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[Q]Should i Buy a Glaxy Tab 2?

Well I recently got a Pantech burst, hence my name. But now im looking for a tablet for personal use and school. Im also interested in the ASUS Eee pad and the nexus 7. Any tips on what to get/reasons to get the tab 2?

I have an gtab 2 10.1 and i have to say that its amazing. Its smooth, has a nice display, good music boxes for a tablet and the battery life is awesome. ( 28 h with intensive use of wifi games and some youtube vids.)
The only thing thats bad about this tablet is the camera, but i think... ITS A TABLET! NOT A CANON EOS!
A little pro for you is the support of the users here in xda

PantechBurstOwner said:
Well I recently got a Pantech burst, hence my name. But now im looking for a tablet for personal use and school. Im also interested in the ASUS Eee pad and the nexus 7. Any tips on what to get/reasons to get the tab 2?
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Click to collapse
Be cautious when considering the Asus. I bought a new Transformer Prime 64GB, mainly because it seemed to be rated high and was cutting edge. It never worked right. Twice I had to send it to Texas for "repair", the first time when it was only a few days old. Asus has them locked and the unlocking app doesn't work for many, so there's no way to load CWM or a custom ROM. While just under the return window I sent mine back to Amazon for a refund and ordered the 10.1 Tab 2. It may not be cutting edge, but Samsung stuff is solid and there's a lot of support. You might also want to spend some time reading the threads here on XDA about the Asus before you decide. I wish I did. Just my two cents!

I had the 8gb nexus 7 and loved it but not enough storage for me. I have the Gtab 2 7.0 with a 32gb SD card and am very happy with my purchase. If storage isn't an issue for you I would go with the nexus 7.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium

azturbomini said:
I had the 8gb nexus 7 and loved it but not enough storage for me. I have the Gtab 2 7.0 with a 32gb SD card and am very happy with my purchase. If storage isn't an issue for you I would go with the nexus 7.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
Click to expand...
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this.
as much as I like my tab 2, for most folk the 16gb nexus 7 is the better purchase.

azturbomini said:
I had the 8gb nexus 7 and loved it but not enough storage for me. I have the Gtab 2 7.0 with a 32gb SD card and am very happy with my purchase. If storage isn't an issue for you I would go with the nexus 7.
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Agreed. I've gone through a couple phases with my Tab 2 7" thus far. I was initially a bit disappointed in it as the screen and performance weren't quite as crisp as my Galaxy S2 phone. But after more day-to-day use and comparing it with the hacked Nook Color I'd been using previously it's really started to grow on me and I quite like it now, especially given the price. But if I had to buy new right now I'd probably opt for a 16GB Nexus 7. The extra space provided by an external storage card on my Tab is largely useless as far as most apps are concerned.

PantechBurstOwner said:
Well I recently got a Pantech burst, hence my name. But now im looking for a tablet for personal use and school. Im also interested in the ASUS Eee pad and the nexus 7. Any tips on what to get/reasons to get the tab 2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got the Tab2 because it shipped with ICS, has a back camera and expandable storage. No regrets. I am not in the US so I wouldn't have been able to access all the Google services. Tab2 was a bit less ($10) than the Nexus for me.

You should search. You would see the other five threads asking the same question.
No, don't buy one. Get an ipad.

scottx . said:
You should search. You would see the other five threads asking the same question.
No, don't buy one. Get an ipad.
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Ha good one. Like I would spend my money on an apple product. Also the nexus tablet is like Two weeks? Two days old. I doubt someone compared it to this but thanks for the negativity downer Dan!

I am very happy with my Tab 2, but in the end I think the i-pad is the better choice: many more tablet apps available.
Verstuurd van mijn GT-P5100 met Tapatalk

Like scottx said buy an IPad so you can support sue happy Apple. They need more money so they can block or delay us in getting new non-apple products.
Seriously, I would do a lot of research and find local stores that have various ones on display and take some time to play with them. This is a big purchase for some of us. I kind of rushed into it and am not sure I made the best decision even though I am happy with my Tab 2. I had a Toshiba Excite 10 and it was great also with the exception that there is still not a lot of developers making apps that are compatible or support the Tegra 3 processor. And the fact that there was a glitch in the camera (which is better than the Tab 2) that caused some issues.
Good luck in you search and decision.

Whatever you do.. get something over 8GB ,,,,,,
Sent from my GT-P3100 using xda app-developers app

Sure
I'd owned iPad 2 about a year but traded it for Galaxy Tab 2 (5100) so I have experience for both devices.
iPad is absolutely unusable without JailBreak. And you can not guarantee some smart guy will make a jailbreak for new iOs version.
But it is smooth and handy and sweet and yummy. And all girls are yours (if you own Ferrari as well).
SGT2 is scarcely usable with stock Samsung rom. It's sluggish and it lives its own life and doesn't care what exactly you want to get by poking your finger into the screen. Sometimes it may make an exception and mercifully respond to your wishes. May be such an impression comes after iPad since raw android users don't experience anything like that.
Yesterday with help of comrade Endoroid I managed to flash CyanogenMod 9 to my SGT2. And you know what - it is smooth almost like iPad now but you haven't to perform all those Voodoo dance to just put a file on it. So now I have all the mighty might of android swiss knife and smoothness of near of such of Ipad.
As a summary - I would recommend you this device if you can handle flashing a custom rom and don't bother about warranty.
Make your choice (c) John Kramer.

Got my GTab 2 since yesterday. It ran only 1 minute stock (to copy CM9 and gapps on flash) . Now I'm running CM 9 RC2 - CM10 4.1 is in progress by codeworkx. It's so smooth :fingers-crossed: ! Love it! Only thing is, that dock features like audio/hdmi over dock connector aren't supported yet.

