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hi all,
im after some of your advice as to the best tablet, im going to ask in the Transformer and Galaxy forums as well, but id like your opinions on what is the best tablet to buy, obviously you guys are using the Xoom already, and are happily modding the hell out of them, so you may have experience with the others as well.
i am trying to find somewhere which has all 3 which i can look at side by side, but in the UK im pretty much left with Pc world/Currys.. so i thought id do the next best thing and talk to people who have/use them.
i have narrowed my choices to;
Motorola Xoom,
Asus Transformer
Samsung Galaxy 10.1
if possible can you let me know what your experiences are like with any of them.
Thanks All.
TheWhiteDragon said:
hi all,
im after some of your advice as to the best tablet, im going to ask in the Transformer and Galaxy forums as well, but id like your opinions on what is the best tablet to buy, obviously you guys are using the Xoom already, and are happily modding the hell out of them, so you may have experience with the others as well.
i am trying to find somewhere which has all 3 which i can look at side by side, but in the UK im pretty much left with Pc world/Currys.. so i thought id do the next best thing and talk to people who have/use them.
i have narrowed my choices to;
Motorola Xoom,
Asus Transformer
Samsung Galaxy 10.1
if possible can you let me know what your experiences are like with any of them.
Thanks All.
Click to expand...
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There are already quite a few threads in General and in Q&A touching on the comparsion between these tablets. There's been pretty frank discussion of pros and cons, but as you'd expect on a Xoom forum, most passionate cooments were pro-Xoom. Check them out...you will need to go back a few pages in both sections, but it makes for some lively reading.
Good luck with your decision-making process (but buy the Xoom!)
The Xoom is quite heavy so if you want to hold it with one hand for a minute or two, it isn't the right tablet. It's built really durable but the weight factor is a big con for me. It also has really good specs, just look at reviews on youtube on the tablets. Also, make sure you see all your options! Many of these tablets are getting a price reduction via coupon so find them first so you save a hundred or two.
UnidH4x0r said:
The Xoom is quite heavy so if you want to hold it with one hand for a minute or two, it isn't the right tablet. It's built really durable but the weight factor is a big con for me. It also has really good specs, just look at reviews on youtube on the tablets. Also, make sure you see all your options! Many of these tablets are getting a price reduction via coupon so find them first so you save a hundred or two.
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The Xoom isn't the heaviest tab, but it is the best built. Those others incorporate a lot of plastic and flex a lot if squeezed. There are some issues with all of them, some are related to build quality/quality control, and others are more subjective.
Hello
I purchased my Xoom from best buy 2 weeks ago at the time of purchase I had a play on the Asus and Acer. I chose the XOOM on the back of the better build quality and feel. Yes it is that little bit heavier but it feels better. I also thought about the Samsung Galaxy 10.1 to match it with my Galaxy SII phone but the lack of an sd slot was a big let down for me. Since then Google have purchased part of Motorola which should mean that the Xoom should be supported for a long time to come.
Hello
I purchased my Xoom from best buy 2 weeks ago at the time of purchase I had a play on the Asus and Acer. I chose the XOOM on the back of the better build quality and feel. Yes it is that little bit heavier but it feels better. I also thought about the Samsung Galaxy 10.1 to match it with my Galaxy SII phone but the lack of an sd slot was a big let down for me. Since then Google have purchased part of Motorola which should mean that the Xoom should be supported for a long time to come.
Hello
I purchased my Xoom from best buy 2 weeks ago at the time of purchase I had a play on the Asus and Acer. I chose the XOOM on the back of the better build quality and feel. Yes it is that little bit heavier but it feels better. I also thought about the Samsung Galaxy 10.1 to match it with my Galaxy SII phone but the lack of an sd slot was a big let down for me. Since then Google have purchased part of Motorola which should mean that the Xoom should be supported for a long time to come.
Hello
I purchased my Xoom from best buy 2 weeks ago at the time of purchase I had a play on the Asus and Acer. I chose the XOOM on the back of the better build quality and feel. Yes it is that little bit heavier but it feels better. I also thought about the Samsung Galaxy 10.1 to match it with my Galaxy SII phone but the lack of an sd slot was a big let down for me. Since then Google have purchased part of Motorola which should mean that the Xoom should be supported for a long time to come.
Wow a quadruple post! I haven't seen one of those in awhile ;p
Sorry only meant to press it 1 time.
