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I'm looking into purchasing one or the other, and am stuck in between, can anyone please shed some light onto this?
I like the galaxy tab for a few reasons, one its samsung and i tend to trust their build quality over asus, two its super thin and much smaller than the transformer, and three the speakers are better, but the main thing that is killing it for me is the lack of ports, only having a single proprietary port bugs me, and feels like i'm being forced into buying additional things that should have been included in the first place
i like the transformer because of the ports and sd card expansion, and the keyboard with the battery and extra usb/sd ports.
i'm not sure which to choose, please help!
totally your preference. how much are you really going to use your hdmi and sd card? if you use it a lot, then go transformer. if you are going to get a keyboard, they both have sd card slots.
however, if thin tablets are of bigger importance, go samsung.
I think build quality is now same. asus new batches seem to be better than the rushed out ones.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App
Don't know if anyone can really help you decide, because it sounds like you already know the pros and cons of both. But I feel the same way. I really like both tablets, both have some great qualities, but both have some pretty big weaknesses too.
Going to just copy/paste what I just wrote on the Transformer board...
Transformer
+ $100 cheaper
+ micro SD
+ mini HDMI
+ netbook style keydock
Galaxy Tab 10.1
+ lighter and rounded edges (more comfortable)
+ better speakers
+ PLS display
+ LED flash
+ just better looking
Almost afraid to say it, because I detest custom UI, but I almost want to give the Galaxy Tab 10.1 a + for TouchWiz UX. The demo of it actually has some very nice looking features.
Because of the lack of micro SD I almost certainly will need to spend $200 more for a 32GB Galaxy Tab 10.1, versus the 16GB Transformer I'm using now with my 16GB micro SD card. So the price difference is greater (I am sure I need more than 16GB for a tablet).
....I own a Transformer now, it's my second one, and it has a screen defect. So I've run into some build quality issues with the Transformers. But I also have build quality fears for the Galaxy Tab 10.1 too. I've seen a lot of glass separation from the bezel in corners in a lot of video reviews. It looks a bit too common. Almost none of those video reviews call attention to it, but after seeing some complaints about it on this board and a article on Android Community, I've been looking carefully at those corners and now seem to notice it all the time.
Both are great tablets. I going to need to return my Transformer in about 5 days. So I still have a bit more time to mull it over.
+1 to what Ravynmagi said.
I actually returned my Transformer a couple weeks ago. For it's price point, it definitely is awesome, but I just didn't like the fact that I could literally flex and twist it and it would affect the light bleeding. I would rather pay the extra money to have something solid and according to a lot of video reviews, people are saying that even though it's plastic it feels just as solid as the iPad2... and I consider my iPad2 very solid.
I returned my TF today. Terrible screen separation under the bezel. A lot of FCs. Considerably heavier than the Tab. The extra 100 that i spent thus far seems well worth it.
The tab it's a better pure tablet. The transformer doesn't need a adapter for hdmi out.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Ok I know I’m biased but it's lighter, sleeker, thinner, PLS screen and great build quality. In fact it's the Rolls-Royce of Honeycomb tablets. Ah yes and I can hold it in one hand.
FTFY
cosimoss said:
In fact it's the Rolls-Royce of Honeycomb tablets.
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10 chars
I think this is video is quite good but its based on the Google I/O version of the 10.1. But at least we get to see the screens compared.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2F9yxpQZ40&feature=share
Darkgage said:
I think this is video is quite good but its based on the Google I/O version of the 10.1. But at least we get to see the screens compared.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2F9yxpQZ40&feature=share
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very good video
Thanks for the video. I am not liking the over saturated screen of the 10.1 over the TF. Its like the 10.1 is in vivid mode which I hate on all display. I guess I have to see it in person. Its hard to compare the two when the TF is in 3.1 and Samsung is still running 3.0.
dazz87 said:
Thanks for the video. I am not liking the over saturated screen of the 10.1 over the TF. Its like the 10.1 is in vivid mode which I hate on all display. I guess I have to see it in person. Its hard to compare the two when the TF is in 3.1 and Samsung is still running 3.0.
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supercurio seems to be enjoying the PLS screen on galaxy tab 10.1
I'm also intrigued by #GalaxyTab101 PLS screen (Samsung improved IPS). This thing could be or become pro photographer's dream calibrated.
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Samsung is in 3.1 now for both IO and Retail version, except 10.1v.
dazz87 said:
Thanks for the video. I am not liking the over saturated screen of the 10.1 over the TF. Its like the 10.1 is in vivid mode which I hate on all display. I guess I have to see it in person. Its hard to compare the two when the TF is in 3.1 and Samsung is still running 3.0.
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i think he means all the videos and comparisons done online are of the 3.0.1 I/O version vs the 3.1 transformer
Ah ok ... Apologize to the poster
Mr.Duck said:
i think he means all the videos and comparisons done online are of the 3.0.1 I/O version vs the 3.1 transformer
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I think I'm ready to now forgive the lack of micro SD and switch to a Galaxy Tab 10.1. Appears the PLS display turned out better than I thought it would. I was expecting a barely noticeable marginal difference with viewing angles and brightness, but apparently the colors on this look really great from reports.
The other big thing though is the speakers. Transformer has really weak flat sounding speakers and the balance is way off, the left side is barely hearable on my last two Transformers and seems like a very common occurance.
I'm disappointed by no micro SD. But the better PLS display and better audio quality, along with the lighter more comfortable feel, has me thinking it's probably worth the extra $200 ($400 16GB TF + 16GB micro SD I already own vs $600 32GB GT10.1) for me.
Ravynmagi said:
I think I'm ready to now forgive the lack of micro SD and switch to a Galaxy Tab 10.1. Appears the PLS display turned out better than I thought it would. I was expecting a barely noticeable marginal difference with viewing angles and brightness, but apparently the colors on this look really great from reports.
The other big thing though is the speakers. Transformer has really weak flat sounding speakers and the balance is way off, the left side is barely hearable on my last two Transformers and seems like a very common occurance.