I've read in many threads that the build quality of the Nexus 7 is not very good. Asus tried to build it so that it would be easy to tear down and replace parts, and in order to do that, they did not use any glue to hold in the screen. This may been nice for the repair department, but it sucks for the average user constantly getting a loose screen (eventually causing damage to the screen).

Thanks guys, im pretty sure im going to get the tab, and whats this about the nexus 7's screen coming loose. Any links to that??

PantechBurstOwner said:
Thanks guys, im pretty sure im going to get the tab, and whats this about the nexus 7's screen coming loose. Any links to that??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1781237
The problem is that there is no glue.
Check out this video on the teardown.
http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Nexus-7-Teardown/9623/1
Hmm.. and one more thing. It looks like the screen has yet another problem with "ghosting" images.
http://www.androidauthority.com/nexus-7-ghosting-issues-affect-some-displays-99349/
Oh and also it seems that Tegra 3 chips have a severe "flickering" problem with the display.
Gee.. that is like 3 separate problems directly related to the screen
There is a hardware problem that affects the flickering in the display. When the brightness level is turned down, the IPS panel is affected when the broadcom WiFi chip receives data. So, if you want to use the internet and turn down the brightness, you will get (from what other people say) severe flickering on the screen. Sounds annoying.

I got myself the galaxy tab 2 and overall well i will say for stock rom it does ok if you are doing light work (surfing,and music) although you do see the screen or tapping of screen lag when you are running more things. However overall rather stable for android os 4.0.3. i think there is an update to 4.0.4 but i guess i will stick with 4.0.3 a while longer before moving on to custom roms.

PantechBurstOwner said:
Well I recently got a Pantech burst, hence my name. But now im looking for a tablet for personal use and school. Im also interested in the ASUS Eee pad and the nexus 7. Any tips on what to get/reasons to get the tab 2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NO! Don't buy Galaxy Tab 2, I suggest you to buy an Asus Transformer Pad than Gtab 2 because some reasons:
1. It's cheaper
2. It's using NVIDIA Tegra 2 GPU (Transformer) which run graphics very smoothly than Gtab 2 which only powered by PowerVR
3. Asus Transformer's dock is very usable, your tab can transformed into a netbook
4. The dock could extend the battery of the tab up to 6-10 hours as I know
5. The widget and live wallpaper is pretty cool and awesome B)
6. Asus built in apps is very usable too
And the last...
7. It's have good specs for gaming
But I just suggest you and you've still consider which is the best for you
Sent from my GT-P5100 using XDA Premium HD app

You should install this rom,if you like stock roms. Very nice indeed. Remove the bloatware,install some sort of app that stop apps from starting on their own, and you will see a nice improvement.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1765313

Would you trade n7 for galaxy tab 10.1?

Would u trade ur n7 for a galaxy tab 10.1. My friend wants to trade me strait up. I like the bigger tab but I love the n7 tho.
Sent from my Samsung Cyanogenmodded S III

Nope. Sammy can go take a hike with their 10.1.

You get a bigger screen, but that's the only major benefit. The Nexus 7 has a better CPU (Tegra 3 vs Tegra 2, quad core vs dual), and is probably going to have a better development scene (however, I have no idea on the current state of development on the GT 10.1).
Edit: Hmm, it also seems to get cellular and rear camera. If you want cellular, and have a want for a rear camera, I don't see it as that bad of a deal.

No, I've never liked 10" tablets, iPads or otherwise. The N7 is the perfect size for me.
Don't need the cellular since I can tether to my HOX, and taking pictures or video with a tablet makes you look like an idiot.

Yeah I like that it has a rear can but do t really need it I have an s3. But I really like the bigger screen and as fas as the development I already feel too caught up with my s3 that I just flashed paranoid android to my n7 and left it alone.
I guess I just wanna feel good about giving up a newer product for an older model
Sent from my Samsung Cyanogenmodded S III

If you can sell the Tab for more than the cost of the Nexus 7, then it might be worth it to make the trade, sell the Tab, and then buy a new Nexus 7.

True but If I trade id just keep it. But thanks guys for ur input
Sent from my Samsung Cyanogenmodded S III

The Tab 10.1 is a nice device. Its a generation behind in specs. I liked my 10" Transformer but it had a micro SD card and HDMI out. I found it tedious to lug around and eventually stopped using it because of such. Everytime I wanted to use it, it was dead.
I sold my transformer for $200. The N7 was $250+tax. Not sure what the Tab sells for but they are probably being flooded in the market since the 10" Note is out.
Sammy stopped updating the Tab a long time ago. I'm not sure if it even officially got ICS let alone jelly bean. The N7 has JB and will get KeyLime Pie when its released and probably LoliPop.
Tell him to sell it over in the Market and pick up a N7.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium

I've always hated larger tablets... once you hit 10" tablets I find little reason to not just get a laptop and be done with it. While the N7 is smaller, it's very workable. We're remodeling some areas of our house, and I keep a few pictures and measurement notes down in my N7. When I'm at Lowes, it's nice to pull out the N7 and get a better idea of what I'm facing at home. Since the N7 fits in my back pocket, it's only another +1 to that court.
That's just my 2c though. I've talked to some people who love 10" tablets. I personally don't, and on that premise alone I wouldn't do the trade. That being said, you're also swapping out for slightly older hardware too. Nothing wrong with that if it's worth it, but I see no compelling reason that I personally would do that trade.

