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[Q] I *really* want this Tablet...but I have a lot of Questions...!

Hi XDA,
I am considering getting the Note 10.1 2014 LTE version. However as a Student this is a very expensive Device to buy and there are some Questions i have to get answers to first before i can justify getting one. I hope some of you can help me find out what i need to get answers too.
I am studying computer science and i want to use it as a full replacement for pen and paper (Is that even realistically possible?). I have had some time with it in the store but some first hand everyday experience would be very much appreciated. I will try to categorize my questions.
Notetaking
Screen Protectors
Do they work with the Stylus and if so how well?
S-Note
In my short time with the device i noticed that S-Note does not support Portrait mode for the "virtual page" im writing on. Is that true and if so are there alternative apps that work with the S-Pen and allow for portrait notetaking?
Speed and Precision
I usually have to write down a LOT of Math stuff. Can you write fast enough on the note 10.1 to write during a lecture? Is it precise enough for small index numbers etc.?
Samsungs Software (and how i can get rid of their butt-ugly touchwiz crap?)
Lags and Stuff
During my shot time with the device i noticed a lot of lag and applications that were just pathetically slow compared to my Nexus 7 first gen with CM (this little Tab with CM is just so fast it's insane. Literally zero lag all around and insane performance even when HEAVILY Multitasking). Have the recent updates fixed this problem (well it's samsung so lets say made it less bad than before)?
Touchwizz
How much of the Touchwizz features i don't need can be deactivated? if deactived do they make it perform better?
Other Apps
Have you noticed any Problems with other Apps that usually work fine?
Custom Rom Stuff
General Support
I know this device is just on the market but comming from Nexus Devices i really don't want to stick with Samsungs Rom. How good/bad has the Rom Support for other Samsung Devices been in the past? What Problems will i face?
Rooting and Knox
WTF is Knox and why do i have to care when i root. I really don't get what that is and why it exists. Maybe someone can enlighten me
This is my Wishlist for a Custom Rom. Will that ever happen?
CyanogenMod/Stock Based Roms that are just as ridiculously fast as my N7
S-Pen Support for Notetaking (with anything other than S-Note)
Multiwindow Support (i suppose that is bound to touchwizz but have there been ROMs that integrated it into Stock-ish Android before?)
Hardware
Battery life
I have to get out of the house at 7 AM and im Back Home around 5-6PM. In this time this device will be used literally the entire time. I have Wireless Access most of the time so i don't have to rely on LTE completly. Can the Battery handle that? Will the Battery be able to handle this 2 years down the road?
Bigger Stylus
Well writing with the small S-Pen is a really ****ty experience. It's just too flimsy. Has anyone tried any Bigger Wacom Pens that work with the Note?
Smart Wake
Does the Note 10 Support waking up from standby like apples smartcover (and my N7)?
Cover
Talking about Smartcovers. How good are Samsungs Covers for the Note 10.1?
I know this is a very very long list and i am totally fine with any answers that just link to a site or something but i really hope that this device can do what it's named after.
Thanks for any answer i really appreciate them!

I'm studying computer science myself and found the tablet to be amazing for taking notes with. I've been using LectureNotes and its extremely flexible to suit whatever your note taking preference is. It does support portrait mode, but I would recommend using it in landscape (you can adjust the page size and just scroll down). As for writing with the s-pen it does get annoying after some time due to the size.
As for using a stylus there is this huge on going thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2484014
In short, no stylus works perfectly for our tablets aside from the s-pen it comes with. Most of the active styluses do "work" but have an offset of a few mm when writing at an angle (if you hold it straight up it aligns perfectly). For myself, I'm using a surface pro pen and compensated the offset on lecturenotes. I can hardly tell the difference at all.
Here is a screenshot of my notes from my algorithm class: http://i.imgur.com/NsPYFia.png

CircleSquare said:
I'm studying computer science myself and found the tablet to be amazing for taking notes with. I've been using LectureNotes and its extremely flexible to suit whatever your note taking preference is. It does support portrait mode, but I would recommend using it in landscape (you can adjust the page size and just scroll down). As for writing with the s-pen it does get annoying after some time due to the size.
As for using a stylus there is this huge on going thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2484014
In short, no stylus works perfectly for our tablets aside from the s-pen it comes with. Most of the active styluses do "work" but have an offset of a few mm when writing at an angle (if you hold it straight up it aligns perfectly). For myself, I'm using a surface pro pen and compensated the offset on lecturenotes. I can hardly tell the difference at all.
Here is a screenshot of my notes from my algorithm class: http://i.imgur.com/NsPYFia.png
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Thanks for the Quick Reply. That does look very much like it will suit my needs. Would you say you can use it to completly replace pen and paper?

detrexer said:
Thanks for the Quick Reply. That does look very much like it will suit my needs. Would you say you can use it to completly replace pen and paper?
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Click to collapse
Haven't used a pen and paper the entire term to take notes! It's actually a lot faster once you get used to it. Copy and pasting helps out a ton when the professor is explaining concepts on the same graph.

