Used surface pro or galaxy note tablet for artist?

[slackerinabox]

I want to support my wife's drawing hobby but can't spend ipad pro monies. For a casual, non-professional, would a used surface pro or a galaxy note tablet be the least frustrating experience? I know the surface pro has much more power (i can afford gen 1 or 2), but will windows bog down the experience enough to make it choppy? The galaxy note seems like the better choice for a smooth, trouble free experience - or is that a wrong assumption?

 

[corkyg]

This is a pretty good comparison between the Surface Pro 4 and the newest Galaxy tablet. It's worth a read. Prices are about the same.
http://www.tabletpcreview.com/feature/samsung-galaxy-tabpro-s-vs-microsoft-surface-pro-4/

 

[Winston Marmaduke III]

For an artist I'd def go with the Surface Pro. If you can't afford a 4, even a 3 would be better than a tablet. Maybe someone can correct me if I"m wrong, but the Surface stylus is hands down THE best.

 

[agent00f]

I want to support my wife's drawing hobby but can't spend ipad pro monies. For a casual, non-professional, would a used surface pro or a galaxy note tablet be the least frustrating experience? I know the surface pro has much more power (i can afford gen 1 or 2), but will windows bog down the experience enough to make it choppy? The galaxy note seems like the better choice for a smooth, trouble free experience - or is that a wrong assumption?

IMO the apple pen basic drawing experience is so much better that it's worth saving up bit more. To clarify the surface feels good for notetaking though.

 

[Raduque]

The Surface Pro, being a tablet that runs full-blown Windows, has many times more options for drawing and inking applications than any Android or iOS tablet will.

I had a Pro 2 with 4gb and an i5 and it was great. My replacement Surface 3 (non-pro) is just "ok", but the new N-Trig pen is top-notch, but not as good as the Wacom in the Pro and Pro 2.

 

[Zaap]

Depends on which Galaxy Note tablet you're considering, but I find them hard to recommend vs. a Surface or better yet the iPad Pro with pencil. I do have a Note Pro 12.2 and use it every day for light drawing, notes, viewing work animation storyboards, etc, but newer/better stuff exists now and I don't know of other Galaxy tablets that are better.



And I fully agree- the (x86) Surface Pro 2 with an actual Wacom digitizer is a superior experience for drawing. N-Trig just never quite did it for me personally. Desktop software like the *REAL* sketchbook Pro and other apps make it well worth it.

What software she'll use should be a big consideration. I'd recommend full Windows apps first, iOS drawing apps second, and tablet versions of Android apps dead last.

Drawing with an iPad Pro is just pure pleasure and probably the best actual drawing experience, but it comes with a larger pricetag, and the limitations of iOS vs other more open file systems. But I work with several artists/animators that have found ways to put an iPad pro into their professional workflow and they swear by them.

 

[slackerinabox]

Thanks guys. My concern is my experience with a surface pro (2? 3?) at work - I had to purchase and setup my CEO at my last gig with one and there were just random issues that got progressively worse and annoying. Then we replaced it for another unit that eventually stopped turning on. Third time was the charm until he had weird wifi issues that required the occasional reboot. We ended up trading it in for a lenovo with pen, but that came out to a pricey piece of kit. I worry about random issues slowing her down and also of the long term reliability, considering I'm most likely buying used without a warrant. I also figure a more appliance like tablet experience would be more pick up and go. The surface 3 (non pro) might be possible since it's ipad pro pricing territory, is the N-trig that much worse than the wacom?

iPad Pro's tempting but oh so pricey. I figure we'll either save or get a cheap note 10.1 (I've seen them for $130) then upgrade to an ipad pro (giving the note to our kid to doodle with). I got her a really nice wacom which runs wonderfully on her mac, but she's more likely to sketch while relaxing on the couch than in our office, away from the kids.

 

[agent00f]

I think it'll come down to how much she prefers the pen/inking in the ipad pro to the surface, because there is a difference but one that's tolerable. If it's not a surprise it's perhaps best for her to test it out itself.

 

[Zaap]

I figure we'll either save or get a cheap note 10.1 (I've seen them for $130) then upgrade to an ipad pro (giving the note to our kid to doodle with).

