Database Users

Asus or Samsung?

I've been comparing the Transformer to the new Galaxy Tab 10.1 and thus far I've been riding on the Asus wagon. But it does seem the Transformer has many more problems than the Tab... Speaker balance, light bleed issue, creaking bezel, random shut downs, etc... I just want to know which TABLET is better, no keyboards attached.
Obviously since I'm posting in the Transformer thread, many will say Asus. I'll post in the SGT 10.1 thread as well.

Though both have annoying proprietary connectors, the Trans at least has a microsd slot and costs less. Heck, if Asus had put the connectors on the device, rather than force people to buy a keyboard (ASUS admits their cost model depends on people buying the keyboard for them to make money)- I would own a Trans right now.
BTW, the different issues impact all Honeycomb tablets to some degree and Asus will be FAR more reliable for firmware updates.
Transformer wins this fight.

I've been comparing the mentioned tablets for quite a while now, and browsing through various forums my obvious choice (samsung) doesn't seem so obvious anymore.
I've had the chance to try hands-on both the samsung and the asus tablet, and overall look&feel has left me longing for the samsung's european release. In my opinion, Samsungs industrial design is a little better in terms of weight and the feel of quality. Transformer is a bit heavy to my taste.
Samsung's battery life is going to be a little better as well, and I'm really looking forward for Samsung to support all the codecs they've handled pretty nicely in the past (mkv, xvid, etc). In the other hand, Transformer's connectivity is a lot better.
Samsung has verified HDMI and USB ports are going to be available as accessories, which of course add to the base price quite a lot.
I haven't had the chance to compare side by side, but I loved the Samsung's screen, even compared to Transformer's IPS-screen.
To sum it up:
Samsung
+ Battery life
+ Weight
(+3g option)
- Connectivity
- Price
Transformer:
+ Keyboard
+ Connectivity
+ Price
- Weight
- Battery life (without keyboard)
(-no 3g yet)
I'd say both devices offer great value for the money, and if you can live without the 3g, Transformer would be the obvious choice.

the 3g with most people having phones with tethering and such, I personally just connect it to my iphone with its 6 gig package and away i go.

Go with Asus instead of Samsung products...
Jardicel said:
I've been comparing the Transformer to the new Galaxy Tab 10.1 and thus far I've been riding on the Asus wagon. But it does seem the Transformer has many more problems than the Tab... Speaker balance, light bleed issue, creaking bezel, random shut downs, etc... I just want to know which TABLET is better, no keyboards attached.
Obviously since I'm posting in the Transformer thread, many will say Asus. I'll post in the SGT 10.1 thread as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would stay away from Samsung products... They are well known not to support their products in terms of software (or OS) updates... Just look at the Samsung Galaxy S lines and Galaxy tab 7 inch... took them almost one year to come out with Froyo (for Galaxy S) and (Gingerbread) for Galaxy tab 7... Asus had three or four updates already in three months... Now that's good OS/ software support!!!

Speaker imbalance is not a hardware problem. It's a software problem and it was resolved in the latest OTA.
@mikewong27: That is wrong. Stop being so judgmental.
Froyo for the Galaxy S (I9000) was released early. The delay was because of U.S. carriers approving of the ROM.
The updates ASUS are putting out are MINOR and they aren't big. I will admit that the Android 3.1 update was released pretty quickly and Android 3.2 is on the way.
The I9000 already has Gingerbread on their phones. The U.S. variants have yet to because of U.S. carriers. U.S. carriers tend to add bloat and custom features on top of the original ROM.
When it comes to manufacturers, Samsung is one of the better ones out there.
- Easy to root
- Bootloaders aren't locked (*cough* HTC *cough*.. don't even say they promised unlocked bootloaders. they have YET to deliver and still releasing phones with locked bootloaders. I'll pass HTC)
- Great screens (Super AMOLED is where its at)
- Samsung also gave a CM developer a free Galaxy S2 to dev on.

Awesomeness!
zephiK said:
Speaker imbalance is not a hardware problem. It's a software problem and it was resolved in the latest OTA.
@mikewong27: That is wrong. Stop being so judgmental.
Froyo for the Galaxy S (I9000) was released early. The delay was because of U.S. carriers approving of the ROM.
The updates ASUS are putting out are MINOR and they aren't big. I will admit that the Android 3.1 update was released pretty quickly and Android 3.2 is on the way.
The I9000 already has Gingerbread on their phones. The U.S. variants have yet to because of U.S. carriers. U.S. carriers tend to add bloat and custom features on top of the original ROM.
When it comes to manufacturers, Samsung is one of the better ones out there.
- Easy to root
- Bootloaders aren't locked (*cough* HTC *cough*.. don't even say they promised unlocked bootloaders. they have YET to deliver and still releasing phones with locked bootloaders. I'll pass HTC)
- Great screens (Super AMOLED is where its at)
- Samsung also gave a CM developer a free Galaxy S2 to dev on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ha ha man you really got your facts down, we need more senior members like these around here!

SystemErrorOne said:
Ha ha man you really got your facts down, we need more senior members like these around here!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm pretty active around here. Don't know what you're saying
Just really hate it when people are HTC fanboy/Samsung fanboy/whatever fanboy.
I'll admit I'm a Samsung fanboy in some way when it comes to phones but that's just because I appreciate their openness for the development group. On top of that they make great hardware. Yeah, I'll admit I hate their plastic backcovers but when you put a case over it. It's pretty good. The plastic backcover makes the phone a lot lighter and to be honest. I use a Nexus S (highly criticized for not having a external sd card) but you have to admit it's a really attractive phone.
When it comes to HTC, for them to EVEN think about locking their bootloaders and when they do unlock them. I'll still have some kind of bias against them for even thinking that locking their bootloaders would be a good idea. Seeing them as the creator of the Nexus One and first Android phone. You'd think they would know better. The Android development community is what made HTC where they are now. Screwing them over and then changing your mind? Nawww.. I'll pass.
But back onto the OP's question. I'd go with ASUS Transformer without a doubt. It's the most popular non-iPad tablet out there and you can save $100 dollars and spend it on something else. Maybe even the dock?

