[Q] Pen experience comparison - Galaxy Note 8.0 (Tablet) Q&A, Help & Troubleshooti

Question: Can anyone compare - from actual - use the quality of the Lenovo ThinkPad 2 (TPT2) digitized pen writing experience compared to that of a Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 or 10.1?
Background: I currently use a SGN8.0 and love the pen experience. It is smooth and very much like real writing. I often use LectureNotes or NoteAnytime. However, my preferred application is MS OneNote, which does not have pen support in Android. I am considering a TPT2 with digitizer so I can use the Windows version of OneNote, which does have pen support. But if it isn't as nice to write on the TPT2, then I don't want to do that.
Thanks!

Related

Keyboard for note-taking

I'm toying with the idea of using my phone to take notes. Would something like this work? Is there something similar that would make a better setup?
Logitech Tablet Keyboard for Android 3.0+ (920-003390) (On Amazon)
they also have the mini Bluetooth keyboards on amazon, and they are pretty nice...I think the mini keyboard would be great for note taking in my opinion. I used to use my tablet for not taking, except i used a note taking app and the capacitive stylus. I think it would have been a lot easier with a keyboard.
Pricy but the cool factor is off the scale!

New Student, Which Tablet?

I am an online student looking for a tablet. I am wondering if you would suggest the Note 10.1 2014 or the Note Pro? Maybe something different altogether? Thanks for any suggestions.
I assume you mean the Tab Pro?
If you're going to take notes on it, definitely the Note. The stylus is perfect for note taking. But you did mention it's an online class, so maybe you wouldn't take notes for it? If not then the only thing left to consider is the Note has 1gb more ram.
GldRush98 said:
I assume you mean the Tab Pro?
If you're going to take notes on it, definitely the Note. The stylus is perfect for note taking. But you did mention it's an online class, so maybe you wouldn't take notes for it? If not then the only thing left to consider is the Note has 1gb more ram.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think ual470 actually meant what he/she said, Note Pro which is the 12.2" older brother. It can be all very confusing haha.
I would go for the Note 10.1 2014.
The size is perfect for lugging about, it has exact same specs as Note Pro so you wont be losing out, and hopefully we should be getting KitKat 4.4 soon to give us Pro features but we have to wait and see what the story is with the update. Oh and most importantly its much cheaper.
Sent from Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition via Tapatalk.
Ah, I wasn't even thinking about the 12 incher. Just the 10s.
The 12 is huge. I played with it in the store at the same time as the 10 and it just felt unnecessarily large. The 10 felt perfect, at least to me. If you have a retail location near you that carries th, go check them both out in person. Just because I thought the 12 was too big, or may not.
I like my Note 10.1 for class. I use Lecture Note for most everything. The stylus is superb. I am thinking of adding a keyboard case once Logitech releases one of for the Tab 10.1 Pro. The dimensions are nearly identical. The Note is just a sliver thicker.
Homer
Sent from my SM-P600 using xda app-developers app
ual4720 said:
I am an online student looking for a tablet. I am wondering if you would suggest the Note 10.1 2014 or the Note Pro? Maybe something different altogether? Thanks for any suggestions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your a student get a windows tab with am active digitizer, OneNote has no competitors worthy of mention. The Note pro 12 inch is nearly the cost of the Surface Pro 2, get that instead. You can also find the first SP for sale at 500 or less quite often if you need cheaper options.
Don't get me wrong the note is a solid android tablet, but for education and note taking, I love using it.However as a student, OneNote is the only way, lecturenote and other alternatives doesn't come close. Personally I also think price wise its a better value but to each hos own.
Here's what I'm looking for: I want to take notes and record audio of the lecture at the same time. Additionally, I'd like the notes to be linked to the audio so that after the lecture when I tap on that particular note it will play the audio at that point in time when the note was written. Any such app?
@TabGuy: LectureNotes with LectureRecordings extension can do that.
DISCLAIMER: I am the developer of these apps.
acadoid said:
@TabGuy: LectureNotes with LectureRecordings extension can do that.
DISCLAIMER: I am the developer of these apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Developer of lecturenotes?
Hi ur the best and i use ur app more than i use toilet paper
Also i feel like galaxy note 10 2014 is best for school stuff because it has that s pen detection so u can ret ur palm on the screen while writing.
