Database Users

7+ vs 8.9 pros and cons

Hey everyone,
I am on the fence with these two excellent machines.
I've had 10.1 tablets in the past including the iPads, but found them too be a bit cumbersome.
What's your guys' take on:
Display quality between the two?
Exynos vs Tegra?
Keeping in mind that the tablets will be used for:
pdf manipulation
music
light video use
web
email
Thanks in advance

petesavva said:
Hey everyone,
I am on the fence with these two excellent machines.
I've had 10.1 tablets in the past including the iPads, but found them too be a bit cumbersome.
What's your guys' take on:
Display quality between the two?
Exynos vs Tegra?
Keeping in mind that the tablets will be used for:
pdf manipulation
music
light video use
web
email
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This...has been repeatedly discussed so I'll be brief. Tegra has a weird lag when in landscape (8.9 issue), Exynos does not. Display quality, if you googled the 8.9 and 7 specifications you would notice the 8.9 has more resolution than the 7 model. Today's tablets are very capable and fast for those functions you listed.

...
thanks for the reply.
i've been researching the last few days, but after a while it all starts to look the same, that's why i asked....

In terms of raw power, any dual cor eprocessor will handle the BASIC tasks you are looking to do
In terms of Phones Exynos looks faster but i don't know how that compares to tablets
For gaming, Tablet games are more often then not optimized for the Tegra 2 platform, TegraZone games make the most out of the processor and they looks phenominal. I don't know how well Exynos does gaming on a tablet
8.9 has a higher resolution which makes videos much easier. Also the speakers on the 8.9 are really good fo a tablet. I am not picky on audio but i use it when i play Oblivion and it overpowers the tv half the time

I think the larger screen is beneficial for internet browsing. I would definitely try them both out for usability i.e. screen size and weight to see if the $70 price difference is worth going for the larger one. Personally the 8.9's size of a hardback book is perfect.

petesavva said:
thanks for the reply.
i've been researching the last few days, but after a while it all starts to look the same, that's why i asked....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The 7+ has a MicroSD slot, whereas the 8.9 does not. Besides that, it is the same beast in a different shell size. In the end it is up to you. Consider the screen resolution, portability and the size and possibly the MicroSD slot in your case. For me and my small hands 8.9 is the perfect balance, but for bigger hands, some may prefer the 10.1 for example.

...
Thanks for all the replies.
I just came back from BB. Played with both machines and I have to say that the 8.9 fits my bill better.
The 7+ is great too, but it was just too small.
Thanks again!!!

I've had both.. the old 7 and the new 8.9 and I definitely like the little larger screen.. I would say the only physical improvement I could see for the 8.9 would be a little different aspect ratio.. towards the ipad.

I have the original GT7 and I just got the 8.9. While I do like the new GT, I really wish that the 7.7 was out - that sounds like the perfect tablet for my needs...

8.9
8.9 it is! i've been playing with both 7+ and 8.9 and really like the larger one.
I wonder when ICS will come for it....
Thanks for all the replies

I'm trying them both out myself. I guess the 7in. form works for some, what with the new Fire getting the press (this is far superior to that not surprisingly!), but with this resolution it just doesn't fit my needs between a tablet and phone. I kept reading in reviews how much faster than the other tabs it was but really what I'm noticing is the increased heat you feel when its zipping along. The remote software is legitimately cool though, easy to set up, nicely designed and a pleasure to use.
The 8.9 is a definite keeper. Especially with the new Overcome kernel. It's the most beautiful android tablet I've ever used, even more comfortable and light than the iPad. I can't believe how nice the design is, I really hope the 8.9 form factor sticks with Samsung.
One important point though: Tegra 2 absolutely blows at playing HD video unless transcoded properly. This is a huge flaw with most Honeycomb tablets IMO. The 7 Plus eats any video you throw at it since it doesn't have that mediocre processor.

Can I use peel remote software from gtab 7 plus on gtab 8.9?where can I get it?
Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

No, as 8.9 does not have an IR port.

I've had a 7" inch HTC Flyer myself, I found it too small ( that and the screen sucks as does HTC support, but that's another discussion I guess)
I have the 8.9 now, and I love it (especially for reading, and annotating docs)

I was stuck trying to decide between the two.. I love a 7" form factor.. but I was disappointed with the 1024x600 resolution on the 7".. Loved the pixel density and ability to fit a lot more content on the 8.9".. but the 4210 Exynos SOC inside the 7 plus is night and day clock for clock against the Tegra2.
I ended up with the 7 Plus .. Best Buy has a return policy until mid-Jan (holiday return policy) so if I change my mind or some other Tablet meets my needs better I can always exchange.
The 7 Plus' hardware will provide more future proofing than Tegra2 in the long run. The Galaxy Tab 7.7 hits a home run in all aspects.. An even faster clocked 4210 at 1.4ghz.. The higher resolution 1280x800, and more pixel density due to the 7.7 screen size over a 8.9".. Not to mention the even more battery efficient Super AMOLED+ display. Otherwise, you also get a LIGHTER tablet and BIGGER battery capacity in the 7.7.
I'll definately be upgrading to it when it comes out. For now, the 7+ remains the fastest OUT-OF-THE-BOX Honeycomb tablet in existence.
Even overclocked Tegra2's can barely keep up with a 1.2ghz 4210.
I just wish there was development going on for the 7+. It's nearly non-existent because the 7+ is a stepping stone to bigger and better things (Tegra3 and faster Exynos) ... that said, a lot of people are just holding out for the next generation of tablets.

