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Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Review
A full-sized Galaxy NoteThe Galaxy Note 10.1 is a tablet-sized version of the Galaxy Note phone/tablet hybrid. Or, to put it another way, the Note 10.1 is a turbocharged version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1. It's got a new version of Android (4.0), a quad-core processor, an upgraded camera and an S-Pen stylus.
Quad-core power for multitaskingThe Note 10.1 is powered by an extremely fast 1.4GHz quad-core processor. It comes with a huge 2GB of RAM, and is available with memory of 16GB, 32GB or 64GB. You can add more memory using the microSD card slot. These specs make it one of the most powerful tablets available. The Note makes use of this processing power with a full multitasking ability. Just press the multi screen button and you can split the 10" screen in half and run two apps side by side. The splitscreen mode is ideal for copying and pasting between documents.Battery life is very good. The Note 10.1 comes with a whopping 7000 mAh battery which is capable of lasting a full working day on a single charge. Only the new iPad will last longer. The Note 10.1 comes with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, with an update to 4.1 Jelly Bean on the cards for later in 2012. With Android you can access Google Play for apps, music, videos and other media. Samsung's music, video and games hubs come pre-installed on the tablet. S-Pen: more than a stylusIt's the S-Pen that makes this tablet part of the Note series. The S-Pen is more than a stylus. Its pressure sensitivity detects how hard you're pressing. This means that it's the perfect tool for handwriting (which the Note can understand) and editing photos.The S-Pen lets you do some cool things. You can make notes or doodle over photos, just like with pen and paper. You can use Shape Match to turn a rough sketch of a graph into a proper neat graph with straight lines and numbers. There's a formula recognition tool that will turn handwritten mathematical formulae into digital form and even plot graphs. You can also use the S-Pen to draw pictures and edit photos, so it could be the ideal platform for using PhotoShop Touch, which comes free with the Note. PhotoShop Touch is a reduced-functionality version of PhotoShop, optimised for touch and the use of the S-Pen. We're not sure how many people are going to really use the S-Pen. After all, the capacitive touchscreen works perfectly well for 90% of the things you want to do with a tablet. Unless you're a student or a designer, the S-Pen may well stay tucked up in its handy storage slot. S-PlannerS-Planner is a built-in app that makes it easy to manage your calendar and make plans. It's a much more comprehensive planning app than most, and it makes good use of the S-Pen, letting you touch dates and other items that would be fiddly to do with a finger. So, maybe the S-Pen is more useful than we first thought. You can sync it with Google Calendar, Microsoft Exchange, etc.There are various other S-Pen apps available, including 9 games, all pre-installed on the Note. 5 megapixel cameraThe Galaxy Note 10.1 comes with a 5 megapixel camera, which is a stet up from the 3 megapixels of the Galaxy Tab 10.1. The camera has an LED flash as well as autofocus, digital zoom, panorama, smile shot, face detection and blink detection. It's capable of taking some high quality images, but only if you don't mind looking like an idiot taking photos with a paving slab. It can also record HD video.A second front-facing camera enables self portraits and video calling and is a much more practical option on a tablet. Easy Phone SyncDo you currently use iTunes for music or videos or podcasts? You can sync your Note with iTunes too with the Easy Phone Sync app. You can also use it to transfer iPhone or iPad contacts, messages and photos.Connect to anythingThe Galaxy Note 10.1 comes with both 3G HSPA and a fallback GSM/EDGE connection for internet access on the go. It has dual-channel Wi-Fi too, for double-speed data access. There's Bluetooth 4.0 wireless connectivity for connecting to other tablets and phones. You can plug the Note into a USB, and it has a HDMI port for connecting to a TV. There's also a 3.5mm headphone jack.Conclusion - Very good, but over-pricedDon't misunderstand us. The Galaxy Note 10.1 is a lovely tablet. It's very powerful with its quad-core processor, multitasking and large 10 inch screen. It comes with some good pre-installed apps, like PhotoShop Touch and S-Planner. It's a good platform for all kinds of media and has strong battery life too. But at £400, it's the same price as a new iPad and £100 more than the Galaxy Tab 10.1. You're effectively paying £100 for a stylus, and that doesn't seem like good value to us. Unless you're a designer or you really think you'd make good use of the S-Pen, you'd find better value for money elsewhere.
Features of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 include:
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 User ReviewsLove this product? Hate it? Please share your experiences to help other people choose the product that's best for them. Please do not review this product if you have not used it. This is a review site, not a forum, so please don't just ask questions. Please do not use swear words or offensive language, and please, no advertising! Average rating from 3 reviews: Reviewed by Rob from UK on 2nd Jan 2013 Reviewed by obagab from UK on 15th Nov 2012 Reviewed by Sam Clemens from UK on 4th Oct 2012 |
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In
terms of looks, the Note 10.1 may not be in quite the same league as the 
