4 ms·

So what is the competitive advantage that the Motorla Xoom now has? And what does it have to justify it's $100 price premium over the iPad?

cryptoz 16y ago
It has a brand-new UI that is tablet-optimized. I think the principle advantage of any Android tablet over iPad is Honeycomb; with widgets and real multitasking, it's much much more usable as a real computer than the iPad is. I think it also has two cameras, a significantly faster CPU, other features like that. Really though, the main thing it has going for it is Honeycomb. Most people will be very impressed with it after playing with a demo model in a store. It's much more futuristic and cooler than the now-old iOS icon-grid paradigm.
- tomkarlo 16y ago
  You lost me at "real computer." In my own experience, one of the biggest reasons that normal customers like the iPad is _because_ it's not like their desktop computer. The obsession with emulating a desktop/laptop experience is mainly the domain of those of us who are already experts in that experience; for average users who may generally dislike the "real computer", it's not a selling point.
  - spoondan 16y ago
    I think he meant that the Xoom is capable of replacing a desktop or laptop; not that it emulates them.
briancooley 16y ago
Probably the biggest two features are the dual core processor and the front and rear facing cameras (5 MP camera, 720p HD video capture). Reportedly the memory is upgradable as well.
- mortenjorck 16y ago
  In other words, apart from videoconferencing, it has virtually nothing to offer non-hacker customers?
  - nlogn 16y ago
    Dual-core and 4x the RAM offer no benefits to non-hacker customers? Sometimes page elements must be reloaded when browsing a SINGLE PAGE on the iPad. Surely you can admit that 4x the RAM would offer a notable boost to browsing experience.
jonknee 16y ago
* Can play HD video without downscaling * Dual-core CPU * Two cameras * 4x the RAM (1GB) * Expandable memory (SD slot) * Supposedly 4G LTE data Many of these may be more even when the iPad 2 comes out, but we'll have to wait and see.
kevingailey 16y ago
4G!
- cosmicray 16y ago
  An 'upgrade' feature that has been promised, but will not be available on the day the Xoom ships.
  - kevingailey 16y ago
    context: http://snasm.com/article/motorola-chief-defends-xoom-pricing-says-4g-capabilities-justify-its-cost http://snasm.com/article/motorola-chief-defends-xoom-pricing...

cryptoz 16y ago

It has a brand-new UI that is tablet-optimized. I think the principle advantage of any Android tablet over iPad is Honeycomb; with widgets and real multitasking, it's much much more usable as a real computer than the iPad is. I think it also has two cameras, a significantly faster CPU, other features like that. Really though, the main thing it has going for it is Honeycomb. Most people will be very impressed with it after playing with a demo model in a store. It's much more futuristic and cooler than the now-old iOS icon-grid paradigm.

tomkarlo 16y ago
You lost me at "real computer." In my own experience, one of the biggest reasons that normal customers like the iPad is _because_ it's not like their desktop computer. The obsession with emulating a desktop/laptop experience is mainly the domain of those of us who are already experts in that experience; for average users who may generally dislike the "real computer", it's not a selling point.
- spoondan 16y ago
  I think he meant that the Xoom is capable of replacing a desktop or laptop; not that it emulates them.

briancooley 16y ago

Probably the biggest two features are the dual core processor and the front and rear facing cameras (5 MP camera, 720p HD video capture). Reportedly the memory is upgradable as well.

mortenjorck 16y ago
In other words, apart from videoconferencing, it has virtually nothing to offer non-hacker customers?
- nlogn 16y ago
  Dual-core and 4x the RAM offer no benefits to non-hacker customers? Sometimes page elements must be reloaded when browsing a SINGLE PAGE on the iPad. Surely you can admit that 4x the RAM would offer a notable boost to browsing experience.

jonknee 16y ago

* Can play HD video without downscaling * Dual-core CPU * Two cameras * 4x the RAM (1GB) * Expandable memory (SD slot) * Supposedly 4G LTE data Many of these may be more even when the iPad 2 comes out, but we'll have to wait and see.

kevingailey 16y ago

4G!

cosmicray 16y ago
An 'upgrade' feature that has been promised, but will not be available on the day the Xoom ships.
- kevingailey 16y ago
  context: http://snasm.com/article/motorola-chief-defends-xoom-pricing-says-4g-capabilities-justify-its-cost http://snasm.com/article/motorola-chief-defends-xoom-pricing...