...
any news on the 7.7? i thought samsung was supposed to have a press release on the 7.7 today...

petesavva said:
any news on the 7.7? i thought samsung was supposed to have a press release on the 7.7 today...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's out overseas.. but not in the U.S. yet... unfortunately =( I want to get my hands on one.

...
europe or asia?
not that it's worth it with the exchange rate nowadays....

petesavva said:
europe or asia?
not that it's worth it with the exchange rate nowadays....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Europe for sure.. not sure about the rest... There's a lot of English blokes talking about their 7.7 here and there.

Opinions moving from iPad to SGN 10.1?

So I currently own:
iPad 2- love the fact its so fluid
G-Note 5.3- Slow and I find the s-pen is not accurate off by 1/8 on an inch but loved the idea.
SGIII- Traded my Note for a SGIII and love the speed.
Previously owned:
SG 10.1- Returned felt Gingerbread is too slow and laggy. Just doesn't have the smooth of iPad.
Moto Zoom 10.1- Returned for the above reason as well.
As you can see I WANT an Android tablet but frankly they just have been as fluid as IOS. So anyone coming from the iPad to the Note 10.1. Since I never had the retina display I think I can safely give it up but I want fluid. And I want the S-pen but I want it accurate and responsive like paper.
So thoughts and opinions.

Just go down to your local brick and mortar and play with one for an hour and decide for yourself. Or, if you're incapable of deciding for yourself then head down to the Apple retail store and the geniuses will happily tell you what to buy.

S Pen is very accurate (I haven't seen anyone complain about it being off a little) and very responsive.
It's as not fluid as an iPad, but should be fluid enough. I actually returned Asus Transformer Infinity before buying this one, and I can say that Note 10.1 is ten time more fluid than Transformer Infinity. It addition, with Jelly Bean (with Project Butter) update coming within this year it will be much better. I don't think you will feel like you need Jelly Bean though because it already works smoothly as is.
Coming from iPad 2, the screen will look amazing with higher resolution. However, if fluidity is your priority, iPad is probably the best choice. But I have a feeling that you will be happy with this device.

My wife was fed up with her iPad 2 (it was free, though, a business gift) . When I had my SGN10.1 she played around with it for 1hr , got in her car and went to buy her own SGN10.1 ....... :good:

Earthdog said:
So I currently own:
iPad 2- love the fact its so fluid
G-Note 5.3- Slow and I find the s-pen is not accurate off by 1/8 on an inch but loved the idea.
SGIII- Traded my Note for a SGIII and love the speed.
Previously owned:
SG 10.1- Returned felt Gingerbread is too slow and laggy. Just doesn't have the smooth of iPad.
Moto Zoom 10.1- Returned for the above reason as well.
As you can see I WANT an Android tablet but frankly they just have been as fluid as IOS. So anyone coming from the iPad to the Note 10.1. Since I never had the retina display I think I can safely give it up but I want fluid. And I want the S-pen but I want it accurate and responsive like paper.
So thoughts and opinions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gingerbread??? Tab 10.1 was Honeycomb... That said it had a Tegra2, Tegras are notorious for being first on the market to bump up core count but horrendously poor performance per core, and oddly, some of the worst GPU performance which is odd considering that NVidia is a GPU company.
If you're happy with the I9300, you should be happy with the N80xx - Same resolution and exact same CPU/GPU.
In addition, once Jellybean hits, UI performance should be significantly improved... Assuming Samsung doesn't dork it up. Might want to look at how the I9300 Jellybean leak is performing.

Thank you all for the replies. And I stand corrected the original 10.1 was Honeycomb. I guess I will make the trip and give one a shot.

Earthdog said:
Thank you all for the replies. And I stand corrected the original 10.1 was Honeycomb. I guess I will make the trip and give one a shot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just return my Asus TF700 and bought my second Note(first one went to U of Iowa with my daughter) and couldn't be happier.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium

This is not a hard choice. The iPad is a very different device if your into pen. If the question is about the pen being solid, it's solid.
Feel secure that your getting good pen from this.

I came from the iPad. I've been trying to switch to Android for over a year. Of the half dozen Android tablets I've tried, the Note 10.1 is my switching device. Don't get me wrong, I'm keeping the iPad mostly because my daughter uses it for some games and secondly because there are some games I like that Android doesn't have (Kingdom Rush!).
So yeah, my retina iPad has been reduced to sloppy seconds.
Sent from my Galaxy Note 10.1

I just sold my (New) iPad and i want to switch to an Android tab, what i don't like about the Note 10.1 is the low resolution it dould of made my choice easier if it had a full HD screen, now i'm torn between the Infinity and the Note 10.1 is de res really bad on the Note in comparision with the Infinity or New iPad?
Blasted from the Galaxy S3 with Tapatalk

Mafiatounes said:
I just sold my (New) iPad and i want to switch to an Android tab, what i don't like about the Note 10.1 is the low resolution it dould of made my choice easier if it had a full HD screen, now i'm torn between the Infinity and the Note 10.1 is de res really bad on the Note in comparision with the Infinity or New iPad?
Blasted from the Galaxy S3 with Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't notice the reduced resolution at all - and as others have pointed out, excessive resolution causes problems. UI performance on Infinity, battery performance (the new iPad requires around 50% more battery capacity to achieve the same runtime) for iPad. This means the new iPad takes longer to charge and is heavier.
iPad and Infinity - making compromises for spec epeen and marketing
Note 10.1 - proper systems engineering, acknowledging that the benefits of a higher resolution display beyond 1280x800 (or was it 720?) are far less than the costs (need for much higher GPU fill rates, which means either worse framerates or more battery consumption).