I've had my Xoom since Feb 24th at 11:12 a.m. & it's hands down the best to me.I love it.I played with the Samsung 10.1 in the store a few weeks ago & wasn't impressed.All it was was thinner..The screen on it didn't blow me away as some people in the 10.1 forum suggests.Me & my Xoom have been thru a lot together
Just come through the same problem as you and narrowed it down to the xoom, for build and expansion and the galaxy tab, for screen and light wieght.
The deciding factor was the price, pc world now do the xoom for £329 wifi or £400 for 3g. I couldnt turn down an offer like that and havent looked back since yes the xoom is a little heavy but I like that! And the screen is fine too, not as bright as the galaxy tab or as vivid colours but long as your not comparing them back to back you'll never notice it tbh.
Good luck with the choice
Sent from my Xoom using xda premium
fastyan said:
Just come through the same problem as you and narrowed it down to the xoom, for build and expansion and the galaxy tab, for screen and light wieght.
The deciding factor was the price, pc world now do the xoom for £329 wifi or £400 for 3g. I couldnt turn down an offer like that and havent looked back since yes the xoom is a little heavy but I like that! And the screen is fine too, not as bright as the galaxy tab or as vivid colours but long as your not comparing them back to back you'll never notice it tbh.
Good luck with the choice
Sent from my Xoom using xda premium
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I think the Xoom's colors are more natural, if more subdued. I had a chance to compare my Xoom vs. a Galaxy Tab 10.1 yesterday and the GTab's screen is certainly vivid! Very good for some things (movies, games), but as an artist, I like to see my work and others' work in a more natural color palette. YMMV.
okantomi said:
I think the Xoom's colors are more natural, if more subdued. I had a chance to compare my Xoom vs. a Galaxy Tab 10.1 yesterday and the GTab's screen is certainly vivid! Very good for some things (movies, games), but as an artist, I like to see my work and others' work in a more natural color palette. YMMV.
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Very true and feel the same myself and was the same reason I went for the desire HD rather than the gallaxy s but some people see bright and think its better, its all down to personal taste I suppose
Sent from my Desire HD using xda premium
Definitely the xoom. Its built better then other tabs and has some great support as well.
I couldn't be happier.
The sound beats all other tabs and the display may not be as bright but its ultra responsive. The transformer had a nice responsive screen as well but build quality was subpar.
Like others said before this tablet has a subdued color palette which is great.
Sent from my Xoom using xda premium
hmm i hadnt thought about the vivid colour schemes..
im tempted to wait a bit longer to see what comes out in the next wave of tablets, though im unsure the price of the current best bunch is going to fall by much.
If cost is not a concern, (i guess there isn't a large varience in price anyways), I would advise the galaxy. It is in general just a bit more refined than the xoom. But if you want the hdmi, standard USB, slightly better cameras and more dev work, you can't go wrong with the xoom...
Dispatched at the Speed of Light from my XOOM
So I've traded in my beloved Nexus 7 for a Galaxy Note 8. Here's why:
A lot of the decision was based around the extremely poor execution on the Nexus brand. The Galaxy Nexus launch was smooth, but Verizon only. I preordered the Nexus 7 the moment it became possible to do so, only to have my order take weeks to process and with no way to cancel it after I was able to walk into a Sam's Club and pick up one of the dozen or so they had in stock (I actually had to cancel the card I used to preorder it to prevent Google from billing me). Most recently, the case study in botched launches we call the Nexus 4 was simply unacceptable from a company as big and as smart as Google. Toss in the scant attention they give to accessories (Nexus 7 desktop dock, anyone?) and my faith in Google as a hardware partner has simply been abolished. There was no way in hell I was going to try the next Nexus 7 and hope they've improved things.
That aside, the Nexus 7 was an awesome tablet, but the form factor was a real turn off for me. The thing just felt so bulky in my hand and pocket. That didn't keep me from using the crap out of it, but I really wanted to find an iPad Mini sized device with Android on it. Superficial, I know, but I can't say it wasn't a factor when I read how thin the Note 8 was going to be. Even if the next Nexus 7 is just as thin, the killer feature for me is the S Pen. Android tablets and a third party stylus are just north of complete disappointment. Every tablet I've owned since the Motorola Xoom really sucked in this department. Since my day job now involves 3x as many meetings as it did when I got the N7, the ability to take quick notes and sketch out something rough was a huge selling point. Having used it for a week now, that alone has completely justified the extra cost over an N7 for me.
I do hate a few things, however. The capacitive buttons are annoying as hell in landscape. More than once already, I've hit the back button while playing a game or reading something. How this made it past any sort of QA testing is beyond me. While we're on the subject of "wtf", who's bright idea was it to place the speakers on the part of the device you cover up in landscape? It's very clear that they intended this device to be used in one position and that's extremely unfortunate.
