Database Users

King Note2-Anything better on the horizon?

By better I refer to powerful & versatile.. what about all the rumors of Nexus devices this year?
Yesterday I checked out again the original Note which was uniquely cool but still felt a bit like a prototype Vs. the surprisingly underwhelming S3 which seems like a weak-sauce kid brother of the Note2 & even the underpowered hardware of the Note 10.1 where I could at least test out some of the features (split screen multitasking, resizeable PIP video, pen input etc) that the Note 2 has that hasn't made it to the S3 (will those software features?). If I only wanted another smartphone the OneX variants currently get my vote but the Note2 from everything I've seen seems like the first real supersmartphone or a real versatile powerful pocketable handheld computer. Anyone feel encumbered by its larger size or mainly just empowered?
I did notice that the ladies seem quite intimidated by the Note1's original size & so I do look forward to holding the less wide Note2. I have long fingers so I didn't notice significant issues navigating the original Note but would likely enable gestures like for notification tray etc..(still use currently use GO Launcher)
I assume I'm not the only one here who thinks the Note2 is the current king device in terms of versatility so the question is for how long? I actually value the pen input functionality so it's unlikely anything will replace its reign until the Note3?
I even want to check out those keyboard dockable Samsung Win8 tablets with pen input when they hit as the in-store Asus Transformer Infiinity still with ICS & Note 10.1 still felt laggy..

Considering how many find the HTC One X variants the best in their class (I personally far prefer it to the S3 except for the enclosed battery), I will want to check out the following when its variants make it to the US possibly as one of the rumored Nexus for the holidays:
HTC J Butterfly preview: a stunning 5-inch 1080p phone for Japan (video)
KDDI unveils HTC J Butterfly (HTL21), the first phone with 5-inch 1080p display-"global device. Not bad for a 140g package, and it's waterproof as well, rated at IPX5"
The Note 2's S-pen functionality & software features will likely keep me favoring it but I will want to check this out & I'm feeling more confident that the Note 3 screen will be 1080p unless the battery hit is too brutal. No battery tests on this 1080p device yet..

http://androidandme.com/2012/10/sma...-wanted-android-smartphones-for-october-2012/
Thoughts on the competition?

I got my Asus TF700T yesterday. Im gonna sell it & buy a Note 10.1

I am a Note II owner and love the phone. Then I really felt like buying an Android tablet. I went and got me Asus Transformer Infinity yesterday & boy Do I regret!! I just put an ad to sell it 100$ off price just to get rid of it & get a Note 10.1 !
Here's what pissed me off. Its a ***** to get the bootloader unlocked. You gotta use Asus unlocker tool & their servers dont respond. its been 48 hrs almost and still no luck.
Theres like only 1 or 2 costume roms available for it and for that this needs to be unlocked.
What pissed me off most that it had only 1gig ram. I thought since it was pricier then a Note 10.1 then its probably at least the same specs.
And damn is it laggy! I guess it could be the ICS' fault and that the JB for it will be smoother but right now it cant be compared to smoothnes of my Note phone at all!
The charger connector is also not standard mini usb which sux and the keyboard for it is too pricey!
One thing I was really looking for was to play Tegra 3 games on it & of the 5 games I tried only 1 was not buggy!
anyways... from what Ive seen from the Note 10.1 dev forum it looks just as promising as my NoteII.
so if anyone here thinks I am making a mistake or something I missed plz let me know.
donno why I even bothered buying this. I was so happy with my Note2. It would have been logical to get another galaxy product!
It was an expensive lesson I even ordered a screen protector for it which costs 30bux inc shipping!

I think you're making the right decision, but....
You should know that the Note 10.1 also doesn't use a mini-usb plug. It's also proprietary.

Don't waste your money.
The Note 10.1 didn't have ANY ROMs out when I bought mine,
and technically there still isn't any official JB for my N8013.
I would wait.
The Note 10.1 is not perfect, no tab is. Based on your post,
you seem to be a hasty kinda buyer cuz you seem to not
research your purchases beforehand. Keep in mind:
The Note 10.1 also has a proprietary non-standard charger/connector.
The few available docks if you want one are rare and pricey as well.
The TF700 has a far better display (by ppi)
The Note 10.1 is not tegra 3 but exynos quad.
Samsung is NOTORIOUS for taking forever to push updates

blud7 said:
Don't waste your money.
The Note 10.1 didn't have ANY ROMs out when I bought mine,
and technically there still isn't any official JB for my N8013.
I would wait.
The Note 10.1 is not perfect, no tab is. Based on your post,
you seem to be a hasty kinda buyer cuz you seem to not
research your purchases beforehand. Keep in mind:
The Note 10.1 also has a proprietary non-standard charger/connector.
The few available docks if you want one are rare and pricey as well.
The TF700 has a far better display (by ppi)
The Note 10.1 is not tegra 3 but exynos quad.
Samsung is NOTORIOUS for taking forever to push updates
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a bit of an overstatement?
No one is saying the Note 10.1 is perfect.
Well, about the lag, the Note 10.1 doesn't lag at all - yes, I'm not saying this just because I own one, it's because it doesn't lag at all.
It's fast and fluid, and with the correct use, it will blaze at an amazing speed.
It has already many custom ROM's available and it's hack-friendly. Samsung releases the open-source very often for their devices.
Oh, and about the updates, Samsung was actually quick to bring in Jelly Bean. It makes your Note 10.1 be twice as fast (in some cases).
You can also have a plethora of keyboards (non-OEM) that are cheap, and some even turn to be covers as well.
All in all, it's a pretty nice buy, but if the non-standard charger/connector is a no-GO, then it's a don't buy this. This tab uses the proprietary connector.

ricardosteve said:
That's a bit of an overstatement?
No one is saying the Note 10.1 is perfect.
Well, about the lag, the Note 10.1 doesn't lag at all - yes, I'm not saying this just because I own one, it's because it doesn't lag at all.
It's fast and fluid, and with the correct use, it will blaze at an amazing speed.
It has already many custom ROM's available and it's hack-friendly. Samsung releases the open-source very often for their devices.
Oh, and about the updates, Samsung was actually quick to bring in Jelly Bean. It makes your Note 10.1 be twice as fast (in some cases).
You can also have a plethora of keyboards (non-OEM) that are cheap, and some even turn to be covers as well.
All in all, it's a pretty nice buy, but if the non-standard charger/connector is a no-GO, then it's a don't buy this. This tab uses the proprietary connector.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 on that add also the multiwindow option /svoice /airview /front stereo speakers and n8000 model can do gsm calls and allot more, i used note II for like a week before buying note 10.1 and personally i think spen on 10.1 is some what more senstive and more ergonomic, something to note also the spen can work as a mouse in web browser to review links, etc and scroll
Sent from my X10S using xda app-developers app

did you vote yes or no ?
hoss_n2 said:
+1 on that add also the multiwindow option /svoice /airview /front stereo speakers and n8000 model can do gsm calls and allot more, i used note II for like a week before buying note 10.1 and personally i think spen on 10.1 is some what more senstive and more ergonomic, something to note also the spen can work as a mouse in web browser to review links, etc and scroll
Sent from my X10S using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did you vote yes or no ?

