How Does The Ipad 2 Compare To The Motorola Xoom?

By Author: jessies sims
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The launch of the Motorola Xoom was shortly followed by Apple’s introduction of the iPad2. Comparison and competition started right away and so began the battle between the two tablets. So which is better and how do they compare. Below we go over the pros and cons of both tablets.

Starting with the physical description, we find the iPad2 tablet to be lighter and slimmer than the Xoom Android tablet. Both devices are solidly built but you can easily hold your iPad2 in your hand while the Xoom is bulky and a bit awkward to hold. Appearance wise users found the iPad2 sleek and even sexy where as “hefty” was the adjective used to describe the Xoom.

The real battle between the two devices is the battle of software as both gadgets are run by powerful operating systems. The iOS 4.3 which runs the iPad 2 is a stable and intuitive operating system which incidentally is also very easy to use. Android 3.0 from Google which powers the Xoom, on the other hand offers more configuration choices but is a bit confusing and so ease of use can be written off. Android 3.0 is prone to occasional crashes and the applications ...
... not provided by Google differ in quality.

The Xoom offers great a User Interface (UI), it has many features you can customize to meet your needs but it still is not an easy device to use; the touch buttons are somewhat jumbled up which is rather confusing. The user interface too at times is overcomplicated. The iPad2 on the other hand comes with simple controls and easy to follow interface that even kids can operate it. Convenience and efficiency of iOS 4.3 has made the iPad2 a winner when it comes to interfacing.

When comparing some specifications and features we find that the Xoom Android stands out as it offers more RAM, 10 inch screen with higher resolution, better cameras than the iPad2. Its exceptional features include notifications system, Voice Command and turn by turn directions. 4G compatibility is another strong point of the Xoom but all these wonderful features are let down by the lack of applications. Whereas the iPad2 may not have these wonderful features but it has the App Store feature which means thousands of apps at its disposal. In PC tablets, applications matter the most and Apple has lots of them.

One area where the Xoom Android rocks is web browsing. Web Browsing is much faster and now with the added flash support you can browse the entire web. Apple uses the Safari mobile browser which is fast but does not come to the level of the Xoom’s browser. The absence of Adobe Flash is a big blow to the iPad2 as well. Though the current Xoom does not feature flash, it is promised in the next version as is the SD card slot support. Both the devices are at par when it comes to graphics.

Battery life of the iPad2 is 10 hours after heavy use and can stretch up to 11 hours if used moderately while that of the Xoom is 8 to 9 hours; however if any poorly optimized app is selected, the battery life of the Xoom is likely to suffer.

Another thing about the Xoom Android is that the 3 G connectivity is provided by Verizon only. The iPad2 on the other hand comes with Wi-Fi only versions and you also get to pick your carrier between AT&T and Verizon.

Conclusion

The Motorola Xoom may be the best Android tablet but the absence of proper apps and a complicated user interface are some features which have let it down. Still it is the favorite of the tech savvy while the iPad 2 remains a powerful gadget with simple controls and is preferred by all.
Please see our Author’s box below for more iPad vs the Xoom and other exciting news of what you need to know before purchasing an iPad Tablet.

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