The speculation over the price of the Motorola Xoom Android Honeycomb tablet is ... over. The 10.1-inch tablet will cost $599.99 with a two year contract, or $799.99 off contract. Data plans start at $20 a month for 1GB -- which should last you about 25 minutes once this thing is upgraded to LTE in the second quarter. The Wifi-only version we're all waiting for is still a no show.
Regardless, you can pick up a Xoom on Thursday at Verizon stores, online or anywhere else you can pick one up. Full presser's after the break.
Motorola XOOM Tablet to Be Available on the Verizon Wireless Network on Feb. 24
"Best of Show" Winner at 2011 Consumer Electronics Show Delivers the World's First True Tablet Experience, With Upgrade to 4G LTE in Q2
PR Newswire
BASKING RIDGE, N.J. and LIBERTYVILLE, Ill., Feb. 22, 2011
BASKING RIDGE, N.J. and LIBERTYVILLE, Ill., Feb. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless and Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE: MMI), today announced the Feb. 24, 2011 availability of the innovative new Motorola XOOM™ tablet, which won the coveted CNET Best of Show award at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show for being "the most potentially disruptive technology." The first device to run Google's new Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system, the Motorola XOOM will be available for purchase from Verizon Wireless for $599.99 with a new two-year customer agreement or $799.99 without a contract. Wireless 3G data service for the Motorola XOOM will begin at $20 monthly access for 1GB. The Motorola XOOM will be upgradeable to 4G LTE service at no additional charge in the second quarter of 2011.
A powerhouse in both software and hardware, the Motorola XOOM is built around a 1GHz dual-core processor and 10.1-inch widescreen HD display. The sleek, stylish design features a front-facing 2-megapixel camera for video chats, as well as a rear-facing 5-megapixel camera that captures video in 720p HD.
The Motorola XOOM showcases the innovations of the Honeycomb user experience that improves on Android favorites such as widgets, multi-tasking, browsing, notifications and customization, as well as featuring the latest Google™ Mobile services. The Motorola XOOM also features full support for tabbed browsing and support for the Adobe® Flash® Player, available soon as a free download, to enjoy all the video and other rich content available on the Web. For additional information about upgrading their XOOM to 4G LTE, customers can visit www.verizonwireless.com/Xoom4GLTEUpgrade starting Thursday, Feb. 24.
For more information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.
To learn more about Motorola XOOM, visit www.verizonwireless.com/xoom.
Reader comments
Motorola Xoom pricing's official: $599 with a two-year contract, $799 without
DOA with those prices. No matter how much the Android community likes to talk about the internal specs, cameras and power of Honeycomb, the general consumer sees a $499 iPad as the more appealing entry price. For this to be a success it would need to come in at or around the $630 iPad 3g price without a contract. Just my .02..but not my $799 this time.
Beautiful - product.
Not great - pricing.
Terrible - plan pricing/allowance.
Hopeless - no flash out the box.
Not in a million years would I buy this
Tablets are over-rated anyway. Get a laptop for that price.
Couple that with the insane plans to go along with it, and it's no wonder Verizon is on top... they have total morons for customers.
I agree. Tablets are over-rated, and just frivolous toys. We have smart phones and laptops...so let's make something that's between the two size-wise, beneath the two functionality wise...and charge more. Then let's tack on a monthly fee (on top of the one you pay for your smartphone) just so you can use your already existing home wi-fi. Then let's bombard the public with shiny, flashing images (aka commercials) convincing them they need a tablet after they've already bought a smart phone and a laptop!
And we wonder why we're so far in debt...
I'm glad I don't have cable anymore, so I don't have to sit through commercials convincing me of things that are pointless. To each their own, and I hope you're all happy with your purchases!
all i have to say is F-U Verizon, your data plans are BULLSH!! AND
Motorola.. you are out of your MIND!! yes, its the same'ish price as an iPad.. but right now, like it or not, there is a LOT more support for iPad. Not that it will be that way for long, but i can get a prety nice laptop for WAY less than this.. i am just saying.
True...you can buy a nice laptop for the price of the Xoom. But that is not the point of buying a Xoom (or any tablet for that matter). That would be like saying "I could go out and buy a really nice land-line phone with every possible feature and a loaded plan for less than a cell phone and plan."