Screen Protectors
I don't use them, but have a fellow student that uses one and it seems to work well. Bare in mind it adds some friction if you get a mate screenprotector.
S-Note
Nope never used never tried and just got LectureNotes from the start. I also write in portrait mode. Most fellow students like to write in landscape. I have found that I can write extremely small and read it and don't like to scroll down all the time.
Speed and Precision
Yes it's fast enough. I write in my maths lecture. For me it's faster than paper. I use the plastic tip and there is hardly any friction so the pen moves very fast. Only thing that takes time is when you have to fiddle with menus or stuff like that.
Samsungs Software (and how i can get rid of their butt-ugly touchwiz crap?)
Lags and Stuff
I have had no problems with my device. Even at the beginning I didn't really notice much lag. But there are lots of people that have complained. Once you disable a bunch of touchwiz apps it flies.
Touchwizz
If you disable some touchwiz stuff it will perform a bit faster. I disabled everything but S-Note, Alarms, Action Note and the S-Pen SDK.
Other Apps
Due to the high pixel density some apps that aren't optimized (are badly coded) and perform lots of drawing might not perform as well. But other than that no real issues.
Custom Rom Stuff
General Support
The rom support has been bad. But this is the first device I bought in the launch week so it might pick up.
Rooting and Knox
If you root the know counter will be tripped and you allegedly lose warranty. It seems to be some corporate app allowing you to separate work and company data.
This is my Wishlist for a Custom Rom. Will that ever happen?
S-Pen Support for Notetaking (with anything other than S-Note)
There are native API for styluses as long as the drivers work the native API's should work too
Multiwindow Support (i suppose that is bound to touchwizz but have there been ROMs that integrated it into Stock-ish Android before?)
The multiwindow support on touchwiz is the best I have seen so far.
Hardware
Battery life
My battery lasts about 7 hours with screen on. If you need more battery life get an external battery. They are really cheap, in germany i can get one for 40 bucks with double the capacity as the internal battery.
Bigger Stylus
There seems to be one wacom stylus that works, there is a thread about it. I like the small pen, it's light and I don't get tired when writing with it.
Smart Wake
yes supports the smart wake
Cover
I have an ivso cover i got from amazon.de I'm happy with it
I got the Note about a month ago or so for university. I didn't really plan on replacing paper with that, but no I don't use paper at all anymore. I have found that I can keep stuff organized a lot better in a digital form. If I ever get a sheet of paper I will either run to the scanners scattered around our university and scan it or take a picture and annotate that instead of the actual paper . It really depends on the way of learning if you can "think digitally". A fellow student got the old model and returned it after a week because he found it too distracting. But for me the Note really fits into my way of thinking and doing stuff, but I'm a real techy person, who programs and sees a higher value in having information in a digital form.

To add about knox: If you get squaretrade warranty, someone in another thread said they don't care if you trip it or not and will still honor the warranty.

These are very uplifting answers for me. Heaving two people confirm that you can replace paper with it is almost enough to buy it. I ****ing hate paper... to much clutter...
I very much appreciate all the answers und Grüße aus Aachen an alle

I've replaced paper, not at school, but in office. All note taking in meetings, all "to do" lists are now done on the tablet (I made the conversion a year ago with the original Note 10.1, new one is even better).

detrexer said:
These are very uplifting answers for me. Heaving two people confirm that you can replace paper with it is almost enough to buy it. I ****ing hate paper... to much clutter...
I very much appreciate all the answers und Grüße aus Aachen an alle
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Click to collapse
In my local Media Markt they have it for 500€, easier to return if something happens. Might want to check because only it's roughly the same price as online.
This is the case I have, there is pretty much only one case on amazon.de anyways.
Also look at the colors. I have choosen white because it reminds me of paper. Also the contrast between white on the screen and a black border is too harsh in my opinion.

{Diemex} said:
In my local Media Markt they have it for 500€, easier to return if something happens. Might want to check because only it's roughly the same price as online.
This is the case I have, there is pretty much only one case on amazon.de anyways.
Also look at the colors. I have choosen white because it reminds me of paper. Also the contrast between white on the screen and a black border is too harsh in my opinion.
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Click to collapse
I have the same case, it's perfect.
---------- Post added at 01:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:45 AM ----------
detrexer said:
Thanks for the Quick Reply. That does look very much like it will suit my needs. Would you say you can use it to completly replace pen and paper?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it has completely replaced paper for me. At work I need to draw on photos and diagrams etc to send to people. Before I got the Note, I had to print a photo, draw on it, and scan it back in, then attach it to an email.
Using LectureNotes I can just do everything on the tablet and email straight from it. My work notebook is up to about 300 pages now. LectureNotes enables you to email a single page or selection of pages as a pdf straight from the app.
I still like to have a paper notebook to flick through, so I print out my notebook as I go. Of course if I lose it, I can just print it again, unlike a paper notebook...
LectureNotes is complicated to set up initially, but well worth it - once it's set up right, it's amazingly powerful.
If you want a spare s-pen, you can buy one for the old Note 10.1 and trim the back of the nib slightly. This gets rid of any offset.
I did that, then put it into a pen case to make it like a real pen - photos here: http://flickr.com/gp/jackhenriques/d68460/

New Student, Which Tablet?

