Galaxy Note Tablet: 10.1 (2014) or Pro 12.2 for artwork?

[GreenMeters]

Getting ready to jump into the world of tablets. It'll be used for a lot of the normal stuff: video chats so my parents and in-laws can see their grandchild, couch/bed surfing, e-books, mobile device when I don't want to bring a laptop.

But I also need a tablet that's good for artwork. I do amateur video game development, and I have a few project ideas that lend themselves to painted backgrounds and sprites more than polygons. I need a tablet that supports creative work, so I'm looking at either the Note 10.1 (2014) or the Note Pro 12.2.

The 10" tablet is probably the better form factor for most of the normal tablet use, and the lower weight--and lower price--is definitely nice. The 12" does has better battery life, but I'm not sure that's a huge deal. Mainly I'm wondering if the extra screen real estate is a major improvement for sketching and painting.

Anyone have any experience with these two form factors for artwork who can chime in?

 

[luv2liv]

i think what you really want is the surface pro 3:
http://www.cartoonbrew.com/tech/mic...eators-with-surface-pro-3-tabletpc-99776.html

 

[s44]

If he wants Windows software, sure. But it does have a worse pen sensor.

 

[GreenMeters]

No Microsoft products, particularly overpriced ones. Desktop machines are all GNU/Linux, mobile devices are all Android/Linux. And yeah, the pen on the Surface 3 seems to be getting panned.

 

[Imaginer]

No Microsoft products, particularly overpriced ones. Desktop machines are all GNU/Linux, mobile devices are all Android/Linux. And yeah, the pen on the Surface 3 seems to be getting panned.

The pen is comparable to the Wacom. The ONLY issue, pen wise, why I haven't jumped from a Pro 2 to a Pro 3, is the lack of the Wacom radial menu and it may not be as smooth for me.

Overpriced? Reason specifically why I do not think so, is that a Cintiq (display peripherial only) is shy of a cost of a Surface Pro (and other tablet PCs).

But...

No Microsoft products, particularly overpriced ones. Desktop machines are all GNU/Linux, mobile devices are all Android/Linux. And yeah, the pen on the Surface 3 seems to be getting panned.

Why not go with the best tool right now? Any Android implementations are lacking in full capability software, compatibility, and possible work in texture to 3d work in an encompassing device for what you really want in...

...amateur video game development, and I have a few project ideas that lend themselves to painted backgrounds and sprites more than polygons. I need a tablet that supports creative work

 

[vbuggy]

No Microsoft products, particularly overpriced ones. Desktop machines are all GNU/Linux, mobile devices are all Android/Linux. And yeah, the pen on the Surface 3 seems to be getting panned.

... and you think the kiddie software on Android is going to make up for that? Unless you're a committed OSS user used to tying both hands behind your back to pay nothing for software then you can do better.

Besides, there are pros and cons. Wacom has an accuracy issue, while N-Trig has a 'float distance' issue. Some artists find one is more beneficial to them. The pressure sensitivity is a non-issue. Don't have a SP3 yet, but do have Cintiqs, SP2's and the Sony Duos which are current-gen N-Trig. No issues on the latter.

Edited your post to remove the insult. This is a warning, but please refrain from insulting or attacking other members in the future.

Moderator TheStu

 

[GreenMeters]

No Microsoft shilling, please. First, Surface is total junk and no amount of astroturfing will convince anyone otherwise. Second, I'm not going to be doing any 3D work on any damn tablet when I have a far more capable desktop; work on the tablet is purely for painting. The software available for Android/Linux is perfectly suited to my needs; software written for a junk OS like Windows is not wanted or needed.

There is no platform question here. The platform is a Galaxy Note tablet. The only question is one of form factor: how much of a difference, if any, does the extra 2" of screen space make?

 

[Chapbass]

No Microsoft shilling, please. First, Surface is total junk and no amount of astroturfing will convince anyone otherwise. Second, I'm not going to be doing any 3D work on any damn tablet when I have a far more capable desktop; work on the tablet is purely for painting. The software available for Android/Linux is perfectly suited to my needs; software written for a junk OS like Windows is not wanted or needed.

There is no platform question here. The platform is a Galaxy Note tablet. The only question is one of form factor: how much of a difference, if any, does the extra 2" of screen space make?

Thats your opinion, not everyones. Please don't use the "anyone" line. Its ridiculous and it shows your complete blindness to a proper product, despite everyone in this thread trying to be reasonable. I couldn't care less what you buy, but I can't stand blanket statements like this.

 

[GreenMeters]

Everyone in this thread's being reasonable, huh. Calling the great software available for Android "kiddie" was being reasonable, huh? Calling people who demand ethical software a "freetard" was being reasonable, huh? Get out with that nonsense.

 

[Chocu1a]

I would go for the 12.2. I have the 10.1 & it feels a bit small. That extra 2.1" may not seem like much, but it makes a difference.

 

[GreenMeters]

Thanks for the feedback, Chocu1a! When you say the 10.1 feels small, is that for all usage or just artwork? The 12" screen is gorgeous, sounds like it's worth the premium.

 

[Chocu1a]

Thanks for the feedback, Chocu1a! When you say the 10.1 feels small, is that for all usage or just artwork? The 12" screen is gorgeous, sounds like it's worth the premium.