I'm disappointed by no micro SD. But the better PLS display and better audio quality, along with the lighter more comfortable feel, has me thinking it's probably worth the extra $200 ($400 16GB TF + 16GB micro SD I already own vs $600 32GB GT10.1) for me.
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Damnit man.. now I'm going to return my TF too. I three defects and three annoyances.
- Hair under the screen.. looks like an eye lash
- Moderate light bleed.. increases when I hold it due to flex
- Bezel began creaking and moving
- The corners are uncomfortable
- It is fatiguing to hold it with one hand
- Lack of accessories (Yes I know this seems odd) but really there isn't much besides a few cases and the dock
- Speakers are definitely too quiet
I will go with the 16GB version as I have never really found myself needing anything more than that. I always say I'm going to watch movies on my mobile devices, but never get around to doing it. Also, I own a solid remote desktop that works well with the TF, so it should work with the 10.1.
I'll tell you what though, I always seem to do this lol. I love the TF, but damn that 10.1 looks too nice.
Is the back metal or plastic?
EDIT: damn, this is going to end up costing me a lot of extra money.
ericc191 said:
- The corners are uncomfortable
- It is fatiguing to hold it with one hand
- Lack of accessories (Yes I know this seems odd) but really there isn't much besides a few cases and the dock
- Speakers are definitely too quiet
I will go with the 16GB version as I have never really found myself needing anything more than that. I always say I'm going to watch movies on my mobile devices, but never get around to doing it. Also, I own a solid remote desktop that works well with the TF, so it should work with the 10.1.
I'll tell you what though, I always seem to do this lol. I love the TF, but damn that 10.1 looks too nice.
Is the back metal or plastic?
EDIT: damn, this is going to end up costing me a lot of extra money.
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Yeah, I don't like holding the Transformer in portrait. The 90 degree corners aren't comfortable. I think tablet comfort was sacrificed to make it look cooler as a netbook with it's keyboard.
And I've been noticing the lack of accessories too. Really almost nothing from third parties. I suspect Samsung will probably have a lot more third party accessories coming.
I was really hoping someone would make a gel skin case for the Transformer so it would be more comfortable to hold. But I keep looking and looking and see nothing.
The back is a very glossy plastic on the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Some have called it slippery. This worries me a tiny bit. Samsung advertised an Easy Grip material on the back. I think it looks a lot better than the Transformer, but worried it might slip when palming it with one hand.
Ravynmagi said:
Yeah, I don't like holding the Transformer in portrait. The 90 degree corners aren't comfortable. I think tablet comfort was sacrificed to make it look cooler as a netbook with it's keyboard.
And I've been noticing the lack of accessories too. Really almost nothing from third parties. I suspect Samsung will probably have a lot more third party accessories coming.
I was really hoping someone would make a gel skin case for the Transformer so it would be more comfortable to hold. But I keep looking and looking and see nothing.
The back is a very glossy plastic on the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Some have called it slippery. This worries me a tiny bit. Samsung advertised an Easy Grip material on the back. I think it looks a lot better than the Transformer, but worried it might slip when palming it with one hand.
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Yeah, my girlfriend is upset that I'm going to exchange. She says the back of the TF is perfect for grip.
Also, for people who purchased on Amazon, make sure you choose defective when returning. This shouldn't be an issue as nearly all TFs have light bleed.
I chose to put that I no longer wanted it, and they tried to add a 20% restocking fee. I called up and got that removed by telling them I hit the wrong button.
The Transformer & Iconia were somewhat similar. I like the many ports on the Acer, but it was rather heavy for one handed use. Trying to type in portrait was a pain because of the device weight. If the Galaxy had those ports, then it would not be as thin, & would weigh more. I returned the Acer & pre-ordered the Galaxy. I plan on getting the USB adapter and using it when needed, which will be every once in a while.
As the title says:
I was so utterly disappointed with the 10.1
The first one I got Friday Morning had dead pixels on the black status bar at the bottom of the screen. I returned it a couple hours later to Best Buy.
The second one has dust under the middle of the screen. You could see black spots while surfing the web.
Finally, the third one had 8 pieces of dust under the right side of the screen.
I decided to return it and wait for a rumored Nexus Tab or Ice Cream.
Don't get me wrong I LOVE Android. I have the Nexus S 4g, and I have always had android phones. I had the Xoom, but it was too heavy and large. I really had high hopes for the Galaxy Tab. Yet, its sad that the build quality is lacking..
And... lets be honest, Honeycomb needs a LOT of polishing. Its laggy, and has none of the media consumption apps people crave(i.e. netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, etc.)
If you like the Tab do yourself a favor and try not to look at the screen too close.. I fear that there are imperfections on most of them... which is inexcusable
Sounds like you may have had a string of bad luck with the devices. Remember stuff like that gets shipped in bulk so it may have been just an issue with the one shipment to that Best Buy.
I haven't had any issues with build quality on mine. Was worried about the plastic backing but it doesn't dent in like the aluminum on my iPad so it's actually a plus (and it makes the thing lighter). I won't disagree with the Honeycomb needing polish however. For the most part it works fine but there is a significant lack of tablet optimized apps out there and the input lag in the stock browser is annoying at best.
Word...
I just got frustrated man. when you are dropping that much cash on a tab it should be flawless. ya know
Flawless is debatable... there is no such thing.. my $80k car (AMG C63 if anyone cares) is far from flawless, my house.. far from flawless. I have purchased $100+ software/hardware packages (Arcsight.. ridiculously expensive), far from flawless....
If you had asked me 10 or 20 years ago, then I would have agreed, but these days, everything is released with flaws and bugs, it is just how it is these days, and you will have to accept it, or you will never buy anything again..
Yeah man, I understand. I'd be pretty pissed to if I had to return my brand new shiny three times. But it's what all early adopters have to put up with; higher prices, untested technology, new waters and the like. It's what makes it fun,
This would be more shoddy QA than shoddy build quality wouldn't it? I actually quite like the build quality on the thing but could see getting pissed off if I had dust under the screen.
My experience that some people who are hyper-sensitive to "flaws" in devices are those that were truly unsure about their purchase in the first place. When they experience buyer's remorse, they suddenly find "flaws" in the device rather than admit that they made a poor purchasing decision. This bad behavior is unfortunately reinforced by the return policies of the retailers that charge restocking fees except in case of defects.
