Database Users

Galaxy Note 10.1 vs Win8 tablets with pen input

I'm waiting for Surface Pro or similar because it's the way to have an ultra book and a Note 10.1 with windows in the same package, but what do you think guys? I I mean, it's a good option or should I buy the Note and then a new ultra book with Win 8? I don't know which option is better, and also I don't know exactly the price of every option
Enviado desde mi GT-I9300 usando Tapatalk 2

iZan23 said:
I'm waiting for Surface Pro or similar because it's the way to have an ultra book and a Note 10.1 with windows in the same package, but what do you think guys? I I mean, it's a good option or should I buy the Note and then a new ultra book with Win 8? I don't know which option is better, and also I don't know exactly the price of every option
Enviado desde mi GT-I9300 usando Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's likely that the Surface Pro will be in the neighborhood of $1000, or at least priced around the same as an ultrabook. Also, to be honest I don't think it's that likely that Windows 8 will succeed in getting a lot of touchscreen friendly apps but with Android you already have that (but it's debatable whether there are enough tablet optimized apps). Windows tablets are fairly nice for handwriting but I imagine everything else would be a pain. Of course, my last experience with a Windows tablet was one that would be 4 years old if it hadn't died catastrophically after just under 2 years, so maybe the Surface Pro will be great and Windows 8 will have a lot of touch optimized apps but I doubt it. Also you're almost certainly going to get a thinner body and better battery life with the Note than the Surface Pro. I considered the Surface Pro for a bit too but after learning that it'll be priced like an Ultrabook I decided the Note 10.1 was for me. The most important part of a PC is the keyboard IMO, I don't really see the advantage of having a tablet that runs Windows when we have a capable mobile OS with a vibrant app ecosystem already.
Edit: I figure though that if Surface Pro is amazing and the Note underwhelms, worst case I'll sell my Note 10.1 for a bit of a loss and get that instead, but I just don't think there's any reason to have a compromise device that has a Core i5 but needs to be light and thin and last long. Anything that needs a Core i5 is going to need a proper keyboard/mouse/work environment anyway.

iZan23 said:
I'm waiting for Surface Pro or similar because it's the way to have an ultra book and a Note 10.1 with windows in the same package, but what do you think guys? I I mean, it's a good option or should I buy the Note and then a new ultra book with Win 8? I don't know which option is better, and also I don't know exactly the price of every option
Enviado desde mi GT-I9300 usando Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the Samsung Series 7 Slate with Win8 on it as well as the Note. Two different devices with two different uses. The Note is for apps, watching media, playing games and such while the Slate is for doing work. The slate with apps could do both but not yet as there are not enough apps for those things I use the note for yet. The slate is a notebook replacement which the Note is not.
The slate has a touchscreen with a wacom digitizer and pen, core i5, ssd and is very fast. But it's heavy in comparison and the optional Bluetooth keyboard you have to lug around though it's small. Plus it starts around $1300 plus.
So at this time I have and use both and don't see either replacing the other soon.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using XDA Premium HD app

The main reason is for note taking and engineering windows applications, that's the main reason I want two gadgets or one which let's me do both things. Also
I want to see videos and browse the Web but is not the main purpose
Enviado desde mi GT-I9300 usando Tapatalk 2

iofthestorm said:
It's likely that the Surface Pro will be in the neighborhood of $1000, or at least priced around the same as an ultrabook. Also, to be honest I don't think it's that likely that Windows 8 will succeed in getting a lot of touchscreen friendly apps but with Android you already have that (but it's debatable whether there are enough tablet optimized apps). Windows tablets are fairly nice for handwriting but I imagine everything else would be a pain. Of course, my last experience with a Windows tablet was one that would be 4 years old if it hadn't died catastrophically after just under 2 years, so maybe the Surface Pro will be great and Windows 8 will have a lot of touch optimized apps but I doubt it. Also you're almost certainly going to get a thinner body and better battery life with the Note than the Surface Pro. I considered the Surface Pro for a bit too but after learning that it'll be priced like an Ultrabook I decided the Note 10.1 was for me. The most important part of a PC is the keyboard IMO, I don't really see the advantage of having a tablet that runs Windows when we have a capable mobile OS with a vibrant app ecosystem already.
Edit: I figure though that if Surface Pro is amazing and the Note underwhelms, worst case I'll sell my Note 10.1 for a bit of a loss and get that instead, but I just don't think there's any reason to have a compromise device that has a Core i5 but needs to be light and thin and last long. Anything that needs a Core i5 is going to need a proper keyboard/mouse/work environment anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Everything about this post is wrong.
1. Surface Pro is unlikely to be $1000+. The anticipated price range is 600-700. But for now we don't know.
2. Windows 8 will have a slew of touch capable and touch friendly apps coming out at launch, and by Jan 2013 (the release date for Surface Pro) will have just about everything covered.
3. The UX for Win8 is really really good. Today I was watching some videos in bed before getting out with my Note 10.1. I found it stupid that I couldn't swipe from the left to change apps and swipe from the right to get search. The split keyboard on the Note is really nice for these situations but the position of the app switcher button, the home button etc are very uncomfortable to use when using both hands.
BUT even if all these points were not present and infact were bad for Win 8:
4. The biggest feature of the Surface Pro over Note 10.1 is OneNote. There is nothing comparable on any platform. I love my note 10.1 (I have two!) but nothing compares to the handwriting support for OneNote. I can write on the page and easily convert it to text. I can take a fully handwritten page and convert that to text with minimal hassle. S-Note is a nice app but handwriting support is really far behind.
When Surface Pro is out, Note 10.1 like devices will have no chance in competing even with much (or slightly) lower price.
Which is not to say that the Note isn't incredible. It really really is. I love it. But OneNote alone changes the game.