I got my Note last Friday and can say that I love it. The quad core and 2GB of RAM keeps it fast and responsive, something I can't say about my first gen Android tablet that this replaces. I'''ll upgrade my Android phone next year once I see which LTE may come to my area; however, I know it will have similar specs to the Note.

toofank said:
I am a Note II owner and love the phone. Then I really felt like buying an Android tablet. I went and got me Asus Transformer Infinity yesterday & boy Do I regret!! I just put an ad to sell it 100$ off price just to get rid of it & get a Note 10.1 !
Here's what pissed me off. Its a ***** to get the bootloader unlocked. You gotta use Asus unlocker tool & their servers dont respond. its been 48 hrs almost and still no luck.
Theres like only 1 or 2 costume roms available for it and for that this needs to be unlocked.
What pissed me off most that it had only 1gig ram. I thought since it was pricier then a Note 10.1 then its probably at least the same specs.
And damn is it laggy! I guess it could be the ICS' fault and that the JB for it will be smoother but right now it cant be compared to smoothnes of my Note phone at all!
The charger connector is also not standard mini usb which sux and the keyboard for it is too pricey!
One thing I was really looking for was to play Tegra 3 games on it & of the 5 games I tried only 1 was not buggy!
anyways... from what Ive seen from the Note 10.1 dev forum it looks just as promising as my NoteII.
so if anyone here thinks I am making a mistake or something I missed plz let me know.
donno why I even bothered buying this. I was so happy with my Note2. It would have been logical to get another galaxy product!
It was an expensive lesson I even ordered a screen protector for it which costs 30bux inc shipping!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm done with ASUS, too...
TF700 has a superb display, and thats about it...mine was laggy,too. OTA wouldn't work, so i did an unlock using ASUS's unlock-tool, tried to update with TWRP and downloaded update.zip - would't work either but kept the tablet in a bootloop. ASUS of course refuses warranty because unlock, tries to charge me repaircosts 90% of a brandnew device - come on guys, kidding??? Sold the keyboard, bought the note 8010, fast and smooth with root and Team Union Jelly Bean...an expensive lesson for me, too...

I'm not bashing the Note. I have the phone and the tab as well and love both.
I'm commenting on the op's qualms about the choice he made, which he regrets.
All I'm saying is the op obviously didn't do any research before buying. Some of the
stuff he hates about the Asus TF are also present with the Note. Which means he
is still making the same mistake of not researching.
The reason I said he should keep it is cuz he seems to be guilt-tripping over a perfectly
good purchase. That and he's going to sell his perfectly good tab and be out $100 bucks
because of it.
And you're making a point of there being cheaper docks for the Note 10.1.
Cheaper dock options are also available for the TF700.
And no, the note does NOT have LOTS of ROMs but dev is heading there. On that subject
I was saying that if he waits, dev will get better for the TF.There are ~20 custom ROMs
on xda for the TF700 and less than ten for the Note 10.1. Two or three for the WiFi only devices.
I still also maintain that Samsung drags its feet when it comes to updates.
The TF had JB since October. As of writing this there still is no JB for the N8013, no
leak, no official. Asus is in fact known for their frequent updates.
The tab has quality control issues as I well. I had to return the first one I bought since
the screen was defective. If you read up, this very forum will confirm that I was not alone
in this. Some report lag with the software. Asus is well known for having poor quality
control though.
With all that said, I considered both tabs when buying, did my research and bought the
Note. I love the one I have now and don't regret it at all. It is amazingly good despite any reviews
saying this or that is better.

I've had both and the Note is a better choice (for me at least). A lot less lag and more options. I have the OG note for my phone and have it running stock android. I much prefer touchwiz on the 10.1. Multi window is awesome and I actually use the IR blaster a lot more than I thought I would. Lots of cool features that vanilla android doesn't offer. I vote Note
Sent from my big 10 inch..

Since the Note and N10 have come out the TF700 forum has become a ghost town. Picture tumbleweed. Scott Crossler, the magician who made the TF700 usable, is no longer supporting it. Others are trying to keep up his work but picture "Otto Pilot" from the movie Airplane. Asus has done little or no marketing for the TF700 and it's just sort of floating out there. Asus’ Q3 sales of 10.1" tablets was actually down year-over-year.
Here's my elevator conversation summary of the three most talked about Android tablets:
Note 10.1 - It's the most complete tablet available (any OS) and has unique features like multiview, inking via a Wacom digitizer with palm rejection, S-Note, and a slew of Samsung developed features not available elsewhere that make it a joy to use. It's powerful, has JB (kind of), has great sounding front mounted speakers, gets above average battery life, and has a great display with decent (for Samsung) color accuracy, good contrast, and is nicely bright. There are two downsides and they apply mostly to consumption-only buyers. The 720P display isn't as good on text and computer generated graphics as higher PPI tablets and all the things that make the Note great at creation and productivity add a lot of complexity for people that aren't going to use those features. It's also available with 3G and when so equipped it doubles as a giant phone. The only tablet I'd consider replacing my Note with is another Note with a higher PPI display.​
N10 - I, like many people, saw the specs for the N10 before it was released and thought it was "game over" for all other 10.1" Android tablet makers. As it turns out the N10 is a "value" tablet not a "high-end" tablet. It has the highest PPI of any tablet on the planet but it's fairly dim, is pretty warm, and has just average contrast. The number of N10's reported with light bleed on their displays is pretty shocking (at any price) for a Samsung-built tablet. The N10's A15 SoC is state-of-the-art and kick-ass powerful. But, because of the mammoth PPI it's powering, it's no more powerful than the Note. It also has a bizarre quasi-phone UI which wastes a tremendous amount of display real estate and looks awkward on a 10" tablet. It's "Pure Google" which is fantastic for updates but, feature wise, it's a barren wasteland compared to the features bundled with TW. Battery life is below average and recharging time is six hours. The N10 is a great consumption device for the price. And that's about it.​
TF700 - The Infinity is nothing more than a gussied up Prime which means its design is over a year old. It's also using a Teg3 SoC whose design is eighteen months old and at the end of its useful life and now used primarily in budget devices. It has no 5GHz Wi-Fi, uses single channel memory (the Note and N10 are dual channel), has 1GB of RAM, has IO issues that Asus has made famous, and is built using outdated components that, in a lot of cases, are from second-tier manufacturers (EG: AzureWave Wi-Fi radios). Asus' QC is dreadful, their repair center in TX horrible, and to unlock the bootloader you agree to completely void your warranty. There are a couple of things that are unique and, IMHO, the only reason people should be looking at a TF700. They are: the keyboard which also extends battery life, expandable storage, and the Super IPS display that makes it great for outdoor use. Someone only looking for PPI is better off with a N10.​
So, as someone above said, no tablet's perfect. Of the three, I think living with the Note's perfectly acceptable but lower PPI display involves the least amount of compromise. For someone wanting/needing a higher PPI the N10's a decent choice and a good value. For someone who has to have a keyboard and/or higher PPI and expandable storage there's the TF700. But based on it and Asus' history, declining sales, and price, you're probably better off leaving Android and buying a W8 tablet.