I am an online student looking for a tablet. I am wondering if you would suggest the Note 10.1 2014 or the Note Pro? Maybe something different altogether? Thanks for any suggestions.

I assume you mean the Tab Pro?
If you're going to take notes on it, definitely the Note. The stylus is perfect for note taking. But you did mention it's an online class, so maybe you wouldn't take notes for it? If not then the only thing left to consider is the Note has 1gb more ram.

GldRush98 said:
I assume you mean the Tab Pro?
If you're going to take notes on it, definitely the Note. The stylus is perfect for note taking. But you did mention it's an online class, so maybe you wouldn't take notes for it? If not then the only thing left to consider is the Note has 1gb more ram.
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I think ual470 actually meant what he/she said, Note Pro which is the 12.2" older brother. It can be all very confusing haha.
I would go for the Note 10.1 2014.
The size is perfect for lugging about, it has exact same specs as Note Pro so you wont be losing out, and hopefully we should be getting KitKat 4.4 soon to give us Pro features but we have to wait and see what the story is with the update. Oh and most importantly its much cheaper.
Sent from Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition via Tapatalk.

Ah, I wasn't even thinking about the 12 incher. Just the 10s.
The 12 is huge. I played with it in the store at the same time as the 10 and it just felt unnecessarily large. The 10 felt perfect, at least to me. If you have a retail location near you that carries th, go check them both out in person. Just because I thought the 12 was too big, or may not.

I like my Note 10.1 for class. I use Lecture Note for most everything. The stylus is superb. I am thinking of adding a keyboard case once Logitech releases one of for the Tab 10.1 Pro. The dimensions are nearly identical. The Note is just a sliver thicker.
Homer
Sent from my SM-P600 using xda app-developers app

ual4720 said:
I am an online student looking for a tablet. I am wondering if you would suggest the Note 10.1 2014 or the Note Pro? Maybe something different altogether? Thanks for any suggestions.
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Click to collapse
If your a student get a windows tab with am active digitizer, OneNote has no competitors worthy of mention. The Note pro 12 inch is nearly the cost of the Surface Pro 2, get that instead. You can also find the first SP for sale at 500 or less quite often if you need cheaper options.
Don't get me wrong the note is a solid android tablet, but for education and note taking, I love using it.However as a student, OneNote is the only way, lecturenote and other alternatives doesn't come close. Personally I also think price wise its a better value but to each hos own.

Here's what I'm looking for: I want to take notes and record audio of the lecture at the same time. Additionally, I'd like the notes to be linked to the audio so that after the lecture when I tap on that particular note it will play the audio at that point in time when the note was written. Any such app?

@TabGuy: LectureNotes with LectureRecordings extension can do that.
DISCLAIMER: I am the developer of these apps.

acadoid said:
@TabGuy: LectureNotes with LectureRecordings extension can do that.
DISCLAIMER: I am the developer of these apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Developer of lecturenotes?
Hi ur the best and i use ur app more than i use toilet paper
Also i feel like galaxy note 10 2014 is best for school stuff because it has that s pen detection so u can ret ur palm on the screen while writing.
Also thw s pen is extremely responsive like a real life pen

Thanks
Hey thanks for the reminder... I didn't think of the surface. I went ahead with the surface pro. I found a great deal on Swappa that included a lot of the accessories. After researching, a windows tab made much more sense with one note. I love the Note 10.1 and Note Pro 12" but felt the Surface Pro would meet my needs the best. Thank you all for your input!
Soul0Reaper said:
If your a student get a windows tab with am active digitizer, OneNote has no competitors worthy of mention. The Note pro 12 inch is nearly the cost of the Surface Pro 2, get that instead. You can also find the first SP for sale at 500 or less quite often if you need cheaper options.
Don't get me wrong the note is a solid android tablet, but for education and note taking, I love using it.However as a student, OneNote is the only way, lecturenote and other alternatives doesn't come close. Personally I also think price wise its a better value but to each hos own.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

flostanktank said:
Developer of lecturenotes?
Hi ur the best and i use ur app more than i use toilet paper
Also i feel like galaxy note 10 2014 is best for school stuff because it has that s pen detection so u can ret ur palm on the screen while writing.
Also thw s pen is extremely responsive like a real life pen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OneNote still the way to go, see http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/onenote-help/record-audio-and-video-notes-HA010121254.aspx
I probably sound like a MS promoter but the sad fact is OneNote is just that good. No other software comes close. You should definitely use what you have but if you got a choice, OneNote
ual4720 said:
Hey thanks for the reminder... I didn't think of the surface. I went ahead with the surface pro. I found a great deal on Swappa that included a lot of the accessories. After researching, a windows tab made much more sense with one note. I love the Note 10.1 and Note Pro 12" but felt the Surface Pro would meet my needs the best. Thank you all for your input!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah fortunate for students MS liquidating the first gen SP. Only issue I would say is battery life if you have back to back long lectures that are away from an outlet. Have fun using it.

