Introduction

Front

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

Back

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

Sides

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

Size Comparisons

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

In the Box

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

Because no production models have been shipped yet, we can't possibly tell you what's in the package. We will guess that there's some means of charging the tablet, but beyond that, we have no idea.

Handling

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

The Xyboard is fairly easy to hold, but we'd be lying if we told you that the angles didn't make it a little annoying. Flat edges on a tablet are a little more awkward to fit in your hand, but the thinness and lightness of the tablet mitigates this somewhat.

Screen

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

The Xyboard series has two tablets, a 10.1 inch model, and an 8.2 inch model, each with an IPS LCD display with a capacitive touchscreen. We haven't gotten either into our labs yet for testing, so we can't comment on things like color gamut, exact reflectance, or other aspects of screen performance.

Indoor & Outdoor Use

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

LCD screens typically struggle with outdoor use, but as we have not taken our photospectrometer to the Xyboard yet, we can't tell you how well or poorly the Xyboard fares in the sunlight.

Internet Apps

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

With the Xyboard series of tablets running Google's Honeycomb operating system, and ICS-upgradeable, users will have full access to the Android Market, allowing them to buy all sorts of cool apps, as well as the Google-only applications like Earth and Maps.

Other Internet Features

{{section_header}}{{section.name}}{{/section_header}}

Though not necessarily an internet feature, the onboard IR blaster, and pre-loaded application to guide it will allow you to use your tablet as a universal remote. We're seeing this a lot on new tablets at CES, so this may be a feature that catches on in the future; or not. It's too early to tell.

{{product.manufacturer_specs['Other Internet Features Image']}}

Conclusion

It should be interesting to see how well Motorola dealt with the TFT screen of the Xoom holding it back a little bit with the Xyboard. The IPS display should offer a better viewing angle, but as we haven't tested the tablet yet, we can't know for sure how the new display will affect performance.

We're also seeing the IR blaster being attached to many of the flagship tablets this year, so this may be a feature that sticks around for some time. Or not. It's too early to tell if this is a feature that will catch on, though it certainly has its advantages for the user who wants to integrate all of their gadgets into one slate that will control everything in their household.

Until we get an opportunity to lab test these tablets (in all probability, that will be next week when they are released), we can't tell you how the Xyboard performs, but rest assured that we will subject these tablets to the horror that is our testing regimen. Check back later for full results.