Motorola is trying to give its tough time to Apple by launching its new tablet PC the same day on which the Apple iPad2 was officially announced. Yes you have heared it right!! Normally it would be hard to compare a review of a tablet computer on the same day Apple's iPad2 is revealed. But neverthless then I am giving you this review today on Motorola Xoom, the new tablet PC by Motorola.
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| Motorola Xoom |
Motorola Xoom is the first slate based on Google's Android 3.0 "HoneyComb" operating system. The tablet has a 10.1 inch HD screen with 1280-by-800 pixel resolution. While the Motorola Xoom may not be the first tablet that has been released with Android, it marks a major shift in the paradigm of mobile computing. Tracing back the history of Android, Google seems to release new software platforms with a specific hardware partner. While the original G1 phone was developed by HTC, Google decided to launch Android 2.0 (Eclair, known as 2.1 on other phones) with Motorola and their original Droid product. The success of the Motorola Droid is a hallmark moment for Motorola, who had been slowly dying after the massive success of their RAZR phone years ago.
Hardware
Motorola gets the honor of being the first tablet out of the gate with Google’s new Honeycomb OS. As a manufacturer, Motorola seems to understand their role of creating powerful hardware and the Xoom certainly fits that bill. The 10.1-inch tablet features a WXGA 1280×800 display. The display is 16×9 ratio, similar to the ratio of movies. For the most part, the display offered up vivid colors. On occasion, I found some websites or graphics to look muddy. There is a microUSB port for connecting to your Mac or PC, in addition to an HDMI port for connecting to an HDTV. Mac users will need the Android File Transfer app, which is available as a free download. Volume buttons are barely noticeable on the top left of the device, when holding horizontally. I would have liked the volume controls to either be more pronounced or easier to adjust. Fingernails work better than fingers, which isn’t how it should be. Motorola and Google expect that most users will hold their device horizontally, given the placement of the volume buttons and the Motorola logo. When holding the Xoom in portrait mode, it’s ever so slightly weighted to the bottom (left side while holding). Weighing in at 1.6 pounds, the Xoom requires two hands to hold comfortably. It has some heft to it. The back is a matte finish, which was grippy and had a good feel to it. It was susceptible to fingerprints as you’ll note in the photo at the bottom of the review.
The front of the Xoom is mostly display and a very slim bezel. There is a 2-megapixel camera, suitable for self-portraits or video chat. Flipping over the device reveals a 5-megapixel camera that features a dual-LED flash and automatic focus.
Taking photos with a tablet feels unfamiliar, probably because it is. Taking photos using a tablet was a completely new experience. The large display is useful allowing you to preview your shot. The shutter felt slower than the camera on the Atrix 4G, but the results were very good. Video shot with the Xoom was passable and could be used in a pinch.
Sound from the Xoom emanates from the stereo speakers found on the back panel. The sound quality is average and the placement of the speakers is questionable. You have to turn the volume up to compensate for the fact that sound is coming from the back of the device. Volumes levels however were acceptable. At maximum levels, there was some distortion. Speaker positioning is a design choice I don’t agree with, but at some point one would assume there are only so many options in a thin tablet. It’s worth noting that the included Music app is very slick in Honeycomb, offering cover-flow browsing of titles. There is also a handy widget or access via the notifications dock.
The power button is recessed at the top back of the device. At times, I found myself flipping over the device to locate the button. Outside of changing the location, Motorola could have easily put a slightly beveled plastic making it easy to locate by touch.
Pros:
Fast, Future-Proof Specs
Honeycomb Feels Like The Future
Widescreen optimal for view movies and personal videos
Great battery life
Excellent options for personalization
Tabbed Browsing
Android Market phone apps, widgets work
Flash, 4G LTE, microSD expansion coming
Cons:
Software Feels Like Beta
Lack of Apps
Sites Push Browser to Mobile Version
Heavy and not suited for portrait viewing
Recorded video had drop-outs
Flash, 4G LTE, microSD expansion coming
Conclusion
The Xoom represents a strong start in the tablet space for Motorola. The company has outfitted with the Xoom with all of the specifications you’d want in a tablet. It’s super fast, well built and it’s currently the only tablet that runs Android 3.0. Honeycomb ushers in a tablet specific Android OS, which thankfully does not feel like a misplaced phone OS. Google has incorporated parts of Android that help to provide for a familiar experience and have a high appeal to those who enjoy personalizing their device(s). There are some gaps in the OS that make it feel incomplete and the lack of tablet specific apps in the Android Market is disappointing, but not surprising. With a slew of tablets expected to hit the market in 2011, the apps will come. A number of differentiating features (Flash support, 4G, microSD expansion) are all coming soon, but not available now. This makes for an experience that might be as refined as one would expect, but it’s a terrific beginning. Google and Motorola will move quickly to address the missing pieces.
In the end, the Motorola Xoom is an extremely capable tablet and one that will certainly improve over time.
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