In the end, I'm extremely happy with it. My experience so far has been vastly positive and it's been the most practical Android tablet I've owned to date. Granted, most of that feeling is focused on how much I like the S Pen. Without that, I never would have given this tablet the time of day, even with the better form factor.
great review.. i feel largely the same way with the biggest negative being the capacitive buttons in landscape.. oversight in my opinion that maybe they can develop a disable in landscape option.
I think also underrated is 'reading mode' and i really appreciate samsungs letting us add any app to the list.. I find it much easier and much less strain on the eyes when reading pdfs that way
I kept my nexus 7, so now i have the best of both worlds =) But on another note, note 8 is extremely smooth, its awesome.
About the capacitive buttons... it is possible to active on screen buttons if you're desperate lol... It would take effort though.
great information you have to post, this one is quit materialistic and also have a deep information about Nexus 7
I have to agree about the bulky casing of the Nexus 7, Galaxy 8.0 is a good alternative for sure. Thanks for posting your thoughts.
I really really really want to have a Note 8 but it's sooooo big. hehehe. I hope my hands are big enough to hold it easily
panda00 said:
About the capacitive buttons... it is possible to active on screen buttons if you're desperate lol... It would take effort though.
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Click to collapse
With root, button savior is always an option on any device for on screen buttons
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk HD
I did the same thing. I own a Note 2 and had a Nexus 7. I tried out a Note 10.1 and a Nexus 10 for a week each and returned them both. After seeing what the Note 8.0 was about to bring to the table, I sold my Nexus 7 on the launch day of the Note 8.0 and went with that. I love this thing. For me the size and weight played a huge role as well, not to mention the fact that for me I am not very productive with a tablet unless I have a method of data entry other than touch, like the S Pen or a physical keyboard. After being so happy with my Note 2, the 8.0 ended up being the perfect choice.
Sent from my Note 2
BlobLobba said:
I have to agree about the bulky casing of the Nexus 7, Galaxy 8.0 is a good alternative for sure. Thanks for posting your thoughts.
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Galaxy 8.0 is a good alternative for sure.+1
But I have heard the next generation of Nexus 7 will come on Google I/O 2013, and it seems own the more powerful specs than the present one, and I do want to compare the new one with Galaxy Note 8.0.
Dannyada1988 said:
Galaxy 8.0 is a good alternative for sure.+1
But I have heard the next generation of Nexus 7 will come on Google I/O 2013, and it seems own the more powerful specs than the present one, and I do want to compare the new one with Galaxy Note 8.0.
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True but unless it has an active digitizer (S-Pen) it doesn't compare. I bought the Note 8.0 for one reason, the S-Pen. I had the Samsung series 7 slate with an active digitizer and loved it, wished for something smaller that I could use. I then bought the Surface Pro and the stylus comes in handy, I use it all the time. I take my Surface to meetings and take notes with it. Now with the Note 8.0 I can go completely digital with my note taking. I will be able to through it in my cargo pocket and take it with me everywhere to take notes and stuff.
I understand everyone has different uses but the Note 8.0 is in a different class with the S-Pen. The iPad mini and Nexus 7, both nice devices owned a Nexus 7, don't compare.
theraker007 said:
great review.. i feel largely the same way with the biggest negative being the capacitive buttons in landscape.. oversight in my opinion that maybe they can develop a disable in landscape option.
I think also underrated is 'reading mode' and i really appreciate samsungs letting us add any app to the list.. I find it much easier and much less strain on the eyes when reading pdfs that way
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Click to collapse
Wow learned something new. Thanks!
Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk 2
sactownbwoy said:
True but unless it has an active digitizer (S-Pen) it doesn't compare. I bought the Note 8.0 for one reason, the S-Pen. I had the Samsung series 7 slate with an active digitizer and loved it, wished for something smaller that I could use. I then bought the Surface Pro and the stylus comes in handy, I use it all the time. I take my Surface to meetings and take notes with it. Now with the Note 8.0 I can go completely digital with my note taking. I will be able to through it in my cargo pocket and take it with me everywhere to take notes and stuff.
I understand everyone has different uses but the Note 8.0 is in a different class with the S-Pen. The iPad mini and Nexus 7, both nice devices owned a Nexus 7, don't compare.
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Me too. I love the Spen, but I hate Mali-400MP inside it (Having Note 2). Have no idea why Samsung doesn't put Snapdragon S600 (or at least S4 Pro) into it.