Also thw s pen is extremely responsive like a real life pen
Thanks
Hey thanks for the reminder... I didn't think of the surface. I went ahead with the surface pro. I found a great deal on Swappa that included a lot of the accessories. After researching, a windows tab made much more sense with one note. I love the Note 10.1 and Note Pro 12" but felt the Surface Pro would meet my needs the best. Thank you all for your input!
Soul0Reaper said:
If your a student get a windows tab with am active digitizer, OneNote has no competitors worthy of mention. The Note pro 12 inch is nearly the cost of the Surface Pro 2, get that instead. You can also find the first SP for sale at 500 or less quite often if you need cheaper options.
Don't get me wrong the note is a solid android tablet, but for education and note taking, I love using it.However as a student, OneNote is the only way, lecturenote and other alternatives doesn't come close. Personally I also think price wise its a better value but to each hos own.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
flostanktank said:
Developer of lecturenotes?
Hi ur the best and i use ur app more than i use toilet paper
Also i feel like galaxy note 10 2014 is best for school stuff because it has that s pen detection so u can ret ur palm on the screen while writing.
Also thw s pen is extremely responsive like a real life pen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OneNote still the way to go, see http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/onenote-help/record-audio-and-video-notes-HA010121254.aspx
I probably sound like a MS promoter but the sad fact is OneNote is just that good. No other software comes close. You should definitely use what you have but if you got a choice, OneNote
ual4720 said:
Hey thanks for the reminder... I didn't think of the surface. I went ahead with the surface pro. I found a great deal on Swappa that included a lot of the accessories. After researching, a windows tab made much more sense with one note. I love the Note 10.1 and Note Pro 12" but felt the Surface Pro would meet my needs the best. Thank you all for your input!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah fortunate for students MS liquidating the first gen SP. Only issue I would say is battery life if you have back to back long lectures that are away from an outlet. Have fun using it.
Two fellow students of mine have the surface 2 pro. I myself have the note 10.1 2014. If you need certain windows programs to run or be able to type long papers with office, the surface is probably a good compromise.
But they run around with a charger all the time and that thing is heavy. I usually have my bt keyboard in the bag if I need it. And note taking and pdf annotation is just perfect with the note 10.1 and that's what I need 95% of the time. And for the other stuff I have my pc at home. I'm glad I went with the note. I think the surface is not there yet. I see what they're trying to do and i like it but too many compromises IMHO.
The other thing I'm looking at is a battery power bank for the surface. The other option is the type cover power bank they are releasing. The battery does worry me.
Thankfully I'm not on campus and only online, I will mostly be using it for notes, papers, windows apps, and digital textbooks. I was thinking the pro 2 but performance to cost ratio just isn't enough.
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
ual4720 said:
The other thing I'm looking at is a battery power bank for the surface. The other option is the type cover power bank they are releasing. The battery does worry me.
Thankfully I'm not on campus and only online, I will mostly be using it for notes, papers, windows apps, and digital textbooks. I was thinking the pro 2 but performance to cost ratio just isn't enough.
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Despite the 4-hour battery life of the Surface Pro, you'll be much happier than running Android or an iPad with that crappy palm-blocking slide-up thing overlay and the fake digitizer....
I have been trying to get back to the way I felt when I used to take notes and do homework on my hp tx2500, running 7, OneNote (super heavy, full size laptop, but it ran and felt awesome).
I own the 2014 edition of 10.1 note, as well as its older brother. The difference between them is the screen. Performance wise, you won't notice any improvement in the 2014 edition over the older one when taking notes and opening up huge PDF textbooks. I am currently using the older one to take notes in school and do homework. The 2014 version has a crappy battery life (around 4 hours of classroom use), and no custom ROM that disables Samsung's simply idiotic "share screenshot" feature when drawing a circle on the screen while holding the spen button down. That "feature" blocks the use of pen gestures in so many apps, including Papyrus. If you were to buy it, you would have regretted it. Not to mention the KNOX stuff, which allows Samsung to dismiss anything that may go wrong with the device in the future (how come there's no class action suit yet?). They'll blame it on you for running "custom software", i.e. getting rid of 90% of Samsung & Google bloatware, so you can breathe and have a decent battery life.