I had the iPad1 the day it came out, and the iPad2 when it came out. The only reason I bought either tablet was that I wanted to use it for taking notes (without needing pen and paper) and reading PDF's (in a more natural way than on a laptop), and they only did one of those things. I sold my iPad2 a few months ago, and have just now picked up the Note 10.1. Me like!
The build quality is a little lower than I've been used to with the iPad, but feels acceptable in the hand.
The note-taking software is a little rough around the edges, as if Samsung doesn't realize they can tap into a HUGE education market with it.
In terms of taking notes in class, it's everything I ever hoped for -- the digitizer is very accurate, super rarely messes up.
Lack of high-res screen is disappointing, but it still looks a lot better than my iPad ever did!
The whole point of the Note 10.1 is taking notes and drawing. Hopefully Samsung will realize this at some point and polish up the rough edges and market it for education, ie. taking notes in class, but 'til then it's a fine tablet as is.

Entropy512 said:
I don't notice the reduced resolution at all - and as others have pointed out, excessive resolution causes problems. UI performance on Infinity, battery performance (the new iPad requires around 50% more battery capacity to achieve the same runtime) for iPad. This means the new iPad takes longer to charge and is heavier.
iPad and Infinity - making compromises for spec epeen and marketing
Note 10.1 - proper systems engineering, acknowledging that the benefits of a higher resolution display beyond 1280x800 (or was it 720?) are far less than the costs (need for much higher GPU fill rates, which means either worse framerates or more battery consumption).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your reply, i will try to go to the store this week and test both of them and i will leave with one of them.
From what i have read, i think these are the main differences between the two.
Note 10.1
Likes- DAC, Speakers orientation, CPU/GPU/RAM, Design, S-Pen.
Dislikes- Screen resolution (I will try this at the store with websites and videos)
TF700 Infinity
Likes- Full HD res, Tegra 3 Gaming, Design, Dock, Stock Android.
Dislikes- Laggy performance/ I/O performance, Not so loud mono speaker with bad orientation, Build quality issues.

Mafiatounes said:
Thanks for your reply, i will try to go to the store this week and test both of them and i will leave with one of them.
From what i have read, i think these are the main differences between the two.
Note 10.1
Likes- DAC, Speakers orientation, CPU/GPU/RAM, Design, S-Pen.
Dislikes- Screen resolution (I will try this at the store with websites and videos)
TF700 Infinity
Likes- Full HD res, Tegra 3 Gaming, Design, Dock, Stock Android.
Dislikes- Laggy performance/ I/O performance, Not so loud mono speaker with bad orientation, Build quality issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With regards to the Screen resolution, I am very happy with it, maybe there are only a few users who genuinely dislike the display and others are just repeating what they have heard from other reviews.
Not sure if you will be fully able to test both machines in store for finding defects etc unless they are blatantly obvious as I have been using an Asus TF101 prior to the note and the defects usually show days/months later on the machines. I had to RMA my Asus once during its warranty period but I collected the faults over time and had them repaired in one visit, one speaker stopped working, battery drained very quickly and when it stopped charging I had to send it back.
I have not owned a Samsung tablet but have owned a few of their phones and currently own the phone version of the Note which I also love however it has not always been good. Previously owned their first galaxy S phone and had nothing but problems with it and the GPS issue was never really resolved on the phone which was poor even after updates. Samsung tend to release too many products too soon after the launch of a new product making the previous model obsolete and support/updates used to be very slow. Based on the above issues I moved back to HTC phones and am back now again to Samsung but this time it seems that they are focusing on quality and their latest product, the Note 10.1 really does seem to tick all the right boxes for for now....

HasC said:
With regards to the Screen resolution, I am very happy with it, maybe there are only a few users who genuinely dislike the display and others are just repeating what they have heard from other reviews.
Not sure if you will be fully able to test both machines in store for finding defects etc unless they are blatantly obvious as I have been using an Asus TF101 prior to the note and the defects usually show days/months later on the machines. I had to RMA my Asus once during its warranty period but I collected the faults over time and had them repaired in one visit, one speaker stopped working, battery drained very quickly and when it stopped charging I had to send it back.
I have not owned a Samsung tablet but have owned a few of their phones and currently own the phone version of the Note which I also love however it has not always been good. Previously owned their first galaxy S phone and had nothing but problems with it and the GPS issue was never really resolved on the phone which was poor even after updates. Samsung tend to release too many products too soon after the launch of a new product making the previous model obsolete and support/updates used to be very slow. Based on the above issues I moved back to HTC phones and am back now again to Samsung but this time it seems that they are focusing on quality and their latest product, the Note 10.1 really does seem to tick all the right boxes for for now....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know some people yell about specs that they only heard about without knowing what it adds, but it is not in my case, i usually browse a lot and i also hate seeing big pixels like for example on the iPad 2, this is what i liked about the New iPad the browsing experience was quitte good (with Chrome) and i could not see any pixels in normal use. That is why it will be the most important for me on a tablet.
I've had a lot of experience with Samsung and HTC in the past and it was the same as you HTC was a master, but if the Note 10.1 resembles the S3 that i own now than it will be the tab to beat. Samsung improved a lot since the Galaxy S in terms of software implementation and support at least this is what i experience now on my S3.