I compared both and chose Asus too.
I too was between the Galaxy Tab 10.1 vs. the Transformer before making my purchase decision. In the end, what drove me to the Asus was the MicroSD & HDMI. And when you add the keyboard dock (which I don't own yet), the equation becomes even more skewed. The fact that I had to buy a dongle to get those features in addition to the $100 difference was a deal breaker for me. Why pay more for less? I'm not cheap, and I like to buy quality products. But I like to think that I have a sound fiscal mind, and paying more for less does not compute. I also don't think that the 1/4 pound weight difference is a big issue. At least that's my opinion.
The only other option for me was the iPad 2. This had a bigger chance of getting my $$ than the Galaxy Tab to be honest. Tons of apps and games, most compatible with my iPhone; Great. But iOS doesn't do flash (frash doesn't cut it), and the tablet I was going to purchase had to cover 8/10 of my PC needs (barely use my laptop anymore). Until the world of the web changes, I can't have a tablet without Flash, for better or for worse. Oh and the home screen widgets on Android are fantastic.

I had a Tab for a couple of weeks, having had a TF + dock before. I had the "Newton rings" problem on the first, but a quick chat session with Amazon and I had a replacement in my hands the next day. The replacement was absolutely perfect. Like, what people expect from the iPad kind of perfect. No dust, no rings, no light bleed even with the backlight turned to eye searing mode, no creaks, no lifting screen, etc.
Ultimately though I switched back to the TF because I was missing the keyboard dock. I thought the Tab with a stand case and a BT keyboard would do it for me, but found that having the option of typing with the tablet in my lap was important for me. By the way, the official Samsung book stand case is amazing: with the case closed around the Tab, it's still thinner than the TF.
If the lack of a TF-style dock or memory expansion is not a problem for you, and you're willing to pay a premium for fit and finish, then by all means get the Tab. All that said, I now have a B6O Transformer and it has none of the issues people frequently ***** about, including bleed.

pokey9000 said:
Like, what people expect from the iPad kind of perfect. No dust, no rings, no light bleed even with the backlight turned to eye searing mode, no creaks, no lifting screen, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The iPads (1 and 2s) we have have had both dust and light bleed issues. Also, the screens have cracked on a few. It is very difficult to build a screen that big that users can bang at all days with their fingers.

jerrykur said:
The iPads (1 and 2s) we have have had both dust and light bleed issues. Also, the screens have cracked on a few. It is very difficult to build a screen that big that users can bang at all days with their fingers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's why I said "what people expect". My wife has a recently out of warranty Macbook with a swelling battery registering only 25 charge cycles. It reminds me every day that they don't poop perfectly formed quartz spheres in Cupertino.

Note or Galaxy Nexus?

Coming from N1, I really appreciate the abundance of ROMs and no crap stock software. No TouchWiz to add a layer of bugs seems right. Also, there's an uncertainty about ICS situation on Note. Other than that, its all in favor of the Note. What do you guys think?

For me the reason to opt for Note is the 5.3in screen and S pen.. if u dont mind this two then u shd be good for Nexus..

Agree with razorpixel. As for touchwiz and the software that is coming with the Note, I think that Samsung did a great job. The email app with its previews and split pane layout in landscape is very user friendly. The planner on it is very nice (bit limited though) and touchwiz is working great on this device. I particularly like the way you can add notes to the home screen and resize them to almost any size you want.
My overall impression of the apps on the note: very professional. Certainly not bloatware.

I was facing exactly the same dilemma. For me galaxy nexus is a big disappointment hardware-wise. CPU is barely OK, GPU sucks - may not be futureproof, looks cheap, no gorilla glass, I don't like software buttons and I'm afraid that it may be the only phone with this funny resolution (1280x720 minus the space for software buttons) which may lead to problems with apps scaling badly, wallpapers etc. I would rather choose Galaxy S2 LTE HD in place of nexus, but lord only knows when they launch it in europe. Note it is then.
As to ICS: even if it takes samsung forever to launch an official update, I bet there will be plenty of unofficial XDA roms before that and knowing myself I would end up with some custom one anyway.

I was thinking also about Nexus but since 99% of users/owners here are more than amazed with the phone, it became a clear choice for me.

Plus at this point, Nexus is only guaranteed for Verizon, no date yet on when/if it will come to AT&T.

the galaxy nexus CPU is more than "barely ok". . . .the OMAP4460 is a 1.5 GHZ cpu that is so good, they they can clock it down to 1.2GHZ (where its at) and get the same performance on the phone. the GPU, stock, runs at 200 MHZ. the version in the galaxy nexus is over clocked to 384MHZ. thats almost twice as fast. plus, it has a dual channel memory, which i think other phones dont have. it allows fro better multi tasking so it can get data in and out quickly and simultaneously. also, it has an IVA 3 hardware accelerator that decodes HD video much quicker at much less power. another top new android phone, the RAZR, has an OMAP 4430, at 1.2 GHZ and the same GPU at 304 MHZ. i think its difficut to say this phone is a "let down"
sidenote: the nexus line isnt about bleeding edge hardware, its about bleeding edge software.

Biggest let-down with the Nexus for me was the lack of sdcard along with just 16 gig of storage. Being on a capped data plan, the cloud isn't a great option for me. Lack of gorilla glass and an inferior SOC to my GSII were just the final nails in the coffin.

kunalparwani said:
Biggest let-down with the Nexus for me was the lack of sdcard along with just 16 gig of storage. Being on a capped data plan, the cloud isn't a great option for me. Lack of gorilla glass and an inferior SOC to my GSII were just the final nails in the coffin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your reasoning is valid. But from logical point of view, if you were liking Nexus but not happy with its spec, you should get something better of similar size factor. Note on the other hand is a different league device. Don't confuse like - I wanted to buy helicpoter but since I did not like the speed, I am getting Boeing 777.

