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Hey guys I just got my note 2 today and have been messing around with the S pen. Does anyone else notice that when pressing buttons on the screen to open apps or things in apps etc that it is not always responsive unless you hit it at the perfect angle? Also when I write normally i kind of write more at a sideways angle towards the screen but it seems to not register very well like this so I have to write more vertical towards the screen. Is there any way to fix these issues or is that just how it is at this time? Also i feel like if I write too lightly it doesn't register very well when writing. Is there a way to adjust the sensitivity or am I the only one who thinks this? Lastly, if i touch the screen with my palm it makes a mark in s note i thought it was not supposed to do this or let your finger write when the s pen is out. How do I set this?
jakebake said:
Hey guys I just got my note 2 today and have been messing around with the S pen. Does anyone else notice that when pressing buttons on the screen to open apps or things in apps etc that it is not always responsive unless you hit it at the perfect angle? Also when I write normally i kind of write more at a sideways angle towards the screen but it seems to not register very well like this so I have to write more vertical towards the screen. Is there any way to fix these issues or is that just how it is at this time? Also i feel like if I write too lightly it doesn't register very well when writing. Is there a way to adjust the sensitivity or am I the only one who thinks this? Lastly, if i touch the screen with my palm it makes a mark in s note i thought it was not supposed to do this or let your finger write when the s pen is out. How do I set this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a similar issue where i seem to have to press hard to get a reaction, especially the app drawer icon.
I notice you have to hit dead on which makes sense. This isn't a pencil or pen where you can write slanted and the ink still touch the paper or what not. But rather the "ball" of the s pen is where your main contact should be. Takes getting used to but what doesn't? Pen works great once you learn how it works
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2
I had to exchange my S-pen 3 times due to sensitivity issue! One of them was way too sensitivity, I wasn't even touching the screen and I could write on S-note... Store manager thought that was part of the Note 2's new feature... lol
Even after the exchange of S-pen I was still having little issues with it, and I ran across a thread about slamming the S-pen on the ground. I know it sounds bizarre but it actually worked! I didn't believe it at first but now my s-pen works flawless... so weird. :silly:
zen0s said:
I had to exchange my S-pen 3 times due to sensitivity issue! One of them was way too sensitivity, I wasn't even touching the screen and I could write on S-note... Store manager thought that was part of the Note 2's new feature... lol
Even after the exchange of S-pen I was still having little issues with it, and I ran across a thread about slamming the S-pen on the ground. I know it sounds bizarre but it actually worked! I didn't believe it at first but now my s-pen works flawless... so weird. :silly:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol like throwing it or just slamming it? and yeah i figured it would just take getting used to I just wanted to make sure it wasn't just my pen. So is there really no settings to change for it though??
Also funny question... does it matter which way it is held? Like when I was first holding it you would press the button with your thumb however you could also hold it so you would press it with your index finger. Does it matter? Is it made to work better one way?
bipoler said:
I notice you have to hit dead on which makes sense. This isn't a pencil or pen where you can write slanted and the ink still touch the paper or what not. But rather the "ball" of the s pen is where your main contact should be. Takes getting used to but what doesn't? Pen works great once you learn how it works
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Take a closer look at the tip of the S-pen. It's actually slightly spring loaded! I discovered this from an early review video I watched before I purchased mine. I believe that the tip has to be pressed hard enough to slightly retract in order to produce a mark. Writing with the pen at an angle may not be doing that.
Doug
Mom said don't smack
But I just tried it and the pen is working 95% better. I don't know if it will stay this way but it's working pretty well (for now at least).
stupid but it works for me.
jakebake said:
Hey guys I just got my note 2 today and have been messing around with the S pen. Does anyone else notice that when pressing buttons on the screen to open apps or things in apps etc that it is not always responsive unless you hit it at the perfect angle? Also when I write normally i kind of write more at a sideways angle towards the screen but it seems to not register very well like this so I have to write more vertical towards the screen. Is there any way to fix these issues or is that just how it is at this time? Also i feel like if I write too lightly it doesn't register very well when writing. Is there a way to adjust the sensitivity or am I the only one who thinks this? Lastly, if i touch the screen with my palm it makes a mark in s note i thought it was not supposed to do this or let your finger write when the s pen is out. How do I set this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey I have the same problem with you but I have solved it in a stupid but effective way. I open the back case and press it, that's it the pen sensitivity back to normal.... lol try it easy and effective....