For those of you who use the note, I use ez PDF Reader, it's the fastest PDF reader I found. I also use Papyrus to take notes, because it's the smoothest looking handwriting, and it's stable and fast, and has some good features, albeit its limitations, such as not allowing you to store 2-3 favorite pen settings on the top bar, or a one-button insert last screenshot in current note type deal. It's always a minimum of 3 taps to do something in that software... I have yet to find a good PowerPoint reader that displays the powerpoint slide as it was created on the desktop by the professor. Sometimes that's the biggest PITA, you'll have to export the PPT(x) as PDF beforehand.
So, congrats, I personally find your decision to be the best. I should have done the same instead of buying the crappy 2014 edition.
clouds5 said:
Two fellow students of mine have the surface 2 pro. I myself have the note 10.1 2014. If you need certain windows programs to run or be able to type long papers with office, the surface is probably a good compromise.
But they run around with a charger all the time and that thing is heavy. I usually have my bt keyboard in the bag if I need it. And note taking and pdf annotation is just perfect with the note 10.1 and that's what I need 95% of the time. And for the other stuff I have my pc at home. I'm glad I went with the note. I think the surface is not there yet. I see what they're trying to do and i like it but too many compromises IMHO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your looking for a tablet 1st and productivity 2nd, the note is probably the best way to go (although cintiq companion hybrid hehehe). However I would still argue that as far as note taking goes, OneNote is still king. I've tried a mixture of stuff on Android and nothing really compares. Weight and battery are definitely downsides to a surface, but a modern atom tablet can probably pull it off. The Dell venue 11 pro may be what some are looking for although it uses inferior digitizer tech than wacom.
ual4720 said:
The other thing I'm looking at is a battery power bank for the surface. The other option is the type cover power bank they are releasing. The battery does worry me.
Thankfully I'm not on campus and only online, I will mostly be using it for notes, papers, windows apps, and digital textbooks. I was thinking the pro 2 but performance to cost ratio just isn't enough.
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are actually a few powerpacks that support the surface. I saw one on sale awhile back but for the life of me can't recall what it was. If your near an outlet, no big difference between 1st and 2nd Gen surface. Only thing that really gor improved was battery.
Soul0Reaper said:
There are actually a few powerpacks that support the surface. I saw one on sale awhile back but for the life of me can't recall what it was. If your near an outlet, no big difference between 1st and 2nd Gen surface. Only thing that really gor improved was battery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you do need to move around though you need to be a weight lifter... After a little while with my surface RT, yes the crappy first edition, then swapping to the Note 10.1, 2014 or original, I find the Note definitely the lighter way to go. It has longer battery life without needing the power pack or battery pack, another 100 kilos of weight on my already straining back, and I find my Note lasts all day long...
It's up to the individual but my preference is definitely for the note...
The surface pro 2 is a nice machine but twice the price of a note. For my use as a digital replacement for a pen and paper notebook, I'd rather have something light with good battery life and an active digitiser. The Galaxy Note 2014 fits that bill.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk
Loving my Note Pro
I'm all about lecture notes backed up into my ever note account, I also got the full size bamboo stylus. Honestly haven't tried one note but I've got lecture notes dialed in so it works great for me. In addition I run splashtop and a Logitech 810 BT keyboard so that I'm able to store and write all my papers in office remotely. I have the 10.1 2014 (rooted) and love it!
lecture notes kit kat question
I take all my notes with your app and have come to rely heavily on lecture notes (backed up to evernote). This app is leaps and bounds ahead of everything else ive tried. I recently installed the hashcheck- hybrid-v1 kitkat rom for the sm p600. Now when I'm writing there is a lag. I finish a word before it shows up. I tried switching the fast page, and temporary rendering settings in the display settings but it's really slow.
I'm really hoping you can help!
Thank You!

