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mgmueller · 06-10-2011, 10:52 AM

The chinscratch says it all.
I've read lots of (extremely) negative reviews about Xoom:
Washed out display, Android 3.0 not quite there yet, bad battery duration, ...
I saw it in German Telekom 3 weeks ago and have been positively surprised.
I didn't have time then, so I bought it a few days ago.
Initial reaction when booting it for the first time:
OMG, what kind of crap did I buy?
It actually asks: "Which language do you want to have? German?".
That's it. Just German.
I'm German, so of course I perfectly could work it. But on one hand I simply find it arrogant and stupid to assume, every buyer in Germany exclusively speaks German (a friend of mine for example always uses French, his native tongue). And on the other hand I simply want to have the freedom to choose.
Most of the apps are English. Personally, I want to have a "consistent" look and feel, so I go for an English OS as well. For all my notebooks, tablets, readers, ...
I sent an Email to Motorola Germany, whether that's really the only option. They've answered within 10 minutes (!!!): "For now, that's it. But there will be an update".
In a user forum I found a tip: The app "More Locale" solves the issue, I've activated English (or could choose tons of other languages). Strange enough: All the languages seem to be available in the ROM already (the app only has some k, so I can't imagine it actually adds any languages), you just can't activate them per se.
Anyway, from a bad and disturbing start, to my experience after 3 days on the road (business trip with iPad 2, Samsung Galaxy Tab (7"), Motorola Xoom and Kindle DX Graphite):

Form factor:
I absolutely love it. I clearly prefer the 16:9 (or whatever it exactly may be) of Xoom to the 4:3 (or whatever it exactly may be) of iPad 2.
Did love my Sony 900 before because of that.
I simply find, the portrait oriented unit fits way better in a single hand to hold. It simply feels more comfortable and seems less heavy.

Display quality:
Spontaneous reaction of a friend: "Wow, it really looks dull. 'Washed out' perfectly describes it. iPad and Tab seem way brighter". I've increased the brightness then and I'm absolutely fine with it. Actually, the text even seems a bit more crisp to me than on iPad2 (although I didn't compare 1:1 yet).

Battery duration:
My Galaxy Tab was "dead" this morning with about same usage as Motorola (still about 30%). So standby (I didn't use them that much, most of the time they simply had been in standby) seems really good on Motorola Xoom.
After a few days, of course I can't really tell yet.
But my gut feeling says, it's close enough to iPad. Not quite there, but it clearly seems above average.

Build quality:
It's no iPad, but it's close enough. I'd say, it's one of the more aesthetic and well built units.

Ergonomics:
I've read, the on/off-button on the back are none-ergonomic and stupid. I don't have any problems at all with it, I easily find it even in the dark.

Cover:
I've tested the "Gel" cover (Kind of TPU/silicone) and hated it. I don't like the touch of it. And it's way more "stiff" than silicone. And actually the one I've tested already was broken. Maybe that's the idea: Taking the impact of a crash and breaking. It may be a great protection, but it feels "inconvenient", doesn't stretch that easily and it "stinks".
I've bought the plastic cover. Almost as bad. If the designer's task was "build a bulky and extremely ugly cover. Make it inconvenient to use and simply do everything wrong", he did a great job. It's probably a great protection, bulky as it is. But it's stiff and can't be folded back. I'll check Amazon for a silicone alternative still this afternoon.

Honeycomb:
I haven't tested that much apps or features yet.
Great news first: "Spare Parts" works as well as on Galaxy Tab. So far, all apps perfectly zoomed to full screen.
Actually, I didn't have problems with Android 2.2, never understood "it's just for phones, not for tablets". So I don't see the huge advantage of Honeycomb (3.0) yet. But I certainly don't have any real complaints so far.
Although I have to say: iOS (still) seems more polished.

Responsiveness:
So far, it seems as speedy as iPad. Lags, as I've experienced them sometimes on Dell Streak or Samsung Galaxy Tab, didn't occur so far.