Both examples are true and completely misguided. I have a laptop, a CR-48 actually, and am still buying the Xoom. Why? Because I want something portable and light that I can take with me on trips. I use my laptop for everyday surfing the web, but it is too bulky and big to take on a plan or a road trip. Plus, the battery life on most laptops (other than the CR-48) can't hold a candle to a tablet. So sure, if I wanted a laptop, I would buy a nice one for 800. But I dont want or need a laptop (along with most everyone else buying a tablet). I want/need a tablet.
Thank you, a voice of reason. If I want a tablet, I don't care what a laptop costs...I'm shopping for a tablet!
iPad pricing as low as $499.00
Xoom pricing as low as $599.00
Marketing is a tricky matter.
The Best Buy flyer in my area only has the $799 model of the Xoom available, and it says you must subscribe to a data plan to activate the wifi in the device. Is that really correct? An un-subsidized price and I have to buy at least a one month subscription just to access my home wifi?
That's correct - M2M is $799. 2 year contract is $599.
And if you don't want their service at all, just to use your own wi-fi at home...you still have to pay for their service? A fool and his money are soon parted...
Can someone help me out here? And this is going to be a dumb question... But the Xoom doesn't have a micro-sd slot? Or it does, but it's deactivated?
I'm getting this product, I think the price is reasonable. On a tangent, I really wish they made the Dell Venue Pro for Android.
It does have a slot. Apparently the OS(?) doesn't support it yet, so an OTAU is required.
iPad has been out for over a year. The Xoom is not released yet. At launch it offers basically the same features as the iPad for the same / higher price. Good job Motorola, you managed to match Apple's feature set from last year - How do think the $800 Xoom is going to look matched up to the iPad 2? Hopefully the Xoom will at least be feature complete by then.
Motorola / Verizon hit the winning formula with the original Droid and had the opportunity to do it again with the Xoom but failed.
Wow...hmmm...I don't remember a 1GHz NVIDIA dual processor and GPU, 1GB RAM, a 10.1 inch 1280 x 800 HD display, USB connection, a micro-HDMI port, an external MicroSD slot, dual cameras, LTE upgrade, and Honeycomb OS being on the feature list of the iPad (and those are just surface features). I really missed that one! Does anyone else remember those features? Anyone?
...didn't think so.
But what does all that really get you over the iPad today? Don't get me wrong, I want Android tablets (Xoom included) to succeed but right now, today the iPad can do more than the Xoom for the same money. Hopefully that won't be the case for long.
Do more...? I can't think of anything the iPad does that the Xoom doesn't.
which is more of an argument for buying a $499 wifi only iPad rather than a $599 (plus contract fees) Xoom.
Xoom badly needs a lower priced entry level option here.
He didn't say the Xoom couldn't do more than the iPad, he said the Xoom can do everything that the iPad can. Big difference. The Xoom is a more fully featured product.
Quite frankly, I wish all of the comparisons with the iPad would stop. its not the same and it shouldn't be compared. The Xoom obviously out-specs a product that is coming up on a year old.
I agree...and. it. won't. just. die. It keeps coming back like herpes. Nothing, it seems, can be released without someone comparing it to something Apple. My god, it's like more than one product can't exist in the market! Oh, and this whole thing about 'failing'. Failing what? Failing to get your money? Maybe. Failing to be successful? No. And success by who's measurement? Yours? No, the market. If things were measured on one's personal idea of success...there wouldn't be much out there to buy at all.
** the 'you' is not you, I'm talking in general :) **
In business success is measured in dollars (profit) - do you really want to compare the iPad to any present Android tablet under that metric?
I'll say again, I hope Android tablets catch up and quick but right now there is a clear leader and IMO it's going to take more than the Xoom has to offer (at least at launch) to change that. Good luck Moto - you are going to need it!
[crosses fingers for HTC]
Until something is no longer sold, it's considered successful because that means the product is still being purchased at a significant rate. Something doesn't have to sell on the level of the iPad or iPhone to be successful, obviously, or there wouldn't be choices out there.
Yeah - Microsoft's Kin phones were so "successful" they had to rebadge them as feature phones just to unload stock. They are still sold today....
Pretty certain the Xoom will do far better than Kin.
