Database Users

[Q] Purchasing Advice Needed

hi all,
im after some of your advice as to the best tablet, im going to ask in the Transformer and Galaxy forums as well, but id like your opinions on what is the best tablet to buy, obviously you guys are using the Xoom already, and are happily modding the hell out of them, so you may have experience with the others as well.
i am trying to find somewhere which has all 3 which i can look at side by side, but in the UK im pretty much left with Pc world/Currys.. so i thought id do the next best thing and talk to people who have/use them.
i have narrowed my choices to;
Motorola Xoom,
Asus Transformer
Samsung Galaxy 10.1
if possible can you let me know what your experiences are like with any of them.
Thanks All.

TheWhiteDragon said:
hi all,
im after some of your advice as to the best tablet, im going to ask in the Transformer and Galaxy forums as well, but id like your opinions on what is the best tablet to buy, obviously you guys are using the Xoom already, and are happily modding the hell out of them, so you may have experience with the others as well.
i am trying to find somewhere which has all 3 which i can look at side by side, but in the UK im pretty much left with Pc world/Currys.. so i thought id do the next best thing and talk to people who have/use them.
i have narrowed my choices to;
Motorola Xoom,
Asus Transformer
Samsung Galaxy 10.1
if possible can you let me know what your experiences are like with any of them.
Thanks All.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are already quite a few threads in General and in Q&A touching on the comparsion between these tablets. There's been pretty frank discussion of pros and cons, but as you'd expect on a Xoom forum, most passionate cooments were pro-Xoom. Check them out...you will need to go back a few pages in both sections, but it makes for some lively reading.
Good luck with your decision-making process (but buy the Xoom!)

The Xoom is quite heavy so if you want to hold it with one hand for a minute or two, it isn't the right tablet. It's built really durable but the weight factor is a big con for me. It also has really good specs, just look at reviews on youtube on the tablets. Also, make sure you see all your options! Many of these tablets are getting a price reduction via coupon so find them first so you save a hundred or two.

UnidH4x0r said:
The Xoom is quite heavy so if you want to hold it with one hand for a minute or two, it isn't the right tablet. It's built really durable but the weight factor is a big con for me. It also has really good specs, just look at reviews on youtube on the tablets. Also, make sure you see all your options! Many of these tablets are getting a price reduction via coupon so find them first so you save a hundred or two.
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The Xoom isn't the heaviest tab, but it is the best built. Those others incorporate a lot of plastic and flex a lot if squeezed. There are some issues with all of them, some are related to build quality/quality control, and others are more subjective.

Hello
I purchased my Xoom from best buy 2 weeks ago at the time of purchase I had a play on the Asus and Acer. I chose the XOOM on the back of the better build quality and feel. Yes it is that little bit heavier but it feels better. I also thought about the Samsung Galaxy 10.1 to match it with my Galaxy SII phone but the lack of an sd slot was a big let down for me. Since then Google have purchased part of Motorola which should mean that the Xoom should be supported for a long time to come.

Hello
I purchased my Xoom from best buy 2 weeks ago at the time of purchase I had a play on the Asus and Acer. I chose the XOOM on the back of the better build quality and feel. Yes it is that little bit heavier but it feels better. I also thought about the Samsung Galaxy 10.1 to match it with my Galaxy SII phone but the lack of an sd slot was a big let down for me. Since then Google have purchased part of Motorola which should mean that the Xoom should be supported for a long time to come.

Hello
I purchased my Xoom from best buy 2 weeks ago at the time of purchase I had a play on the Asus and Acer. I chose the XOOM on the back of the better build quality and feel. Yes it is that little bit heavier but it feels better. I also thought about the Samsung Galaxy 10.1 to match it with my Galaxy SII phone but the lack of an sd slot was a big let down for me. Since then Google have purchased part of Motorola which should mean that the Xoom should be supported for a long time to come.

Hello
I purchased my Xoom from best buy 2 weeks ago at the time of purchase I had a play on the Asus and Acer. I chose the XOOM on the back of the better build quality and feel. Yes it is that little bit heavier but it feels better. I also thought about the Samsung Galaxy 10.1 to match it with my Galaxy SII phone but the lack of an sd slot was a big let down for me. Since then Google have purchased part of Motorola which should mean that the Xoom should be supported for a long time to come.

Wow a quadruple post! I haven't seen one of those in awhile ;p

Sorry only meant to press it 1 time.

