Motorola’s announced that the Xoom 2 will be available for $720 outright or on a two year Telstra contract for $59 a month. At least they opted not to go for that silly ‘Xyboard’ naming scheme.
News.com.au reports on the plan — I’m still waiting for the official release — which will see the Xoom 2 launch today, some months after its UK release or for that matter its US release, but without the US naming, which would see it called the Xyboard. The Xoom 2 does address many of the most common complaints about the original Xoom — it’s thinner than the chunky Xoom, the internal processor’s been beefed up to a 1.2GHz dual-core model and it’s lighter as well.
Still, I think it’s fair to say that in the battle for hearts and minds, Motorola’s running a race behind Samsung and Asus in the Android tablet space, as well as that-fruit-themed-company-that-I-dare-not-name-lest-I-be-accused-of-bias-in-the-comments-section that they’re all chasing for tablet buyer’s dollars.
Except I guess I just did, and so, while I’m damned, it’s undoubtedly no coincidence that Motorola’s launching right now; if the rumoured dates for the release of the next Apple tablet are even slightly on the money, expect fever pitch anticipation (and thus less focus on the rest of the market) very shortly indeed. [News.com.au]
wsDK_II
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 9:05 AMApple bias!!!!!
:)
Alex Kidman
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 9:06 AMWell, at least that got that out of the way early.
Cheesus
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 9:10 AMHahahahaha. Telstra.. you so funny.
Wonder if they realise that nobody will buy it?
MotorMouth
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 9:17 AMI’s have thought that about tablets in general, but sales figures seem to disagree. Given that it is a totally new product line for Motorola, well outside their core business, I’m sure they are more than happy with the numbers.
MotorMouth
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 9:15 AMI really don’t like the look Motorola are using, The corners just look all wrong I assume they are trying to differentiate themselves but I reckon they are putting themselves at the wrong end of the queue with that style. But the original Xoom seemed as good as any other tablet I’ve played with at JB Hi-FI and I’d take its UI over an iPad’s any day. In fact, it is so good I took a photo of it so that I could rip off some of the graphical ideas they’ve used for my own work. You can’t get higher praise than that!
Labrys
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 9:38 AMI’d say it’s more “avoid apple lawsuit” then a particular design style with those corners.
8=====D
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 9:16 AMBut is it any good?
Alex Kidman
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 9:32 AMExpecting hands-on time and a full review shortly — I don’t want to jump the gun one way or another.
Cheesus
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 10:22 AMWhat you should be asking is, “Is it worth it?”. For that price you can get yourself a far more high end tablet, and why would you get it on a plan? Anyone that does is just a tad stupid.
Esophagus
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 12:32 PMCheaper than a high-capacity iPad. Better for video media and apps which would get it thrown out of Apple’s store. I’d be interested knowing that they’d improved on the original Xoom and with the hubbub that Asus are attracting themselves right now.
Chris
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 9:17 AMAnd the reporting gets tackier and tackier. Nice new low Giz.
Alex Kidman
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 9:31 AMIn what way? It’s pretty easy to sit behind a keyboard and accuse us of a “new low”, but why not be specific? The news is basic — the Xoom 2′s out today, the pricing is stated, etc – and then I’ve put in some analysis against the wider market, both Android specific and then the whole tablet market. Heck, I even foreshadowed that somebody would get annoyed just because the current market leader in tablets got mentioned, even THOUGH it’s contextually quite appropriate.
Or is it just the case that you’re going to troll, no matter what? Either put up a case, or shut up.
Ben H
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 9:41 AMGah, trolls.
If it was that bad, he wouldn’t keep coming back, would he?
The article ticked enough boxes for me, Alex. Thanks for letting me know that this is out.
Not sure why anyone would pass the transformer prime for this though, that is one sexy bit of kit.
AshR
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 9:55 AMyeah the transformer prime is looking for a likely replacement for my Wife’s netbook (Acer One) all it’s used for is word processing and web and not much else.
So having that and she can use the server at home for storage of anything else she needs it’s keyboard “attachment” puts it well in the lead over any other tablets on the market.
Esophagus
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 12:36 PMAs an owner of the original Transformer, although happy with the tablet so far, I’ve heard more than a few issues with the Prime, like the GPS not working properly (so they removed it from the spec sheets). Not to mention, the ICS update got pushed back again as apparently they need more work done on the Prime itself. My housemate bought the chunky Toshiba tablet and I wish I’d gone that way. Full USB, full HDMI and a proper charger for the trade-off of a slightly thicker tablet, yes please!
wsDK_II
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 9:52 AMMore Apple bias!!!!
Esophagus
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 12:33 PMI like your ever so slight bias, Alex, it makes you quite cute. ;)
TheGuru
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 3:02 PMGee you’re very sensitive! Maybe because there is some guilt of the fact you are an Apple! Chill out and let people comment without getting so upset.. get a new job if you can’t deal with a little feedback!
Kristian
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 9:48 AMSitting here reading this on my Xoom I picked up for $299, now running ICS, and it’s great! Plays all the 3d games and has pretty good , couldn’t be happier, that said I agree the styling on the new one looks pretty ugly….