"1GHz NVIDIA dual processor and GPU, 1GB RAM, a 10.1 inch 1280 x 800 HD display, USB connection, a micro-HDMI port, an external MicroSD slot, dual cameras, LTE upgrade, and Honeycomb OS being on the feature list of the iPad "
...which the average consumer will read as ...
"blah,blah,blah,blah,blah....oooh! a camera! ....blah, blah, blah".
and say either, "hmmm..I heard a camera will be on the new iPad also" or "meh, already got a camera on my phone."
Specs don't work to sell tablets.
Apps sell tablets. What apps will be the killer seller for XOOM? What will XOOM be able to do for the average user that iPad 1 or 2 cannot? ..... and is that app worth more than $100 over the current iPad low end price?
No SD card + no Flash + no 4G = iPad.
If I wanted an iPad, I would have bought one. Shame, cause this was the dream machine. I don't even mind the extra $100 for wifi only version (if that is the official price). I'll wait until the kinks are worked out.
But I also believe Moto needs a low end version to really take on iCrap. My suggestion, 8gb with working SD slot for $399. HTC, if you are reading this, that is your winner!
Except that Xoom does have Micro SD, does have Flash, and does have 4G...in the future. iPad? Not now, not ever. Xoom != iPad
Can you see the future? A lot of times when developers promise features they don't fall through. Also, the ipad 2 comes out in a few months. It very well could have all those things and more.
I didn't say iPad2, I said iPad - and do you really expect Motorola/Adobe/VZW to not follow through? If you don't, that simply means you don't like them from the start and don't expect anything positive to happen anyway.
Learn to say 1) 'The Truth', 2) 'The Whole Truth' and 3) 'Nothing but the Truth'. Here you missed number 2 :).
They are all coming after a couple of weeks ..etc. also there's something called Cameras in back and front, aside from a nicer OS ..etc.
Again, I'm personaly waiting to see these features work first then I'll buy it. Ok to wait a bit more on the SD card..
I'm not buying the device until it supports Flash, and Arabic out of the box, if they stick to their promises it's a matter of weeks, that aside though.
I want to understand why are people complaining about the price, iPad 32G with 3G is $730 'almost same price with all the shortcomings no camera ..etc', iPad 64G $850 where you should be able to upgrade once SD is working for like $20 - $30 with the Xoom.. I don't know of any subsidized iPad offerings to bring it to the $600 range, am I missing something, or people are just complaining for nothing?
Don't waste your breath. Speaking logic to the people around here is pointless because they don't understand. BitchCentral should be the new nickname of this area.
LOL!
lol... I love it. Sometimes logic does win... but right now it's not doing so well.
I cannot understand why people are complaining about the roughly $100 difference between a 16GB WiFi iPad and a 32GB WiFi XOOM and the roughly $110 difference between a 32GB 3G iPad with 2GB of data for 24 months and a 32GB 3G/4G XOOM with 3GB of data for 24 months.
...Maybe these people are tight on discretionary spending and shouldn't be buying a ~$500 tablet at all.
I'm wondering more about why they are taking it so personal.
Oh, that... I work in the aviation industry and know all too well that people, as a whole, no longer believe in "you get what you pay for". Everyone feels they are entitled to every little thing and if they cannot get what they want then they are being wronged.
I'll also say, in general, people are dumb. Everyone always complains about airline pricing strategies but the truth is that the airlines have to use the newer "fee" pricing strategy because, despite what people say about wanting quality products/services, they always try to find the lowest fares. Well, to compete that way, the airlines are unbundling the services, publishing very low competitive fares and then adding "fees" onto the tickets to get prices back up to where they should be so that the employees of the airline can 1) remain employed and 2) feed their families.
Also, did you know that Southwest Airlines, despite what they want you to believe, is the LARGEST domestic airline in the United States? You also have a better chance at paying a higher fare on Southwest within 14 days of the flight than on any other airline in the US.
Ok rant over.
Summary: People feel entitled, are ungrateful, and dumb.
I agree 110%. I'm glad there are at least a couple like minds arounds here.
I think the $799 price is justifiable in that I would like - 1) not to sign a contract and 2) keep data access independent of my 3G X (want to save battery). I am okay with the $30 3GB data plan as it hits the sweet spot for me. I need this for places where I can't connect on WiFi.