[Q] Samsung Note 10.1 2014 or Sony Experia Z2

Have troubles deciding which of those 2 above mentioned tablets I should go for, the Samsung Note 10.1 2014 or the Sony Experia Z2 Tablet.
What are your thoughts about this, what would you recommend based on your user-experience?
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Note2014 pros: SPen, highres display, better battery life.
But Z2 is great hardware with its water and dust proof protection and NFC (useless for me)
rest is here http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=6145&idPhone2=5677
Personally for me SPen (especially air view feature) is biggest advantage over rivals.
Thanks for the answer, but you also know just specs don't say anything about use in real world.
I am interested in hearing what people think of their tablet. Your comment about the S Pen is also something i like, i use a pen with my Surface Pro and i really enjoy it.
But, real life experiences is what i hoep to hear in here
CheopsChefren said:
Thanks for the answer, but you also know just specs don't say anything about use in real world.
I am interested in hearing what people think of their tablet. Your comment about the S Pen is also something i like, i use a pen with my Surface Pro and i really enjoy it.
But, real life experiences is what i hoep to hear in here
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe I`m not clear enough, I own Note 10.1 2014 and my brother just bought Z2 tablet and I have ability to compare side by side these tablets. After playing with both I`m confident in my choice and never regret my decision about Note 10.1, especially when it comes to battery life and display.
However I have to say Z2 is more stylish and significantly lightweight and slim.
Thanks Kornelius. Glad to hear you have experienced both tablets.
And good to hear youy choose the Samsung Note 10.1,, which makes me think about that one more.
Note 10.1 wins
I don't have a Z2 tablet but I have a Z1 phone, Note 3 and this Note 10.1
The thing I don't like about the Z1 was the lack of hardware buttons.
I don't like how part of the screen is wasted to provide these buttons on the Z1 as well as other Android tablets I've owned like Nexus 7, Asus TF101, TF201, TF300, TF700, Padfone Infinity.
Having gone from Dell Streak 5 to Note 1, Note 2, Note 8, Note 3, and Note 10.1 I feel kind of lost sometimes without the hardware buttons.
I feel like Samsung got it right, and Google Nexus and all the onscreen button camp got it wrong.
I even prefer the back button on the right as it has better ergonomics being directly under my right thumb as a right hander when using devices 2 handed.
And then there is the S-pen and Sketchbook Pro that puts the Note tablet on a different level.
If I was buying on looks and form, it would be Z2 looking pretty.
If I needed to use it with function over form, Note 10.1 wins easily.

Tab S 10.5 or Note 10.1 2014 edition?

