Tablets
Motorola Xoom costs $799 according to Best Buy. Yes, $799!
February 6, 2011 | by Andrew Kameka
Motorola Tablets
I spent most of last week gushing over Android 3.0, but the first product to run the Android tablet OS – the Motorola Xoom – has a bank-breaking price that will be tough to swallow.
According to a Best Buy advertisement, the Motorola Xoom will debut in-store on February 24, costing interested buyers $799. Pardon me, that’s $799.99, which is $299.99 more than this device should cost. The ad appears in a Best Buy circular that seems to confirm previous rumors that the Xoom would be very expensive, but it’s worth noting that a previous Best Buy ad incorrectly stated the availability of the Wi-Fi-only Samsung Galaxy Tab.
The in-store flier also shows that Verizon will charge $20-$80 for monthly 3G data plans that range from 1 GB to 10 GB. Users will be required to sign-up for at least 1-month of data services in order to turn on Wi-Fi function.
If this ad is to be believed, the Xoom might be DOA based on its high-cost. As much as people love the software and hardware, Motorola may struggle to convince users to pay as much as they would to get a decent laptop. It might also lead to people waiting for the Wi-Fi only version, which should be cheaper without the built-in costs of activation and a 3G radio, or even look at an LG G-Slate depending on cost differences.
Let’s hope Motorola is smart enough to not price itself out of the market and this ad proves to be a mistake.
[Engadget]
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Why so shocked? This thing's hardware specs are impressive. The price is in the ballpark when you compare it to the high-end iPad (which is similarly priced and has nowhere near the hw) and the unsubsidized dual-core phones soon to be released.
The hardware is impressive, but it's still not a proven device like the Ipad, especially when you compare the apps that are available on the Ipad. Remember, it was the App Store that really launched the smartphone revolution, not the Iphone's hardware. And forcing customers to sign up for at least 1 month of data in order to activate their device's wi-fi is highway robbery. That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard in my LIFE. That's like forcing a person who buys an HDTV to have to sign up for 1 month with Direct TV if they want to turn on their digital antenna. I would have gotten the xoom, but for the price, I'll wait and see what else comes out. If the xoom proves to be worth 800 dollars, fine, but waiting a few months to see where to put my hard earned money is just fine with me. Motorola, who is in charge of this? This is going to lead to a horrible fail for the xoom, and the worst part is that it could have been so easily avoided. Even a 2 year contract to subsidize the price would be better than this.
That's a horrible price! With the ipad 2 looming around the corner, the G-Slate to come out running the exact same software and the nook color being shown to run honeycomb, no one's gonna buy this thing! $699 would have been an easier pill to swallow seeing as the most comparable ipad (32G w/ 3G) runs for $729. And as much as I was sold on the Xoom earlier this week when Google was showing it off, I'm going to have to pass and I'm as Google as it gets.
The iPad is waaaaay overpriced too. A laptop with way more functionality for half the price. New form factor != twice the price. Pads should be priced around $300.
Holy overpriced tablets Batman! How the hell does Motorola think people will pay that much for a tablet? Its way too much, too soon. We desperately need affordable high-quality android tablets to show people that android is an iPad competitor. This is a kick in the balls to any sort of Android marketing. We need a Nook Color priced tablet with an actual marketplace. But we get $800 Xoom? FAIL!
Agreed. And the motoblur bloatware …
The Xoom does not have moto blur
The xoom apparently doesn't have motoblur. But that price is ridiculous. Maybe I'll have to wait for the G Slate.
I was considering selling my G tablet and buying a XOOM but with the specs being similar, I'll happily hold on to my Gtab…..I don't need a second camera, 512 more ram and a 3g radio bad enough to spend $450 more than my Gtab. We'll have a honeycomb port soon enough.
