Am I the only one who thinks that whoever decided to revert to 16:10 for Samsung's tablets should hang by his/her/xer tongue?!!! Who was the idiot? Did the S2 and S3 not sell well enough? So let's break it down: 16:10 is useless in portrait mode. The only thing this might (might(!)) be good for would be media consumption, specifically movie watching. Why provide the S-pen then? Is this solely a media consumption device? Or is this a productivity tablet? Pen says it's a productivity tablet. 16:10 format says media only. Clearly Samsung doesn't know what it wants, so it decided to screw up both--I mean, who in his right mind would pay upward of $650 to just watch movies (and little else)?
Why, Samsung, why?
Wanna watch movies on Android? There are plenty tablets out there for much less than half of this. No need for fancy pen-compatible screens to watch movies. And why would one need top-notch Dolby quad speakers to watch movies on the train (or on the toilet)?! You want to watch movies in style? Get a man cave, with 150" OLED screens with subwoofers, tweeters, and all that jazz! What loser buys tablets to do professional movie watching? Non-professional movie watching can be done very well on a 4:3 tablet: you don't need a 16:10 screen to watch movies on a plane, or YouTube cat videos!
Well, I'm in the other camp, and basically ask "Why oh Why in The Wide Wide World of Sports" does someone want a 4:3 tablet? If you want something the same aspect ratio as your computer monitor... Then Use Your Computer Monitor!!!
To me, the first and foremost reason for a tablet is ... Portability.
To accomplish that we want lightweight, thin, and NOT cumbersome. They need to be easily handled as they are constantly picked up, put down, held in one hand, etc etc.
The 16:10 aspect ratio is easier for that. It's easier to set on the edge of a table, it's easier to (as you say) be a media consumption device. I don't think they are meant to be your 'do everything' computer, that's why we have laptops, desktops, mobile phones, etc.
They are a niche product, yes, to be used sitting on the couch, lawn chair, etc. Where you don't put them down (when using) but hold they device. The 4:3 format is just unwieldy in that regard. And besides, the interface isn't usually a browser, it's an app, which are much more 16:10.
If you want something for productivity, get a laptop, that's what they're for.
I don't think 16:10 has much to do with practicality as its lower surface area than 4:3. Lower surface area means less OLED panel, less wacom digitizer, and thus lower costs for competing with the larger 4:3 ipad pro 10.5 in the marketing department.
The fact that the Tab S4 has 16:10 format is the only reason I consider buying a new tablet from Samsung. I still use my Galaxy Tab S 10.5 and I like it but it's getting a bit old and the battery has been better. I never considered the S2 or S3 due to it's awful screen format. A tablet for me is 99% for watching videos, so what I want is a great screen (oled) and widescreen format. If I need a portable device to be productive, I'll use my laptop. But that has nothing to do with the screen format anyway, since nearly all computer screens today are 16:10 or 16:9 aswell.
I do mostly watch movies at home of course, on my oled tv and surround sound system, but when I travel I still want a nice oled screen with the right format to carry with me to get the most out of whatever I watch on the go also. I prefer not to use a crappy 4:3 or LCD-screen for that.
And what was said about losers buying tablets to watch movies could also be said about productive work I guess (what losers use a tablet to do professional work?)
Hellberg said:
And what was said about losers buying tablets to watch movies could also be said about productive work I guess (what losers use a tablet to do professional work?)
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Totally agree. There's no need to be insulting just because you disagree. Discussing the pro's and con's is the way to go. Thinking you're going to influence mfg's by slinging insults... well, those that do that will get it right back, or just ignored for immaturity.
I have a Galaxy Tab Pro 8" model, and love the screen. Sadly the device was buggy like all androids of that age and slowed down, due to programing and lack of memory/storage space. I enjoyed the 16:10 format it had.
Fast forward to 2015 I got a S2 8" model. While I disagreed with the screen display change to 4:3 and reducing the resolution it worked out well overall and have been happy with the device for the past 3 years. Its getting older and wanting something a little snappier a hence why I'm looking at the S4.
That said the screen size change back to the 16:10 format for the S4 is because it reduced the bezels on the top/bottom. With that they could lengthen the screen and still pack the larger battery in the device, as well they increase the screen resolution because its longer. Personally screen ratio doesn't bother me as much as how does the device function, it could have a 4:3 or 16:10 and still I'd be potentially looking at it. Really can't wait to see one in person hopefully next week.
graphic designer here. appreciate the 16:10 choice -- my main display is a 34" ultrawide, and i appreciate the extra real estate. was a big fan of the Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 as well, so i'm happy Samsung ditched 4:3.
I still had my original Tab S 8.4, had some iPad and minis, and I still prefer 16:10.
Let's keep things friendly in here.
I returned my S3 the other day because of the 4:3. I didn't research but also wouldn't have ever thought there would be a 4:3 display. So I ordered the S4 and am picking it up today.
