Tablet Dilemma: Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (w/ S-pen) vs. the New iPad

[hoffmeister_fan]

Well, hello ladies and gentlemen,

I am on break from school now, and boy does it feel good.

I pose to you guys, especially, the techies on this board, a question: Which tablet should I get, the iPad or the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 with the stylus?

Going into this I was gung-ho about getting the hot new iPad. The resolution would be ideal for textbooks and the construction is seems to be robust. Plus the speedy A6 chip and the number of available apps available are fantastic. But here's the rub... many of my lectures are in PowerPoint and PDF formats and I would like to write and manipulate them, especially since I'm the slowest typist this side of the hemisphere. This feature is a big deal for me That's when I started looking into the Samsung. From what I hear, it's easier to download and format PPTXs and PDFs onto an Android machine vs. Apple.

So I ask you guys, what's the pros and cons with each tablet? Build quality, flexibility, etc. My heart says iPad and brain says Samsung. Understand that when it comes to tech gadgets, I am an absolute Luddite and just down-right ignorant when it comes to this kind of stuff.

Thanks guys!

 

[HighestOfHigh]

You would probably have more fun on the Samsung, but I would suggest Apple because of iTunes vs. Google Play.

 

[Huckfeldt]

I have a Galaxy Note Mk1 and the new iPad. The new iPad is beautiful but sometimes can be frustrating to use. Retina display does not give you a different experience than the Note's also ultra hi-res screen. Even some web pages do not function correctly and the same web pages work just fine on my Galaxy Note. If the Note 10.1 is cheaper, get it..you can always get the iPad 5 sometime down the road. Btw, Apple shares fall sharply..

Btw if you will do tons of editing, the S-pen will be a delight compared to using your fingers to highlight a letter on an Ipad.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

Guys, I appreciate the input so far!

The main purpose for me getting a tablet is to be able to make annotations on Powerpoint presentations and PDF's. Everyday, each lecture consists of 80 to 120 slides a day per class, so ease of function is a top priority. Also, I heard that Jot can be useful with the iPad, any insight to that? Also, I heard many of the textbooks are well-foramatted for the iPad, any insight to that?

 

[K-A]

Was actually at the Mall today playing with the Galaxy Tab and at the Apple Store.

I'm a big Apple fan but currently using a Galaxy SIII since I was waiting and waiting for iPhone 5 to show up.

Definitely the iPad. Still a slicker product, really outclasses the Galaxy Tab, and the Retina Display produces an unmatchable crispness and color reproduction. Samsung is literally re-sizing and re-branding all their diluted products ("same sausage, different length"), and if I'm not mistaken, the Note 10.1 shares some stuff with the Nexus 10?

IMO especially on the iPad, you can't beat Apple's perfectly matched integration of hardware/software, as Samsung/Android still have an "uneven match" in some senses, like the terrible U/I lag I get from my S3 (WITH Jelly Bean). Not to mention, just look at and touch the iPad, it literally feels expensive, IMO same can't be said for about any Samsung product.

 

[Huckfeldt]

hoffmeister_fan,

Eventhough I have the new iPad but for work, I'd really suggest a Note 10.1 so you should go to Apple and Samsung and play a bit with their units, but make sure you do some editing (that you would be needing to do).

IMO the S-Pen (stylus) makes all the difference if you will be editing on them. I could be wrong, of course. You should do a test drive.

Galaxy Tab (not Note 10.1) is not recommended, IMO.

 

[K-A]

I actually didn't even know there's a difference between "Galaxy Tab" and Note 10.1. I myself was referring to the 10.1 when I said "Galaxy Tab". Samsung have so many products that are so alike it's confusing the hell out of me. They just released a "Galaxy Grand", which is a larger S3 but with much worser specs.... I just don't get it.

 

[Huckfeldt]

I actually didn't even know there's a difference between "Galaxy Tab" and Note 10.1. I myself was referring to the 10.1 when I said "Galaxy Tab". Samsung have so many products that are so alike it's confusing the hell out of me. They just released a "Galaxy Grand", which is a larger S3 but with much worser specs.... I just don't get it.

Yep, I noticed that. Yes, their lineup is a bit confusing.

But the Note 10.1 is a different beast than the budget Tab 10.1.

And the S-Pen makes all the difference, IF your work needs one.

Give a Note 10.1 to a sketch artist , they wouldn't want an iPad, trust me. Google pressure sensitivity on both devices, and you'll understand.

But for daily use, web surfing, I agree, my iPad is okay. But I keep finding web pages that just don' work properly but they work just fine on my Apple laptop.