Missing flash, sd mem card support, 4G upgrade - while disappointing, Motorola, Adobe and Google's reputation is at stake. If they say its coming, you know it will.
The Xoom's tech is still miles ahead of the current iPad and it should remain that way considering the current news of the future iPad 2 (from Wall St Journal - same resolution, no SD-mem card, etc.)
Actually it's very simple, so simple it's odd that you can't seem to understand this. Apple differentiates their iPad models by storage space and whether or not it can do 3G. The best selling ones are the two cheaper varieties of both, by FAR.
What people really want isn't a cheaper price for the Xoom as is. They want a cheaper Xoom in general in the form of an 8GB or 16GB version. Apple only changes storage capacity. That's where people are getting angry at Motorola.
I have no issue witha there being an $800 version, i just don't need it. Apple has a 16G wifi only version for $500 all the way up to ther 3G 32gig version for $730.
Now, i already have a Droid X with unlimited data that i can teather it to or WiFi when i'm at home. I don't have a 4G network here so that's not going to help me anyways and i really don't need that big of a hard drive because i have external hard drives at home that hold all my movies and large files. When i travel i can just load up a few good movies and call it a day just like i do with my Droid X.
Leave off the 3G/4G stuff, put a smaller hard drive in it and drop the price down to where more people will buy it and you'll make more money, just keep a larger expensive version for people that have to have it.
Exactly. Why would I want 3G on my tablet? I already have 3G and a pretty good still and HD camera on my phone, plus I can tether anything I want, including a Wifi only tablet, from there. What could possibly possess me to want to pay Verizon again?
Oh yeah, and fix that broken stuff (Flash and the SD drive and the Honeycomb software quality). Then give me a wireless only version at $499 or less version and I'll buy.
If not, I'll happily give my money to Apple who seems willing to give me a perfectly serviceable tablet for that price.
$599 on contract is reasonable. I'll still be waiting on a Wi-Fi only, unbranded version though. I refuse to sign a contract for a tablet!
Its sad that this isn't going to be priced will enough to take the Top Tablet spot, and I thought Apple was greedy with their iPad prices.... Was looking forward to getting one and was hoping the pricing rumors were wrong. Maybe in a few months once the hype is gone the prices will drop to be a little more reasonable.
Greed...most of you guys wreak of greed yourselves. Demanding dirt prices on high-end devices is equally greedy. There, I said it!
Not demanding dirt prices, just fair prices. And in most commentors opinion 800 is not a fair price. Supply and demand
It is fair. The problem is people think 'fair' is $300 for a tablet that has $1,000 hardware (not being literal here, just making a point). People around here (and in other geek sites) think that 'fair' is a corporation/business not making any profit. People around here (and other geek sites) don't know what 'fair' means. And that, my 'friend', is fair to say.
Capitalism means "fair" is what the market will bear. It has nothing to do with how much the thing cost you to build.
If Motorola/Verizon can't push these out the door at $599 plus contract, then they are stuck with a lot of inventory, costing them more in the long run. It's the risk you take with pricing when there are already players in the market.
Like it or not, Apple set the price bar pretty competitively with the iPad. That's the mark that Motorola has to meet or beat in order to capture any of the market. Apple keeps its prices low by cutting out middlemen, having their own hardware shop, software shop and stores. Motorola has to pay distributors, Google, Verizon and everyone else in between.
Apple's entry level is $499. It's $499 system may not be exactly what everyone on this board wants, but it's a pretty damned good system for the price. Apple sells a lot of these. I have yet to see the Android system that can hold a candle to it at that price. I really don't give two hoots about what it costs Motorola to make this. Why should I care? What I care about as a customer is, what's the best buy for my dollar. Right now, entry level iPad, a rock solid system with plenty of apps, available without a contract at $499 wins.