Hardware is pretty hard to change. Software however. . . Wait a minute, this is a developer forum . . .
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA App

willstay said:
Your reasoning is valid. But from logical point of view, if you were liking Nexus but not happy with its spec, you should get something better of similar size factor. Note on the other hand is a different league device. Don't confuse like - I wanted to buy helicpoter but since I did not like the speed, I am getting Boeing 777.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But i want a device better than my current one(SGSII). And there really isn't anything else on the market right now. And i made a mockup of the phone...so size doesn't seem to be an issue...

koniakki said:
I was thinking also about Nexus but since 99% of users/owners here are more than amazed with the phone, it became a clear choice for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree that the vast majority of people here, both owners and those who have objectively read several reviews such as the one from 3G, are impressed with the Note. So it is a pity to sometimes see a disproportionate amount of gripes threads here for they damage the reputation of the Note which may finally result in it's failure because people are persuaded not to buy.

Gaugerer said:
I agree that the vast majority of people here, both owners and those who have objectively read several reviews such as the one from 3G, are impressed with the Note. So it is a pity to sometimes see a disproportionate amount of gripes threads here for they damage the reputation of the Note which may finally result in it's failure because people are persuaded not to buy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. But then again. This phone is not for everyone and I believe most of us agree on this.
Yes, it indeed is too big for a phone, but not that big. Yamaha codec? Yes, could be better. S-Pen? I wish it wasn't there. But to be honest, I had caught my self using my HTC Touch HD stylus sometimes.
Conclusion: Yes, it has it's flaws like many other devices. But are they a deal breaker? Personally: NOT even close..
When it arrives I will use it at it's full glory. Why? Because this is the phone I wanted. Maximum portability(debatable for some) vs maximum performance/screen size. It's a winner in my book. I skipped the SGS2 for this for a reason.

Gaugerer said:
I agree that the vast majority of people here, both owners and those who have objectively read several reviews such as the one from 3G, are impressed with the Note. So it is a pity to sometimes see a disproportionate amount of gripes threads here for they damage the reputation of the Note which may finally result in it's failure because people are persuaded not to buy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm happy that people are talking openly about their gripes. Everywhere else, it's either apple fanboys trying to shout down the device or android fanboys shutting down negative conversations.
The reason I signed up on this forum and I'm following the discussion here more closely is that that people openly discuss the problems they're facing. As a first time will-be android buyer, it's important to me to know everything I'm getting into. And personally, I'm thrilled that the only problems people have with the Note (other than a few HW problems) are things that are unimportant to me personally, while at the same time, it seems like everything I've ever wanted in a smartphone...

I have already reserved at our local Samsung store here in Singapore. It comes two weeks from the now (that's what they keep telling customers). The main reason I'm getting the Note is because of the 1280x800 res on a 5.3" SAmolled display. The pen features are just the cherry top for me.
Keith
HTC Flyer with LeeDroid v1.0.0

kunalparwani said:
Biggest let-down with the Nexus for me was the lack of sdcard along with just 16 gig of storage. Being on a capped data plan, the cloud isn't a great option for me. Lack of gorilla glass and an inferior SOC to my GSII were just the final nails in the coffin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What you{& others} fail to understand is what's the purpose of Google Nexus Series.
Google never ever launched these phones to compete with any other smartphones{hell N1 never came out of it's native region},Nexus S was launched in limited countries only.
But these smartphones offers you unskinned,pure,greatest & fastest updates.They compete with each other{consider them as Apple iphone}.
Nexus S was a definite improvement over N1{better camera,hardware,screen,NFC},,similarly Galaxy Nexus is a giant leap forward compare to N1 & Nexus S.
Galaxy Nexus is not launched with the intention to compete with S2/Note/Sensation series.....if you want unskinned version,you want stock you go for it.It's here to launch with ICS, introduce it,bring on HD resolution{it will be a norm from now on for high end droids}
If you are looking for best hardware on the market{although ICS with hardware acceleration will run like super smooth on Nexus}...wait for some time,,you can almost bet Samsung Galaxy 3 or HTC next supersmartphones will have better screen/processors/camera than it.
So this comparison is not worth.

android_master said:
So this comparison is not worth.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is hard to take your posts objectively when I see your signature.
Also, I was going to get the Nexus exactly for the reason that it was going to be the bleeding edge, and it just about was. It is a fair comparison.

I've been umming and arring about a Galaxy Nexus or a Galaxy Note. In the end I plumped for the Note. I currently have a Nexus One, a Galaxy Tab (original 7 inch) and a Galaxy Tab 10.1. I like them all for different reasons, but do find that sometimes I'm using the N1 when I wished it was the Tab 7 inch, and sometimes using the 7 inch when I wished I had the 10.1 close by.
The Note I think will nicely replace the N1 and the Tab 7 in those circumstances. Also the fact that I can sell those two on (with accessories) and pretty much make up the cost of the Note also helped. I'm also lucky in that my company pays for my phone data, so I'm not interested in plans or suchlike.
It'll be sad to part with the Nexus One - the best smartphone I've owned. I love the huge community behind it. I was all set for the Galaxy Nexus, but for me I feel it's a bit limiting. 16GB-only for the UK it seems. No SD slot. The biggest selling point is that it'll be ICS out of the box, but software comes to all who wait...
As for my 7" Tab, recently I've reverted that to Froyo as it's actually better performing than Gingerbread in certain areas - BBC iplayer being the most significant improvement for me. I originally used it as a phone as well, but it was just too big to use natively, and a pain to always have a bluetooth device for hands-free calling.
ICS will get to all current devices very soon, but I'm confident that the Note runs Gingerbread very well from all the reviews I've seen. It seems like the perfect compromise (all devices are compromises) for heavy phone use and casual tablet use.

