Galaxy Note iOS defectors. Do you have any regrets?

[Tubamajuba]

Of course it's stale. It hasn't changed since launch. And a 4" screen is archaic as well. While I will never buy a Note b/c quite frankly it is too awkward for me to hold and too large to put in my pocket, the GS2 has been the best phone for me so far.

You're right that the iOS home screen hasn't changed since launch. It still serves its purpose well- to get you in and out of apps. Android and iOS take two different approaches to the same thing. In Android you get options at the cost of simplicity, and in iOS you get simplicity at the cost of options. Some people just don't want to fiddle with their phone any more than they need to, and there's nothing wrong with that. I understand the desire to customize, as well- and Android is great for that.

Now, what makes a 4" inch screen "archaic"? Does a 5" screen magically make your phone run faster? Does a 6" screen unlock desktop-like power? I fail to see the connection here. Should somebody just cut to the chase and sell a 72" phone? I suppose that would be "cutting edge", wouldn't it?

I don't particularly care about screen size on my phones. I never defended the 3.5" screen as the perfect size, and I didn't care too much either way when the iPhone 5 went to a 4" display. Was it nice? Sure. But screen size isn't a deal-breaker for everybody...

 

[linsam]

I have had my Note 2 for about 6 weeks. Love it. Love it. Love it.

After using it, there is no way I could go back to my iPhone 5. I have used an iPhone for 5 years. It was time to make the change and the larger screen has been a welcome addition. The transition was way easier than I thought it would be. I use a Note 2, MacBook Pro and an iPad 3. No problem. I was so convinced that I could not breakup the ecosystem. I was so wrong and am so glad I gave the Note 2 a try.

I still love Apple, but now also love Samsung. It is really okay to stray from Apple. Nothing bad will happen. I promise.

 

[Tinmania]

You're right that the iOS home screen hasn't changed since launch. It still serves its purpose well- to get you in and out of apps..

And yet when the iPhone debuted there were no add-on apps and only a single home screen. But it still looked the same then as it does now.

I keep my home screen kind of basic. But not iPhone-like basic.





Michael

 

[Kashsystems]

The only thing I miss is iMessage

This is the number 1 thing that kills me and one of the main reasons why I wont switch.

iMessage is like the drug I never had before. The ability for client texts to go directly to my iMac or Macbook has become crucial for me (Majority have iPhones). I keep thinking to myself of getting a iPad mini with cellular and try voip just so I can have a bigger screen that my older eyes can see better.

I also like the iCloud syncing. I use a lot of notes and even though I have Evernote premium there are some convient quick notes I like taking in the basic note app that works well.

Hopefully Apple will come out with a 4.8 inch or greater phone. I rather not switch and the extra length in the iPhone 5 really does not make much of a difference for me.

 

[F123D]

This is the number 1 thing that kills me and one of the main reasons why I wont switch.

iMessage is like the drug I never had before. The ability for client texts to go directly to my iMac or Macbook has become crucial for me (Majority have iPhones). I keep thinking to myself of getting a iPad mini with cellular and try voip just so I can have a bigger screen that my older eyes can see better.

With my Note II and android, you have apps like MightyText that will allow you to text from ANY computer or tablet with your stock messaging app. You don't even have to have your phone with you. It can be left at home, work, in the car, etc..

You also have quick reply messaging apps like SMS Popup or Glowfly that'll allow you to quick reply from the lock screen or any home screen without ever leaving the app you're currently in.

 

[Tinmania]

This is the number 1 thing that kills me and one of the main reasons why I wont switch.

iMessage is like the drug I never had before. The ability for client texts to go directly to my iMac or Macbook has become crucial for me (Majority have iPhones). I keep thinking to myself of getting a iPad mini with cellular and try voip just so I can have a bigger screen that my older eyes can see better.

I also like the iCloud syncing. I use a lot of notes and even though I have Evernote premium there are some convient quick notes I like taking in the basic note app that works well.

Hopefully Apple will come out with a 4.8 inch or greater phone. I rather not switch and the extra length in the iPhone 5 really does not make much of a difference for me.

The unreliable performance of iMessage on my macs is one of the reasons I was able to let it go. For a company that used to claim "it just works" there is no excuse for suddenly wiping out the last day of iMessage history when I am on my mac. More than once I replied to someone, thinking it was the last message, when in fact it was from much earlier. Then, all of a sudden, iMessage would re-sync and there was the correct history (not always in the correct order if I had replied when the message history was truncated). I often had to check my iPhone just to be sure the last messages I was seeing on my mac were correct.

