The iPad2 Killer, Motorola Xoom.

A lot of new tablets heading to market this year, the G-Slate, the EEE Pad Transformer, So many in fact I predict that when it shakes out, Apple and their highly touted iPad2 will end up closer to the bottom of the market pack instead of their current leadership position. We've seen a lot of Demo's lately from both CES and the Android Event. We've gotten a good picture of what is coming down the bend and of all of the competitors there is only one that looks to have the features needed unseat the royal iOS device. The Motorola Xoom.



The Xoom, due to be released by Verizon Wireless on February later this month seemingly combines all of the best elements this seasons hardware advances, Dual Core processing, 3D Graphics, Massive 32Gig Storage, etc. and packs them into the slightly overweight 26 oz, ten inch wonder-tablet. The Xoom runs Android 3.0 and if the February 17th date we got from our friends at Engadget is correct it will be the very first tablet released with that operating system.

There has been a ton of speculation surrounding the Tablet market in the last few weeks. Conflicting reports from Samsung over just how well their sales of the Galaxy Tab fared over the last several months and frankly the lack luster components of some of the Xoom's closest competitors have left some consumers beginning to wonder if the form factor is even worth investing in.

The Xoom brings the total package to the sales floor. Motorola has worked very closely with Google's Android team to take advantage of every bell and whistle the exciting new Honeycomb operating system has to offer. In this way Xoom buyers get a more integrated experience and one that is very similar to the iOS integration into Apple Products.

Unfortunately there are other similarities with the Apple iPad namely price. The Xoom is not the cheapest tablet on the shelf. The unsubsidized price of $700 is quite a chunk of change if the pricing rumors are to be believed. However it is right in line with the iPad's $599 - $699 Of course Verizon will have a deal for its new and upgrade subscribers but if your paying full price that’s quite a chunk. Industry experts extoll the virtues of the Xoom, Motorola and the new Android 3.0 and I agree that if any single device is going to approach the dominant Apple iPad2 it will be the Motorola Xoom.