8.0 inch is the perfect side for a tablet, so I'm waiting for its successor.
I traded up from the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1'' and I DONT regret it. The 8.0'' screen is perfect, still kinda fits in your pocket, the extra inch over the 7'' tabs is duly noted and the -2.1 inches from my former tablet isnt even missed. I, so far, have no complaints about my Note!
hung2900 said:
Me too. I love the Spen, but I hate Mali-400MP inside it (Having Note 2).
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I've read a lot of people complain about it, but no one is really saying why. My experience so far is that the OS runs as snappy as any device I've ever used, applications load up quickly, and so far, every game I've tossed on it plays just fine. Could it be faster, less power hungry, or newer? Sure, but I'm not seeing a reason why I should care, either.
I'd love to hear some thoughts on why people have such a problem with the processor.
Juvenall said:
I've read a lot of people complain about it, but no one is really saying why. My experience so far is that the OS runs as snappy as any device I've ever used, applications load up quickly, and so far, every game I've tossed on it plays just fine. Could it be faster, less power hungry, or newer? Sure, but I'm not seeing a reason why I should care, either.
I'd love to hear some thoughts on why people have such a problem with the processor.
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It boils down to some dumb "It's great, but we want <insert the new tech buzzword" fanboyism. By all means the SoC is great, is tried and tested, and more than powerful enough for anything on the platform or on the horizon.
Basically, a bunch of biased blogs used it as a knock against the Note 8, and because its not an octa-core Exynos 6 with 8GB of RAM and a GeForce 790GT it's suddenly bad. Even though they had literally just got done gushing over the same SoC in the Note 2 and others.
Juvenall said:
I've read a lot of people complain about it, but no one is really saying why. My experience so far is that the OS runs as snappy as any device I've ever used, applications load up quickly, and so far, every game I've tossed on it plays just fine. Could it be faster, less power hungry, or newer? Sure, but I'm not seeing a reason why I should care, either.
I'd love to hear some thoughts on why people have such a problem with the processor.
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Reason? Cannot play fruit ninja perfectly smoothly. ShadowGun DZ seems even laggier than my tf101.
I didn't say anything abt the processor, coz even 1ghz quad core (power saving mode? Is totally enough. But the GPU...
hung2900 said:
Reason? Cannot play fruit ninja perfectly smoothly. ShadowGun DZ seems even laggier than my tf101.
.
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I don't play these games, but I am pretty sure hyperbole of comparing any function of the N8 to the TF101 is not going to help your argument. I went and downloaded Shadowgun for kicks, and it plays like a scalded dog on my Note 8 (and Note 2 for that matter),
My fathers TF101 struggles to replay the Quadrant render. The Tegra2 was, and always has been, a total slug.
hung2900 said:
Reason? Cannot play fruit ninja perfectly smoothly. ShadowGun DZ seems even laggier than my tf101.
I didn't say anything abt the processor, coz even 1ghz quad core (power saving mode? Is totally enough. But the GPU...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fruit Ninja is playing just fine for me on my GT-N5110, so I'm not sure where you're getting its not "perfectly smooth". The same goes for large games like Asphalt 7 or Max Payne in that they play as well on this device as they do on my N7 or TF300T.
Both are great tablets!
I won't make this too in depth, but I'd actually like to address some of the development doubts I've seen for the 8.0 and share my fair opinion of the device so far. First off I'd like to compare it from my own personal experience to other tablets I've owned and used a fair bit.
First off I'd like to compare it to a Nexus 10. I spent roughly a week playing with a Nexus 10 and settled on returning it. This is going to sound a little strange being that I'm comparing such a close price point but the Nexus 10 to me was not worth the premium. Not only that but honestly with a 10" tablet I feel I may as well be using my 13" Lenovo Ideapad Yoga- BUT that is a personal preference and by no means a fair reference point. What did I experience with the Nexus 10? I did like the build quality, however the user experience was strangely underwhelming even after installing some custom ROMs. I'm quite aware this paragraph isn't too relevant, however I've found the Note 8.0 a fair bit easier to use in every day situations than any 10" tablet I've owned.
Comparing it to a Nexus 7 is another matter. I do own a Nexus 7, I've actually given it to my significant other's 12 year old girl to learn and play with. Originally though I do love the device far more so than it's 10" counterpart. The only problem is well, it's just slightly too small for some uses. The form factor I found to be slightly frustrating. Whenever I used it I felt I may as well just settle and use my Galaxy Note II. That said however the feel of it and the quality for the price point was obviously fantastic. It just seems that there is a sweet spot in my opinion on tablet size and I think that lies somewhere around 8 inches. It gives you plenty of room for web browsing, it's actually a decent amount more function to type on than even a Nexus 7 given the extra screen real estate, and it still works beautifully as an ebook reader/news source.