Capitalism doesn't mean fair. Capitalism is all about making a profit, and the processes need to make profit. "Fair" would be defined as Socialism. Also, I would like to know how a joe-shmoe like you (or any other person) would know anything about the internal workings of multi-billion dollar corporations? You really think that Motorola (or any manufacturer/producer) is not completely aware of the market? I mean, let's get real. If these guys didn't know what the hell they were doing, they would not be in business, would they? These posts about '$499 iPad kills the competition' is completely opinionated. What fits your shoe doesn't mean it fits the world (remember, this isn't just in the U.S.!). You say $499 is good for you, well $799 is good for me. I want the 3G/4G service. I want the extra memory. I want all the cool extra features that the iPad lacks...and I'm sure there are more than enough people out there in the world that agree. The world of economics and business does not revolve around personal opinion, and that is all I hear when people try to deem the Xoom a failure based of their infinite 'wisdom'.
The world of economics and business absolutely revolves around personal opinion. If it did not, you would not see billions spent on advertising.
Right now, to me, this looks like a loser in every way. Overpriced, underpowered, missing features, buggy.
I'm a huge Android fan posting in a forum full of Android fans and I see lots and lots of other people writing the same thing as me. Nope, I'm not going to buy it. I see a lot more skepticism than hopeful hype.
On the other hand, I see lots of hopeful hype and not a shred of dread from the Apple camp regarding the iPad 2. Hell, they're even talking up the iPad 3! The thing is selling before it's a friggin' gleam in Jobs' eye.
I only wish I could get that excited about Android tablets, but I just don't see a winning combination of hot device + marketing here. It pisses me off that Motorola doesn't take the gloves off to compete.
If you're going to buy one, congratulations. Enjoy it. But I'm sitting this one out until I see competitive pricing against the alternative, competitive enough so that app writers will see XOOM and other Android tablets as not only worth writing for, but as perilous to ignore as Android phones have become.
Come back in six months and tell me all about how XOOM now rules the tablet world because capitalism has nothing to do with personal opinion. Personal opinion means market share. XOOM isn't getting my piece of the pie and from what I read here, it isn't getting a lot of other Android fans' either.
I'm just upset because Howard Stern was talking about getting one of these so he could play Chess on his ICC website, but since it doesn't come with flash OOTB (wow, gg Moto - main distinguishing selling point fail) it will likely sour his view of Android tablets. Otherwise - nice toy if you can afford it. I can't.
Really? That's what you're worried about? Howard Stern being sour?
Howard Stern has the selling power of Oprah. The opinion of a celebrity sways thousands of mindless lemmings. So yeah, on a success level - a celebrity giving the thumbs down on something CAN hurt the product, as stupid as that is. They do it in politics, don't they?
Yes, seeing as I have no intention of buying it personally, but I'm not really "worried" about it at all. Stern is currently raving about his Droid 2 and says he loves it and really wants an Android tablet to replace his iPad. As a listener and Android fan I want that to happen and work out well - whether you like him or not his blessing on Android is good for Android. It's fun to hear him geek out about it and complain about battery life (he was actually told to come here for info)
I'm going to agree with a lot of others here and say this isn't going to sell well mostly because of some decisions made regarding pricing and a little with the fact they didn't just put Flash 10.1 on there until 10.2 is released. No working SD card slot? What is this 1999? Everything wreaks of a rushed product, probably to get a jump on the iPad 2 but it won't help.
Ripoff device.
and for fuck sakes, $20 for 1GB, fuck that. How can you not offer an unlimited data plan for like $40-50 a month? You can do smart phones for $30 unlimited and people will use them like crazy, why not the same for this?
uhhh what device is this ripping off of? thanks for the daily trolling, but go away.
I'm pretty sure he's implying that the price for the device (and services) are ripoffs, not that the device is literally a ripoff of another device.
Has anyone heard where these are being offered online? I'm hoping to pick one up somewhere like Amazon or Newegg and save the sales tax.
You would be stupid to buy this subsidized so you save money up front. Since it will cost you $20 bucks a month plus give or take $2-5 for tax.
So lets say its total cost of $25 a month for 1gb of service after 24 months= 600.
so $600 just in services PLUS $600 for the xoom= $1200 over the lifetime of the device.
You may as well fork over $800 up front and not bother with a 2 year contract.
I wanted one so bad, but this seems like an unfinished product that they are rushing to ship:
1) 4G radio isnt in place
2) Micro SD card slot doesnt work on launch
3) no flash on launch
I think the Wifi version hits the sweet spot tho, and issues 2 & 3 should be resolved by then.