The only time you will notice the resolution difference with the Note is if you are trying to read really tiny text. Othewise this screen looks totally amazing.
That being said it all comes down to the s-pen. If you want a pen get the Note, if not get the ipad.
Sent from my awesome Note 10.1

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 ....
.

Replacing my Tab S 8.4 LTE with Z3TC

Hi
just ordered mine LTE version (Sony UK) to replace my Tab S 8.4lte. I have only had the Tab S for about a month and am sick to death of it. It will likely be my last Samsung product.
My reasons for switching are many folld and include good experiences with Z1 phone and my current Z3C phone. Especially battery life and the fact that Sony don't layer on gunk over android with a trowel (unlike Samsung).
My Tab S 8.4 is not rooted, and apparently most of the issues I list below can be fixed by rooting and de-bloating, but the fact is I should not have to do this to get a working tablet I run Nova on my devices and have done for over 2 years.. Here is what I like and hate about the 8.4
Like
- That 2K amoled display
- The neat physical attatchment and low profile of the official samsung case
- Its dimensions and weight
- Its nice to watch films on
- Physical buttons save screen space
- Fingerprint scanner works well for me, will miss that on Z3TC
- WiFi performance is superb, both range and speed.
- Multi window, although not many apps support it. Xperia small apps will be good enough
Hate
- Never had such a glitchy experience with an android device, the pregnant pauses are a right wind-up
- Mine is the LTE version, it is always disconnecting while still showing H+ going in/out of flight mode fixes, appears related to LTE/3G handover. My version is the euro lte version which uses the exynos process with an intel add-in chip for LTE. Disabling LTE fixes this issue. US versions have a snapdragon 800 whijch does LTE out of the box.
- Battery life is terrible, the age-old issue with samsung devices and wakelocks preventing it entering deep sleep, it will eat 50% battery in 8 hours sat in a bag doing nothing. It has the same apps installed as my Z3C phone - its a Samsung issue,. My Note 8 had the same issues, I should have !earnt.
- Glitchy when typing quickly, i have seen entire words appear on screen in the wrong order, with words with the first word in a sentence ending up after the two words beforehand. I beleive that this is related to all the glitches.
- Clunky battery saving modes, on the Z3C stamina happens in zero time without fuss, on the Tab S a dialogue appears on screen for several seconds while it turns power saver on or off - what the heck is it doing?
- Hate touchwiz, always use nova launcher, unforunately, you are stuck with bits of touchwiz even using nova. The fischer-price settings page for instance.
Ultimately, its the LTE/3G handover issues and the non stop glitches oh and the wakelock issues that are making me switch
I will have both tabs for a short whil!e after my Z3TC arrives, I will attempt a review.
Nigel

If you have the time, I'd really like that review. I'm still very undecided between the Tab S 8.4 and this tablet to replace my 2012 Nexus 7.
But then I have a feeling that if I go with the Tab S I will put CM on it because of TW. My Xperia SP is still stock with Nova and I'm happy with it so the Z3TC would probably remain stock also.

Falzo said:
If you have the time, I'd really like that review. I'm still very undecided between the Tab S 8.4 and this tablet to replace my 2012 Nexus 7.
But then I have a feeling that if I go with the Tab S I will put CM on it because of TW. My Xperia SP is still stock with Nova and I'm happy with it so the Z3TC would probably remain stock also.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same boat. About to make the 2012 mainly a Pandora alarm clock.

I actually find myself quite annoyed at Samsung re the Tab S 8.4 - it could and should have been wonderful right out of the box.
Oh, and I don't know if this is still current, but last I heard, CM was not available for the Tab S 8.4 - it was only available for the Tab Pro 8.4.
http://www.androidauthority.com/com...enmod-installation-on-samsung-tab-s-8-4.4170/
I'm also not sure if CM supports anything other than the wifi versions of the Tab Pro 8.4?? IIRC, the Tab Pro 8.4 has an IPS LCD screen rather than Amoled, and all models feature a snapdragon 800
Edit: Noticed this on above thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...-cyanogenmod-11-android-4-4-4-t2835170/page31
Nigel

did you get your sony?
edit: especially interested in wifi range, loudspeakers, battery & camera in comparison.