The biggest advantages really I've found is that the Note 8.0 while not having an entirely great screen resolution seems to have a better picture quality than a LOT of tablets I've played with. There is something slightly more sharp about the screen than even my experience with the Nexus 10, but let me make this clear. I'm not saying the screen is technically superior.
The other large advantage I've really noticed is how snappy even with the vanilla samsung ROM the note 8.0 is. Side by side it's by far the snappiest, quickest responding tablet in it's class for general use, save for mayhap using the home button. Yes, I don't necessarily like the hardware keys but they don't cripple the device in my own opinion. To be honest since I use a Note II for my phone it's helped the transition familiarity wise and I do think this was intentional more so than just developer laziness.
I would like to make a note I do own a 10.1 note also and I still do prefer my 8.0 at this point to it's use. Yes, I do wish Samsung would up build quality as of casing for these devices, but they are by far hindered by this. To be totally honest the plastic casing on my Note II and 10.1 has held up tremendously well to some nasty drops and spills, far better in fact than anything I've had with a more premium styled enclosure. That being said I do dislike the plastic creekyness which is very much noticeable with my 10.1.
The Note 8.0 strikes me as this, a great medium. It's not quite a full blown 10" media tablet and at the same time it's not quite so cramped as those 7" tablets available. As of the S-Pen functionality I honestly just think it's a plus. Even without it I would prefer these devices to most of the other comparable android devices in the US market at the moment.
When it comes to ROM development I would just say be patient. It's a new device with a definite premium price. It might take awhile but the forum on XDA just now really appeared within the last 24 hours and it might just take some time to get things going. That being said I would imagine the similarities to the Note II may speed up development once we have a recovery and such.
As a footnote, I've ordered this keyboard case which is due to arrive Tuesday and I will try give it a proper in depth review ASAP.
I apologize for this post being somewhat disordered and all over the place. I'm tired but I wanted to post something and participate in the forum. It's been ages since I have. Thanks everyone and have a good night!
I can agree with your post. I have a Note 8 and 10.1, Note 2, Nexus 7, amd GS3. The Note 8 is good in every way size, function, battery, software, and decent screen. The only issue is the captive buttons. They interfer with the usability at times, so if im watching hulu and holding the device one might hit the back arrow and stop the movie. How annoying. Other than that its my go to device
Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk HD
Well said! I've owned the GS3 and own the Note 2, Nexus 7, Nexus 10, Evo 4g LTE, and Nexus 4 and believe me the Note 8.0 is one of the top devices out there. Even though Im not a big fan of the plastic build quality I will say that it does hold up and it feels at least like expensive plastic lol. This device is quality and though Im not purchasing the GS4 simply because I want a change from Samsung the biggest reason is waiting for the Note 3. Development will pick up its only been available for a little while peeps. If your on the fence and want a Apple like quality tablet with Android the Note series of tablets are definitely what you are looking for. Also the amount of software additions in this tablet is rediculous.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk HD
I will also be buying the Note 8 and think that it might turn out to be a great device (escpecially since here in europe it will also sport phone functionatlity), but nonetheless this thread smells like marketing directly paid by samsung (3 posts by OP and then this?). Sorry OP if untrue; i know that i might be completely wrong ("in dubio pro rero" etc.) but still my gut feelings tell me otherwise.
i sincereley hope the Note 8 will be a great device and have owned more or less every single one of the latest samsung smartphone / tablet gadgets, but being sensitized / aware of the latest news regarding samsungs marketing tatics to pay people to write positive comments in forums like this i am extremely pissed of by this pracise. apart of being unethical (in whatever holistic sense i am not able to properly articulate in english) this is simply not necessary, because most of the samsung devices i own / have owned are great, but the smell of being produced by such a kind of manufacturer spoils the joy. stop this an let (your very good, indeed) products speak for themselves.
Oxytoxine said:
I will also be buying the Note 8 and think that it might turn out to be a great device (escpecially since here in europe it will also sport phone functionatlity), but nonetheless this thread smells like marketing directly paid by samsung (3 posts by OP and then this?). Sorry OP if untrue; i know that i might be completely wrong ("in dubio pro rero" etc.) but still my gut feelings tell me otherwise.
i sincereley hope the Note 8 will be a great device and have owned more or less every single one of the latest samsung smartphone / tablet gadgets, but being sensitized / aware of the latest news regarding samsungs marketing tatics to pay people to write positive comments in forums like this i am extremely pissed of by this pracise. apart of being unethical (in whatever holistic sense i am not able to properly articulate in english) this is simply not necessary, because most of the samsung devices i own / have owned are great, but the smell of being produced by such a kind of manufacturer spoils the joy. stop this an let (your very good, indeed) products speak for themselves.
