Galaxy Note Owners

[chrisrosemusic1]

Waiting for iOS 7 to drop (and obviously a release date for note 3) before I fully make up my mind but I wanted to ask you all a question or two about the Note.

Is it a sure fire alternative to carrying a phone and tablet? Have you given up iPads / Nexus / Tablets because you simply don't need one?? I currently have an i5 and an iPad Mini combo but one all in one device sounds better.

Also, size wise can you actually a) carry this around comfortably in more fitted clothing? Ie not combats with backpacks for pockets. And b) is it embarrassing to use in public without headphones?

Cheers for your answers.

 

[Oohara]

Whether or not it can replace your iPad mini will depend on what you use the mini for. For web surfing, reading, watching youtube vids etc., as well as 99% of my mobile gaming needs, I personally don't use a tablet anymore. The Note is big enough and much lighter to hold, and easier to bring along of course.

When it comes to proofreading documents for work or using certain kinds of apps, like music recording/editing apps, I still need the iPad - but that's also to do with those apps only being available on iOS of course, and in the case of proofreading it's because of Android's still horrific text selection functionality. All in all I'd say my Note 2 has replaced perhaps 80% of my tablet needs, which makes it well worth the buy in my case.

As for having the Note on you with fitted clothing on - that will depend on your body size and just how tight clothing you're talking about of course. When I got my Note 2 I was surprised to find that it fit easily in my normal cotton slacks. But after a few days of keeping it in those pockets it started to feel like it was bulging a bit too much and making the pants wear in a not so attractive way. For tight/semi-tight pants and suit jacket etc., I keep the Note in a bag instead. Meanwhile it fits perfectly in the breast pockets of my everyday jacket, which isn't particularly bulky. It's a balance/tradeoff situation - in most cases it doesn't bother me that I have to keep it in a bag when I'm out and about, the extra screen size & functionality makes up for that small discomfort.

Holding it up to my ear to speak isn't embarrassing whatsoever, I totally lost all concern I had about the looks of the Note's size after about a week. Nowadays I pick up and iPhone and it feels literally like a toy, whereas the Note feels normal.

In the end you just have to test for yourself. Actually using my Note on a day to day basis turned out to be nothing like I had expected.

 

[rillrill]

this is great information. i also want this as a small tablet replacement. actually i want it more as a kindle replacement. i love eink, but i do not like carrying around two devices. other than that i use a tablet for reading news articles, casual games, playing music, and a remote for the tv. for serious computing i have a laptop.

 

[chrisrosemusic1]

Whether or not it can replace your iPad mini will depend on what you use the mini for. For web surfing, reading, watching youtube vids etc., as well as 99% of my mobile gaming needs, I personally don't use a tablet anymore. The Note is big enough and much lighter to hold, and easier to bring along of course.

When it comes to proofreading documents for work or using certain kinds of apps, like music recording/editing apps, I still need the iPad - but that's also to do with those apps only being available on iOS of course, and in the case of proofreading it's because of Android's still horrific text selection functionality. All in all I'd say my Note 2 has replaced perhaps 80% of my tablet needs, which makes it well worth the buy in my case.

As for having the Note on you with fitted clothing on - that will depend on your body size and just how tight clothing you're talking about of course. When I got my Note 2 I was surprised to find that it fit easily in my normal cotton slacks. But after a few days of keeping it in those pockets it started to feel like it was bulging a bit too much and making the pants wear in a not so attractive way. For tight/semi-tight pants and suit jacket etc., I keep the Note in a bag instead. Meanwhile it fits perfectly in the breast pockets of my everyday jacket, which isn't particularly bulky. It's a balance/tradeoff situation - in most cases it doesn't bother me that I have to keep it in a bag when I'm out and about, the extra screen size & functionality makes up for that small discomfort.

Holding it up to my ear to speak isn't embarrassing whatsoever, I totally lost all concern I had about the looks of the Note's size after about a week. Nowadays I pick up and iPhone and it feels literally like a toy, whereas the Note feels normal.

In the end you just have to test for yourself. Actually using my Note on a day to day basis turned out to be nothing like I had expected.

Thank you for such a rich response. You've literally gone over every curiosity I have about it.

Decision time this month then :/

 

[spinedoc77]

It couldn't replace a tablet in my case, it was just too small for tablet type use IMO other than taking quick notes. On my tablet i can write and edit entire documents, on the note I also could, bit it wasn't worth it.

The size gets on you as well, at least it did for me. I'm 5'10" and a pretty lean 200 lbs, I usually wear dress pants to work and found the note 2 to fit ok this way. In jeans forget about it, and i don't mean tight jeans. They fit in the front pocket ok, but anytime i would sit down the note would be too tall and push against my hip to the point of where i was afraid of breaking it. Forget about taking it out of your pants while driving.

Still, i enjoyed the phone and if it's a bit thinner and lighter I may grab a III. My hope is I won't have to take it out of my pocket for phone calls if I have the smartwatch handy.

 

[asthamapheo]

it's great to have a huge screen phone and with a lot more features than the iOS. i can't bare the 4 inch screen any more

you are getting a phablet, a phone + tablet. so what you're actually doing is you're saving money by paying for one device but getting the functionality of both devices

yes, people do stare at you when you are hold that phone against your face. it's better to have a bluetooth.

 

[tbayrgs]

It didn't work for me. I also have the phone/iPad Mini combo and tried out the Note II earlier this year to see if I could use it to replace both devices. I found it too big as a phone and to small to replace my tablet functionality--basically adequate at many things but master of nothing. Heck, I find the Nexus 7 too small to replace my iPad Mini.

Not saying it won't work for you as there are millions of happy Note II users--just didn't fit my needs.

 

[F123D]

The Note II is a great alternative when going out compared to having to carry a phone AND a tablet. However, it hasn't replace my tablet at home. It's just not big enough.10" > 5.5" screen.

Size wise, it fits fine in my pocket. It's definitely not a one handed phone though. And no problems using around others. I've never seen anyone pay attention to me using my phone. Nothing to feel embarrassed about. It looks normal compared to people taking photos with their iPad in public.

 

[Oohara]

It looks normal compared to people taking photos with their iPad in public.

LOL too true

 

[adder7712]

Size wise, it fits fine in my pocket. It's definitely not a one handed phone though. And no problems using around others. I've never seen anyone pay attention to me using my phone. Nothing to feel embarrassed about. It looks normal compared to people taking photos with their iPad in public.

I sometimes take photos with my iPad out of covenience.

But hey, at least mine is the 3rd gen variant so it has a somewhat decent 5 MP camera.

 

[Phil A.]

The biggest problem I had with my Note 2 (and ultimately why I sold it) is that it's primarily a phone and presents a phone view rather than tablet of apps (and is incompatible with Tablet only apps). I know you can get around that by rooting and modifying the DPI settings, but it's still a bit of a kludge.

If it truly could be used as a mini tablet, I'd have kept it, but for me the S4 is the perfect balance of size and portability when using a phone style interface

 

[ceva321]

I hardly use my ipad since I got my note 2. It has replaced my ipad 100%.

By the way I am never embarrassed to use my phone in public. All that see my phone love the screen and feel envy when they look at their tiny I phone