richB7 said:
I have the Samsung Series 7 Slate with Win8 on it as well as the Note. Two different devices with two different uses. The Note is for apps, watching media, playing games and such while the Slate is for doing work. The slate with apps could do both but not yet as there are not enough apps for those things I use the note for yet. The slate is a notebook replacement which the Note is not.
The slate has a touchscreen with a wacom digitizer and pen, core i5, ssd and is very fast. But it's heavy in comparison and the optional Bluetooth keyboard you have to lug around though it's small. Plus it starts around $1300 plus.
So at this time I have and use both and don't see either replacing the other soon.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you plz describe more in detail in which situation you are using the slate for work what the note can't do
Gesendet von meinem GT-N8000 mit Tapatalk 2

redviper666 said:
I can take a fully handwritten page and convert that to text with minimal hassle. S-Note is a nice app but handwriting support is really far behind.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For this feature there is an excellent app called 7 notes on Google play, you can hand write your notes within the dedicated app and convert them to text later on. Text can also be formatted although limited however the handwriting recognition is really excellent. One note no doubt is the industry standard however there are alternatives that get the job done.
The handwriting panel can also be used for text entry of required on any app however, if used outside of the dedicated app, it will convert your handwriting to text on the fly.

redviper666 said:
4. The biggest feature of the Surface Pro over Note 10.1 is OneNote. There is nothing comparable on any platform. I love my note 10.1 (I have two!) but nothing compares to the handwriting support for OneNote. I can write on the page and easily convert it to text. I can take a fully handwritten page and convert that to text with minimal hassle. S-Note is a nice app but handwriting support is really far behind.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cant agree more on the topic of onenote...
This is one of the best products ever... Always loved how amazing this is... Nothing comes close..
Sadly android and ios implementation are terrible.. I would rather use the webversion...

Craiq said:
Can you plz describe more in detail in which situation you are using the slate for work what the note can't do
Gesendet von meinem GT-N8000 mit Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MS Office apps. Yes you can use Polaris or whatever on the tablet. Remote desktop onto office desktops using corporate RDP. Visual Studio .Net. Engineering design tools. Of course many aren't available for Win8 yet so some of what I'm talking about were for win7 before I upgraded to 8.
I'd suggest using the Note provided the apps you want run there. If they don't and you do have some other wintel box then you can run those apps from the note using something like spashtop remote.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using XDA Premium HD app

HasC said:
For this feature there is an excellent app called 7 notes on Google play, you can hand write your notes within the dedicated app and convert them to text later on. Text can also be formatted although limited however the handwriting recognition is really excellent. One note no doubt is the industry standard however there are alternatives that get the job done.
The handwriting panel can also be used for text entry of required on any app however, if used outside of the dedicated app, it will convert your handwriting to text on the fly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
QQ I bought the app and it doesn't let you write on the screen. The thing I wanted was for writing on the notes and later process the strokes to text. Oh well, the keyboard (Mazec) is pretty nice with the auto scroll. Worth the $1.

for me the text recognition is very great
I write everything with it and don't use the keyboard any more
with some settings its even more great for me (check them out in the keyboard settings)
Gesendet von meinem GT-N8000 mit Tapatalk 2

redviper666 said:
QQ I bought the app and it doesn't let you write on the screen. The thing I wanted was for writing on the notes and later process the strokes to text. Oh well, the keyboard (Mazec) is pretty nice with the auto scroll. Worth the $1.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can do the above, I do it all the time. Use the dedicated app and Keep your stylus on the Mazec Menu Icon on the bottom left and a pop up will allow you to use stroke mode, the handwriting input panel will change colour. Now when you write, the notes will be in your handwriting, to convert them to text later, longPress on any part of the handwritten text until a menu pops up and pick convert.

HasC said:
You can do the above, I do it all the time. Use the dedicated app and Keep your stylus on the Mazec Menu Icon on the bottom left and a pop up will allow you to use stroke mode, the handwriting input panel will change colour. Now when you write, the notes will be in your handwriting, to convert them to text later, longPress on any part of the handwritten text until a menu pops up and pick convert.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I figured that out but I was hoping to get free form writing on the note itself. The samsung keyboard also have such a panel though I think that Mazec one might be a bit easier to use (though it has more trouble recognizing my handwriting).
Incidentally if there anyway to change where the autocomplete suggestions appear? As I am left handed its impossible to see the suggestions as I write. Iff I could move them to the bottom of the keyboard instead of the top that would be a big big benefit.

