[Q] Is the Note 8 worth the money now? - Galaxy Note 8.0 (Tablet) Q&A, Help & Troubleshooti

So, basically, I'm in the process of quitting smoking. As a "congratulations" type gift, my parents are purchasing me a tablet. I'm stuck choosing between the Nexus 7 (2013) and the Galaxy Note 8.0 right now. I already know the Nexus is worth the money, but I like the features and such on the Note.
If you saw my other thread asking about ROMs for a Note, that was part of trying to make my decision. Now that I've seen that I can keep the functionality, gain some more, and improve performance, I have to decide if it's going to be it or the Nexus.
At $330, is the Galaxy Note 8.0 worth the money at this point in its life cycle? Please try to avoid just straight yes or no answers, I would love you to elaborate. I know it also depends what I'm using it for, so just assume that I like to draw, am not fantastic at it but it's a fun hobby, and I would make use of the office suite included.

I had the Note 8.0 and the Nexus 7 2013. The Note 8.0 has much ore functionality and a MicroSD slot. The Nexus has the better screen. They are similar speed wise. Best Buy has the Note 8.0 for $299 right now. I assume because the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 launched last week. I like Multiwindow of the Note also.

nrage23 said:
I had the Note 8.0 and the Nexus 7 2013. The Note 8.0 has much ore functionality and a MicroSD slot. The Nexus has the better screen. They are similar speed wise. Best Buy has the Note 8.0 for $299 right now. I assume because the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 launched last week. I like Multiwindow of the Note also.
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Thanks very much for your input. At Best Buy here, the Note 8.0 is $330, but I'm Canadian so that's just the crappy exchange rate.
I've done extensive reading on both of these tablets, and that's something that really stood out, just how much more functionality the Note has over the Nexus. The SD card slot is a huge thing, too. Being able to spend $40 and slap a 64gb class 10 MicroSD card in it would be nice. Speed wise, I heard TouchWiz can be laggy, get hung up here and there, but that custom ROMs fix that with improved performance, removing some bloatware, etc.
As it stands, I'm still slightly on the fence between the two, but I'm leaning toward the Note. I figure I don't need to make this thread in the Nexus forums, because I already know the Nexus is worth the money (minus that there's no SD card slot) and it's got its own advantages. I'm glad the Note 8.0 community is willing to give me some insight

Amazon has refurbished models for $250US.
IMHO, the only reason to chose a Note 8.0 over a Nexus 7 is the stylus/handwriting recognition. it's what makes the Note truly unique the 7-8" tablet range. If pen computing is 'nice, but not essential', then go with the Nexus 7. It's cheaper, a better screen, just as powerful, and slightly better battery life. The speakers suck compared to the Note, but then most people use headphones or powered speakers than listen to the tablet 'naked'.

Spookymonster said:
Amazon has refurbished models for $250US.
IMHO, the only reason to chose a Note 8.0 over a Nexus 7 is the stylus/handwriting recognition. it's what makes the Note truly unique the 7-8" tablet range. If pen computing is 'nice, but not essential', then go with the Nexus 7. It's cheaper, a better screen, just as powerful, and slightly better battery life. The speakers suck compared to the Note, but then most people use headphones or powered speakers than listen to the tablet 'naked'.
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Thanks muchly for your input! From what I've heard, the speakers on the Note 8.0 are pretty crap, very tinny. That's not much of a concern though because, as you said, headphones or external speakers are what I'd be using when I'm using it for movies or music.
For me, the advantages from the stylus are that I can use it to draw, to learn to draw because kindergarten kids probably do better work lol, and various small functions like improved web browsing and such. I've also got a thing for teaching myself random things because... well... I'm a nerd lol, so the S pen will be good for general stylus uses in that regard as well, like highlighting, etc.
Now, one thing I've noticed is people talk so much about how the Nexus 7 has a much better display and that text is hard to read on the Note 8.0. However... if you look at reviews from before the Nexus 7 or iPad Mini Retina came out, you see everybody saying how nice the display looks and how easy it is to read all sizes of text. To me, that says that focusing on the resolution and the PPI is more a marketing scheme than anything. Don't get me wrong, the Nexus 7 and iPad Mini Retina DO have sharper screens, the numbers don't lie, but the people talking about those numbers tend to exaggerate just how much a difference it is.

I have the note and my wife has the nexus. I much prefer my note over hers. The extra inch of screen males a huge difference. I also use the pen a lot at work highlighting material, writing logs but mostly writing on pictures.
The resolution on the nexus is better but the functionality of the pen makes this the tablet to have IMHO.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk

Well I paid half price before Christmas for a new boxed 5110 and in January half price for a new boxed SGH-i467. Could not touch those deals with any other product that is like the Note 8.0. Though there is not many like it to choose from.

Well, it's decided! You've all helped me solidify my thoughts about the Note 8.0, I'm not just crazy and making myself think it's good. That's what I'm getting then! I'll just have to figure out how to get updates manually, since in Canada we don't seem to get them very fast. From what I've heard, we don't even have 4.2.2 available for OTA updates here.

If I were buying a tablet now, I'd highly consider the Tab Pro 8.4, which was just released in the US yesterday for $399.
It looks to be everything the Note 8 is, except with a much nicer screen and an updated processor; but no pen. Although personally, I found I don't even use the pen on the N8.
The N8 is a great tablet, and I use it every day, sometimes for hours. But its getting close to last gen specs, having been released April 2013. And I typically don't recommend buying last gen technology.

redpoint73 said:
If I were buying a tablet now, I'd highly consider the Tab Pro 8.4, which was just released in the US yesterday for $399.
It looks to be everything the Note 8 is, except with a much nicer screen and an updated processor; but no pen. Although personally, I found I don't even use the pen on the N8.
The N8 is a great tablet, and I use it every day, sometimes for hours. But its getting close to last gen specs, having been released April 2013. And I typically don't recommend buying last gen technology.
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I would certainly consider the Tab Pro 8.4, but my problem is price. I'm stuck with a firm $350 price limit (tax not included), and it's unfortunate because an extra $50 would open up my options immensely, but beggars can't be choosers right?

ArobeeTV said:
I would certainly consider the Tab Pro 8.4, but my problem is price. I'm stuck with a firm $350 price limit (tax not included), and it's unfortunate because an extra $50 would open up my options immensely, but beggars can't be choosers right?
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You should have quit smoking earlier, then you would have plenty of money (those things are expensive!!!).
But seriously, I realize everyone has different budget requirements (one of the main reasons your question "is the N8 worth the money" is ultimately a decision only you can make). But to me, an extra $100 to get the new generation hardware (versus something almost a year old), is a bargain. Although if you think you will use the pen, that is obviously a consideration as well.

redpoint73 said:
You should have quit smoking earlier, then you would have plenty of money (those things are expensive!!!).
But seriously, I realize everyone has different budget requirements (one of the main reasons your question "is the N8 worth the money" is ultimately a decision only you can make). But to me, an extra $100 to get the new generation hardware (versus something almost a year old), is a bargain. Although if you think you will use the pen, that is obviously a consideration as well.
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Fair point. I appreciate the input!

Like nrage, I had both at the holidays. First I had the new Nexus 7 lte, and I was wondering what I might be missing with the note 8, so I bought one of them and compared. I kept the Note 8 simply due to the larger screen, and the sd card slot. I figured, I can always tether for data, and I didn't see much difference in the screens side by side, or the audio side by side.
Also, the Note 8 will be getting kitkat 4.4.

sashusmom said:
Like nrage, I had both at the holidays. First I had the new Nexus 7 lte, and I was wondering what I might be missing with the note 8, so I bought one of them and compared. I kept the Note 8 simply due to the larger screen, and the sd card slot. I figured, I can always tether for data, and I didn't see much difference in the screens side by side, or the audio side by side.
Also, the Note 8 will be getting kitkat 4.4.
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I was kind of having the same thoughts. I recently saw a Note 8.0 and a Nexus 7 in a local computer store, and the screens aren't that different in quality. In fact, I liked the Note screen better, because it was bigger and more accurate with colors, and still very clear. The SD card slot is a big thing too, that's for sure. As for the Note 8.0 getting KitKat, that's a good thing I suppose. I don't know that it'll improve it much, or how long it'll take before we get it in Canada (we still don't have 4.2.2 on Note 8.0 here, I believe), but one can hope.

I wish you woud have posted this back in August. I bought my note 8 from staples for $240 with tax and be honest the note 8 is going to updated to kitkat soon.
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evolishesh said:
I wish you woud have posted this back in August. I bought my note 8 from staples for $240 with tax and be honest the note 8 is going to updated to kitkat soon.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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$240? I wish. For some reason, everybody appears to have RAISED their price on it today. From a business standpoint, that doesn't make sense.