I've had my Xoom since Feb 24th at 11:12 a.m. & it's hands down the best to me.I love it.I played with the Samsung 10.1 in the store a few weeks ago & wasn't impressed.All it was was thinner..The screen on it didn't blow me away as some people in the 10.1 forum suggests.Me & my Xoom have been thru a lot together

Just come through the same problem as you and narrowed it down to the xoom, for build and expansion and the galaxy tab, for screen and light wieght.
The deciding factor was the price, pc world now do the xoom for £329 wifi or £400 for 3g. I couldnt turn down an offer like that and havent looked back since yes the xoom is a little heavy but I like that! And the screen is fine too, not as bright as the galaxy tab or as vivid colours but long as your not comparing them back to back you'll never notice it tbh.
Good luck with the choice
Sent from my Xoom using xda premium

fastyan said:
Just come through the same problem as you and narrowed it down to the xoom, for build and expansion and the galaxy tab, for screen and light wieght.
The deciding factor was the price, pc world now do the xoom for £329 wifi or £400 for 3g. I couldnt turn down an offer like that and havent looked back since yes the xoom is a little heavy but I like that! And the screen is fine too, not as bright as the galaxy tab or as vivid colours but long as your not comparing them back to back you'll never notice it tbh.
Good luck with the choice
Sent from my Xoom using xda premium
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I think the Xoom's colors are more natural, if more subdued. I had a chance to compare my Xoom vs. a Galaxy Tab 10.1 yesterday and the GTab's screen is certainly vivid! Very good for some things (movies, games), but as an artist, I like to see my work and others' work in a more natural color palette. YMMV.

okantomi said:
I think the Xoom's colors are more natural, if more subdued. I had a chance to compare my Xoom vs. a Galaxy Tab 10.1 yesterday and the GTab's screen is certainly vivid! Very good for some things (movies, games), but as an artist, I like to see my work and others' work in a more natural color palette. YMMV.
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Click to collapse
Very true and feel the same myself and was the same reason I went for the desire HD rather than the gallaxy s but some people see bright and think its better, its all down to personal taste I suppose
Sent from my Desire HD using xda premium

Definitely the xoom. Its built better then other tabs and has some great support as well.
I couldn't be happier.
The sound beats all other tabs and the display may not be as bright but its ultra responsive. The transformer had a nice responsive screen as well but build quality was subpar.
Like others said before this tablet has a subdued color palette which is great.
Sent from my Xoom using xda premium

hmm i hadnt thought about the vivid colour schemes..
im tempted to wait a bit longer to see what comes out in the next wave of tablets, though im unsure the price of the current best bunch is going to fall by much.

If cost is not a concern, (i guess there isn't a large varience in price anyways), I would advise the galaxy. It is in general just a bit more refined than the xoom. But if you want the hdmi, standard USB, slightly better cameras and more dev work, you can't go wrong with the xoom...
Dispatched at the Speed of Light from my XOOM

OPINION: Galaxy Note 10.1 AND Galaxy Note?

Just got a Galaxy SIII as an upgrade and sold it on Amazon (only online for 30 mins) so I've got £450 sitting in the bank waiting for the Galaxy Note 10.1 to ship.
Do I keep my "Baby" note as a phone and run it alongside the 10.1 or downgrade to a Nexus S or similar?
The Note 10.1 has both the features I value most on the baby Note: S-Pen and big screen.
What would you do?

I plan on getting the note 10 next to the note 5

I think that both Notes are different devices. Having both beats the purpose. The original Note fits both phone and tablet worlds. The new 10" Note will not work as good as a phone.
In other words, both devices are for different market niches.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk

I'm planning on having both as I use it heavily for work, especially note taking. I will probably use the 10" one in the Office and the 5" for when I travel to different locations.
Any idea when Sammy are going to release the damn thing?

HasC said:
I'm planning on having both as I use it heavily for work, especially note taking. I will probably use the 10" one in the Office and the 5" for when I travel to different locations.
Any idea when Sammy are going to release the damn thing?
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Click to collapse
If you have a pc / laptop in the office you won't need a tablet, just my opinion.
Ok, i have a 10" tablet (before the note came) and i have a note. I take a lot of notes and work with plenty of docs. I must say that when i'm on the move i use my note for everything but when i'm at work or home i use my laptop. No need for a tablet... Untill now the tablet is "resting" in the hands of my wife and daughter since i don't need it for now.
Just to make life simpler: when i'm working at home or work i have my note plugged in and use the things i wrote before. No problems here.
Hope that it helps you in making a decision, 450$ in the bank is always welcome for a rainy day..........
becosemsaida

becosemsaida said:
If you have a pc / laptop in the office you won't need a tablet, just my opinion.
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That maybe true for some, I tend to make a lot of handwritten notes as I feel more comfortable this way. The note taking is just one of my main uses however, when I am at home I like to use a tablet for browsing etc especially when lying in bed, it's more comfortable than using a laptop and the battery lasts a lot longer.
I also read a lot of PDF documents that I annotate, for this I would prefer the larger display and the s pen. I am currently using the Asus transformer for this but a friend of mine will be buying this off me when I get the 10.1 note so hopefully won't be paying the full whack for it.

