News Analysis: Apple's iPad 2 is coming out in just days. But when you compare them head-to-head, perhaps the Motorola Xoom, which is already available, is the average customer's best tablet choice.
Apple's iPad 2, which was
announced in a special event March 2, is expected to hit store shelves March
11. When it does, customers will have the unenviable task of choosing either
Apple's latest tablet or the many other tablets from competing manufacturers
that are vying for their hard-earned cash. Although last year, the decision to
choose the iPad was an easy one, in 2011, it's not as easy as one thinks.
That's especially true if customers decide to opt for either the iPad 2 or the
Motorola Xoom. The former is likely the front runner, given its predecessor's
success, but the Xoom is also a fine option. It delivers a number of solid
features that consumers would be quite happy with. Even better, it does so at a
price that's quite competitive.
But for those still on the fence, let's just make it easy: opt for the Motorola
Xoom.
Yes,
the iPad 2 looks like a nice device on paper, but that doesn't necessarily
mean it can live up the appeal of the Xoom. The average consumer could do worse
than to pick up Motorola's tablet over Apple's.
Read on to find out why:
1. The slightly larger display
It might be a few factions of an inch difference, but it's important for
consumers to consider that the Motorola Xoom has a slightly larger display than
Apple's iPad. The Xoom features a 10.1-inch screen, while the iPad comes with a
9.7-inch display. On paper, that might not seem like much. But when one holds
the devices in their hands and compares them, it's quite noticeable. The extra
screen real estate comes in handy when viewing video or surfing the Web. Keep
that in mind.
2. Upgrade to 4G
Motorola's Xoom currently only offers customers the ability to connect to
Verizon's 3G network when they're away from home. However, Motorola Mobility
has said that it will offer a free upgrade to 4G in the coming months. After
that upgrade is in place, customers will be able to connect to Verizon's
ultra-high-speed network. Apple iPad 2 owners, on the other hand, won't have
that luxury. While Xoom owners will be surfing the Web at ultra-high speed,
iPad 2 customers will be stuck on 3G.
3. Android 3.0 Honeycomb is promising
When
Apple CEO Steve Jobs showed off the iPad 2 March 2, he said that the
platform would come with iOS 4.3, an updated version of the mobile-operating
system Apple launched last year. The Xoom, on the other hand, ships with Google
Android 3.0 Honeycomb. That platform, which was unveiled this year, comes with
a number of important upgrades, including a reworked design, much better
browsing, improved multitasking, and several other features. Those who have
gotten their hands on the platform say it's a sizable upgrade over Android 2.2.
Due to Google's desire to make the operating system more desktop-like in its functionality,
iOS 4.3 might look rather obsolete next to it.
4. Don't believe the apps hype
Apple was quick to point out at its March 2 event that it has 65,000 iPad applications
available to customers. The company said that the Android Market currently has
about 100 applications available to tablet owners. However, Apple failed to
point out that more and more developers are moving to Android to bring their
applications to tablets. Over time, the discrepancy in mobile applications
won't be nearly as great as Apple would like users to believe. It's a problem
now, but it won't be a major issue by the end of the year.
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