I also switched to Z3TC today after using tab s 8.4 for about a month.
The reason I switched to Z3TC is that tab s 8.4 is too unstable (often be forced to reboot……) especially when it runs out of memory which I never experienced with z ultra.
So far Z3TC is stable as it has plenty of free memory (thanks to the lower screen resolution?).
The only thing I miss about tab s is the multi-window.

t705
iam also thinking about change my t705.
Battery life a choke.
How is the display agajbst the tab s?
feel the "only" 8 zoll agajnst the 8.4 from samsung ok?
thx

veletron said:
I actually find myself quite annoyed at Samsung re the Tab S 8.4 - it could and should have been wonderful right out of the box.
Oh, and I don't know if this is still current, but last I heard, CM was not available for the Tab S 8.4 - it was only available for the Tab Pro 8.4.
http://www.androidauthority.com/com...enmod-installation-on-samsung-tab-s-8-4.4170/
I'm also not sure if CM supports anything other than the wifi versions of the Tab Pro 8.4?? IIRC, the Tab Pro 8.4 has an IPS LCD screen rather than Amoled, and all models feature a snapdragon 800
Edit: Noticed this on above thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...-cyanogenmod-11-android-4-4-4-t2835170/page31
Nigel
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There unofficial cm 11 ports for both the galaxy tab s 8.4 and 10.1 Wi-Fi models. T700 and T800.

Sony Xperia Tablet Z3 and Samsung Tab S 8.4
So, now i have both tablets and can write my impressions.
The sony tab is really nice to hold, very light and a very good performance.
The display is bright and give good colors. White is white.
Resolution is also right. I could not see any pixels. Its sharp and very smooth to touch.
The tab s has a little bigger display and a higher resolution.Amoled is a part that everyone must look for himself. Many love it, many hate it. I like both displays.
The qualcom cpu from the sony tab has much more power as the samsungs exynos.
No smooth handling. Battery is to small for this tablet. The sony loose 1% accu over 20 hours standby. My tab s loose a lot of accu, if i use it and also in standby.
So, after testings i will stay at sonys xperia tablet 3.
I like this very light powerfull part of hardware. The launcher is smooth and the reactions from the cpu are very fast.
A very good tablet i think.

another big win is the double tap to wake feature (found under the display setting).

My Initial Observations vs Tab S
So, my Z3TC LTE turned up, and after having played with it for a while, my Tab S 8.4 LTE is going on fleabay.
Updated: Video review (warning: long winded!!) http://youtu.be/CMKonSEd7zc
Its hard to describe just how much more responsive the Sony Z3TC is compared to the Samsung tab S 8.4!! This responsiveness makes it so so much more pleasant to use.
I have nothing to say Re the respective UI 'enhancements' done by each manufacturer since I have always used Nova Launcher. My points below are with Nova running on both devices.
Observations from from my early fiddling vs Tab S 8.4 LTE (Exynos EU Version, only US LTE versions of the TAB S get a Snapdragon, EU versions get a Exynos and offload the 3G/4G to an intel add-in chip). The US versions get a Snapdragon because the Intel add-in chip does not support all the bands in use in the US.)
Negatives (vs Tab S)
- Slightly smaller screen (hardly noticeable)
- Bigger Bezels than the Tab S, but these make it easier to hold
- Perhaps not as well weighted for typing in handheld portrait mode vs the tab S
- Screen is not as vibrant as that on the Tab S, but I don't really notice the lower resolution. Hard pressed to see any pixels
- Screen more fingerprint hungry than Tab S
- Case attachment mechanism not as neat at Tab S (official samsung case clips to back via press holders)
- No Flash for rear facing camera
- No fingerprint reader (which I did actually find pretty reliable on the Tab S
- I hate the Sony mechanism for inserting SIM cards - why not a clicky-in/click-out system like everyone else uses?
- The Sony equivilent of Samsung's 'Smart Stay' designed to keep the screen on while you are looking at it does not work as well as on the Samsung
- Tab S LTE was about £30 cheaper (after Sony's £30 rebate)
- More freebies video's/etc with the Samsung Tab S
Positives (vs Tab S)
- Lightweight
- Very high quality build, feels better in the hand than Tab S, good quality plastics, nice tactile rear panel
- Has NFC
- Does not keep disconnecting from the mobile network (requiring flight mode on/off to restore). Tab S LTE (exynos+intel 4G chip, EU version) keept doing this. It was an LTE/WCDMA handover issue I believe
- Battery life is blooming superb vs the Tab S 8.4!
- Way, Way Way faster and more responsive than the Tab S 8.4 - light years ahead, and way less anoying in day-to-day use
- Fuss-free power saving/stamina mode - Tab S required time to switch in/out and was use useless with powersaving on - it was slow enough with it off!!
- Waterproof (USB, sim/SD card slots under waterproof covers headphone sky requires no cover as its internally waterproofed
- Mag charger is easier to attatch than fumbling about with a USB cable - no socket to damage either
- I already had a Z3 Compact phone so this plays nice with that
- Smart connect works well for silencing device when plugged in between certain times. Also does not display permanent status icon unlike Samsung equiv
- Dont need to root the Sony to make it usable!!
Equal
- Nothing to choose between devices re sound quality from built in speakers or a bog standard set of headphones
- Double Tab to turn on is simplicity, but one had that with Samsung's HOME button, and fingerprint login anyway
- Both vendors try to get you to sign up for Sony account or Samsung account junk. I just dont bother logging in to any of it
- Both vendors prevent you from fully uninstalling some of the bloatware they ship
- Both Vendors prevent you from disabling some of the junk they ship
Wishlist
- SONY: Make an official keyboard case for this device - that would make for a good compact road warrior machine
- SONY: Make your official case close with a magnet like Samsungs/3rd party cases. I dont want a trashed screen or an elastic bag around my expensive Tab!
- SONY: 16GB built in (11GB free) is completely stupid in 2014. The base model should be 64GB with the next model at 128GB. Your cost price on your BOM for the additional flash is $almost nothing - dont rob us blind
- SONY: Why no 32GB model for the LTE version?
Nigel

Cool, I figured people would like it. I am disappointed to know that you can't get 32GB internal, but I typically have less apps on my tablets than my phones and my 16GB S4 still has 9GB available. So realistically I'm set with a big memory card for all my music and video. I bought the Tab S 8.4 and returned it the next day because TW and the bloat/lag was awful. Also I couldn't believe that the back cover of the device had waves in it...not very impressive build quality.

yea it would have been nice to have 32GB for the LTE but hopefully lollipop will let us use the SD to store OBB files for games. I orde a 128GB SD for my Z3TC finger cross...