Apps:
Lots of apps, which I've installed on Galaxy Tab and Dell Streak, are missing. I have to do some research, whether they're not working on Honeycomb, missing specifically for Xoom or what may be the reason.
It has been described lots of times before: iTunes is more organised and simply has more apps per category. But Android is getting closer. And most of the times the difference is just "5 alternative apps on Android for the very same task" vs. "8 alternative apps on iOS". Usually, you'll find plenty of apps for both plattforms.

Over all experience:
It's close enough. Motorola Xoom certainly is not a failure. And Honeycomb (and even Android 2.2 before) works well enough, to take a look at the coming units like Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.
But frankly, my ranking still is: iPad 2, then the rest.
Within the rest, Motorola Xoom definitely is in the top 30%.
The only real advantage of Xoom over iPad for me is 16:9 aspect ratio of the display, which I simply prefer.

Anything else you'd like to know?

BTW: I did a little demo for some newbies. Biggest "Wow factor" of the units I've had with me = Screen savers on Kindle DX Graphite: "Wow, that black really is dark, just like real paper".

EDIT:
For now, I've got problems to find the usual apps.
The MyMarket app isn't working, so are the other "usual tricks".
I even didn't find the nook app at first. So I used the .apk file from my Samsung Galaxy Tab and then have been able to update.
It seems, Motorola Xoom (or is it Honeycomb?) way more carefully tracks your location and only allows access to the apps approved for your respective region...

EDIT #2:
Honeycomb (or is it partially Motorola Xoom?) really is growing on me.
I still miss lots of apps. But it's already more fun to toy around than iPad 2. This doesn't come as a surprise. iPad 2 is great "as is", but you simply can't modify very much...

EDIT #3:
Re. languages (for Germany only German): Same applies for Acer Iconia. So I guess, it's not a Xoom problem, but seems to be related to Honeycomb.
Again, it can be solved with the app "more locale". Still, really annoying...