which one would I buy?
I haven't seen a tab s in person yet but if it's available now here I would definitely choose it if the screen is as good as they say
Do you need the s-pen?
I have both and I'm feeling the Tab S more due to the screen. You won't go wrong if you choose the Note, its a great tablet, the main attraction is the pen which I hardly used. The Pro tablets weren't available at the time of purchase. After a few more days ill make my decision, but I'll probably keep the tab s.
Sent from my LG-LS980 using Tapatalk
dcaplinger76 said:
Do you need the s-pen?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same question before. The only advantage the Note has is the Pen.
The Tab s has better screen, better battery life and it is a brand new device therefore more likely would receive updates. The Note is more then 6 mths old. The HW specs are nearly the same as the Tab S but for the same price. For me the Tab S won and I love it.
Wish Samsung put it the pen in Tab S. I'll think I'll just wait for the next Samsung Note.
I went through this dilemma and ended up with the note. It's a tough call. I love oled but also had the older note and did use the spen for meeting notes. It's really oled vs digitizer.... nothing much else in it though the UK note is annoyingly still on 4.3. The note screen is lcd but very clear.
One consideration on screens. For movies etc and anytime the screen is darkish the oled will use far less power. All whites ie some Web browsing is worst case for oled and will such juice worse .
They're both superb tablets.
Which would you buy, a second hand 10.1 for $300 AUD or a brand new 10.5 for $580? Both 16GB wifi only model.
I sold my note for the tab s 8.4 and never looked back. Owning the note always felt like it was an incomplete job and unfortunately Samsung has a bad habit of not updating the software of older models even if their hardware can run it properly.
This is the best Android tablet I've ever of we'd and there's absolutely no reason for you not to like it
I have both (actually just sold my Note 10.1 2014). Here's is how I'd compare the two:
Advantages of Tab S:
- Tab S has better screen (colors in photos are more realistic on Tab S)
- Tab S has some better/updated apps (e.g., sidesync lets me make/take calls from my Galaxy S5)
- Tab S has better accessories available (covers, keyboards)
- Tab S has side power plug (precludes need for stand and angled power cord when used with book cover)
- Tab S is thinner/lighter (but the Tab S' smaller bezels make it a bit harder to hold...minimizing this advantage a tad)
Disadvantages of Tab S
- Note 2014 has S-Pen/Wacom, but this disadvantage is mitigated a bit by the fact that the Tab S has a sensitive screen works with fine tip (3mm) capacitive pens (e.g., iCooly). http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009XGMO1A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- Gold trim on Tab S is gaudy to me
- Note has S-Pen related apps/functions (e.g., action memo, pen window). But, I never found much use for those though.
Performance-wise, the two are about the same. By my standards, both are very fast. The Tab S is just a tad smoother. I don't notice any of the browsing lag some others have complained about.
...and when I found out that some of those s-pen related apps e.g S -Note, were available for download onto the tab s, I was you even more convinced that I had made right decision to get rid of my Note 10.1
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
No Wacom, what is the point having S-pen app?
You can use a stylus with the Tab S. You just need to provide some sort of Palm rejection when writing. A simple cleaning cloth will do. Not as good as a Wacom Stylus but for simple note taking workable.
What we really need is a good aftermarket Bluetooth stylus but so far the available models work with Apple (grrrr) only.
Bluetooth still will not be as good as Wacom and kills battery.
Just going to wait for Note 10.1 2015 model with AMOLED and WACOM.
mitchellvii said:
You can use a stylus with the Tab S.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can drive a Camry off-road, it doesn't mean you'd want to. Using a stylus on a standard conductive display, even an iPad's, is painful. It's not the lack of palm rejection, it's the lack of detail, sensitivity, and precision. I'm not selling people on Note's per se, but unless you're making short, and I mean short, hand written notes and lists trying to use a conductive display in the same way as a Note will be pure frustration.
Now let’s check out the Note 10.1’s trump card: its S Pen. The S Pen is, when you get right down to it, a Wacom stylus and digitizer. Considering Wacom make the best graphics tablets in the world bar none (like the*Intuos 5, for one) that’s a very good thing.
Samsung is the first manufacturer to integrate this tech into an Android tablet – both the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet and HTC Flyer used N-Trig pens that were lumpy, required batteries, didn’t offer as many pressure levels and weren’t nearly as responsive, nor did they give you a choice of nibs.
Now for those who might say: “but the iPad has plenty of styli available for it, what makes this special?”, here’s the deal. With one exception, all the styli you can get for the iPad and every other capacitive tablet are only a minor improvement over using your finger. There’s only one capacitive stylus that gives a thin point, and it doesn’t offer pressure sensitivity or palm rejection.
With the S Pen - and other Wacom digitizers as found on the likes of the Samsung Series 7 Slate – you get 1,024 levels of pressure, which lets you draw weighted lines as you would with a real pencil. You get palm/finger rejection, which means you’ll rarely draw an accidental line with your hand. Basically, it’s akin to upgrading from using a chalk to an art pencil.
http://www.trustedreviews.com/samsu...w_s-pen-performance-and-video-playback_Page-4​​
@ BarryH, You can pick up more chicks with a Porsche but a 72 Pinto beats walking to work.
Wasn't trying to answer "should you" but more "could you". But seriously, if you want a tablet for notetaking, I would go with a Windows variety due to the OneNote full handwriting support. Sharp was supposed to release a 10.1 Windows tablet with the same resolution as the Tab S (not amoled) but appears to have been vaporware.
Sadly now that I have owned an amoled tablet I am spoiled forever. My Tab S is purely an entertainment toy. I use my Acer R7 for any handwriting (although that is far more rare than I imagined it would be - typing is just better).
Do you think if your Tab S was Wacom, would it be good enough to replace your Acer?
I have an ageing Thinkpad X200 Tablet, but I still can not find any good candidate to replace it. The only laptop I found good enough to replace the X200T is Fujitsu tablets, but they are so expensive.
WHat would you do?
I currently own a Note 10.1 (2014), and the screen has been cracked for about 6 months. Now the screen is not responding to a finger touch (although the stylus still works). I am told that there is a dual digitizer in the device, and the one which responds to the finger is dead.
Although the device is still technically under warantee, Samsung will reject the work because the screen is cracked.
SO... and the reason I am posting here specifically
Do I pay $280 to get my Note 10.1 repaired, or do I go buy an S 10.5?
I do like the stylus for some features, but have found a BT keyboard to be a faster interface for notes
Thoughts?
GO!
I personally think that unless you find the stylus useful, the Tab S has the better screen by far. If the screen of the note doesn't bother you, though, it may very well be worth simply getting the repair instead of shelling out more for a new tablet.
Not that I ever avoid getting new toys.
Sent from my Galaxy S5

