[Q] Galaxy Note 8 - is it worth it?

[linkenhtc]

Hello mates.Im still thinking of buying this tab,but why is his popularity so low? I mean not many roms,topics etc about it in forums.. Is there anything wrong with it? Havent seen the tab yet(only reviews),only saw and played with ipad mini,but I think this one is better.Would you advice me to buy it and why?
Thank you

Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium

 

[aeon101]

Yes...go for it. I' ve replaced my Note 2. 7' Tab is small and 10' is too big for me. 8' Note is not mass market product, but just in between Note 2 and Note 10 solution with perfect performance and everyday use/ carry around. I use it as well as my primary phone, navigation, multimedia and personal computer.

 

[Juvenall]

The "problem" you see here relates more to the very niche market for a device like this in its price range when compared next to something like the Nexus 7 and even Samsung's other 7 inch tablet. So on price alone, its going to struggle a little when you have so many quality options for half the price in many cases. For example, the iPad mini is $100 less, you could buy 2 Nexus 7 16GBs, or hell, I've seen referb Nook Colors going for $60 so you could almost buy 7 of the damn things. What they all lack, however, and what sets this apart for those that need the feature is the Wacom digitizer. Yes, that little pen is the source of the fuss. If you're the sort of person who values hand written notes or loves to doodle in a way that no other tablet in this form factor is capable of (even with a third party stylus), then thats all the reason you need to pick up the Note 8. Other reasons would include the super thin body or large screen size (or you have some creepy love of IR blasters), but the pen is the point here.

This all means, sadly, that we won't ever enjoy the flood of rom options other devices enjoy. Sure, there will be some in time, but I'm not holding out for a solid, feature filled port of Paranoid Android. Instead, I'm doing with the majority of Android users are and just making due with what I have and honestly, the things I love outnumber the things I hate about TouchWiz.

At this point, I can't see myself ever going back to a "normal" tablet again (which will really suck if they don't make another one lol).

 

[AMoosa]

It's awesome. Don't hesitate.

Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk HD

 

[FaeMinx]

I helped organize a Nexus 7 32gb 3G for my mother, and was suitably impressed with it.

I also own a HTC Sensation... which I was also suitably impressed with 2 years ago when I bought it.

I also have to my name an i5 Desktop + Wacom Cintiq 12wx.
So, yes, you guessed it... I like digital art / image manipulation. I also enjoy keeping journals and 'writing' stories... yes, WRITING, not 'typing'... when I sit infront of a keyboard and see the words spill from my fingertips in clinical neat text, it kinda kills the creative process for me...

So you can understand that the note 8.0 *BLEW ME AWAY*

It's as if someone out there decided to design a device *just for me*. It's the perfect size, perfect weight, so comfortable to hold, handwriting recognition is superb, and the sensitivity of the S Pen is second only to the Cintiq experience...

All i need is a means to fine tune the sensitivity of the S Pen for my drawing style and I believe I would actually prefer the Note 8.0 over the Desktop+Cintiq as a drawing medium.. I've only had the tablet for a few days, so I may still be able to figure out how to do this. If, however, the calibration must stay as it is... it is still an excellent drawing experience and, as I said, second only to using a full-blown Cintiq.

Like others here I'll never be buying a tablet again that doesn't at least match the features and convenience of the Note 8.0.

I'm very excited to see what they do with the Note 8.0 v2 + v3... and if for some odd reason, this is the first and last in the series... I'll be keeping this tablet... and keeping my eyes open for developments in the Surface Pro line (it's still too bulky/heavy to be a concideration for me at this point in time).

Bottom line:
Are you an artist / designer and do you prefer handwriting over typing?
If yes, then I can see no better option for you in this form factor. The price is well justified.
If no, then although it is a superb tablet that trumps the Nexus 7 in every way... the price will be hard to justify. If you're not going to put the Wacom Digitizer to work for you, then only buy this tablet if you have money to burn.

 

[hertsjoatmon]

All i need is a means to fine tune the sensitivity of the S Pen for my drawing style and I believe I would actually prefer the Note 8.0 over the Desktop+Cintiq as a drawing medium.. I've only had the tablet for a few days, so I may still be able to figure out how to do this. If, however, the calibration must stay as it is... it is still an excellent drawing experience and, as I said, second only to using a full-blown Cintiq.

See this page...

http://phandroid.com/2012/12/05/how-to-adjust-s-pen/

 

[linkenhtc]

Thank you for all your help friends . I currently own a Nexus 7 ,but I dont have 3g and thats killing me. Personally I was viewing Ipad mini and Note 8 . In fact in my country and my calculations for the 3G version price is likely the same.The only thing I love in Ipad mini is the app store (many many apps) and the accesoaries for the Ipad (docks and etc) If we remove this the Note 8 has everything.
I`ll think a little more and maybe decide the Note 8.It will cost me like 450~500$ with a contract for 7$ per month for one year and Im getting 3000MB high speed 3G.
Here the Apple Ipad Mini costs like 500~550$ ,but without any contracts .

 

[hertsjoatmon]

Thank you for all your help friends . I currently own a Nexus 7 ,but I dont have 3g and thats killing me. Personally I was viewing Ipad mini and Note 8 . In fact in my country and my calculations for the 3G version price is likely the same.The only thing I love in Ipad mini is the app store (many many apps) and the accesoaries for the Ipad (docks and etc) If we remove this the Note 8 has everything.
I`ll think a little more and maybe decide the Note 8.It will cost me like 450~500$ with a contract for 7$ per month for one year and Im getting 3000MB high speed 3G.
Here the Apple Ipad Mini costs like 500~550$ ,but without any contracts .