Heavy tab 10.1，I like my N7

NNNNOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thats the first thing i want to say to you.
i am ex tab 10.1 owner.
the performance is TERRIBLE!!!!
i started using from stock honeycomb 3.1
its laggy beyond words, and i was forced to learn to root and flash custom roms that are 3.2
things got SLIGHTLY better but it was still laggy.
simple things like typing on keyboard, bringing up on screen keyboard, scrolling are still choppy.
then ICS came, and i flash various customs like AOKP and CM9
things got better again, overall UI is acceptable, no where near buttery smooth but still ok.
however only the UI smoothness improved in ICS, apps, games, any slightly 3D games will play in "slow motion" or "stop frame" style.
the tegra2 just dont cut it. its a dissapointment.
i sold my tab10,1 the moment i saw google IO announce nexus 7.
nexus 7 is superior in every way then that tab10.1 in terms of performance, responsiveness.
the only weakness is the small screen, but that gives it another benefit which is better portability.
the tab 10,1 browser crashes on a daily basis.
memory management is terrible even on ics.
try load FB desktop page on tab 10,1 stock browser, keep scrolling down,
as the FB page loads more newsfeeds, the scrolling becomes soo laggy, and it will start FC eventually.
NEVER trade your nexus 7 for tab10.1. you will surely regret it.

I actually did the opposite, sold my Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 and got the N7. Main reason was the weight and portability, I lasted 30 minutes with the 10.1 in the bath and my arms got tired. With the N7, I can watch movies anywhere, holding anyway I want and it feels great. Plus it's much more snappier (I did install a CM10 nightly on the 10.1 which was much better than its stock ICS but wasn't as great).

Nexus 7 is the best Android tablet out there in my opinion. Not just the best 7 inch, the best. I'm somewhat of a perfectionist when it comes to tech. I've had an Acer Iconia 10" and 7", Transformer prime, Galaxy tab 2, and now this. Not quite every tablet on the market but a pretty decent cross section. I've also had a close look at a few other tabs.
The only thing that comes close is the transformer prime. That thing is ok but it's harder to hold, much heavier and the dock seems like a nice idea but ends up being a pita in practice.
This thing is a little pocket rocket, very powerful whilst being very easy to hold even for long periods and extremely portable.
By the way the galaxy tab is ****. Samsung don't even bother to support it so it was still on honeycomb when I last checked two weeks ago.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

I need your help deciding if I should get the note 10.1

so I'm torn between this and the Nexus 7. Please tell me what you like about the note and why I should get it over the Nexus 7. Or if you don't like it and you think I should get the Nexus 7.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda app-developers app

RussellEstridge25 said:
so I'm torn between this and the Nexus 7. Please tell me what you like about the note and why I should get it over the Nexus 7. Or if you don't like it and you think I should get the Nexus 7.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
There are a ton of posts already with comparisons. If u search for them u can get more information.
Note is the best 10 inch tablet, while n7 is the best 7 inch tablet.
Figure out if u like 10ijch or 7 inch better.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk

I have both and use them for different reasons. I like to game and read books on the Nexus 7 due to the size.
With the Note 10.1 I like to surf the web, watch movies and listen to music.
If I had to pick one it would be the Note 10.1 due to the quality, the specs and the overall function.

I came from xoom to here n i nvr regret at all

Note, note, note, note, note, note, note, note, note, note, note!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why get the Nexus 7 when you can just look at your phone? Also, the Note has the pen.
I bought the Note and gave my 7 inch tablet to my GF. Haven't regretted that choice for a second.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk 2

So do games work well on the note ?? And is jellybean available?

RussellEstridge25 said:
So do games work well on the note ?? And is jellybean available?
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Are you serious? How can you ask people which tablet is "better" for you when you don't even know the basic specs of either tablet? Sounds like you need to do some research before asking your questions -- otherwise, we won't be able to really help you.
Nexus 7:
7 inch
vanilla android 4.1 (JB)
Tegra 3
$199-$250
Note 10.1:
10 inch
Currently android 4.0, soon to be updated to 4.1 w/Touchwiz
Exynos 4412 + Mali 400MP
s-pen
$499-$550
What you're asking is comparing apples vs oranges. Which of these tablets is right for you is for YOU to decide. What you want to do with your tablet has everything to do with which one you should choose. Do you value the S-pen? If so, buy the note. Do you want an inexpensive device running plain jellybean with updates straight from Google? Get the Nexus 7.
Whatever you do, do your homework first & familiarize yourself with the devices. The specs and info on both are everywhere on the web. If you want to hear about people's experiences with the Note 10.1, there are TONS of posts here detailing just that. Head over to the Nexus forums to find similar posts on that device, too. Go to the store and play with both in hand. Read about which one is good for the tasks you want it to do. Make yourself a list of pros and cons for each. Given that the two devices you've listed are so vastly different in spec and usage, I should think your choice will end up being an easy one.
That said, I love my Note 10.1, but I bought it specifically for the s-pen feature. It just happens to outperform all of my other devices at just about everything else, too, so I've no regrets with my purchase. Sound quality is amazing (both speakers and with my headphones). I love S-Note & Photoshop Touch. Video playback is great. Games run beautifully & I do not believe I've had a single FC yet. It does everything I want & it does it with ease.

RussellEstridge25 said:
So do games work well on the note ?? And is jellybean available?
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Yes. As others have posted in XDA, not yet.
To expand on my answers, you should know that not all games will work on the Nexus 7 stock due to its size. Same as some games may not work on the 10" platform either (although more seem to run on 10" than 7").
Honestly you should go and figure out why you want a tablet in the first place THEN ask questions. Sounds to me like you are partially obsessed with having the newest Android OS and gaming, which as of this moment leaves you with the Nexus 7 since it is the only one with Jelly Bean stock.

I appreciate all your feedback. I know I'm coming off like I didn't do any research but I did do some... I have never owned a tablet so I wanted some feedback on which one is best. There is no one thing I want to do with it, I want the best tablet to do everything. I want to basically replace my laptop and then some. I want a big screen so this one appealed to me, I want to be able to play games with no lag, software isn't a deal breaker for me but I'm sure JB will get to this device soon enough. I love Sammy, I currently have the epic 4g touch and love it. I've heard excellent thing about the nexus 7 and nothing about the note 10.1 from friends. So I came here...

