Galaxy Note: Why Not? Besides the size

[tHa ShIzNiT]

Folks I'm on the verge of exchanging my Galaxy S2 Skyrocket for a Note. I want to know why I shouldn't. Or maybe I should?

The Note has a 5.3" HD display with resolution listed as 1280x800 vs the Skyrocket 4.5" at 480x800.

I have heard that even with the better resolution it doesnt look as good because the Skyrocket is SuperAMOLED+ vs just regular Super AMOLED. Anyone know anything about this?

And now I am hearing that the higher resolution is going to cause problems with 3d games because the GPU wont be able to handle it.

Does anyone on this forum have a Note, that can attest to these things? Or better yet, TEST these things? ha

Talk me down (or up!) before work ends at 5pm PST!

 

[Red Storm]

From what we've seen, the AT&T version of the Note uses a different SOC and so performance suffers. The international version is silky smooth though.

Personally I thought it was just way too big at first, but after messing with it I think I actually could use a phone like that. Considering that watching videos and interfacing with the screen make up 90% of my use with a smartphone, holding a phone that big for voice calls isn't so bad.

 

[bearxor]

Aren't the Skyrocket and the AT&T Note essentially the same hardware?

I guess it would come down to if you wanted that extra .8".

I would. If that thing had shipped with ICS, I'd be REALLY tempted.

 

[tHa ShIzNiT]

Yeah they are basically the same hardware, just one has the HD screen. I guess I will have to go look for myself whether the HD screen looks better or not. Not too many people with a Note yet...hmmmm

 

[bearxor]

It's kind of expensive, kind of targets a niche market to begin with and a lot of people who would probably want it are waiting on the Galaxy Nexus.

 

[arod]

I am a fan of the hardware but I want one with windows 8 on it.

 

[dguy6789]

The Note is the best phone in the world right now, do it. I'd drop my Galaxy Nexus in a second if the Note was on Verizon

 

[trmiv]

If the size doesn't bother you, go for it. I don't know that I'd want to carry around a phone that big, my Galaxy Nexus is about my limit, but it is a cool device!

 

[dagamer34]

Everytime Samsung switches their Exynos SoC with a Qualcomm S3 for some reason or another (LTE, 42Mbps HSPA+, price, etc...), I just shake my head in disappointment.

 

[draknon]

I plan on picking up a note as soon as it comes to Verizon.

I primarily use my phone for web browsing. I looked at it and it'll fit in my pocket just fine. I would just grab one on AT&T but the monthly cost difference is huge for me. I would lose unlimited data and some discounts that I get through my employer. In addition, I only use a couple hundred text messages a month which work great with Verizon's $5 250txt package. AT&T would force me to pay out $20 a month for unlimited texting.

 

[Renob]

Everytime Samsung switches their Exynos SoC with a Qualcomm S3 for some reason or another (LTE, 42Mbps HSPA+, price, etc...), I just shake my head in disappointment.

What he said, my Note is being sent back today for a Galaxy SII with the Exynos....

 

[tHa ShIzNiT]

Welp, I got the note. The screen is amazing. It seems snappy to me so I dont mind the "inferior" chip its using. However, if I do find that its not gonna be fast enough for my tastes, I'll send that sucker back too.

It is concerning to me though, with the high resolution this phone uses, that there may be a bottleneck with a weak chip and gpu. We will see...

 

[MBentz]

If you're into rooting, the guys over xda have overclocked the Note up to 1.9Ghz+. Seems to have remedied any lag issues. I'm waiting for ICS before I go tinkering with my new Note, but the options are out there already.

 

[iahk]

Welp, I got the note. The screen is amazing. It seems snappy to me so I dont mind the "inferior" chip its using. However, if I do find that its not gonna be fast enough for my tastes, I'll send that sucker back too.

It is concerning to me though, with the high resolution this phone uses, that there may be a bottleneck with a weak chip and gpu. We will see...

You probably won't see an issue unless you're going to throwing some HD video or games on it. So just judge from that during your buyer's remorse period.

 

[tHa ShIzNiT]

Oh I am into rooting. =). Dont know how yet, but I'm still in the information gathering stage heh. Yeah I heard ICS will be out soon, they're all saying March 1 over at XDA. Thats pretty quick.

Yeah I need some HD games to test this sucker out now. I tried the ES 2.0 Taiji benchmark and got a score of roughly 16FPS. Hopefully that will be good enough.