BarryH_GEG said:
Since the Note and N10 have come out the TF700 forum has become a ghost town. Picture tumbleweed. Scott Crossler, the magician who made the TF700 usable, is no longer supporting it. Others are trying to keep up his work but picture "Otto Pilot" from the movie Airplane. Asus has done little or no marketing for the TF700 and it's just sort of floating out there. Asus’ Q3 sales of 10.1" tablets was actually down year-over-year.
Here's my elevator conversation summary of the three most talked about Android tablets:
Note 10.1 - It's the most complete tablet available (any OS) and has unique features like multiview, inking via a Wacom digitizer with palm rejection, S-Note, and a slew of Samsung developed features not available elsewhere that make it a joy to use. It's powerful, has JB (kind of), has great sounding front mounted speakers, gets above average battery life, and has a great display with decent (for Samsung) color accuracy, good contrast, and is nicely bright. There are two downsides and they apply mostly to consumption-only buyers. The 720P display isn't as good on text and computer generated graphics as higher PPI tablets and all the things that make the Note great at creation and productivity add a lot of complexity for people that aren't going to use those features. It's also available with 3G and when so equipped it doubles as a giant phone. The only tablet I'd consider replacing my Note with is another Note with a higher PPI display.​
N10 - I, like many people, saw the specs for the N10 before it was released and thought it was "game over" for all other 10.1" Android tablet makers. As it turns out the N10 is a "value" tablet not a "high-end" tablet. It has the highest PPI of any tablet on the planet but it's fairly dim, is pretty warm, and has just average contrast. The number of N10's reported with light bleed on their displays is pretty shocking (at any price) for a Samsung-built tablet. The N10's A15 SoC is state-of-the-art and kick-ass powerful. But, because of the mammoth PPI it's powering, it's no more powerful than the Note. It also has a bizarre quasi-phone UI which wastes a tremendous amount of display real estate and looks awkward on a 10" tablet. It's "Pure Google" which is fantastic for updates but, feature wise, it's a barren wasteland compared to the features bundled with TW. Battery life is below average and recharging time is six hours. The N10 is a great consumption device for the price. And that's about it.​
TF700 - The Infinity is nothing more than a gussied up Prime which means its design is over a year old. It's also using a Teg3 SoC whose design is eighteen months old and at the end of its useful life and now used primarily in budget devices. It has no 5GHz Wi-Fi, uses single channel memory (the Note and N10 are dual channel), has 1GB of RAM, has IO issues that Asus has made famous, and is built using outdated components that, in a lot of cases, are from second-tier manufacturers (EG: AzureWave Wi-Fi radios). Asus' QC is dreadful, their repair center in TX horrible, and to unlock the bootloader you agree to completely void your warranty. There are a couple of things that are unique and, IMHO, the only reason people should be looking at a TF700. They are: the keyboard which also extends battery life, expandable storage, and the Super IPS display that makes it great for outdoor use. Someone only looking for PPI is better off with a N10.​
So, as someone above said, no tablet's perfect. Of the three, I think living with the Note's perfectly acceptable but lower PPI display involves the least amount of compromise. For someone wanting/needing a higher PPI the N10's a decent choice and a good value. For someone who has to have a keyboard and/or higher PPI and expandable storage there's the TF700. But based on it and Asus' history, declining sales, and price, you're probably better off leaving Android and buying a W8 tablet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would really like your opinion on why you think the n8013 in the US has not seen the JB update and why there seems to be not even a peep about it. All promotion of the note 10.1 happens only on the Samsung Mobile International Facebook Page, including the big Christmas vid, but not word about the 10.1 on the Samsung Mobile USA page. It is like the product vanished.
Thoughts?