ArobeeTV said:
$240? I wish. For some reason, everybody appears to have RAISED their price on it today. From a business standpoint, that doesn't make sense.
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Trust me. They had it for $299-75 dollars coupon, plus taxes. It all came out to $240.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

For someone who just bought this note yesterday l will say it is worth the money as there are no other Comparable tablet you can find and left for a hander the handwriting recognition is superb.
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biggiebro said:
For someone who just bought this note yesterday l will say it is worth the money as there are no other Comparable tablet you can find and left for a hander the handwriting recognition is superb.
Sent from my GT-N5100 using Tapatalk
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Thanks muchly for the input! I've been wondering about that handwriting recognition thing, even though I probably won't use it that much. In case I do end up using that feature, it's good to know it works well!

@ ArobeeTV- I forgot!!!!! A huge :highfive: and congratulations on quitting smoking. You won't be sorry:victory: Since your parents are buying your tablet, I will assume you are young enough to be able to heal all your lung tissue and have a healthy life!
My mom smoked her whole life. I fought with her to quit since I was 16. She died of a heart attack. Lung cancer doesn't always get you. For her it was periph. artery disease- she couldn't walk more than 20 feet at once, and emphysema, and a clogged heart that got her in the end. Very poor quality of life for her last 10 years. :crying: I am a nurse and witnessed an autopsy of a smoker with lung cancer. Very ugly.
OK. I'm done with my speech!
Please keep up the good work and be healthy while you use your shiny new tablet!! Whatever one you choose.

Related

Galaxy Note 510 -PRE order in India - Rs.30900 free book cover. Is it worth buying?

Galaxy Note 510 -PRE order in India - Rs.30900 free book cover.
Galaxy Note 510 is a SIM version available for PRE Order for Rs. 30900 ($ 570.64). Is it worth buying?
Book Cover worth 2600 is free with pre order. Should i pre order or w8 for other tablets?
I want a tablet for playing games, watching movies, may use S pen.
Link - https://www.samsungindiaestore.com/...10_GT-N5100ZWA?cid=estore-stampbanner-note510
"Is it worth buying?". Nobody can answer that question for you. Everybody has different expectations, budgets, preferences. There are plenty of reviews and comments on these forums, and elsewhere online. Read up, and formulate your own decision.
As far as upcoming devices, as far as I know, a new Nexus7 is only rumored to be coming in 3 months or so. But just a rumor, and we don't know anything about the specs. People are also talking about a new iPad Mini. But I personally do not prefer the iOS closed ecosystem. Plus, Apple is pretty much on a yearly refresh cycle for its products. So we probably won't see a new Mini until close to Christmas. Again, we also don't know anything about it. So something unknown and not coming for over 6 months is not really a "competitor" to what you can buy now (or very soon, in your case).
In any case, I expect the next N7 and iPad Mini to continue to push the budget/mid or low range tablet market. Guessing that specs would be comparable to the Note 8. Maybe a tiny bit better in some specs as technologies progress, but nothing that will blow the Note 8 away or make it obsolete.
Its a great tablet. My opinion, the best tablet you can get in a 7-8" form factor at the present time. The rest is up to you.
redpoint73 said:
"Is it worth buying?". Nobody can answer that question for you. Everybody has different expectations, budgets, preferences. There are plenty of reviews and comments on these forums, and elsewhere online. Read up, and formulate your own decision.
As far as upcoming devices, as far as I know, a new Nexus7 is only rumored to be coming in 3 months or so. But just a rumor, and we don't know anything about the specs. People are also talking about a new iPad Mini. But I personally do not prefer the iOS closed ecosystem. Plus, Apple is pretty much on a yearly refresh cycle for its products. So we probably won't see a new Mini until close to Christmas. Again, we also don't know anything about it. So something unknown and not coming for over 6 months is not really a "competitor" to what you can buy now (or very soon, in your case).
In any case, I expect the next N7 and iPad Mini to continue to push the budget/mid or low range tablet market. Guessing that specs would be comparable to the Note 8. Maybe a tiny bit better in some specs as technologies progress, but nothing that will blow the Note 8 away or make it obsolete.
Its a great tablet. My opinion, the best tablet you can get in a 7-8" form factor at the present time. The rest is up to you.
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Thanks for the reply.
I have read the reviews. But I think it is over priced at Rs. 30900 ($ 570.64). Little confused now. If i pre order now ill get book cover free.
Best tablet I've used to date as well. I love it so far, although it's been one day.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using Xparent Skyblue Tapatalk 2
livetech2 said:
I have read the reviews. But I think it is over priced at Rs. 30900 ($ 570.64). Little confused now. If i pre order now ill get book cover free.
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Don't know how the price of these devices varies in your country versus US. But I imagine its at least proportional.
People keep commenting that the Note 9 is "over priced" or "expensive". I think that is crap. The only reason people say that is because of the release of low priced "budget" tablets like the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire, that are gimped for features. Decent devices, but they sacrifice features to get a low "entry" price for the masses. Yes the Nexus 7, for example, is $200 US cheaper than the Note 8. But the N7 lacks a rear facing camera, removable SD, pen support as well as having a older/slower CPU, less RAM, and a smaller screen.
A better point of comparison might be the iPad Mini, which is $70 cheaper than the Note 8. Not a huge difference. Yes, Apple has a talent for charging a premium for their devices. But again, the Note 8 has it beat for many features, including pen support, removable SD, and a lot more RAM (2 GB vs. 512 MB).
I paid a hefty premium of $499 for the HTC Flyer back in the summer of 2011. Didn't regret a penny. Similar in many ways philosophically to the Note 8, with pen support, great specs for its time, a full list of features, and an incredibly premium look and feel. Yes, the Flyer's price is a lot of what held it back. But I loved the thing. It now shows its age, and I've moved on to it for the Note 8. But I held onto it for a long time, simply because the other 7-8" form factor tablets were all in the "budget" range and simply didn't seem like much of an upgrade. Faster CPU and more RAM, but a lot less features.
The Note 8 is a premium device. Its thin, light and sexy (actually weighs less than the N7, despite having a significantly larger screen). Its jam packed with features and high specs (maybe not the type of specs that would blow you away, but still great) and meant to appeal to enthusiasts, not the budget conscious. And this is XDA. When the heck has this been a place for people who buy middle of the road devices at budget prices? This is a place for tech geeks, the type of people that the Note 8 was made for. Yet so many complaints about the Note 8 being "over priced".
redpoint73 said:
Don't know how the price of these devices varies in your country versus US. But I imagine its at least proportional.
People keep commenting that the Note 9 is "over priced" or "expensive". I think that is crap. The only reason people say that is because of the release of low priced "budget" tablets like the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire, that are gimped for features. Decent devices, but they sacrifice features to get a low "entry" price for the masses. Yes the Nexus 7, for example, is $200 US cheaper than the Note 8. But the N7 lacks a rear facing camera, removable SD, pen support as well as having a older/slower CPU, less RAM, and a smaller screen.
A better point of comparison might be the iPad Mini, which is $70 cheaper than the Note 8. Not a huge difference. Yes, Apple has a talent for charging a premium for their devices. But again, the Note 8 has it beat for many features, including pen support, removable SD, and a lot more RAM (2 GB vs. 512 MB).
I paid a hefty premium of $499 for the HTC Flyer back in the summer of 2011. Didn't regret a penny. Similar in many ways philosophically to the Note 8, with pen support, great specs for its time, a full list of features, and an incredibly premium look and feel. Yes, the Flyer's price is a lot of what held it back. But I loved the thing. It now shows its age, and I've moved on to it for the Note 8. But I held onto it for a long time, simply because the other 7-8" form factor tablets were all in the "budget" range and simply didn't seem like much of an upgrade. Faster CPU and more RAM, but a lot less features.
The Note 8 is a premium device. Its thin, light and sexy (actually weighs less than the N7, despite having a significantly larger screen). Its jam packed with features and high specs (maybe not the type of specs that would blow you away, but still great) and meant to appeal to enthusiasts, not the budget conscious. And this is XDA. When the heck has this been a place for people who buy middle of the road devices at budget prices? This is a place for tech geeks, the type of people that the Note 8 was made for. Yet so many complaints about the Note 8 being "over priced".
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thanks again for the reply.
can we play all the latest games on Note 8 with out any lag? Is it future proof for one more year?
Also if i get the 3g version will the battery drain much faster? battery is 4,600 mAh.\ on 3g version.
livetech2 said:
thanks again for the reply.
can we play all the latest games on Note 8 with out any lag? Is it future proof for one more year?
Also if i get the 3g version will the battery drain much faster? battery is 4,600 mAh.\ on 3g version.
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The Note 8.0 is a great device but you must keep it in mind, it is a premium product. The Main reason it costs more than the iPad Mini is that it has better specs but more importantly the Wacom Digitizer.
If you don't really have much need for the S-pen and don't need 3G, I believe a Nexus 7 would be a better choice for you.(Now that it is officially launched in India)It is pretty good in Gaming and Tegra 3 isn't fading away soon. It costs only half of the Note 8.0.
Heck I would have probably bought it, but no pen input+lack of TV-out turned it down.
If you don't use the 3G, (put it on airplane mode0, consumption would be same as Wi-Fi model
Also, don't give much importance to the fact that they are giving a free book cover. For one, it is a bit flimsy and won't last very long(from the reviews here at XDA).Search ebay.in, you can find cheaper and better covers.
Also when the Note 8.0 actually launched, it would be easily 1000-1500 Rs less than the Pre-Order Price(This is usually the case with most Pre-Orders)
agambhandari said:
The Note 8.0 is a great device but you must keep it in mind, it is a premium product. The Main reason it costs more than the iPad Mini is that it has better specs but more importantly the Wacom Digitizer.
If you don't really have much need for the S-pen and don't need 3G, I believe a Nexus 7 would be a better choice for you.(Now that it is officially launched in India)It is pretty good in Gaming and Tegra 3 isn't fading away soon. It costs only half of the Note 8.0.
Heck I would have probably bought it, but no pen input+lack of TV-out turned it down.
Also, don't give much importance to the fact that they are giving a free book cover. For one, it is a bit flimsy and won't last very long(from the reviews here at XDA).Search ebay.in, you can find cheaper and better covers.
Also when the Note 8.0 actually launched, it would be easily 1000-1500 Rs less than the Pre-Order Price(This is usually the case with most Pre-Orders)
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Ya i thought of buying N7 and Tab 2 7.But both are one year old. Also N7 doesn't have expandable memory. Tab 2 7 has weak specs for gaming. So planning to buy Note 8. My main usage is games, you tube, videos.
So should i w8 of go with the Pre order? Flipkart also has it for pre order same price with EMI options no free cover.
Are you planning to buy Note 8?
livetech2 said:
Ya i thought of buying N7 and Tab 2 7.But both are one year old. Also N7 doesn't have expandable memory. Tab 2 7 has weak specs for gaming. So planning to buy Note 8. My main usage is games, you tube, videos.
So should i w8 of go with the Pre order? Flipkart also has it for pre order same price with EMI options no free cover.
Are you planning to buy Note 8?
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Look at the 32 GB Version of the N7, I don't think you will be able to cross that Space limit, unless you fill up the Tab with Movies you watched once, and never intend to again. It is available for 19K at Play store now.
Tab2 is certainly anemic in terms of power, but the n7 can still hold its own. If you really ever need to get more storage, USB-OTG can be used.
If you don't require the S-pen , 12 K price difference is a lot for just expandable Memory.
BTW, you can also look at some lower tier brands (Like iBerry, it comes with same CPU/GPU as the Note 8.0.....10 inch....for 18K....3G)
livetech2 said:
can we play all the latest games on Note 8 with out any lag? Is it future proof for one more year?
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I'm not much of a tablet gamer. But comments on other threads seem to indicate that gaming performance is quite good.
"Is it future proof" is another question that is impossible to answer. If I just say "yes" will it make you happy? haha
It depends on how you use your tablet, how you like to spend your money, how critical performance is to you. "Is it future proof" is purely a matter of personal opinion and preference.
As I mentioned above, I don't see any tablets in this size range really exceeding the Note 8's specs by much (if at all) in the coming year. The trend for tablets in the 7-8" form factor seems to be mid-range specs on cheap tablets to get them into as many hands as possible. This is the first real premium tablet in this size range for some time. And I don't expect any of the major manufacturers to jump in with more premium quality tablets any time soon.
If you want to talk about how future-proof this device is, versus "cheaper" tablets that are presently available, the Note 8 blows them away. The Nexus 7, Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, and Kindle Fire HD are already all obsolete in comparison. So I find it a bit odd that you are talking about how expensive the Note 8 is one minute, then asking how future proof it is, the next minute.
livetech2 said:
Also if i get the 3g version will the battery drain much faster? battery is 4,600 mAh.\ on 3g version.
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Obviously, transmitting data over thousands of feet uses significantly more battery than transmitting 50 feet. How much faster, I have no idea. I only have the WiFi version.
livetech2 said:
Are you planning to buy Note 8?
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Yes absolutely, the minute I can get my hands-on it(quite literally).
But I am certainly not pre-ordering anything. The First week of May, I can probably check it out nicely at Croma and probably even buy it at a lower price, or at other local Mobile Shops.