The S pen can be too sensitive, so you have to adjust its potentiometer. Yes, you heard that right.Just pop the button cover off by simply using a razor blade or something really thin, the cover should pop immediately. Then, you have to use a small flat head screwdriver and turn the screw clockwise. This will adjust the S Pen sensitivity. If you want to make it more sensible, then you have to screw counterclockwise. You should adjust it until it no longer has a problem. This fix has worked for a lot of people, so it should work as a general fix. If you still have problems with the S pen, then you should get in touch with the dealer that gave the phone to you and get the S pen switched because it is faulty.
Vaderg82 said:
The S pen can be too sensitive, so you have to adjust its potentiometer. Yes, you heard that right.Just pop the button cover off by simply using a razor blade or something really thin, the cover should pop immediately. Then, you have to use a small flat head screwdriver and turn the screw clockwise. This will adjust the S Pen sensitivity. If you want to make it more sensible, then you have to screw counterclockwise. You should adjust it until it no longer has a problem. This fix has worked for a lot of people, so it should work as a general fix. If you still have problems with the S pen, then you should get in touch with the dealer that gave the phone to you and get the S pen switched because it is faulty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wish I had known this a last week before I broke my last S Pen. lol Worked great and I even adjusted my full size S Pen as well! Kudos!
When I got my note 2 the stylus worked fine but now when its hovering over the screen it will write on the screen! The attached picture shows what I mean. Only the word "Hello" was written with the stylus touching the screen the other marks are with the pen hovering over the screen.
I have noticed that it works fine if the stylus is close to the screen and only writes on the screen when its about 1cm away from it. This also has the effect that if you are trying to switch things off/on in the settings menus as you move the pen closer it will switch it over at 1cm and then switch it over again when you touch the screen. Does anybody know how to fix this short of doing a factory reset? (which i haven't tried yet).
Many thanks
Steve
Hi I'm just gonna relate to my experience with the note 1. I had the same issue with the s-pen and so did many at release just take it to your store and get one replaced. Its probably a defective pen.
Sent from my SGH-I717M using xda premium
Hmm, I bought mine from Amazon in Germany and im in the UK so not that easy. I know someone else with a note 2 so I'll try there pen on mine. Thanks for the info.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda app-developers app
I had same problem too..
I read on other thread, the easiest way to solve it is by flicking the S-Pen several time (or maybe hit it to hard surface carefully)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1922533
This was my thread from way back.
There have also been others who are having the same issue, with their own threads.
Long story short, there is a miscalibration on the potentiometer of the pen. Some have said to give your pen a good slam on the desk, tip first.
Some say open the panel of the button and adjust something inside.
I took the easy route and went back to the Samsung store, and got a replacement pen.
No troubles so far.
Ive just tried another pen from a friend and that works fine. I'll set if I can get Amazon Germany to send me a replacement pen.
Thanks for all the quick replies.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda app-developers app
Same issue with AT&T Note II -- one imagines they should test these things (or include spares or something)... Very frustrating.
Same here, but I thought it was normal behaviour. I got the phone from Vodafone UK.
Shall I ask for a replacement?
Samsung have sent me one no problem. You can either phone them or go through their contact us page. If you phone they want a receipt emailed but if you do it the other way they just want where you bought it from. Mines confirmed as sent with 5 to 10 days delivery
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda app-developers app
Fix S-Pen on Samsung Galaxy Note II/2 - writes when not touching screen
Tapping the pen will work, but it take a few attempts. Hold it by the back end and flick the tip end down onto the hard surface so as to not damage the plastic writing tip.