Why I chose the Galaxy Note... one mans journey

I had been in the market for a tablet for a few weeks, having not owned one before, I felt it was time to take the plunge. The main purpose was for evening internet browsing, maybe accompanied by a pint of beer. I'd previously purchased a galaxy Note phone for this very purpose, but I found even that was too much of a compromise screen wise, 5" just wasn't doing it for me, I had to go large. And if I had a tablet I could downgrade to a smaller size phone in future.
After extensive research on the net I narrowed the choice down. A 7” tab would be too small a leap in screen real estate for my needs, so the Nexus was ruled out, which left the front runner been the Transformer TF300, I though a keyboard would be nice for my very basic needs of Word and Excel, and of course it had the Tegra 3, which I had convinced myself I needed. I was aware the 300 could have a few ‘issues’ after reading the xda forums.
I resisted the urge to purchase as the Berlin IFA was about to commence, and Samsung and others would be releasing their latest tech there. Along comes the Note 10.1. And with that comes more frantic Googling for the latest internet reviews ( I ain’t gonna let go of £400 without knowing exactly what I’m buying!).
After reading the review at Android Police the Note seemed a pile of crap. A turd in the bath. A stink in a cesspool. However, my research goes further than that and I started reading user reviews and of course the review from Lisa Gade on youtube. All these seemed to counter what android Police had stated. With my head spinning I had to put some rational thought to my purchasing decision, and my thoughts were…
Do I need a keyboard – would be nice, but given my very limited use of work related stuff, and a large onscreen keyboard on tablets anyway, it would be possible to manage without, I shouldn’t compromise other factors just to have a keyboard.
Front facing stereo speakers – basic design principles tell me this is the way it should be done.
S pen – never really used it on my phone, but I was intrigued by the ‘hover’ function when viewing the web.
Charging cord – Another bummer mentioned at Android Police, its only 3 feet long, no way I could use the Note when its charging. Solution, charge it overnight.
Build quality – now that review at AP had a lot to say about flexing, squeaking and poor fitting. I saw the videos on that site and I agree with what the reviewer was showing us there. But I can only conclude that the unit he had must have been either pre production or had been subjected to some fairly vigorous tear downs.
I have my Note here and I must say it has very high build quality, absolutely no squeaking, all panels are flush fitting, and the only flex is right in the middle of the back panel, which incidentally is where I never hold it anyway. Also I’ve never had an issue with lightweight back panels, right from my first Samsung Galaxy phone. The technology is there to make things like that these days, it just makes sense, lightweight and no signal interference.
Tegra 3 – The reason I was after a Tegra device was so that I could ‘enter the tegra gaming zone’. It seems a nice place. But then again I don’t spend much of my life playing games and I can easily get my fix from whats available on Google Play.
Now that I have a Note I’m very happy in the knowledge that I have an even better processor, preloaded with masses of codec support and developed hand in hand with the Note to give a great browsing performance.
Cameras – I have no need for cameras on a tablet, waste of time. Oh hang on though, what have Samsung got here, this thing watches my eyes and doesn’t dim the screen unless I fall asleep, clever b******s.
GPS – I’ll only want this if I use Google Sky maps, I usually know where I am if I’m in my own house.
But it’s good to know that Glonass is included on the Note, another thumbs up in the high quality components list.
Audio quality. - Note has a Wolfson DAC. Nothing more to add here.
A note about resolution. One tablet I considered was the transformer Tf700 for its high res screen. Much talked about and much coveted. I wouldn’t turn it down. But when people are buying a tablet they need to consider what device they will be replacing. For me it will be primarily replacing my laptop, which has a 17” screen with a resolution of 1600 x 900. So just by downgrading to a 10” size screen with 1280 x 800 I’m getting higher res anyway, and given that it’s a PLS screen its higher quality to boot. So I’ve already gone ‘high res’ just by getting the note.
I’ve only wrote this review because I’m so impressed with my Note. I hope many others buy it and it gets the success it deserves.

Nice review, enjoyed reading it and hopefully teaches people not to be in haste at knocking a device without seeing real world usage user reports.
I think you have made a good choice and am happy that you are enjoying your note as it is out of the box, hopefully with the Jelly Bean update around the corner it will get even better.
Also love Lisa's reviews because her reviews do not seem to be biased unlike a number of other 'professional' reviewers.

same things i considered and bought note on its day of launch in india..
btw u forgot multiscreens and an extensive battery life
Sent from my GT-N8000 using XDA Premium HD app

Here's my bottom line. If I could have bought a 10.1 inch tablet with a 1920 x 1200 screen and a wacom digitizer and pen along with a 1.4 ghz quad core CPU and zero lag for $500 instead of this I would have.
Doesn't exist.
So I bought this.
** The problem I have with reviewers who have slammed this tablet is that they are comparing it either to tablets that do far less or simply do not and cannot exist at this price point. The lowest price for a pen based Windows RT tablet from Samsung will start at $150 more. And that will have worse dpi than this.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk 2

mitchellvii said:
Here's my bottom line. If I could have bought a 10.1 inch tablet with a 1920 x 1200 screen and a wacom digitizer and pen along with a 1.4 ghz quad core CPU and zero lag for $500 instead of this I would have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hehe, +1.
mitchellvii said:
Doesn't exist.
So I bought this.
** The problem I have with reviewers who have slammed this tablet is that they are comparing it either to tablets that do far less or simply do not and cannot exist at this price point. The lowest price for a pen based Windows RT tablet from Samsung will start at $150 more. And that will have worse dpi than this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I get a sense that what the OP and I need is more like Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 with GN 10.1 specs less s pen + better screen / premium quality. I don't really care that much for the s pen. I do need everything else you mentioned out of the tab though. So, I feel that some of the low points of this tab, screen resolution and lack of premium build feel, could've been mitigated had Samsung saved the money on S Pen and associated hardware and software expenses.