[Q] Galaxy Note 8 - is it worth it?

Hello mates.Im still thinking of buying this tab,but why is his popularity so low? I mean not many roms,topics etc about it in forums.. Is there anything wrong with it? Havent seen the tab yet(only reviews),only saw and played with ipad mini,but I think this one is better.Would you advice me to buy it and why?
Thank you
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Yes...go for it. I' ve replaced my Note 2. 7' Tab is small and 10' is too big for me. 8' Note is not mass market product, but just in between Note 2 and Note 10 solution with perfect performance and everyday use/ carry around. I use it as well as my primary phone, navigation, multimedia and personal computer.
The "problem" you see here relates more to the very niche market for a device like this in its price range when compared next to something like the Nexus 7 and even Samsung's other 7 inch tablet. So on price alone, its going to struggle a little when you have so many quality options for half the price in many cases. For example, the iPad mini is $100 less, you could buy 2 Nexus 7 16GBs, or hell, I've seen referb Nook Colors going for $60 so you could almost buy 7 of the damn things. What they all lack, however, and what sets this apart for those that need the feature is the Wacom digitizer. Yes, that little pen is the source of the fuss. If you're the sort of person who values hand written notes or loves to doodle in a way that no other tablet in this form factor is capable of (even with a third party stylus), then thats all the reason you need to pick up the Note 8. Other reasons would include the super thin body or large screen size (or you have some creepy love of IR blasters), but the pen is the point here.
This all means, sadly, that we won't ever enjoy the flood of rom options other devices enjoy. Sure, there will be some in time, but I'm not holding out for a solid, feature filled port of Paranoid Android. Instead, I'm doing with the majority of Android users are and just making due with what I have and honestly, the things I love outnumber the things I hate about TouchWiz.
At this point, I can't see myself ever going back to a "normal" tablet again (which will really suck if they don't make another one lol).
It's awesome. Don't hesitate.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk HD
I helped organize a Nexus 7 32gb 3G for my mother, and was suitably impressed with it.
I also own a HTC Sensation... which I was also suitably impressed with 2 years ago when I bought it.
I also have to my name an i5 Desktop + Wacom Cintiq 12wx.
So, yes, you guessed it... I like digital art / image manipulation. I also enjoy keeping journals and 'writing' stories... yes, WRITING, not 'typing'... when I sit infront of a keyboard and see the words spill from my fingertips in clinical neat text, it kinda kills the creative process for me...
So you can understand that the note 8.0 *BLEW ME AWAY*
It's as if someone out there decided to design a device *just for me*. It's the perfect size, perfect weight, so comfortable to hold, handwriting recognition is superb, and the sensitivity of the S Pen is second only to the Cintiq experience...
All i need is a means to fine tune the sensitivity of the S Pen for my drawing style and I believe I would actually prefer the Note 8.0 over the Desktop+Cintiq as a drawing medium.. I've only had the tablet for a few days, so I may still be able to figure out how to do this. If, however, the calibration must stay as it is... it is still an excellent drawing experience and, as I said, second only to using a full-blown Cintiq.
Like others here I'll never be buying a tablet again that doesn't at least match the features and convenience of the Note 8.0.
I'm very excited to see what they do with the Note 8.0 v2 + v3... and if for some odd reason, this is the first and last in the series... I'll be keeping this tablet... and keeping my eyes open for developments in the Surface Pro line (it's still too bulky/heavy to be a concideration for me at this point in time).
Bottom line:
Are you an artist / designer and do you prefer handwriting over typing?
If yes, then I can see no better option for you in this form factor. The price is well justified.
If no, then although it is a superb tablet that trumps the Nexus 7 in every way... the price will be hard to justify. If you're not going to put the Wacom Digitizer to work for you, then only buy this tablet if you have money to burn.
FaeMinx said:
All i need is a means to fine tune the sensitivity of the S Pen for my drawing style and I believe I would actually prefer the Note 8.0 over the Desktop+Cintiq as a drawing medium.. I've only had the tablet for a few days, so I may still be able to figure out how to do this. If, however, the calibration must stay as it is... it is still an excellent drawing experience and, as I said, second only to using a full-blown Cintiq.
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See this page...
http://phandroid.com/2012/12/05/how-to-adjust-s-pen/
Thank you for all your help friends . I currently own a Nexus 7 ,but I dont have 3g and thats killing me. Personally I was viewing Ipad mini and Note 8 . In fact in my country and my calculations for the 3G version price is likely the same.The only thing I love in Ipad mini is the app store (many many apps) and the accesoaries for the Ipad (docks and etc) If we remove this the Note 8 has everything.
I`ll think a little more and maybe decide the Note 8.It will cost me like 450~500$ with a contract for 7$ per month for one year and Im getting 3000MB high speed 3G.
Here the Apple Ipad Mini costs like 500~550$ ,but without any contracts .
linkenhtc said:
Thank you for all your help friends . I currently own a Nexus 7 ,but I dont have 3g and thats killing me. Personally I was viewing Ipad mini and Note 8 . In fact in my country and my calculations for the 3G version price is likely the same.The only thing I love in Ipad mini is the app store (many many apps) and the accesoaries for the Ipad (docks and etc) If we remove this the Note 8 has everything.
I`ll think a little more and maybe decide the Note 8.It will cost me like 450~500$ with a contract for 7$ per month for one year and Im getting 3000MB high speed 3G.
Here the Apple Ipad Mini costs like 500~550$ ,but without any contracts .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As others have said. The price of the Note is almost purely based on the Spen / digitizer technology with in it. To decide if it is worth it, you need to decide if the added functionality that technology brings is of benefit to you.
If you dont draw, or dont think you will be taking hand writen notes, then there may be little benefit of this tablet over a cheaper android alternative. My advice is, if you want to use the Spen, then the Note 8.0 is the perfect companion, if you dont, wait for the new NEXUS to be announced and either buy the older 7 at a discount or wait for the newer one (or do the same with the ipad mini. cant be too long before a newer version is announced).
hertsjoatmon said:
See this page...
http://phandroid.com/2012/12/05/how-to-adjust-s-pen/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the link! After reading that... I'm a little nervous about possibly screwing up the sensitivity that I have - after all, there's nothing *wrong* with my pen, it's not wonky at all... I just would love to be able to map out the pressure gradient curve like I can do via software for each of my Cintiq pens (I have them all - Airbrush, 6D Artpen, Grip Pen and Classic)... So I'm going to continue looking for a software solution. But if one doesn't turn up, I'll probably buy an extra S Pen to fiddle with mechanically.
Thanks again.
linkenhtc said:
Thank you for all your help friends . I currently own a Nexus 7 ,but I dont have 3g and thats killing me. Personally I was viewing Ipad mini and Note 8 . In fact in my country and my calculations for the 3G version price is likely the same.The only thing I love in Ipad mini is the app store (many many apps) and the accesoaries for the Ipad (docks and etc) If we remove this the Note 8 has everything.
I`ll think a little more and maybe decide the Note 8.It will cost me like 450~500$ with a contract for 7$ per month for one year and Im getting 3000MB high speed 3G.
Here the Apple Ipad Mini costs like 500~550$ ,but without any contracts .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you own any other Apple products? Have you already made significant purchases in the Apple app store you want to use on your tablet?
If not, and it's just a case of which is the better tablet... Go for the Note 8.0.
In my opinion, the iPad Mini and GNote 8.0 are not even in the same class of device.
iPad Mini is appropriate for the mass-market consumer who is primarily concerned with consuming content. It's easy to use, especially for people who are not all that technologically skilled.
GNote 8.0 is aimed at power users, creative professionals, and discerning creative hobbyists who are primarily concerned with *creating* content... but who also want a top class media consumption device as well.
If you have any interest in creating content, then it's a no-brainer.
But like I said, if you aren't really going to use the Wacom Digitizer all that much... then the iPad mini could be the right device for you... even though it makes me cringe recommending an Apple product to anybody.
Ill go for the Note.Ill go and order one.Thank you all
And about thias 25$ gift card - it doesnt depend from what country you are ,right?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
linkenhtc said:
Ill go for the Note.Ill go and order one.Thank you all
And about thias 25$ gift card - it doesnt depend from what country you are ,right?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to check with whoever you are buying from. As far as I was aware, the gift card was only available to US residents.
As I live in South Africa, I got other extras... such as a free Official Stand Pouch, a 16gb MicroSD card, 2 year warranty, and two months free internet with MWeb (which i'm not using as I'm with another service provider - I bought mine outright, i.e. not on contract).
Juvenall said:
The "problem" you see here relates more to the very niche market for a device like this in its price range when compared next to something like the Nexus 7 and even Samsung's other 7 inch tablet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bingo. The Android tablet market is dominated by low priced, low spec devices (at least in the 7 to 8 inch form factor). And this has worked to get Android tablets into people's hands and steal market share from the iPad. The N8 is targeted towards users who actually value a premium device, and are willing to pay a bit more. Unfortunately, we are in the minority.
Yes, the N8 is not going to sell in huge numbers, and that means less developer interest. But all that is needed is a few good developers. We already have some good looking contributions, and this will continue to grow. My previous tablet was the HTC Flyer, which arguably had a worse market penetration problem than the N8 has. The Flyer was more expensive ($499 US at release), and the tablet market was much less mature at the time (much less people interested in buying tablets). The Flyer sold in very low numbers. But even so, it had a fair number of very good developers, and a decent number of ROMs. More than sufficient, IMHO. In the end, you don't need dozens of ROMs. Just a decent selection of good ones.
I don't see the trend towards cheap Android tablets changing anytime soon. The Note 8 is easily the best Android tablet around in the "smaller" (7 to 8 inch) form factor, and I'm willing to bet that will remain the case for some time.
That is just it. This tablet is NOT just about the pen. It is a really fast tablet too. Much faster then the Nexus 7 or just about any other tablet out right now. It is smooooth. The screen is the perfect size too. I had a Nexus 7 and returned it because I couldn't stand how slow it was. I have a note 2 and it is nice to actually have a screen large enough that the multi window feature may actually get some use too.
As a consumer, I love my Note 8 (speedy, responsive, relatively okay battery life, etc everything else ppl said)
As an Android/Linux dev, I lament the fact that because this thing costs so much, it is just statistically less likely to get huge momentum behind it.
I don't know, from a practical point of view this tablet is a better buy than an ipad mini. It does cost a little more than an entry level mini but does the mini have expandable storage, usb otg support, multi windows and a pressure sensitive stylus. If I were Joe Public I'd certainly consider getting one as it offers quite a bit more value for just a little extra investment.
Sent from the mighty Note 8.0
I sold my Note 2 ans Ipad Mini 64GB and replaced them with a Note 8.0 w/ 64GB SDCard and am much happier now.
As for the $25.00 Play Store credit , That is for the WiFi model only checks serial # ( US Only ? ) . 3G versions do not qualify.

[Q] Should i buy note 2014?