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I can assure you I'm not affiliated with samsung lol. I'm a court officer in Midwest City Oklahoma. I wish I was a Samsung rep though, I'd bet the pay is better than what I'm doing now xD
Sent from my SPH-L900 using XDA Premium HD app
I agree on the screen size thing.
The nexus 7 with a 16:9 screen at 7 inches sort of feels like a super large smartphone with insignificant space to pinch and zoom while on landscape.
My current 7.9 inch with a 4:3 screen ratio feels just right with significant space to pinch and zoom on landscape while making web pages somewhat more spacious for a desktop like experience.
Only draw back in the black bars but once again I am still using a old school 4:3 monitor at home
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
I am sorry for my unnecessarily rude writing of yesterday; please accept my apologies.
I just came from reading the articels on arstechnica and our local newspaper on the mentioned (presumed) practice of samsung in korea and england before coming here in order to research about my new / future "baby" (Note 8). The first post I've read was yours, and I was like "oh my god, I can't believe it, it's indeed happening!" so I couldn't resist... (<--- I know, this doesn't make my rude behaviour better, just maybe a bit more understandable.)
LOL, do you think they pay that much? then I might also consider to enhance my meager daytime income (scientist now becoming a teacher) ...
again: sorry from my side and back on topic - good to hear that the Note serves you well I am a bit hesitating to order it due to the screen resolution; I tried to replace an Ipad (retina) with the Note 10.1, but couldn't stand the fuzziness of the screen, although I like the overall android tablet experience much more than the iOS thing.
UsagiMimi said:
I can assure you I'm not affiliated with samsung lol. I'm a court officer in Midwest City Oklahoma. I wish I was a Samsung rep though, I'd bet the pay is better than what I'm doing now xD
Sent from my SPH-L900 using XDA Premium HD app
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Thanks for your review and thoughts on this. I am going to check it out in person this weekend and give it a go, I had the GN 10.1 for a few days but felt it just wan't a good fit for the resolution of a large device. Still I prefer Android over anything else and looking at ditching my current tab and finally be rid of the last Apple product in my house
Thats true
Oxytoxine said:
again: sorry from my side and back on topic - good to hear that the Note serves you well I am a bit hesitating to order it due to the screen resolution; I tried to replace an Ipad (retina) with the Note 10.1, but couldn't stand the fuzziness of the screen, although I like the overall android tablet experience much more than the iOS thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the only thing bugging me about it so far. Wonderful In the hand and love the SNote (Note 2 is my phone) but if you're used to high resolution screens the fuzziness is apparent when reading text. Not sure I can take it yet. I just picked up a Nexus 10 and am only going to keep one. The resolution is jarring between them. Going to wait it out a bit more and see. I need to be able to read books on my tablet.
my 2 cents
I have to agree about 8" being the sweet spot. I have had 7" & 10" tabs (and while 7" is more pocketable I like the 8" better) I have been a Note user since the GN I & II, we have some Note 10.1's at work and I really don't care for them. (the s-pen is nice to have for precise input) i was literally using a G Tab 2 7.0 and the GN 8.0 side by side for a day and decided on the Note 8.0 for my daily driver. Allot of i-devices at work but not my preference.
Cheers
BR
I got the 3G version, but I use this with tethered wifi with my Note II for internet. The wifi version isn't available in my region.
This is the most decent thread I've read about comparing the Note 8 with other tablets. This is my frst ever tablet, and I find it a relief to do stuff with a bigger screen when I need it like spreadsheets. I used to take attendance with my Note II. Sketching is quite easier too. I found the Note 10.1 too heavy as a portable Cintique stand-in. The Note 8 is lighter and easier to handle.
I can't see any point in getting anything without a Wacom sytlus after getting the first Galaxy Note more than a year and a half ago. I do detailed digital art as a hobby, and I'm weilding the Autodesk Sketchbook and Photoshop Touch to do photo-realistic art. The S Pen is such a useful addition!
