price?

[Karuk]

Price needs to be $500 or less. Tablets are fun but less functional than a laptop. If you have to choose between the two a laptop always wins.


Something else to consider is the Atrix configuration. If the xoom is more expensive than the atrix package (phone, laptop dock, and desktop dock) I believe people will go with the Atrix. Having the portability of a phone while on the go with the option to dock at home or the office is almost the perfect combo in my eyes.

How many people have you seen pull out an ipad while on the go? They don't. they use their phone.

In an ideal world we would all have 1 powerful device (smartphone) that can be docked at any location we choose. A tablet will never be that device.

 

[ckeegan]

Price needs to be $500 or less. Tablets are fun but less functional than a laptop. If you have to choose between the two a laptop always wins.

I just can't see Moto undercutting the iPad by that much. From the beginning of Xoom/Stingray/Everest news, I always figured the price would be around $650. I could see it hitting $599, but I can't imagine they would release it at or below $500. Heck, I hope I'm wrong.

In terms of a tablet being less functional than a laptop, I would agree with that, but primarily when looking at the iPad. From what I've seen of Honeycomb, it's definitely a more full-blown OS than iOS, so for some people, it could easily serve as a laptop replacement.

 

[ttdub]

Why do people think it needs to be so cheap? Its better in every way to the ipad and yet you think it should be cheaper? Its twice as fast, better processor, not sure on ram but one can assume its more. I mean come on. Its almost as powerful other than the hard drive space as a laptop and laptops start at 600. Come on. Why should it be cheaper than the ipad?

 

[xmr405o]

Why do people think it needs to be so cheap? Its better in every way to the ipad and yet you think it should be cheaper? Its twice as fast, better processor, not sure on ram but one can assume its more. I mean come on. Its almost as powerful other than the hard drive space as a laptop and laptops start at 600. Come on. Why should it be cheaper than the ipad?

I agree, I don't think it needs to be cheaper than the Ipad. I think we want it to be cheaper than the Ipad. haha. I personally don't think it's gonna be cheaper than $599 for the lowest model with 3G. Wifi only, hmmm maybe $549.
I think people are comparing a tablet to a netbook hence there thoughts of having a tablet cost twice as much as a netbook makes them woozy.
But the fact is, tablets are higher priced because of the touchscreen. It's not because it costs more but it's just what's hot right now. Are tablets a practical device compared to a netbook or laptop....ummm I don't think so. But who cares about being practical when you can look sooo cool.
The prices will level off when everyone and their mommas have tablets or touchscreen laptops but until then....you gonna pay!

 

[bucketheadmn]

From what I've seen of Honeycomb, it's definitely a more full-blown OS than iOS, so for some people, it could easily serve as a laptop replacement.

I am looking at the Xoom (or maybe the ASUS Transformer) as a 95% machine. There are a few things that I will need a Windows machine for (Livescribe, Logitech Harmony, Evernote Backup, and a couple more), but over all I function 95% in the cloud as it is. This is one thing that confuses me about Honeycomb though - Google almost seems to be undercutting ChromeOS in functionality and cloud based OS that can do almost everything.

 

[Don S]

Why do people think it needs to be so cheap? Its better in every way to the ipad and yet you think it should be cheaper? Its twice as fast, better processor, not sure on ram but one can assume its more. I mean come on. Its almost as powerful other than the hard drive space as a laptop and laptops start at 600. Come on. Why should it be cheaper than the ipad?

Better in every way? I don't think we can be sure of that. No one has even used one yet, at all.

Also, the competition for the XOOM will be the iPAD.. for about 4 weeks. Then the competiton will be the iPad 2, due around the beginning of April reportedly. The specs on that we don't know yet, but there are talks of dual cameras and a retina display, Facetime, that great iPhone camera, etc. That's attractive to the public.

So yes, I would think at a price significantly higher than the iPAD 2, the XOOM will might not sell as well as it could. I will definitely be getting the XOOM, but the general public (and media, and blogs) loves the iPAD we all know too well. Price will be a big factor.

 

[metalimi]

That's what I am really interested in. Anyone have a guess at how much the upgrade to 4G will be? (ignoring the actual data plan)

 

[Old Member]

That's what I am really interested in. Anyone have a guess at how much the upgrade to 4G will be? (ignoring the actual data plan)

I don't know but I was under the impression that the 4G upgrade would be free if you wanted it. I haven't read anything different than that.

