The Community is in Read-Only Mode as we get ready to unveil a brand-new experience. Stay tuned something amazing is on the way!
Truthfully, I would not try to compare a tablet with a smartphone. If I were looking for a new laptop, I might look into a tablet instead. They are more similar in functions. I can't quit see holding a tablet to my ear to talk to someone, and you definitely can not slide a tablet into your pocket. As for the Atrix, I know nothing about it. I am, however, interested in the Motorola Bionic. Now THAT sounds like a phone and a half.
mortb wrote: Truthfully, I would not try to compare a tablet with a smartphone. If I were looking for a new laptop, I might look into a tablet instead. They are more similar in functions. I can't quit see holding a tablet to my ear to talk to someone, and you definitely can not slide a tablet into your pocket. As for the Atrix, I know nothing about it. I am, however, interested in the Motorola Bionic. Now THAT sounds like a phone and a half.
I agree comparing a tablet against a smart-phone isn't a wise comparison, now as for comparing a tablet and the Xoom I think the Xoom may have possibilities but I am not going to buy a device that will be priced that high on contract.
The Atrix hasn't interest me because I do not plan on changing carriers for a device and also the laptop dock just seems like a strange ideal for a phone because in the end you are still using a phone as the source for processing power. I can see the novelty of the dock for the Atrix becoming old fast, but this is just a opinion.
Also I am waiting on the Bionic because it appears to be worth my time to upgrade too, the HTC Thunderbolt isn't nothing but a twin of the EVO without the HDMI out... The Bionic most likely be my next device even with Motorola with their locked bootloaders and all.
The point wasn't to "compare tablets to smartphones". Perhaps, I should have put it in this perspective:
I am looking for something to bridge the gap between my desktop and my Droid X. The X, while amazing, does tend to strain the eyes (even with the largest display currently available on smartphones) after extended use. A tablet would be great for the living room, park, or breakroom.
Since the Xoom is another Moto product, I was curious if there would be any Moto support, or lack thereof, based on others' experiences with Moto (and the X).
mortb, I too have no desire to use a tablet as a phone either, or even for text purposes. In fact, a device that has internet (and email) access only would be great.
Wildman, the atrix dock with keyboard and screen would be a great option if available with the X, but not at the prices they are asking for the Atrix phone ($599) and dock ($399). And, as you mentioned, not when one is bound to a Verizon contract.
I'm not going to bash the Xoom, but my research over the past 24 hours has lead me to the conclusion that I will wait for now.
I concede, my post had little to do with our Droid X's. I was just curious who the folks are that are running out and buying the Xoom. Obviously, not many Droid X owners.
Honestly I think a tablet is a lot closer to a smartphone than anything else on the market. If you look at it honestly it has all the capabilities of a smartphone just without the phone function, and has not nearly as many features as a windows or mac based tablet. Just look at the ipad...It's just a giant ipod touch with mobile internet as much as people hate to admit it.
In your post that seems exactly what you're looking for. The convenience of a tablet would be that on the vzw network you have to get a mobile broadband plan with the tablet. This would be good say if you were going on a roadtrip or somewhere like a vacation home where you don't want to carry around a laptop or don't have access to a home desktop and you want internet access anywhere you have vzw coverage. The tablet becomes convenient in that it has a lot of functions in a small package and is easy to use for extended periods of time (not hard on the eyes) as well as the mobile internet.
Honestly if you're not looking for mobile internet and you want to use strictly wi-fi or have access to wi-fi when you travel, go for a mac or windows based tablet. You'll get a lot more bang for your buck, but without the mobile internet. So you have to take that into consideration.
If you want the best of both worlds without nearly as much portability as a tablet get a netbook, then get a vzw mobile 4g usb card and you're all set. You'll have any functions your pc or mac would have, internet anywhere, and in a nice package.
As far as the xoom goes it's interesting because it adds a lot of the nice features you'd expect a tablet to have but might not actually get when you go with something like say the iPad or Galaxy tab. Right now I agree it's overpriced and only the people that need everything new will buy one. It's going to be interesting though how it turns out as it's kind of a mix between a tablet and a netbook with the honeycomb software on it.
The Bionic is the only phone on the horizon that I have any interest in. But that's predicated on haveing 4G LTE service here in Hawaii. Right now the Honolulu Airport has LTE service but I'm much to far away (about 15/17 miles) to access. One of the reps at one of the Verizon Corp stores thought Hawaii would get LTE late 2011 or early 2012. So I'll be keeping my Droid X at least until then. Like my grandfather used to say, "Look for it when you see it!"
My understanding is that a WiFi only version of the Xoom is to be forthcoming. I have no need to have a tablet with data capability so I myself am waiting for more devices to hit the market before pulling the trigger. I must say though, the Xoom is pretty darn compelling.
The Atrix idea I think is a nice idea. The problem with it is that AT&T chose to make the dock option a money maker (by forcing additional tethering fees) instead of an additional utility. This will be the downfall of great ideas when paired with a cellular carrier... The need for them to see profit in everything related to the hardware. Hence the reason we can't use our hardware the way we want (WiFi tethering) without incurring additional fees even though its the same bandwidth being used.
Phone wise, when the Bionic gets a Honeycomb release, with a video editor, I'm all over it