Two fellow students of mine have the surface 2 pro. I myself have the note 10.1 2014. If you need certain windows programs to run or be able to type long papers with office, the surface is probably a good compromise.
But they run around with a charger all the time and that thing is heavy. I usually have my bt keyboard in the bag if I need it. And note taking and pdf annotation is just perfect with the note 10.1 and that's what I need 95% of the time. And for the other stuff I have my pc at home. I'm glad I went with the note. I think the surface is not there yet. I see what they're trying to do and i like it but too many compromises IMHO.

The other thing I'm looking at is a battery power bank for the surface. The other option is the type cover power bank they are releasing. The battery does worry me.
Thankfully I'm not on campus and only online, I will mostly be using it for notes, papers, windows apps, and digital textbooks. I was thinking the pro 2 but performance to cost ratio just isn't enough.
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

ual4720 said:
The other thing I'm looking at is a battery power bank for the surface. The other option is the type cover power bank they are releasing. The battery does worry me.
Thankfully I'm not on campus and only online, I will mostly be using it for notes, papers, windows apps, and digital textbooks. I was thinking the pro 2 but performance to cost ratio just isn't enough.
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Despite the 4-hour battery life of the Surface Pro, you'll be much happier than running Android or an iPad with that crappy palm-blocking slide-up thing overlay and the fake digitizer....
I have been trying to get back to the way I felt when I used to take notes and do homework on my hp tx2500, running 7, OneNote (super heavy, full size laptop, but it ran and felt awesome).
I own the 2014 edition of 10.1 note, as well as its older brother. The difference between them is the screen. Performance wise, you won't notice any improvement in the 2014 edition over the older one when taking notes and opening up huge PDF textbooks. I am currently using the older one to take notes in school and do homework. The 2014 version has a crappy battery life (around 4 hours of classroom use), and no custom ROM that disables Samsung's simply idiotic "share screenshot" feature when drawing a circle on the screen while holding the spen button down. That "feature" blocks the use of pen gestures in so many apps, including Papyrus. If you were to buy it, you would have regretted it. Not to mention the KNOX stuff, which allows Samsung to dismiss anything that may go wrong with the device in the future (how come there's no class action suit yet?). They'll blame it on you for running "custom software", i.e. getting rid of 90% of Samsung & Google bloatware, so you can breathe and have a decent battery life.
For those of you who use the note, I use ez PDF Reader, it's the fastest PDF reader I found. I also use Papyrus to take notes, because it's the smoothest looking handwriting, and it's stable and fast, and has some good features, albeit its limitations, such as not allowing you to store 2-3 favorite pen settings on the top bar, or a one-button insert last screenshot in current note type deal. It's always a minimum of 3 taps to do something in that software... I have yet to find a good PowerPoint reader that displays the powerpoint slide as it was created on the desktop by the professor. Sometimes that's the biggest PITA, you'll have to export the PPT(x) as PDF beforehand.
So, congrats, I personally find your decision to be the best. I should have done the same instead of buying the crappy 2014 edition.

clouds5 said:
Two fellow students of mine have the surface 2 pro. I myself have the note 10.1 2014. If you need certain windows programs to run or be able to type long papers with office, the surface is probably a good compromise.
But they run around with a charger all the time and that thing is heavy. I usually have my bt keyboard in the bag if I need it. And note taking and pdf annotation is just perfect with the note 10.1 and that's what I need 95% of the time. And for the other stuff I have my pc at home. I'm glad I went with the note. I think the surface is not there yet. I see what they're trying to do and i like it but too many compromises IMHO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your looking for a tablet 1st and productivity 2nd, the note is probably the best way to go (although cintiq companion hybrid hehehe). However I would still argue that as far as note taking goes, OneNote is still king. I've tried a mixture of stuff on Android and nothing really compares. Weight and battery are definitely downsides to a surface, but a modern atom tablet can probably pull it off. The Dell venue 11 pro may be what some are looking for although it uses inferior digitizer tech than wacom.
ual4720 said:
The other thing I'm looking at is a battery power bank for the surface. The other option is the type cover power bank they are releasing. The battery does worry me.
Thankfully I'm not on campus and only online, I will mostly be using it for notes, papers, windows apps, and digital textbooks. I was thinking the pro 2 but performance to cost ratio just isn't enough.
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are actually a few powerpacks that support the surface. I saw one on sale awhile back but for the life of me can't recall what it was. If your near an outlet, no big difference between 1st and 2nd Gen surface. Only thing that really gor improved was battery.