upgrade to 12.2?

I take a lot of handwritten notes/ and diagram drawings for class. While I'm not entirely convinced I can ditch the paper and pen I'm hopeful.
I have a few gripes:
1. PDF annotations leave much to be desired. I haven't found the right app and does not have trouble rendering large pdf files.
2. Searching for key words take minutes to find or often freezes up my tablet. I've used Adobe reader, Snote, ezpdf and am going to try kindle, since I've heard it's very smooth. Has anyone figured out a app that can handle pdf really well? With fast features like search, annotation, palm rejection etc?
3. The price difference wouldn't be that big of a jump. It'd roughly cost me another $150. I plan on keeping this tablet for a least 2 years.
4. I'm playing around with the idea of selling my tricked out MacBook Air 13" in favor of a 27" iMac for home use and carry around the 12.2 for my mobile use.
5. More internal space would be welcome.
Again my main uses would be taking handwritten notes and some typing in class and reading/annotating text books.
Do you think the note series especially the 12.2 can handle my needs? I think the added space would a a welcome, since I find myself constantly pinching to zoom and resizing texts and apps.
Thoughts?
Thanks!
12.2 has the same hardware as the note, so there won't be a change in pdf rendering speed. But android L is supposed to improve pdf performance! At least that's what I read.
clouds5 said:
12.2 has the same hardware as the note, so there won't be a change in pdf rendering speed. But android L is supposed to improve pdf performance! At least that's what I read.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes though it could be some time before either the 12.2 or 10.1 2014 get the L update.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk
I haven't found a single perfect PDF app. The best renderers (RepliGo, the various book reader apps) either stink at annotations or don't even support them, and the best annotation apps (LectureNotes, Papyrus, etc.) don't handle PDFs natively but require import.
ezPDF *does* everything, but it's slow as hell.
I own both tablets. I use the 12.2 mostly for writing and the 10.1 for reading books etc. I have found that the 12.2 is a lot nicer for writing and a few minor issues have been fixed. Like the bubbles under the screen, the charger is on the side so it can be used while standing upright. For me its an all round upgrade. I first thought 2 inches wont make a difference, but the diffrence in size is definetely there. For me though rooting the 12.2 is a must, you have to adjust the dpi. If you dont adjust the dpi the 12.2 is just an upscaled 10.1. The same amount of content fits on the screen. Only when you adjust the dpi to match the 10.1 you will get the benefit of the larger screen. Also the dev forum on the 12.2 is empty, you wont get any custom roms any time soon.
Hmmm,
Surface Pro 3?
I like my 10.1, and would not trade up to a larger tablet, but that is just me. I tried out a surface 3 the day they came out, and my primary reaction was big and heavy, but they have some extra capabilities.

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