The 10.1 is just slightly smaller than a standard print comic book. Then you have a 1/2 " bezel on either side. Screen is nice, but for creative purposes, the extra space is nicer(12.2). More money, though.

 

[s44]

10" is a bit confining, but it *is* small enough to one-hand in a pinch. The 12" is two-hands only.

 

[Zaap]

My first impressions of the Note 12.2 are this thread: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2370008

Not to get into any silly this vs. that bickering, but I chose the Note 12.2 over the Surface Pro 2 back in February (SP3 wasn't a choice back then) and haven't regretted it for a minute. But my specific needs aren't primarily creating artwork, otherwise I would have chosen the SP2. Currently I (like a lot of artists I know) am torn over the SP3- with a wacom digitizer it would have been the perfect device for artwork creation. The n-Trig leaves me slightly nonplussed, though it may not be a deal-killer.

Anyway, as to the Note- obviously I would recommend the 12.2 over the 10.1 as a production device. (I don't have any experience using the 10.1 though- it may be fine also, but for me, the screen size of the 12.2 makes it the better choice.)

Although I didn't buy mine to produce artwork with primarily, I have used it for layout art that I process later on a desktop. It's worked great for that; I could use it for certain kinds of finished artwork. No, the selection of apps on Android and the performance are no match for the equivalent on Windows, but that doesn't mean it's not possible to use Android software for professional results. Someone who can actually draw, can draw using the Note 12.2 as well as they could using the Surface (assuming apps like SketchBook Pro, ArtFlow, LayerPaint HD etc.)

Where the Surface is clearly better, is the better choice of software and processing power if one is going beyond just drawing- into more finished artwork requiring rendered effects x tons of layers, and of course things like 3D.


One thing that will greatly improve drawing with any Galaxy Note is to use a full-sized stylus vs. the stock S-Pen. Unfortunately, choices for this are a lot more limited than you would think. A lot of pen-enabled Tablet PC styluses work with the Notes, but suffer from an offset of a few pixels, which ruins them for drawing. There are various hacks (like slicing down the drawing nib) that help correct this.

There are actual Galaxy Note styluses, but I find most of them to be sub-par; most are older designs and still have a slight offset used on the newer Notes.

Samsung makes an S-Pen holder, but it's kind of expensive.

The best solution I've found is the Pilot G-2 Pen hack using a standard OEM S-Pen. Outlined here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2669559

After I did this, drawing and writing on the Note 12.2 is a pleasure. The stock S-Pen is just not the best tool for drawing simply because of its shape and size, but modified to fit a standard pen form and that limitation is gone and once you're used to everything, you can draw nearly as well as pen/paper on the Note.

 

[s44]

There are actual Galaxy Note styluses, but I find most of them to be sub-par; most are older designs and still have a slight offset used on the newer Notes.

I was thinking of getting this one, which is supposed to have no offset... have you not tried it or does it have a poor feel?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IWJMAJA/

 

[Zaap]

I was thinking of getting this one, which is supposed to have no offset... have you not tried it or does it have a poor feel?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IWJMAJA/

I can't say personally, never tried one of these.

But I notice reviews saying you have to get the models CS300UK2 or CS300UW2 in order to not have the offset issue.

I have to say, a proper full-sized stylus OOB is another way the Surface is superior. I wish Samsung would make an official stylus for the Note Pro tablets, but I guess it's just too much of a niche market for them.

 

[hans030390]

I generally find Android tablets to be pretty crappy (OK OS at best for phone, but software ecosystem really isn't great overall compared to iOS, and full Windows blows both out of the water), but it sounds like you're pretty set on one. And, to be fair, it should fit your specified needs, so I'd focus on whichever has the best screen along with pen interface and technology. As for size, you'd probably want to check them out in stores and make up your own mind as to which size fits your needs and preferences best.

Surface Pro 3 is a super slick device. It has some minor issues, but I think you have a negatively inflated opinion of the device and perhaps should consider most every device is compromised in one way or another. Too bad you so adamantly won't even consider it, but to each his own.

 

[vbuggy]

Everyone in this thread's being reasonable, huh. Calling the great software available for Android "kiddie" was being reasonable, huh? Calling people who demand ethical software a "freetard" was being reasonable, huh? Get out with that nonsense.

LOL, "ethical". Brought to you by Samsung and Google.

...Sorry, just fell off my chair laughing. The thinking is like those housewives who won't buy something produced in a country they have a beef with for two weeks... are you sure you aren't better off with an iPad, airhead soccer mom style?


You have my opinion as a 10.1 2014 + Wintabs owner. The Samsung is useless and just hassle-laden in comparison for productivity be it art + photography and general productivity, hence my comment. In fact, I'm jonesing to replace the 2014 with a faster OLED-screen'd digitiserless machine since the digitiser is a waste of time on Android at this point in time so I just want a nicer screen to consume on, which is what Android is suited to.

I don't own the 12 so can't comment on that but if you're determined to tie both hands behind your back as an 'ethical' (damn, got to get this chair fixed) user as I said, I guess it'd depend pretty much purely on the size of screen you want to work with since AFAIK the internal hardware's identical. I would imagine the 12 won't be that much more in the way than the 10, and in the specific context of Android, might enable to you be more productive.

Edited your post to remove the insult. This is a warning, but please refrain from insulting or attacking other members in the future.

Moderator TheStu