Can Google Xoom to the top with a tablet to rival Apple's iPad 2?
Google will attempt to fight Apple for a share of the tablet computer market when it releases its answer to the iPad next week.
The Xoom, which is made by Motorola, is the first tablet computer to run Google's Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system.
Priced at £479, the device will be in direct competition with the iPad 2, which sold out in less than 24 hours when it went on sale last month and still has a four-week waiting period for online orders.
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iPad killer? The Xoom, which is made by Motorola, is the first tablet computer to run Google's Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system
Google hopes the software, which is set to be used by dozens of manufacturers, will help it replicate its success against Apple in the mobile phone market
Andrew Morley from Motorola said: 'We have worked very closely with Google and have spent a lot of time working at their officetony in the United States.
'It's an incredibly competitive market, but we thinking working with Google gives us a point of difference.'
Mr Morley added: 'We have a significant number of pre-orders, which has been really encouraging, and we are very hopeful.'
Hard to beat: The iPad 2 sold out in less than 24 hours when it went on sale last month and still has a four-week waiting period for online orders
But computer experts believe Google will still find it hard to compete with Apple.
Luke Peters, editor of T3 magazine, said: 'The Xoom is an impressive product, and for anyone who doesn't want an Apple device it's the best alternative.
'However, Apple is now on its second generation of tablets, and has already taken the next step forward - making tablets like the Xoom already look a little dated.
'Tablets live and die by their apps, and Google still has a lot of work to do in that area.'
MOTOROLA XOOM
Display: 10.1inch 1280 x 800 LCD
Weight: 1.6lb
Operating System: Honeycomb
Browser: Webkit
Flash support: Yes
Ebooks: Yes
Apps: Android Marketplace
Multitasking: Yes
Camera: 2 mega-pixel front-facing, 5 mega-pixel rear-facing
Input/Output: Micro HDMI out
Processor: Tegra 2 dual-core
Storage: 32GB with option of a further 32GB via micro SD slot
RAM: 1GB
Wireless: Wi-fi, 3G, Bluetooth, CDMA
Battery life: 10 hours
Price: £479, wi-fi; £579, 3G
IPAD 2
Display: 9.7inch 1024 x 768 LCD
Weight: 1.3lb
Operating System: iOS 4.3
Browser: Safari
Flash support: No
Ebooks: Yes
Apps: Apple App Store
Multitasking: Yes
Camera: 2 mega-pixel front-facing, 8 mega-pixel rear-facing
Input/Output:
Processor: 1.2GHz Apple A5
Storage: 16, 32, 64GB
RAM: 512MB
Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Battery life: 10 hours
Price: £370 to £659
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