rap6388 said:
I would really like your opinion on why you think the n8013 in the US has not seen the JB update and why there seems to be not even a peep about it. All promotion of the note 10.1 happens only on the Samsung Mobile International Facebook Page, including the big Christmas vid, but not word about the 10.1 on the Samsung Mobile USA page. It is like the product vanished.
Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because HTC, Motorola, and Samsung all suck at managing device updates. Before I got my N2 two weeks ago I was using a Teg3 One X. In an official press release with quotes from their CEO HTC said the Teg3 One X JB roll-out was going to be in October. Taiwan (HTC's home country) got a JB update in October that was so bad the roll out was stopped for the rest of the world. It started again two weeks ago and only five regions out of over a dozen have received it. In between, regional HTC offices have been providing inaccurate and conflicting updates on what the JB schedule really is.
Back to Samsung. Having nothing to do with updates Samsung's s/w management process is a cluster f-k. A single device can have over twenty four "current" versions of s/w running on it because Samsung creates unique s/w for each region a device is sold in. A good example is that while rolling out JB to the N8000 they were still releasing 4.0.4 ROMs in certain regions of the world. So there are newer ICS ROMs than there are JB. HTC rolls out a single version of "current" s/w that all of their devices globally (except specific Asian markets) get updated to within the span of a few weeks. So HTC's managing two versions (global and Asia) of s/w per device while Samsung's managing dozens. And the complexity this creates makes Samsung's update process overly complex and difficult for us on the outside to track and make sense of.
So, the short answer to your question of "where's the N8013's JB update?," is that it's stuck somewhere in Samsung's plumbing waiting to be deployed. It's fun to talk about reasons for delays like patent issues and the like but I really think it’s just Samsung being Samsung. The OG 8.9 on AT&T just got ICS last week after the rest of the world received it in August. Go figure.
The upside is that Samsung's s/w is versatile for end-users to manage with Odin so that when a newer ROM comes out for a different region you can just use that with no repercussions. My Brazilian N2 is running a Panamanian ROM and my also Brazilian Note 10.1 is running a British ROM. At some point soon either someone on XDA or Samfirmware is going to post a complete MD5 file for the N8010. Once that happens every 8010/3 user can update to it using Odin without the current complexity of loading a new ROM followed by using recovery to update it to JB from SD. Look at it this way; at least we have some options. The poor folks waiting on HTC and Motorola just have to wait.
This is kind of old but makes the point of how complex Samsung's s/w managment process is. This is a list of ROMs deployed just for the N8000. Kind of scary.

I don't understand what the problem is with the proprietary connector? Seems to work fine for me.

SkizzMcNizz said:
I don't understand what the problem is with the proprietary connector? Seems to work fine for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem is twofold:
Compatibility
Portability
Which are two sides of the same coin. You must use Samsung's connector
which limits your options for peripherals, unless you get an adapter. Even
then the lack of a separate HDMI port and the fact that you can't charge via
your PC's USB port (not enough current) are annoying. And you can't use your
devices chargers which means one more charger to carry around.

blud7 said:
The problem is twofold:
Compatibility
Portability
Which are two sides of the same coin. You must use Samsung's connector
which limits your options for peripherals, unless you get an adapter. Even
then the lack of a separate HDMI port and the fact that you can't charge via
your PC's USB port (not enough current) are annoying. And you can't use your
devices chargers which means one more charger to carry around.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
small price to pay for the dogs bollocks of android tabs, I have been putting off buying waiting for decent specs with micro sd, bought a nexus 7 & took it back next day, felt like cheap plastic crap! I would love to see a review for the note 10.1 based on a price of £268 which is what I paid after cashback, im sure it would get editor's choice awards across the board!

goodie said:
small price to pay for the dogs bollocks of android tabs, I have been putting off buying waiting for decent specs with micro sd, bought a nexus 7 & took it back next day, felt like cheap plastic crap! I would love to see a review for the note 10.1 based on a price of £268 which is what I paid after cashback, im sure it would get editor's choice awards across the board!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was just answering his question :crying:
And that's a good price. I paid $499 plus shipping.

You can charge on a PC's USB... Just reeeeeeeeeally slowly.... Best to leave overnight to charge in this instance, but I have been using it before and charging at the same time...

Thanks for all the info. Im still waiting for someone to buy the asus
The thing that was most dissapointing was the lag. Jerky surfing and delayed responses.
Dont care much about that tiny higher screen resolution

blud7 said:
Don't waste your money.
The Note 10.1 didn't have ANY ROMs out when I bought mine,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The JB update came out the day I bought mine so YMMV.
and technically there still isn't any official JB for my N8013.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which is relevant only if the N8013 is the version he is going to buy (and seeing that he is from Norway it most probably is not).
The Note 10.1 is not perfect, no tab is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure but IMNSHO it's the best one out there.
Based on your post, you seem to be a hasty kinda buyer cuz you seem to not
research your purchases beforehand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, how could he assume for example that the Transformer had to have 2GB of Ram just because it was more expensive... :silly:
[*]The Note 10.1 also has a proprietary non-standard charger/connector.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, which means neither of them has an advantage over the other in this respect.
[*]The few available docks if you want one are rare and pricey as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
False, I got a Samsung original desktop dock (stand, charge and audio out) for € 20 (in Italy) and it works with practically all of the Samsung 7" and 10" tablet lines.
[*]The TF700 has a far better display (by ppi)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which is its ONLY advantage.
[*]The Note 10.1 is not tegra 3 but exynos quad.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which is actually a PLUS (unless you are a gamer maybe, which I am not).
[*]Samsung is NOTORIOUS for taking forever to push updates
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
False, Asus has been one of the best ones for their tablet line but Samsung is not bad at all when you compare it with all of the others and has actually been pretty good with their smartphones.
I run the official JB on my Note 10.1 3G and should get the official JB update on my OG Note very soon.
What he should keep in mind is:
- the Note 10.1 has 2GB RAM (a killer spec for how I use it)
- MultiWindow
- the 3G version is one of the handful of 10" tablets in the world (all of them Samsung AFAIK) that have full GSM call and message capabilities (another killer spec for me)
- it has the S-Pen (I don't use it all that often but when I need it it's VERY useful)
- very good and loud stereo audio
- Touchwiz and Samsung added SW, services and personalizations
- I don't know how it would do with games (I don't have a single one installed on my mobile devices) but on everything else the quad-core Exynos is the fastest and smoothest Android tablet I have ever seen.
- very good battery life
- one of the very best non-HD displays
- light and with a PLASTIC back (I HATE metal bodies!!!!)
- it has an IR blaster and you can use it as a smart remote

My Opinion: Note 8.0 GT-N5110

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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

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

note3 vs s4, worth the upgrade?

so i know a lot of people are debating getting the note 3, coming from their note 2s, but is anyone else out there considering doing it from their s4?
i like my s4, out of the box theres very little needing to be done. it was the first phone ive owned where custom roms would only mess things up. battery life for days, camera didnt need any hacking, everything ran fast, and looked good. there was an annoying popup turning up volume with headphones, and that was pretty much it. oh yeah and it didnt have a good sound chip like the s3, but the note3 wont either so thats not in the running.
despite being a solid phone, my reason for considering an upgrade is really just to change things up. is anyone thinking of moving to the note3 from the s4?
ill add "Thanks" to anyone giving feedback/input/2¢
note3
better gpu/cpu
more ram
internal memory
possibly s pen features?
s4
screen has better density,, otherwise no other differences?
up in the air
glass type?
probably same LED?
gps?
still pictures?
4k is alright, but what looks better in 1080p? (only thing that matters in 2013)
battery life?
radio?
air gesture? (really ONLY useful for gloves)