Hello everyone
I am searching for a new tablet to buy and am really intrested in note series (sPen!). I have few questions for galaxy note 2014 owners:
1. Is it comfortable for reading or is it too big for that? Thats my main concern- i need a tablet for my e- books, studying.
2. How much time it takes battery to drop to 0 (with +- energy saving settings)?
3. Do you find sPen useful or just a gimmick? Especially for note taking?
4. Is this tablet worth the money/ what other tabs you recommend?
I come from iPad mini. This tablet really hurt my eyes, so i think i need a tablet with greater resolution since i read a lot. And no, i dont want retina iPad, i prefer android. I am also thinking about note 8.0, it is a lot of cheaper option too, but i want a 9- 10 inch tablet, its resolution is lower.. ah help me >.<
gintariukeas said:
Hello everyone
I am searching for a new tablet to buy and am really intrested in note series (sPen!). I have few questions for galaxy note 2014 owners:
1. Is it comfortable for reading or is it too big for that? Thats my main concern- i need a tablet for my e- books, studying.
2. How much time it takes battery to drop to 0 (with +- energy saving settings)?
3. Do you find sPen useful or just a gimmick? Especially for note taking?
4. Is this tablet worth the money/ what other tabs you recommend?
I come from iPad mini. This tablet really hurt my eyes, so i think i need a tablet with greater resolution since i read a lot. And no, i dont want retina iPad, i prefer android. I am also thinking about note 8.0, it is a lot of cheaper option too, but i want a 9- 10 inch tablet, its resolution is lower.. ah help me >.<
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also came from an iPad mini (the original one), so I'm right on the same page. The resolution on that device wasn't so hot.
1) I think it's perfect for reading. It really depends where you're reading, though. If you're worried about the size, just get a textbook or something of similar size, and judge it for yourself. For me, it works great for reading.
2) I haven't timed the battery myself. For the size, I feel like it has pretty decent battery life. I use it to take notes during classes, and in a 3 hour class, with the screen on the entire time, I see about a 100 to 70 percent drop. I'm happy with that.
3) The sPen is a LIFE SAVER! I use it all the time for taking notes. I use the Stylus Beta keyboard (on the Playstore) and it works exceptionally. With stylus beta and evernote, it's the perfect setup for me. Much faster than messing around with the onscreen keyboard.
4) It depends how much it is now. I haven't really looked recently. It has been out for awhile now, so I wouldn't pay full price now like I did when I bought it. Shop around, for sure. I've been really happy with my tablet though. It's a HUGE upgrade from the iPad mini in every way, shape, and form.
I've had them all ipad mini, air, note 8, note pro 12.2 and note 2014 10.1. The note 10.1 is perfect and I tell you why..
Ipad mini to restricted by Apple and I hate iTunes.
Ipad air, same reasons as mini.
Note 8, perfect portability, but s pen sucked because you had to write 45 degree angle or higher, plus s pen not good on small screen.
Note pro, loved it but portability sucked, to heavy, and not with $650.
10.1 perfect size and functions.
If you're smart buy a used one off ebay or Craig'slist. You can find them for $350
Sent from my SM-N900V using Xparent Green Tapatalk 2
gintariukeas said:
1. Is it comfortable for reading or is it too big for that? Thats my main concern- i need a tablet for my e- books, studying.
2. How much time it takes battery to drop to 0 (with +- energy saving settings)?
3. Do you find sPen useful or just a gimmick? Especially for note taking?
4. Is this tablet worth the money/ what other tabs you recommend?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Very comfortable for me, I mainly use it for reading.
2. Without energy saving, I only charge it once every 3 days with my usage, but you can google for non-stop results. I think it's 11 hours for browsing and 4-5 hours for movies. Not sure.
3. I don't use it for anything.
4. If you buy on Amazon or Ebay, it's worth the money, but don't go to local shops if you live in EU, they have too high prices.
gintariukeas said:
1. Is it comfortable for reading or is it too big for that? Thats my main concern- i need a tablet for my e- books, studying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's thin and light enough, with a screen that's big enough. you were on an iPad, so you understand tablet reading -it is what it is... Never quite the same as the real thing, but an acceptable compromise.
gintariukeas said:
2. How much time it takes battery to drop to 0 (with +- energy saving settings)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This really depends on what you've got running. If you let it idle, it will survive until day four. If you play some games watch some movies, browse some sites, it's possible to drain the battery in 5 hours. Generally speaking, on moderate to heavy use, you can get by on a charge per day.
gintariukeas said:
3. Do you find sPen useful or just a gimmick? Especially for note taking?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Somewhere between a gimmick and a handy tool. There are some apps that will let you take some advantage of the S-Pen's functionality, and Samsung has a few, especially if you're thinking of it as an alternate interface/input method (in which case it's superb). But if you're thinking this will replace your paper and pen; meh, I wouldn't throw away my notebooks and pencils just yet. The truth is the current technology (Wacom, N-Trig, etc.) will always lag behind your hand writing, and there will always be a glitch here and there (no matter how beastly the hardware you're using is). There will be people who swear by it. They are lying; most likely to themselves. This can be a tolerable compromise, but it will never match a [hardware] keyboard or a pen and paper -and it's not exactly the perfect amalgamation either. In a pinch it will certainly do, and for annotating PDFs and whatnot, it's tough to beat -but a real book and a real pen is just orders of magnitude superior. Where this compromise takes lead is in the fact that one book weighs several of these, while one of these can be multitudes of books, the internet, a gaming console, and so much more (which by now you understand -based on your iPad Mini experience).
gintariukeas said:
4. Is this tablet worth the money/ what other tabs you recommend?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly? I really want to say yes, but the answer is no. Two reasons: 1 It's a Samsung. Samsung is shoddy workmanship backed by worse customer support. 2 At this price you're starting to encroach on surface pro price range, and the Fujitsu Stylistic Q584. Yes, these machines do cost a little more -but they also do everything you expect from a computer. And if you're thinking of the pen -OneNote is king among all. A [non-Windows] tablet is a consumption device with some communication and minimal productivity capabilities. At the price Samsung is asking, it's not worth it.
gintariukeas said:
I come from iPad mini. This tablet really hurt my eyes, so i think i need a tablet with greater resolution since i read a lot. And no, i dont want retina iPad, i prefer android. I am also thinking about note 8.0, it is a lot of cheaper option too, but i want a 9- 10 inch tablet, its resolution is lower.. ah help me >.<
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So for question five [Do you recommend/would you do again]
I have a love-hate relation with android (especially Samsung). It promises so much, and the kicker is that it often does deliver... just not quite the way you'd expect. It's a little like "Bedazzled " where the devil grants your wish, but in a way that nearly renders it moot. I dislike iOS because of its limited functionality, general interface (lack of buttons and setting menus on apps themselves) -and quite frankly the active digitizer is a great tool. But iOS is consistent, robust and reliable. So, I will be forfeiting my Note 10.1 2014 in to an iPad Air [but I'll be forfeiting my iPhone 5s for a note 3 (or 4)].
If ever I do get another Android tablet -it will never cost this much again, because they're not worth it. I regret getting my note 10.1. You got to take that with a grain of salt, given my personal experience which is unlikely [yet possible] to be yours.
How do I reconcile paying nearly as much for a note phone? they're nearly everything the tablet ought to be in a much more wield-able form factor with an actual [good] usable camera. Who is going to tote around their tablet all day every day? Who is going to pull that behemoth out to snap a quick shot? Not I. But the Phablet? For me, it's just the right size to take everywhere every time; and it's smaller than most real cameras (or close enough).
How would I reconcile paying nearly as much for an iPad. Apple's customer service is a little more robust than Samsung. And limited though these devices are -they do what they are designed to do -far more reliably and consistently than most of the android devices I have owned. And like it or not, an Apple product is an Apple product. You take that out, and people around you know what's the deal. But when you unleash your Samsung Note 10.1 2014 people look at it, and know it's a tablet that wishes it could bear the prestige of an Apple product. True nerds will think "wow cool!" Everyone else will think "cheap knock-off wanna-be iPad". Who cares? You shouldn't. But I now realize, I do (a little), because for that price I prefer the prestigious ice-breaker, than trying to justify the awesomeness of my [now defunct, probably still working had it been an iPad] device. Last but not least, I was an early adopter of the Windows 8 tablets and I have a Sony Vaio 11 [regrettably -now that Q584 and Surface Pro 3 are viable options]; and thus it's going to have to be a while before I get another Windows tablet. (I'm inclined to wait until at least Windows 9+).
Maybe this is a little (or a lot) more than you asked for. But I wish someone would have warned me.