RussellEstridge25 said:
I want to basically replace my laptop and then some.
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Whether an Android tablet can do this or not depends on what you do with your laptop. If it's consumption, e-mail, and the occasional document you'll be fine. If you connect to physical networks, use a lot of MS products, and have to format and print stuff you'll be better off looking at a W8 tablet when they come out. One of the biggest differences between a 7" and 10" tablet is portability. With the smaller tablet it's easier to hold with one hand and you can stuff it in smaller places when you're carrying it around. The obvious downside is you give up a lot of display real estate in the process. Go in to a B&M store and spend some time with each trying out the things you'll do most often. My phone has a 4.7" display so to me a 7" tablet isn't a big enough leap to make me want to consider it.

BarryH_GEG said:
Whether an Android tablet can do this or not depends on what you do with your laptop. If it's consumption, e-mail, and the occasional document you'll be fine. If you connect to physical networks, use a lot of MS products, and have to format and print stuff you'll be better off looking at a W8 tablet when they come out. One of the biggest differences between a 7" and 10" tablet is portability. With the smaller tablet it's easier to hold with one hand and you can stuff it in smaller places when you're carrying it around. The obvious downside is you give up a lot of display real estate in the process. Go in to a B&M store and spend some time with each trying out the things you'll do most often. My phone has a 4.7" display so to me a 7" tablet isn't a big enough leap to make me want to consider it.
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Click to collapse
Mainly just browsing, downloading files such as roms, and the occasional torrent file, I have a separate work laptop for all that other stuff. What do you all use yours for?

If you're even considering the Nexus 7, then you're not focused on power. So I'd say that it comes down to 2 things: Are you A)Buying it for any productivity related reasons that would benefit from having a stylus, or B) Going to be playing lots of graphic intensive games? If you answered "yes" to either if these questions, then pick up the Note (Although you could get by with the newest galaxy tab for gaming).If not, get the 7.

The Note does everything the Nexus 7 does minus Jellybean, which will change soon. Top features the Nexus doesn't have that I use and will use:
Stylus and Handwriting Recognition- Very useful for taking notes, writing poems, composition, doodling, funner than typing.
Bigger Screen- Videos, Reading, Visibility
Micro SD slot- expandable storage
2GB RAM
I would say the Note is just like the Nexus just with more productivity capabilities and more powerful.

Justinchi said:
The Note does everything the Nexus 7 does minus Jellybean, which will change soon. Top features the Nexus doesn't have that I use and will use:
Stylus and Handwriting Recognition- Very useful for taking notes, writing poems, composition, doodling, funner than typing.
Bigger Screen- Videos, Reading, Visibility
Micro SD slot- expandable storage
2GB RAM
I would say the Note is just like the Nexus just with more productivity capabilities and more powerful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually for gaming I would go with the Nexus 7 because of Tegra specific games and apps...
Also the Nexus 7 will have a much more active dev scene, if that is what you are into.
That said I went with the Note 10.1. It's actually Samsung's TouchWiz interface and apps that won me over

hairdewx said:
Actually for gaming I would go with the Nexus 7 because of Tegra specific games and apps...
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Click to collapse
I own both devices and the Note 10.1 is clearly better for gaming due to faster and smoother performance and much better speakers.

Would pick the note....I came from the transformer prime....No tegra graphics but everything else is a plus....hands down winner for me is the note

I also have both and have hardly touched the Nexus 7 since I got the Note.
If I had to choose only one, it would be the Note without even stopping to blink.
Sent from my GT-N8010 using Tapatalk 2

I just got a Note
I was in your shoes a few weeks ago. I really wanted to upgrade my Acer A500 with an iPad 3. But then I decided to really question what I wanted. I weighed 10" tablets against the 7" tablets. The Nexus 7 I really liked at first. What turned my off was the lack of a microSD slot. That's one of the things that turned me off to the iPad. I saw the Note from a distance but as soon as I got some time to play with it in the store I was hooked. Writing with the pen is amazing! Plus the difference between a 7" and 10" screen is pretty big. You can watch a video and surf the internet at the same time. I haven't been even a little disappointed since I got my Note!

jdawgcurtis said:
I was in your shoes a few weeks ago. I really wanted to upgrade my Acer A500 with an iPad 3. But then I decided to really question what I wanted. I weighed 10" tablets against the 7" tablets. The Nexus 7 I really liked at first. What turned my off was the lack of a microSD slot. That's one of the things that turned me off to the iPad. I saw the Note from a distance but as soon as I got some time to play with it in the store I was hooked. Writing with the pen is amazing! Plus the difference between a 7" and 10" screen is pretty big. You can watch a video and surf the internet at the same time. I haven't been even a little disappointed since I got my Note!
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Click to collapse
I heard the note is more pixelated, and wouldn't the nexus 7 be more ideal for games since you can hold it easier? Not that gaming is the deal breaker for me by any means....

I have a iPad 3 but falling in love with the note

I am thinking of returning my iPad 3 for the Note. Is it worth the 500?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

why not just keep both like i do...Note is excellent i just hope it gets updated regularly...am a bit disappointed on the build quality though.

emahmood87 said:
why not just keep both like i do...Note is excellent i just hope it gets updated regularly...am a bit disappointed on the build quality though.
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Click to collapse
That's what is disturbing me too. Cant afford to keep both. I have been having issue with getting my excel sheets on to iPad with USB cable. Plus my movies and playing them. The iPad is very complicated when it comes to file transfers and playing media not in iTunes. I don't find the apps anymore intuitive then android; they are basically becoming the same ESPN taptu pulse Google + ect. I also miss the SD card slot I think I have made up my mind.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

qhinton said:
That's what is disturbing me too. Cant afford to keep both. I have been having issue with getting my excel sheets on to iPad with USB cable. Plus my movies and playing them. The iPad is very complicated when it comes to file transfers and playing media not in iTunes. I don't find the apps anymore intuitive then android; they are basically becoming the same ESPN taptu pulse Google + ect. I also miss the SD card slot I think I have made up my mind.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like you are experiencing the problems with the closed garden of iOS which is why I have little use for Apple products. The flexibility of android more then makes up for its issues. After all, all operating systems have, IMO, things about them that can be problematic.
As far as build issues, I find the Note solid enough for my needs. Like all tabs on need to take care using them (good case, screen protector, etc). The display quality is the only aspect of the iPad3 that "wins" over the Note IMO. But the Note's display is fine for my needs.
HTH

