Okay Geek Farm
Motorola Xoom launching Feb. 17th for $700 - Is it really worth its price tag?
Daniel Carey
According to a recent tip received by Engadget, Motorola’s hot-to-trot, Honeycomb touting bad boy will be coming soon, very soon indeed. The tip, procured from a Best Buy inventory system, states that Motorola’s Xoom will be launching come February 17th at a price of $699.99. At what is essentially $700 it isn’t going to come cheap, but then again, that price is almost certainly the Xoom’s off contract full retail price without carrier subsidy.
That raises my first question: At $700, the Motorola Xoom has already passed the iPad’s pricing. In fact, you’re able to purchase Apple’s top tier (64GB) WiFi only model for the same price, and the base (16GB) WiFi + 3G model for only $71 cheaper, so at that price, does Motorola’s Xoom have what it takes?
For diehard Android fanboys the answer is almost certainly yes, but what of the regular consumer strolling their local Best Buy? Most will compare the iPad and Xoom based on price. Sure, the Xoom has far more to add in functionality and workability, but as I stated, most consumers aren’t going to know that. They’ll note the price, and size of each device. The same problem struck Samsung’s Galaxy Tab, consumers still choose the iPad over it, simply because the Tab is substantially smaller, and therefore logically mustn’t be that good. When in fact it is, if anything, its better at times.
I’m sorry, but at $700 (providing that price is indeed correct) I don’t see the Xoom doing as well as it is hyped to. Now, down here in Australia we’d almost certainly pay that price, but that’s because we have no choice, we have to. Bloated pricing is to be expected down here, but not in the United States where you can get most devices for $200+ better. Think about it, like really think: Are you going to get the $700 Android tablet, the $500 iPad, or a laptop? When you compare the iPad’s functionality to the Xoom’s, the Xoom most certainly wins out. However, when you compare the pricing, the iPad is certainly the more attractive offer; throw a laptop into the mix and you’ve got a totally different story, again. That attractive offer is now as pretty as roadkill, I’m sorry but it’s true.
If everything pans out and Moto’s tablet ships at $700 a head, are you willing to pay that price? We’d love to hear from you. So, how about sounding off in comments?