The other thing that bothered me was the co-mingling of text and iMessage. It should be an advantage. But not when most people don't understand how it works. I had to explain soooooo many times why iMessage messages suddenly "turned green" or why they were delayed. iMessage will wait approximately 10 minutes before reverting to SMS. Well, unless you happen to know that if you tap on a message before it is sent you can force it to SMS right away (number of friends and family that knew that, before I told them: 0).

Which leads me to something that has bothered me about the iPhone/iOS since day one (I bought the original iPhone at launch): it will switch to a saved wifi network that either has no internet access or requires a login (such as an airport or hotel) when there is a perfectly good mobile data internet connection available. Essentially it is blindly killing your internet connection when it does that. Happened to me all the time and this is when iMessage would of course not be able to send a message until I either fixed the wifi issue or enough time went by that it reverted to SMS. When I switched from an iPhone to Nexus for this past November, and saw that it had the ability to not use wifi networks unless they had internet access I was thrilled. It was one of many "why can't iOS do that???" moments.

As for notes, there are countless apps on Android that do that and also sync--even to iCloud if desired.

Finally, I have apps on my Note 2 like MightyText and AirDroid that allow me to send and receive texts from any browser (PC or mac--or even my iPad should I want to).



Michael

 

[Kashsystems]

With my Note II and android, you have apps like MightyText that will allow you to text from ANY computer or tablet with your stock messaging app. You don't even have to have your phone with you. It can be left at home, work, in the car, etc..

You also have quick reply messaging apps like SMS Popup or Glowfly that'll allow you to quick reply from the lock screen or any home screen without ever leaving the app you're currently in.

I saw that in another post you made, I do not mind the idea of MightyText because it uses the stock message app.

Does it have a delay because of the syncing aspect of it? Also I would assume that if my phone is dead, then it wont work. That is the other thing about iMessage is I still get texts if I let my iPhone die.

----------

The unreliable performance of iMessage on my macs is one of the reasons I was able to let it go. For a company that used to claim "it just works" there is no excuse for suddenly wiping out the last day of iMessage history when I am on my mac. More than once I replied to someone, thinking it was the last message, when in fact it was from much earlier. Then, all of a sudden, iMessage would re-sync and there was the correct history (not always in the correct order if I had replied when the message history was truncated). I often had to check my iPhone just to be sure the last messages I was seeing on my mac were correct.

The other thing that bothered me was the co-mingling of text and iMessage. It should be an advantage. But not when most people don't understand how it works. I had to explain soooooo many times why iMessage messages suddenly "turned green" or why they were delayed. iMessage will wait approximately 10 minutes before reverting to SMS. Well, unless you happen to know that if you tap on a message before it is sent you can force it to SMS right away (number of friends and family that knew that, before I told them: 0).

Which leads me to something that has bothered me about the iPhone/iOS since day one (I bought the original iPhone at launch): it will switch to a saved wifi network that either has no internet access or requires a login (such as an airport or hotel) when there is a perfectly good mobile data internet connection available. Essentially it is blindly killing your internet connection when it does that. Happened to me all the time and this is when iMessage would of course not be able to send a message until I either fixed the wifi issue or enough time went by that it reverted to SMS. When I switched from an iPhone to Nexus for this past November, and saw that it had the ability to not use wifi networks unless they had internet access I was thrilled. It was one of many "why can't iOS do that???" moments.

As for notes, there are countless apps on Android that do that and also sync--even to iCloud if desired.

Finally, I have apps on my Note 2 like MightyText and AirDroid that allow me to send and receive texts from any browser (PC or mac--or even my iPad should I want to).



Michael

I know for some this is hard to believe but I really have not had any issues with iMessages being unreliable or the delay in history unless my iMac is asleep.

I do agree with you about the ios wifi/cellular issue you have mention, that does drive me nuts.

 

[F123D]

I saw that in another post you made, I do not mind the idea of MightyText because it uses the stock message app.

Does it have a delay because of the syncing aspect of it? Also I would assume that if my phone is dead, then it wont work. That is the other thing about iMessage is I still get texts if I let my iPhone die.