I have considered it and for me it's simply a matter of do I need...
1) a bigger screen again and
2) the spen features.
Although tempted by the Note 3 (after a year of the Note and Note 2) I went to the S4 in May. I really miss the spen and larger screen but found the size of the Note devices to be too much of a hassle in/out pocket, etc. But that's just me....I use my S4 (gps) for a lot of outdoor activity (backpacking, running, biking, note taking..ideas, etc.), and the Note 3 size would just make it more difficult to lug around.
My experience w/S4* has been nothing but excellent and it really fits all my needs for a smartphone...although I wish it had an onboard stylus.
So I basically think it's a matter of how you use your smartphones. Currently I'm sporting a S4 combined with Nexus 7. If I did get the N3 I'd get rid of the N7.
No doubt however, when it arrives in the stores i will definitely compare my S4 to the N3 and ponder...can I make it work for me? But the 5", physical size, sensors, etc. of the S4 work great.
*S4: stock, nova. Other than the original Palm pilot, it's the first smartphone I've owned that I haven't jailbreak, rooted, romed, etc. I enjoy the fact that everything works.

I actually will be going from the S4 to the Note 3.
The larger screen size will be nice for the real estate, but it's a slight trade off as I will lose the 1 handed operation I'm used to, and it's the same screen and resolution (diamond Pentile 1080p) as the S4 so you will technically lose some PPI, relevant or not.
For me getting the N3 is largely about the SPen features I'm looking forward to, especially with what I'm working on these days. The bump from 16 to 32GB storage is also welcomed. Also the new radio power management should provide a nice boost and I have little doubt the N3 will last a bunch longer on battery than the S4. USB3 is also a nice plus.
Everything else for me is a wash, Sammy's TW 4.3 will feel the same I'm sure. Yea the 800 will be faster than the 600 but will you see all that in day to day? probably not, but it's more future proof I suppose. Don't care about 4K video, and the camera stills will likely be the same between the two.

soraxd said:
up in the air
glass type?
probably same LED?
gps?
still pictures?
4k is alright, but what looks better in 1080p? (only thing that matters in 2013)
battery life?
radio?
air gesture? (really ONLY useful for gloves)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not the same LED. The N3 has more pwoerful LED than the S4.
Both the two variants wont have FM Radio on board.

S4 vs Note3 are pretty much the same device, only in a larger screen.
If I had the S4 I'll probably not get the Note3 unless i wanted a larger screen plus the S-pen
Originally i was going to get the S4 when it was released earlier this year, then i got winds about the Notes3 coming out so I held back, as I wanted all the features from the S4 plus all the feature that the Note3 offers
I'm very glad I waited.

I had this question in mind when I was on s3. I moved to note 2 as it had all features from s3, bigger screen and most of all bigger battery. I am very proud I made that decision so I guess it will be worth to upgrade to note 3 considering the overheating, smearing and poor battery issues of s4.
Sent from the New S Pen

I personally think people buy the Note-series for the wrong reasons. The only reason I owned a N2 (and soon an N3) is because I use S Pen/S Note, inking,, and multiview heavily. Those things require a screen at least as large as the Note's. If I didn't use those things I'd have a SGS4 or one of its competitors because lugging around a phablet isn't always fun. If you have decent size hands one-handed operation is workable but still not ideal.
Ask yourself these questions...
Do I want a larger display? - If yes, from a feature/performance/size perspective the N3's a great choice. If you're not in to S Pen/S Note or inking there are other large screen devices, both available and rumored, to consider that may have larger displays than the N3 or lower prices.
Am I moving to the N3 strictly for performance gains? - The Note-series phones have a lot going on under the hood. 3GB of RAM sounds fantastic but multiview and some of the other S Stuff are going to use a chunk of it. S-800's impressive but other smaller devices including the Nexus 5 and a possible LTE-A S-800 version of the SGS4 will be released with it too. So if you're hunting for performance the N3's a great choice but you may have other smaller-sized choices available soon. If you're going to root and run a non-TW ROM the performance of the N3 without Samsung's "features" should be impressive.
Am I creation/productivity user? - Used for what it's intended, there's nothing that competes with the Note-series. If you aren't currently using a device for creation/productivity but are in a creative line-of-work or do a lot of business communication and time management on your phone it might be worth exploring what the Note's features can provide. I have a Note 10.1 and N2 and would never own a non-Note device again. One man's opinion of course.

BarryH_GEG said:
Do I want a larger display? - If yes, from a feature/performance/size perspective the N3's a great choice. If you're not in to S Pen/S Note or inking there are other large screen devices, both available and rumored, to consider that may have larger displays than the N3 or lower prices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Another thing to consider when answering this question is the downside of having a Larger Display, is the size form factor of the phone itself.
Ask you self these questions:
4. How I'm going to carry this phone on a daily basis?
5. How easy/hard would it be for me to access the phone when I need to answer/make a call?
for me I'm still trying to answer #4, I have Notes 1 and it hasn't been easy, I still use my Galaxy S2 more than my Notes 1 because of this reason.
for answer #5 the Samsung Gear, that watch will finally solve my problem I've been having with the Notes 1, yes, i used Bluetooth before, but it wasn't the same, it was really hard to access the phone to look up things as it didn't quite fit in the usual pockets, specially if you are out in Shorts and T-shirts
at least with the Samsung Gear, no I can keep the Note 3 in arm pocket or something, and then use the Gear to do the basic stuff when i'm out biking on Shorts & Tshirt
which in a way solves the conodrum i was having with quesiton #4

AllGamer said:
How I'm going to carry this phone on a daily basis?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's funny you'd say that. A ton of people were pissed when it was confirmed the N3 was "only" going to have a 5.7" display. I was thrilled because the N2's size is the max I'd go for something whose primary purpose is a phone and the N3's actually smaller.
I think people play with a phablet in a store and think "it'll be fine." In addition to things you mentioned try to use one running through an airport trying to find a connecting gate. Or with only one hand free walking down the street. What seems "fine" in a store or speculatively changes real fast depending on your lifestyle.