You are asking in the Note forum so you will probably hear YES, I'd agree with them. It depends on what features you love about the note and how often you would use them, ask yourself, can the Ipdad do this?

qhinton said:
I am thinking of returning my iPad 3 for the Note. Is it worth the 500?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
I bought an ipad for my daughter and it is great for my daughter. I can lock it down even more and she can only play the games i put on there and the movies i put on there. For her the locked down can't do anything else is an awesome...err...feature? I do hate having to convert movies to a specific format to play on her ipad. But my wife has an iphone and it is painful to send her anything besides a picture. And we always have to close stuff to make things work on the ipad. And sometimes it says its disc is full when there are several gigs free. Requires a reset and reload of everything to fix. It seems sturdy, but I have it in a gorilla case. How important is metal body? You should be careful enough to not drop something that expensive anyways. I've never dropped a tablet or laptop. Just my phone.
I had a transformer prime, loved the keyboard, but it was laggy all the time and never held wifi. So i returned to BB and got the 16, then 32 gig Note. Don't waste time with the 16 btw. But I can edit documents on it no problem. I can put 720p mkv files on it and it just plays them. Same for any divx/xvid movie. And sure the resolution is less than the ipad 3, daughter has ipad1. I don't feel the need to watch 1080p movies on it. If I want that high of quality then I'll watch on my tv. The note just flies. It is so quick and responsive. And I love the screen, think its perfect resolution. It is crystal clear for me with no light leaks. Same res as my work laptop. Speakers on the front, why doesn't every one do this? The ipad sucks for watching anything I think. Can't hear that well unless you turn it all the way up. Still isn't that loud. The note speakers play stereo, into your ears, like its meant to be. And there is no bluetooth audio lag when using wireless headphones. The sd card slot is a must. With the cheap price of 32gig ones you can pretty much carry a small movie library in HD. I don't use the pen that much, but it works well for web browsing and draw something. The small links in chrome are easy to touch with it without zooming. The chrome browser is a must. With heavy use I can get just over 10 hours of screen on time without turning performance mode off.

I've had a LOT of tablets (old Galaxy 3g, Xoom, Iconia A500, 8.9" Xyboard 4G, iPad 2, iPad 3 4G, Nexus 7, Transformer Prime, and Note 10.1). From my experience, I've narrowed down what I'm looking for in a tablet. I want something that's thin, has good battery, fast processor, expandable memory, kinda like a somewhat smaller tablet but not required, and not locked down. I love hacking my devices but don't want to have to hack it to hell and search through garbled folders and/or install paid apps (Good Reader) just to be able to put my music and videos on it and play it as a native app (music wont die when you leave a screen). Apple is too proprietary. People like it's simplicity but it is really a manufacturer aimed at old people and dumb people (sorry if I offended anyone).
I really like Motorola devices. Well built, usually decent battery, and always good signal. But they're locked down (at least current devices - hope they stay true to promises).
Asus is a good manufacturer who willingly unlocks your devices at the expense of your warranty. They keep records so no getting around it. Not the best battery, but quad core and expandable memory. Easily my 2nd choice!
And finally we have Samsung. Both my S3 and Note 10.1 have exceptional battery (considering they're not expanded and the processor each is packing). Totally unlocked without voiding warranty (just reset the flash counter). Recovery with odin is just as simple as sbf or fastboot with Moto devices with the exception that hacking can occur with odin (+1). I'm really digging Touchwiz. I'm totally sold on the motion functions. Both devices are next in line for official Jelly Bean. No lack of development. Expandable memory, get the 16 gb and pop in a micro sd (+10). No complaints whatsoever from this guy.
I read a little bit about Samsung's new TV's. Essentially a wifi ready, motion sensor packed, giant wall hanging, LED/3D, upgradeable Android device. If it weren't for the price tag I'd have one on my wall right now.
Why else would Apple sue Samsung over stupid stuff? They see a better manufacturer who can and will steal iFans!
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

I've had a Zoom, Tab 10.1, Transformer Infinity, iPad3, and now the Note 10.1. The note beats everything hands down. (I also have 2 Nexus 7s, but that's a different category) . For everything you want to do, Android is your poison. The Note is the best tablet on the market right now. IPad is nice, but I hate being locked down in iOS. Here is what I like and don't like about the GNote 10.1
Like:
Killer hardware
Front speakers
Expandable SD memory
Big following so lots of support
Build quality is very good
S pen + Bluetooth keyboard and mouse support
Dislike:
Plastic back. (Put a case on it and you don't have to worry about scratches
Non HD screen (it's a negligible difference)
Touchwiz (custom ROMs like CM10 remove this annoyance)
Hulu doesn't support it yet (hacked APK can be installed)
As you can see, all the dislikes are minor and easily handled. It's a great tablet and satisfies me (I'm NEVER satisfied).
---------- Post added at 06:59 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:57 AM ----------
jpayne97 said:
I bought an ipad for my daughter and it is great for my daughter. I can lock it down even more and she can only play the games i put on there and the movies i put on there. For her the locked down can't do anything else is an awesome...err...feature? I do hate having to convert movies to a specific format to play on her ipad. But my wife has an iphone and it is painful to send her anything besides a picture. And we always have to close stuff to make things work on the ipad. And sometimes it says its disc is full when there are several gigs free. Requires a reset and reload of everything to fix. It seems sturdy, but I have it in a gorilla case. How important is metal body? You should be careful enough to not drop something that expensive anyways. I've never dropped a tablet or laptop. Just my phone.
I had a transformer prime, loved the keyboard, but it was laggy all the time and never held wifi. So i returned to BB and got the 16, then 32 gig Note. Don't waste time with the 16 btw. But I can edit documents on it no problem. I can put 720p mkv files on it and it just plays them. Same for any divx/xvid movie. And sure the resolution is less than the ipad 3, daughter has ipad1. I don't feel the need to watch 1080p movies on it. If I want that high of quality then I'll watch on my tv. The note just flies. It is so quick and responsive. And I love the screen, think its perfect resolution. It is crystal clear for me with no light leaks. Same res as my work laptop. Speakers on the front, why doesn't every one do this? The ipad sucks for watching anything I think. Can't hear that well unless you turn it all the way up. Still isn't that loud. The note speakers play stereo, into your ears, like its meant to be. And there is no bluetooth audio lag when using wireless headphones. The sd card slot is a must. With the cheap price of 32gig ones you can pretty much carry a small movie library in HD. I don't use the pen that much, but it works well for web browsing and draw something. The small links in chrome are easy to touch with it without zooming. The chrome browser is a must. With heavy use I can get just over 10 hours of screen on time without turning performance mode off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Btw: iPads are great for kids as they are easy... but Android offers better parental controls both natively and with apps.