I'd be careful and make sure you get a Note 10.1 2014 edition- NOT the original Note 10.1.

Even for $130 I don't think the original 10.1 Note is worth bothering with compared to other options. The 2014 edition is actually not a bad option at all. (And if what you're seeing for $130 IS the 2014 edition, I wouldn't hesitate to get one for that price.)

The wacom digitizer in the Note tablets is not bad at all- the main "problem" with a Note 10.1 (2014) will simply be the software for Android isn't nearly as good as full Windows applications, or iOS apps for the iPad Pro.

But there are still some very decent drawing applications that your wife may like fine: Sketchbook Pro, ArtRage, ArtFlow, LayerPaint HD, etc.

Also, Samsung has all but abandoned these tablets- you'll probably be stuck with Android L.

I will say though, as much as an issue as fragmentation is made on Android, I don't find it makes much real world difference. I keep my Note 12.2 pretty much frozen on the last good version of L and all the apps I need run fine.

There are unofficial ROMS to update it to Nougat, but I don't trust them not to break the proper built-in S-Pen functions, and end of the day- a newer version of Android will add NOTHING of any real value to me.

Android apps aren't generally made purposefully OS-version dependent as iOS often is. (I've seen my wife have to do without apps she needs, after they are purposefully discontinued on older versions of iOS, but there are reasons she doesn't want to update to the newer iOS. To me, that's more 'fragmented' than Android where I don't think I've ever seen an app say "Nope, this REQUIRES you to update the OS in order to use.")

Anyway, if you were to get a Note tablet for her, I'd recommend a full-sized wacom stylus made specifically for the Note tablets, like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Wacom-Bamboo...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=HTPAEB3D9SVMCXSMGBCJ

That or use the original S-pen with a pen-holder adapter. (I made my own version of one for my Note 12.2 using a modified ballpoint pen.)

It's just a lot easier to draw and sketch properly on these with a full sized tablet- I find the actual s-pen to be a bit too small to draw with as comfortably as a larger pen that the Surface or Apple pencil offer.

Forgot to mention- there are a lot of other wacom pens that will technically work with the Note tablets, but the problem with MOST of them is a nasty 2 or 3 pixel offset that absolutely kills drawing accuracy. I'd avoid an unknown stylus for the Note.

 

[slackerinabox]

I'd be careful and make sure you get a Note 10.1 2014 edition- NOT the original Note 10.1.

Even for $130 I don't think the original 10.1 Note is worth bothering with compared to other options. The 2014 edition is actually not a bad option at all. (And if what you're seeing for $130 IS the 2014 edition, I wouldn't hesitate to get one for that price.)

The wacom digitizer in the Note tablets is not bad at all- the main "problem" with a Note 10.1 (2014) will simply be the software for Android isn't nearly as good as full Windows applications, or iOS apps for the iPad Pro.

But there are still some very decent drawing applications that your wife may like fine: Sketchbook Pro, ArtRage, ArtFlow, LayerPaint HD, etc.

Also, Samsung has all but abandoned these tablets- you'll probably be stuck with Android L.

I will say though, as much as an issue as fragmentation is made on Android, I don't find it makes much real world difference. I keep my Note 12.2 pretty much frozen on the last good version of L and all the apps I need run fine.

There are unofficial ROMS to update it to Nougat, but I don't trust them not to break the proper built-in S-Pen functions, and end of the day- a newer version of Android will add NOTHING of any real value to me.

Android apps aren't generally made purposefully OS-version dependent as iOS often is. (I've seen my wife have to do without apps she needs, after they are purposefully discontinued on older versions of iOS, but there are reasons she doesn't want to update to the newer iOS. To me, that's more 'fragmented' than Android where I don't think I've ever seen an app say "Nope, this REQUIRES you to update the OS in order to use.")

Anyway, if you were to get a Note tablet for her, I'd recommend a full-sized wacom stylus made specifically for the Note tablets, like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Wacom-Bamboo...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=HTPAEB3D9SVMCXSMGBCJ

That or use the original S-pen with a pen-holder adapter. (I made my own version of one for my Note 12.2 using a modified ballpoint pen.)