I just picked a S4 up to replace my S3. I am very happy they got away from 4:3. It is however a perssonal preferencr for every one. Most computers are 16:9 so the 16:10 is better for me.
Aqua1ung said:
Am I the only one who thinks that whoever decided to revert to 16:10 for Samsung's tablets should hang by his/her/xer tongue?!!! Who was the idiot? Did the S2 and S3 not sell well enough? So let's break it down: 16:10 is useless in portrait mode. The only thing this might (might(!)) be good for would be media consumption, specifically movie watching. Why provide the S-pen then? Is this solely a media consumption device? Or is this a productivity tablet? Pen says it's a productivity tablet. 16:10 format says media only. Clearly Samsung doesn't know what it wants, so it decided to screw up both--I mean, who in his right mind would pay upward of $650 to just watch movies (and little else)?
Why, Samsung, why?
Wanna watch movies on Android? There are plenty tablets out there for much less than half of this. No need for fancy pen-compatible screens to watch movies. And why would one need top-notch Dolby quad speakers to watch movies on the train (or on the toilet)?! You want to watch movies in style? Get a man cave, with 150" OLED screens with subwoofers, tweeters, and all that jazz! What loser buys tablets to do professional movie watching? Non-professional movie watching can be done very well on a 4:3 tablet: you don't need a 16:10 screen to watch movies on a plane, or YouTube cat videos!
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Look at EVERY book you see at the store, comics too, they're closer to 16:9/16:10 aspect ratio than 4:3 or 3:2. Same with TV and Movies. Most websites are catered for Smartphones which opt for the elongated aspect ratio over the squat 4:3 one.
4:3 is good for PDFs and digitized textbooks/informational books like DIY books, great for retro games/emulation
3:2 is great for note taking and a bit better at displaying PDFs since it's closer to 8.5x11 inch paper that the US uses and A4 that other places use.
16:9/16:10 great for comics, novels, movies, games and websites.
Either way, the beauty of OLED is that it's amazing at displaying the aspect ratio you want and hiding the cut off bit since it doesn't require backlighting so you don't get those annoying grey (trying to be black) bars on things. Also none of that weird LCD dim screen shimmer issue.
Though, my Note Pro 12.2 (yes that old tablet) is approximately the same size as the margins of loose leaf ruled paper. Which made note taking on it a dream. I still use it for that reason alone. Also because that version of S Note is one of the best versions ever. I'm not a fan of Samsung Note. And I like that size for drawing too. Though their 4 sub-pixel screen really messes with color accuracy and causes pastel colors to look terrible due to that added white sub-pixel.
Got to say the 16:10 ratio on the screen while some complain about it, really works incredibly well for DeX mode.
Actually I don't think I've had my tablet out of DeX mode since I turned it on! I just like the function of it considerably more considering the screen size at least for me its worked out very well.
For me, 16:10 is a mistake. Love the 4:3 on my Tab S2 8" and can't imagine you could every hold a 10" 16:10 for anything more than a few minutes especially in portrait mode.
Each to there own I guess.
Masteryates said:
For me, 16:10 is a mistake. Love the 4:3 on my Tab S2 8" and can't imagine you could every hold a 10" 16:10 for anything more than a few minutes especially in portrait mode.
Each to there own I guess.
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That's funny, in that portrait mode is the easiest way to hold a 16:10 tablet. Yes, the bezel does need to be wide enough to put your fingers underneath and a thumb on top, but most tablet makers realize this and make the bezels wide enough.
This is of course with one hand. With 2 hands any of the tablet sizes can be held comfortably. But with one hand, it's more awkward with 4:3 than 16:10 (in portrait mode).
Yes, ea to their own, no doubt there. But holding something, a rectangular shape is easier and takes less leverage, than something that is virtually square. That's not really opinion, that's a bio mechanical fact.
AsItLies said:
But holding something, a rectangular shape is easier and takes less leverage, than something that is virtually square. That's not really opinion, that's a bio mechanical fact.
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I have to disagree with you here AsItLies;77335736. With both 16:10 and 4:3, our tablets are too big to get our hands totally around the device, and therefore we end up having to hold them essentially in the bottom corner, if we chose to hold one handed.
With a 4:3, the centre of gravity is closer to the holding hand than it is on a 16:10. That means the a 16:10 tablet puts more stress on the holding hand, even if the weights of the tablets are identical, as the lever arm is more. The structural engineer sat beside me confirms this.
If you go back to the days of 7" tablets, you would be correct as the your hand could get right around a 7" 16:9 tablet, (like the Nexus 7 2013,) but maybe not a similar 4:3 tablet.
Samsung gets a lot of criticism for the small battery on the Tab S2 8", but for me, its the best of both worlds as its unbelievably light and website don't feel cramped or cut off.
Like I said, each to there own.