Also, note that the problem can be caused by a on-off sticking pen button. The pen button clips over a post and rocks on-and-off of a momentary switch which makes a click when depressed. Carefully pop out by getting under the depressable end (toward the writing tip end of the pen) and it will pop up and out. Clean out the area below, and around the momentary switch, thoroughly, perhaps with canned air, perhaps also with a careful wiping-out. (There's a switch lubricant or some sort of white stuff that's sometimes still present from manufacturing process, and I think maybe causes the switch to stick, or something which MIGHT contribute to problem -- anywho, cleaning it out is a needed issue I've seen on two out of three of these Note II devices I bought.) After cleaning Replace the button by first sliding in the tab-end, then snapping down the other end over the plastic cross bar (carefully!).
Test the button and make sure it presses the switch and clicks, then springs right back up easily.
.
OK, try it out.
Repeat the tip-tapping process a few more times if it's still acting up.
This process worked on both pens. Was actually quicker than screwing around with getting T-Mobile or Samsung to fix it for me. Have fun.
All you need to do is hit the tip of the pen on a table. A bit hard.
worked for me!
With the back, hit it lightly on the desk.
I noticed today that my S Pen does not actually mark where I touch the screen. This is not that significant in portrait but it marks and points a very noticeably 3 mm above where my pen is actually pointed. Is this normal or is my S Pen/ Note defective?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2
If you are a lefty make sure you go to the S-pen settings and set it for left handed use
Lefaid said:
I noticed today that my S Pen does not actually mark where I touch the screen. This is not that significant in portrait but it marks and points a very noticeably 3 mm above where my pen is actually pointed. Is this normal or is my S Pen/ Note defective?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hoping you find a solution thats exactly why I moved from the Note 1 to the SG3 since it was driving me nuts. I had been told the Note 2 does not have the issue so I was going to get my Note 2 later this week.
If you notice, hover the pen above the screen and push the spen inwards with your finger it writes without even touching the screen.
Sent from my SGH-I317M using xda app-developers app
I must say that if that was the case I would go to AT&T and demand they fix it or give me a new one! (Same thing if it wrote before I touched the screen!!) I just tested both of these things and it marks exactly where I place the pen, and does not do so until I am actually touching the screen! (very lightly!) I paid way too much (even though it was only 199 that is still a lot 4 me!) for it not to work exactly as I want it!
Brava27 said:
If you notice, hover the pen above the screen and push the spen inwards with your finger it writes without even touching the screen.
Sent from my SGH-I317M using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya. I noticed that a few days ago. Cool stuff
Sent from my SGH-I317M using xda premium
I think it may have been in an app I was using, because it does not go into landscape. It is still not exact but I think that is just the way it works for human error. It works as far as I am concerned. I will test more before running to ATT
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2
Spen fix
To fix the hovering issue u can pop off the spen button with an exact blade or a box cutter blade. You will see two pentiometers. Having the top point to the left, use a fine flathead screwdriver and turn it clockwise an 1/8th of a turn each time or to ur liking. The left pentameter is for sensitivity of the spen. And the right one decreases the distance and sensitivity of the pen of it hovering above the screen causing it to write automatically. There are posts on this matter however I can't find the link anymore. Just Google it. "how to decrease sensitivity of spen for note 2.". I did this to my brothers and my own spen already and all is well. Note the button when prying out WILL fly out so watch your eye and do this in a well lit and clean Area. To put the button back on, just insert the side closest to the tip of the spen first then click in the back side. Hope this helps us guys.
Hello!
Long, long time viewer, first time poster.
So I have the T-mo Note II, got it since the Sat after it came out. I love it, I came from the living crap-mobile Tmo Galaxy S 4g, and this phone is heaven on earth. I've almost convinced my parents to get one as well once their contract is up. So my question is this, which ties into the aforementioned statement, is anyone aware of a complete and exhaustive ... features list, I guess you could say, for the S-pen? Not just "hold down button and swipe up for gestures," but one that goes so far as to say what settings can be changed, which apps best utilize it, etc. I tried googling this a few different ways and couldn't find one, although if you Google it and find one right away let me know! There's more than one way to google a question.