Soul0Reaper said:
There are actually a few powerpacks that support the surface. I saw one on sale awhile back but for the life of me can't recall what it was. If your near an outlet, no big difference between 1st and 2nd Gen surface. Only thing that really gor improved was battery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you do need to move around though you need to be a weight lifter... After a little while with my surface RT, yes the crappy first edition, then swapping to the Note 10.1, 2014 or original, I find the Note definitely the lighter way to go. It has longer battery life without needing the power pack or battery pack, another 100 kilos of weight on my already straining back, and I find my Note lasts all day long...
It's up to the individual but my preference is definitely for the note...

The surface pro 2 is a nice machine but twice the price of a note. For my use as a digital replacement for a pen and paper notebook, I'd rather have something light with good battery life and an active digitiser. The Galaxy Note 2014 fits that bill.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

Loving my Note Pro

I'm all about lecture notes backed up into my ever note account, I also got the full size bamboo stylus. Honestly haven't tried one note but I've got lecture notes dialed in so it works great for me. In addition I run splashtop and a Logitech 810 BT keyboard so that I'm able to store and write all my papers in office remotely. I have the 10.1 2014 (rooted) and love it!

lecture notes kit kat question
I take all my notes with your app and have come to rely heavily on lecture notes (backed up to evernote). This app is leaps and bounds ahead of everything else ive tried. I recently installed the hashcheck- hybrid-v1 kitkat rom for the sm p600. Now when I'm writing there is a lag. I finish a word before it shows up. I tried switching the fast page, and temporary rendering settings in the display settings but it's really slow.
I'm really hoping you can help!
Thank You!

Galaxy tab s or ipad air

I have ipad air and it is not so bad but I hate ios limitations as Iam an android fan ( I have note 3 ) and since the galaxy tab s is announced I was taken by its screen
The only concern i have is it worth to sell my ipad and buy a tab s or not , also the ipad build quality is a beauty does the tab s will satisfy me in its build quality or I will regret giving away my ipad ?
Last thing is the exynos processor coming with it will be good or we will suffer lagging?
Thanks

I wonder if any tablet is worth it now. What are the benefits of having our carrying a tablet?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using XDA Free mobile app

There is a 10.5" and 8.4" since OP didn't say which one, I'd take it the 10.5". I'd sell the Air for the 8.4 and/or 10.5". My bro has the iPad Air, very good tablet, but can't do much without jailbreaking it. Tab S specs is beastly! The exynos will not lag. Air has better built quality. Go to the store and check out the Tab S yourself. Good luck!
I might buy the 8.4" since my budget max is $400, but 10.5" Amoled is epic as hell! Wish I had $499 for it.

You buy Apple for the ecosystem, not for the hw/OS specs, which are behind Samsung/Android. If you don't have a must-have app on the iPad, go with Android. Better value for the $ and freedom to make changes as you wish.
The only issue I have with Samsung Tab S is that it's 16:9 screen ratio. I need the 4:3 for portrait eBook reading. For media consumption, I have a laptop & HT system.

I certainly talk about 10.5 model and the budget is not abig problem since I will sell the ipad and I mostly use my tablet for media like movies or tv series and I love android so go for it or wait for better processor and better build quality

Well the clear advantage of the 8.4 over the 10.5 is physical size and portability. While you can easily zoom small text on the 8.4 you cannot easily make the 10.5 physically smaller. The 8.4 is far easier to hold in one hand and read like a book. The 10.5 is more of a two handed affair.
Based upon people who own the Pro model and have seen the S in person, the reporting is the amoled screen is not sufficiently better or different to justify the $120 price premium over the current Pro model discounted pricing.
Rumor is Best buy may be offering a $100 trade in for any older working tablet when buying a S which could be a difference maker as the S will be thinner, lighter and have longer battery life.