Yes it definitely has the feel of an unfinished product being rushed out to be "the first honeycomb tablet". I mean seriously moto...would we buy a car that "would be getting seat covers, windshield wipers, and a speedometer installed for free at a later, as-yet disclosed, date?? It's ridiculous!!!
I'm failing to see how the price is such an issue for you people.
iPad 32GB + WiFi + 3G = $729 (+ $15 for 250MB or $25 for 2GB)
XOOM 32GB + WiFi + 3G/4G = $799 (+ $20 for 1GB or $35 for 3GB)
iPad 32GB + WiFi = $599
XOOM 32GB + WiFi = $599
Agree with you. Apparently simple math escapes a lot of people. Oh well.
Oh... and too my knowledge you cannot get subsidized pricing on a 3G iPad so the following comparison could be made:
iPad 32GB + WiFi + 3G = $729 (+ $15 for 250MB or $25 for 2GB)
XOOM 32GB + WiFi + 3G/4G = $599 (+ $20 for 1GB or $35 for 3GB)
iPad 32GB + WiFi = $599
XOOM 32GB + WiFi = $599
===========
Total Cost of Ownership (w/Data) for 24 Months:
$729 iPad 32GB + WiFi + 2GB Data = $1329
$599 XOOM 32GB + WiFi + 1GB Data = $1079
$599 XOOM 32GB + WiFi + 3GB Data = $1439
DO THE MATH PEOPLE! IT'S NOT A BAD DEAL AT ALL!
I did the math and the price for data is a ripoff. NO thanks Verizon I will pass.
Yeah, it's a classic case of price perception. People see the iPad as being $499 even though only the cheapest model is that price. The Xoom doesn't have a 16GB, WiFi only version for 500 bucks, so therefore people perceive it as being crazy expensive. It's the same mind trick that always gets people with store sales. They see something say "originally $99, now only $49!" and their brain instantly thinks it's a good deal, even if it was never really $99 to begin with and $49 isn't a good price at all. Apple knows this, that's why they made a $499 version. I'm willing to bet that most people don't buy that one and are upsold to more expensive ones. But that doesn't matter, because their brain is still thinking $499. Without a version of the Xoom for that price or cheaper, Motorola is likely going to be forever perceived as selling the expensive tablet.
Right, that's why there are so many 16G/$499 iPads languishing on the shelves.
Not.
They are selling those $499'ers like hotcakes. For a large percentage of the population, they are good enough and the sales figures prove that out.
Exactly. People act like the extra 16GB of flash storage is worth $100. It isn't! It is worth about $25 (look it up on NewEgg).
To me, comparing the $599 WiFi 32GB Xoom to a $499 WiFi 16GB iPad and complaining about the Xoom being too expensive is PERFECTLY FAIR. Why? Because the iPad is a year-old design. Of course a brand new tablet will have more flash storage space. In bulk, that extra 16GB probably costs Motorola $15!
Many tablet buyers (certainly not all) will be looking at that extra $100 for the Xoom and conclude it is not worth spending 20% more than the ipad.
Actually since I work with selling iPads I know for a fact the version people ask me about the most is the $499 one. The ones I've sold the most of, by FAR, are the 16GB and 32GB versions. The 64GB version, not so much at all.
A very large amount of people are comparing it to their iPhones. Most can store all their media, pictures, movies, whatever it may be with ease on the 16GB iPhone. They don't bother going for a 64GB version iPad because of that. And I'm the same way personally.
Entry level iPad 16GB + Wifi = $499
+ the already mobile wifi free service I have on my rooted Android phone for 3G access.
Win.
"Good enough" will beat pricey but better every single time.
If your statement is true then the Augen GENTOUCH will dominate the market.
If a large number of people truly think the Augen Gentouch is good enough, yes. Probably not, though since the name isn't a well known brand.
My point is simply that a lot more people will judge the $499 16G wifi only iPad good enough, certainly over a $599 entry level product that has not yet proven itself in the market. People will not see $100 worth of additional value in 16G and the Motorola name.
The price is a non-starter for most people. Yes, some geeks will buy this but the iPad isn't going to take the hit that the iPhone did from Android, not until it is at least price matched, if not price beaten.
I'm an Android fan and I'm not buying this. There just isn't enough there at this price level to compel me to do so. $499 iPad + my rooted Android makes a sweet pairing though.