Sunlight comparison
veletron, could you please give us a mini-review of the sunlight readability compared between the two tabs? Thanks!

I live in Scotland where the sun rarely shines! I can test it's waterproofing in the rain very easily though!

I've actually ordered the Z3TC and it's due for delivery on Thursday. However after the luck I've had with my last 3 Android tablets I think I'm just going to get an iPad Air 2. My last 3 Android tablets are in order: LG G Pad 8.3, Nexus 7, Nexus 9. All of them had some issue or another. I had an iPad Air last year until I dropped it off a balcony whilst on holiday, but I never had one single issue with that tablet and it had battery life that Android tablets I've owned could only dream of. I really, really like the look of the Z3TC The size is perfect, build looks good in reviews, I like the fact that's it's water resistant. But I'm just worried that it's going to have one issue or another. I also think Sony should have put a faster and newer CPU in this tablet for the price they're asking. The snapdragon 801 is basically the snapdragon 800 with a slightly tweaked clock speed, I think it's something stupid like 100MHz. This CPU is a year old! And Sony are asking top dollar for this tablet. I know it has 3gb of RAM but that only comes into play if you're running multiple apps of apps that require plenty of RAM. The speed comes from the CPU & GPU and the ones in the Z3TC are a year old as I said. There's phones out now running the snapdragon 805. And tablets running Nvidia Denver and K1. Not to mention Apple's A8 triple core that's even supposed to beat NVidia's offerings. The specs in the Z3TC are dated, yet sony want top dollar for it.
As I said - I really like the look of the Z3TC I wouldn't have ordered otherwise. But I'm just not sure if I'm going to keep it when it arrives. I think the £330 I've paid for it could get me a faster tablet with slightly newer specs. Seems I've got some thinking to do.

Maybe you could take them to the tanning booth! LOL Thanks anyway. In the Florida direct sunshine the S is barely usable and is supposed to be a little brighter than the Sony. Was wondering if the Sony contrast compensation made up for that.

I seem to remember reading that the z3 had the brighter screen, but the tab S will have better contrast due to the amoled screen. Subjectively the z3 screen picks up fingerprints more than the tab S which might be worth bearing in mind in bright sunshine.

veletron said:
I seem to remember reading that the z3 had the brighter screen, but the tab S will have better contrast due to the amoled screen. Subjectively the z3 screen picks up fingerprints more than the tab S which might be worth bearing in mind in bright sunshine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you think that you'll be sticking with the Z3 tablet, or are you still on the look out for something else?

Sticking with it. Been using it much more than the tab S cause it's actually pleasant to use! I have a Z3 Compact phone as well, and Sony has made it play nice with this. Simple tethering widget (that let's you see texts and call log on the phone as well), builtin chromecast support, the "throw" stuff works well to mirror to TV too. Oh, and I can mirror phone screen to tablet and control phone from tab remotely. My main use for this so far has been to hand tab to parent and then show pics from phone on tab screen, flicking between them using phone screen. It works well. Video streaming phone to tab works too. I take alot of pics with my phone, and can see my using this to view/delete said pics on the big screen of the tablet without ever having to actually transfer any files to the tablet.

Tab A 10.1 with S-Pen... I'm liking it!

I have been absolutely in love with my Note 2014 since I bought it, and with the help of this forum has been just about the perfect tablet for the last couple of years. But the battery has been struggling lately, and then a little while ago the s-pen broke, and it was impossible to find an OEM replacement. The crappy knock-off s-pen I was able to find online was pretty much unusable, and since I use my Note for handwritten notes and documents almost exclusively, took all of the fun out of the tablet for me. So I went looking for a replacement. I thought about just getting a new Note 2014 off amazon, but I thought it might be good to get something that will run 6.0+. I tried the Nvidia Shield K1, since it has a stylus, but I returned that after just a couple of days. The stylus was terrible, and palm rejection was spotty at best. Then I started looking at the Tab A 10.1 with an S-pen. I was concerned about the resolution mostly, but I went ahead and bought it. Initially, I thought I had made another mistake. The new Samsung Notes app just flat out stinks. Its trying to be an Evernote, and by trying that lost everything that made S-Note such a great program for me. I was about ready to return the Tab and just go back to my dying Note 10.1 when I stumbled across the apk for the updated S-Note. Installed that and I am happy as a clam! Quite a few improvements over the Note 10.1 version, but it imported all my old notes perfectly. I love the new s-pen functionality, and the resolution has not bothered me near as much as I thought it would. I'm sure if I took my Note out and laid them side by side I would notice the difference, but for my use it has not detracted from the tablet at all. The main complaint I have, and that others have made, is that for some ridiculous reason Samsung chose to put the speakers on the same side. That's ok if you are using the tablet in portrait, but who watches any kind of media with the tablet in portrait. So in landscape all the sound comes from the same side. Baffling. But other that that, it has been a great replacement for the Note 10.1. At lease until Samsung gets a clue and comes out with a Note 10.1 2017 edition!