I'm not saying this is the case with OP. Just an observation.
jvanbrecht said:
Flawless is debatable... there is no such thing.. my $80k car (AMG C63 if anyone cares) is far from flawless, my house.. far from flawless. I have purchased $100+ software/hardware packages (Arcsight.. ridiculously expensive), far from flawless....
If you had asked me 10 or 20 years ago, then I would have agreed, but these days, everything is released with flaws and bugs, it is just how it is these days, and you will have to accept it, or you will never buy anything again..
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totally OT: $80k for a C63??? how cheap are those cars in the states?? for a normal configuration we have to pay at least about $95k (~67k €).
The 2011 C63 AMG starts at < $60k in the US (though realistically, $70k is the cheapest you'll find it). I'm not sure what the differences are vs the euro models.
rmmorse81 said:
As the title says:
I was so utterly disappointed with the 10.1
The first one I got Friday Morning had dead pixels on the black status bar at the bottom of the screen. I returned it a couple hours later to Best Buy.
The second one has dust under the middle of the screen. You could see black spots while surfing the web.
Finally, the third one had 8 pieces of dust under the right side of the screen.
I decided to return it and wait for a rumored Nexus Tab or Ice Cream.
Don't get me wrong I LOVE Android. I have the Nexus S 4g, and I have always had android phones. I had the Xoom, but it was too heavy and large. I really had high hopes for the Galaxy Tab. Yet, its sad that the build quality is lacking..
And... lets be honest, Honeycomb needs a LOT of polishing. Its laggy, and has none of the media consumption apps people crave(i.e. netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, etc.)
If you like the Tab do yourself a favor and try not to look at the screen too close.. I fear that there are imperfections on most of them... which is inexcusable
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Ice creams starts at 59 cents
Berner said:
I'm not saying this is the case with OP. Just an observation.
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My experience has been that some people who try to insinuate that any issues someone may have with a product are actually problems with the person rather than the device, are actually just trying to defend their own purchases.
I'm not saying this is the case with you. Just an observation.
hebbe said:
totally OT: $80k for a C63??? how cheap are those cars in the states?? for a normal configuration we have to pay at least about $95k (~67k €).
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They are definitely cheaper in the US then in most other places (even DE.. which is odd since they are made there...)
Base model runs around 60k, once you start adding options.. it goes up fast, I have everything but the Performance Package, and the number I through out is the avg for a model configured as mine, I did not pay that much (who ever pays MSRP anyways), as I picked mine up used (Certified Pre Owned model from MB).
You want horrible.. check out the C63 in Australia.. they run almost $200k AU. Half of that is I believe a luxury tax penalty....
jvanbrecht said:
Flawless is debatable... there is no such thing.. my $80k car (AMG C63 if anyone cares) is far from flawless, my house.. far from flawless. I have purchased $100+ software/hardware packages (Arcsight.. ridiculously expensive), far from flawless....
If you had asked me 10 or 20 years ago, then I would have agreed, but these days, everything is released with flaws and bugs, it is just how it is these days, and you will have to accept it, or you will never buy anything again..
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Come on now - the GTab and C63 have a lot of stuff in common - especially their use of copious amounts of cheap plastic. At least for the Tab, it's only $500
matt310 said:
Come on now - the GTab and C63 have a lot of stuff in common - especially their use of copious amounts of cheap plastic. At least for the Tab, it's only $500
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Yeah.. and it rattles alot.. drives me nuts.. granted that may have something to do with the monster V8 they shoehorned into the little C class.. but still, at the price point, they should have used better materials. At least in EU, and most of the rest of the world, you can get the option of leather dash/console/etc which replaces much of the plastic.. but that is not available on the C class for US AMG models, it is on the E and up classes though.
jvanbrecht said:
Yeah.. and it rattles alot.. drives me nuts.. granted that may have something to do with the monster V8 they shoehorned into the little C class.. but still, at the price point, they should have used better materials. At least in EU, and most of the rest of the world, you can get the option of leather dash/console/etc which replaces much of the plastic.. but that is not available on the C class for US AMG models, it is on the E and up classes though.
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The rattles are caused by a combination of low-profile tires, punishing suspension, and clips that hold dashboard components in place instead of screws. Also, the torsional rigidity of the C isn't as stiff as the E so when you go up driveways and the chassis flexes, that eventually takes its toll on tight tolerance components. Sometimes covering them with leather helps; sometimes not.
The greater concern to me is why MB didn't include an LSD with that car as standard equipment. It's part of the P30 package or a $2,000 standalone option, which to me makes next to no sense. All that power needs a way to get it reliably to the pavement!
rmmorse81 said:
As the title says:
I was so utterly disappointed with the 10.1
The first one I got Friday Morning had dead pixels on the black status bar at the bottom of the screen. I returned it a couple hours later to Best Buy.
The second one has dust under the middle of the screen. You could see black spots while surfing the web.
Finally, the third one had 8 pieces of dust under the right side of the screen.
I decided to return it and wait for a rumored Nexus Tab or Ice Cream.
Don't get me wrong I LOVE Android. I have the Nexus S 4g, and I have always had android phones. I had the Xoom, but it was too heavy and large. I really had high hopes for the Galaxy Tab. Yet, its sad that the build quality is lacking..
And... lets be honest, Honeycomb needs a LOT of polishing. Its laggy, and has none of the media consumption apps people crave(i.e. netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, etc.)
If you like the Tab do yourself a favor and try not to look at the screen too close.. I fear that there are imperfections on most of them... which is inexcusable
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Click to collapse
Sounds like you had really bad luck. Did you exchange them from the same place? It might be the batch the store received was the problem, either tampered in production or in transportation. Overall, people seem to be happy with the build, including myself, so it seems you're case was exceptional, and you may give it another try at a different store or vendor.
Nexus Tab/Ice Cream are at best Q4, which can be 4-6 months away, and I wouldn't be surprised if they only came out next year. Honeycomb will definately improve before then, especially in a few weeks we should have custom ROMs too.