If the W8 tablets have capacitive displays they''ll suffer the same issues all tablets before them suffered (regardless of OS). What separates the Note (s) is their inductive displays and all that goes along with that. If they do have inductive displays it all comes down to who implements the s/w better. I think you guys are expecting way too much from W8 V1. It took Android until V4 to become passable. Debating the theory of W8 tablets is fun. A lot can happen on the road from theory to practice. I for one want to understand why some of the biggest name OEM's are shunning RT. It's more than just price and competing with MS in h/w which shouldn't be difficult.

Well I was talking of the Pro version which already has great pen apps like One note or zenbrush, photoshop, etc
Enviado desde mi GT-I9300 usando Tapatalk 2

BarryH_GEG said:
If the W8 tablets have capacitive displays they''ll suffer the same issues all tablets before them suffered (regardless of OS). What separates the Note (s) is their inductive displays and all that goes along with that. If they do have inductive displays it all comes down to who implements the s/w better. I think you guys are expecting way too much from W8 V1. It took Android until V4 to become passable. Debating the theory of W8 tablets is fun. A lot can happen on the road from theory to practice. I for one want to understand why some of the biggest name OEM's are shunning RT. It's more than just price and competing with MS in h/w which shouldn't be difficult.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
as I know the Note has capazitiv and a induktiv layer! Capazitiv is for your finger and induktiv for the pen
And the Win 8 tablets with pen would have the same
Gesendet von meinem GT-N8000 mit Tapatalk 2

You really can't compare the two because the Surface Pro will probably be ~2x more expensive, apps probably much more expensive like they are now, it'll be hotter running, with shorter battery life, bulkier and heavier. The Surface Pro won't be much different than installing Windows 8 on my Thinkpad. I bought the Galaxy Note 10.1 instead because I like competition and want to see ARM devices grow more powerful as a desktop and laptop alternative with superior power efficiency and lower cost.

Well of you read the first post, I was asking between a Note 10.1 plus an ultra book or a new windows 8 convertible with both capacitive and digitalizer layers, to be able to use a Wacom style pen, my fingers and the Keyboard, and all of this to take notes plus Engineering programs like Ansys or Catia
Enviado desde mi GT-I9300 usando Tapatalk 2

iZan23 said:
Well of you read the first post, I was asking between a Note 10.1 plus an ultra book or a new windows 8 convertible with both capacitive and digitalizer layers, to be able to use a Wacom style pen, my fingers and the Keyboard, and all of this to take notes plus Engineering programs like Ansys or Catia
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think there's enough info available on W8 tablets (Pro or RT) at this point to have anything but a theoretical conversation. The HP TouchPad with webOS was a great product killed by a lack of an eco-system. What's going to be any different, especially on the consumption side, with W8? Pro's not due out until years end and RT will be the launch pproduct. I can't see it doing what you guys are hoping for at the price points being discussed. The success or failure of W8 tables will take months to determine. The biggest differentiator is MS Office support but that's not a motivator for a lot of people or iPad wouldn't be as successful as it is. With consumption being the number one use for a tablet ,being as late as it is, W8 has a tough road to hoe.

Like Barry said, until we know price points, there's really nothing to discuss. Rumor has it RT will debut at $200, which seems too unlikely to be true, but in order to make a dent in the market, Microsoft is gonna have to do something spectacular like that. And if they can gain market share, third party developers will develop for it. I also am looking forward to the Pro tablets, but I seriously doubt they'll be as affordable as the Note. I've been reading they could be $600-800, but I really don't think there's any way they could be cheaper than an ultrabook. The relatively cheaper price point is what drove me to the Note, and unless the W8 Pro tablets are affordable and/or blow everyone away, I can't see myself getting one over the Note.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

How Productive?

Are you when using your Note 10.1?
Alot of times i feel i fall behind others while trying to 'setup' my Note for intake(i dont know how people type so fast on an iPad). in class, getting slides or document with s-note side by side, i see people faster with just printouts. This is compounded when the prof. switches between multiple documents/slidedecks.
the same goes for meetings. I often find im trying to format and i miss half of what was actually said.
It may be the fact im not really great at taking notes anyway, but i still feel after a month of use, the experience is uncomfortable and is often subtraction by addition. I never was productive with my iPad either, but i see people typing very quickly with theirs. I just would study powerpoints on it.
My Note 1 same thing. A big post-it pad work much more effectively when walking up to a coworker. Maybe its the looking down/at a screen effect.
Maybe someone can come up with a training course/regime to help people like me to be more productive. i mean, thats what i bought it for.

I use my Note for everything (Love this device). Most importantly, I use it in all of my engineering classes. So, I'd have to say that I'm turbo-productive.

Same here. By the time I could dig a pen and pad out, my Note and stylus are already rockin. I do nearly everything on it and feel resentful if I have to use my laptop for anything.

I think i spend too much time looking at the screen/making sure my words are being converted correctly(im not a great speller).
Any tips?

