Do you have tablet envy? A lot of people don’t want a proprietary tablet, but would still like one with a lot of features and for the convenience it offers on the go. The Motorola Xoom has a competitive price (SRP $499.99 for the 32GB Wi-fi model) this season at many retailers and I went online and to stores to check this tablet out.
My first stop online was Sam’s Club, where the price was “hidden” until I placed it in my cart and you know that usually means a great deal. Sure enough, it was the best price I found on my ‘research trip’ at $449.83.
With that price point on hand, I thought I’d go out and find one to play with so I could experience the features of the tablet first hand.
I actually first went to Sams’ Club since that’s where I researched it online, but our club did not have any models of the Motorola Xoom on display. So I went further up the street and tried Target.
While our Target did have a model on display – you couldn’t actually use it since it was covered up with Plexiglas. So off to Best Buy.
I apparently don’t have much luck because the Motorola Xoom 10.1 Tablet there had a broken connection cable so it too was not able to be played with. They did however have a Motorola Xoom Family Tablet that I could try out (this is even more affordable at $399.99 but lacks a few of the features that the 10.1 offers). I figured the ‘use’ of the tablet would be almost the same so the pictures I’ll be showing were actually taken from the Xoom Family Tablet.
Here are some of the questions you want to ask yourself when looking for a tablet, let’s see how the Xoom stacks up against them.
• Activities: What do you want to do with your tablet (apps, movies, games, e-mail, work)?
If movies and games are your thing then the 10.1” HD screen will rock you. The 1280×800 pixel resolution picture it displays is nothing short of excellent. The LCD screen has an Anti Glare coating on it, however in the bright fluorescent lights of the store it still mirrored back a lot of what was around me (as you’ll see in some of the photos).
If you’re using this for apps you’ll find plenty of them in the Android Market place from games to productivity there are so many to choose from.
Getting your e-mail on the go is fast and as long as you have a Wi-fi connection with the model I researched, you’ll stay connected with family, friends or work wherever you are. You can also instant message using Google Talk.
If you are planning on using your tablet for work, a nice feature of the Motorola Xoom is the SD Card Slot, so you can save files and documents from a desktop and then transfer them to your Xoom when needed. This makes the tablet expandable to 64GB of space.
• OS: What operating system are you currently using on your other devices (phone, computer)?
The Motorola Xoom runs on the Android Operating System. The 10.1 is upgradeable to Android 3.2. The advantage to this – FLASH! When you surf the web you’ll see all the rich media it has to offer you. Because the Android OS was programmed for mobile devices it works fast behind the scenes so you don’t experience sluggishness when using your device whether it’s browsing the Internet, using your apps, reading a book or watching a movie…or all of them at once!
• Size/Comfort: Will you carry your tablet in your purse or briefcase? What size feels comfortable?
Physically the Xoom is slim. The Wi-Fi model weighs in at just 1.56 pounds, and is 9.8 x 6.6 x .5 inches (H x W x D) in size. It easily will slip into a tote, briefcase or even a diaper bag! It was a little difficult to fully grasp how it would feel in your hands since it was connected to the display, but I imagine that due to its light weight it would not be cumbersome to hold for a long time.
• Connect: Where will you use your tablet? At home on the go? Wi-Fi or 3G/4G?
The Motorola Xoom has a number of configurations to suit your needs. The Family Edition and base model of the Xoom both have Wi-Fi connectivity. I have found that Wi-Fi is located in so many places these days and for the casual user is sufficient for getting online. If you need broader connectivity in remote places you may want to look at a model that connects through a cellular company – the price point will be a bit higher, but if you need the connectivity it’s your better bet.
Check out my Google+ album for all the pictures I took on my shop!
I don’t know of many who wouldn’t be excited to find any of the versions of the Motorola Xoom as a gift this holiday season – if a tablet is on the wish list of someone you love – give the Motorola Xoom a test drive at a local store and see if you love it! Once you’ve played with it you can check out this great offer of “Buy Now & Get Free 2-day Shipping“!
You can connect with Motorola on Facebook and Twitter as well.
[box]This shop has been compensated as part of social shopper #MotoCalyp insights study for Collective Bias. All opinions are my own and I conducted all the research for this post.[/box]
We're a family passionate about entertainment and gadgets, and want to share our thoughts about what we watch and play with you!
There are so many out there now, that it gets confusing to decide. You review has helped me, narrow down what kind of questions I need to be asking and what I want the tablet to do.