Although I do have a question myself about wen I use the S-pen. I went to my company's Christmas party, and as a result was tagged in many, slightly drunken photos -- when I was viewing them on my Note II the next day, I was using the AirView to see taggings on the photo (so cool), but the damned pen kept on clicking many of the links that Facebook is so cluttered with. Has anyone else had the issue of the S-pen click buttons/entering menus/opening apps/ at the very slight of a move? I know that its programmed so that when I bring the pen down like I'm goiing to press a button it goes and presses it anyways, but I want to like... add a reaction time on there so it doesn't go berserk on me and clicks every link in a 5-mile radius.
Next question is tied into the above: when handwriting, the phone recognizes the pen right before it touches the screen, so my handwriting is cluttered with... marks I guess you could say, all around it the words, has anyone else experienced this?
Thanks!
EDIT:
Wow, silly me, I just found a list on our own Xda site!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1972391
If anyone is aware of another list, still please let me know!
Urtehnoes said:
Hello!
Long, long time viewer, first time poster.
So I have the T-mo Note II, got it since the Sat after it came out. I love it, I came from the living crap-mobile Tmo Galaxy S 4g, and this phone is heaven on earth. I've almost convinced my parents to get one as well once their contract is up. So my question is this, which ties into the aforementioned statement, is anyone aware of a complete and exhaustive ... features list, I guess you could say, for the S-pen? Not just "hold down button and swipe up for gestures," but one that goes so far as to say what settings can be changed, which apps best utilize it, etc. I tried googling this a few different ways and couldn't find one, although if you Google it and find one right away let me know! There's more than one way to google a question.
Although I do have a question myself about wen I use the S-pen. I went to my company's Christmas party, and as a result was tagged in many, slightly drunken photos -- when I was viewing them on my Note II the next day, I was using the AirView to see taggings on the photo (so cool), but the damned pen kept on clicking many of the links that Facebook is so cluttered with. Has anyone else had the issue of the S-pen click buttons/entering menus/opening apps/ at the very slight of a move? I know that its programmed so that when I bring the pen down like I'm goiing to press a button it goes and presses it anyways, but I want to like... add a reaction time on there so it doesn't go berserk on me and clicks every link in a 5-mile radius.
Next question is tied into the above: when handwriting, the phone recognizes the pen right before it touches the screen, so my handwriting is cluttered with... marks I guess you could say, all around it the words, has anyone else experienced this?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The erratic clicking you mean it clicks without you pushing the pen to the screen? One of two things is occuring, the spen is over sensitive or you are accidently pushing the tip with something. Most likely the spen is over sensitive. To fix either get a replacement pen or drop/throw on the ground a few times (on its side not on the tip) or gently bend the pen a few times near the tip. What happens is the magnets in the switch get stuck and it looks to the wacom digitizer as being pressed.
Sent from my handheld Android 'PC', NOTE II
_Dennis_ said:
The erratic clicking you mean it clicks without you pushing the pen to the screen? One of two things is occuring, the spen is over sensitive or you are accidently pushing the tip with something. Most likely the spen is over sensitive. To fix either get a replacement pen or drop/throw on the ground a few times (on its side not on the tip) or gently bend the pen a few times near the tip. What happens is the magnets in the switch get stuck and it looks to the wacom digitizer as being pressed.
Sent from my handheld Android 'PC', NOTE II
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh! I never knew that. Yes, it's over sensitive, for example, if I were to pull out my S-pen and try to swipe across the home page to the next home screen page (not touching it mind you, but using the S-pen while 1/2 an inch away from device), it would try to open like, every app it came across on the home screen, instead of just swiping to the new page. Its kind of hard to describe, but when the S pen 'hovers/crosses' over something in airview, even for a microsecond, it tries to click/open it.
I'll see if I can get a replacement one, as I tried adjusting a lot of the settings and it wouldn't work.
Thanks for the response!
Wow, silly me, I just found a list on our own Xda site!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1972391
If anyone is aware of another list, still please let me know!
Thanks. Thats a great thread.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using XDA Premium HD app
How is it possible to hold this tab in portrait mode with those stupid hardware buttons located at where my left had is supposed to grip the tab?
I think this will be a turnoff for people who intend to use the tablet mainly for reading and annotating textbook, unless there is an option to disable hardware buttons while in portrait mode or completely disable them and replace them with software buttons with orientation.