SM05 said:
Hehe, +1.
I get a sense that what the OP and I need is more like Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 with GN 10.1 specs less s pen + better screen / premium quality. I don't really care that much for the s pen. I do need everything else you mentioned out of the tab though. So, I feel that some of the low points of this tab, screen resolution and lack of premium build feel, could've been mitigated had Samsung saved the money on S Pen and associated hardware and software expenses.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol, yeah that crazy Samsung with their crazy s-pen.
It's simple, if you don't need or use pen input, why the hell are you buying this tablet? Buy an iPad or an Infinity that are pure consumption devices. The SGN 10.1 is for people that want to do WORK with their tablet.

mitchellvii said:
It's simple, if you don't need or use pen input, why the hell are you buying this tablet? Buy an iPad or an Infinity that are pure consumption devices. The SGN 10.1 is for people that want to do WORK with their tablet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it were that simple I wouldn't be replying on my GN 10.1. I posted this before but yeah, consumption device is what I mostly need. I don't plan on buying any Apple devices, don't wanna say ever but for a long time. That leaves android, which I prefer anyways (GS2 is my current phone). There aren't that many stable, fast and well built android tabs out there. Build quality + specs is why I went with GN. S pen is just an appendix as far ad I'm concerned. Lol
So, if you're listening Samsung, give us galaxy tab 10.1 with the same specs as GN, premium/better finish and improved screen dpi, if possible, and no s pen. All under 500 please. Lol

SM05 said:
If it were that simple I wouldn't be replying on my GN 10.1. I posted this before but yeah, consumption device is what I mostly need. I don't plan on buying any Apple devices, don't wanna say ever but for a long time. That leaves android, which I prefer anyways (GS2 is my current phone). There aren't that many stable, fast and well built android tabs out there. Build quality + specs is why I went with GN. S pen is just an appendix as far ad I'm concerned. Lol
So, if you're listening Samsung, give us galaxy tab 10.1 with the same specs as GN, premium/better finish and improved screen dpi, if possible, and no s pen. All under 500 please. Lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, they need 2 models. Consumer - $400, without the pen. Creator / Producer - $500 includes pen . Display on both needs to be the same (highest resolution and quality they can manage without slowing the system down.)

mitchellvii said:
Lol, yeah that crazy Samsung with their crazy s-pen.
It's simple, if you don't need or use pen input, why the hell are you buying this tablet? Buy an iPad or an Infinity that are pure consumption devices. The SGN 10.1 is for people that want to do WORK with their tablet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't say the infinity is a pure consumption device. I like my note a lot more then the prime I owned but with the keyboard dock it really does move it out of a pure consumption device.

nice review. exactly what i went thru lols

I mentioned it elsewhere, but the first review I read was from Lisa. Always unbias and as someone that knows about stylus's and wiacoms, she was very to the point about the device. Most if not all the others, reviewed the device as a competitor to the iPad, Transformer etc, when in reality those devices do not do what the Note does. After reading that stupid review from AndroidPolice, and I say stupid since no journalist/writer would make such a headline or put in stupid comments of the device giving them cancer, I went to the store to test it myself. It was nothing like what the reviews mentioned and right then and there I knew this was the tablet to get. A few days later I got it.
Haven't regretted it since.
is it the perfect device, No. nothing is, no matter what any one says, including Apple. Each and every device has its pro and cons, but this device runs circles around my previous Lenovo and overall, its one awesome device.
TS

As has been noted, I did not buy the Note for its pen, this was low on my list of needs as I had never found much use for it on my Galaxy Note phone (I found it just too cramped a space for my liking). I was instead drawn more by its quality and cutting edge components. However, given that the pen was there I’ve been giving it a go anyway, and I’ve found it a much better experience on this larger screen, infact I’m now beginning to use it all the time, it just seems easier and quicker for most things.
Websites are not designed to be prodded at with fingers, but to be used by a precise pointing device, so navigating using the pen feels quicker and more natural. When playing games (Air Attack HD) its easier to slide the pen around the screen and fingers are not blocking out the action.
Oh, I forgot about another reason that swayed me towards buying the Note, and that was to do my own little bit to support Samsung against the dark forces of crApple and its abuse of the (broken) patent system. Or as someone else on the net succinctly put it – the American patent system is a pile of ****, and Apple is sitting on top of that pile.
I’ve been listening to the sound quality of this thing, I’m going to put up a new post about it so its easier for people to find.

So, apple has made a very expensive Note Pro 12.2"

but the stylus only works for 30 mins every 15 seconds and is just *begging* to be snapped off in the charging port...
If Samsung doesn't respond by releasing a note4/5 pro tablet they're going to be missing a huge opportunity.

What's funny is the dimensions and weight are shockingly similar. Reviewers slammed the Note 12 as unwieldly and impossible to hold with one hand. It's fascinating to see the same reviewers praise the iPad Pro as being so comfortable to use for its size. Except for the charging pin powered accessories which were copied from the Surface, all the features of the Pro have been on Note-series tablets for years. The only original feature are the four speakers. All the Pro does is confirm that Samsung's launch of a 12" tablet was on point. Just a bit ahead of its time.

And it has no real digitiser so you'd best keep your hands off that screen when you're using the stylus to avoid accidental input.

Nah that's not quite right. The pencil ONLY works with the pro tablet, and it does appear to see the difference between palm and stylus.
Sent from my SM-N910G using XDA Free mobile app

Haven't heard it stated by Apple and every tech article seems to be asking the question of whether it has adequate palm rejection technology. I'd like to know for sure.
Just found this video where someone does have their hand resting on the screen : https://youtu.be/og5Epv18_Yo?t=2m1s
Odd that Apple's PR pics don't show this.

I think it stems from the fact that the pencil ONLY works with the PRO.
Which is stupid as it's an accessory that you have to pay an extra 100 bucks for, yet the extra digitizer stuff is built into the tablet (at extra costs) regardless of if you buy the pencil or not !
Sent from my SM-N910G using XDA Free mobile app

personally it was more the number of videos of people not daring to put their hands on the screen coupled with Apple making no mention of digitiser technology. I should have known better though, Apple rarely mention the technical bits of their stuff as we're supposed to think it's essentially powered by magic Interested to see full UK price with the stylus and keyboard and compare it to the surface pro 3.

I admit I was mildly impressed until I saw the price . Also, I am too deep into Android when it comes to the amount spent on apps to ever consider moving to an 'i' product. Note PRO is the best device I've ever owned, and I'm certainly going to buy the next generation of it....Wouldn't mind a bigger screen, though.

