[NEW - Received 32GB Model] Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Questions

[PrinceXizor]

1. Is the S-Pen experience different (i.e. better) than previous generation including the note 8?

Local Sam's Club does not yet have the 2014 version so I could not play around with it. I played around with the note 8 and enjoyed the experience. I have watched many youtube videos about the 10.1 2014 and the 8 does not have the updated software interface which looks quite handy. The handwriting to text conversion on the note 8 was not the greatest either (for my handwriting which is not terrible) decidedly mediocre.

2. How is the pen experience on the surface pro 1?

While not initially comparable, with the surface pro 2 out I suspect a price drop on the surface pro 1 to bring it within range of the 2014 note 10.1. (Edit: $699 for 64GB Pro 1 in Microsoft store). How was the pen and one note experience on the sp1? I have read reviews and can read specifications. I was hoping to hear from ones with personal user experience with the devices. Thanks!

 

[PrinceXizor]

Anyone?

 

[Abu Mahendra]

Iam often amazed bv my Note 8 is ability to recognize MY scribbles,

 

[PrinceXizor]

Does it learn somehow? I used a Note 8 at my local Sam's club and it had trouble converting my handwriting which is typically decent and in this usage case was better than usual.

Perhaps you can adjust the setting from more literal (what it thinks is literal) to guessing at what word you were trying to write.

Thanks for your personal experience. Anyone else?

 

[Bateluer]

1. Is the S-Pen experience different (i.e. better) than previous generation including the note 8?

Local Sam's Club does not yet have the 2014 version so I could not play around with it. I played around with the note 8 and enjoyed the experience. I have watched many youtube videos about the 10.1 2014 and the 8 does not have the updated software interface which looks quite handy. The handwriting to text conversion on the note 8 was not the greatest either (for my handwriting which is not terrible) decidedly mediocre.

My Note 8 hasn't any major difficulties in recognizing my handwriting, but my handwriting is pretty sloppy so I give it a lot of leeway. YMMV. Your local Best Buy likely has the Note 10.1 2014 on display though, if you want to go hands on with one. Its a pretty nice 10.1in tablet, speedy, gorgeous screen, light and thin.

2. How does the Note 10.1 2014 compare to surface pro 1?

While not initially comparable, with the surface pro 2 out I suspect a price drop on the surface pro 1 to bring it within range of the 2014 note 10.1. How was the pen and one note experience on the sp1? I have read reviews and can read specifications. I was hoping to hear from ones with personal user experience with the devices. Thanks!

The Surface Pro and Note 10.1 2014 are not even in the same class of device. I don't think its far to really compare them. The Surface Pro is an ultrabook without a keyboard, using a full version of Windows and an x86 mobile chip, hence its thousand dollar price tag. I don't think you'll see that steep of a price cut to knock 40% off it, even with a billion dollars worth of unsold inventory of it.

 

[PrinceXizor]

Well, Microsoft store has 64GB original Surface Pro for $699 which is within $100 of the top level Note 10.1 2014 version.

I agree they are two different animals but when you are looking at 10"+ tablets with active digitizers the price cut means you should think about it at least especially if your usage case involves heavy stylus use.

BestBuy is nowhere close to me unfortunately. It would be nice if Sam's or Staples would get them in so I can mess around with them. Sam's rep said they were on there way because they had already removed their old 10.1's from display.

 

[s44]

I don't understand the comparison.

If you really need to use legacy Windows programs, you'd already have settled on the Pro(2).

Otherwise, the Note is the better device in every way. Weight, screen, battery life, passive cooling, touch apps...

 

[PrinceXizor]

Things are rarely so cut and dry especially when you are talking $600 versus $1000. So you have to weigh various aspects of each device.

That being said, this is NOT a Galaxy Note versus Surface Pro thread. I'm simply looking for first hand personal accounts from AT users familiar with one or both devices. I will edit my first post accordingly...

And just to be clear, I cannot afford a surface pro 2 so I am only interested in experience with the surface pro 1.

P-X

 

[PrinceXizor]

Well, I thought we would make it through BF and CM without a Note 10.1 2014 deal. But with $50 instant savings and the newegg 5% mobile purchase codes I'm in for a 32GB model for $522.

I will post my thoughts here when it arrives (downside to saving $27 going with Newegg is waiting for their free shipping. I understand using a slow delivery method when offering free shipping but my package hasn't even made it TO the shipper yet and I ordered on Saturday! I am totally spoiled by Amazon Prime).

 

[bearxor]

Well, Microsoft store has 64GB original Surface Pro for $699 which is within $100 of the top level Note 10.1 2014 version.

I agree they are two different animals but when you are looking at 10"+ tablets with active digitizers the price cut means you should think about it at least especially if your usage case involves heavy stylus use.

BestBuy is nowhere close to me unfortunately. It would be nice if Sam's or Staples would get them in so I can mess around with them. Sam's rep said they were on there way because they had already removed their old 10.1's from display.

You can actually snag refurb Surface Pro 1's for $499 for the 64GB and $599 for the 128GB.

But yes, the two devices are aimed at very different markets.

I, quite frankly, don't see a point in having a stylus unless you have some very specific tasks you plan to do with it, like handwritten notes. Otherwise, a stylus and Wacom digitizer wouldn't even factor in to my purchasing decision.

Having said that, the pen on the Surface Pro works wonderful. It's a little tricky to calibrate though. I still don't have it anywhere close to great. But, the Note series should be equally comparable since it uses a Wacom digitizer as well.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I haven't played with a Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 yet (not a fan of Touchwiz either). I got one of the $500 Surface Pros last week though. The pen worked great out of the box for me (I didn't try to calibrate it), it was only off a little on the extreme edges of the screen. I took some notes on it and it worked great with One Note.

