Topic: Tablets

Latest Motorola Xoom rumors: Android tablet coming to Best Buy on February 17, costing $800

Summary: Probably the most anticipated Android-based tablet, Motorola's Xoom has been the subject of a couple of leaks over the weekend that, if true, would mean it will be available soon -- and for more than you probably thought.As with the latest dirt on HP's webOS tablets, the scoops come courtesy of Engadget.

By Sean Portnoy for Laptops & Desktops | January 24, 2011 -- 02:14 GMT (18:14 PST)

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Probably the most anticipated Android-based tablet, Motorola's Xoom has been the subject of a couple of leaks over the weekend that, if true, would mean it will be available soon -- and for more than you probably thought.

As with the latest dirt on HP's webOS tablets, the scoops come courtesy of Engadget. The site received one document supposedly from Verizon that detailed a price that will make Apple grin: $799.99, or nearly as much as a 64GB iPad with 3G. So much for Android leading to lower tablet prices, at least in this case (if accurate).

Now if that potential price doesn't deter you, you won't have to wait long to buy it, according to another leaked document. This one (supposedly) comes from Best Buy, and it lists February 17 as the on-sale date for the device.

In the Xoom's favor, it will come with a dual-core processor and 10.1-inch screen and will be the first tablet available with Google's latest version of Android, 3.0 (or Honeycomb). Still, if there's only one version, and it indeed costs $800, that will greatly limit the tablet's popularity. Would you still be interested in a Xoom if it costs $800? Let us know in the Comments section.

Topics: Tablets, Hardware, Laptops, Mobility

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20 comments

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Xoom - Quality vs Price

Motorola is known for great quality but the price is way too high. As an Ipad owner I am satisfied with what the first model can do and for the price (with 3G). It will take some doing to make me want to switch, especially from an Apple product.

stevefk@...
24 January, 2011 03:09

Reply Vote
- Yes, with the A4 processor, and a lot of other tricks, Apple was able to
  
  keep prices down, and still have very good margins. Also, their ability to get very favorable / guaranteed prices on the key parts by pre-negotiating low prices for very large quantities is another big factor.
  
  DonnieBoy
  24 January, 2011 07:40
  
  Reply Vote
Still waiting for netbook range prices.

NT.

DonnieBoy
24 January, 2011 06:23

Reply Vote
- Have to agree with you there
  
  @DonnieBoy With any of these tablets, the components that go into them are no more expensive than you would find in a net book (probably less component cost because you don't need a disk drive or keyboard), yet the prices are 2x to 3x as much. The margins on these things have got to be huge. A perfect example is Apple's retail pricing where going from 16GB to 32 GB costs you $100 where a 16 GB MicroSD can be had as low as $30 and a 32 GB for as low as $110. Not to pick on Apple specifically though since at $800 Motorola is even worse.
  
  To my mind, there isn't one of these things that's worth $800. When they get more like $200 - $300 they will have something.
  
  cornpie
  24 January, 2011 08:50
  
  Reply Vote
- RE: Latest Motorola Xoom rumors: Coming to Best Buy on February 17, costing $800
  
  @DonnieBoy
  
  There are already Android tablets that are $100. They suck but they are there.
  
  LP212
  24 January, 2011 19:41
  
  Reply Vote
RE: Latest Motorola Xoom rumors: Coming to Best Buy on February 17, costing $800

Max 600$. At least 2 other tablets are already set for this year with android 3 with the tegra chip. For less then $600. only difference is this tiny bit higher res screen which you probably wouldn't even notice to most people.

goldjacket
24 January, 2011 06:30

Reply Vote
Too expensive, too late.

For the price and with similar or inferior specs than the Ipad 2 I don't se much of an Ipad Killer, maybe the best Android tablet but in 1 year or so the Androd tablet market will be comoditized one like the netbooks now.

vela.eduardo@...
24 January, 2011 06:35

Reply Vote
- Yup, and that will be the time to buy...
  