Honestly I am impressed and I hate apple products. However look at the updates for Samsung note pro. I have the Verizon version and it is not even close to being updated and I paid 800 for it. Yes the apple with the pencil is going to be more but at least it will be updated. Samsung has dropped the ball and does not care about the people who paid good money for this tablet. I love the s pen and use it daily however with the lack of updates I am seriously considering Ipad Pro or bare minimum surface 4 when it is released. It hurts my heart to say such things but facts show Samsung does not care.

fbrn said:
Honestly I am impressed and I hate apple products.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only thing impressive is the graphics performance which will make it appealing to creatives. But the wildcard is how well Pencil works. Plenty before Apple have tried to make inking work on a passive display but have never matched Wacom's active digitizer which is the "go to" for the graphics industry. The question that needs to be asked is "what problems does this solve for the audience?" What problems do you think the iPad Pro solves? It's as expensive as Apple's line of ultrabooks which don't come in pieces (wobbly attachable keyboard) and run a desktop OS. I don't think productivity users are going to line up for the iPad Pro.
However look at the updates for Samsung note pro. I have the Verizon version and it is not even close to being updated and I paid 800 for it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even though it's a year old model I just bought a new imported Note 12.2 LTE to replace my aged N10.1-14 that will die on 4.X. The first thing I did was install the newest July build of 5.X. Comparing the two it's a night and day experience. The 5.X UI and apps are 80% as current as my weeks old Note 5 and the other 20% are only a generation behind. Performance and fluidity are amazing. All the lag and drag of the N10.1-14 are gone. S-800 isn't the newest SoC but it does its job remarkebly well. I'd put the Note 12 as I described it up against the iPad Pro in a productivity smack down any day. In a graphics smack down the Adreno 330 in the Note would get its butt kicked.
I bought a year-old product for a couple of reasons. No one does pen-enabled productivity and multi view like Samsung. I have no idea what Samsung's future plans are for Note tablets (if there are any) and I viewed getting a end of run SM-P905 as my last chance for a "modern" Note. It'll probably never see 6.X but I'm fine for a year or two just the way I am.
As for your situation, Samsung's slow to update even their high volume devices. You picked a low-volume device mangled s/w wise by the U.S. carrier that's slowest to update their devices. It's a pretty toxic mix. I'd be surprised if your Note ever sees an update from VZW. The only hope would be pressure from National Accounts if a lot were sold to that channel.
If updates are your thing abandoning Samsung's probably a smart choice. They've gotten much better on their international devices but that won't help us in the U.S. where the carrier's are the biggest obstacle.

fbrn said:
I have the Verizon version and it is not even close to being updated and I paid 800 for it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You bought a branded device, what the hell did you expect?

My wifi Gnote Pro cost me 350$ at a flash sell. When I saw the price of the new Ipad Pro plus the stylus, I pooped literally. Also I don't know if these screens are real, the clearly show the hand resting on the screen and all. I have an Ipad Air and I bought 3 stylus (that I get refunded, all the 3 because they were terrible), and I can say what they show in their ads are fake, completely fake. I heard that a new update on Ios was supposed to change the refresh rate to make the "pencil" supported... on all the devices... but I guess they just gave up !?

Turns out the palm rejection is in software. But, that's not as bad as it sounds. With the way it scans the screen in pen mode it is perfectly capable of accurately detecting the difference between the fine tip of the pen vs. the end of a finger. I think it should work just fine. In theory it could be more accurate than the digitiser solution too because it's the same sensing technology for both. We've all seen how the digitiser input can be slightly off on Note devices. The palm rejection on normal tablets as very poor because you have to use one of those fat tipped styli that work by basically behaving like a finger.

Do not upgrade to Tab S3!

Folks if you are thinking of upgrading to the Tab S3: do not do it, it has a massive power drain bug that is likely a hardware issue at this point:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-tab-s3/how-to/wifi-power-drain-bug-please-report-to-t3624872
I miss my good old S2.

Wouldn't touch it - don't like the available sizes. Happy with my 8" Tab S2.

...........
I wasn't interested in it either. The breakable glass back totally turned me off, as well as the unimpressive processor. I don't think Samsung put the proper effort into it, except for designing the price tag, and my two Tab S2's are going good, and if the screen didn't break my older Google Nexus 7 would be too. What I have been ogling is the new Ipad Pro 12 or 10, tho I never owned an Apple product before.

penguinjoe said:
Wouldn't touch it - don't like the available sizes. Happy with my 8" Tab S2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Totally agree penguin. Battery isn't great, but ergonomically, the 8" is the best tablet you can get. You can hold this for ages and your wrist doesn't get tired.

Masteryates said:
Totally agree penguin. Battery isn't great, but ergonomically, the 8" is the best tablet you can get. You can hold this for ages and your wrist doesn't get tired.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have two Tab S2's, the 8 and the 9.7. For my purposes I now prefer the 9.7. The easiest to hold tho was my old Google Nexus 7, even though it was heavier it was narrower and my hand could grip it.

Bullwinkle J. Moose said:
I have two Tab S2's, the 8 and the 9.7. For my purposes I now prefer the 9.7. The easiest to hold tho was my old Google Nexus 7, even though it was heavier it was narrower and my hand could grip it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree that you could get your hand around a Nexus 7 but that was at the expense of screen. On websites, this was a pain. That's why I think the Tab S2 8" is the best of both worlds.

Masteryates said:
I agree that you could get your hand around a Nexus 7 but that was at the expense of screen. On websites, this was a pain. That's why I think the Tab S2 8" is the best of both worlds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have both the gen 1 and gen 2 Nexus 7's and agree that while the size was nice for gripping, I much prefer the additional real estate and general quality of the 8" S2 display. I use a Moko case that has a handle to facilitate holding the S2 - I don't have big hands and I also kept hitting the screen with my fingers and palm when holding with one hand.

sparksd said:
I have both the gen 1 and gen 2 Nexus 7's and agree that while the size was nice for gripping, I much prefer the additional real estate and general quality of the 8" S2 display. I use a Moko case that has a handle to facilitate holding the S2 - I don't have big hands and I also kept hitting the screen with my fingers and palm when holding with one hand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes sparks. I find that because the S2 is so light, I don't need to hold as much of it to feel secure in my hand. I'd say I've medium sized hands. I think the 9.7" version would be a different proposition all together.