I'm going to upgrade from the S4. I actually don't mind the touch wiz that much I just don't think the S4 has enough juice to run it. I love the phone it just gets really hot when I'm playing games and the battery doesn't last me half a day.
Here is my thought process:
Size - S4 is already large so I already had to get used to changing the way I carry my phone
Battery - I can't get half a day out of my S4 in power save mode with features I would use turned off
Screen - I like as much screen size as I can get and I have trouble typing stuff out on smaller phones. I spend a lot of time correcting.
S Pen - This is something I actually really like, some might not care at all about it
RAM - More = better!
Storage - I got the 16GB S4 and didn't realize how little of it would be left. Without installing anything on my phone I'm at 9 GB with some games at 1-2 GB that is not enough space

I'm jumping from the S4 to Note 3. Can't wait!

I'm also ditching the s4 and getting a note 3.
Being a note 2 owner before the s4 I really regret selling my note 2!
I miss the big screen and tons of battery Life.
Also the s-pen makes it worth while for me.
The s4 is a good device but it doesn't fit my needs.
Can't wait till I get my note 3!
Sent from my GT-I9505 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

I too will be making the change from a S4 to a Note 3. Main reason being the bigger screen and the ability to use the S-Pen. I had a Note 2 and sold that to get the S4. After a while, I just really started missing the bigger screen. Even with the smaller S4, I still found myself using two hands anyways. So for me it's really a "once you go big, you don't go back." Also I was able to sell my S4 for $500. Purchasing the Note 3 off-contract which is really the same as purchasing the phone on contract since it's a $225 difference or so between what I sold my S4 for and what I'm paying for the Note 3.

wow what awesome feedback!
so everyone seems to agree the biggest selling point is the S-Pen! what exactly does the S-Pen do? i thought the airview/air hover was supposed to the s4's version of the S-Pen, but airview and air hover are absolutely 100% useless in every possible way imaginable. all these features do are get in the way if youre trying to actually do something.. im positive everyone turned them off after the first few days.
so what does the S-Pen contribute?
i was hoping being able to hover over an area of a webpage would act the same way hovering a mouse does, where it brings dropdown menus, mouse hover features, toast popups, any java/flash/html5 features, and every other thing an on-screen mouse is used for. however samsung implemented none of this, and closesourced its hover features. theyre only used for gimmicky things like turning pages on the touchwiz launcher if you hold it a certain way.. -___________-"...
soo, S-Pen?? wutitdo?

I'll keep my S4. Having a larger phone would only be a hassle for my pockets. Plus I have small hands. My S4 will be my pick. I don't need a bigger phone...
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2

I missed the screen real estate going from the Note 2 to my S4. I have been anxiously awaiting the Note 3 to step back up to a good size screen. I don't agree that the S4 didn't need anything done to it, but I'm not a fan of all the bloat Samsung and the carriers include on these great pieces of hardware.
edit - For me the S-Pen is secondary. It just happens to be included in a great specced phone with a large screen. I'd gladly buy an identical model without the Pen.

The s-pen isn't the deciding factor for me, though I don't want to give it up either! (I have the Note 2). I use it every once in a while but not often. For me it's all about the screen size. I am one of those who wanted the N3 to be 6" or perhaps even bigger.
However there have been times when it was a bit larger than comfortable in the pocket - ie especially during sports. This was partly the weight, not the size - with loose trousers and big pockets it's worse. Still doable but not ideal; it's a trade off I am happy to make though. Hopefully the lesser weight of the N3 will mitigate that problem somewhat.
On the other hand I'm not considering other brands with larger phones because I think Samsung brings way more software-wise to the table - lots of new features each model, and the s-pen is perhaps the best example. For me the S4 would be too small after the Note 2.
I'm really looking forward to the upgrade as it appears that almost everything on the phone will be improved. Since I have an extra Att upgrade to use and it will cost effectively nothing, upgrading is a no-brainer. If I had to pay full price though I'd wait.
I think if I were you, I'd figure out which phone was the right size; the one I'd be most comfortable with most of the time. After all, feature wise they're pretty close. Both are great devices. (Sorry for long response...)
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using xda app-developers app

One thing I haven't seen people taking about is signal strength.
Maybe it's just me but when I went from the Note to the SGS 3 I noticed a big drop in signal.

soraxd said:
soo, S-Pen?? wutitdo?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are already two detailed (p)reviews from phonearena and gsmarena. The former stated the new s-pen features and the latter described them comparatively more in-depth.
Links:
http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/Samsung-Galaxy-Note-3-Preview_id3423/page/2
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_3_preview-review-986p4.php
So, we got a new pen window to start these fresh new things to enhance the multitasking:
Action Memo
Srapbooker
Screen write
S Finder
These are already been mentioned by knowledgeable and assumption-expert member(s) like @BarryH_GEG earlier in the general threads. Demo'ed in those vids too.
I am using s3 for a li'l over a year and I find s-pen along with these new features (with varying degrees) interesting.
For an S4 (i9500) user it should be exciting to have the exynos variant. Because now the exynos 5420 has HMP support which will never be possible for i9500 s4.

I really don't understand the OP's question
GNote2 owners doubting to upgrade to the Note3 is understandable, however ..
The S4 is a PHONE while the Note3 is a PHABLET, with S-pen capabilities ...the choice is totally personal
Correct me if I'm wrong .....
Edit: Not to mention the fact that somebody already started a thread just like this one a couple of days ago ....what a mess ....
.

A Little Appreciation and why not to Upgrade

I bought the Note 10.1 a couple of months after it's launch in the US, and I have been using it in school to take notes on lectures ever since.
My friend bought the 2014 edition a few months back and I noticed that it just falls short. Yes, it's good, but it's no where near as good as ours is.
First and foremost - the battery is stronger. He squeezes out a day of usage while I can go to school 3 days in a row without getting near a charger.
The note 10.1 surprisingly does not lag. I think that it's one of the only samsung devices out there that don't lag with Touchwiz. The 2014 edition lags even when you pull down the notification shade.
Even the 2014 main advantage - it's display - is not worth it. The quality on the original note is so damn good that resolutions don't matter. I gave a few people the chance to compare them. The majority pointed on my tablet, claiming it had the better screen. The sheer quality of the display definitely makes up for the not-so-high resolution.
These are just some few basic things. If you go in deeper you'll surely find other little causes to favour the one over the other. But looking on the big things - battery, UI and general feel and even the display of the Note 10.1 are superior to the new 2014 Edition. If you have a 2012 edition and are considering whether to upgrade or not - save your cash. The 2012 is simply the better one.