The attraction for me is all that space to write notes and see a page full at a glance without scrolling around. I've been using Lecture Notes for a week or so and it's perfect for my needs if only the screen were bigger. I wouldn't type on a laptop in a customer meeting as it would be inappropriate but writing on a screen is unobtrusive and feels natural.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA

Having purchased 7 different tablets and 3 different phones in the last year, I can say that the note is the perfect device. I do still have a 10 inch tablet but rarely use it now.
The note is a great phone and a great everyday tablet. I tried lugging around a 7 inch tablet, but the reality is that it is still too cumbersome.
You should find a tablet you like and stick with the note imo.
You won't find a device this portable and powerful.
The only other device that makes sense is the padfone.
Good luck.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA

Both. I love my current Note as a phone.
I often use my Tab 10.1 when I want a tablet - the Note 10.1 is the first device with the potential for making me want to ditch it.

Is a separate cell necessary?
Would it be possible to use a bluetooth-enabled headset with the Note 10.1 to make calls? In other words, do you really have to have a separate cell device? Does any major carrier support cell service on a pad?
I know the Note 10.1 isn't near as portable as a cell phone, but, I rarely go anywhere without a bag, and I really like the idea of having a device like the note easily available. It seems a bit redundant to have both the pad and the phone (especially for the cost).

theMountinman said:
Would it be possible to use a bluetooth-enabled headset with the Note 10.1 to make calls? In other words, do you really have to have a separate cell device? Does any major carrier support cell service on a pad?
I know the Note 10.1 isn't near as portable as a cell phone, but, I rarely go anywhere without a bag, and I really like the idea of having a device like the note easily available. It seems a bit redundant to have both the pad and the phone (especially for the cost).
Click to expand...
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Can't imagine carrying a 10" tablet everywhere. The idea of the Asus Padfone sounds good but it seems from recent reviews that it's not that good in it's initial offering.

A pad is smaller than a laptop...
sparkyxda said:
Can't imagine carrying a 10" tablet everywhere. The idea of the Asus Padfone sounds good but it seems from recent reviews that it's not that good in it's initial offering.
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Click to collapse
You should see my kids. They carry their laptops everywhere they go.

The Note 10.1 is going to be absolutely brilliant with the pen. Even the 5.3 Note is not bad and some of the new feature like Formula Match are really nifty. Imagine all that on a 10.1 device. I hope Samsung pushes the software hard and makes paid versions of their S-Memo and S-Note apps with more features while still keeping pre-installed free versions. I think there is a huge potential for domain-specific apps with pen-support for maths, photo-editing, diagrams etc.
Despite all this I will probably hold out for Windows 8 convertible tablets. What I really want is something like the Samsung Hybrid, recently announced at Computex, which works as a regular Windows laptop and also a removable tablet with pen support. This could be the machine I have been dreaming about for years.

Depends on your needs. I hate carrying two devices with me so my Note is a phone and a tablet for me. But if you have no problem with carrying 10" device with you, then get a smaller phone, you probably won't need 5,3" screen when you have 10" one right beside.

You shoud be able to do this as long as Note 10.1 enables this function, it's not related to the carrier. Take the HTC Flyer as an example, HTC seals its function as a phone, but developers bring this function back in the custom ROM.
theMountinman said:
Would it be possible to use a bluetooth-enabled headset with the Note 10.1 to make calls? In other words, do you really have to have a separate cell device? Does any major carrier support cell service on a pad?
I know the Note 10.1 isn't near as portable as a cell phone, but, I rarely go anywhere without a bag, and I really like the idea of having a device like the note easily available. It seems a bit redundant to have both the pad and the phone (especially for the cost).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I would probably switch the baby note for an S3, the main reason i got the note was to be able to read ebooks on confortable screen, having 10.1 would cover that aspect, so i could get back to using my smartphone confortably with only one hand

I'm going to wait for the Windows 8 Tablets. Samsung already do the Slate, but with Win 7.
Something similar, but lower cost and maybe 10.1 inch would suite me. Having Office etc. make it better for work and I still have Note for when on the move.
It does depend on how good and how expensive the Windows 8 Tablets are, when they start coming out...
Zuber

I think a win8 pro tablet with stylus and Onenote is simply too much for the note 10.1, and the possibility of launching desktop programs like ansys and catia is a deal breaker for me ( engineer student)
Enviado desde mi GT-I9000 usando Tapatalk 2

I was very tempted by the Note 10, and by the Asus Zenbook, but now that the Surface has surfaced I think it's a clear winner.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA

A bit premature, don't you think?
While the Surface does present an impressive array of features, I reserve final judgement until I see the price.

Buying a Note 10.1 ?