Dead pixels AND dust under the screen! I agree 100% with the OP. If you really got three in a row with screen defects that is not acceptable. You can ignore virtually any nick, ding or scratch on the body of a tablet, but it's really hard to ignore screen defects. Especially central ones. In many respects a tablet IS the screen. It's what you interact with all day long.
I'm not that surprised. Samsung sometimes has quality control issues. I ended up returning three Samsung projection TV's in a row once. One of them actually had a picture that was physically tilted so that one side was higher than the other - can't quite understand how that got past quality control. And then there is the recent GPS disaster with the Galaxy S phones - I had one of those and finally ended up getting rid of it because It was impossible to navigate with it.
Samsung is a strange company. They produce cutting edge products that have lots of rough edges. But when you finally get one of Samsung's devices that works correctly, they are sometimes really good. When I finally got a working TV from Samsung, after my fourth try, it lasted forever - superb picture and no problems. Love my Tab 7. And even the Galaxy S was a great phone, as long as you didn't have to get anywhere on time.
I'm surprised that Best Buy didn't give you a hard time with the dead pixels. Every once in a while you get a smart-assed salesman who likes to quote a dead pixel rule: "we can only exchange it if there are 5 or more dead pixels. Just because there's a big black one dead center in the middle of your screen isn't sufficient cause for an exchange!") Had circuit city try this with me on an LCD TV. Course stuff like that is probably the reason they went bankrupt.
This is one reason I prefer buying from brick and mortar stores with items like this. If Best Buy gave you no trouble with 3 returns, thats really commendable on their part. They would get my repeat business just for that.
jvanbrecht said:
Flawless is debatable... there is no such thing.. my $80k car (AMG C63 if anyone cares) is far from flawless, my house.. far from flawless. I have purchased $100+ software/hardware packages (Arcsight.. ridiculously expensive), far from flawless....
If you had asked me 10 or 20 years ago, then I would have agreed, but these days, everything is released with flaws and bugs, it is just how it is these days, and you will have to accept it, or you will never buy anything again..
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Click to collapse
??? You have got to be kidding, right ? You may have low expectation and willing to take flaws, but not me, not now, not ever. Doing so just tells the manufactur we will accept the flaws and be done with it. Goodness, accept it ? No way
rmmorse81 said:
As the title says:
I was so utterly disappointed with the 10.1
The first one I got Friday Morning had dead pixels on the black status bar at the bottom of the screen. I returned it a couple hours later to Best Buy.
The second one has dust under the middle of the screen. You could see black spots while surfing the web.
Finally, the third one had 8 pieces of dust under the right side of the screen.
I decided to return it and wait for a rumored Nexus Tab or Ice Cream.
Don't get me wrong I LOVE Android. I have the Nexus S 4g, and I have always had android phones. I had the Xoom, but it was too heavy and large. I really had high hopes for the Galaxy Tab. Yet, its sad that the build quality is lacking..
And... lets be honest, Honeycomb needs a LOT of polishing. Its laggy, and has none of the media consumption apps people crave(i.e. netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, etc.)
If you like the Tab do yourself a favor and try not to look at the screen too close.. I fear that there are imperfections on most of them... which is inexcusable
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you clean your glasses before you inspected the tablet?
(J/k I returned one due to back light bleeding)
OP, if you got all of those from the same place, I suggest giving it one more shot and buying it somewhere else.
I bought the Acer Iconia yesterday morning, and I was really not very pleased with it. The weight is a big issue for me, but the biggest problem I had was the screen. It was responsive enough and fairly bright, but the color reproduction and black levels are awful... After spending several hours messing with it, I decided to take it back today and pick up a transformer.
However, this forum has to be the biggest wet blanket in the world. I now have no idea what I want to do. Yes the screen quality of Iconia is bad, and it does experience the SoD like every other Honeycomb tab, but the list of issues that are mounting here are pretty considerable. The IPS display, and the supportive dev community had me pumped and ready to go, but now I'm thinking that it might be a sideways move. Dead pixels, black stripes on the screen, SoD, creaking bezel, reboots, lock ups... Jeez...
I guess the Thrive is the next on the list, but damn... That thing is the size of a standard hardback novel. And it's expensive to boot.
Divinedark said:
I bought the Acer Iconia yesterday morning, and I was really not very pleased with it. The weight is a big issue for me, but the biggest problem I had was the screen. It was responsive enough and fairly bright, but the color reproduction and black levels are awful... After spending several hours messing with it, I decided to take it back today and pick up a transformer.
However, this forum has to be the biggest wet blanket in the world. I now have no idea what I want to do. Yes the screen quality of Iconia is bad, and it does experience the SoD like every other Honeycomb tab, but the list of issues that are mounting here are pretty considerable. The IPS display, and the supportive dev community had me pumped and ready to go, but now I'm thinking that it might be a sideways move. Dead pixels, black stripes on the screen, SoD, creaking bezel, reboots, lock ups... Jeez...
I guess the Thrive is the next on the list, but damn... That thing is the size of a standard hardback novel. And it's expensive to boot.
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I think the newer batch (serial number B60xxxx) has a better build ... SoD and slightly creaking bezel (it may be ignorable when you put it in a case) may still be there, but the other issues should be pretty much gone. Except if you got a lemon ...
Hmmm... I wonder if Best Buy will let me thumb through their stock to look for a B60??? They also don't sell a case, so I have to go out looking for one... Ugh...
Okay, you guys must have the worst luck in the world. My Transformer doesn't have any of these issues and I have a B50. Does it have problems right away or is mine going to develop these issues over time?
ShensMobile said:
Okay, you guys must have the worst luck in the world. My Transformer doesn't have any of these issues and I have a B50. Does it have problems right away or is mine going to develop these issues over time?
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Same. I have a B50 and my first one was completely fine.
And I don't think the issues are going to build over time.
Actually, it looks like the Thrive is having some pretty well-documented SOD issues itself. I've had decent luck with my TF. Minimal light bleed, and a slight looseness to the bezel on the right (right above SD card). Imperfections aside, I love it. I'll definitely hold me until Android tablets round 2 (ICS).
