Ordered the 1S
Yesterday I ordered the 1S, to replace my GT-N7000. Though it has not yet been delivered, I would like to share my reasons why I choice to replace my note.
First off I was in the market for a other phone (my mobile contract was up for renewal). I've had my note 1 week before the international release. Although its a lovely device, I had some concerns with it. The biggest point was its size. It should be a tablet and phone in one, but for me it never was or will be. There is hardly an app that takes advantage of this screensize, well not like an tablet would. Especially with stock software, it just looks like a scaled up SGSII for elderly people. Yes you can load a custom ICS rom on it and set it to tablet mode, but this wil chance the interface to mdpi, lots of stuff breaks (even on the newest roms), tablet apps dont scale properly on 200dpi and on 160 dpi everything is just to damn small. So put simply, its too big for a phone and too small for a tablet. If you make a phone with a 5" screen even with a super amoled PLUS and put so much effort on the screen estate, and don't put a gorillaglass or something similar on it, it will be terrible. The note catches scratches just by pointing at it...
Before my Note I owned a htc DHD, which I absolutely loved. The size 4.3" (which is the same as the 1S) is just perfect. And the build quality of htc unibody's combined with the gorilla glass is really really great.
The 1S seems like the next logical follow up to the DHD. We all read the review of this device so I'll just list my pro's for the 1S over the N7000:
1. The size (on a side note, im freaking tall and have huge hands, still I aint comfortable using the note with one hand. And while I never had trouble fitting the note in my jeans pocket, it wasn't ever comfortable either.And this is without a case...)
2. The build quality and the elegant design. It just all makes sense and puts together a wonderfull device. I dont really care about the downgrade on the display, the super amoled of the 1s is great and more than enough (and its not like the N7000 super amoled PLUS didnt had his flaws).
3. Ofcourse the camera. While the note shoots some prety decent pictures, it doesnt do anything more than that either.
4. The stock software on this device. Always been a fan of sense (apart of the launcher). Yes it was bloated (and might still be a little), but it also brought alot of features you don't have on stock android.
Some other things:
I never used a external SD in my note, the internal 16gb is (ALOT) more than enough. Though I must confess that I carry a 160gb ipod classic around all day.
If you like the size and screen of the Note and dont care about the build quality i dont think there is any reason why you would trade the N7000 for the 1S
I hope this helps. When my 1S arrives I will take some comparisons pictures with the note side to side (aswell as the super amoled vs the super amoled PLUS).
Edit: My delivery date has been postponed, T-mobile Netherlands ran out of stock of the 1S.