Still looking for the perfect laptop-replacing tablet.. got a feeling the Microsoft Surface, of all unlikely places, will be the best one.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Some Comparisons -

Both are latest tablet and Apple iPad 4 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 LTE specs and features comparison makes interesting reading
Samsung launched its first tablet in January 2011 and since then it has performed exceptionally well in tablet market. Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 LTE, released recently only in Korea and not much of the information received from the users. Recently Apple has unveil its fourth generation iPad with Retina Display, in-house designed A6X chip-considered to be fastest chip, fascinating face time HD camera and Ultrafast wireless performance.
Let’s compare Apple’s iPad with Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 and see how these two smartphones compete with each other. Though Apple is the leader in tablet market but Samsung has also emerged as a global player in the tablet market after its reasonable success with Galaxy tab.

The most striking feature of iPad is its screen. The iPad with Retina display gives gorgeous lifelike experience. The display is created using over 3 million pixels, an amazing efforts on its own way. Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 screen resolution is not so impressive in comparison to iPad. It has just 1,280 x 800 WXGA TFT LCD screen with only 149 ppi as compare to 264 ppi of iPad 4, clearly shows how mediocre the screen resolution it has. But Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is thinner and lighter than the iPad, with 8.6 mm thickness of only. The new Apple-designed A6X chip inside iPad is the most powerful mobile chip and the Swift dual-core CPU running at 1.4 GHz, a quad-core Power VR SGX554MP4 graphics processor and 1 GB of RAM, gives excellent performance. On the other hand Samsung Galaxy 10.1 has just 1GHz TI OMAP 4430 dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM, again not so impressive.
In iPad 4, rear camera with 5 mega pixel comes with advanced optics that can take sharp still images and recording full 1080p HD video. The iSight camera includes video image stabilization and both cameras feature backside illumination to let users capture great pictures in low light. The front-facing camera is of 1.2 MP and can record 720p HD video. On the other hand Samsung Galaxy tab 10.1 LTE comes with 3 MP rear-facing camera with 720p HD recording and 2 MP front-facing camera for video calling. Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 LTE released with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean comes with other features like multi-window format where user can view multiple displays simultaneously, providing multi-tasking features. LTE 10.1 have Air View feature that allows users to see previews of text messages, emails photos, images and videos without having to open the media fully with the use of S pen.

Overall the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 LTE is no match with Apple iPad 4 both in terms of hardware and software. But the LTE 10.1 has not yet released in US and many other countries. Due to paucity of data we cannot say much about its possible performance in the tablet market.

- http://nvonews.com/2012/12/19/apple-ipad-4-vs-samsung-galaxy-note-10-1-lte-specs-comparison/

Here is a comparison of the Apple's Revamped iPad with Retina Display with the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 to see which is the cooler tablet.
Processor
Apple's own A6X processor which has doubles the speed of the A5 processor powers the fourth-generation iPad. A 1.4GHz Exynos Quad-Core Processor powers the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1. Both the tablets feature powerful processors.
Display
The iPad sports a 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit Multi-Touch display with IPS technology with 2048 X 1536 pixels resolution . On the other hand, the Galaxy Note 10.1 features 10.1-inch PLS TFT capacitive touchscreen with 1280 x 800 pixels. The iPad easily trumps the Galaxy Note 10.1 when it comes to pixel density with 264 ppi vis-à-vis 149 ppi.
Dimensions And Weight
The iPad measures 9.5 x 7.3 x 0.37 inches and weighs 1.44 pounds (1.46 pounds for the cellular version). On the other hand, the Galaxy Note 10.1 measures 10.31 x 7.09 x 0.35 inches, making it taller, less wide, and thinner than the iPad. The Samsung offering is also lighter at 1.32 pounds.
Storage
Both the iPad and the Galaxy Note 10.1 are available with 16/32/64 GB on-board storage options. However, the Galaxy Note 10.1 also has the option to expand the memory to a further 64GB using a microSD card.
Camera
Both the iPad and Galaxy Note 10.1 feature a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera. However, Samsung offers a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera versus Apple's 1.2 megapixels one.
Battery
A 42.5 watt-hour battery powers the iPad, which Apple claims will provide 10 hours of usage. When compared to the iPad, the Galaxy Note 10.1 includes a powerful 7000mAh battery. The usage time for the Galaxy Note 10.1 has not been indicated by Samsung.
Operating System
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) upgradable to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, while the iPad runs on the latest iOS 6.
Colors
The iPad is on offer in either black or white colors. While the Galaxy Note 2 is available in white and gray variants.
Stylus
A unique feature of the Galaxy Note 10.1 is the S Pen stylus which makes the tablet stand out among other available tablets. The iPad does not have a stylus.
The Galaxy Note 10.1 and the Revamped fourth-generation iPad both pack in features to impress potential tablet buyers. Time will tell who beats the competition in the long run.

- http://www.mobilenapps.com/articles/4916/20121102/samsung-galaxy-note-10-1-vs-ipad.htm

Also, I heard many of the textbooks are well-foramatted for the iPad, any insight to that?

Textbooks are amazing on the iPad.