Well, the dude at Best Buy did actually let me thumb through the stock. I got one of the 3 B60 revisions that they had. I also picked up the stand/sleeve from Toys R Us on the way home. Here's to hoping this isn't a lemon.
I love the screen so much more than the Iconia... I played with the display model (also B60) while I was waiting on "customer service". Colors look sooooo much better.
I got a B6 at best buy they had them in the display locked up and i told him i needed one with a B6 serial number he got me one. the only thing i see wrong with this hardware wise. light bleed. im a happy camper. but i did buy the extended warranty.
Divinedark said:
Well, the dude at Best Buy did actually let me thumb through the stock. I got one of the 3 B60 revisions that they had. I also picked up the stand/sleeve from Toys R Us on the way home. Here's to hoping this isn't a lemon.
I love the screen so much more than the Iconia... I played with the display model (also B60) while I was waiting on "customer service". Colors look sooooo much better.
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Click to collapse
Welcome back.
Well, I got her home, charged, rooted, and running on Revolver 0.2.1. OC'd to 1.2Ghz.The tablet is everything that I wanted, so far. I am still pretty excited to see where the dev community goes. I really hope to see some new kernels and creative roms show their faces. I'd also like to see Virtuous's Galaxy/Xoom/Thrive roms on our little tab.
As far as issues. I have 3 places on the screen with minor spotlighting, but to be quite honest, I have worse on my iPad 1.
The battery life is stellar so far. Much better than I had with the Iconia. To top that off, the case Asus offers is EXACTLY what I was wanting. It's almost identical to the Apple iPad stand case.
The strangest thing I've noticed between the two tabs is the flash performance. The Transformer just blows the Iconia out of the water. Justin.TV is a completely pleasant experience all the up to the 720p+ mark and beyond. The Iconia had noticeable lag when playing anything on the channel.
The Iconia's speakers were definitely of a higher quality, but after correcting the speaker balance issue, and using Supercurio's mod, the sound is every bit as good, if not better than my iPad 1.
In the end, I'm pretty damn happy with it. My wife is a complete Apple fan, and she walked by while I was working on the Transformer, and she stopped and said "What is that?!?" I told her it was Android Honeycomb, and she snatched it out of my hands. That's fine... She can play, but in the end, she's getting the iPad...
This is my 5th Android tablet. The first Transformer had gone directly back to Best Buy due to terrible light bleed. Transformer Prime sold in a month. It had its obvious problems plus a screen problem: when you press a little harder on the right side of the screen it would flicker into white. Probably a faulty one. This is my 3d transformer and it is not that impressive. Surprisingly there is no light bleed at all, but the Prime was much better in every way. I sense and hear a squeaky sound when I press the right side of the back camera just under the power button as though it was not fitted well. I pressed all the sides and corners of the tablet, only this spot gives that sound. There is an emptiness there. It really is annoying. I still think I will keep it but wait for the new Samsung. MY GTAB 7 and 10.1 were also made with plastic but they were sturdier and far better in build quality. Asus keeps disappointing me.
Cool story bro.
Perhaps your expectations doesn't match the design specs and price tag of this machine? To me it seems they opted for better guts then exterior and screen.
Thats very true. ASUS wanted to give a nice device to those who couldn't meet the price tag. Everything comes at a cost, this tablet is plastic :T
Sent from my HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio using Tapatalk 2
Firstly, I am not quite sure why anyone would want to press the back right side of the tablet next to the back camera? If it squeaks, don't press it, no function on this tablet requires that part pressed, nor is it near anywhere near where one would hold it.
This is my 3rd tablet as well.
First, I had a Prime. I disagree the Prime was better in every way. No GPS, poor wifi signal, micro sd card slot poorly placed so the card kept popping out, micro hdmi port was loose - cable kept coming unplugged. Is the prime sexier, sure, but the aforementioned problems made it quite non-functional.
Second I had an Acer A510. Great tablet, just a bit bulky and had a terrible heat problem where the back of the tablet would reach over 100 degrees when 3D gaming...could not hold it anymore it was so hot. Also, due to low sales volumes, the tablet does not have much developer support, still don't have their own forum with similar launch date to this tablet.
I have had none of these problems on my TF300, it works amazingly well. I actually don't mind the plastic, it is comfortable to hold, and looks much better than I thought it would. The sound is great for a tablet, I had the a510 and believe this is comparable, even without the speaker separation. Is this tablet perfect, no: Battery life could be better and they could have used Gorilla glass, but those are minor nuisances compared to what I have dealt with on my other 2 two tablets and I don't think any tablet is perfect. I am not a budget buyer and purchased this tablet originally to check it out, but it is so good compared to anything else I have used, I plan to keep it and enjoy it.
I did press to get it out from its keyboard dock. Thats how I realized it was not fitted well. Do we really have to accept something with its flaws because it is cheaper? ASUS is a brand name I respect. I had more than 6 laptops, netbooks and now an ultrabook which I LOVE!!!! But we have to accept that Asus is less attentive when it comes to Android. We will see how they will try hard this fall or next year with their Windows 8 tablets and stuff.
I honestly think the build quality is great with the 399 price tag. I have no issues with light bleeding, creaking or loose parts. So far my experience is great and have no complaints.
Love my tab after unlocking and installing cm9. How much more could you ask for with a guad core processor and 399.99 price tag for a 32 gb! all the tablets I see are dual core for 399.99 for 16gb.
Asus, in my opinion gave us a budget tablet and then some. The realm of this tablet was to cut cost so everyone could afford Tegra 3 without buying a 700$ unit. I love my tablet
Sent from my VS910 4G using xda premium
Great, cheap, tablet.
Always fun to see how people can differ.
Some like the building quality and others think everything is cr*p. I think this is purely what you expect of it and what you want to spend. If you buy an IPad it is not comparable to a Asus because as the manufacturer is different the buildingprocess is different.
I think you (the topicstarter) just want to get a almost undestructible tablet. But tablets are just fragile and if you have a technical problem with one you just bring it back to the shop because you have warrenty.