Do handwritten notes. That's the best way. I as use sugarsync so I can have all my scanned class handouts accessible even when my computer isn't on. It also autosyncs so I don't have to so much. I also have a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard but I have yet to use them. I have only used one piece of paper since school started. The note's advantage over iPad is its pen. If you don't use it why did you buy a Note 10.1? For a typing tablet the Transformer Prime Infinity would have been the tablet to get.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk 2

I am constantly reaching for the Undo button when Im not using my Note. I do my physics labs on lecture notes, my calculus notes as well, and my french homework. I find that the only thing missing is a full Microsoft Word (next year?) but Office suite suffices. I also have to convert my Physics teacher's power points using MS as I haven't found an app that can do it without messing up the slides so the only way to do it is before class. All my teachers' presentations are available online so that helps with being prepared.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

nymviper1126 said:
I think i spend too much time looking at the screen/making sure my words are being converted correctly(im not a great speller).
Any tips?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I second using handwritten notes vs written-to-type or even typed notes, unless you connect a physical keyboard.
My only other issue is how with my writing style s-notes still zooms in from time to time with my palm

nymviper1126 said:
I think i spend too much time looking at the screen/making sure my words are being converted correctly(im not a great speller).
Any tips?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try a different HWR keyboard? Don't know if it will help. I use 7notes with mazec. Nothing else gets my weird writing.

hairdewx said:
I second using handwritten notes vs written-to-type or even typed notes, unless you connect a physical keyboard.
My only other issue is how with my writing style s-notes still zooms in from time to time with my palm
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried to zoom on a new note with your fingers while in pen mode but with the pen unlocked? For me this gets rid of the red box and then I lock the pen and no more zoom.

PurpleSh4rk said:
Do handwritten notes. That's the best way. I as use sugarsync so I can have all my scanned class handouts accessible even when my computer isn't on. It also autosyncs so I don't have to so much. I also have a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard but I have yet to use them. I have only used one piece of paper since school started. The note's advantage over iPad is its pen. If you don't use it why did you buy a Note 10.1? For a typing tablet the Transformer Prime Infinity would have been the tablet to get.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use the s-Pen with HWR native Samsung Keyboard.

I'm extremely productive except when I'm not.
Seriously though just read and experiment and see what works for you.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk 2

toenail_flicker said:
Try a different HWR keyboard? Don't know if it will help. I use 7notes with mazec. Nothing else gets my weird writing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It usually does a great job (this iswritten)|but things like Commas awt the letter 1(See) often meet to be written over. I guess I should just edit mistakes After, using another program negates the uses of multi side by side.

hairdewx said:
I second using handwritten notes vs written-to-type or even typed notes, unless you connect a physical keyboard.
My only other issue is how with my writing style s-notes still zooms in from time to time with my palm
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not much space to write in multi screen...
Is there a way to Minimize a app that is in multiwindow? Sometimes I want the S-note to go to full screen,and not close the other app completely.

Think you need to get used to what works for you first. I use s-notes for notes in class and also at work. Love this tablet.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using xda app-developers app

cocoajumpo said:
Think you need to get used to what works for you first. I use s-notes for notes in class and also at work. Love this tablet.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was the first official US purchase. I have tons of meetings with banks and work and in class two times a week.
A tutorial / training program might help some of us improve our skills.
I did just do my HW by cropping the questions from a PDF scan of textbook and posting into s-Note side by side. I just feel when time is tight I seem to need to pay more attention to what the device is doing. Alot of re - writing words.
Thanks anyway all.

Ths is my journal/sketchpad/e-reader/comunication/media hub. If the note 10.1 keyboard dock were released i'd be using this for web design and blogging too.
GT-P6800--Superbricked...
GT-N8013--Daily Driver

aletheus said:
Ths is my journal/sketchpad/e-reader/comunication/media hub. If the note 10.1 keyboard dock were released i'd be using this for web design and blogging too.
GT-P6800--Superbricked...
GT-N8013--Daily Driver
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like you want the ATIV series. looks intersting. Wonder if the S - Pen will have all the same functions, may get if it does.

I use my note to watch YouTube and browse the net, used the s-pen twice with s-note and ps touch. Basically have no use for the s-pen at the moment. Wouldn't replace the note for any other tablet luvin it.
Sent from my GT-N8010 using xda premium

aletheus said:
Ths is my journal/sketchpad/e-reader/comunication/media hub. If the note 10.1 keyboard dock were released i'd be using this for web design and blogging too.
GT-P6800--Superbricked...
GT-N8013--Daily Driver
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do you use for web design?

donec said:
What do you use for web design?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Usually dreamweaver or Nvu. But i'm kinda stuck w/o a keyboard
GT-P6800--Superbricked...
GT-N8013--Daily Driver

Note 10.1 good for college student?

I am planning on getting a tablet for college and was hoping to see if the note was good for viewing pdfs on? I had the Asus Vivo Tab and it was just awful for pdfs so I returned it. Does pdf run smoothly on it? Also I was wondering how customizable it is? I'd like to download more apps then what is available on the microsoft market. Is it a good tablet overall?

This tablet would be perfect for a student. It gives you the ability to write using a pen, record voice notes and view pdf files easily. You are also able to modify and annotate the pdf files on your tab....

Agreed
Sent from my GT-N8013 using XDA Premium HD app

The note is by far far far the best tablet for a student
Sent from my GT-N8010 using xda app-developers app

This is by far the best, most thoughtfully put out product I have ever used. As a student, I can't imagine going to school without one of these now.