The alternative will be holding the tablet upside down with the left hand gripping the camera
btw this is the only issue holding me from buying this tab
It seems like people are making a bigger issue out of this than it actually is. The long side is around 10 inches long and the buttons might take up three. I'm sure you'll be able to handle it without accidental button presses. In my opinion, having the menu button just below my thumb is a welcome feature.
Since the buttons are on the long side, that is the default way of holding it. Now the question is that if you are holding it with left hand, why you don't simply rotate it to other direction?
miloytyn said:
Since the buttons are on the long side, that is the default way of holding it. Now the question is that if you are holding it with left hand, why you don't simply rotate it to other direction?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Being a right handed person i hold the tab by the left hand and write/turn pages by the right.
I'm not sure if holding the tab by the camera is a wise idea, for the risk of accidentally touching the camera lens.
fryguy18 said:
It seems like people are making a bigger issue out of this than it actually is. The long side is around 10 inches long and the buttons might take up three. I'm sure you'll be able to handle it without accidental button presses. In my opinion, having the menu button just below my thumb is a welcome feature.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It may be only me but I'm more comfortable holding the tab from the middle of the left side.
Kimo377 said:
Being a right handed person i hold the tab by the left hand and write/turn pages by the right.
I'm not sure if holding the tab by the camera is a wise idea, for the risk of accidentally touching the camera lens.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I don't see why touch the lens is that bad thing, as it usually is the part of phone, for exsample, which is touching table etc. And any fingerprints can be easily wiped from the lens. But that is just me.
ps. I don't understand using covers with phones either, with tablet they are more useful.
Yep, this is the only drawback I see. My stupid Crapple fans are going to laugh at me with their thin-bezeled, button free iPad 5's.
I don't know why the hell they had to put a hardware button on it. Hardware buttons on tablets are stupid.
EDIT:
I'll probably rotate it and hold it by the camera lens. It's not like I'll ever use a gigantic tablet to take a picture anyway. That's why I'm getting my Note 3, so I can take pictures with a gigantic phone.
miloytyn said:
Well I don't see why touch the lens is that bad thing, as it usually is the part of phone, for exsample, which is touching table etc. And any fingerprints can be easily wiped from the lens. But that is just me.
ps. I don't understand using covers with phones either, with tablet they are more useful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me phone cover is more important since I drop it frequently unlike the tab
Han Solo 1 said:
Yep, this is the only drawback I see. My stupid Crapple fans are going to laugh at me with their thin-bezeled, button free iPad 5's.
I don't know why the hell they had to put a hardware button on it. Hardware buttons on tablets are stupid.
EDIT:
I'll probably rotate it and hold it by the camera lens. It's not like I'll ever use a gigantic tablet to take a picture anyway. That's why I'm getting my Note 3, so I can take pictures with a gigantic phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are right about the back camera but the front one i use frequently for video calls.
Looks like i'm the only one that actually likes the idea of a hard button! it's an instant access to home, not being able to do this on a nexus annoys me, but i don't see why this should be a deal breaker really.
Han Solo 1 said:
Yep, this is the only drawback I see. My stupid Crapple fans are going to laugh at me with their thin-bezeled, button free iPad 5's.
I don't know why the hell they had to put a hardware button on it. Hardware buttons on tablets are stupid.
EDIT:
I'll probably rotate it and hold it by the camera lens. It's not like I'll ever use a gigantic tablet to take a picture anyway. That's why I'm getting my Note 3, so I can take pictures with a gigantic phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Say what you will but I think an inch bezel around the whole tablet is necessary, how else you plan on holding the thing if there is no room for your thumb. I could care less about what any isheep has to say about my tablet.
Sent from my SGH-I317M using xda app-developers app
thank god it has a thin bezel and a hard button. finally i'm convinced to buy a tablet.
I was holding of for years until there was one like this one. why dont you guys that want a thick bezel get one of the other dozen tablets that have the design you want. they have been out for years.
demz92 said:
Looks like i'm the only one that actually likes the idea of a hard button! it's an instant access to home, not being able to do this on a nexus annoys me, but i don't see why this should be a deal breaker really.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While im not crazy about the idea I do have a Note 2 and already i'm use to them being there.