Lastly, on the note 8. Unless it's less than 1/3 the cost of the note 10.1 2014 -it's a bad move. Note 8 has all the shortcomings of the 10.1 plus the fact that it's inferior hardware (not least of which is the screen quality), thus amplifying all the pangs. Not to mention you just got done complaining about the iPad mini for being too small.
TLDR;
No. Don't get it. I'm sure there are tons of people who will tell you that it's a good get. I'm sure they have favorable experiences -and there is a lot to love there. But in the end it's not worth the price because it's Samsung and it's Android. At that price point you might as well spend a few bucks more and get Windows (but not RT!) especially if you're serious about it as a study tool: OneNote crushes everything that does and does not exists in the multi-universe. Otherwise pay less and get something else.
gintariukeas said:
1. Is it comfortable for reading or is it too big for that? Thats my main concern- i need a tablet for my e- books, studying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i think it's a great size and light to hold, fine for reading texts, pdfs, books (Kobo), websites. i was surprised to find it was smaller than my TF700 (piece of crap!) -- Sammy did a great job with the side bezels.
gintariukeas said:
2. How much time it takes battery to drop to 0 (with +- energy saving settings)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
depends on how much you use it. it's not my only tool for work/leisure, but i would charge between every one and two days. (also, for me it takes about 5hrs charge to go from 20% to 100%.)
gintariukeas said:
3. Do you find sPen useful or just a gimmick? Especially for note taking?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
very useful for me (print designer): making notes at meetings (sNote out of the box), marking up text and layouts and pdfs and images. doing revisions this way is much more efficient that printing out (or waiting for) a colour proof, marking that up, and then couriering it to a client — especially if i'm working remotely or in transit somewhere. i can't go entirely paperless of course, but for everything up to final colour proofs, it's works great.
scrapbook is also really handy when tripping through websites or videos. the one thing i've no use for is the windows function though. that said, the sPen really changed my perspective on what a tablet can/should do: i won't buy another tablet with out sPen or similar capability.
gintariukeas said:
4. Is this tablet worth the money/ what other tabs you recommend?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you need sPen, want a 2K screen, and you like Android, this is THE ONLY tablet to get. i waited until KK came out and a bunch of the earlier bugs (software and hardware build) were addressed though. with Sammy, i find it's good to wait for a few months after launch for them to get things right. also, now being able to get Samsung's Remote PC functionality is great.
gintariukeas said:
Hello everyone
I am searching for a new tablet to buy and am really intrested in note series (sPen!). I have few questions for galaxy note 2014 owners:
1. Is it comfortable for reading or is it too big for that? Thats my main concern- i need a tablet for my e- books, studying.
2. How much time it takes battery to drop to 0 (with +- energy saving settings)?
3. Do you find sPen useful or just a gimmick? Especially for note taking?
4. Is this tablet worth the money/ what other tabs you recommend?
I come from iPad mini. This tablet really hurt my eyes, so i think i need a tablet with greater resolution since i read a lot. And no, i dont want retina iPad, i prefer android. I am also thinking about note 8.0, it is a lot of cheaper option too, but i want a 9- 10 inch tablet, its resolution is lower.. ah help me >.<
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Biggest issue. It's a Samsung! Plastic piece of ****. Build quality from hell. Have to return mine for creaky body and the bezel start to come loose from the glas. 750€ tablet with quality worse than a 129€ tablet.
The screen is nice, very bright and res is nice for reading, s pen is good for drawing and if u like to take notes but the apps that support stylus is quite few and samsungs s note and action memo is quite crappy. Besides the screen and the stylus which is nice if u need it. But its mostly a gimmick, i just cant recommend this POS. Did i mention that it lags like hell on stock firmware. Had to root and run custom to get decent performance and it still runs worse than my s4 with cm. I regret every day that I wasted over 700€ on this crap. Check around and you will see i ain't the only one who is dissatisfied with it. Buy something else than Samsung. Dont lesrn that lesson the hard way
If pen is not your critical.
Standby and wait for new Tab S series it will come with AMOLED display !!! .
I had an iPad Mini1, it was cute but that's it. The screen is not great and the battery wasn't as good as people say it is.
I also had an iPad3 and the screen was nice but it was uncomfortable to hold and I think the aluminium casing is slippery without a case.
iOS just sucks even though there are really good quality apps.
I've had a ton of android 10" tablets from Xoom, Tosh Thrive, Asus Transformers TF101, TF201, TF300, TF700 and Padfone Infinity.
I still have the TF700 and the Padfone Inifnity. The TF700 runs like a POS, slow and stutters and freezes up. I have a feeling the 1gb RAM is crippling it. I don't understand it when the prime and Tf300 was no where as bad, but I like the form factor very much and use it like a laptop and for remote desktops access it is great.
The padfone infinity is pretty awesome and it runs very fast, quadrant score is about 3 times that of the TF700 and feels like it. If it had an active stylus and a keyboad dock, I'd be happy with that as my only device since it is also a phone. My only problem with it is no SD slot so I got the 64gb version. I'm keen on the Padfone Infinity 2 but haven't tried it yet.
I also have a Surface RT and it is great for MS Office and File Explorer with a desktop. As well as that, I have an Asus Vivotab smart ME400C which is atom based Windows8 tab and runs full windows desktop apps.
Before I got my Note10 (P605) I had a Note 8 5100 (wifi+3G) and it is a GREAT tablet. It is snappy and light and runs soooo good. The only thing is the screen is not even as good as an ipad mini but it ****s on every other tablet I have owned for usability. IT IS THAT GOOD! if Samsung made a Note Pro 8.4 like their tab pro 8.4, I'd be there in a snap.
This brings me to my Note 10.1 2014 (P605 with 4G). The screen is awesome, the size is awesome, the speed is great (not as snappy as Note 8 in a lot of ways believe it or not!). I'm still on 4.3 but then my Note 8 is on 4.2. The pen is better on the Note10 than the Note8 and if you only got the Note10 to run Sketchbook ONLY, it would be worth every cent on that sweet screen. I do a lot of reading on it and the screen is just awesome. I photo edit and preview on it and its great. I also use it to annotate PDFs and draw stupid things for fun.
I'm still grabbing the Note8 most of the time when I head out of the house, simply because I can jam it into my coat pocket and cargo pants pockets. but at home, I'm on the Note10 all the time.
I love the Note10 and if I had to live with just 1 tablet and my Note 3 phone, I would pick the Note10 without hesitation.
PS. With regards to the negative comments, don't try to find the perfect tablet, it doesn't exist! Everything has a compromise but this Note10 hits a VERY NICE sweetspot and I would recommend it for student use if running windows apps is not a neccessity. Even then, I would try and get away with that by remote desktop because the Note 10 does everything else soooo much better.
---------- Post added at 11:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:41 PM ----------
manhattan212;53168349: ...OneNote crushes everything that does and does not exists in the multi-universe. Otherwise pay less and get something else.[/QUOTE said:
Papyrus pen UI beats One Note windows for actual Notetaking. However One Note has better management, so the solution is to use Papyrus to take notes and then move it to One Note for storage and management thru Android OneNote.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
warboat said:
I love the Note10 and if I had to live with just 1 tablet and my Note 3 phone, I would pick the Note10 without hesitation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sure Samsung must be proud to have such staunch supporters. But the key point isn't just how great the machine is. The keypoints are this, this, and this. And for every one of us that actually posts -imagine the countless others that don't go online to post questions in forums. The countless others who just take the loss in stride, because they have little or no recourse.
In short, the Note 10.1 2014 has great promise, but buying Samsung is like playing Russian roulette. The hardware has great probability of failing, and Samsung has no problem screwing customers over. So I for one feel it's wrong to not warn people against the Note 10.1 2014. Because chances are, the tablet isn't going to fail you in those first 30 days, when you can take it back to the store you bought it and get yoru money back -no questions asked. It's going to fail you 32 days in. And then you're relying on Samsung's warranty -which isn't just going to let you walk into a local Samsung shop and shove your defective tablet into one of their [non-geniuses] mouths and let you walk out of the shop with a new replacement in hand. Other companies do that, Samsung just gives you the runaround, and cheats you out of your money.
warboat said:
PS. With regards to the negative comments, don't try to find the perfect tablet, it doesn't exist! Everything has a compromise but this Note10 hits a VERY NICE sweetspot and I would recommend it for student use if running windows apps is not a neccessity. Even then, I would try and get away with that by remote desktop because the Note 10 does everything else soooo much better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When it comes to buying the Note 10.1 (2014)...