Good to hear, I purchased one earlier for that purpose earlier and it's currently charging.

The tablet is very customizable, just check out the available ROMs for it.
For PDFs, you can use Adobe Reader. You can annotate and even write on them.
For taking notes I suggest using Lecture Notes.
And of course, everything looks and works great on this tablet.

Can I get adobe flash player to work on the note?

pc9460 said:
Can I get adobe flash player to work on the note?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. Just enable unknown sources in settings then download & install apk from the internet browser.
Also to answer your original question, this is a great tablet for students. I take it to all my lectures. I used to use a laptop, but the battery couldn't get me through one lecture. This tablet gets 10 hours of screen on time doing anything except gaming.

I wish a tablet like the note 10.1 existed back when I was in college. Well yet again, I was a broke a$s guy back then and I don't know if I could have afforded it.. But to answer the question, yep, S Note (an app that comes by default on the tablet) will be your friend. It can take notes, record your notes, take a pic and insert it on your notes, insert and solve formulas, diagrams, etc, etc, and so forth and so forth...
I have flash player installed on mines. It was still available on the Play Store when I installed it. I don't know if the Play store still allows you to install. I know for sure it's not allowing me to install it on my Note 2 phone.

I am a college student and s note is perfect and being able to add pictures/diagrams to your notes is very convenient
Sent from my EVO using xda premium

I'll second the recommendation of lecture notes. I could never get long well with snote for some reason. I use the tab for note taking at school and work. It is great. hopefully they come out with it's big brother in a year or so so i can upgrade.

You wouldn't believe how many times people sitting beside me have been like "whoa that's so cool, what tablet is that?"

How smooth is the note for running big pdfs? I'm talking 1000+ pages since they're textbooks.

pc9460 said:
How smooth is the note for running big pdfs? I'm talking 1000+ pages since they're textbooks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My motorcycle shop manual is 1200 pages and I have no issues surfing thru it on eZPDF (paid app from the play store)
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2

pc9460 said:
How smooth is the note for running big pdfs? I'm talking 1000+ pages since they're textbooks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do that and It all runs fine
Sent from my GT-N8010 using xda app-developers app

I'm a graduate student, and I've been using it to take notes mostly. It's basically the ultimate tool for me, allowing me to read, write, and everything in between without adding to my bag's weight. I have viewed up PDFs up to about 500 pages mostly (not a lot of physics reference books go up past 500 pages as far as I can tell). My notes are finally something I can refer to, since they're not scattered in fifty billion places (I wasn't the most organized student..).
In any case, I can see that people have given you recommendations already, and I'll add my praise to LectureNotes, Edroid Reader, and Adobe Reader.
Sample notes: https://www.dropbox.com/s/x1rbyi3jrzsn4bb/Quantum Mechanics.pdf

I do all of my homework on my tablet and send it electronically to my professors. I was worried that they would not be on board, but I actually received compliments from all of them. I also take all of my notes on the tablet. Shape tools and different colors make diagramming and organizing big messy equations much easier than on paper.
CON:
On tests I feel handicapped with a pen/pencil and paper. No copy/paste my own handwriting?!?! Erasing leaves marks?!? You've gotta be kidding me.

asdfuogh said:
I'm a graduate student, and I've been using it to take notes mostly. It's basically the ultimate tool for me, allowing me to read, write, and everything in between without adding to my bag's weight. I have viewed up PDFs up to about 500 pages mostly (not a lot of physics reference books go up past 500 pages as far as I can tell). My notes are finally something I can refer to, since they're not scattered in fifty billion places (I wasn't the most organized student..).
In any case, I can see that people have given you recommendations already, and I'll add my praise to LectureNotes, Edroid Reader, and Adobe Reader.
Sample notes: https://www.dropbox.com/s/x1rbyi3jrzsn4bb/Quantum Mechanics.pdf
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice notes.
What program do you use to anmotate pdfs?
Sent from my GT-N8010 using xda app-developers app

I bought and used the Note for all of last semester. I haven't used it to view PDFs much but I did use it to take down notes during lectures. It's quite good for that but it is compromised because it does not feel like writing on paper. My handwriting is quite bad on it but I adjust a little bit and it gets better (still not perfect). This is compounded by the fact that Samsung quality control is kind of ****ty and my pen leaves little tails at the end of strokes so the writing looks even worse (search, someone else had this issue as well). I ordered the standalone larger pen for it from South Korea (because Samsung CAN NOT or REFUSES to get its **** together regarding accessories unlike Apple) and it does not leave tails, or they're less pronounced. Problem is, the nibs on this pen are super slippery. Anyway, like all Samsung devices everything is a compromise so don't get your hopes up too high.
At the end of the day, it's the only tablet in this category at this price range so I wouldn't have anything else for school. No more multiple notebooks, Evernote syncing, LectureNotes (great app), no more multiple colored pens. Try it out.

Why is everybody saying that iOS has better pdf handling than Android?

