Yeah, yeah… I know. I have an addiction. Sue me. I do love my iPad, but I also love Android and that Xoom looks SWEET. I definitely want a nice Android tablet to complete my gadget circle. The specs are amazing. I have not done it yet for a couple of reasons. One of those reasons is that there are so many other tablets due out this year. The new line of Samsung Galaxy Tabs also looks very nice. I reviewed a 7″ Galaxy Tab a while back and loved it.
As I sat and compared the specs on each the other day, the Xoom came out with a teeny advantage over the new Samsung line, but not by much. We have talked about the Xoom before and it’s offerings. It is the first tab to ship with Honeycomb (Android 3.o). But what if you are a Windows lover? There are some new tabs out for that too. The below guest post talks a little bit about the differences in each.
I’m reading, I’m thinking, I’m wondering. I know whatever I decide, my iPad will likely get jealous. 🙂
Image courtesy of Expansys
The Tablet computer is the most up-to-date, portable computer in the market place today. Google is one of the top, favourite search engines that everyone is familiar with. Now they can be credited with one of the most powerful operating systems for the tablet PC. The Motorola Xoom Android Tablet, comes with the Google Android Honeycomb operating system that brings loads of applications to keep everyone beaming.
It offers 32 GB of memory with the option for expansion by 32 GB using an SD card. The 10.1 inch touch screen makes it compact and very easy to transport. The 5 megapixel camera will keep you in focus and has a zoom option, while the 2 megapixel camera will give you all you need to make video calls. It also comes with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The tabbed browsing is great for keeping all the visited sites available and it feels more like a desktop PC with this feature. It also comes with video capture and the Android Music Player.
The familiar Windows operating system, needs little introduction and adds to the ease of use with the HP Slate 500 Tablet PC Windows 7 Professional. It offers up to 64 GB of memory and it’s a tablet PC to be reckoned with. It offers all the expected applications from a Windows operating system along with a USB 2.0 so that you can connect to your Desktop computer or plug in other hardware. It has Wi-Fi to keep you connected to the internet. It has Bluetooth and it incorporates a camera front and back and comes with a case and docking station. The 8.9 inch screen makes this a little smaller than some tablets, but still very much a top contender.
Asus Eee Slate EP121 12.1 Windows & Tablet is a sleek machine with a 12.1 inch touch screen. Asus also make system boards for Windows operating systems, so it’s no surprise that this tablet runs Windows 7 Home Premium. It comes with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth so that you can transfer data to your mobile with ease. There is an expansion slot for 32 GB of memory with 32 GB onboard. It has 2 USB 2.0 Ports and amazingly it incorporates a 2 MP web cam with LED flash. The feature that makes this Tablet different, is the digitiser pen that can be used for drawing or writing input.
The weight of each tablet may be something to consider ranging from 730 kg to 2.00 kg. The tablet is the most convenient way to travel with a computer. It’s compact and it offers most of the standard technical features, so that you can continue your projects away from home.
It’s worth mentioning that the Fujitsu Stylistic Q550 Tablet PC, can use finger print recognition. Fujitsu is appealing to the corporate market with corporate level features in the Stylistic. With a 10 inch screen it offers predictive text which is great, if you dislike virtual keyboard data input. It has automatic back-up so data integrity is preserved and many other security features.
Making the right choice is just a matter of knowing what you want from a Tablet PC. Whatever your choice, the right machine is available.
I tried out the ASUS Slate when I was at SXSW. It struck me as an option for someone who is in the market for a high-end tablet that might replace a laptop – because the ASUS tablet is running a comparable operating system and processor to a laptop. It was a bit heavy for my taste though, compared to the iPad or tablets with smaller form factors. Cheers!
I have both and one more day left in my 14 days to return the Xoom. I’d like to see more apps – but I’d also like to know that it is going to be supported in the future. That is my main concern right now. I took it on a hike last week (would never do that with my iPad) and used MyTracks to keep track of how far I hiked. I flipped open the cover and took a lot of pictures. I downloaded an updated PDF of the trail I was on thanks to the built in 3g…
Still….. do I need two tablets?
Well reading your comment just convinced me even more. 🙂 Now where is that dang tax refund??
Reading my own comment makes me realize how much I might miss the thing if I took it back 🙂
What is the battery life like on the Xoom? I have a couple of different Android cell phones and battery life is short, like 5 hours real use. I would imagine the Xoom to fall into 5 hours too.
The Samsung Galaxy tab looks nice.
I get about 10 hours out of it. This is typical use – email, calendar, web and a lot of streaming when I am on wi-fi. My email is always going and I have two Google Talk accounts always signed in.
On Sunday I used the navigation and after about 2 1/2 hours of navigation I was down to 65%, which still is pretty good.
10 hours is good. So, it sounds like it is about the same at the iPad. I love that about my iPad. Sometimes I don’t charge it for days.
I have both and can confirm that. I charged my Xoom Sunday afternoon and it’s 48 hours later. I’m at 72%.
One BIG difference is how fast the Xoom charges. A couple of hours and you are ready to go. My iPad seems to take 3 – 4 hours with the dedicated charger.
So do we jump on the Xoom, or do we wait and see what Samsung and HTC are up to? The Samsung is suppose to be thinner and lighter. Decisions, decisions …
Yeah, I checked out the specs on the new Samsung’s. Definitely nice. And then I saw this today: http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/01/frys-lists-wifi-only-galaxy-tab-at-350-now-accepting-pre-order/.
my motorola insider is totally trying to sell my on the Xoom. But first of all it bothers me that its spelled Xoom but pronounces Zoom, petty I know but it irks me. And secondly the main reason I want the iPad is becuase I don’t have anything that runs apple apps. I have an android smart phone. I’m wishing the easter bunny was real so he could bring me an ipad