Whoa. Hold up here. If your looking for a tablet with a kickass processor, front and rear cameras, usb, hdmi, a real web browser with flash, 3g with 4g when its available, an OS optimized for tablets that might just lead to apps that are real world useful (what else have I missed) then this thing can't be beat. Hell the top iPad model is $30 more at best buy and its no where near the piece of hardware this beast is. And if the iPad2 has this kind of horse power it sure as hell isn't going to sell for less than this. As far as app parity goes, Android can and will hold its own. In fact, Honeycomb holds a lot of potential for tablet developers. If somebody makes a really good $100 dollar keyboard dock (hint hint Motorola) compare this to a 11" laptop with a $100 3g dongle or a $250 4g dongle for the same internet connection and things get even more interesting. Now if you don't need internet connections, sit tight for a couple months and wait for the $ 500 to $ 600 wifi model. Compared to iPad1 or iPad2 wifi models, it will still be a bargain.
You know for a fact that the iPad 2 won't sell for less? Pray tell, how do you know this "fact"?
Nope, but we all know for a fact that the iPad2 will still be useless.
I am GREATLY disappointed in the fact that the Xoom is launching as only 1 version that is 3G only at $799 AND a mandatory 3G activation (for at least 1 month) to even be able to USE WIFI. This is absolutely asinine and will make the XOOM DOA! I voiced my displeasure to Motorola in the quoted email below: "I have to say, as interested as I was in the Xoom, the recent information that there will be only configuration for $799 and that it will require a mandatory activation of 3G service to even ACTIVATE the wifi is absolutely ridiculous. You are killing the Xoom before it's even born. I say this as not only a possible consumer (and current Motorola Droid 1 user) but also as a marketing professional. You have shot yourself in the foot in both timing and lack of variety in selection There is a HUGE groundswell of disappointment on all the Android and tech sites over the price and the forced "tax" to Verizon. Even the "dedicated" Android fans that would never buy an iPad are saying they will continue to wait for the LG Tab or even root a nook rather than pay for a premium tablet when a base model would do. Even though these Android fans are important, they are NOT the primary customers that will make this a success or you would not have spent $3 Million to buy one ad in the superbowl. You want "the masses" to see this as the first true competitor to the iPad and to give it a try. It IS the first real competitor to it but having only ONE price and requiring customers sign up for a monthly service (even if you can cancel it after one month) is ridiculous and will keep potetial customers away. Even Apple realized that if they set it too high, they wouldn't sell as prolifically as they have and would have another "niche" product that had potential but most folks wouldn't consider. Having a starting price that's HIGHER than Apple's comparable iPad is going to kill it. Also, I predict this. now that there is a firm "launch" date, Apple will have it's iPad 2 event on Feb 22. 2 Days before people can buy Xoom. They will show an iPad that has almost all the same features, dual core A5 processor, dual cameras, Retina display level screen, SD card slot, 32GB built in memory, 12 hour battery, Airplay, facetime, etc, all the "problems" the Xoom brags about over the iPad 1, and all starting at $499. This will freeze the potential "swing buyers" and kill the sales in their tracks. People that MIGHT have bought it will wait another 2 weeks to buy the new iPad 2. Consumers see the iPad as the standard bearer and all other tablets, no matter how good techies might know they are, as copy cats. The only way a new tablet will be remotely competitive is if ISN'T more expensive and can sway the general populace that it is at least as good if not better for the same price. The best selling iPad is the lowest price. Parents buy them for kids so they don't have to pay another fee to use it. College kids buy it because all the dorms, classes and coffee shops have WiFi. Most of the "gifted" iPads are wifi only. Take this from a person that is in marketing for a living, a technology buff and both an Apple and Android fan. Motorola is making a BIG mistake with it's entry into the tablet market without having at least 2 models. You need one at $599 that has wifi only and 16 GB internal memory with all other specs being the same and the one that has been announced. It would give you 2 good solid competitors in to price ranges that widen the potetial market and that have at least SOME chance of fending off the iPad 2. I'm predicting the launch will be MAYBE 30-50k sold the first weekend, 110,000 the first week and MAYBE 200,000 by the time iPad 2 launches then sales will die before they hit 1,000,000 pieces because no standard consumer will buy the "copy" (which, face-it, the general populace will see this as) when they can buy a "real iPad" for less. Parents, casual shoppers, etc will NEED matching pricepoints before they will remotely consider it. I would buy one opening weekend if they had the $599 one, but I'm not paying an extra $220 for a function I don't need or want and another monthly service that could be accomplished tethering or bluetooth by a service I'm already paying for. If you put out a $599 that seamlessly tethers with other Motorola android devices, you will sell more than you can make. If you lock to this "one model" only strategy, it will not compete. don't wait too long to release the wifi only, or you will regret it."