I have my Note II as my main, but for times I need a bigger screen, the Note 8 is what I take out. I just wished with had a changeable battery. 8 hours of actual screen on time isn't enough for me. I do hate plugging in to an outlet or portable power to maintain a charge, unlike what I'm doing with my Note II with 12 hours of heavy usage at about 6 to 7 hours of screen time. I usually change battery late afternoon. I can't do that with the Note 8 - I'm guessing that the Samsung team did this for our dependency for the smartphones.
Bottom line for the Note 8 for me is it's what I do need. I don't complain of its plastic exterior. I appreciate it's more powerful than the other tablets for my digital art hobby with the Wacom digitizer onboard. The screen is crisp enough and I don't see the point of having this in full HD (more power consumption) and the 720p resolution it has is sufficient. Do you honestly see the pixels? I just wished it was a Super AMOLED and it could have given the Note 8 better power efficiency. Currently, the screen consumes 80% of the battery life.
Sent from my GT-N5100 using XDA Premium HD app
RE: Removable battery
I have had very good luck thus far using the Note 8 the entire day. I also use it in conjunction with the Note II and at this point, I feel I have the Nirvana of tech combos. Pretty happy all around here. I dont tether mine to my phone though, as I have a little prepaid hotspot to use out and about. For extended periods where I know I'll be away, like my backpacking trips on weekends, I bring a 10000mah portable battery and keep it in my pack/bag. I have only had to use it once, and that was to charge the Note 2
Yes, there are bigger, yes there are "better" specced devices, but honestly the SPen and a device I can literally use as a notepad replacement has changed my life as a network admin. I can't fathom going back to paper and pen.
I have to agree with the positive opinions expressed here. I love my 5110, especially after I rooted it. The lesser screen resolution doesn't bother me much, my eyes aren't that good anyway. The system's responsiveness and smoothness are a real joy.
What I DON'T love is the way available storage memory shrinks with each new generation of device from Samsung. 16 GB is small enough, but when half of that is taken up by the system, it borders on false advertising.
We need to start a letter-writing campaign to Samsung to get them to (a) change their firmware to allow apks to be stored and run from the external SD card, and OTA it to us as soon as possible, and (b) make 32GB the absolute minimum for internal storage on any future devices. Having to use workarounds is ridiculous.
Who's with me?
mudge
iCurmudgeon said:
I have to agree with the positive opinions expressed here. I love my 5110, especially after I rooted it. The lesser screen resolution doesn't bother me much, my eyes aren't that good anyway. The system's responsiveness and smoothness are a real joy.
What I DON'T love is the way available storage memory shrinks with each new generation of device from Samsung. 16 GB is small enough, but when half of that is taken up by the system, it borders on false advertising.
We need to start a letter-writing campaign to Samsung to get them to (a) change their firmware to allow apks to be stored and run from the external SD card, and OTA it to us as soon as possible, and (b) make 32GB the absolute minimum for internal storage on any future devices. Having to use workarounds is ridiculous.
Who's with me?
mudge
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm with you on B. A is harder insofar as I understand it the changes were in AOSP so it's really Google and not Samsung to blame for not being able to transfer apps to sd. It's getting silly now paticularly with the s4 which has about 7.8gb of usable storage. 9gb is closer to 8gb than 16 gb so it's kind of deceptive to call it 16gb. Many consumers who don't do enough research before buying will be quite disappointed.
Flash memory is actually pretty cheap now and Samsung manufacture it. It's time to stop being so tight Samsung.
Sent from the mighty Note II
l purchased it without seeing it and I am very satisfied with it. would definitely recommend
Sent from my GT-N5100 using Tapatalk HD
What a great device. And its a shame that some people maybe put off by the some of the pathetic reviews ive read on this device. Its stunning.
My s4 is faster. Higher res screen etc. But when it comes to browsing video etc theres no substitute for real estate.
Please dont listen to these bad reviews written by apple twats. If your in the market for a 10in tablet. You will love this
Lol I know what you mean I got my note 10.1 right after I got my s3 I love it the s pen, main reason I got the note over the n10
Sent from my GT-N8010 using xda app-developers app
Have to totally agree as well. Was about to get the Nexus 10 but I am really happy to get the Note 10.1. And the screen size and quality is more than fine for me...
This is the first time i have really used a tablet for my various hobbies. The Spen magic is great as well.
I just wish we get the Android updates for multiuser feature and bluetooth 4 LE support
i can't live without this tablet, take it everywhere i go i love the note series.
yeah, love it so much, and now, i'm running on ReVolt ROM and love it much more ^^
I completely ignored the reviews about the note 10.1, so many complaints about the screen being poor etc, what a load of tosh that is, there's bugger all wrong with it imo. I picked the note 10.1 over the nexus 10 and I don't regret that decision one bit!
