Motorola Xoom - Android Tablet Review

With the tablet market now welcoming any new competitors to drive down prices and raise expectations, the Motorola Xoom is the latest addition to the market. This Android-based tablet has a surprisingly impressive agenda at play. For those interested in avoiding Apple's iPad or iPad 2, the Motorola Xoom might be the alternative you've been waiting for.

It's unfortunate, but this will be starting with a complaint. Despite the assortment of positives to the Xoom, the price point is simply unacceptable. Your wallet will be spitting out over eight hundred dollars and it's incredibly hard to justify a purchase like that. You'll really have to swallow the hefty price tag if you intend to get your hands on this.

With that ugly truth out of the way, let's get to the good. Speed is at the forefront of design with the Xoom. Convenience, not so much. It's a shame for the broader market that the Motorola Xoom isn't a bit more user-friendly like its iPad 2 rival. It isn't that the interface is terrible, it's just that the device expects you to be a bit too tech savvy than most people are. You'll probably never be outright perplexed by how to utilize the Android 3.0 system, but you won't do it with relative ease either.

The range of Apps is impressive and straightforward in utilization. The 32 gigs of included space don't fill up quickly- though that will likely depend upon the user. Surfing the web is fast and download speeds are acceptable even on lukewarm connections. The control scheme was clearly well-thought out as it relies much more on the touch screen interface as opposed to external buttons.

The materials and surface of the Motorola Xoom are a mixed bag. While it feels sturdy and durable, it's a bit uncomfortable to hold for long periods of time. It gives the impression that it can survive a fall or two, but at the cost of comfort. On the positive side, the slots and expansions are cleverly placed.

One complaint many are likely to hold against the Xoom is a lack of 4G support. Motorola intends to offer it as a free upgrade in the future, but many consumers will likely be displeased with its lack of launch support. While it's no major fault, it does hurt any incentive to be an early adopter. Despite this and the other marginal complaints, anyone considering the admittedly lackluster Samsung Galaxy should jump ship immediately. The Xoom is a worthy alternative to the iPad 2 and will likely steal a good percentaThe Xoom is a worthy alternative to the iPad 2 and will likely steal a good percentage of sales from it.

Source(s)

Motorola Xoom Product Features

PC World

Motorola Xoom Wiki