Harry Callahan said:
I know what you're thinking. 'Did the SM-P605 fire six shots or only five'? Well to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, i kind of lost track myself. But being that this is a Samsung, the most powerful tablet in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well do ya, punk?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've heard a lot about the good and bad points about the note 10.1 (2014) here but there is only one thing that puts me off getting one: the constant talk is lag and sluggish performance. I currently have a nexus 10 and I am wondering how the real world performance on this compares to the note 10.1? If anyone has any experience of both I would be really interested to hear their thoughts. Thanks in advance!
Sent from my Nexus 10 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
paddycr said:
I've heard a lot about the good and bad points about the note 10.1 (2014) here but there is only one thing that puts me off getting one: the constant talk is lag and sluggish performance. I currently have a nexus 10 and I am wondering how the real world performance on this compares to the note 10.1? If anyone has any experience of both I would be really interested to hear their thoughts. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's no or very little lag on 4.4. I use my N10.1-14 probably heavier than most here because I'm a productivity user. I was just thinking to myself today what an amazing device it is (after owning it since October). I was working on a complicated Word document. I like to get the meat of a document done in Hancom locally and then finish it via RDP on my Windows desktop PC to guarantee the formatting's correct. Here's what I had open at the same time - Hancom (viewer and editor), Jump Desktop keeping a connection alive to my home PC with Word running, and two instances of Samsung's My Files in multi view to drag-and-drop files I needed between my device, home FTP server and Dropbox. On top of that I was watching Amazon Instant Video in a Pop-up-play window using PlayOn, connected to a BT keyboard and mouse, and listening to the audio via an AptX BT pendent. Also, so I didn't need to pull my phone out for calls or messages, I was using SideSync to display it on my N10.1-14 minimized. I have a 3G device so all this was being done over AT&T's HSPA+ network because the coffee house I was in had too many people on Wi-Fi. And that was all with little or no lag. Try that on another 10.1" tablet.
But as amazing as all that is to me, if you're purely a consumption user, you won't appreciate all the N10.1-14's features, the resources they take up, and Samsung's added UI clutter to get them all to work together. For consumption, stick to your N10, get an iPad, or consider the Teg4 Asus TF701 which is down to $299 new and has the same screen resolution as both the N10 and N10.1-14. The people *****ing about the N10.1-14 probably shouldn't have bought it in the first place based on what they use a tablet for.
Happy shopping.
BarryH_GEG said:
But as amazing as all that is to me, if you're purely a consumption user, you won't appreciate all the N10.1-14's features, the resources they take up, and Samsung's added UI clutter to get them all to work together. For consumption, stick to your N10, get an iPad, or consider the Teg4 Asus TF701 which is down to $299 new and has the same screen resolution as both the N10 and N10.1-14. The people *****ing about the N10.1-14 probably shouldn't have bought it in the first place based on what they use a tablet for.
Happy shopping.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your reply. I have a note 3 and love s-note for taking notes at work. The problem is that the screen is too small to use it on a regular basis - I find myself frequently going back to pen and paper. So i'm thinking of ditching the note 3 and getting a 10.1. Good excuse for a new phone too
Sent from my Nexus 10 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
if any one looking for a good new open samsung note 10.1 2014 i got one for you for $449 if you would like two take a look in two it
http://www.ebay.com/itm/111380065860?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
paddycr said:
I've heard a lot about the good and bad points about the note 10.1 (2014) here but there is only one thing that puts me off getting one: the constant talk is lag and sluggish performance. I currently have a nexus 10 and I am wondering how the real world performance on this compares to the note 10.1? If anyone has any experience of both I would be really interested to hear their thoughts. Thanks in advance!
Sent from my Nexus 10 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have over a dozen Android devices and there is always some lag, somewhere in each of them.
As long as its not significant, you shouldn't get hung up about the lag.
The thing you want out of android is functionality and there isn't a better 10" weapon right now than the Note 10 2014.
In terms of raw potential, the Nexus 10 Mali 604 GPU will top out at 72gflops.
Note 10.1 2014 Exynos: 102gflops
Note 10.1 2014 Qualcomm SD800:130gflops
Ipad Air A7: 115gflops
Asus TF701 (Tegra4): 97gflops
You have 4 million pixels to push around. Gflops matter.
I'm not sure what your main use is, but if you are a student and you are in a major that requires a lot of math, BUY THIS TABLET. If you will not be using the stylus often, there may be better options. There is a noticeable amount of lag on the stock rom and stock firmware, which confused me because the specs seem great. After rooting the device and switching roms it is much smoother.
I literally bought this tablet to run LectureNotes for my math classes. I have had a big issue with lag specifically in that app (only that app - others had zero lag), but I finally got it down to probably <30ms response time in LectureNotes while writing. I had to find the OEM 4.4.2 firmware/rom and flash it prior to flashing a modded 4.4.2 rom. A bunch of tweaking was also necessary in the app's settings, but I actually found that the high resolution was my issue. I then lowered the resolution of my notebooks, turned fast rendering and page rendering OFF, used SetCPU to max out the CPU when the screen was on and LectureNotes was in the foreground. This significantly decreased my lag in LectureNotes. All of this only applies to that specific app. Nothing else had any lag once I was rooted and on a custom rom.
Would I recommend this tablet? It depends. If you are strictly going to use it out of the box, and keep it stock, my answer is no. I would get something with a lighter ROM out of the box. Possibly something AOSP. If you are a student and/or you plan on using the stylus often, it is worth every damn penny. My tablet replaced my math notebooks. Using LectureNotes to do math is SO much faster than pencil and paper, because of the custom tools that you are able to use. Constructing certain figures and graphs are so much quicker on the tablet than having to draw everything out.
warboat said:
I have over a dozen Android devices and there is always some lag, somewhere in each of them.
As long as its not significant, you shouldn't get hung up about the lag.
The thing you want out of android is functionality and there isn't a better 10" weapon right now than the Note 10 2014.
In terms of raw potential, the Nexus 10 Mali 604 GPU will top out at 72gflops.
Note 10.1 2014 Exynos: 102gflops
Note 10.1 2014 Qualcomm SD800:130gflops
Ipad Air A7: 115gflops
Asus TF701 (Tegra4): 97gflops
You have 4 million pixels to push around. Gflops matter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you had a Nexus 10 and is it's overall performance comparable to the Note 10.1? I get a little paranoid about these benchmarks - I had a TF700T before my Nexus 10, which I recall benchmarked well. Even after unlocking, rooting and flashing custom firmware it was a completely unusable POS because of the lag.
xlemonhed1 said:
Would I recommend this tablet? It depends. If you are strictly going to use it out of the box, and keep it stock, my answer is no. I would get something with a lighter ROM out of the box. Possibly something AOSP. If you are a student and/or you plan on using the stylus often, it is worth every damn penny. My tablet replaced my math notebooks. Using LectureNotes to do math is SO much faster than pencil and paper, because of the custom tools that you are able to use. Constructing certain figures and graphs are so much quicker on the tablet than having to draw everything out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree, my Note 3 flies now I have ditched stock. However, the only thing that worries me about this is the knox 0x1 issue. Has anyone reported getting warranty service with this flag on their Note 10.1 ? It is not an issue with my Note 3 because T-mobile couldn't care less...
Check out this item I found on eBay: http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=321428263654&alt=web
Price is a big issue but you can get it factory refurbished for $299. For that price this device looks a lot better imo
paddycr said:
Even after unlocking, rooting and flashing custom firmware it was a completely unusable POS because of the lag.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That wasn't the SoC or even s/w. Asus is notorious for putting slow-as-crap bargain basement NAND in their devices.
Coreyc1123 said:
Check out this item I found on eBay: http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=321428263654&alt=web
Price is a big issue but you can get it factory refurbished for $299. For that price this device looks a lot better imo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was about to tell OP for this link. haha.
I bought one for 299-39 bucks ebay cash so total came out to be 260 which is fantastic deal. Still waiting for it to be shipped.
I am original Note 10.1 owner so I can't comment on this 2014 ones but with my original 10.1 being my main notebook in college, I can't recommend enough. Everybody experience may varies depending on the usage and expectation. I took all of my notes using the tablet with the LectureNote app. Fantastic tool.
I expect nothing less from 2014 10.1 and can't wait to get it.