...............
sparksd said:
I have both the gen 1 and gen 2 Nexus 7's and agree that while the size was nice for gripping, I much prefer the additional real estate and general quality of the 8" S2 display. I use a Moko case that has a handle to facilitate holding the S2 - I don't have big hands and I also kept hitting the screen with my fingers and palm when holding with one hand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree, and I like the real estate on the 9.7 even more. I've even been ogling the new 12" Ipad, but like I said I don't even know how to work them. I'll have to look into the Moko case. What I do now is use no case at all except for transport, but a glass shield to protect the screen. Seems to me that the added weight of a case defeats the purpose of these ultralight devices, but a case with a convenient gripping handle might be good...
PS It's a hassle posting on here: "the string you entered for image verification doesn't match"......huh? what string? It just says check box if you're not a robot and I did (and so would a clever robot!)

Bullwinkle J. Moose said:
I agree, and I like the real estate on the 9.7 even more. I've even been ogling the new 12" Ipad, but like I said I don't even know how to work them. I'll have to look into the Moko case. What I do now is use no case at all except for transport, but a glass shield to protect the screen. Seems to me that the added weight of a case defeats the purpose of these ultralight devices, but a case with a convenient gripping handle might be good...
PS It's a hassle posting on here: "the string you entered for image verification doesn't match"......huh? what string? It just says check box if you're not a robot and I did (and so would a clever robot!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Two years ago I bought an iPad Air 2 even though I've never been a fan of Apple products - I've had a lot of Android devices and my home PCs/laptops are Windows. But I must admit I am very impressed with the iPad- very polished and very stable. The iOS ecosystem has a lot I don't like - the sandbox approach to file management for one - but a lot of the apps available are extremely well done and sophisticated. Look at "Complete Anatomy" for one - I tried it out of curiosity and didn't buy the full edition but it is absolutely amazing. My doctor saw it and said he wished he had it in med school. My last large Android tablet - an Asus TF700T - was a PoS that I only used for screwing around with custom ROMs; it was pretty but it's performance was terrible. My brother has the 12" iPad and it is very nice and could make a good work machine. But I'm a retired S/W Systems Engineer (started in '71!) so work is foreign to me ...

Sparksd - Was it hard to learn to work the Ipad coming over from Windows and Android? I'm lazy and don't want to put a lot of effort into learning a whole new system...besides I' m already all tuckered out just from reading that 4-letter word you so rudely wrote...eek!...work! I don't see anyone else putting together such a nice tablet as Apple, though.

Bullwinkle J. Moose said:
Sparksd - Was it hard to learn to work the Ipad coming over from Windows and Android? I'm lazy and don't want to put a lot of effort into learning a whole new system...besides I' m already all tuckered out just from reading that 4-letter word you so rudely wrote...eek!...work! I don't see anyone else putting together such a nice tablet as Apple, though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was quite easy. In fact, what originally got me interested was when my 94 year-old Mom was given an older iPad by my nephew and she was able to use it on her own. I don't think I would have left her with an Android device or PC. The most difficult aspect to get used to and understand was the iOS file management philosophy but once I read up on it and got a couple of file management apps (FileBrowser, GoodReader, and Documents) I could deal with it.
And apologies for using the word for That Which Should Not be Spoken Of. Retirement is great!

I may give it a try, Spark. If I do I'll buy it at Costco. I'll have 90 days to decide if I want to keep it then. Plus Costco extends the warranty by a year.

To be honest, unless you have an existing investment in Android or Android apps, or have a specific need that Apple doesn't support, the iPads are better tablets. They are built better, work smoother, and have much better battery life over all. I am the lone hold out in my family with a Nexus 7 and a Galaxy Tab S2 (because the N7 is starting to get creaky)
The only issues I get from my family, who are uniformly Apple users, are that printing directly from apps doesn't work right (generally solveable by using the Brother print app), occasionally the bluetooth will glitch and cause the music player to start automatically, and Safari will crash under moderate load. Dolphin generally solves that latter issue, though I'm not sure how. Oh, and there are no obvious ways to block ads outside of the web browser. That's it - really. Otherwise, they love the things. We have upgraded through the iPad 2 to the iPad Air and now my wife is on an iPad Air 2.
Given Google's lack of interest in tablets and tablet software, the only thing keeping me on Android tablets is the fact that I own a lot of Android apps and games for them, and several reasonable firewall and privacy apps are available for it. Obviously, as an XDA member, I tend to prefer a higher level of control and modification of my devices, but if I were suggesting something for a non-technical user, I would point them at the new iPad 5. (unless they want to do art or technical work, then an iPad Pro 9.7")

jshamlet said:
To be honest, unless you have an existing investment in Android or Android apps, or have a specific need that Apple doesn't support, the iPads are better tablets. They are built better, work smoother, and have much better battery life over all. I am the lone hold out in my family with a Nexus 7 and a Galaxy Tab S2 (because the N7 is starting to get creaky)
The only issues I get from my family, who are uniformly Apple users, are that printing directly from apps doesn't work right (generally solveable by using the Brother print app), occasionally the bluetooth will glitch and cause the music player to start automatically, and Safari will crash under moderate load. Dolphin generally solves that latter issue, though I'm not sure how. Oh, and there are no obvious ways to block ads outside of the web browser. That's it - really. Otherwise, they love the things. We have upgraded through the iPad 2 to the iPad Air and now my wife is on an iPad Air 2.
Given Google's lack of interest in tablets and tablet software, the only thing keeping me on Android tablets is the fact that I own a lot of Android apps and games for them, and several reasonable firewall and privacy apps are available for it. Obviously, as an XDA member, I tend to prefer a higher level of control and modification of my devices, but if I were suggesting something for a non-technical user, I would point them at the new iPad 5. (unless they want to do art or technical work, then an iPad Pro 9.7")
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I completely agree with your assessment. I do like the level of control and modification that Android gives but that's the engineer in me who likes to really play around with the settings, ROMs, etc. As a "tablet user" though, give me my Air 2. It just plain works well and as I mentioned earlier, the level of polish and sophistication in a lot of available apps is outstanding. I'll always have Android devices but my next tablet upgrade would be another iPad. The S2 is a big upgrade from my Nexus 7 (and it blows my Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700T away) and is fun to use but my Air 2 is a better tablet. And this is from a guy who never thought he would buy an Apple device.