I find the spen, ezpdf, Dropbox combo to be perfect.
Sent from my GT-N8010 using xda app-developers app

I actually just said that in a recent post. It is true. I know that having the pen with ezPDF is amazing and works well. The issue is in the performance. Try an iPad. Load a graphic intensive PDF on it and then start moving around from page to page and zooming. It's smooth as heck. Now do it on the Note 10.1 2014... Choppy, inconsistent and slows down to a crawl sometimes. As much as a hate Apple and I think that their products are mainly consumption kiddy toys, they do have some very optimized well put together hardware and software. There is a reason why they are praised for their gaming capabilities, because the GPU capabilities are amazing. But like I said, outside of that, there is nothing special about it so it's not like that would win me over. The Note 10.1 2014 is what I am sticking with and it will do wonders for most everything, I just hope the video processing and random system performance gets patched along the way soon.

Dissappinted to hear that. I wanted to upgeade to a 2014 for better, faster pdf handling. I guess all the ipad needs is a pen with good palm rejection.
Sent from my GT-N8010 using xda app-developers app

dtziheucdavis said:
Dissappinted to hear that. I wanted to upgeade to a 2014 for better, faster pdf handling. I guess all the ipad needs is a pen with good palm rejection.
Sent from my GT-N8010 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If they put a Wacom Digitizer in there they may have something.
Sent from my Galaxy Note 10.1 via Tapatalk.

yeah my daughters old ass ipad2 is still pretty smooth. any 2yr old android tablet can't even hang - tegra2 sucked!

Is what you are seeing really attributable to a difference between an iPad and Android from a hardware and OS perspective or is it a difference in the PDF apps that are available? I know that it really doesn't matter in the end because the results of the same but it seems to be more related to deficiencies ezPDF then in the hardware or OS. I really wish Bluebeam would step up and bring their PDF reader to Android.

I think pdf handling on the note 10.1 2014 isn't perfect but its definitely smooth enough unless you're OCD

Compare GoodNotes on iOS to ezPDF on Android and you'll see why.

Check out Mantano reader. I find that it has the smoothest experience out of all android PDF readers. There performance may not be as good as the iOS alternatives, but it comes pretty close. I can read a 1000 page textbook on my galaxy s3 without any noticeable lag or stutter. The performance should be just as good, if not better on the note 2014. It also has annotate/highlight functionality which could put the pen to good use.

C2Q said:
Check out Mantano reader. I find that it has the smoothest experience out of all android PDF readers. There performance may not be as good as the iOS alternatives, but it comes pretty close. I can read a 1000 page textbook on my galaxy s3 without any noticeable lag or stutter. The performance should be just as good, if not better on the note 2014. It also has annotate/highlight functionality which could put the pen to good use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Before I shell out for the Premium version, does it have the ability to put sticky notes, and does it have a "turning page" effect like ezPDF?

Han Solo 1 said:
Before I shell out for the Premium version, does it have the ability to put sticky notes, and does it have a "turning page" effect like ezPDF?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should try out the lite version first because I think it's essentially the same in terms of performance. The turning page effect is not there for PDF files (doesn't matter to me really), it just a straight horizontal or vertical scroll. I believe you can put some equivalent of sticky notes - you can write a text note and have it linked to a page, but it wont explicitly show a sticky note symbol on the page. Also I must warn you that despite the scrolling and rendering to be really smooth, the text rendering isn't that amazing, but I'm not sure which other PDF reader has that anyway. What I mean is that, when zooming in, there is a delay before the text gets sharper.
Edit: there's also this other reader I heard is quite good performance wise. Radaee PDF reader. I haven't tried it out myself, but maybe you want to give that a look as well.

C2Q said:
Check out Mantano reader. I find that it has the smoothest experience out of all android PDF readers. There performance may not be as good as the iOS alternatives, but it comes pretty close. I can read a 1000 page textbook on my galaxy s3 without any noticeable lag or stutter. The performance should be just as good, if not better on the note 2014. It also has annotate/highlight functionality which could put the pen to good use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mantano is indeed good and smooth, but it seems it does not have palm rejection when using the spen?

Han Solo 1 said:
Before I shell out for the Premium version, does it have the ability to put sticky notes, and does it have a "turning page" effect like ezPDF?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Remember. You have a 15 minute refund window. I refunded it myself cause I couldn't find a way to persistently highlight. It was annoying to keep to the side to highlight. I emailed the Dev to ask but no reply yet.

Its the apps that are present.
Just two app 'notability' and 'good reader" in ipad can already give superior annotating which up to date no developer in android has ever manage to create.
It has everything lecturenote, snote, ezpdf or any annotating app on play store has to offer. On top of that they auto cloud sync(no need for dropsync), it keeps text formatting of your pdf files, import and export in seconds.
Downside is... there is no s pen for ipad. If one day those 2 companies plan to hit the android market I think those apps I mentioned will probably be obsolete. I was quite disappointed with android in this when I traded in my iPad for a note 10.1 2014.
If a digitizer appears on iPad. It will be the end for the productivity appeal of android (apart from note 10.1 with multi window IMO).

earthtk said:
Its the apps that are present.
Just two app 'notability' and 'good reader" in ipad can already give superior annotating which up to date no developer in android has ever manage to create.
It has everything lecturenote, snote, ezpdf or any annotating app on play store has to offer. On top of that they auto cloud sync(no need for dropsync), it keeps text formatting of your pdf files, import and export in seconds.
Downside is... there is no s pen for ipad. If one day those 2 companies plan to hit the android market I think those apps I mentioned will probably be obsolete. I was quite disappointed with android in this when I traded in my iPad for a note 10.1 2014.
If a digitizer appears on iPad. It will be the end for the productivity appeal of android (apart from note 10.1 with multi window IMO).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Best post in this thread. I agree on every point.