Masteryates said:
I have to disagree with you here AsItLies;77335736. With both 16:10 and 4:3, our tablets are too big to get our hands totally around the device, and therefore we end up having to hold them essentially in the bottom corner, if we chose to hold one handed.
With a 4:3, the centre of gravity is closer to the holding hand than it is on a 16:10. That means the a 16:10 tablet puts more stress on the holding hand, even if the weights of the tablets are identical, as the lever arm is more. The structural engineer sat beside me confirms this.
If you go back to the days of 7" tablets, you would be correct as the your hand could get right around a 7" 16:9 tablet, (like the Nexus 7 2013,) but maybe not a similar 4:3 tablet.
Samsung gets a lot of criticism for the small battery on the Tab S2 8", but for me, its the best of both worlds as its unbelievably light and website don't feel cramped or cut off.
Like I said, each to there own.
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See, here's the thing (and I'm glad you describe it clearly), when ** I ** hold a tablet, it's with one hand, in portrait mode, and you are correct, they are (now) too wide to get your hand completely around it like a phone.
So? and that's what I said earlier; The Device Has To Have A Bezel Wide Enough For Your Thumb!
By placing your thumb on the top part of the bezel and fingers underneath (of course not all the way to the other side, too wide), then, as I said, the center of gravity (thus the weight and difficulty to hold the device) is easier, it's less fatigue, it has to be as it's less cumbersome. and unwieldy.
So no, it's not really 'ea to their own', it's simple bio mechanics. If you don't mind it being heavier to hold that way, and you like 4:3, go for it. But the fact remains, one handed, on the long side, is easier with 16:10 (again! as long as the mfg has enough sense to include a wide enough bezel - I returned a huawei mediapad m5 for just that oversight by the mfg... no bezel at all, big mistake on a tablet - although perfect for a phone - narrower, one hand goes all the way around).
AsItLies said:
See, here's the thing (and I'm glad you describe it clearly), when ** I ** hold a tablet, it's with one hand, in portrait mode, and you are correct, they are (now) too wide to get your hand completely around it like a phone.
So? and that's what I said earlier; The Device Has To Have A Bezel Wide Enough For Your Thumb!
By placing your thumb on the top part of the bezel and fingers underneath (of course not all the way to the other side, too wide), then, as I said, the center of gravity (thus the weight and difficulty to hold the device) is easier, it's less fatigue, it has to be as it's less cumbersome. and unwieldy.
So no, it's not really 'ea to their own', it's simple bio mechanics. If you don't mind it being heavier to hold that way, and you like 4:3, go for it. But the fact remains, one handed, on the long side, is easier with 16:10 (again! as long as the mfg has enough sense to include a wide enough bezel - I returned a huawei mediapad m5 for just that oversight by the mfg... no bezel at all, big mistake on a tablet - although perfect for a phone - narrower, one hand goes all the way around).
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Ok I'm getting you now. If you are holding in Portrait, the 4:3 has its centroid nearest your hand. What you describe though by saying holding it along its long side, is landscape, which means the centroid is nearest your hand on the 16:10 tablet.
So it's each to there own with respect to tablet ratio and if they use it in Landscape or Portrait. Agreed that bezel size is vital though. :highfive:
Masteryates said:
Ok I'm getting you now. If you are holding in Portrait, the 4:3 has its centroid nearest your hand. What you describe though by saying holding it along its long side, is landscape, which means the centroid is nearest your hand on the 16:10 tablet.
So it's each to there own with respect to tablet ratio and if they use it in Landscape or Portrait. Agreed that bezel size is vital though. :highfive:
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It's kind of funny Really, and I guess many would say tedious also, but hey, to make things clear sometimes this is what u need to do!
To make the point again, I'm not holding it with one hand on the long side with it in landscape mode, that would mean having your hand ** underneath ** the device.
I'm referring to holding it in portrait mode ** with your one hand on the side ** ... not on the bottom underneath. So it's portrait, not landscape
And when I pick it up and carry it, hand stays in much the same place, just screen off and pinch both sides, easily done with one hand. But that's really not the case with 4:3, as it's like a ** box **. There's really no side to carry it with 1 hand, or hold with 1.
Yes, it's individual, no doubt. But factually speaking, the 16:9 is easier to use and carry around. As with everything, one has to decide what's important to them.
Cheers, glad we clarified it with only having to write 1 chapter of a book, it could have been worse!
I just got my Verizon S4 and I'm loving everything about it. It is so much easier to type in, handle, carry than my S3. I love this aspect ratio. It way better for reading and running apps on portrait and watching videos on landscape. The thin bezels and lack of physical buttons is great. Also performance is top notch.
The only reason I haven't upgraded from Tab S 8.4 to Tab 2 or 3 was aspect ratio. I'm glad they switched back to wide-screen. Can't wait for mine to arrive.