 

[xmr405o]

That's what I am really interested in. Anyone have a guess at how much the upgrade to 4G will be? (ignoring the actual data plan)

I think VZW's price for the Xoom when it releases will have 4G included. Its my understanding that the 4G upgrade is a software upgrade. It would suck if you had to pay extra for software to unlock 4G capability. But then again, VZW can be a little sheisty.

 

[ckeegan]

That's what I am really interested in. Anyone have a guess at how much the upgrade to 4G will be? (ignoring the actual data plan)

My guess would be no more than $50, but no one really knows for sure...yet.

I don't know but I was under the impression that the 4G upgrade would be free if you wanted it. I haven't read anything different than that.

When Moto announced the Xoom at CES, the slide that dealt the the 4G upgrade said "additional fees apply" (or something to that effect) at the bottom of the slide.

I think VZW's price for the Xoom when it releases will have 4G included. Its my understanding that the 4G upgrade is a software upgrade. It would suck if you had to pay extra for software to unlock 4G capability. But then again, VZW can be a little sheisty.

See above, and also, the Moto reps at CES were telling people that it is a hardware upgrade that would require you to take it into a Verizon store (w/ service center).

 

[xmr405o]

My guess would be no more than $50, but no one really knows for sure...yet.

When Moto announced the Xoom at CES, the slide that dealt the the 4G upgrade said "additional fees apply" (or something to that effect) at the bottom of the slide.

See above, and also, the Moto reps at CES were telling people that it is a hardware upgrade that would require you to take it into a Verizon store (w/ service center).

I didn't know it was a hardware upgrade. yikes. I thought the addtional fees that would have applied were the data rates for 4G or maybe an extra monthly access fee just like sprint. Oh well at least we have a choice.

 

[Homan13PSU]

Why do people think it needs to be so cheap? Its better in every way to the ipad and yet you think it should be cheaper? Its twice as fast, better processor, not sure on ram but one can assume its more. I mean come on. Its almost as powerful other than the hard drive space as a laptop and laptops start at 600. Come on. Why should it be cheaper than the ipad?

I don't think anybody is saying it needs to be cheap, they're saying it needs to be price competitive with the iPad, and very soon the iPad 2. Which is rumored to be coming with a lower price point than the original.

Simply put; if the Xoom is $600 and the iPad 2 is say $300 or $350, not many people are going to choose the Xoom over the iPad. Plain and simple. Moto has a genuine opportunity here to get Android into the Tablet market, and in a big way. Messing it up could be a huge blow as there's not much on the market after it to eat into what the iPad already has.

Better in every way? I don't think we can be sure of that. No one has even used one yet, at all.

Also, the competition for the XOOM will be the iPAD.. for about 4 weeks. Then the competiton will be the iPad 2, due around the beginning of April reportedly. The specs on that we don't know yet, but there are talks of dual cameras and a retina display, Facetime, that great iPhone camera, etc. That's attractive to the public.

So yes, I would think at a price significantly higher than the iPAD 2, the XOOM will might not sell as well as it could. I will definitely be getting the XOOM, but the general public (and media, and blogs) loves the iPAD we all know too well. Price will be a big factor.

The iPad 2 MAY not be getting a Retina display. Engadget got their hands on the latest iOS 4.3 build for the iPad 2 and it still has the same display resolution as the original iPad.

 

[Don S]

...
The iPad 2 MAY not be getting a Retina display. Engadget got their hands on the latest iOS 4.3 build for the iPad 2 and it still has the same display resolution as the original iPad.

Yup, I read that as well.

edit: Now apparently the iPAD2 may yet have a "superhigh resolution screen" per Engadget

We all know however that there will be many upgrades over the iPad. Also, as a more mature product with a more mature tablet app ecosystem, the iPad2 is going to have some advantages. The pricing will be key, although I have my doubts that the XOOM will be anything less than $600, likely more. I hope not, we will see.

 

[Homan13PSU]

It's funny, right after I posted that Engadget had just posted the new story that while not a Retina display, it will be Retina-like.

The good thing is, even with a Retina-like display the Xoom will have 1080 compatibility. Something Apple does not have, and for the foreseeable future will not have.

Yup, I read that as well.

edit: Now apparently the iPAD2 may yet have a "superhigh resolution screen" per Engadget

We all know however that there will be many upgrades over the iPad. Also, as a more mature product with a more mature tablet app ecosystem, the iPad2 is going to have some advantages. The pricing will be key, although I have my doubts that the XOOM will be anything less than $600, likely more. I hope not, we will see.