Han Solo 1 said:
Best post in this thread. I agree on every point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:good: Hope you are not having a bad time with your note 10.1 haha..
Anyway my opinion is not a biased one. I have always tests device and tell friends if they are good or not. I have tried almost every single annotating there is on android but all were not up to my standard of productivity.
Please don't read peoples' comments on how good this app is or that app is. I was fooled.. Most of them only had the experience on one side of the coin and not the other. Try it yourself (if you can), and tell yourself which is better.
Here is my advise though:
If anyone want get an android device for PDF annotating or dealing with PDF(drawing diagram etc), please reconsider your option as a jotpro + notability/good reader on iPad as it does a better job.
If you don't mind all the hassle(frankly speaking its very troublesome) of rendering every single pages during import and export which takes a whole lot of your time for lecturenotes/s note (not to mention increase in pdf sizes and lack of quality) or lack of functionality of ezpdf (and other pdf annotator). Go ahead and get a note 10.1 for its multi screen so you can view and refer to multiple document at once.
If you are considering of hardware performance-wise, I'm not sure about gaming but other than that there is no difference between a iPad 3 and note 10.1 2014 edition performance.

Is jotpro really comparable to spen though? I use my tablet only for pdf reading and annotating. The downside of all the ipad stuff has always been that the stylus is too thick and imprecise, and there is no palm rejection. Other than that, I do agree ipad is superior for just reading pdfs. Although, I have found that mupdf is extremely fast on Android if all you want to do is read and not annotate.
Sent from my SM-P600 using xda app-developers app

iPad, Jot Pro and apps are POS. Just look at YouTube videos of mentioned app with Jot Pro like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4oTEQqSiyo
- Writing input is laggy even compared to my old Note 2. Should be even faster on Note 3 after it finishes downloading Call of Duty Strike Team.
Update: Note 3 (Snapdragon 800) is even faster as expected. Only suggestion is to change the freehand writing thickness from default super thick to either 1 or 3 point to make it more responsive.
- No palm rejection will give you carpal tunnel syndrome writing awkwardly with palm in the air. Or, you can waste half of your screen with what this guy is doing using a make shift palm wrest.
- Even on a full size iPad with the input window zoomed in, the writing is inaccurate and looks like chicken scratches. On Note 2 5.5" without zooming I can write tiny text accurately.
- I tested the free Acrobat Reader to annotate a 133 page PDF and it's fast to scroll, zoom in/out, manipulate, etc. and this is on my old Note 2. It has built-in cloud sync with Adobe or you can use a number of other services like Google Drive, Dropbox, SkyDrive, etc.
- On the iPad with only 1GB DRAM you risk losing whatever you're working on when you task switch if, for example, you have to switch to VOIP app to take a call, check Gmail/Maps, run another app, etc. I've lost comments I was in the middle of writing task switching just between browser and Apple Maps and back on an iPad because the browser reloaded. Non-issue with Note series with 2GB and 3GB DRAM on the newer devices.
- It's wishful thinking but no stylus including Jot Pro can compare to the Note's Wacom pen and there's no way to stow inside so it's bound to get lost.
- If you're concerned about performance check out the Note 10.1 2014 LTE with Snapdragon 800 which is what I'm waiting for along with 12.2" to arrive in the US.
Forget about the iPad. I've used both and it's a POS.

That's exactly why I left ipad and ios. There still doesn't seem to be a good stylus option with PM rejection that is even close to spen.
Sent from my SM-P600 using xda app-developers app

It depends.. I never used notability with my Palm in the air before. There are work around for it. The video quality aren't very good that's why the words are sketchy. I have also never lost work while switching apps. I'm lazy to elaborate more lol.. Anyone would wanna consider go try them and see for yourself. Try notability! Really a good app. See if you can name one in Android that is better than that by experience not by videos or others' POV. I can post the screen shot of lecturenotes/s note and annotation done by notability to see if writing is sketchy.
Other than these I think I like the function of the s pen and the multi window functions. Otherwise I would really chunk this device out of the window*just kidding*
Point is, you should ignore what everyone is saying including and do the comparison yourself.

Is this the best ebook reader on the planet?