Blueback22 said:
Dislike:
Plastic back. (Put a case on it and you don't have to worry about scratches
Non HD screen (it's a negligible difference)
Touchwiz (custom ROMs like CM10 remove this annoyance)
Hulu doesn't support it yet (hacked APK can be installed)
A
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Funny because I really like TouchWiz - it's what actually got me to buy the Note 10.1

hairdewx said:
Funny because I really like TouchWiz - it's what actually got me to buy the Note 10.1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1. If CM/AOKP/AOSP/other could somehow incorporate the motion functions of TW, I'd be less resilient of giving it up.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

i haven't used my ipad in a month since getting the note. i doubt i'll ever use it again and handing it over to my daughter.

I purchased mines from at best buy one day cause there was a Samsung rep showing off all its features. I'll admit my purchase was completely impulsive and I had no intentions on spending $500 for a tablet since I already had an iPad at home. However I decided to make the purchase figuring if I didn't like it I had 60 days to return it (I'm a premier rewards zone member and they give you 60 days for returns). However once I got it at home and started messing around with it I haven't even thought about my iPad. I actually told my gf she can have it because I love the gnote so much. I use it for everything from taking notes for my courses to playing games to watching YouTube vids. I've had an ipad since the first one launched and I thought it was a great device. However I love my widgets and customization that the gnote gives me. I'll never go back to the iPad now.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

Well said gentlemen. Returned the iPad got the Note. Loaded up my movies, dropped that SD card with work files in, and I'm back in business. Yes *****.
The iPad apps are awesome but android is so flexable. Spelled like that on purpose.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

I use the iPad in my car with Siri. It's very useful this way. Siri has flaws but it's pretty good on the road. There are other things that the iPad excels in of course.
I just don't think one is better than the other, but a matter of choice and/or application.

qhinton said:
Well said gentlemen. Returned the iPad got the Note. Loaded up my movies, dropped that SD card with work files in, and I'm back in business. Yes *****.
The iPad apps are awesome but android is so flexable. Spelled like that on purpose.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course, you were already leaning towards the Note anyway or you would have asked this question in a iPad forum.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

Stick with the Note. I had ipad1 when it first came out(still have it). Then went to transformer prime. Then I have 2 Nexus 7's. Now I have a Note 10.1 and SG3. I never would've thought I'd be impressed by Samsung so much. MY PRIME had a good run but can't compare tl the stability of my Note 10.1 and Nexus 7. I still think the Nexus 7, Note 10.1, and Infinity Pad are the 3 best tabs on the market today.
Even if a person don't use the S pen, note 10.1 is a great choice. Based on power and stability alone.

joshw0000 said:
Of course, you were already leaning towards the Note anyway or you would have asked this question in a iPad forum.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't belong to any iPad forums I only had it for 3 days. If was way to difficult to transfer files. If IOS had a file manager without extra programs I would have maybe gave it a shot.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

qhinton said:
I didn't belong to any iPad forums I only had it for 3 days. If was way to difficult to transfer files. If IOS had a file manager without extra programs I would have maybe gave it a shot.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm joking. Proud Note owner myself. I traded my iPad in for a Prime, then upgraded to a Note.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

Same deal, i bought ipad3 for gradschool. This was 1 month before 10.1 release. And i was dealing with iOS `pain´ . then my girlfriend bought 10.1 and man i ´ ticked! I feel cheated! I envied that tablet more than anything else. Good thing my gf dont mind me messing with it when shés not using it.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app

Btw: iPads are great for kids as they are easy... but Android offers better parental controls both natively and with apps.[/QUOTE]
I'm thinking of getting another Note for my daughter. What native parental controls are there and what apps do you suggest?
TIA,
Methaq
Sent from my GT-N8013 using xda app-developers app

Can't decide between new Nexus 7 and Note 8.0

I've owned a N7 2012 for about a year, and I have a buyer for my old one, so I'm looking at upgrading. I haven't used a stylus device in years, but I used to love them: precision text editing, sketches to supplement an explanation, and unambiguous link clicking in the browser.
I expect longevity from my devices, and my previous experience has been that the charging connector breaks first on every mobile device I've had. This gives the N7 the serious advantage with the Qi inductive charging.
OTOH, the Note's performance is more future-proof: a 96GB Note (thanks SD-card expansion) will stay useful longer with a 32GB N7, and the benchmarks also come out clearly in favour of the Note: (Slashgear Note 6900 http://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/quadrant_gnote8_attwtmk.jpg vs N7 5600 http://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content...enshot_2013-07-25-13-17-52-google-nexus-7.jpg ).
But the performance doesn't count for all that much, since my main use for my current N7 has been reading: PDFs, e-books and websites. I use it mostly around the house, and my phone when I'm out and about.
Can anyone suggest something I haven't considered that may be relevant? The price isn't going to sway me much one way or the other.
Thanks