mitchellvii said:
Well the clear advantage of the 8.4 over the 10.5 is physical size and portability. While you can easily zoom small text on the 8.4 you cannot easily make the 10.5 physically smaller. The 8.4 is far easier to hold in one hand and read like a book. The 10.5 is more of a two handed affair.
Based upon people who own the Pro model and have seen the S in person, the reporting is the amoled screen is not sufficiently better or different to justify the $120 price premium over the current Pro model discounted pricing.
Rumor is Best buy may be offering a $100 trade in for any older working tablet when buying a S which could be a difference maker as the S will be thinner, lighter and have longer battery life.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just recently bought the 8.4 "Pro" and have been using it for at least 5+hours a day since I got it. I visited my local Best Buy and took a look at the new "S" model as I am still within my return policy. The first thing you will notice is the screen. The amoled screen is very nice but like mitch said I would not buy it just for that.
What I would buy it for, and the reason why I am returning the "Pro" for it, is a number of things. The battery life is better and there is a software feature included that will extend the time of the charge.
The speakers are on alternate sides... this may not sound like much to most but being a guy with big hands I have to hold the "Pro" awkwardly in order to not cover one of the speakers. Having them to one side allows me to hold it like I should and hear what I am supposed to.
The "S" model is smaller and lighter. Now looking at the specs it doesn't look like much until you actually get it in your hand. It is a significant difference and makes it easier to hold and hold for longer periods of time.
The "Pro" functions just as well as the "S" until you start going nuts with the multi-tasking, which I use extensively. The extra 1gb of RAM that you get in the "S" makes a huge difference in what you can have open and how many. Play Order and Chaos with the music player while surfing the web is a wonderful thing.
So to sum it up, the screen is very sexy on the "S", but by itself I don't think "Pro" owners should really worry about that. For those of us that still have opportunity to swap them out, like myself, its all up to you but the rose gold trim on top of the changes I mentioned above are what convinced me to swap.
-Grev

One important point , this topic was created to compare the tab s with the ipad air not with pro and is it worth it to swap from the ipad to the tab s
Thanks

I cannot stand iOS. Just too limited and over simplified.
People for years have been touting the apps but when I tried an iPad mini for a while the app situation was Way worse than android.
The stupid x2 zoom was just totally unacceptable. Android scales everything very well. I don't care if the apps are all totally redone for tablet size or not.
The iOS ecosystem seems like everyone is trying to reinvent the wheel with form over function. Get some buzz with something cool that is less usable than it was. I think it suits the uber hipsters perfectly. But not me at all.
You're going to love holding the Tab S 8.4 at 300 grams, very thin and a nice grippy back.
The Screen..
Battery life, especially if you use a browser with Night mode, darker theme.

I think it has more to do with which OS you like better or which architecture you are invested in at this point as prices are similar. IMO the Tab has some advantages like SD card availability, weight, and size but they are not huge, except the SD thing. Personally I have a deep rooted dislike of Apple from the days when the DRMed music so you couldn't put stuff you purchased on different devices.

salahfathi said:
I have ipad air and it is not so bad but I hate ios limitations as Iam an android fan ( I have note 3 ) and since the galaxy tab s is announced I was taken by its screen
The only concern i have is it worth to sell my ipad and buy a tab s or not , also the ipad build quality is a beauty does the tab s will satisfy me in its build quality or I will regret giving away my ipad ?
Last thing is the exynos processor coming with it will be good or we will suffer lagging?
Thanks
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I got a steal on the Mini 2 64gb way under $400 and new. Got it in Feb this year just before 7.1 ios came out. So its jailbroken. The ONLY reason I bought it like so many others say jailbroken is the only way to go. I would never buy one with out it. I can put different icons widgets blah blah. If it was not jailbroken I might sell it for a Tab s.
Yet I didnt and bought the Tab s anyway. For ME there is just more freedom.

Zeblade said:
I got a steal on the Mini 2 64gb way under $400 and new. Got it in Feb this year just before 7.1 ios came out. So its jailbroken. The ONLY reason I bought it like so many others say jailbroken is the only way to go. I would never buy one with out it. I can put different icons widgets blah blah. If it was not jailbroken I might sell it for a Tab s.
Yet I didnt and bought the Tab s anyway. For ME there is just more freedom.
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My ipad is jailbroken too but enough lies on ourselves android alone without root has much more freedom than jailbroken ios

salahfathi said:
My ipad is jailbroken too but enough lies on ourselves android alone without root has much more freedom than jailbroken ios
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I 100% agree.

Update to my prior post. With the $100 trade in offer I went ahead and got the 10.5 Tab S. Glad I did. Colors amazing on this and like the extra size in portrait.

Get the S 10.5 and stick a 128 Gb sd card in it and save all of your music, videos etc on it so that you always have access to them wherever you go and if you need to do a factory reset then they are still available on the device.
Because the iPad has no sd card is a deal breaker for me.

IPad has a slicker, smoother os and a slightly better app store, but that's about it tbh. You can't use otg usb devices, no sd slot and a more restricted os. I have an ipad3 which I still use, but love the fact I can just plug my usb stick into my tab s and watch a movie or tv episode. Also the amoled screen is amazing. No iTunes to worry about either.
Sent from my SM-T700 using Tapatalk

I only got the tab S 8.4 less than a week ago, was deciding whether to get the ipad mini retina, I wanted the ipad to play one game from teamlava called dragon story, but the developer was more hunger for money with their games which makes player spend alot of money, so I have slowly grown off the game.
With the 8.4 there is more freedom to customize the tab, and with less limitation, and cheap to buy.