At this point in time there is no better tablet to buy, yes i had the cash to get a prime, but i need good wifi coverage, which the prime has not, so i bought this one. I don't want older technology , and surely not at the same price (all other tabs are dual core at maximum)
I just didnt feel the thrill I felt when I held my Samsung 10.1 for the first time or even the TR Prime. TR Prime just for a couple of days.... But I agree with most views here. It is a very good tablet for its price. I like the battery usage. I havent charged it for more than 2 days now. Unnoticeable light bleed, etc... Just that squeaky sound
BTW. No Riptide onboard was a bum!
I think mine is fine, besides some uncomfortable cracking I tend to hear with the keyboard dock. Then again, I was not very impressed by my Asus laptop in terms of build quality either. I feel weird buying another Asus product after that laptop but there is nothing else that compares as far as I am concerned when it comes to tablets. I deal with it.
Well I was greeted with a busted pixel upon opening package still gave a try then started to have small bleed then by third week serious bleed, then when I hold on certain spots in landscape and portrait at different angles I get this blur like bleed as if im pressing to hard felt like if I held any looser I would drop it, also can barely see in the sun light other than that it works like heaven which really bugs me because I want it but dont believe it will last so im sending back and waiting for the reviews for the 700 when it releases after atleast a month has passed till then I will be pad less...........
bigwalt12 said:
Well I was greeted with a busted pixel upon opening package still gave a try then started to have small bleed then by third week serious bleed, then when I hold on certain spots in landscape and portrait at different angles I get this blur like bleed as if im pressing to hard felt like if I held any looser I would drop it, also can barely see in the sun light other than that it works like heaven which really bugs me because I want it but dont believe it will last so im sending back and waiting for the reviews for the 700 when it releases after atleast a month has passed till then I will be pad less...........
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I have none of those problems. You must have a defective unit, try exchanging for another one before final judgment.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA
I honestly love this pad but I see im not the only one experiencing this only bought this because the wifi issue with prime if the 700 solves this without a dongle with a better and brighter screen then I will get that one instead. I have a good relationship with amazon hate returning things multiple times I dont want to take another risk but you guys got a great pad for the price that is if you got a good one. Im gonna miss this pad but im hoping the 700 is worth the wait?????
Psyloid said:
At this point in time there is no better tablet to buy, yes i had the cash to get a prime, but i need good wifi coverage, which the prime has not, so i bought this one. I don't want older technology , and surely not at the same price (all other tabs are dual core at maximum)
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You nailed it! The only other tablets to compare to this one is the prime (poor GPS and wifi at $500) and the Acer a510 (no keyboard dock, overheat issues stalled sales at $450) and the Toshiba excite( screen issues, OS issues for I think $500- $550).
NO BRAINER to me.
Even if I dont thing 400 is cheap, it is a very good Pad. I dont have any dead pixels and not one other Problem. Wifi is is even better than my last tablet (Hannspad ). Would recommend it at any time.
The 300 is pretty much built the same way as the 101 plastic back..
I already got 2 S4 coming, but question is, I keep reading around in different threads that maybe the Note 2 is a better device than the S4, a few people who've already got their S4 are saying that the S4 does not compare to the Note 2, my wife wanted the note 2, and I talked her out of it....man I am in deep shi$ if she gets wind of any of this....and she reads a few areas here in xda...I smell the dog house coming
Throw out a few opinions...PLEASE! save me
TheAxman said:
I already got 2 S4 coming, but question is, I keep reading around in different threads that maybe the Note 2 is a better device than the S4, a few people who've already got their S4 are saying that the S4 does not compare to the Note 2, my wife wanted the note 2, and I talked her out of it....man I am in deep shi$ if she gets wind of any of this....and she reads a few areas here in xda...I smell the dog house coming
Throw out a few opinions...PLEASE! save me
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I have never used a S4 (I do own a Note 2) and based on specs alone the S4 wins (full hd display with almost twice the pixel density and dual quad core processors). Good news is, if your wife really wants a Note 2 you should be able to easily sell your S4, buy a Note 2 and pocket a few hundred bucks.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app
JB910 said:
I have never used a S4 (I do own a Note 2) and based on specs alone the S4 wins (full hd display with almost twice the pixel density and dual quad core processors). Good news is, if your wife really wants a Note 2 you should be able to easily sell your S4, buy a Note 2 and pocket a few hundred bucks.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app
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Thank you for that advice, spec wise is what I sold her on, but there a few people out there bashing the S4.
I am going to keep her out of the forums until she gets the S4 in her hand, she has a note 1 now.
My wife has a note 2 and the only thing to be envious about is battery life. After using the s4 for a week or two now, I'm always taken back on the screen quality of the note 2. It's no where near as good as the s4. Same goes for ergonomics, camera and so on. You made the right choice, don't listen to trolls and ask yourself, if the note 2 is so much better, why are their fan base posing in the s4 section?
Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk 2
robstunner said:
My wife has a note 2 and the only thing to be envious about is battery life. After using the s4 for a week or two now, I'm always taken back on the screen quality of the note 2. It's no where near as good as the s4. Same goes for ergonomics, camera and so on. You made the right choice, don't listen to trolls and ask yourself, if the note 2 is so much better, why are their fan base posing in the s4 section?
Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk 2
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Once the S4 gets some stable custom roms out with custom kernels I am sure the S4's battery life issues will be a non factor. I run Jedi Master 13 with Saberkernel 23 on my Note 2 and the speed and battery life of the rom blows the Note 2 stock rom out of the water. You are right, people are just trolling. Based on the S4s specs it is a superior phone.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app
Thanks guys, I kinda knew the G4 had better graphics, on the battery side, the Note gets her some serious time. I think I made the right choice, seen a few posts where some of the G4 users are selling them off now. wow. Don't remember, but I think this issue came up when the G3 was released also. man, I can not wait till I have that phone.
thanks, much appreciated!!!!
TheAxman said:
Thanks guys, I kinda knew the G4 had better graphics, on the battery side, the Note gets her some serious time. I think I made the right choice, seen a few posts where some of the G4 users are selling them off now. wow. Don't remember, but I think this issue came up when the G3 was released also. man, I can not wait till I have that phone.
thanks, much appreciated!!!!