I prefer note 8 due to larger size and I won't mind carrying a slightly bigger one. Was coming from 7.7. I would have taken if it's nexus 8.
Happy user of note 8.
Sent from my GT-N5120 using xda app-developers app

I don't know what I can add except my reason for buying a Note 8.0--the pen. I bought my Note for school to replace everything in my bookbag--no more notebooks, no more laptop, no more text books. So far I'm very happy with my decision. I was also considering the new Nexus but because I wanted the ability to take notes, the lack of a wacom pen was off-putting. The Note was well worth the extra money for me.

I'm split between these two devices also. The new Nexus has the 1080p screen and prompt updates in its favor. The Note 8, suprisingly has a very good screen despite being 1280*800, but don't expect to get any updates for this. I mean you can always go AOSP or AOKP but that defeats the purpuse of even buying a Note. So if being stuck at Android 4.1.2 forever doesn't bother you the Note is a good choice.

logicrulez said:
I'm split between these two devices also. The new Nexus has the 1080p screen and prompt updates in its favor. The Note 8, suprisingly has a very good screen despite being 1280*800, but don't expect to get any updates for this. I mean you can always go AOSP or AOKP but that defeats the purpuse of even buying a Note. So if being stuck at Android 4.1.2 forever doesn't bother you the Note is a good choice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
why should we not expect updates for the note 8.0? I thought they were already working on e 4.2.2 build. in fact a quick search suggests thats its already available

I had the nexus 7.2 for a week and a half, the 16Gb version and it had a very nice screen fast processor but returned it due to frequent reboots, apparently it only happens on the 16Gb version. Got the note 8 instead. Am very satisfied with it.
I'd recommend you get the Nexus 7.2 first use it for a week then return and get the Note 8, that way you can see the strength and weakness of both and then decide which one is more useful to you. I am glad I did that, the Nexus 7.2 was how to say this not to hurt anyones feelings -plain vanilla- which is not bad, but you can't really compare the two because of the S pen feature on the Note 8. The Note 8 screen is not bad at all, but the 7.2 beats it, and I find that I do use the S pen more often than I thought I would. Also I'm a long time Samsung user and I like their products. I gave the Nexus 7.2 a try but am more comfortable with the Note 8, also love the S pen, for that alone it was worth it to me.
So as I mentioned get one use it as is for a week or two then return it and get the other one. Test both, but in my opinion you can't really pin the two tablets against each other. They are both good just depends what you are going to use it for, if you're a big game player get the Nexus, if you going to use the tablet for other things get the Note 8
Sent from my GT-N5110 using xda app-developers app

hertsjoatmon said:
why should we not expect updates for the note 8.0? I thought they were already working on e 4.2.2 build. in fact a quick search suggests thats its already available
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've owned more than a few Samsung devices, I currently own a two SGS 3, AT&T and Sprint. Neither are on 4.2.2, which is why i'm on CM10.1.2. I'd be pretty happy with a TouchWiz 4.3, but I know Samsung is pretty lame at updates that's why I made that statement, if the Note does get the 4.2.2 update, that's great, but I don't think they will go past that.
Hopefully Samsung is doing an overhaul on TouchWiz all together, I may stick with Samsung devices, otherwise my next device will be a Nexus. I've given up hope for the skin based phones and updates.

It really comes down to how much you value the s-pen....i thought I'd get much more use out of it (i do a lot of handwritten note taking, but at meetings i typically type in notepad) and never did so I just put my Note8 up for sale because the extra $100 wasn't worth it because it was still faster/easier for me to jot something quick on a post it than to take out the spen, launch the note app, scribbe something, save it....
however when I was in school the ability to take down quick notes and write on-screen on pdfs/ppt was *very critical* and I loved my W7 tablet with ntrig (this is all pre-tablets so it just depends on your use case
With OTG usb, you can still use microsd on the Nexus7, althought it's a bit more work and takes up the charging port..not sure if the new N7 has that yet (you had to be rooted on the old N7 to use it)
screenwise, the new N7 quality is much better, but I find the slightly larger note 8 to actually be easier to read on and use

I'm close to making my final decision because I refuse to keep the Note 8.0 and the N7 (2013) that I currently have.
The N7 is super nice. The display keeps drawing me back over and over. I like the fact that I can watch Netflix on it and not accidentally press the back button like I tend to do on the Note 8.0. I love the crisp text in my ebooks. And who doesn't love stock?
The Note 8.0 is better from a productivity standpoint for me, and it's why it currently leads. Outside of holding it in landscape and pressing buttons accidentally, I actually prefer the feel of the Note 8.0 more than the new N7. The display isn't nearly as bad as some would have you believe either. Sure if you have it side by side the N7, you'll see it, but in my opinion it looks real good.
Also a sidenote for comic book readers. I use Comixology, and I'm not a fan of the panel to panel view unless I'm forced to use it due to something being very small. It's easier for me to read comics on the Note 8.0 compared to the N7. Probably because of the extra inch of real estate.
Probably the reason I still go back and forth is because I know I can expect updates and a vibrant dev community on the N7, but probably not so much with the Note 8.0. Heck, I have the AT&T LTE variant, and I sadly can't even root that yet. Good luck with your decision.