Unfortunately the battery life was abysmal. I get only about 4 hours of usage out of it and it feels like I've barely done anything and I look down and see the battery already at 50%. This ended up being a deal breaker for me. And there is also the 2 pounds of weight, which I could have lived with.

However I did love the idea of being able to take notes on a tablet. I just don't know if I want an Android tablet like the Notes for the task though. Mainly because I already have a Nexus 7 and iPad mini, so I'm hoping Lenovo has a new Baytrail tablet with Wacom digitizer coming soon.

 

[PrinceXizor]

You can actually snag refurb Surface Pro 1's for $499 for the 64GB and $599 for the 128GB.

But yes, the two devices are aimed at very different markets.

I, quite frankly, don't see a point in having a stylus unless you have some very specific tasks you plan to do with it, like handwritten notes. Otherwise, a stylus and Wacom digitizer wouldn't even factor in to my purchasing decision.

Having said that, the pen on the Surface Pro works wonderful. It's a little tricky to calibrate though. I still don't have it anywhere close to great. But, the Note series should be equally comparable since it uses a Wacom digitizer as well.

Thanks for the reply! I'm sure there will be a barrage of SP1's out there and I have one note envy already It is funny to me (but clearly expected if you spend any time on tech forums) that people try to make such a cut and dry decision on something that is clearly an individual analysis of what is important to you. Questions you should ask yourself...

1. How important is windows interoperability to you?
2. How important is the appstore/availability?
3. How important is weight?
4. How important is battery life?
5. How important is being hip/cool?
6. What is your tablet usage case? (primary device, content consumption, content creation, note taking, etc.)

I'm sure there are others too!

-For me, this will be my primary mobile device outside of my phone so apps are important to me. That was a win for Note 10.1 2014
-I WILL be using it for taking notes, sketches as well as annotations on CAD drawings. That was a win for Surface Pro as well as a larger display size.
-Weight is important to me as I quickly grew tired (relatively speaking) of handling an older iPad. That was a win for Note 10.1 2014.
-Battery life has to last longer than a few hours, so again that shot down original surface pro.

You can see it was not cut and dry at all but in the end I went with the Note 10.1 2014 as a high end 10" Android tablet with digitizer.

Thanks also for your comments about calibrating the pen. That may be why my demoing with the Galaxy 8 Note that I did was less than stellar. I suspected as much but it is nice to hear someone comment about the need for pen/digitizer calibration.

 

[PrinceXizor]

So after much delay (man...newegg how the mighty have fallen) I finally received my Note 10.1 2014 version. I want to post some quick thoughts after about a week of use.

1. The screen is spectacular. I have used but not owned Retina display based Ipad's as well as an old and new Nexus 7. This screen is awesome. Maybe its because I own this one, maybe its because I've used it in a variety of ways but I'm surprised at how much I like it. Best thing about it so far is reading pdf documents with super crisp text that's easy to read.

2. Auto dimming feature is like every auto dim I've used on every tablet or phone, rubbish. I manually set mine low and forget about it. Easy enough to edit with touchwiz notification pull down.

3. Already enjoying the s-pen for note taking.

4. Decidedly mixed about the air control. Maybe its me but the darn thing goes off all the time when I'm taking notes. You can turn it off, but then, what's the point of it as a quick access tool. I think it MIGHT be the double tap the screen to bring it up feature. Will have to see if I can turn that off by itself.

5. Weight - The tablet itself is quite light for its size. I was surprised though with the poetic case I got and the tablet its a bit heavier than I anticipated. No large tablet around to compare it to though. so that's purely subjective.

I am still getting used to how I will organize things on a tablet (instead of a phone) but am enjoying the experience. I will post a more detailed thought dump later. Thanks!

 

[dawheat]

So after much delay (man...newegg how the mighty have fallen) I finally received my Note 10.1 2014 version. I want to post some quick thoughts after about a week of use.

1. The screen is spectacular. I have used but not owned Retina display based Ipad's as well as an old and new Nexus 7. This screen is awesome. Maybe its because I own this one, maybe its because I've used it in a variety of ways but I'm surprised at how much I like it. Best thing about it so far is reading pdf documents with super crisp text that's easy to read.

2. Auto dimming feature is like every auto dim I've used on every tablet or phone, rubbish. I manually set mine low and forget about it. Easy enough to edit with touchwiz notification pull down.

3. Already enjoying the s-pen for note taking.

4. Decidedly mixed about the air control. Maybe its me but the darn thing goes off all the time when I'm taking notes. You can turn it off, but then, what's the point of it as a quick access tool. I think it MIGHT be the double tap the screen to bring it up feature. Will have to see if I can turn that off by itself.

5. Weight - The tablet itself is quite light for its size. I was surprised though with the poetic case I got and the tablet its a bit heavier than I anticipated. No large tablet around to compare it to though. so that's purely subjective.

I am still getting used to how I will organize things on a tablet (instead of a phone) but am enjoying the experience. I will post a more detailed thought dump later. Thanks!

I've always used LuxDash to control auto brightness - way better than stock.

 

[Kelvinz]

If you're deciding between the Surface Pro 1 and Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition then I think the answer is obvious:

The Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition is much better than the Pro 1.

The Pro 2? That's a different question altogether.

 

[bearxor]

If you're deciding between the Surface Pro 1 and Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition then I think the answer is obvious:

The Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition is much better than the Pro 1.

The Pro 2? That's a different question altogether.

I'll bite. How is the Surface Pro 1 significantly worse than the Note 10.1 2014, but the Surface Pro 2 isn't?