You won't be disappointed

bigbrown said:
You buy Apple for the ecosystem, not for the hw/OS specs, which are behind Samsung/Android. If you don't have a must-have app on the iPad, go with Android. Better value for the $ and freedom to make changes as you wish.
The only issue I have with Samsung Tab S is that it's 16:9 screen ratio. I need the 4:3 for portrait eBook reading. For media consumption, I have a laptop & HT system.
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HW isn't behind with the exception being the OLED panel itself. The CPU in an iPad Air is much faster then what Samsung uses.

HughesNet said:
HW isn't behind with the exception being the OLED panel itself. The CPU in an iPad Air is much faster then what Samsung uses.
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Another exception is running two apps simultaneously on the S 10.5 splitting it's 16:10 screen which is great and would not work on the ipad with it's 4:3 aspect ratio screen.

Tab S 10.5 or Note 10.1 2014 edition?

which one would I buy?

I haven't seen a tab s in person yet but if it's available now here I would definitely choose it if the screen is as good as they say

Do you need the s-pen?

I have both and I'm feeling the Tab S more due to the screen. You won't go wrong if you choose the Note, its a great tablet, the main attraction is the pen which I hardly used. The Pro tablets weren't available at the time of purchase. After a few more days ill make my decision, but I'll probably keep the tab s.
Sent from my LG-LS980 using Tapatalk

dcaplinger76 said:
Do you need the s-pen?
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I had the same question before. The only advantage the Note has is the Pen.
The Tab s has better screen, better battery life and it is a brand new device therefore more likely would receive updates. The Note is more then 6 mths old. The HW specs are nearly the same as the Tab S but for the same price. For me the Tab S won and I love it.

Wish Samsung put it the pen in Tab S. I'll think I'll just wait for the next Samsung Note.

I went through this dilemma and ended up with the note. It's a tough call. I love oled but also had the older note and did use the spen for meeting notes. It's really oled vs digitizer.... nothing much else in it though the UK note is annoyingly still on 4.3. The note screen is lcd but very clear.
One consideration on screens. For movies etc and anytime the screen is darkish the oled will use far less power. All whites ie some Web browsing is worst case for oled and will such juice worse .
They're both superb tablets.

Which would you buy, a second hand 10.1 for $300 AUD or a brand new 10.5 for $580? Both 16GB wifi only model.

I sold my note for the tab s 8.4 and never looked back. Owning the note always felt like it was an incomplete job and unfortunately Samsung has a bad habit of not updating the software of older models even if their hardware can run it properly.
This is the best Android tablet I've ever of we'd and there's absolutely no reason for you not to like it

I have both (actually just sold my Note 10.1 2014). Here's is how I'd compare the two:
Advantages of Tab S:
- Tab S has better screen (colors in photos are more realistic on Tab S)
- Tab S has some better/updated apps (e.g., sidesync lets me make/take calls from my Galaxy S5)
- Tab S has better accessories available (covers, keyboards)
- Tab S has side power plug (precludes need for stand and angled power cord when used with book cover)
- Tab S is thinner/lighter (but the Tab S' smaller bezels make it a bit harder to hold...minimizing this advantage a tad)
Disadvantages of Tab S
- Note 2014 has S-Pen/Wacom, but this disadvantage is mitigated a bit by the fact that the Tab S has a sensitive screen works with fine tip (3mm) capacitive pens (e.g., iCooly). http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009XGMO1A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- Gold trim on Tab S is gaudy to me
- Note has S-Pen related apps/functions (e.g., action memo, pen window). But, I never found much use for those though.
Performance-wise, the two are about the same. By my standards, both are very fast. The Tab S is just a tad smoother. I don't notice any of the browsing lag some others have complained about.

...and when I found out that some of those s-pen related apps e.g S -Note, were available for download onto the tab s, I was you even more convinced that I had made right decision to get rid of my Note 10.1
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

No Wacom, what is the point having S-pen app?

You can use a stylus with the Tab S. You just need to provide some sort of Palm rejection when writing. A simple cleaning cloth will do. Not as good as a Wacom Stylus but for simple note taking workable.
What we really need is a good aftermarket Bluetooth stylus but so far the available models work with Apple (grrrr) only.

Bluetooth still will not be as good as Wacom and kills battery.
Just going to wait for Note 10.1 2015 model with AMOLED and WACOM.