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Really, only get the Note if you need the s-pen features and plan to actually, you know, take notes on the thing. Otherwise, go for the newest shiny.
burhanistan said:
Really, only get the Note if you need the s-pen features and plan to actually, you know, take notes on the thing. Otherwise, go for the newest shiny.
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That's exactly what my wife and I discovered. She came from the LG Lollipop to the Note2, and she was ecstatic about this thing, even though she "hated touchscreen phones" (mostly due to her experiences a long time ago with the Motorola Backflip, and the HTC Pure ... I don't blame her). She loves the Note2 because of the huge screen and low DPI (yet the picture is very clear and sharp at 720p) - excellent for texting and navigating around. She has no problems with a touchscreen now! Oh, and the camera is pretty good on the Note2 as well, with a snappy shutter time and extras like slo-mo video and such.
When she saw my S4, she was actually somewhat jealous! We've been comparing the devices side-by-side for a couple weeks now, and we've determined that the S4 is overall a much better phone. The primary exclusion to this statement is that the Note2 has the S-Pen, which is a really, really nice feature - for those who really use it. She uses it rarely to doodle or take some notes when she doesn't feel like dealing with the onscreen keyboard, so it would not be a huge loss for her if it were gone.
The sacrifice of .5in of diagonal screen space is noticeable by comparison, but the 5" screen the S4 has will still outshine nearly any other smartphone - especially at 1080p.
Lastly, I will comment on the covers. We purchased the official Samsung flip cover for her device, primarily because it was too difficult to find a third-party cheap-knockoff that actually included the NFC antenna. They exist now, but they were hard to come by when we were shopping. At least the S4 doesn't include the NFC antenna as part of the battery cover. >_<
I purchased the S-View cover at the nearest corporate AT&T store (30mi away or so in the next town) because I wanted it on Day-One (I had my phone on Day-Negative-One, and I was eager to buy the silly cover). After shelling out $60, I drove home with the shiny S-View cover, and I once again made my wife jealous. While she'll admit that the S-View window is a tad gimmicky, she both finds it "really cool!" and actually kinda useful for every-day use.
So, just as burhanistan stated: if you have a great need for the awesome S-Pen that the Note2 provides, buy it. Otherwise, the S4 certainly competes to be the best phone ever created to-date (IMHO).
She has been reading this thread at work, the pen she said is a plus, I think I got her leaning toward the G4, you guys are helping a bunch. I like the idea of the earlier reply, sell the G4 if she is not happy, get her the note 2 and save some $$$.
Or just keep it, and pass it on to some devs to help out with the rom progress, that would be my contribution to the cause.
This seriously is helping, cause she is seeing it from other people who have the phone and have been using it already.
Thanks
Aou said:
That's exactly what my wife and I discovered. She came from the LG Lollipop to the Note2, and she was ecstatic about this thing, even though she "hated touchscreen phones" (mostly due to her experiences a long time ago with the Motorola Backflip, and the HTC Pure ... I don't blame her). She loves the Note2 because of the huge screen and low DPI (yet the picture is very clear and sharp at 720p) - excellent for texting and navigating around. She has no problems with a touchscreen now! Oh, and the camera is pretty good on the Note2 as well, with a snappy shutter time and extras like slo-mo video and such.
When she saw my S4, she was actually somewhat jealous! We've been comparing the devices side-by-side for a couple weeks now, and we've determined that the S4 is overall a much better phone. The primary exclusion to this statement is that the Note2 has the S-Pen, which is a really, really nice feature - for those who really use it. She uses it rarely to doodle or take some notes when she doesn't feel like dealing with the onscreen keyboard, so it would not be a huge loss for her if it were gone.
The sacrifice of .5in of diagonal screen space is noticeable by comparison, but the 5" screen the S4 has will still outshine nearly any other smartphone - especially at 1080p.
Lastly, I will comment on the covers. We purchased the official Samsung flip cover for her device, primarily because it was too difficult to find a third-party cheap-knockoff that actually included the NFC antenna. They exist now, but they were hard to come by when we were shopping. At least the S4 doesn't include the NFC antenna as part of the battery cover. >_<
I purchased the S-View cover at the nearest corporate AT&T store (30mi away or so in the next town) because I wanted it on Day-One (I had my phone on Day-Negative-One, and I was eager to buy the silly cover). After shelling out $60, I drove home with the shiny S-View cover, and I once again made my wife jealous. While she'll admit that the S-View window is a tad gimmicky, she both finds it "really cool!" and actually kinda useful for every-day use.
So, just as burhanistan stated: if you have a great need for the awesome S-Pen that the Note2 provides, buy it. Otherwise, the S4 certainly competes to be the best phone ever created to-date (IMHO).
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You have a pic or a link to the cover?
I had both but returned my S4 & switched back to my GN2 since I'm changing carriers. At first it was hard to get use to since I was so use to the GN2.
I rarely use the spen but the big screen & not having to charge every night with the GN2 is awesome.
I was getting about 20-22hrs w/ 5-7hrs screen time with my S4.
I do admit being able to use the phone with one hand is cool but typing was a little awkward since I'm so use to typing with 2 hands on my GN2.
Now that I'm back to my GN2, I'm not sure if I want to get the S4 when the 32gb for TMO comes out but knowing my habit of always wanting the latest gadgets, I'll probably do get it. Lol.
-Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note II using Tapatalk 2
TheAxman said:
You have a pic or a link to the cover?
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Click to collapse
This YouTube video shows it in action, but I think it's French or something (dun car, not English). Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8mQOrk2DBg
Here' my experience with the S-View cover:
If you do not have a password/pattern/number lock on your lock screen (simply set to swipe-to-unlock), just opening the S-View cover will turn on and unlock the device. You open it, and it's ready-to-use immediately.
Closing the lid will lock the device for the most part, and for the next 10 seconds or so, it will show the time and notification icons (and battery/signal/etc) through the little window. After 10 seconds, the device shuts off. You can power it back on like this with the power button, but it doesn't unlock it until you open it again.
The window itself appears to be made of glass. It's fairly nice - I was half expecting it to be crappy plastic. If it's not glass, it's really nice plastic.