Yeah, I've been deeply disappointed by Google's lack of interest in tablets. I was hoping that after all the effort that went into Honeycomb they might actually reach parity with iOS, but nope. It is all still phone centric.
What is more baffling is that Samsung hasn't picked up the slack either, and despite being "Galaxy" devices, the Galaxy Tabs aren't really being treated that way. I still like my Tab S2, and it is at least as good as my wife's iPad Air 2 in terms of performance, but it isn't anywhere near it in terms of battery life. That last one is frustrating because it's a tablet. Make the thing a millimeter thicker and put a real battery in it. Our old iPad 2, despite being practically geriatric at this point, outlasts my Tab S2! (I keep it around as a Facetime client)
Same with my phone - I could tolerate an extra few millimeters if it meant the battery lasted longer. I really hope this thin fetish ends at some point...

jshamlet said:
Yeah, I've been deeply disappointed by Google's lack of interest in tablets. I was hoping that after all the effort that went into Honeycomb they might actually reach parity with iOS, but nope. It is all still phone centric.
What is more baffling is that Samsung hasn't picked up the slack either, and despite being "Galaxy" devices, the Galaxy Tabs aren't really being treated that way. I still like my Tab S2, and it is at least as good as my wife's iPad Air 2 in terms of performance, but it isn't anywhere near it in terms of battery life. That last one is frustrating because it's a tablet. Make the thing a millimeter thicker and put a real battery in it. Our old iPad 2, despite being practically geriatric at this point, outlasts my Tab S2! (I keep it around as a Facetime client)
Same with my phone - I could tolerate an extra few millimeters if it meant the battery lasted longer. I really hope this thin fetish ends at some point...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesn't look good these days for the overall tablet-only market, with a greater emphasis on hybrid and detachable devices - look at the Surface and where Apple is going with their Pro line. I think Google sees their niche in Chromebooks, which leaves Samsung as the big Android player. And if I'm an app developer, I'd be focused on either targeting phones (Android or Apple) or Apple tablets, not Android tablets, making Android tablets even less desirable as an end-user device. (Regarding battery - charged my Air 2 last night and this morning it was still at 100% with Bluetooth, WiFi, and location all enabled. Usage drain is also better than any other device I've owned.)

jshamlet said:
Yeah, I've been deeply disappointed by Google's lack of interest in tablets. I was hoping that after all the effort that went into Honeycomb they might actually reach parity with iOS, but nope. It is all still phone centric.
What is more baffling is that Samsung hasn't picked up the slack either, and despite being "Galaxy" devices, the Galaxy Tabs aren't really being treated that way. I still like my Tab S2, and it is at least as good as my wife's iPad Air 2 in terms of performance, but it isn't anywhere near it in terms of battery life. That last one is frustrating because it's a tablet. Make the thing a millimeter thicker and put a real battery in it. Our old iPad 2, despite being practically geriatric at this point, outlasts my Tab S2! (I keep it around as a Facetime client)
Same with my phone - I could tolerate an extra few millimeters if it meant the battery lasted longer. I really hope this thin fetish ends at some point...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to disagree Jshamlet. The thing that made me buy this tablet was the weight, and I notice how heavy any other tablet is when I holding. Maybe Samsung could attempt something like last years Motorola phones where there is a back plate which includes a battery, giving the best of both worlds?
---------- Post added at 11:50 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:48 AM ----------
jshamlet said:
Yeah, I've been deeply disappointed by Google's lack of interest in tablets. I was hoping that after all the effort that went into Honeycomb they might actually reach parity with iOS, but nope. It is all still phone centric.
What is more baffling is that Samsung hasn't picked up the slack either, and despite being "Galaxy" devices, the Galaxy Tabs aren't really being treated that way. I still like my Tab S2, and it is at least as good as my wife's iPad Air 2 in terms of performance, but it isn't anywhere near it in terms of battery life. That last one is frustrating because it's a tablet. Make the thing a millimeter thicker and put a real battery in it. Our old iPad 2, despite being practically geriatric at this point, outlasts my Tab S2! (I keep it around as a Facetime client)
Same with my phone - I could tolerate an extra few millimeters if it meant the battery lasted longer. I really hope this thin fetish ends at some point...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to disagree Jshamlet. The thing that made me buy this tablet was the weight, and I notice how heavy any other tablet is when I holding. Maybe Samsung could attempt something like last years Motorola phones where there is a back plate which includes a battery, giving the best of both worlds?
Talking of picking up the slack, I'd love One Plus to put there foot in the door. Samsung have had there chance......

Hi folks.
I was close to buy an iPad air 2 also, but:
- no GPS
- expensive
were the two reasons that I preferred the tab s2 instead. Also, I found it for a very good price.
I agree that for general usage the iPads are better tablets, I would never buy my mother an android, but for an engineer like me, with low budget, this was a better choice.
The alternative for me was to an even cheaper tablet, like Amazon fire, but the quality is even lower.
And I think the screen of the Tab S2 is amazing.

mauricempc74 said:
Hi folks.
I was close to buy an iPad air 2 also, but:
- no GPS
- expensive
were the two reasons that I preferred the tab s2 instead. Also, I found it for a very good price.
I agree that for general usage the iPads are better tablets, I would never buy my mother an android, but for an engineer like me, with low budget, this was a better choice.
The alternative for me was to an even cheaper tablet, like Amazon fire, but the quality is even lower.
And I think the screen of the Tab S2 is amazing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its funny that I bought my 65 year old mother a Nexus 4 back in 2012, thinking it would be too complex. She loved that phone and took an even bigger risk by replacing it with a Huawei P9 Lite. She's now an Android FanGranny and snaps at my sister whenever she suggests getting her an iOS device.