[Q] Galaxy Note 2 Still Worth Buying?

In a sticky situation right now. My phone just died on Verizon and I need a new phone. Unfortunately I'm still under contract for another 9 months so I have to pay full price for a new phone or I can jump to Tmobile and have them pay my ETF but then I have to buy a phone from them. I don't want to spend more then $350 on something and I want to be able to unlock it and use it with AT&T at some point.
I can pick up the Note 2 as a refurb for $344 or I can get a Nexus 4 for $324. I guess what I'm wondering is whether or not the Note 2 is worth spending that much on?? Should I just ride out my contract for 9 months and get my old phone fixed (Razr Maxx HD $200 to fix)? Is there another phone I should consider?
Any thoughts appreciated.
Nexus 4 for $342?? I can't even sell my brand new Nexus 4 for $180 AUD.
I would not get a refurb Note II for $344, it's not worth it. You can get brand new for a bit more online.
kuromusha38 said:
Nexus 4 for $342?? I can't even sell my brand new Nexus 4 for $180 AUD.
I would not get a refurb Note II for $344, it's not worth it. You can get brand new for a bit more online.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I pay $200 to get out of my contract with Verizon I can get anything. I'm looking at jumping to Tmobile since they'll cover the ETF cost. Only catch is I have to buy a phone from them. So whats a good Tmobile phone that will work on ATT under $350? I'm trying to do this as cheap as possible. Otherwise I would just cancel for $200 and get a nexus 5 for $400.
Hi there,
YES it is still worth buying the Note 2. I had both phones, Nexus 4 and Note 2 and the Nexus 4, compared to the Note 2, was garbage. Nexus 4s battery is small (mAh), display colors were washed out, the speaker was completely crap when listening to music, etc. That's just my experience.
Better get the Note 2
I moved on to the Galaxy S5 and maaaan, do I miss my Note 2. That's all I need to say LOL
Okay so price of the note 2 refurb'd w/tax and shipping is about $330. I know I can buy brand new on Amazon for roughly $60 more but I have to buy from Tmobile if I want my ETF covered and they only sell a refurb'd note 2.
I'll probably go this route then unless there are any other suggestions. Thanks!
Absolutely! Its still fast as hell, even on KitKat and Im sure will remain to be so for the near future.
Note 2 still kick ass and I love it. But I think u should get a newer phone.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using XDA Free mobile app
naeem86 said:
Note 2 still kick ass and I love it. But I think u should get a newer phone.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can find it around $350 , I would say yes
I bought note 2 over s4 and i am perfectly satisfied
mubeenshahid said:
I bought note 2 over s4 and i am perfectly satisfied
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd take Note 2 over S4 (even S5) any time!
Allow me give you my opinion on this. I strongly believe the Note 2 is a remarkable device for the following reasons and I would still chose it over any other phones.
- It still has one of the best battery life of Samsung devices. I know... the Note 3 has 100mah more but that doesn't suffice, having a 1080p screen, more pixels means more drainage. Also, it has a more powerful octa-core processor (a nice pro) but again with great power comes even greater battery drainage, remember that.... lol The Knox app components which constantly guards the phone from illegal privileged access is also a resource hog (RAM) and hiders the phone even more (coming from 4.3 I have that experience). Take a look at the Huawei Ascend Mate 2, they are doing it correctly... keeping 720p resolution (which is dense enough imo) and a gigantic 4050mah, make it the longest running phone (not tablet) on the market at the time of this writing.
- The screen is 720p, as I discussed already has its benefits on battery, furthermore, it is the only flagship device by Samsung that isn't pentile. This means full RGB sub-pixel for every single pixel. It is a true-HD display. While its not as dense as other phones, it still can hold its ground very well. I am scared for the note 4, Samsung will make it a 2k display, instead of focusing on what really matters. 2k on screens below 7inches is a waste of technology. 10-12 inch tablet with 2k displays and larger batteries, now you are talking.
- It is made polycarbonate plastic, as with all Samsung phones, can be regarded as a pro. As CPUs get faster it generates more heat. Metals heat very quickly and can make you feel uncomfortable when holding while running CPU-intensive tasks. I think even though metals can dissipate heat well, if run too long it, exposes the internals to heat and wear the internals faster. But one definite pro of polycarbonate is improved reception, I assure you, along with other benefits, naturally scratch resistant, lighter, and more durable. When I look at a phone, I don't care for "premium feel", I care for quality of operation.
- Lastly, camera. Sadly, I must admit the Note 2 doesn't have the top optics, as it improves rapidly with technology. But after lots and lots of reading and comparing, I found that the Galaxy S4 has produces the best quality/sharpness/color IHMO, bar NONE (not even Lumia 1020 which captures more detail, but fails at color reproduction). The Note 2 does inherit the S4's color reproduction traits, so that's good. But the best all-rounder (ie. in low light, good light, night mode etc) I have to give it to Iphone 5s. Well done Apple, even if you do not belong here. lol
Video strangely doesn't fall into the same category as photo, as the S4 gives murky, blurry 1080p videos. For the best video I nominate the S5 at 4k, clear even when zoomed in at the slightest detail, thanks to 16MP camera. This is improvement from what used to be the best, Note 3, which is blurred when zoomed in. No, optical image stabilization sadly, but that comes later. Even so the Note 2, doesn't slouch and gives its best in both categories. It also produces the loudest audio, and all devices after the S4 has poor speaker sound quality.
So, there you have it, my long explanation of why I would still choose the Note 2 over S4, Note 3, or S5, even if it breaks now. Samsung really hit the nail on the head when it made the S3/Note 2 generation, and I hope they will again someday. Was the very best, make history, and set a good example for generations to follow.
Thanks everyone! Definitely helped make this decision much easier than I thought it would be. My note 2 arrives today and then I'll active it with T-mobile. I plan on unlocking it after the 40 day wait period is up with T-mobile and bringing it over to AT&T. From my research that shouldn't be an issue as T-mobile and AT&T share all the same bands outside of one that AT&T uses for 4G LTE. Curious to know if anyone has done this previously?
On another note (no pun intended :laugh, I've been looking into installing a custom ROM once I get it. I love cyanogenmod but curious if there are other recommendations I should consider? This may need to be in another thread so I can move it if needed.
I bought my Note 2 about 450$ in Samsung brand shop at April 2014, it worth because my work need 3G always on to check email or contact with boss (my country not have 4G LTE)
eknee1417 said:
On another note (no pun intended :laugh, I've been looking into installing a custom ROM once I get it. I love cyanogenmod but curious if there are other recommendations I should consider? This may need to be in another thread so I can move it if needed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In my opinion, CyanogenMod isn't a good idea for this phone. It has some annoying bugs and you lose ALL the SPen features. I'd recommend you to install any TouchWiz based Rom.
Note 2 screen is outdated though.
onagric places
Yeah, original Note screen is better
I had a Note 2 and bought a Nexus 4 as backup when my Note 2 was being repaired. I was thinking that I might switch to Nexus as android is a big interest of mine and it would be wonderful to get all the new features quick.
It was a big relief to get my Note 2 back from the shop. The Nexus 4 doesn't last a whole day (with my usage pattern). The external speaker volume is to low. And its very slippery! (had to buy the LG bumper).
Recently upgraded to a Sony Z2 and it feels like a smaller upgrade than I expected, coming from the Note 2. Its was/is an awesome phone.

