Motorola's Xoom Family Edition Review: Not Just For The Kids

Features
By Andrew Ku
published

Don't let its name fool you. Motorola's Xoom Family Edition is one of the best values in tablets that we've seen up until now. It offers almost everything we want. If you're in the market for an Android-based tablet, this one deserves your attention.

Preinstalled Software: Value-Added Bonus

Several preinstalled applications justify the Xoom Family Edition's model name. These include:

  • Quickoffice HD ($19.99 for Quickoffice Pro HD)
  • Asphalt 6: Adrenaline HD ($6.99)
  • SimCity Deluxe
  • MotoPrint ($3.99)
  • Moto Pack (not available in Android Market)
  • Zoodles (free)
  • Dictionary (free)
  • Twonky (trial)

Quickoffice HD

Cloud Storage Support

Android market only sells Quickoffice Pro HD (v.4.6.294), which makes the inclusion of Quickoffice HD a little confusing. In iOS, the Pro version adds support for cloud storage (Box.net, Dropbox, Google Docs, and MobileMe). However, the vanilla HD version included with the Xoom Family Edition (v.4.6.76) includes that functionality as well. Presumably, this is just an OEM copy of Quickoffice Pro HD, because Motorola's name appears when you pull up version information.

Asphalt 6: Adrenaline HD

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While the cinematic cut scenes are certainly impressive, the in-game graphics quality can't compete with Need For Speed Hot Pursuit on the TouchPad or Riptide, which we discussed alongside the original Xoom.

SimCity Deluxe

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SimCity Deluxe is an Android port of the popular PC game. The interface is reorganized to better suit the tablet space, but graphics detail is pretty lackluster.

MotoPrint

Motoprint

There are two entries for MotoPrint under Android Market. The free one is for Motorola smartphones, while the tablet version costs $3.99. This application is supposed to make it easy to print over a wireless connection. If you own a wireless printer, setup is simple and painless; we were able to print on an HP Photosmart Premium within minutes. Otherwise, you need to install MotoPrint Host to your PC to create a printer server.

Moto Pack

Motopack

Moto Pack gives Motorola an avenue for drawing attention to specific Android apps. It does nothing more than that. Some of the apps are free, and others include special Motorola-exclusive offers. From what we've seen thus far, though, all of the offered prices match what you'd pay on Android Market.

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Motopack
Andrew Ku
16 Comments Comment from the forums
  • tanjo
    Nice value. Too bad there's no card reader... Do I hear iPad killer?
    Reply
  • tranfire
    @tanjo it has micro SD
    Reply
  • tanjo
    @transfire: Ooops sorry misssed that :p
    No Bluetooth? :(
    Reply
  • onanonanon
    tranfire@tanjo it has micro SDYeah, but for me, one of the best uses of a tablet would be to view photos from a digital camera and yet very few models support an SD or SDHC card.
    Reply
  • cknobman
    Sorry but regardless of price after seeing just how piss poor the screen is (most notably extreme light bleed) and how long the charge times are I dont think the low price justifies its shortcomings.

    Heck its not uncommon to get a Transformer or A500 for $299-$349 these days which blow this tablet out of the water.
    Reply
  • acku
    9523631 said:
    Sorry but regardless of price after seeing just how piss poor the screen is (most notably extreme light bleed) and how long the charge times are I dont think the low price justifies its shortcomings.

    Heck its not uncommon to get a Transformer or A500 for $299-$349 these days which blow this tablet out of the water.
    1. The Transformer also has light bleed.
    2. The 299 price is because of black Friday, cyber Monday, and holiday sales. It's definitely not "normal"
    Reply
  • pyrrocc
    FYI, on the front-face cam, 1.3MP 640x480... Heck 1200x900 (4:3) = ~1MP
    Reply
  • pyrrocc
    Grrr... can't do standard inequality of angled brackets....

    FYI, on the front-face cam, 1.3MP does not equal 640x480... Heck 1200x900 (4:3) = ~1MP
    Reply
  • slabbo
    A500 can be found in practically every Costco I've been in, and for $319 including a leather case.
    Reply
  • The size specs on the Xoom and Xoom Family are not correct. Xoom Family is longer AND wider, not the other way around.
    Reply