[image no longer available]education/ibooks-textbooks/images/textbooks_hero.jpg

Check it out - http://www.apple.com/education/ibooks-textbooks/

There is also an informative article on the Samsung @ http://www.mobiletechreview.com/tablets/Samsung-Galaxy-Note-10-1.htm

^

Samsung bundles Photoshop Touch that normally sells for $9.99 on the Google Play Store and Kno.com Textbooks.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

HoH, thanks for the articles, much appreciated.

So I ended up going with Note...for now. I'm going to try it out and see how it does with regards to powerpoints and PDFs. Also when I visit my brother next week, I'm going to try out his iPad and see what I can and can't do. Ideally, I would love to get the iPad and have it do what I need it to do.

 

[Cashmere]

Have you considered getting a windows 8 tablet? MS Office and Adobe are native apps and will definitely be the easiest platform to use for editing such files.



If you want to use a stylus with the ipad, "paper" is an excellent app for artwork

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Windows 8 also has a similar app and it's free, called fresh paint

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[hoffmeister_fan]

well, sorry about revisiting this topic after almost 2 weeks....been busy (wisdom teeth extractions, family visits, visiting family, etc. etc.)

First, to address Cashmere, I looked at the Windows tablet, specifically the Surface. I liked it but I am wary about Windows 8 becoming a viable platform and thus having a more established repertoire of apps being available down the line. If it was more established like Android or Apple, I would have a go at it, but it's not. The Surface felt really solid but the fact that it's a Windows RT OS and not a full-fledged Windows 8 has me concerned. Also it's a good $150 more than a Galaxy Note. As I rapidly dig myself in a debt hole with med school, every buck counts.

While visiting my brother this past week, I played around with his iPad. I loved it. It felt solid and the resolution is just fantastic. It's very fluid in its action. BUT.... I can't use it the way I need to primarily use it. So with much (much, much) reluctance, it's out of the running.

So the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is the winner. It's nowhere near as sexy as the Surface or iPad, but when the user is as sexy as me, well you guys can fill in the rest.....

BTW, guys, thanks for all your help. For a technophobe such as myself, this was like pulling nails and teeth. And the latter literally happened.

 

[Huckfeldt]

Hey you forgot me. This ipad owner told you to get the Note, now didn't I ? -Not an Apple fanboy-

 

[twistedlifestyle]

I looked at and used the iPad mini for a few weeks and if you're considering an iPad, check out the mini. No its not just a big iphone, it feels just right in the hands and it's really quick. I really think in comparison the iPad feels like a paperweight and Apple with the new gen iPad will go in the direction of the mini with a thinner, lighter design.

 

[K-A]

Can't wait to see the next iPad adopt the iPad mini's form factor style. It's gonna be gorgeous, considering I think iPad mini is one of the overall coolest consumer gadget devices I've seen (all it needs is a Retina and it'd be perfect).

Apparently iPad mini has been an even bigger hit than anticipated and one of the most sought after devices this Holiday season, so I think it's good news for the next version to get even more serious.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Can't wait to see the next iPad adopt the iPad mini's form factor style. It's gonna be gorgeous, considering I think iPad mini is one of the overall coolest consumer gadget devices I've seen (all it needs is a Retina and it'd be perfect).

I completely agree with this! I would trade in my iPad2 when that comes out. Love the iPad Mini.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

My fellow Huckfeldt, you were not forgotten. Each and everybody's suggestion and advice weighed heavily in my decision.

besides being mini-er than an iPad, how else is the iPad Mini different from its bigger brother? In my tablet quest, I really did not look at the Mini.

 

[K-A]

I completely agree with this! I would trade in my iPad2 when that comes out. Love the iPad Mini.

Totally! My only real issue with the current iPad is that it's gotten a bit thick and heavy for Apple's standards. Also, the form factor, although great on its own, has been outclassed by the iPad mini's new era form factor.

New iPad should be sweeeet, but if I could make a request to Apple: GIVE US SOME COOL COLOR OPTIONS! I think as monstrously as they sell right now, an additional 1-3 more *classy* color options will retain the seriousness and professionalism they want to express with the device, whilst expanding its horizons as people will fawn over the chance to get some cool new colors in that way that Apple always delivers them (Jony Ive has a certain way about making colors just really pop and look unreal on his designs). Also, that anodized color look would look amazing in some other classy color/s I'd think.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Totally! My only real issue with the current iPad is that it's gotten a bit thick and heavy for Apple's standards. Also, the form factor, although great on its own, has been outclassed by the iPad mini's new era form factor.

New iPad should be sweeeet, but if I could make a request to Apple: GIVE US SOME COOL COLOR OPTIONS!

Man I would love that. The color options on the iPod touch are great.

 

[SirLance99]

Should of gone with the Nexus 10. Best screen on any tablet in the market and the advantage of getting the fastest update directly from Google.