Would you buy next years Samsung Phones without the S-Pen?

Ok, here's the deal. The reason I purchased the Note 7 was the S-Pen. All the other features like VR came along nicely, but to be frank, the real incentive for me was the Pen. Without it, I wouldn't give so much money for a phone. 4k VR? Rather wait for any other cheaper phone to catch up to 4k VR like maybe the google pixel or one plus 5 or something...
Since we are in the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 forums and not the S7 or S7 Edge forums, it means that you guys reading this opted to wait a few months to get the Note 7 specifically instead the S7 or S7 Edge. So, I figured that maybe these guys here are also hooked on the S Pen.
Thus the following question...
Let say that next years Samsung Flagship Big Screen Phones have no S-Pen... Would you still buy one?
Don't forget to vote!
nomailx said:
Ok, here's the deal. The reason I purchased the Note 7 was the S-Pen. All the other features like VR came along nicely, but to be frank, the real incentive for me was the Pen. Without it, I wouldn't give so much money for a phone. 4k VR? Rather wait for any other cheaper phone to catch up to 4k VR like maybe the google pixel or one plus 5 or something...
Since we are in the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 forums and not the S7 or S7 Edge forums, it means that you guys reading this opted to wait a few months to get the Note 7 specifically instead the S7 or S7 Edge. So, I figured that maybe these guys here are also hooked on the S Pen.
Thus the following question...
Let say that next years Samsung Flagship Big Screen Phones have no S-Pen... Would you still buy one?
Don't forget to vote!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I probably would
Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk
No
Sent from my Samsung Note 7 using Tapatalk
No. I need the S-pen
Sent from my SM-N930P using XDA-Developers mobile app
No. If I didn't care for the s pen that much I would of replaced my Note7 a long time ago.
Knowing myself, I may end up with it... that said, a Note without pen would be a bit useless, it's one of their main selling points, so I don't see why they would ever do that.
svache said:
Knowing myself, I may end up with it... that said, a Note without pen would be a bit useless, it's one of their main selling points, so I don't see why they would ever do that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea. The pen wasn't the issue with the Note 7s. But just saying I think people are curious if that's a do or don't cutoff point for some people. I thought I'd have a lot of issues with this s7 edge after being an avid note user the past few years. I've been fine actually. Now, of course I'd love a pen again but for now this works.
Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk
For sure. It's why I'm back to Note 5. There is no way to effectively take lengthy notes during meetings for me. I tried using deterrent capacitive styli, but it just didn't work.
I'm hooked on my s-pen. I will say at least the Note 7 tips feel really nice in my Note 5 stylus.
No
I don't use the S-Pen all that much actually. So the next Samsung phone without the stylus is definitely an option.
That said, I'm also not a Samsung loyalist. I've had my hands on several smartphone brands, starting with HTC, Motorola, Xiaomi and Sony. And I've never gave LG a go, so I'm getting the V20 next.
I just won't get an Apple. Android's flexibility in file management is just too damn good for me to use iPhone as my daily driver.
no, I want the pen and slightly bigger screen without the useless curves.
If it was at least 5.7 screen, IP68 and coral blue then yes, reluctantly. Would greatly prefer it with the s-pen.
I'm not buying the s8 without an s pen. There are too many good and cheaper alternatives. The OnePlus3, the up coming Mate9, why spend lots on phones that have no major differentiator (which the note series was).
Without S-pen, I would look elsewhere. Many a phone out there without the premium pricing and good specs.
No
Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk
I'm not quite sure why anyone would pay for a note and NOT get the stylus it is the biggest factor that separates the Note from the S series.
The answer is no; if there is never another stylus phone (very unlikely) I will probably stick to LG. Removable battery and external memory on every model? Yes please. Allows me to get batteries beyond factory capacities.
Removable battery means no planned obsolescence (which is exactly why manufacturers put in the non removable design to push you to upgrade when the battery dies).
Sent from my LG-H901 using XDA-Developers mobile app

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