06-10-2011, 10:52 AM	#911
mgmueller Member Retired Posts: 3,308 Karma: 13024950 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Augsburg (near Munich), Germany Device: 26 Readers, 44 Tablets	Motorola Xoom The chinscratch says it all. I've read lots of (extremely) negative reviews about Xoom: Washed out display, Android 3.0 not quite there yet, bad battery duration, ... I saw it in German Telekom 3 weeks ago and have been positively surprised. I didn't have time then, so I bought it a few days ago. Initial reaction when booting it for the first time: OMG, what kind of crap did I buy? It actually asks: "Which language do you want to have? German?". That's it. Just German. I'm German, so of course I perfectly could work it. But on one hand I simply find it arrogant and stupid to assume, every buyer in Germany exclusively speaks German (a friend of mine for example always uses French, his native tongue). And on the other hand I simply want to have the freedom to choose. Most of the apps are English. Personally, I want to have a "consistent" look and feel, so I go for an English OS as well. For all my notebooks, tablets, readers, ... I sent an Email to Motorola Germany, whether that's really the only option. They've answered within 10 minutes (!!!): "For now, that's it. But there will be an update". In a user forum I found a tip: The app "More Locale" solves the issue, I've activated English (or could choose tons of other languages). Strange enough: All the languages seem to be available in the ROM already (the app only has some k, so I can't imagine it actually adds any languages), you just can't activate them per se. Anyway, from a bad and disturbing start, to my experience after 3 days on the road (business trip with iPad 2, Samsung Galaxy Tab (7"), Motorola Xoom and Kindle DX Graphite): Form factor: I absolutely love it. I clearly prefer the 16:9 (or whatever it exactly may be) of Xoom to the 4:3 (or whatever it exactly may be) of iPad 2. Did love my Sony 900 before because of that. I simply find, the portrait oriented unit fits way better in a single hand to hold. It simply feels more comfortable and seems less heavy. Display quality: Spontaneous reaction of a friend: "Wow, it really looks dull. 'Washed out' perfectly describes it. iPad and Tab seem way brighter". I've increased the brightness then and I'm absolutely fine with it. Actually, the text even seems a bit more crisp to me than on iPad2 (although I didn't compare 1:1 yet). Battery duration: My Galaxy Tab was "dead" this morning with about same usage as Motorola (still about 30%). So standby (I didn't use them that much, most of the time they simply had been in standby) seems really good on Motorola Xoom. After a few days, of course I can't really tell yet. But my gut feeling says, it's close enough to iPad. Not quite there, but it clearly seems above average. Build quality: It's no iPad, but it's close enough. I'd say, it's one of the more aesthetic and well built units. Ergonomics: I've read, the on/off-button on the back are none-ergonomic and stupid. I don't have any problems at all with it, I easily find it even in the dark. Cover: I've tested the "Gel" cover (Kind of TPU/silicone) and hated it. I don't like the touch of it. And it's way more "stiff" than silicone. And actually the one I've tested already was broken. Maybe that's the idea: Taking the impact of a crash and breaking. It may be a great protection, but it feels "inconvenient", doesn't stretch that easily and it "stinks". I've bought the plastic cover. Almost as bad. If the designer's task was "build a bulky and extremely ugly cover. Make it inconvenient to use and simply do everything wrong", he did a great job. It's probably a great protection, bulky as it is. But it's stiff and can't be folded back. I'll check Amazon for a silicone alternative still this afternoon. Honeycomb: I haven't tested that much apps or features yet. Great news first: "Spare Parts" works as well as on Galaxy Tab. So far, all apps perfectly zoomed to full screen. Actually, I didn't have problems with Android 2.2, never understood "it's just for phones, not for tablets". So I don't see the huge advantage of Honeycomb (3.0) yet. But I certainly don't have any real complaints so far. Although I have to say: iOS (still) seems more polished. Responsiveness: So far, it seems as speedy as iPad. Lags, as I've experienced them sometimes on Dell Streak or Samsung Galaxy Tab, didn't occur so far. Apps: Lots of apps, which I've installed on Galaxy Tab and Dell Streak, are missing. I have to do some research, whether they're not working on Honeycomb, missing specifically for Xoom or what may be the reason. It has been described lots of times before: iTunes is more organised and simply has more apps per category. But Android is getting closer. And most of the times the difference is just "5 alternative apps on Android for the very same task" vs. "8 alternative apps on iOS". Usually, you'll find plenty of apps for both plattforms. Over all experience: It's close enough. Motorola Xoom certainly is not a failure. And Honeycomb (and even Android 2.2 before) works well enough, to take a look at the coming units like Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. But frankly, my ranking still is: iPad 2, then the rest. Within the rest, Motorola Xoom definitely is in the top 30%. The only real advantage of Xoom over iPad for me is 16:9 aspect ratio of the display, which I simply prefer. Anything else you'd like to know? BTW: I did a little demo for some newbies. Biggest "Wow factor" of the units I've had with me = Screen savers on Kindle DX Graphite: "Wow, that black really is dark, just like real paper". *EDIT:* For now, I've got problems to find the usual apps. The MyMarket app isn't working, so are the other "usual tricks". I even didn't find the nook app at first. So I used the .apk file from my Samsung Galaxy Tab and then have been able to update. It seems, Motorola Xoom (or is it Honeycomb?) way more carefully tracks your location and only allows access to the apps approved for your respective region... *EDIT #2:* Honeycomb (or is it partially Motorola Xoom?) really is growing on me. I still miss lots of apps. But it's already more fun to toy around than iPad 2. This doesn't come as a surprise. iPad 2 is great "as is", but you simply can't modify very much... *EDIT #3:* Re. languages (for Germany only German): Same applies for Acer Iconia. So I guess, it's not a Xoom problem, but seems to be related to Honeycomb. Again, it can be solved with the app "more locale". Still, really annoying... Last edited by mgmueller; 07-02-2011 at 07:18 AM.