You can answer or decline incoming calls through the glass when it rings with a swipe of a little round icon one way or the other. Pretty neat, but if you have the touch sensitivity all the way down, you might have a slight trouble using this feature. I haven't tried it since the OTA update, so they may have improved that!
You can hang up an existing call in a similar fashion.
The flip cover itself needs some time to "break in". When you first put it on, it will not lay flat onto the glass of your phone without some convincing, or being held in place by your pocket. After enough use, or a day or two, it gets much better. Don't think the cover is defective from this, it's just too tight in the "hinge" at first, but will loosen up with use.
Occasionally, if I have the cover flipped backwards for long periods, it somewhat emulates the same effect as the above point. It will shy away from the screen for a brief while, and then return to normal. I suspect after several more weeks, this will go away entirely at this rate.
One thing that I really do like about this cover: Because it replaces the battery cover of your phone, it adds virtually no bulk to the phone. It is very slightly thicker, and I can tell you that I appreciate it for one reason: The normal battery cover is inset, such that the camera lens sticks out the furthest, and when placing the device on a flat surface, it rests on the edge of the camera lens. On the S-View flip cover, the new back sticks out just a hair past the camera lens, so it no longer rests on the camera anymore. I take a lot of pictures, so I like to keep my camera lens immaculate.
The glass window will get rather dirty, especially if you shove the phone against a greasy head. Not a big deal, just use a microfiber cloth once in a while and some screen cleaner to get it shiny again.
The normal covers have no window, and so when you open it all the way (flipped around backwards), you can't use the rear-facing camera! With the S-View cover, it lines up such that you can use the camera straight through the glass on the cover. A nice touch, really. Because I take a lot of close-up shots and other detailed pictures, I choose not to flip the cover all the way around, because sometimes the window is dirty. So I just flip it downwards or whatnot.
The flip cover, even when purchased through AT&T, does not have AT&T's logo on the back, like the normal battery cover. I like it that way better. Even better: the front shows "Galaxy S4" near the bottom, and makes it a lot easier to show that you have a really, really cool phone.
I hope this all helps if debating whether to drop $60 on the S-View cover or not. Generics are starting to become available, but I don't know anything about the quality, etc.
---------- Post added at 12:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:30 PM ----------
RMXO said:
I had both but returned my S4 & switched back to my GN2 since I'm changing carriers. At first it was hard to get use to since I was so use to the GN2.
I rarely use the spen but the big screen & not having to charge every night with the GN2 is awesome.
I was getting about 20-22hrs w/ 5-7hrs screen time with my S4.
I do admit being able to use the phone with one hand is cool but typing was a little awkward since I'm so use to typing with 2 hands on my GN2.
Now that I'm back to my GN2, I'm not sure if I want to get the S4 when the 32gb for TMO comes out but knowing my habit of always wanting the latest gadgets, I'll probably do get it. Lol.
-Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note II using Tapatalk 2
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I didn't mention battery at all, but you bring up a point. The Note2 has excellent battery life, there's no doubt about that. The S4 has "good" battery life in my experience, especially coming from the S2. People are saying that battery life has improved with the OTA update recently, but I haven't had a good chance to test that out. Freezing bloatware has really been a big help to increasing the battery life, regardless.
My S4 easily lasts the day, and can last two days with moderate/intermittent usage. I think the OTA update may have improved the battery life significantly, but I will have to test this out over the next couple days. Also, keeping it on Wi-Fi where available seems to be the best way to conserve battery life in my area.
Went from the note 2 to s4 pre update, ui fluidity was the only issue. I addressed it with nova launcher and the options in the developers setting, which made the ui very fast. Update addresses that issue and everything else on the s4 is better and my battery life is very comparable. I get 20+ hours with 4+ hours of screen time easily and I'm sure it will increase with roms and kernels.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium
porkaysi said:
Went from the note 2 to s4 pre update, ui fluidity was the only issue. I addressed it with nova launcher and the options in the developers setting, which made the ui very fast. Update addresses that issue and everything else on the s4 is better and my battery life is very comparable. I get 20+ hours with 4+ hours of screen time easily and I'm sure it will increase with roms and kernels.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium
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Thanks, I needed this one....
I had the Note 2 for a week before I traded it for the S4. They are both awesome devices, but imo the S4 was the right choice for me. Much easier to carry it in your pocket. Battery life not as good, but that was expected. Cant go wrong either way. Go to the store and play with them both.
qbanlinxx said:
I had the Note 2 for a week before I traded it for the S4. They are both awesome devices, but imo the S4 was the right choice for me. Much easier to carry it in your pocket. Battery life not as good, but that was expected. Cant go wrong either way. Go to the store and play with them both.
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funny you said that.. we just got back from the mall...saw them both....the wife agreed on the S4...so I am safe..for now....she will be ok when it arrives Monday. thanks...I showed her a few of the posts here...thanks to you all....very good imput.
TheAxman said:
funny you said that.. we just got back from the mall...saw them both....the wife agreed on the S4...so I am safe..for now....she will be ok when it arrives Monday. thanks...I showed her a few of the posts here...thanks to you all....very good imput.
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She made a wise choice, I have a Note 2 and would gladly trade it for a S4. I don't even use my Spen, I got it last September because it had the best guts and it's a Samsung. Never buy a HTC. PITA software and very unforgiving. Buy Sammy, Odin is your friend. Enjoy your S4's!
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app
JB910 said:
She made a wise choice, I have a Note 2 and would gladly trade it for a S4. I don't even use my Spen, I got it last September because it had the best guts and it's a Samsung. Never buy a HTC. PITA software and very unforgiving. Buy Sammy, Odin is your friend. Enjoy your S4's!
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app
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I had a htc hd2...it was a nightmare..to flash roms...a win phone..dual boot crap..rock solid...hard to deal with...hehe i ask her..how much are you really use that pen..also the res on the s4 was SWEET...they had the perfect wallpaper on that demo...i showed her she said ok. so when she gets that new rom on it...she won't even mention the note. its on now.
as far as the G3...i love the damn thing..my son is keeping his...so i will be hanging around here for awhile still...sold 2 keeping 1...