Actually I can see some benefits....
I'm sure you can disable the buttons or a program will come out that can.
In fact here is a rough draft on how to hack them...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=34247225&postcount=14
The reason why they have physical buttons is because since 4.2 and up, the tablet UI became the phone UI. So you no longer had a bar at the bottom, one side with cappy buttons and the other with the notification drawer.
Instead you have a status bar like on phones AND a bar at the bottom for only three buttons. Less screen estate, especially considering that Samsung would use the Home, Back and Menu buttons in capacitive form. That takes away quite a bit of screen space and you can see it happening especially in videos. To get what I mean, take a look at the 4.2.2 firmware for the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1. More screen is lost because the design guidelines have changed.
What Samsung's done is take away the bottom bar and used the physical buttons instead. Not the best solution but it allows for more screen space. On the Note, it'd be a bit of a shame to have about a centimetre thick part of that awesome screen taken up by three buttons.
Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk HD
Soryuu said:
The reason why they have physical buttons is because since 4.2 and up, the tablet UI became the phone UI. So you no longer had a bar at the bottom, one side with cappy buttons and the other with the notification drawer.
Instead you have a status bar like on phones AND a bar at the bottom for only three buttons. Less screen estate, especially considering that Samsung would use the Home, Back and Menu buttons in capacitive form. That takes away quite a bit of screen space and you can see it happening especially in videos. To get what I mean, take a look at the 4.2.2 firmware for the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1. More screen is lost because the design guidelines have changed.
What Samsung's done is take away the bottom bar and used the physical buttons instead. Not the best solution but it allows for more screen space. On the Note, it'd be a bit of a shame to have about a centimetre thick part of that awesome screen taken up by three buttons.
Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with this. Though I am not a huge fan of the physical buttons I really like that it has the extra screen real-estate.
someone will mod it soon. i've actually gotten used to the buttons on my gn8. the only time hate em is when gaming. the rom I use has a mod to turn them off and only make them useable via spen. you'll get used to it too. you may never like it, but you can find a work around.
As someone who owns this tablet the physical buttons are a huge step backwards. Why? That POS menu key. Coming from the original Note 10.1 it's ridiculous constantly hitting that menu button to find out if it has a menu available. Compare to the original Note 10.1 where menu options appear in the action bar. Samsung has completely ruined the tablet experience with their incredibly stupid design choices. This tablet is such a huge pain to navigate. Why can't somebody else offer a Wacom stylus on their 10" Android tablet? I wish Google would throw an S Pen'ish stylus on their Nexus 10 so I can rid myself of Samsung's incompetence. I've never had such a frustrating tech purchase.
I have a Note II with a physical menu key but it's not nearly as frustrating because everything is so close together. I feel like my hand is running a marathon with this tablet having to move all ovef the place to navigate the UI.
I love the S Pen. It works beautifully. The screen is gorgeous. It's not a brick like some other high resolution tablets. It's very powerful and fast. Why oh why did they throw hardware keys on this thing and muck everything up. I would gladly take the black bar on the bottom with home, task switch and back if I could.
The disable hardware keys mod cannot come fast enough for me.
i'm not really diggin the physical buttons either. there's enough screen real estate to have the nav bar on the bottom. the home button is ok, but the menu and back have becoe more and more of a nuisance. i tolerate them on the gn8 b/c of the extra screen area i get plus using the soft nav buttons hack doesn't hide button properly in full screen video.
i can get use them being there on the note10 but i don't won't like them better than soft nav buttons. i hope if they hack it that it'll properly hide in full screen.
I haven't read the posts in this thread, but I wanted to comment that I happen to like the hard buttons. I'm right handed and hold it with my left like OP. I like that I can reach the option, home and return buttons (this is what you all mean by "hard buttons" right?) with my thumb. The design feels very intuitive and quite natural. I also recently found out that you can quickly access the task manager by holding down the home button. It will open up a menu similar to the menu that opened when you pressed the double rectangle button on the older model. The more time I spend with this device the more I love it. My mom is actually getting the new Note 3 so she's going to let me have her Note 2. I can finally get rid of this iphone 3 that came free with my contract.