I've been trying out the Tab A 10.1 with S Pen today, and I also really like it, and with Marshmallow it feels a lot more responsive than the Note Pro I've been trying out. But like you said, those speakers! Not only are they on one side, but they sound terrible and don't get loud enough. Still, I could forgive that if they were at least on both sides. After 15 minutes of watching video, I'm noticing a bad discomfort in my right ear (had the speakers facing that way) that I've never felt using myriad of proper stereo tablets I've had, even given that they're relatively quiet. So, I'm sending it back, as well as the Note Pro (thing is more unwieldy than I'd hoped) and hoping the Like New $200 10.1 2014 edition I saw on Amazon doesn't disappoint.
Any other issues with the 10.1 2014 beside the battery and broken pen?

Just wishing if somebody could make a port of tab A 10.1 rom for note 10.1 2014. But I know its practically impossible. So, just a wish.

Tab A 10.1 2016 with S Pen needs an OEM cover/case....the one advertised as an accessory for this tablet is actually for the Tab A 2016 (without S Pen) - which doesn't have the same dimensions. The cases on eBay and Amazon are less than desirable.

I sent mine back. It is a great device, but so is the 2014. A couple of things I didn't like: 16gb model only, speakers on one side when watching in landscape, 'soft' buttons aren't backlit....and absolutely no good options for a case. I also missed the 'swipe' to open the multi-window options, it was just fewer clicks to get everything set up.
I loved the battery (which was phenomenal) and the new/improved SPen functionality. The screen was great - I couldn't tell/see the lower resolution.
It is a great device, just not worth the money to upgrade.

I see the specs the resolution and ppi are lower, less ram?. Do you actually notice any differences?
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

radpp16 said:
I see the specs the resolution and ppi are lower, less ram?. Do you actually notice any differences?
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't have any complaints as far as resolution or performance. Mine were fairly aesthetic (no case, lack of backlit buttons, etc.). If my Note weren't still running fine, I would have kept it. People who say it isn't a 'true' Note haven't tried it. The note functionality was fine - actually had some slight improvements over the 2014.

The resolution is half the 2014. It's very visibly different.

But at least it's a semi decent tablet with a SPen. Hopefully it will get released in a few more markets next year.

jeremyr62 said:
But at least it's a semi decent tablet with a SPen. Hopefully it will get released in a few more markets next year.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is the point of buying it over a Note 2014 though? You can find those dirt cheap on ebay these days.
For software updates you can always use CM. I honestly don't get Tab A, there is not one thing that it is better than a 3 year old tablet (that can also be found for less).

Battery life and improved SPen functionality are the TabA's advantages over the Note 2014. I disagree with RojoNinja's comment on resolution being 'visibly different'. It wasn't to my eyes and I had them side-by-side. My wife (who had no idea of the respective resolutions) even commented that the Tab A's screen looked better to her.
I have to admit to struggling with the idea of stepping back on the #'s in the specs was irritating but the screen was fine. The sound wasn't. When you watch a video, you usually watch it in landscape, When you watch in landscape using the Note 2014, there is a speaker on the left and on the right. When you watch with the Tab A in landscape, both speakers end up on one side, giving it a 'mono' sound.
One of my earlier complaints (the lack of an 'official' case) has been resolved.
I've had second thoughts on returning it based on the crappy (and getting worse) battery life of my Note 2014, it's the sound issue and curiosity about what lies around the corner that keeps me with my 2014.

In my experience finding a new or decent secondhand Note 2014 is not easy. They go for good money on Ebay in the UK at least. I replaced mine in the summer and paid a lot more for it than I did the first time around. So a new version with similar(ish) specs is OK in my book. Except it isn't released in UK/Ireland yet, and may not be.

ckelly33 said:
Battery life and improved SPen functionality are the TabA's advantages over the Note 2014. .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is interesting to know actually. Never used Tab A, merely seen its specs. So how much SoT are you getting? After much tweaking, in medium to low brightness I'm getting 8 hours on average (some more some less) with my Note 2014, distributed over a 2-3 days of use (before charging again)
Mind you it's 6 AH (TAB A) vs 8.2 AH (Note 2014). I realize that Tab A has much less power hungry components which may explain the better battery. Still real life results would be interesting to know (by those that actually own the thing). Thanks.
jeremyr62 said:
In my experience finding a new or decent secondhand Note 2014 is not easy. They go for good money on Ebay in the UK at least. I replaced mine in the summer and paid a lot more for it than I did the first time around. So a new version with similar(ish) specs is OK in my book. Except it isn't released in UK/Ireland yet, and may not be.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
BTW may I ask why you needed a replacement for? Generally it is the battery that wears and ... tears eventually, but it's easy/cheap to replace. Have you experienced another one of your components going bad?

I put some huge scratches into the (soft glass) screen which I couldn't live with. The battery life was bad too. Much better in the new one. Screen protector mandatory IME.