Hey guys,
I'm thinking of buying a Note 10.1 with the Note 2 in my pocket I find it useful and fun to use, and I perfect selecting text etc with the S-Pen.
However I've got some reservations. I've looked at one 3 times (I know WTF am I doing?) and I've been resitant on buying one as all of them are running 4.0.4 and I'll be honest I found it a bit clonky, and not as rapid as the Note 2.
Now with mention of a possible GT-N8200 which is a possible successor to the N8000 is it wise to buy one? with rumors of the Nexus 10 screen, an updated spec and possible S-Pen improvements I'd hate to buy one and the N8200 pop up 2 months later. One of my reasons for such hesitations is there £379 here in the UK and haven't really dropped in price since there introduction is this because there isn't a replacement or are they just expensive,
When there is the likes of the Tab2 for £265 and the Nexus10 £319 While neither offer the S-Pen I found all in store demonstration models on 4.0.4 are quite laggy and not responsive enough with the S-Pen detection being too slow to realistically use it for drawing I'm finding it difficult to spend more when the S-Pen doesn't seem to work in a way where i'll actually use it.
Can anyone give me a unbiased opinion on how well it works, I know this is the forum for it, but I'm hoping you guys and gals will be able to tell me how it is, as in store demonstrations don't make me want to part with the cash and buying one blind without trying the 4.1.2 up date is financial suicide imho.
TIA
Luke.

14 Views and not one opinion?

LBTaylor1984 said:
14 Views and not one opinion?
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Click to collapse
so I have only had one tablet, this one and I bought it a couple days after its release. the 4.1.2 update definitely improved just about everything for me. ~10 hours per charge, another after the update, and expanded multi window. I understand your reservations about buying now and having a newer model. The display isn't good enough for some, and adequate for others look for the nexus 10 vs. note 10.1 thread, it is debated ad nauseam. perhaps is because my eyes are beginning to fail me somewhat but the screen works fine for me. keep in mind higher resolution requires more battery and cpu usage. fwiw, this note was announced Feb 2012. and took 6 more months to be released. my honest opinion, you won't see the next note 10.1 till July- August time frame. that's my gut feeling.
I find the s pen to be plenty responsive, there is a thread with art work done in the note 10.1 and I'm amazed at what people create.
Like I said I have only used this tablet and have never regretted my choice. my advice would be to peruse some of the threads reporting problems, but honestly there don't seem to be as many of those threads as opposed to some devices.
don't trust the store displays, watch some you tube videos, I always have power saving on and it never slows down.
good luck!

Please don't trust a unit in the store! When I went to worst buy to play with 1 the screen was covered in jelly lol. I love mine & could care less about retina displays. Whenn they come out with the note 10.1 2 I will buy it but until then I'm happy with my purchase. There will always something else newer coming out when you buy a tablet. Hell I bought the galaxy note 2 & now they already talking about the galaxy note 3
Sent from my GT-N8013 using xda app-developers app

Thank you for taking the time to give me an idea what the Note is like.
I will go get one based on this new information, I really wish stores would update the devices they sell as Jellybean seems to have transformed the Note by what I can see, meanwhile the general public see them and obviously prefer the iPad, is it any wonder when some of the Android devices are running so badly.

Even on ICS I was impressed at what this baby could do compared to my old transformer prime. Jellybean has turned this baby into a multitasking beast! Thank god I didn't get the Microsoft surface. Lastly the speakers on the front of the tablet is something I've been hoping a company would do forever. There's nothing worse than having to cup your hands at the back of your tablet to get the sound to fire in your direction
Sent from my GT-N8013 using xda app-developers app

Arun01 said:
Even on ICS I was impressed at what this baby could do compared to my old transformer prime. Jellybean has turned this baby into a multitasking beast! Thank god I didn't get the Microsoft surface. Lastly the speakers on the front of the tablet is something I've been hoping a company would do forever. There's nothing worse than having to cup your hands at the back of your tablet to get the sound to fire in your direction
Sent from my GT-N8013 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 for the speakers, the IR blaster is kinda cool too
EDIT: as far as becoming obsolete soon, Verizon just began selling these on this side of the pond, Sprint as well I believe. and the 8 inch version hasn't even been released yet. read into that how you desire. enjoy!

Get it recommemded from my internal heart !!!
I have used ipad, windows tablets, tab2 10 and note 10 is the best of them !!!
Speed and functionality as good specification except retina screen !!!
All your multimedia needs and writing needs not like other tablets
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app

I love my 10.1. I did however buy a different stylus (the Wacom Bamboo feel) because writing with the original stylus can be a little awkward due to its size and shape (for me, anyway). But for school, it's been a great alternative to carrying around multiple notebooks, and I can use my Note II hotspot to easily connect to the internet when not near a router.

I think the note 10 is the most underrated tab around, I had the original n7000 and this is considerably quicker, I even like the touch wiz implementation (mostly) on it, something I never thought I'd say...
It also made me realise I didnt really need a phone with an spen, as I used this one 100x more than the note one.
Use it for drawing all the time would like a higher res screen though.
They have been reduced btw, argos were selling them cheaper, and Samsung were doing a rebate on top of that for uk purchases.
Check old hotukdeals.com topics for those.
Not sure when I'm down in London next, other wise I'd say you're welcome to try mine out,
OT what do you ride btw? I teach mtb
Sent from my GT-N8010 using Tapatalk HD

Sokudoningyou said:
I love my 10.1. I did however buy a different stylus (the Wacom Bamboo feel) because writing with the original stylus can be a little awkward due to its size and shape (for me, anyway). But for school, it's been a great alternative to carrying around multiple notebooks, and I can use my Note II hotspot to easily connect to the internet when not near a router.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It looks as if that Wacom stylus has a button, if so, does it behave the same as the stock s-pen?