If anyone can suggest some games to stress test this beast I would appreciate! I'll get some HD video going as well

 

[Renob]

does this "rooting" void the warranty? I have a NOTE lol and have had the return shipping label for 4 days but have not sent it back, love the screen and being my firest Smart Phone I have nothing to compare it to. Just think I should not get caught up on benchmarks that dont play into the way I use the phone. Well got 24 more days to return we will see if I do...

 

[ponyo]

Personally, I think Note is the most interesting device out right now and would keep over Galaxy S2.

 

[Cobalt]

I work for AT&T and have been using one for a couple days... Going back to the regular GSII. Definitely not as smooth but that can be fixed with software tweaks but my main issue is that one handed operation is a no-go unless you have really big hands.. My hands are definitely not small and I can't text with one hand comfortably so that's huge deal breaker for me unfortunately. And it just looks goofy holding up to my head. Oh and battery life is pretty bad, about as bad or sometimes worse (probably because I've played with it more than the SII) as the standard SII. Still using the 4S as my main phone, can't seem to find something that trumps it in the usability/stability department.

 

[kyrax12]

The only thing I could think of not getting the NOte for is the size and also the Chipset.

I heard it is laggy due to using qualcom instead of exynos.

 

[kyrax12]

I work for AT&T and have been using one for a couple days... Going back to the regular GSII. Definitely not as smooth but that can be fixed with software tweaks but my main issue is that one handed operation is a no-go unless you have really big hands.. My hands are definitely not small and I can't text with one hand comfortably so that's huge deal breaker for me unfortunately. And it just looks goofy holding up to my head. Oh and battery life is pretty bad, about as bad or sometimes worse (probably because I've played with it more than the SII) as the standard SII. Still using the 4S as my main phone, can't seem to find something that trumps it in the usability/stability department.

what makes the 4s better than the SG SII?

 

[RavenSEAL]

Why not indeed, I regret not waiting...not knowing it was coming actually...

I WANT ITTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!

 

[stormkroe]

2 words: Mobile World. And congress l, I s'pose. Unless you're on a deadline, just wait to see what's coming, as some of the heavy hitters are supposed to be available for purchase by the end of March. Htc one X is looking pretty good and is supposed to ship quarter 1.

 

[Renob]

I work for AT&T and have been using one for a couple days... Going back to the regular GSII. Definitely not as smooth but that can be fixed with software tweaks but my main issue is that one handed operation is a no-go unless you have really big hands.. My hands are definitely not small and I can't text with one hand comfortably so that's huge deal breaker for me unfortunately. And it just looks goofy holding up to my head. Oh and battery life is pretty bad, about as bad or sometimes worse (probably because I've played with it more than the SII) as the standard SII. Still using the 4S as my main phone, can't seem to find something that trumps it in the usability/stability department.

What "software tweaks"?

 

[Zaap]

Finally got a hands on with a Note today. All I can say is....


Just awesome. Hands down the most impressive thing on the mobile phone scene right now. No, it's definitely not for everyone, but if you primarily use Bluetooth or speakerphone and don't hold a headset up to your ear, then using it as a phone is no issue. Even so: I simulated holding it up to my ear, and found that it didn't feel unusual at all. In fact, it felt very comfortable; sort-of in the sense that you don't feel weird holding a full-sized cordless phone up to your ear either. In that respect, I actually felt I could probably talk with it more efficiently than a smaller phone.

I'm talking practically/technically of course, not socially. Despite it actually being comfortable holding up to the face, it's a whole other matter if you'll feel/look like a dork or not doing so. Personally, I don't think anyone looks as cool as they think they are yapping on a smartphone in public, so I'd consider it largely a non-issue.

Other than issues of where the heck one would carry it, (pocket? bag? always in hand?) I find the size is a major plus. It's a near perfect bridge between a small tablet and a big phone. Virtually any task I'd normally do with a smartphone or small tablet I'd do on the note- and more since the pen interface actually works nicely for notes and sketches. The interface feels perfectly snappy. It does have that bluish tint to the screen, but I could get used to it.

It's a perfect size for in-car GPS, and apps made for use in the car as you won't be squinting at some tiny screen. I didn't play any games or movies on it, but the screen size is perfect for both.

If I could get one when it's time to replace my aging DroidX I'd have one in a heartbeat. But OF COURSE Verizon doesn't carry it. *bastards*

If someone has a chance to get this phone rather than some boring more common phone and can deal with the cons, I'd say you'd have to be crazy not to jump on it.

 

[kaerflog]

I would easily get one if it has Tmobile 3G band.
It has the same 1280x800 resolution as most 10" tablet yet I can carry it in my pocket.
I would have no need to get a tablet.