Even Though That 2014 Edition might be thinner and smaller in size and looking better
but old one can do everything very well
i don't even Consider buying the new one because it will just be waste of money
i love my note and i think it's more than enough for me ^_^

Just bought the 2012, refurb from a major UK seller with 12 months warranty, half the price of cheapest 2014 I could find - well happy.

The only feat the 2014 edition Galaxy Note 10.1 has over the original Note 10.1 is the higher resolution.
2560 x 1600 on a 10.1" screen is beyond overkill.
about as much as the 1920x1200 resolution of my Nexus 7. I wish the Nexus 7 had capacitive buttons and not on screen dock buttons taking up the screen.

The Note 10.1 (N8000) is originally planned to run fluently with 1GB of RAM only (similar to Note 1 N7000), but its RAM is doubled (2x) at the last minute, making every specs twice the Note 1 with the same resolution, so it is more than enough even now. :good:
On the other hand, the Note 10.1 2014 only has its RAM boosted to 3GB (1.5x), its octa-core still operates in each group of four instead of true octa-core so they're not that much better, but the screen resolution becomes four times the N8000's, so it's somewhat insufficient. In fact, it is possible that the lag often occured when the tablet switches from the 'power-saving' group of CPUs (1.2Ghz x 4) to the 'performance' one (1.9Ghz x 4), so the Qualcomm version might be better.
About the screen: the 2014 one has higher resolution, which means in order to look nice everything displayed on it should at least match the huge resolution. The N8000 on the other hand still has HD resolution, which is quite good (considering HD was once a hype in TVs), and everything bigger than HD is guaranteed to look nice on it.

Yes n8000 is quite good all the way. Im not either going to replace this by 2014 or Pros. A minor (for me, huge) issue is the lack of a newer OS, but if you dont use smart-accessories, share SNote, you will be fine. Im using Sonys sw2 and unfortunately there is growing numbers of apps that require the API level of the newer OS than it is in A4.1.2 :/
Sent from my Galaxy Note 10.1 (N8000).

One big thing that the note has going for it is support. I am not even sure if Samsung remembers this device.
I hate the home button on a tablet on a phone it's nice so it doesn't eat up space on a tablet with ample space navigation bars are a blessing. No matter how you hold the tablet you have access to the Navy bar unfortunately with a physical home button now you have to flip it around if you hold it a certain way.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

I bought my n8013 last month after reading lots of reviews. Unfortunately, I did not look at XDA. It never even dawned on me that a tablet as awesome as this one would not even be brought up to the level of OS that my dual-core S3 was at. Still can't believe it. Having said that, this thing flies on Hyperdrive, has no lag at all with Nova launcher. But this machine really deserves at least one more major update. If the S5 is not the absolute best phone on the market when it is released, I think I will be done with Samsung's stuff for a while. I'll use and love this tablet till it falls apart tho.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using xda app-developers app

Latest isn't always greatest.
Keep in mind that 4.4 will not allow you to install flash player, so you may want to get N8013 if you rely on flash.

I'd be content with 4.2 of Jelly Bean.

mingkee said:
Latest isn't always greatest.
Keep in mind that 4.4 will not allow you to install flash player, so you may want to get N8013 if you rely on flash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really explain to me how I'm running flash on my nexus 5 ? Works really good with Dolfin :what:
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

ilostmypistons said:
Really explain to me how I'm running flash on my nexus 5 ? Works really good with Dolfin :what:
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have 4.4 on my Nexus 7 and I can confirm that Flash playback does not work well.
Try to play Youtube video embed.

GodSlayer said:
I bought the Note 10.1 a couple of months after it's launch in the US.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was one of the first on XDA to get a N10.1-12 in August, 2012, when it was launched. It replaced a year-old G-Tab 10.1 (which had the same screen resolution BTW). I've had a N10.1-14 since October. So I have lots of Samsung tablet experience. To say that the display on the '12 is "superior" to the '14 is ridiculous. The display on the N10.1-12 was painful from day one and Samsung was ridiculed for releasing such a high-end device without a 1,900x1,200 display which Asus and Acer were already offering. When I had a N2 going between it and the N10.1-12 was livable. The N10.1-12 was pretty much history after I got a N3 because of the pronounced difference in their displays.
The difference in form factor, design, and materials between the two is another big selling point for the N10.1-14. The N10.1-12 looked just like every other Samsung tablet and not like the flagship it was. And not a single reviewer had anything positive to say about the glossy plastic back and obviously plastic metallized bezel. The only benefit of the old design was front facing speakers but the N10.1-14's are certainly loud enough and most agree that the reduction in size by moving them to the sides was a worthy trade-off.
As for s/w changes the N10.1-14 adapts the same Multi View methods used in the N3. It's kind of jarring coming from the N10.1-12 but after using it for a while the changes Samsung made start to make sense. Using Air View to open apps with Pen Window is fantastic. You can have a browser present and minimized as an icon constantly available no matter where you are in the UI and no matter what you're doing. Leaks have already appeared of 4.4 with Magazine UX for the N10.1-14. In it, the number of Pen Window apps have tripled and the ability to "cascade" multiple apps is being introduced (it was a feature from the N10.1-12 that was missing). There's nothing from the N10.1-12 that I miss s/w wise.
The N10.1-12 is a great device and for people buying it today for $200'ish it's a great value based on the function it provides. Nothing's going to make a 147 PPI display acceptable when even today's low-end 7" tablets have it beat. And that low PPI display is the only reason the performance of the N10.1-12 is still adequate. The Exynos chip and Mali 400 GPU it uses are the same as what's in the SGS3 which debuted in March, 2012; almost two years ago.
And for those with short memories the N10.1-12 shipped with 4.0.4 and wasn't upgraded to 4.1 and the "Premium Suite" until January, 2013. There were tons of issues with the N10.1-12's launch s/w and plenty of lag; especially when multiple apps were open. So the N10.1-14 does have some occasional transition lag but is due to receive a major update this month; less time than the five months it took Samsung to update the N10.1-12 so it performed to its full potential.
You're entitled to your opinion and I'm not trying to change it. But as someone whose owned both devices I wouldn't want someone to buy the N10.1-12 today without some counter point to consider because you and I have greatly differing opinions.

the_game_master said:
I have 4.4 on my Nexus 7 and I can confirm that Flash playback does not work well.
Try to play Youtube video embed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Theres a hacked version in the Nexsus 5 Q&A section maybe you can give it a try on your N7. It works real well on the N5. DL link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1qjrD8ZER9ITmlVNW1EVWM5YlE/preview
Sent from my GT-N5110 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