I highly pecommend this tablet.
It is very fast, Well built and can be used in an office as well as in the field.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using XDA Premium HD app

My Opinion: Note 8.0 GT-N5110

I won't make this too in depth, but I'd actually like to address some of the development doubts I've seen for the 8.0 and share my fair opinion of the device so far. First off I'd like to compare it from my own personal experience to other tablets I've owned and used a fair bit.
First off I'd like to compare it to a Nexus 10. I spent roughly a week playing with a Nexus 10 and settled on returning it. This is going to sound a little strange being that I'm comparing such a close price point but the Nexus 10 to me was not worth the premium. Not only that but honestly with a 10" tablet I feel I may as well be using my 13" Lenovo Ideapad Yoga- BUT that is a personal preference and by no means a fair reference point. What did I experience with the Nexus 10? I did like the build quality, however the user experience was strangely underwhelming even after installing some custom ROMs. I'm quite aware this paragraph isn't too relevant, however I've found the Note 8.0 a fair bit easier to use in every day situations than any 10" tablet I've owned.
Comparing it to a Nexus 7 is another matter. I do own a Nexus 7, I've actually given it to my significant other's 12 year old girl to learn and play with. Originally though I do love the device far more so than it's 10" counterpart. The only problem is well, it's just slightly too small for some uses. The form factor I found to be slightly frustrating. Whenever I used it I felt I may as well just settle and use my Galaxy Note II. That said however the feel of it and the quality for the price point was obviously fantastic. It just seems that there is a sweet spot in my opinion on tablet size and I think that lies somewhere around 8 inches. It gives you plenty of room for web browsing, it's actually a decent amount more function to type on than even a Nexus 7 given the extra screen real estate, and it still works beautifully as an ebook reader/news source.
The biggest advantages really I've found is that the Note 8.0 while not having an entirely great screen resolution seems to have a better picture quality than a LOT of tablets I've played with. There is something slightly more sharp about the screen than even my experience with the Nexus 10, but let me make this clear. I'm not saying the screen is technically superior.
The other large advantage I've really noticed is how snappy even with the vanilla samsung ROM the note 8.0 is. Side by side it's by far the snappiest, quickest responding tablet in it's class for general use, save for mayhap using the home button. Yes, I don't necessarily like the hardware keys but they don't cripple the device in my own opinion. To be honest since I use a Note II for my phone it's helped the transition familiarity wise and I do think this was intentional more so than just developer laziness.
I would like to make a note I do own a 10.1 note also and I still do prefer my 8.0 at this point to it's use. Yes, I do wish Samsung would up build quality as of casing for these devices, but they are by far hindered by this. To be totally honest the plastic casing on my Note II and 10.1 has held up tremendously well to some nasty drops and spills, far better in fact than anything I've had with a more premium styled enclosure. That being said I do dislike the plastic creekyness which is very much noticeable with my 10.1.
The Note 8.0 strikes me as this, a great medium. It's not quite a full blown 10" media tablet and at the same time it's not quite so cramped as those 7" tablets available. As of the S-Pen functionality I honestly just think it's a plus. Even without it I would prefer these devices to most of the other comparable android devices in the US market at the moment.
When it comes to ROM development I would just say be patient. It's a new device with a definite premium price. It might take awhile but the forum on XDA just now really appeared within the last 24 hours and it might just take some time to get things going. That being said I would imagine the similarities to the Note II may speed up development once we have a recovery and such.
As a footnote, I've ordered this keyboard case which is due to arrive Tuesday and I will try give it a proper in depth review ASAP.
I apologize for this post being somewhat disordered and all over the place. I'm tired but I wanted to post something and participate in the forum. It's been ages since I have. Thanks everyone and have a good night!

I can agree with your post. I have a Note 8 and 10.1, Note 2, Nexus 7, amd GS3. The Note 8 is good in every way size, function, battery, software, and decent screen. The only issue is the captive buttons. They interfer with the usability at times, so if im watching hulu and holding the device one might hit the back arrow and stop the movie. How annoying. Other than that its my go to device
Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk HD

Well said! I've owned the GS3 and own the Note 2, Nexus 7, Nexus 10, Evo 4g LTE, and Nexus 4 and believe me the Note 8.0 is one of the top devices out there. Even though Im not a big fan of the plastic build quality I will say that it does hold up and it feels at least like expensive plastic lol. This device is quality and though Im not purchasing the GS4 simply because I want a change from Samsung the biggest reason is waiting for the Note 3. Development will pick up its only been available for a little while peeps. If your on the fence and want a Apple like quality tablet with Android the Note series of tablets are definitely what you are looking for. Also the amount of software additions in this tablet is rediculous.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk HD