Rooted $249 Nook + rooted Android is close. If B&N is smart, they'll put out fully functional Android tablet (with no root necessary) based on Nook, priced only slightly higher for the win. That's the Android tablet I want.
So, let me ask this... if the low end 16GB WiFi only version iPad 2 comes out and has the EXACT same specs as the WiFi only XOOM (dual cameras, SD card...etc...) with the two exceptions being it's running an iOS of some sort vs Google's Honeycomb and it has 16GB on board vs 32GB... and the price of the 16GB WiFi version was $599... would the price be a "non-starter for most people"? ...and would they stop selling like hotcakes?
...I doubt it.
XOOM will still be a non-starter for a lot of people.
I think XOOM has to price itself noticeably BELOW iPad 1 AND 2 to succeed. Period. It's too late now to NOT to compete on price.
You're asking people to buy a product they've never heard of, with a largely untested, unseen OS (Honeycomb is not Froyo). They have no history to base from versus a product (iPad) that has an unbelievably successful history.
People can still buy the low-end $499 iPad1 if they want to. And they will.
The way I see it, Apple can price iPad2 at $599 and still win, and maybe the XOOM gets a few fans and lives to fight another day, but it will hardly put a dent in the overall market.
Or Apple can price its low end iPad2 at $575, keep its iPad1 around $499 or even discount that to $475 and XOOM is DOA.
Guess which scenario I see happening.
There you go.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/apple-puts-original-ipads-on-sale-now...
Apple was even more ruthless than I imagined, now the mark is $399 for iPad1, $499 for iPad2.
XOOM is dead unless they change their pricing before March 11.
perfect price this is not a toy but a top of line tablet. does it still require a data package to unlock WiFi or was that a joke
I'll be taking mine off contract from Best buy (preorder sweet). I am a little concerned over this data plan business. Now granted I know that unlimited data is gone/never coming for tablets on VZW, but wouldn't it be smart to take some of the market share from Apple. If you want to get into the market you need to undercut the standard..its the only way to make headway. Spend money to make money..that whole thing.
This needed to be cheaper than an iPad, not the same or even more. I'm not sure why Verizon cares that much. Presumably they will get iPad2 with CDMA or LTE built into it. Most consumers will pick an iPad if the price is equal.
Who the hell decides on these prices?? Verizon is way to greedy...
I totally agree with your comment, I believe Verizon Execs are way too greedy, they havent built a fame for beign the IPAD KILLER and they go and do this.
Wifi only version is officially $599. I will be getting one(and I own an iPad now)
No flash ever on the iPad kinda sucks..it really is limiting at times
Obviously you dont use cydia, cydia alone makes it worth, dont go saying U HAVE TO BE JAILBROKEN cuz half the fun in android is rooting and being super user, take that half away from jailbreaking your ipad and see what you are stuck with: boredom, same as with android.
Your kidding right? My non rooted Evo can do things a non jailbreaking iPhone can't. Sorry to rain on you today but if u have to jailbreak your iPhone just to get what u want out of it then you should just get a android device. Everything my wife had to jailbreak her iPhone 3g for her Evo did out the box. That's the BIG difference. Jailbreaking is an excuse, rooting is a privilege.
Thats the most overpriced failsauce I have seen in a while. Sorry but wayyyyy overpriced Motorola, much like most of your latest offerings.
this is going to be a big faillllll, what are they crazy?
After tax and all, its pretty much a grand. HAHAHAHA. Are you kidding me? I could have one of those new macbook airs for that. Or a high end PC..... I sure hope the wifi one is much cheaper. I doubt that it'll be MUCH cheaper though.
About the same price of the 2-years contract one, this is an amazing failure, verizon handling this device as a smartphone, as If a lot of laptops were sold with 3g capabilities.... and NO FLASH, NO microSD on launch. THIS. IS. A. FAILURE.
This device, no, motorola, wants to be defeated by Ipad 2
iPad 2 announcement on March 2nd...keep that in mind
www.iRumorsOnline.com
Its about time.
Damn Phil. The headline FONT alone makes the thing seem more expensive lol.
Yeah... Now I know I won't be getting the Xoom. All you rich people, enjoy!
You mean you won't be getting the VERIZON non-WiFi-only Xoom.