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Snagged mine on eBay for £204 about 3 months ago, it's everything I need in a tablet.... I came from the tab 7.7 with the amoled screen which was lovely but still prefer the note 10.1 as more horsepower and bigger screen = happy gingerdude + with my note 2 gives me everything on the go.
To those who say screen is poor, try it for yourself is more than ok.
Sent from my GT-N8010 using xda app-developers app
coaldust123 said:
What a great device. And its a shame that some people maybe put off by the some of the pathetic reviews ive read on this device. Its stunning.
My s4 is faster. Higher res screen etc. But when it comes to browsing video etc theres no substitute for real estate.
Please dont listen to these bad reviews written by apple twats. If your in the market for a 10in tablet. You will love this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Couldn't agree more... just got my Note 10.1 a few weeks back - had been debating upgrading my original Tab 10.1 for a N10. I'm so happy I didn't - not sure where most of the bad reviews come from: screen is fantastic, the device is super-responsive, feels great in the hand and well-built, expandable memory (running a 64GB card in my 32GB Note = all the space I could ask for) - and for someone that uses his tablet like a notebook, the pen is fantastic to work with... Highly recommended. :victory:
What would make this Tablet permanently on my person, is if it could Seperate into 2, for portability. The 2nd half of the screen could serve as a giant battery, or the 2 halves could have Bluetooth link to each other, so you could do a lot of new things tablets can't do, for (a light-hearted) example , PORTABLE BATTLESHIP GAME SET! XD lol. Just think how creative Samsung could be, once they make those flexible displays commercially available. Also, when Google Glass becomes reasonably priced (I don't think King Midas could even afford it right now), I think some really awesome usage integration between one's glasses, computer, smartphone, and tablet, is inevitably going to be one of the driving catylsts in how commercially available tech will evolve/unfold.
---------- Post added at 09:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:12 PM ----------
About the screen: the only reason Samsung didn't make it on Par with competitors, is because they couldn't find any that could work well with the specialized Wacom digitizer (which is what makes the s-pen superior to a magic wand XD), while also being cost effective. It's a tradeoff that anyone who goes this tablet a fair try, wouldn't care less about. Friggin' Apple extremists think the iPad screen makes photos look better than looking at something in person with your own eyes. Lol.
Opposite for me. I got my S4 and now I use my tablet less. It's not because it's a bad tablet, it's just that it's easier to whip out the phone and browse sometimes. I use my tablet for lots of other important things though so it makes up for that..
i sold my gn10.1 a few months back to get the ativ 500t and 700t. there isn't a day that goes by that i don't miss it. i've almost bit the bullet a few times and gotten a refurb for $300 (i've seen the refurb 32 for ~$350). i really wanna wait to see if they come out with a bigger screen, but i really miss my gn10.1. i missed it so bad that i bought a gn8 to fill the gap that will be left after i sell my nook hd+.
it was the greatest tablet i've owned and thought i'd finally found one that i'd keep for more than a year. windows is great since i can play just about any format and have an alternate selection of games (can't say better b/c that's subjective) and i love the bigger screen. i do hate that windows desktop isn't very finger friendly and that modern ui sucks so badly.
maybe i'll cave it and get another. hopefully i can tame the desire and wait a few months to see how much the ativ q will be or how big the new galaxy note tablets will be.
coaldust123 said:
What a great device. And its a shame that some people maybe put off by the some of the pathetic reviews ive read on this device. Its stunning.
My s4 is faster. Higher res screen etc. But when it comes to browsing video etc theres no substitute for real estate.
Please dont listen to these bad reviews written by apple twats. If your in the market for a 10in tablet. You will love this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just got a Galaxy S4 about a week and a half ago. I find myself using both my Note 10.1 and S4 about equally but for different things, for productivity apps, such as the S-pen apps and office apps, the real estate of the 10.1 can't be beat. for speed, fast browsing and social apps I lean toward the S4. One note though, the S4 just came out with an update that lets you move apps to SDcard, which the 10.1 does not have (hopefully it will come in a future update), however this update locks the bootloaders so that the S4 then cannot be rooted (as of yet!).
Same here. Galaxy Note and S4. In many ways they compliment each other. S-notes automatically show up on S-memo (albeit read only) and reverse also. S4 is always there when Note is not practical. Note wins for meetings. S4 wins waiting for the airplane door to close, and riding in the car.
I even got the small point stylus (ikross brand) designed for the S4 and it works nicely.
In geek heaven here .
Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk HD
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
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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
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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?