I was worried about the reduced screen resolution, but I haven't noticed a difference at all. I was especially worried about how the resolution might affect the clarity of handwriting with the s-pen, but that has not be a problem at all. After more than a month with it I am totally satisfied.

cliemonster said:
I was worried about the reduced screen resolution, but I haven't noticed a difference at all. I was especially worried about how the resolution might affect the clarity of handwriting with the s-pen, but that has not be a problem at all. After more than a month with it I am totally satisfied.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cliemonster - can you answer Steve's SoT question (above). I returned my Tab A (for reasons unrelated to dissatisfaction).

ckelly33 said:
Cliemonster - can you answer Steve's SoT question (above). I returned my Tab A (for reasons unrelated to dissatisfaction).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for the late reply! The holidays are always a busy time. On days with heavy use, which for me means several hours of note taking via S-note, emails, a good hour or so of ebook reading, reading through the Wall Street Journal for the day, etc, I usually don't fall below 50%. I don't do a lot of streaming video, so I can't comment on that, although I do watch Grand Tour on Amazon Prime on my tablet and for an hour show it doesn't seem to bleed the battery dry. I'll check the exact usage next time I watch an episode.

sam_khan said:
Just wishing if somebody could make a port of tab A 10.1 rom for note 10.1 2014. But I know its practically impossible. So, just a wish.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why impossible!
---------- Post added at 09:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:55 PM ----------
cliemonster said:
I have been absolutely in love with my Note 2014 since I bought it, and with the help of this forum has been just about the perfect tablet for the last couple of years. But the battery has been struggling lately, and then a little while ago the s-pen broke, and it was impossible to find an OEM replacement. The crappy knock-off s-pen I was able to find online was pretty much unusable, and since I use my Note for handwritten notes and documents almost exclusively, took all of the fun out of the tablet for me. So I went looking for a replacement. I thought about just getting a new Note 2014 off amazon, but I thought it might be good to get something that will run 6.0+. I tried the Nvidia Shield K1, since it has a stylus, but I returned that after just a couple of days. The stylus was terrible, and palm rejection was spotty at best. Then I started looking at the Tab A 10.1 with an S-pen. I was concerned about the resolution mostly, but I went ahead and bought it. Initially, I thought I had made another mistake. The new Samsung Notes app just flat out stinks. Its trying to be an Evernote, and by trying that lost everything that made S-Note such a great program for me. I was about ready to return the Tab and just go back to my dying Note 10.1 when I stumbled across the apk for the updated S-Note. Installed that and I am happy as a clam! Quite a few improvements over the Note 10.1 version, but it imported all my old notes perfectly. I love the new s-pen functionality, and the resolution has not bothered me near as much as I thought it would. I'm sure if I took my Note out and laid them side by side I would notice the difference, but for my use it has not detracted from the tablet at all. The main complaint I have, and that others have made, is that for some ridiculous reason Samsung chose to put the speakers on the same side. That's ok if you are using the tablet in portrait, but who watches any kind of media with the tablet in portrait. So in landscape all the sound comes from the same side. Baffling. But other that that, it has been a great replacement for the Note 10.1. At lease until Samsung gets a clue and comes out with a Note 10.1 2017 edition!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can we ask any developer to make a rom from tab a 10.1 2016 with s pen to note 10.1 2014.

Not a great advance in the state of art
cliemonster said:
I have been absolutely in love with my Note 2014 since I bought it, and with the help of this forum has been just about the perfect tablet for the last couple of years. But the battery has been struggling lately, and then a little while ago the s-pen broke, and it was impossible to find an OEM replacement. The crappy knock-off s-pen I was able to find online was pretty much unusable, and since I use my Note for handwritten notes and documents almost exclusively, took all of the fun out of the tablet for me. So I went looking for a replacement. I thought about just getting a new Note 2014 off amazon, but I thought it might be good to get something that will run 6.0+. I tried the Nvidia Shield K1, since it has a stylus, but I returned that after just a couple of days. The stylus was terrible, and palm rejection was spotty at best. Then I started looking at the Tab A 10.1 with an S-pen. I was concerned about the resolution mostly, but I went ahead and bought it. Initially, I thought I had made another mistake. The new Samsung Notes app just flat out stinks. Its trying to be an Evernote, and by trying that lost everything that made S-Note such a great program for me. I was about ready to return the Tab and just go back to my dying Note 10.1 when I stumbled across the apk for the updated S-Note. Installed that and I am happy as a clam! Quite a few improvements over the Note 10.1 version, but it imported all my old notes perfectly. I love the new s-pen functionality, and the resolution has not bothered me near as much as I thought it would. I'm sure if I took my Note out and laid them side by side I would notice the difference, but for my use it has not detracted from the tablet at all. The main complaint I have, and that others have made, is that for some ridiculous reason Samsung chose to put the speakers on the same side. That's ok if you are using the tablet in portrait, but who watches any kind of media with the tablet in portrait. So in landscape all the sound comes from the same side. Baffling. But other that that, it has been a great replacement for the Note 10.1. At lease until Samsung gets a clue and comes out with a Note 10.1 2017 edition!
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I have managed to get a new battery installed in the Note 10.1 2014 and my stylus is still in a great condition. This morning, the tablet got one of the very rare software updates (mostly security, I would think), but it likely indicates that Samsung has not entirely abandoned it. The processor is still quite fast.