  @vela.eduardo@... Hopefully, even if it's an iPad you really want, Apple will have to lower prices at least some to stay competitive.
  
  cornpie
  24 January, 2011 08:52
  
  Reply Vote
RE: Latest Motorola Xoom rumors: Coming to Best Buy on February 17, costing $800

I agree that the price that is rumored would be to high for most people to pay. I believe if they want to compete with all the tablets that are coming including the IPAD2 they will need to be in the $500 to $600 range.

thetwostep
24 January, 2011 07:01

Reply Vote
RE: Latest Motorola Xoom rumors: Coming to Best Buy on February 17, costing $800

I would spend 200 extra and get an Macbook Air far more functional.

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook_air?mco=MTM3NjY1OTU

mrlinux
24 January, 2011 07:35

Reply Vote
- VERY good point!! I like the 11.6 inch form factor, and attached keyboard.
  
  But, still hoping for cheap tablets for sitting in an easy chair, reading a book, or watching a movie.
  
  DonnieBoy
  24 January, 2011 08:20
  
  Reply Vote
  - Why?
    
    @DonnieBoy For reading a book, you an already get e-readers that are a fraction of the price. And if I'm in my easy chair and want to watch a movie, what would prompt me to watch it on a 10 inch tablet screen when my 60 Inch HDTV is sitting right there?
    
    cornpie
    24 January, 2011 08:54
    
    Reply Vote
why

So I could get two ipads or 1 android deviced loaded with crapware, hmmm...

Hasam1991
24 January, 2011 09:21

Reply Vote
RE: Latest Motorola Xoom rumors: Coming to Best Buy on February 17, costing $800

"In the Xoom?s favor, it will come with a dual-core processor and 10.1-inch screen and will be the first tablet available with Google?s latest version of Android, 3.0 (or Honeycomb)"

So what's the battery life? I don't care if it came with a quad-core processor, if the battery life suffers because of it, then what's the point? Do we know anything about Honeycomb and how well it performs on tablets, no one got to play with the OS yet (just saw carefully crafted videos). Will it be tied to carriers like the Galaxy Tab? Will carriers screw with the experience again? There's still lot's of concerns aside from that insane price.

dave95.
24 January, 2011 09:34

Reply Vote
RE: Latest Motorola Xoom rumors: Coming to Best Buy on February 17, costing $800

I would definitely like to have a tab, but the prices are way too high for a retired person. I'll wait for the competition to release all of theirs and (hoping) that will lower prices. I agree that it's wise to wait until the new ones are out and have been reviewed.

greebo_cat125@...
24 January, 2011 12:09

Reply Vote
RE: Latest Motorola Xoom rumors: Coming to Best Buy on February 17, costing $800

Not a chance if the price does not come down to sub $500.

zd baron
24 January, 2011 16:01

Reply Vote
it's dead in the water.

Without a $499 model, it can't compete against the iPad.

jameskatt
24 January, 2011 23:57

Reply Vote
RE: Latest Motorola Xoom rumors: Coming to Best Buy on February 17, costing $800

Based on all I've read, the Xoom would be my prefered purchase over the upcoming iPad 2, however at $800 I may have to rethink my decision

willtt
30 January, 2011 10:12

Reply Vote
All you guys are wrong, this is not all that overpriced.

You people keep comparing this tablet to the iPad and the iPad 2, saying that tablet prices should go down and not up. Your completely wrong here. There is NO COMPARISON between an iPad and one of these devices. First off, the iPad (currently) has basically 1/4 the specs, with no cameras FRONT AND BACK, with no USB ports, NO HDMI ports, NO SD CARD SLOT etc. It has huge crappy black borders, it is running on a smartphone OS and UI, etc. Motorola stepped up the game, dual core processor, 1GB ram, SD slot, bigger screen, better resolution, better Operating system, better browsing with flash, USB ports, HDMI ports, front and back cameras, bluetooth keyboard included, textured back for easy grip, 64 GB memory, 3G upgradable to 4G, etc etc etc. There is NO COMPARISON. These Android tablets are to netbooks as an iPad is to a smartphone. I would not even consider the iPad a true tablet computer. It is merely a large media consuming device, the exact same as an ipod touch. Take an iPod touch and make it larger with slightly better specs, and you have the iPad.

The Motorola Xoom is a computer
The iPad is a fat smartphone
Don't compare them

shipleyshipster
3 February, 2011 11:22

Reply Vote
good idea about android

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gavin.chan
30 September, 2011 12:01

Reply Vote