 

[doubledown]

Pricing much lower than expected or pure rumor? I don't see it being this low (but one can dream, I might buy 2 for the family if true). My guess is it will start at or $50 below whatever apple is charging for ipad2.

Motorola Xoom to Beat iPad 2 Prices at Verizon Stores

 

[redshift1]

Pricing much lower than expected or pure rumor? I don't see it being this low (but one can dream, I might buy 2 for the family if true). My guess is it will start at or $50 below whatever apple is charging for ipad2.

Motorola Xoom to Beat iPad 2 Prices at Verizon Stores

$250-299 ?
Possible when coupled with a 2 yr data plan otherwise It makes no sense.

 

[Homan13PSU]

$250-299 ?
Possible when coupled with a 2 yr data plan otherwise It makes no sense.

Pricing definitely seems suspect, but if that is the price I'll be all over that like white on rice.

 

[xmr405o]

Pricing definitely seems suspect, but if that is the price I'll be all over that like white on rice.

Maybe te data plan will be 50 a month.

 

[ctxx24]

Would be nice....samsung will never sell another galaxy tab tho lol

 

[ckeegan]

Maybe I'm imagining things, but I swear, a few months ago I read a quote from someone at Moto saying something to the effect of their tablet "would be priced in line with current smartphones".

At the time, I just figured BS or they meant in line with current full retail smartphone pricing (i.e. Moto's lineup with Verizon currently runs about $500-599 full retail).

I'm still skeptical, since the source in that article states the "basic version". What other version is there?

Regardless, if this thing drops for any less than $300, I'll probably buy 10 on launch day. Seriously, they'll sell out in a heartbeat at that price, and I'll sell them on eBay for $500 a pop, new in box.

 

[xmr405o]

Maybe I'm imagining things, but I swear, a few months ago I read a quote from someone at Moto saying something to the effect of their tablet "would be priced in line with current smartphones".

At the time, I just figured BS or they meant in line with current full retail smartphone pricing (i.e. Moto's lineup with Verizon currently runs about $500-599 full retail).

I'm still skeptical, since the source in that article states the "basic version". What other version is there?

Regardless, if this thing drops for any less than $300, I'll probably buy 10 on launch day. Seriously, they'll sell out in a heartbeat at that price, and I'll sell them on eBay for $500 a pop, new in box.

10? You're greedy. Jk. Wouldn't you have to sign a two yr contract for all 10?

 

[ckeegan]

10? You're greedy. Jk. Wouldn't you have to sign a two yr contract for all 10?

I guess you're right, if the Xoom launched somewhere around $250-299, you would think that it would have to require a data contract term.

The more I think about it though, I kinda hope it's not that cheap. The average consumer would then just think it was no better than any other tablet. It's always amazing that people think there is a specific link between price and quality. Sometimes there is, but certainly not always.

 

[Homan13PSU]

I guess you're right, if the Xoom launched somewhere around $250-299, you would think that it would have to require a data contract term.

The more I think about it though, I kinda hope it's not that cheap. The average consumer would then just think it was no better than any other tablet. It's always amazing that people think there is a specific link between price and quality. Sometimes there is, but certainly not always.

If they're requiring a termed data plan for the Xoom instead of month to month then this thing will be DOA. I can go buy a iPad or Tab from Verizon, pay for one month of data and then cancel.

 

[ckeegan]

If they're requiring a termed data plan for the Xoom instead of month to month then this thing will be DOA. I can go buy a iPad or Tab from Verizon, pay for one month of data and then cancel.

I'm still skeptical about the $250-299 pricing, but it would make sense for a 2-year data agreement.

However, even if that turned out to be true, you should obviously still be able to pay full retail (no contract required), which would probably be in the $549-$649 range. Verizon sells the 32GB iPad/MiFi combo for $729, or you could get the Wi-Fi only directly from Apple for $599.

No matter how you look at it, the Xoom is still likely to be a better deal on multiple levels.

 

[rushmore]

I'm still skeptical about the $250-299 pricing, but it would make sense for a 2-year data agreement.

However, even if that turned out to be true, you should obviously still be able to pay full retail (no contract required), which would probably be in the $549-$649 range. Verizon sells the 32GB iPad/MiFi combo for $729, or you could get the Wi-Fi only directly from Apple for $599.

No matter how you look at it, the Xoom is still likely to be a better deal on multiple levels.

If $800 price (to force people to get data plans) no way it is $300. Best case is $400. One way or another over two years, they WILL get $800 total dollars from you.