As others have said. The price of the Note is almost purely based on the Spen / digitizer technology with in it. To decide if it is worth it, you need to decide if the added functionality that technology brings is of benefit to you.

If you dont draw, or dont think you will be taking hand writen notes, then there may be little benefit of this tablet over a cheaper android alternative. My advice is, if you want to use the Spen, then the Note 8.0 is the perfect companion, if you dont, wait for the new NEXUS to be announced and either buy the older 7 at a discount or wait for the newer one (or do the same with the ipad mini. cant be too long before a newer version is announced).

 

[FaeMinx]

See this page...

http://phandroid.com/2012/12/05/how-to-adjust-s-pen/

Thanks for the link! After reading that... I'm a little nervous about possibly screwing up the sensitivity that I have - after all, there's nothing *wrong* with my pen, it's not wonky at all... I just would love to be able to map out the pressure gradient curve like I can do via software for each of my Cintiq pens (I have them all - Airbrush, 6D Artpen, Grip Pen and Classic)... So I'm going to continue looking for a software solution. But if one doesn't turn up, I'll probably buy an extra S Pen to fiddle with mechanically.
Thanks again.

Thank you for all your help friends . I currently own a Nexus 7 ,but I dont have 3g and thats killing me. Personally I was viewing Ipad mini and Note 8 . In fact in my country and my calculations for the 3G version price is likely the same.The only thing I love in Ipad mini is the app store (many many apps) and the accesoaries for the Ipad (docks and etc) If we remove this the Note 8 has everything.
I`ll think a little more and maybe decide the Note 8.It will cost me like 450~500$ with a contract for 7$ per month for one year and Im getting 3000MB high speed 3G.
Here the Apple Ipad Mini costs like 500~550$ ,but without any contracts .

Do you own any other Apple products? Have you already made significant purchases in the Apple app store you want to use on your tablet?
If not, and it's just a case of which is the better tablet... Go for the Note 8.0.

In my opinion, the iPad Mini and GNote 8.0 are not even in the same class of device.

iPad Mini is appropriate for the mass-market consumer who is primarily concerned with consuming content. It's easy to use, especially for people who are not all that technologically skilled.

GNote 8.0 is aimed at power users, creative professionals, and discerning creative hobbyists who are primarily concerned with *creating* content... but who also want a top class media consumption device as well.

If you have any interest in creating content, then it's a no-brainer.
But like I said, if you aren't really going to use the Wacom Digitizer all that much... then the iPad mini could be the right device for you... even though it makes me cringe recommending an Apple product to anybody.

 

[linkenhtc]

Ill go for the Note.Ill go and order one.Thank you all
And about thias 25$ gift card - it doesnt depend from what country you are ,right?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium

 

[FaeMinx]

Ill go for the Note.Ill go and order one.Thank you all
And about thias 25$ gift card - it doesnt depend from what country you are ,right?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium

You need to check with whoever you are buying from. As far as I was aware, the gift card was only available to US residents.

As I live in South Africa, I got other extras... such as a free Official Stand Pouch, a 16gb MicroSD card, 2 year warranty, and two months free internet with MWeb (which i'm not using as I'm with another service provider - I bought mine outright, i.e. not on contract).

 

[redpoint73]

The "problem" you see here relates more to the very niche market for a device like this in its price range when compared next to something like the Nexus 7 and even Samsung's other 7 inch tablet.

Bingo. The Android tablet market is dominated by low priced, low spec devices (at least in the 7 to 8 inch form factor). And this has worked to get Android tablets into people's hands and steal market share from the iPad. The N8 is targeted towards users who actually value a premium device, and are willing to pay a bit more. Unfortunately, we are in the minority.

Yes, the N8 is not going to sell in huge numbers, and that means less developer interest. But all that is needed is a few good developers. We already have some good looking contributions, and this will continue to grow. My previous tablet was the HTC Flyer, which arguably had a worse market penetration problem than the N8 has. The Flyer was more expensive ($499 US at release), and the tablet market was much less mature at the time (much less people interested in buying tablets). The Flyer sold in very low numbers. But even so, it had a fair number of very good developers, and a decent number of ROMs. More than sufficient, IMHO. In the end, you don't need dozens of ROMs. Just a decent selection of good ones.

I don't see the trend towards cheap Android tablets changing anytime soon. The Note 8 is easily the best Android tablet around in the "smaller" (7 to 8 inch) form factor, and I'm willing to bet that will remain the case for some time.

 

[HughesNet]

That is just it. This tablet is NOT just about the pen. It is a really fast tablet too. Much faster then the Nexus 7 or just about any other tablet out right now. It is smooooth. The screen is the perfect size too. I had a Nexus 7 and returned it because I couldn't stand how slow it was. I have a note 2 and it is nice to actually have a screen large enough that the multi window feature may actually get some use too.

 

[goldenfly88]

As a consumer, I love my Note 8 (speedy, responsive, relatively okay battery life, etc everything else ppl said)

As an Android/Linux dev, I lament the fact that because this thing costs so much, it is just statistically less likely to get huge momentum behind it.

 

[dr.m0x]

I don't know, from a practical point of view this tablet is a better buy than an ipad mini. It does cost a little more than an entry level mini but does the mini have expandable storage, usb otg support, multi windows and a pressure sensitive stylus. If I were Joe Public I'd certainly consider getting one as it offers quite a bit more value for just a little extra investment.

Sent from the mighty Note 8.0

 

[kable]

I sold my Note 2 ans Ipad Mini 64GB and replaced them with a Note 8.0 w/ 64GB SDCard and am much happier now.

As for the $25.00 Play Store credit , That is for the WiFi model only checks serial # ( US Only ? ) . 3G versions do not qualify.