Not So Bad Satan.
-T.
I'm buying a Pre3 and a Touchpad - I don't care how good the iPad is, I don't agree with Apples business practices so will never buy their products.
Not interested in an Android or Blackberry tablet - neither has an OS as good as WebOS.
Let's compare existing devices to our non-existent WebOS tablet! This is so much fun.....we can all talk about WebOS for another year while everyone else actually USES their devices.
No offense, but this place has become pathetic. I tried to stick it out because I loved WebOS, but unfortunately the lack of carrier, developer, and company support for the platform has made it impossible to continue supporting. I jumped to iOS about a week ago with an iPhone and my girl's iPad. Yes, the dated iPad is much better than no device at all.....and even when the touchpad does come out...there won't be any apps for it anyway. Seriously folks, WebOS is dead.....HP killed it.