BarryH_GEG said:
I was one of the first on XDA to get a N10.1-12 in August, 2012, when it was launched. It replaced a year-old G-Tab 10.1 (which had the same screen resolution BTW). I've had a N10.1-14 since October. So I have lots of Samsung tablet experience. To say that the display on the '12 is "superior" to the '14 is ridiculous. The display on the N10.1-12 was painful from day one and Samsung was ridiculed for releasing such a high-end device without a 1,900x1,200 display which Asus and Acer were already offering. When I had a N2 going between it and the N10.1-12 was livable. The N10.1-12 was pretty much history after I got a N3 because of the pronounced difference in their displays.
The difference in form factor, design, and materials between the two is another big selling point for the N10.1-14. The N10.1-12 looked just like every other Samsung tablet and not like the flagship it was. And not a single reviewer had anything positive to say about the glossy plastic back and obviously plastic metallized bezel. The only benefit of the old design was front facing speakers but the N10.1-14's are certainly loud enough and most agree that the reduction in size by moving them to the sides was a worthy trade-off.
As for s/w changes the N10.1-14 adapts the same Multi View methods used in the N3. It's kind of jarring coming from the N10.1-12 but after using it for a while the changes Samsung made start to make sense. Using Air View to open apps with Pen Window is fantastic. You can have a browser present and minimized as an icon constantly available no matter where you are in the UI and no matter what you're doing. Leaks have already appeared of 4.4 with Magazine UX for the N10.1-14. In it, the number of Pen Window apps have tripled and the ability to "cascade" multiple apps is being introduced (it was a feature from the N10.1-12 that was missing). There's nothing from the N10.1-12 that I miss s/w wise.
The N10.1-12 is a great device and for people buying it today for $200'ish it's a great value based on the function it provides. Nothing's going to make a 147 PPI display acceptable when even today's low-end 7" tablets have it beat. And that low PPI display is the only reason the performance of the N10.1-12 is still adequate. The Exynos chip and Mali 400 GPU it uses are the same as what's in the SGS3 which debuted in March, 2012; almost two years ago.
And for those with short memories the N10.1-12 shipped with 4.0.4 and wasn't upgraded to 4.1 and the "Premium Suite" until January, 2013. There were tons of issues with the N10.1-12's launch s/w and plenty of lag; especially when multiple apps were open. So the N10.1-14 does have some occasional transition lag but is due to receive a major update this month; less time than the five months it took Samsung to update the N10.1-12 so it performed to its full potential.
You're entitled to your opinion and I'm not trying to change it. But as someone whose owned both devices I wouldn't want someone to buy the N10.1-12 today without some counter point to consider because you and I have greatly differing opinions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You and I are quite the opposite. I bought my N8000 four months ago, and despite being able to get the 2014 version, I decided not to. I will tell you why.
1/ Yes, the 10.1 2014 is more powerful, but it does not make the N8000 any less so. I moved to my N8000 from the sk17i SE Mini Pro, and the sk17i is the same powerful device as the original Galaxy S, specs-wise: 1Ghz single-core and 512MB of RAM. With the power of the -once- most powerful mobile device, it still had things that couldn't be done, why? Because the Galaxy S was the very best they could give you at its time. The best of that time was simply not sufficient, that was why people longed for more (Btw, the sk17i still completed most of the tasks I expected). When I moved to the N8000, which has four times the sk17i's specs, the tasks I gave to my device mostly remained the same: word processing (not as nicely as the sk17i with its hardware keyboard, though), web browsing and email, plus being my personal drawing canvas, and all of those have always been completed without lag. What I mean is, there was a time when even the best they could offer was not adequate, but now there exists a line in specifications that, when you cross it, it does not make any difference no matter how far you cross it. No matter how many years it has been, either. OEMs always compete; specs have outgrown the actual needs for it, CPUs and RAM outgrown what an average PC once has, and screen resolution/dpi gone beyond what the eye can see. All for the privilege to brag that "My device is better than your device", and do so for, like, a month? Now, tell me what you can't do without the 2014 version's specs, some kind of multi-gigs 3D games that you play for a few minutes each day? No problem, I will live without it.
2/ The 10.1 2014 portrays what I personally call 'Google's major design flaw' and what Samsung has to come up with to improvise: the hardware navigation buttons. I have written this multiple times, but again, since Android 4.2+, the tablet UI no longer exists (though developers still manage to pull it out from the depth of codes till its complete removal in 4.4). Since the Tab 3 generation (including the cute Note 8.0) it has been determined that Samsung tablets will operate with Android 4.2+ as the final update, so all these devices are equipped with hardware navigation buttons as preparation. As for the N8000, can you download the harware buttons from the Internet? Of course not. So if a 4.2+ update for the N8000 ever existed, it would stand out from the rest of Samsung tablets and have to be specially made. Maybe the guys at Samsung was preparing the 4.2 update when 4.3 came out. Maybe when they decided to skip 4.2 and moved to developing the 4.3 update, when suddenly 4.4 came out. Maybe they then decided to once again skip the underdeveloped 4.3 update for 4.4, or decided it was not worth the effort and abandoned ship, whatever took them that long to deliver absolutely nothing. But I can tell you, a flagship device like the N8000 having no update till now is not entirely Samsung's fault, much less the N8000's. Blame Google for releasing Android versions so quickly with little changes, user-wise (Okay, having no Tablet UI is a big change here). Whether or not there is an update remains a test of faith, or even an inside joke, remember Half-Life 3?
__________
With those aside, I agree with you that the 2014 version feels much more premium; it was such a pleasure holding it in my hand. The size, weight and material is admirable, especially from Samsung.

The size of the new unit rocks. And there is about where it ends. I have a TabPro 10.1 here I may return, especially since we will be getting kitkat. While the smaller size and weight is really nice, I have 2 major problems with it....
1) Stupid Physical Home Buttons. Hate it on their phones, hate it on their tabs. Especially annoying on tabs in portrait mode.
2) Our original note 10.1 has far superior multi-windowing, imo. I didn't much care for it on the Note 10.1 2014 (android 4.3) and they've changed it again in 4.4.2 on the *Pro tabs. My concern is that the kitkat update to ours is going to change it to the new method.
TabPro 10.1 returned. Just not convinced the "upgrade" actually is an upgrade to this tablet. In waiting mode