I will also be buying the Note 8 and think that it might turn out to be a great device (escpecially since here in europe it will also sport phone functionatlity), but nonetheless this thread smells like marketing directly paid by samsung (3 posts by OP and then this?). Sorry OP if untrue; i know that i might be completely wrong ("in dubio pro rero" etc.) but still my gut feelings tell me otherwise.
i sincereley hope the Note 8 will be a great device and have owned more or less every single one of the latest samsung smartphone / tablet gadgets, but being sensitized / aware of the latest news regarding samsungs marketing tatics to pay people to write positive comments in forums like this i am extremely pissed of by this pracise. apart of being unethical (in whatever holistic sense i am not able to properly articulate in english) this is simply not necessary, because most of the samsung devices i own / have owned are great, but the smell of being produced by such a kind of manufacturer spoils the joy. stop this an let (your very good, indeed) products speak for themselves.

Oxytoxine said:
I will also be buying the Note 8 and think that it might turn out to be a great device (escpecially since here in europe it will also sport phone functionatlity), but nonetheless this thread smells like marketing directly paid by samsung (3 posts by OP and then this?). Sorry OP if untrue; i know that i might be completely wrong ("in dubio pro rero" etc.) but still my gut feelings tell me otherwise.
i sincereley hope the Note 8 will be a great device and have owned more or less every single one of the latest samsung smartphone / tablet gadgets, but being sensitized / aware of the latest news regarding samsungs marketing tatics to pay people to write positive comments in forums like this i am extremely pissed of by this pracise. apart of being unethical (in whatever holistic sense i am not able to properly articulate in english) this is simply not necessary, because most of the samsung devices i own / have owned are great, but the smell of being produced by such a kind of manufacturer spoils the joy. stop this an let (your very good, indeed) products speak for themselves.
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Click to collapse
I can assure you I'm not affiliated with samsung lol. I'm a court officer in Midwest City Oklahoma. I wish I was a Samsung rep though, I'd bet the pay is better than what I'm doing now xD
Sent from my SPH-L900 using XDA Premium HD app

I agree on the screen size thing.
The nexus 7 with a 16:9 screen at 7 inches sort of feels like a super large smartphone with insignificant space to pinch and zoom while on landscape.
My current 7.9 inch with a 4:3 screen ratio feels just right with significant space to pinch and zoom on landscape while making web pages somewhat more spacious for a desktop like experience.
Only draw back in the black bars but once again I am still using a old school 4:3 monitor at home
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I am sorry for my unnecessarily rude writing of yesterday; please accept my apologies.
I just came from reading the articels on arstechnica and our local newspaper on the mentioned (presumed) practice of samsung in korea and england before coming here in order to research about my new / future "baby" (Note 8). The first post I've read was yours, and I was like "oh my god, I can't believe it, it's indeed happening!" so I couldn't resist... (<--- I know, this doesn't make my rude behaviour better, just maybe a bit more understandable.)
LOL, do you think they pay that much? then I might also consider to enhance my meager daytime income (scientist now becoming a teacher) ...
again: sorry from my side and back on topic - good to hear that the Note serves you well I am a bit hesitating to order it due to the screen resolution; I tried to replace an Ipad (retina) with the Note 10.1, but couldn't stand the fuzziness of the screen, although I like the overall android tablet experience much more than the iOS thing.
UsagiMimi said:
I can assure you I'm not affiliated with samsung lol. I'm a court officer in Midwest City Oklahoma. I wish I was a Samsung rep though, I'd bet the pay is better than what I'm doing now xD
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Thanks for your review and thoughts on this. I am going to check it out in person this weekend and give it a go, I had the GN 10.1 for a few days but felt it just wan't a good fit for the resolution of a large device. Still I prefer Android over anything else and looking at ditching my current tab and finally be rid of the last Apple product in my house

Thats true

Oxytoxine said:
again: sorry from my side and back on topic - good to hear that the Note serves you well I am a bit hesitating to order it due to the screen resolution; I tried to replace an Ipad (retina) with the Note 10.1, but couldn't stand the fuzziness of the screen, although I like the overall android tablet experience much more than the iOS thing.
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Click to collapse
This is the only thing bugging me about it so far. Wonderful In the hand and love the SNote (Note 2 is my phone) but if you're used to high resolution screens the fuzziness is apparent when reading text. Not sure I can take it yet. I just picked up a Nexus 10 and am only going to keep one. The resolution is jarring between them. Going to wait it out a bit more and see. I need to be able to read books on my tablet.

my 2 cents
I have to agree about 8" being the sweet spot. I have had 7" & 10" tabs (and while 7" is more pocketable I like the 8" better) I have been a Note user since the GN I & II, we have some Note 10.1's at work and I really don't care for them. (the s-pen is nice to have for precise input) i was literally using a G Tab 2 7.0 and the GN 8.0 side by side for a day and decided on the Note 8.0 for my daily driver. Allot of i-devices at work but not my preference.
Cheers
BR