mitchellvii said:
You can use a stylus with the Tab S.
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You can drive a Camry off-road, it doesn't mean you'd want to. Using a stylus on a standard conductive display, even an iPad's, is painful. It's not the lack of palm rejection, it's the lack of detail, sensitivity, and precision. I'm not selling people on Note's per se, but unless you're making short, and I mean short, hand written notes and lists trying to use a conductive display in the same way as a Note will be pure frustration.
Now let’s check out the Note 10.1’s trump card: its S Pen. The S Pen is, when you get right down to it, a Wacom stylus and digitizer. Considering Wacom make the best graphics tablets in the world bar none (like the*Intuos 5, for one) that’s a very good thing.
Samsung is the first manufacturer to integrate this tech into an Android tablet – both the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet and HTC Flyer used N-Trig pens that were lumpy, required batteries, didn’t offer as many pressure levels and weren’t nearly as responsive, nor did they give you a choice of nibs.
Now for those who might say: “but the iPad has plenty of styli available for it, what makes this special?”, here’s the deal. With one exception, all the styli you can get for the iPad and every other capacitive tablet are only a minor improvement over using your finger. There’s only one capacitive stylus that gives a thin point, and it doesn’t offer pressure sensitivity or palm rejection.
With the S Pen - and other Wacom digitizers as found on the likes of the Samsung Series 7 Slate – you get 1,024 levels of pressure, which lets you draw weighted lines as you would with a real pencil. You get palm/finger rejection, which means you’ll rarely draw an accidental line with your hand. Basically, it’s akin to upgrading from using a chalk to an art pencil.
http://www.trustedreviews.com/samsu...w_s-pen-performance-and-video-playback_Page-4​​

@ BarryH, You can pick up more chicks with a Porsche but a 72 Pinto beats walking to work.
Wasn't trying to answer "should you" but more "could you". But seriously, if you want a tablet for notetaking, I would go with a Windows variety due to the OneNote full handwriting support. Sharp was supposed to release a 10.1 Windows tablet with the same resolution as the Tab S (not amoled) but appears to have been vaporware.
Sadly now that I have owned an amoled tablet I am spoiled forever. My Tab S is purely an entertainment toy. I use my Acer R7 for any handwriting (although that is far more rare than I imagined it would be - typing is just better).

Do you think if your Tab S was Wacom, would it be good enough to replace your Acer?
I have an ageing Thinkpad X200 Tablet, but I still can not find any good candidate to replace it. The only laptop I found good enough to replace the X200T is Fujitsu tablets, but they are so expensive.

WHat would you do?
I currently own a Note 10.1 (2014), and the screen has been cracked for about 6 months. Now the screen is not responding to a finger touch (although the stylus still works). I am told that there is a dual digitizer in the device, and the one which responds to the finger is dead.
Although the device is still technically under warantee, Samsung will reject the work because the screen is cracked.
SO... and the reason I am posting here specifically
Do I pay $280 to get my Note 10.1 repaired, or do I go buy an S 10.5?
I do like the stylus for some features, but have found a BT keyboard to be a faster interface for notes
Thoughts?
GO!

I personally think that unless you find the stylus useful, the Tab S has the better screen by far. If the screen of the note doesn't bother you, though, it may very well be worth simply getting the repair instead of shelling out more for a new tablet.
Not that I ever avoid getting new toys.
Sent from my Galaxy S5

Samsung Galaxy Note still recommend?

Hey I have a question to users of the Galaxy Note would you recommend the Galaxy Note? I am looking for a 10'' Tab with good Digitizer,good Screen, BatterieTime and good Price(about 300$). But im afraid of all the bad things I read about Performance. I wanted to get the Wifi Version(cheap and enough for University) or would you recommend other (newer) Tablets? Thanks for all Answears

Not sure what performance problems you are worried about. If you want to play high-end 2015 games on it, we I don't know because I don't do that. But for general usage, note-taking, or as an alternative to a visualiser for giving presentations (being left-handed I can't really use those things, as my hand covers what I'm writing) I can't say I've seen any problems.
I bought it because it was cheap and had Wacom digitiser support (the S-Pen), not for gaming or videos or whatever. For that it's fine. It's a bit faster than my early 2013 phone, despite having Samsung software (more bloat than other manufacturers I've used). I do however turn off all of their "smart" features - I don't know whether those things affect performance, they just didn't interest me.

If you want power and an active digitizer this is the tablet to go. If you want software support from the oem, this is a "no go".

Get an iPad

I wouldn't pick this tablet up unless it is dirt cheap (< $200). In order of preference, I would go:
iPad
Surface 3

jak341 said:
I wouldn't pick this tablet up unless it is dirt cheap (< $200). In order of preference, I would go:
iPad
Surface 3
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Surface 3 is not cheap.
IPad not cheap.
Thus don't fit what OP is looking for.
For the original question yes I would recommend it. The besting you can do to it is root and install a custom ROM. I play XCOM, KOTOR, and a bunch of high end games. I do things on my Note that my family wishes they could do on their iPad. I have messed around with a Surface 3 Pro at BestBuy a couple times and thought it was laggy opening programs and the lack of a decent app store made it a no go.
For note taking I use Lecture notes much better then S-Notes.
Anyway that is my opinion.
Sent from my SM-P600 using Tapatalk

thanks think im waiting till Octover and getting SM-P600 with octa core when tll then no new product arrive. The Tab S with S-Pen was nearly the perfect Product but had unfortunaly Resoultion of 1280x720 dont know what Samsung thought about giving a 300$ Product so bad Display.