With Mantano, ezpdf and PDF Max, I think it is. The display makes the pages look like paper.
Sent from my SM-P600 using XDA Premium HD app

It has the best tablet screen I've ever used. It allows you to take instant notes or do research on what you're reading. Those two things put it up there. However, I think it's a little heavy to be the perfect "reader". Just my opinion. I certainly will be using it as one.

red321red321 said:
With Mantano, ezpdf and PDF Max, I think it is. The display makes the pages look like paper.
Sent from my SM-P600 using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you tell me if the new pdf max update fixes slow handwriting response? I'm looking to replace ezpdf but I don't want top spend 10 to find out if it works well.
Sent from my SM-P600 using Tapatalk 4

I'd suggest buying it. Google gives you 30 mins to refund the app. Yet another reason why android beats iOS.
Sent from my SM-P600 using XDA Premium HD app

I think PDF Max has issues with our device or screen resolution due to the handwriting lag. Oddly there's no lag on my galaxy s3 for writing on PDF Max, so I feel like its just a compatibility issue or something for our screen resolution?
Will try todays update when I get home. Hopefully it fixed the laggy annotation.

red321red321 said:
I'd suggest buying it. Google gives you 30 mins to refund the app. Yet another reason why android beats iOS.
Sent from my SM-P600 using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought it was only 15 minutes. Either way, I only get one refund so I want to test it when the app is fixed then I can see if its really worth my money. I did email the developer and they said they will support spen soon.
Sent from my SM-P600 using Tapatalk 4

It seems like the new PDF max update just made performance a bit laggier. Can someone else confirm?
I'm reading a textbook and it happens when im near the bottom quarter of the page scrolling down to the top of the next page. There is a ton of choppiness/lag around that portion but then it goes back to normal after.
I'm gonna try to find the previous version when I get home and check again.
Oddly this doesn't happen on my Galaxy S3 and performance on my phone is splendid.

red321red321 said:
With Mantano, ezpdf and PDF Max, I think it is. The display makes the pages look like paper.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My Note 2, with CoolReader is the best ereader from all I've seen (apart from a good E-Ink screen). Before that the Note 1, also with CoolReader. With its page-like appearance and great screen contrast Amoled and CoolReader are hard to beat. The Note 3 is slightly worse, possibly because all good looking fonts I tried are thinner on its higher resolution screen. I would put the Note 3 on-par with an iPad 4, which is slightly better than my 2014 Note 10.1.
It is, I think, all a matter of contrast. With poor contrast you have to turn up the backlight, which is unpleasant for your eyes if you have to look into that for a long time. My iPad 4 has good contrast, but Amoled's is clearly better. The 2014 Note 10.1 has a slightly worse contrast than the iPad.

red321red321 said:
With Mantano, ezpdf and PDF Max, I think it is. The display makes the pages look like paper.
Sent from my SM-P600 using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is for me!
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mobisystems.ubreader_west
Inviato dal mio GT-I9505 utilizzando Tapatalk

I really love this tablet for my school work. As for the best e-reader for a casual read to relax I think I still prefer my e-ink kindle. Before I realized how well the s-pen worked I had no interest in owning a tablet at all.

96899355 69
Damn straight it is. As a Biology/Pre-med student, most of my classes involve more than a fair bit of note taking, annotating lecture slides, and scratch work. Last semester for organic chemistry alone I filled two notebooks full of notes and problems. This tablet has made my life so much easier in this regard, and I don't have to bother printing out my lecture slides as I can annotate them directly on it. For o-chem II, which involves a lot of complex reaction mechanisms and synthesis problems, it lets me color code my electron arrows, corrections, and highlights, and I don't need to worry about filling it up. :laugh: I would recommend this tablet wholeheartedly to any science/engineering students. It's a little pricey, granted, but I've only had mine for a little bit and I already can't imagine studying without it.

TranquilityBlue said:
Damn straight it is. As a Biology/Pre-med student, most of my classes involve more than a fair bit of note taking, annotating lecture slides, and scratch work. Last semester for organic chemistry alone I filled two notebooks full of notes and problems. This tablet has made my life so much easier in this regard, and I don't have to bother printing out my lecture slides as I can annotate them directly on it. For o-chem II, which involves a lot of complex reaction mechanisms and synthesis problems, it lets me color code my electron arrows, corrections, and highlights, and I don't need to worry about filling it up. :laugh: I would recommend this tablet wholeheartedly to any science/engineering students. It's a little pricey, granted, but I've only had mine for a little bit and I already can't imagine studying without it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what app do you use?

I can't believe PDF Max costs $10 and doesn't support Adobe DRM. Sadly neither does Cool Reader.
Sent from my Galaxy Note 10.1 via Tapatalk.

smac7 said:
what app do you use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LectureNotes for note-taking and scratch work, and EZpdf for annotating my lecture slides. I also use a powerpoint to pdf converter because some of my professors upload their slides in .ppt or .pptx. With those apps I've become virtually notebook free in class, and I don't have to lug my oversized 17" in MacBook around with me as often.

TranquilityBlue said:
LectureNotes for note-taking and scratch work, and EZpdf for annotating my lecture slides. I also use a powerpoint to pdf converter because some of my professors upload their slides in .ppt or .pptx. With those apps I've become virtually notebook free in class, and I don't have to lug my oversized 17" in MacBook around with me as often.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what powerpoint to pdf converter do you use?

ChrisNee1988 said:
what powerpoint to pdf converter do you use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=br.com.thinkti.android.powerpointtopdf&hl=en
It's nothing special but it works and its free. :good:

wingdo said:
I can't believe PDF Max costs $10 and doesn't support Adobe DRM. Sadly neither does Cool Reader.
Sent from my Galaxy Note 10.1 via Tapatalk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mantano reader does I believe. The only bragging point of PDF Max is how fast it is, it is the fastest reader for PDFs I have tried on Android.