I got the 3G version, but I use this with tethered wifi with my Note II for internet. The wifi version isn't available in my region.
This is the most decent thread I've read about comparing the Note 8 with other tablets. This is my frst ever tablet, and I find it a relief to do stuff with a bigger screen when I need it like spreadsheets. I used to take attendance with my Note II. Sketching is quite easier too. I found the Note 10.1 too heavy as a portable Cintique stand-in. The Note 8 is lighter and easier to handle.
I can't see any point in getting anything without a Wacom sytlus after getting the first Galaxy Note more than a year and a half ago. I do detailed digital art as a hobby, and I'm weilding the Autodesk Sketchbook and Photoshop Touch to do photo-realistic art. The S Pen is such a useful addition!
I have my Note II as my main, but for times I need a bigger screen, the Note 8 is what I take out. I just wished with had a changeable battery. 8 hours of actual screen on time isn't enough for me. I do hate plugging in to an outlet or portable power to maintain a charge, unlike what I'm doing with my Note II with 12 hours of heavy usage at about 6 to 7 hours of screen time. I usually change battery late afternoon. I can't do that with the Note 8 - I'm guessing that the Samsung team did this for our dependency for the smartphones.
Bottom line for the Note 8 for me is it's what I do need. I don't complain of its plastic exterior. I appreciate it's more powerful than the other tablets for my digital art hobby with the Wacom digitizer onboard. The screen is crisp enough and I don't see the point of having this in full HD (more power consumption) and the 720p resolution it has is sufficient. Do you honestly see the pixels? I just wished it was a Super AMOLED and it could have given the Note 8 better power efficiency. Currently, the screen consumes 80% of the battery life.
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RE: Removable battery
I have had very good luck thus far using the Note 8 the entire day. I also use it in conjunction with the Note II and at this point, I feel I have the Nirvana of tech combos. Pretty happy all around here. I dont tether mine to my phone though, as I have a little prepaid hotspot to use out and about. For extended periods where I know I'll be away, like my backpacking trips on weekends, I bring a 10000mah portable battery and keep it in my pack/bag. I have only had to use it once, and that was to charge the Note 2
Yes, there are bigger, yes there are "better" specced devices, but honestly the SPen and a device I can literally use as a notepad replacement has changed my life as a network admin. I can't fathom going back to paper and pen.

I have to agree with the positive opinions expressed here. I love my 5110, especially after I rooted it. The lesser screen resolution doesn't bother me much, my eyes aren't that good anyway. The system's responsiveness and smoothness are a real joy.
What I DON'T love is the way available storage memory shrinks with each new generation of device from Samsung. 16 GB is small enough, but when half of that is taken up by the system, it borders on false advertising.
We need to start a letter-writing campaign to Samsung to get them to (a) change their firmware to allow apks to be stored and run from the external SD card, and OTA it to us as soon as possible, and (b) make 32GB the absolute minimum for internal storage on any future devices. Having to use workarounds is ridiculous.
Who's with me?
mudge

iCurmudgeon said:
I have to agree with the positive opinions expressed here. I love my 5110, especially after I rooted it. The lesser screen resolution doesn't bother me much, my eyes aren't that good anyway. The system's responsiveness and smoothness are a real joy.
What I DON'T love is the way available storage memory shrinks with each new generation of device from Samsung. 16 GB is small enough, but when half of that is taken up by the system, it borders on false advertising.
We need to start a letter-writing campaign to Samsung to get them to (a) change their firmware to allow apks to be stored and run from the external SD card, and OTA it to us as soon as possible, and (b) make 32GB the absolute minimum for internal storage on any future devices. Having to use workarounds is ridiculous.
Who's with me?
mudge
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I'm with you on B. A is harder insofar as I understand it the changes were in AOSP so it's really Google and not Samsung to blame for not being able to transfer apps to sd. It's getting silly now paticularly with the s4 which has about 7.8gb of usable storage. 9gb is closer to 8gb than 16 gb so it's kind of deceptive to call it 16gb. Many consumers who don't do enough research before buying will be quite disappointed.
Flash memory is actually pretty cheap now and Samsung manufacture it. It's time to stop being so tight Samsung.
Sent from the mighty Note II

l purchased it without seeing it and I am very satisfied with it. would definitely recommend
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have barely touched my s4 since getting this tablet

What a great device. And its a shame that some people maybe put off by the some of the pathetic reviews ive read on this device. Its stunning.
My s4 is faster. Higher res screen etc. But when it comes to browsing video etc theres no substitute for real estate.
Please dont listen to these bad reviews written by apple twats. If your in the market for a 10in tablet. You will love this

Lol I know what you mean I got my note 10.1 right after I got my s3 I love it the s pen, main reason I got the note over the n10
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Have to totally agree as well. Was about to get the Nexus 10 but I am really happy to get the Note 10.1. And the screen size and quality is more than fine for me...
This is the first time i have really used a tablet for my various hobbies. The Spen magic is great as well.
I just wish we get the Android updates for multiuser feature and bluetooth 4 LE support

i can't live without this tablet, take it everywhere i go i love the note series.

