Motorola Xyboard 8.2

“The Motorola Xyboard 8.2, like its very close sibling the Xyboard 10.1, is a great-looking Android tablet that costs too much for what you're getting. Since this Xyboard costs a little less, the Xyboard 8.2 is a slightly better buy than its brother. But it still doesn't manage to snag our Editors' Choice.”

“There is a lot to like about the Motorola Xoom 2 Media Edition. Where we weren't sure that the larger Xoom 2 offered quite enough, there is something more exciting about the smaller version. The size means it is light and portable, but also it's easy to type with two thumbs - without the stretch of a larger tablet.We also like the fact that Motorola haven't messed around with it. There has been the slight tweak here and there, but the interface is essentially raw Honeycomb, so you don't have to contend with added, unnecessary, features. We also found it to be stable in most cases, with nothing to suggest there was an underlying problem.On the flipside of this equation you have the occasional Wi-Fi problems and the increased portability means a smaller battery. For home users that shouldn't be a problem, but obviously it will only last you so long away from power. The lack of an external option for memory expansion rounds out the flaws of the device.In summary then, we have no problem recommending the Motorola Xoom 2 Media Edition to anyone looking for a compact and portable tablet. The build and design are both good quality and the niggles are only minor. Where the Xoom 2 10.1-inch didn't offer much of an incentive to buy over the original Xoom, the smaller Media Edition is more attractive offer.”

“After getting comfy using the Motorola DROID XYBOARD 8.2 (XOOM 2 Media Edition), we have to admit, it’s clearly a valiant offering with plenty of lovable characteristics – like 4G LTE connectivity, its exceptional build quality, and gorgeous display. Additionally, it’s able to stand out even further than its contemporaries with its inclusion of an IR blaster and 2.1 virtual surround sound. In all honesty, there’s a lot to like about this beauty, but we can’t overlook the fact that it’s sporting a backbreaking on-contract price of $429.99 for the base model – or $599.99 outright! Just like the XOOM, its pricing might be its biggest handicap, which ultimately might limit its popularity with the masses. Well, if Motorola ends up bringing to market a Wi-Fi only version, it’ll undoubtedly be an admirable contender – that’s as long as the price is right of course.”

“And that is ultimately why the Xyboards are not worth the cash — their pricing is just as out there as their names. The 8.2 and the 10.1 aren’t bad tablets, in fact, they are solid pieces of hardware (despite the button and expandable storage issues) with software that’s decent, but still held back by an ecosystem. But half a grand and $720 over the next two years seems like an outrageous combo for a piece of hardware that isn’t even the latest and greatest on the market today. Next week the first quad-core tablet hits — the Transformer Prime — and it has double the performance, a better display, and camera for just $499. It doesn’t have built-in LTE, but you can get a $50 LTE Novatel MiFi 4510L from Verizon (with a two-year contract) and it would cost the same amount as the 10.1. Yes, the Xyboards are some of the fastest LTE tablets around and they even have some neat features, but ultimately, Verizon needs to rethink its tablet pricing strategy, or at least throw a skateboarding robot in the box.”