The ipad 1, 2, and even the someday 3 can't do jack, let the sheep have them. The Xoom might be pricey but its the tip of a wave that will put the ipad in its place, just like the iphone. Apple better have enjoyed its time in the sun, because it will be in the shade of android soon. Just like the PC, choice will win out over shinny.
And then there was the Nook Color, coming to save our wallets from the evil Dr. Xoom!!! Why choose either when you can just get a Nook and then treat your neighborhood out to pizza after saving $500? PS; YOU STILL USE A PC??!?! I should backhand you by sending a virus. And there's no tag-backs because I have a MAC!!! (apple got it right in this category)
DOA. I agree. IF even Android fans are finding it hard to justify wasting that amount of money on the Xoom, I don't see anyone else buying it.
If you buy any of the new honeycomb tablets you had better like the built in software because their is still no tablet software in the Google market place. Why pay that hight price only to able to install phone apps? Let's face it, it will be years before Google will be able to compete with the itunes store! The itunes store is what drives the ipad not the hardware! I own and ipad and a Archos 101 and am very familiar with both sides. It doesn't matter how nice honeycomb is when the Google market place is devoid of android tablet support! Your new table will get old quickly when you realize that phone apps are still the only apps available in the market place! Honeycomb is just the beginning of a long drawn out process!
there are apps built specifically for tablets and several apps have been upgraded to support tablets. even more will be available once the 3.0 SDK is released.
That's what they said about the iphone as well. But, look who's number 1 already. You are wrong about tablet support, they have tablet optimized apps (and very sweet exclusive apps from CNN and SI I might add, that you won't find on the ipad). Also, not being *CHAINED* to itunes is actually something that many people with common sense find to be a feature, because you actually have a device that can get content from more competitive channels.
Unless Verizon forces you to buy from their AppStore. Better make sure you have all of their slaveware pulled off (Verizon is notorious for locking down their devices, which strangly, they can't do on the iPhone).
Hey pwrplay how much do you think this ipad 2 32g with slow 3g will cost? 299.99? Lol you guys act like the apple store is the Walmart of consumer electronics. Look if you want high end electronics your going to have to pay..otherwise wait a year and I'm sure you'll be able too pick this up for under 300..of course it wont be "cutting edge" anymore..
+1 DoA! :-/
$800? I'll wait for the price to come down and for the competition to make announcements.
I was excited to hear about the XOOM a while back. Now with a price of $799 and the highway robbery of the data package to turn WIFI on, well crap, I am no longer excited. $799 will get you a nice laptop.
Pointless camera, $300 more than it should cost and no wifi-only version. What's the point? If I wanted to buy an overpriced, restricted tablet, I'd get an iPad.
Actually, the Verizon activation is a big issue. What you should worry about is whether you will be able to update your Xoom over WiFi, or whether you can only do it over Verizon's network (something typical for most Verizon devices). If Verizon limits your ability to upgrade through their network only, that means that you would have to re-initialize your month-to-month, and I bet you they will charge you for that, on top of the monthly charges, taxes, etc. The fact that you have to activate your WiFi through a Verizon accounts points to the fact that your device is tethered to their system (I would suspect) with their added bloatware. What if you need to download security updates (which seem to come out often, these days), will you be able to download these off WiFi, or off the computer, or what? I think that $800 initial pricetag is just the tip of the iceberg.
OK, I just saw this comment on another site but it seems valuable to repeat. There are some clear problems with the "ad" displayed above. First, "lightning" is misspelled: "Do it all lighting fast.." Second, "activate" is misspelled: "To activative Wifi technology…" These would usually be caught by your sharp-eyed publicity department. (Or your spell checker, in the second instance.) Finally, the comment on the other site says the "$799" is photoshopped. Significant? Who knows…
It might be photoshopped, but why is Motorola so slow on denying that this device is that much? If Motorola has any marketing sense at all, it needs to issue a statement saying "Images stating that the Xoom is $799 is a fraud, our Xoom Tablet actually will cost $xxx" The longer they wait, the more damage it will do to their unproven brand.