yeah, love it so much, and now, i'm running on ReVolt ROM and love it much more ^^

I completely ignored the reviews about the note 10.1, so many complaints about the screen being poor etc, what a load of tosh that is, there's bugger all wrong with it imo. I picked the note 10.1 over the nexus 10 and I don't regret that decision one bit!
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Snagged mine on eBay for £204 about 3 months ago, it's everything I need in a tablet.... I came from the tab 7.7 with the amoled screen which was lovely but still prefer the note 10.1 as more horsepower and bigger screen = happy gingerdude + with my note 2 gives me everything on the go.
To those who say screen is poor, try it for yourself is more than ok.
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coaldust123 said:
What a great device. And its a shame that some people maybe put off by the some of the pathetic reviews ive read on this device. Its stunning.
My s4 is faster. Higher res screen etc. But when it comes to browsing video etc theres no substitute for real estate.
Please dont listen to these bad reviews written by apple twats. If your in the market for a 10in tablet. You will love this
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Click to collapse
Couldn't agree more... just got my Note 10.1 a few weeks back - had been debating upgrading my original Tab 10.1 for a N10. I'm so happy I didn't - not sure where most of the bad reviews come from: screen is fantastic, the device is super-responsive, feels great in the hand and well-built, expandable memory (running a 64GB card in my 32GB Note = all the space I could ask for) - and for someone that uses his tablet like a notebook, the pen is fantastic to work with... Highly recommended. :victory:

What would make this Tablet permanently on my person, is if it could Seperate into 2, for portability. The 2nd half of the screen could serve as a giant battery, or the 2 halves could have Bluetooth link to each other, so you could do a lot of new things tablets can't do, for (a light-hearted) example , PORTABLE BATTLESHIP GAME SET! XD lol. Just think how creative Samsung could be, once they make those flexible displays commercially available. Also, when Google Glass becomes reasonably priced (I don't think King Midas could even afford it right now), I think some really awesome usage integration between one's glasses, computer, smartphone, and tablet, is inevitably going to be one of the driving catylsts in how commercially available tech will evolve/unfold.
---------- Post added at 09:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:12 PM ----------
About the screen: the only reason Samsung didn't make it on Par with competitors, is because they couldn't find any that could work well with the specialized Wacom digitizer (which is what makes the s-pen superior to a magic wand XD), while also being cost effective. It's a tradeoff that anyone who goes this tablet a fair try, wouldn't care less about. Friggin' Apple extremists think the iPad screen makes photos look better than looking at something in person with your own eyes. Lol.

Opposite for me. I got my S4 and now I use my tablet less. It's not because it's a bad tablet, it's just that it's easier to whip out the phone and browse sometimes. I use my tablet for lots of other important things though so it makes up for that..

i sold my gn10.1 a few months back to get the ativ 500t and 700t. there isn't a day that goes by that i don't miss it. i've almost bit the bullet a few times and gotten a refurb for $300 (i've seen the refurb 32 for ~$350). i really wanna wait to see if they come out with a bigger screen, but i really miss my gn10.1. i missed it so bad that i bought a gn8 to fill the gap that will be left after i sell my nook hd+.
it was the greatest tablet i've owned and thought i'd finally found one that i'd keep for more than a year. windows is great since i can play just about any format and have an alternate selection of games (can't say better b/c that's subjective) and i love the bigger screen. i do hate that windows desktop isn't very finger friendly and that modern ui sucks so badly.
maybe i'll cave it and get another. hopefully i can tame the desire and wait a few months to see how much the ativ q will be or how big the new galaxy note tablets will be.

coaldust123 said:
What a great device. And its a shame that some people maybe put off by the some of the pathetic reviews ive read on this device. Its stunning.
My s4 is faster. Higher res screen etc. But when it comes to browsing video etc theres no substitute for real estate.
Please dont listen to these bad reviews written by apple twats. If your in the market for a 10in tablet. You will love this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just got a Galaxy S4 about a week and a half ago. I find myself using both my Note 10.1 and S4 about equally but for different things, for productivity apps, such as the S-pen apps and office apps, the real estate of the 10.1 can't be beat. for speed, fast browsing and social apps I lean toward the S4. One note though, the S4 just came out with an update that lets you move apps to SDcard, which the 10.1 does not have (hopefully it will come in a future update), however this update locks the bootloaders so that the S4 then cannot be rooted (as of yet!).

Same here. Galaxy Note and S4. In many ways they compliment each other. S-notes automatically show up on S-memo (albeit read only) and reverse also. S4 is always there when Note is not practical. Note wins for meetings. S4 wins waiting for the airplane door to close, and riding in the car.
I even got the small point stylus (ikross brand) designed for the S4 and it works nicely.
In geek heaven here .
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