I went ahead and ordered the 32GB Nexus 7.2. I figure I can always sell it for about what I paid for it if I decide not to keep it.
I got the previous Nexus 7 as a gift, but actually ended up selling it (and keeping the more lowly spec'd Tab 2 7" I already had) because the Nexus was just so flaky. Apparently it was a great device prior to 4.1, but I only got onboard after that. Plus the speakers were PATHETIC (unacceptable for a device that screams multimedia consumption.) I'm hoping those are better this go-round as I use mine for backgound music/video quite a bit.
There's pros to being on the bleeding edge of updates I guess. But I almost view it like you're being an unofficial beta tester. Samsung may not always have the latest official Android version on all its flagship devices, but all my experiences with them to-date have been outstanding. There's a reason (beyond just marketing) that they're the most dominant OEM in the Android world.

If the primary purpose is reading as OP has posted, I would suggest note 8 to be better choice.
My primary reason for buying note 8.0 was reading (PDF's as well as comics) and considering that almost 38 GB of my external 64 Gig card is occupied by books i would say i am more than pleased by my choice.
The extra screen size does matter here though both share similar 16:10 aspect ratio , which is quite ok,
another surprise feature, the reading mode that samsung built into this is amazing (though it might appear strange at first) but now I just can't imagine reading without that , it's easier on eyes,less stress and for me makes for much better concentration. add a good reader app (I absolutely love the free perfect viewer app for pdf and comics)
The secondary thing for me was the s-pen. since i have been using wacom tablets on pc since late 90's I found this quite adequate. My N-5100 costed me around $530 USD) which is surely definitely on the costlier side of things however I would still consider it worth that extra dough.
I also primarily use this at home and mine is still unrooted (haven't found a need or reason to root it yet).

Gotta decide what's your most important feature.
For me tablets can have two distinct purposes, media consumption device or productivity device. As a media consumption device there isn't much use to me for a tablet because honestly, most things are just more convenient to do on my phone since I always have it, and it has a data connection.
Now as a productivity device, there are a couple things the note 8 excels at. PDF and textbook portability/editing, handwritten notes, and remote desktop control. The spen takes this device to a higher level of productivity because there is no device with a comparable stylus. But for anything else like word document editing, media production, music/picture editing, tablets in general fall short because laptops/desktops are just better.
So if you want a media consumption device, the new Nexus 7 is probably better or even the iPad for that matter. But for productivity the spen will make up for the other shortcomings like lower screen pixel density, less frequent operating system updates, etc.

MobileTechReview posted her review, comparing the two tablets. Everything she said is exactly the same thought I have between the two tablets. I currently have both. I'm more tempted to return the Nexus, but don't know yet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7aPvUqdcds
But everything she states in the video is the same opinion that I have noticed from using them.
She doesn't mention bugs, but the Nexus has its own bugs too... such as apps crashing or becoming unresponsive to touches. I have seen the GPS crash several times using a GPS testing app.

It took me ages to decide between the N7 and note 8, and I decided on the note 8. But now I realise, that as I'm going university next year, I'll probably need a laptop, and I'm confused all over again
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

logicrulez said:
I'm split between these two devices also. The new Nexus has the 1080p screen and prompt updates in its favor. The Note 8, suprisingly has a very good screen despite being 1280*800, but don't expect to get any updates for this. I mean you can always go AOSP or AOKP but that defeats the purpuse of even buying a Note. So if being stuck at Android 4.1.2 forever doesn't bother you the Note is a good choice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
4.2.2 is already out for uk. I am on it now
Sent from my GT-N5120 using xda app-developers app

TC93 said:
MobileTechReview posted her review, comparing the two tablets. Everything she said is exactly the same thought I have between the two tablets. I currently have both. I'm more tempted to return the Nexus, but don't know yet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7aPvUqdcds
But everything she states in the video is the same opinion that I have noticed from using them.
She doesn't mention bugs, but the Nexus has its own bugs too... such as apps crashing or becoming unresponsive to touches. I have seen the GPS crash several times using a GPS testing app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree with almost everything she said as well. I disagree with her assessment of the speakers and volume though. While this year's Nexus finally has proper speakers they're still not as loud as the Note 8's. The quality is a bit better as far as separation/bass goes, but not as loud.
I'm probably going to stick with the Note 8. It's just hard to go back to 7" display no matter what the resolution. It's great that the text is clear, but it's tiny - and the saturation isn't as good. And I've already experienced the Nexus bugginess (unresponsive to touches) several times as well.

htinaung said:
4.2.2 is already out for uk. I am on it now
Sent from my GT-N5120 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How is it compared to 4.1?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

Grogck said:
Agree with almost everything she said as well. I disagree with her assessment of the speakers and volume though. While this year's Nexus finally has proper speakers they're still not as loud as the Note 8's. The quality is a bit better as far as separation/bass goes, but not as loud.
I'm probably going to stick with the Note 8. It's just hard to go back to 7" display no matter what the resolution. It's great that the text is clear, but it's tiny - and the saturation isn't as good. And I've already experienced the Nexus bugginess (unresponsive to touches) several times as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't had any complaints about the Note 8.0 speakers either.

xT4Z1N4TRx said:
How is it compared to 4.1?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe more smooth
Sent from my GT-N5120 using xda app-developers app

I own the original nexus 7...
I currently own an ipad 4 (so I'm used to looking at retina display), I've had the note 10.1, nexus 10, etc....
Honestly I think 8" is the sweet spot. I want to love thenew nexus 7 so bad but I feel like 7" is just a tad too small. The extra screen area from an 8" tablet seems sooo much larger and more usable when browsing websites. Am I crazy? I feel like I keep reading about screen clarity vs spen vs whatever ... but to me the real battle is do you prefer 7" vs 8" - I'm probably going to get both and then return the one I dont' like. As I said, I'm used to the retina screen as well as the beautiful screen on my htc one; however just playing around with the note in the store, the screen honestly isn't that bad and colors are quite quite good.
That said, the nexus 7 screen is by far superior BUT I still think the larger size provides so much better screen real estate and thus ease of use.
Anyone not get the nexus 7 simply because they don't like a 7" tablet?