There's no delay with messages. They pop up on your computer and phone simultaneously. Yes, phone does have to be on to receive messages. However, with the Note II, the battery dying would never be a problem.

 

[batting1000]

Got my Note 2 yesterday and it's great so far...

 

[rgctx]

I had a iPhone4, switched to Note 2 then... came back to iPhone 5. I really didnt find my self "customizing" the phone with themes and widgets and such as thats one of the things most people say they go back to android for. The iPhone just feels right to me, its smooth and no lagging, the interface might be old but hey it works.

I had so many lagging issues, the other issues i found is that most apps are not built for that screen size, and most stretch out.

I mean the phone is nice, but its like having a Mercedes Benz with a KIA motor in it.


The screen size is nice but anything bigger, you might as well just buy a laptop.

 

[mib1800]

I had a iPhone4, switched to Note 2 then... came back to iPhone 5. I really didnt find my self "customizing" the phone with themes and widgets and such as thats one of the things most people say they go back to android for. The iPhone just feels right to me, its smooth and no lagging, the interface might be old but hey it works.

I had so many lagging issues, the other issues i found is that most apps are not built for that screen size, and most stretch out.

I mean the phone is nice, but its like having a Mercedes Benz with a KIA motor in it.


The screen size is nice but anything bigger, you might as well just buy a laptop.

when you say you "have so many lagging issues" I am pretty sure you don't have the note 2.

why are ifans seem so desperate to need to regurgitate this nonsense. even if (and that's a big if) note2 lags compared to iphone the difference is in the fraction of a second and hardly perceptible to cause any degradation in user experience.

 

[Tinmania]

I had a iPhone4, switched to Note 2 then... came back to iPhone 5. I really didnt find my self "customizing" the phone with themes and widgets and such as thats one of the things most people say they go back to android for. The iPhone just feels right to me, its smooth and no lagging, the interface might be old but hey it works.

I had so many lagging issues, the other issues i found is that most apps are not built for that screen size, and most stretch out.

I mean the phone is nice, but its like having a Mercedes Benz with a KIA motor in it.


The screen size is nice but anything bigger, you might as well just buy a laptop.

I suspect you never had a Note 2 with the nonsense in that post.



Michael

 

[mattopotamus]

when you say you "have so many lagging issues" I am pretty sure you don't have the note 2.

why are ifans seem so desperate to need to regurgitate this nonsense. even if (and that's a big if) note2 lags compared to iphone the difference is in the fraction of a second and hardly perceptible to cause any degradation in user experience.

I understand what he means. The note 2 is smooth, but the iphone and nexus are smoother. The setting menus and notification menu are not as fluid on the note 2 as they are on the nexus. Also, the app drawer is not as fluid. That is not to say the note 2 is not smooth b.c it definitely is, but it can be "annoying" if you have experienced either of the other two. It may not take away from some users experiences, but others may be something they cannot look past. Personally, I could easily ignore it b.c the note 2 is a fantastic device.

Also, the note 2 is smoother than an iphone 4, so that doesn't seem too accurate in that other users post.

 

[rgctx]

Oh yes i did have the II

Non-sense ? Just google it. About 21,700,000 results, not to mention the youtube videos.

 

[onthecouchagain]

I wonder if iOS users clinging to iMessage as the few remaining reasons to stay is anything like Blackberry users once clinging to BBM as their reason to stay.

 

[Dmaynard83]

I had a iPhone4, switched to Note 2 then... came back to iPhone 5. I really didnt find my self "customizing" the phone with themes and widgets and such as thats one of the things most people say they go back to android for. The iPhone just feels right to me, its smooth and no lagging, the interface might be old but hey it works.

I had so many lagging issues, the other issues i found is that most apps are not built for that screen size, and most stretch out.

I mean the phone is nice, but its like having a Mercedes Benz with a KIA motor in it.


The screen size is nice but anything bigger, you might as well just buy a laptop.

This is exactly what I worry about with the s4

 

[OceanView]

This is exactly what I worry about with the s4

There is no lag with the Note II.
Please don't let the misinformation sway you from trying something new.
There are millions of S3 and Note 2 users that are happy with their phones.

 

[Oohara]

I suspect you never had a Note 2 with the nonsense in that post.