It's just a lot easier to draw and sketch properly on these with a full sized tablet- I find the actual s-pen to be a bit too small to draw with as comfortably as a larger pen that the Surface or Apple pencil offer.

Forgot to mention- there are a lot of other wacom pens that will technically work with the Note tablets, but the problem with MOST of them is a nasty 2 or 3 pixel offset that absolutely kills drawing accuracy. I'd avoid an unknown stylus for the Note.

Thanks so much for the insight. I think the cheapies I'm seeing are the 2012/2013 notes, are they honestly that awful for hobbyists? I won't be that guy who just ignores feedback, but it's a couple of dinners vs a week's pay on an iPad (once you factor in the pen and accessories), know what I mean? I'm tempted to head to my carrier and get an iPad pro on installment, I did the math and they're not really charging interest (and ten bucks a month for data isn't bad). Decisions decisions - I think I'm shying away from surface, we kinda hate windows post 7

 

[Midwayman]

There are much better drawing engines available on PC. I'd go surface for full blown apps and flexibility. FWIW you can get a knock off wacom in ~9x6 size for $50-60 on amazon. That's if you have a PC already. I recently got a refurb medium Wacom pen and touch for $100 on amazon if you want to go with the real deal. Its not a self contained experience if that's super important.

 

[slackerinabox]

Thanks for the feedback guys, very helpful. Unless someone chimes in with a "I have a galaxy note 10.1, it's really not bad!" (please do, it's so cheap!) I've decided on the ipad pro. She already has a desktop with a wacom so the software support of surface isn't really necessary, and i kinda hate windows (after we went os/x I've saved so much time not being the tech support around here).

Unless anyone knows a good android tablet that I should go with -I recently convinced her to get a gs7 and ecosystem jumping might be annoying (I dread having to pay for icloud again, as 1 example)

 

[Zaap]

I think you just can't go wrong with the iPad pro. Not being Window people is a big factor- I've seen many people who weren't TRY hard to like the Surface, and just end up not liking it. Much as I'm happy with my Note 12.2, like I said, I'm reluctant to recommend the Notes, unless dirt cheap. (And to answer your question, the first gen Note 10.1's are now just so old they'll feel laggy and slow. They were a novelty and something fairly new at the time so the poor performance could be overlooked- but not now.)

Sounds to me like the iPad is the way to go- more upfront cost, but I'd wager she'd probably end up with one anyway. Look at it this way: you just didn't also add another the expense of another tablet prior to it.

 

[slackerinabox]

I think you just can't go wrong with the iPad pro. Not being Window people is a big factor- I've seen many people who weren't TRY hard to like the Surface, and just end up not liking it. Much as I'm happy with my Note 12.2, like I said, I'm reluctant to recommend the Notes, unless dirt cheap. (And to answer your question, the first gen Note 10.1's are now just so old they'll feel laggy and slow. They were a novelty and something fairly new at the time so the poor performance could be overlooked- but not now.)

Sounds to me like the iPad is the way to go- more upfront cost, but I'd wager she'd probably end up with one anyway. Look at it this way: you just didn't also add another the expense of another tablet prior to it.

Ha! I was looking forward to playing with the note after my wife outgrew it (my wife gets the flashy tech first and I get the hand me downs - feels more gallant that way). The problem with iPads is that she'll never outgrow it! Our ipad 3 is really long in the tooth and still serves its purpose.

I really wanted the note 12.2 actually, but there are some niggling forum reports about blue screens of death and other oddities and samsung does seem to neglect generation old products, and the discount over a refurbished ipad doesn't seem worth it considering there's no warranty (vs. 1 year on apple refurbs). Seems like the logical choice, though I do prefer android over ios these days.

 

[Kazukian]

https://swappa.com/buy/apple-ipad-pro-wifi

Wait for a good price and buy used, Apple can remotely check your device and add Apple Care over the phone.

 

[Harabec]

I LOVE my Note Pro 12 (and use it for my degree - the only way to keep all my writings where I can find them. Lecturenotes is incredible for this) but at this point of time it is hard to recommend. As Zaap said Samsung just abandoned the line more or less...you also have the Huawei MateBook to consider. A friend bought one and really likes it (it is very similar to a surface pro).