Michael

I'd suspect the same actually. A random statment like "The screen size is nice but anything bigger, you might as well just buy a laptop." invalidates the whole comment - every single tablet would be subject to "might as well just buy a laptop" then

 

[Tinmania]

Oh yes i did have the II

Non-sense ? Just google it. About 21,700,000 results, not to mention the youtube videos.

Google is about as close to you came to owning a Note 2.

And the Google it nonsense? Google "iphone sucks" and you will get 79,400,000 results. So there you go.



Michael

 

[cynics]

When we say that iPhone is smooth are we talking about the OS or everything?

If we are just talking about the OS. Well of course it's smooth. It's icons on a screen, doesn't take much processing power to swipe from static walls of icons to another static walls of icons.

Which IMO isn't always the case anyway. Notification center on occasion lags when pulling it down, message app lags quite a bit in normal use. I've also found even on the iPhone 5 if you get a message list long enough and keep clicking "load previous" you can make it lag. I consider message part of the OS btw.

If we are talking about apps then that's bull too. Open the Facebook app and swipe the news feed right or left, the first time you do it it stumbles. And before people say it doesn't the dev already recognizes the issue. But this is more an app issue not an OS issue.

Just like on my Nexus 10 Firefox is jerky and laggy but its not because of the device its because of the app.

With Android JUST using the OS itself I find it very very smooth. A lot of apps are too but just like iOS some apps aren't quite as smooth all the time. Maybe some could argue that the apps on iOS are better optimized more are smoother, in that case I might agree.

 

[Jibbajabba]

That's cool, but not everyone wants to carry a giant phone in their pocket.

Agreed! And not everyone wants to look at a tiny screen or a stale OS all day either.

Not everyone wants to carry a phone AND an iPad/tablet either.

People actually use their phone as ........... phone ?

I only ever text / browse and whatnot ... Based on my log the last call I made / received from was March 6 from a recruitment agency haha ...

So yea - I don't care if its a massive phone - as I hardly use it as such

 

[mattopotamus]

When we say that iPhone is smooth are we talking about the OS or everything?

If we are just talking about the OS. Well of course it's smooth. It's icons on a screen, doesn't take much processing power to swipe from static walls of icons to another static walls of icons.

Which IMO isn't always the case anyway. Notification center on occasion lags when pulling it down, message app lags quite a bit in normal use. I've also found even on the iPhone 5 if you get a message list long enough and keep clicking "load previous" you can make it lag. I consider message part of the OS btw.

If we are talking about apps then that's bull too. Open the Facebook app and swipe the news feed right or left, the first time you do it it stumbles. And before people say it doesn't the dev already recognizes the issue. But this is more an app issue not an OS issue.

Just like on my Nexus 10 Firefox is jerky and laggy but its not because of the device its because of the app.

With Android JUST using the OS itself I find it very very smooth. A lot of apps are too but just like iOS some apps aren't quite as smooth all the time. Maybe some could argue that the apps on iOS are better optimized more are smoother, in that case I might agree.

That is mostly what people mean. Also, the manufacture's UI cause a lag feel just doing normal activities not in apps.

 

[Jibbajabba]

I had a iPhone4, switched to Note 2 then... came back to iPhone 5. I really didnt find my self "customizing" the phone with themes and widgets and such as thats one of the things most people say they go back to android for. The iPhone just feels right to me, its smooth and no lagging, the interface might be old but hey it works.

I had so many lagging issues, the other issues i found is that most apps are not built for that screen size, and most stretch out.

I mean the phone is nice, but its like having a Mercedes Benz with a KIA motor in it.


The screen size is nice but anything bigger, you might as well just buy a laptop.

I suspect you never had a Note 2 with the nonsense in that post.



Michael

Agree with Tinmania - I call shenanigans

 

[spinedoc77]

Agree with Tinmania - I call shenanigans

My Note 2 lags sometimes, but it doesn't disrupt me in the least. It's literally a fraction of a second, but it is there, it's just not very often that it does it.

 

[Dmaynard83]

I recently traded my iphone 5 for a note 2.

Honestly in terms of speed I feel like the iphone 5 is faster and smoother (comparing stock OS).

But if you root the note 2 and get rid of all the bs bloatware I think the note 2 is faster.

I also like the option of the s pen and multi Window. Swype and swiftkey are also great keyboards.

I still like ios and if you don't want to mess around with your device too much in regards to rooting and technical stuff than the iphone is definitely for you.