Galaxy Note Tips & Tricks

Why Galaxy Note 10.1 will fail?

By 34 Comments · ·

Galaxy Note 10.1 was announced in last February to take the momentum generated by Galaxy Note.  This is a wise decision to create a unique tablet with S Pen (and productivity tools).  The initial specifications announced in MWC2012 were not impressive and the design was just another out-of-the-mill Android tablet.

galaxy-note-10.1-poor-displaySo, Samsung decided to re-work it. Now after more than 5 months, pre-order of this tablet was announced by Negri Electronics at $750 (No Jelly Bean, still ICS). Maybe the price will drop to around $500 soon.

After reading the specifications, my first impression is this is just another DOA (death on arrival) Android tablet.

The specifications were bumped up: quad core CPU (initially, dual core), 2GB RAM (initially 1GB), 5MP primary camera (initially 3MP), 2G/3G/WiFi/ USB/Bluetooth connectivity. It sounds nice. But when you read the display, omg, it is still 1280*800 (WXGA), same as your 9-month old 5.3″ Galaxy Note, 17-month old Motorola Xoom, or similar to 2-year-and-4-month old iPad, and 17-month old iPad 2. 

This poor display will destroy Galaxy Note 10.1. Two years ago, this was a decent display. But, now it is 2012, and  people expect higher pixel density (thanks to Apple’s retina display in the new iPad, aka iPad3).

Don’t blame Android or chipsets. Acer has been shipping the full HD 1080p Android tablet (Acer A700) since this summer at $450. Full specifications of this tablet is here. Another Asian PC maker, ASUS, also is offering full HD 1080p (actually 1920*1200, WUXGA) transformer pad infinity. You can get it at $500 (32GB) or $600 (64GB).

As a comparison, the new iPad (released about 5 months ago, 9.7inches) has a screen resolution of 2048*1536 and the pixel density is 264ppi (pixels per inch).  Our Galaxy Note boosts 1280*800 pixels on a 5.3-inch screen. So the pixel density is about 285ppi. This is one of the major reasons users like their Galaxy Note: sharp and vivid display!

Of course, there is a limitation of human eyes. Normally, pixel density higher than about 250ppi will make no differences for most people without using special equipment, if the contrast and brightness are not an issue. If your eyes have been spoiled by Galaxy Note’s display, you will immediately feel 1280*800 on a 10.1 inch screen (pixel density about 150ppi) is very uncomfortable. Putting a 1280*800 screen on a 7-inch screen  (pixel density is about 210-220 ppi) is quite reasonable, like Google Nexus 7.

It is really hard to understand why Samsung put such a subpar (resolution) display in their high end tablet. As you may know, Samsung supplies most of the new iPad display for the fruity company. Technology surely is not an obstacle for Samsung to put a full HD display.   Just to save $20 in the cost!!

Why can none of  the Android tablet challenge iPad in the 10in form factor? Initially, it is due to OS and apps. Android 2.3 is not suitable for 10-in form factor. Honeycomb is a rush product. Now, Android 4.0 (ICS) and 4.1 (Jelly Bean) already surpass iOS 6, and iOS is trying to catching up.

So, the competition is more on display!! Retina display in the new iPad made all Android tablets like a toy when it was announced. Thanks to Asus and Acer, we now do have a few Android tablets in the market: Acer A700, ASUS Transformer Infinity, and probably Google Nexus 7.

We had been expecting Samsung would have brought us another Android tablet. But it turns out to be another Android toy!

What a joke!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. LAYEOL says

    I just like to ask if the software update I install is good cause I have my Galaxy note 10.1 just a month and I accidentally click install and it became jellybean. Is it good?

    Reply

  4. Jeremy says

    Boy is this writer wrong. While he is so caught up in screen resolution, which is a minimal difference at best, he misses all the amazing features and the great system it has to be productive at school/work . The 10.1 is the best tablet ( along with the s-pen) ever made as a study/work companion. He is trying to grasp the only argument he has to put it down in screen resolution, OMG who cares!! Resolution is getting to the point where you cant even tell the difference with the human eye anyway. You’re missing the point of a tablet buddy…it’s not to just play GTA 3 and watch “Avatar” on

    Reply

  5. JustMyOpinion says

    Well, let’s see… I don’t think it’ll fail just because the resolution; Many users are buying Ipad2 because, if you see the display, it’s not so different for day-by-day use. Ok, videos are stunning at New Ipad, but it’s not all users which buy a tablet just for video. For me, S-Pen is just wonderful, handwriting capabilities, multitask with two apps on the same screen, expansion capabilities (why pay more for just more memory?), thinner, lighter, very good speed… The focus of GSnote is S-Pen and Handwriting, a better screen won’t cost just more $20 as you told due to the precision of S-Pen… just take a look on $$ of Wacom digital tables…

    Reply

  6. melisbel says

    I’m much of a tech person so do bear with me 😉 I recently bought the 10.1. Before buying it I read your review and I was very sceptical abt the 10.1 but I went on ahead with decision. After using it, I must say I was pleasantly surprised with how good it is. Love the longer battery life even after been at it whole day playing games etc. Photos taken with it are great as long as you don’t zoom in b’coz you’ll end up with a blurry image. But I don’t mind that much. Call quality is good as well. I rely on my 10.1 if my galaxy note runs out of juice. And the best thing is the S pen and all the productivity tools! I’m so loving my 10.1!

    Reply

  7. Brendan says

    I’ve owned every version of the iPhone including the 4S and every version of the iPad. I’ve just recently got a note 10.1 and although I do miss the screen res of the New iPad, I feel I have gained far much more than I have lost. The form factor and battery life are also things I miss. But, the s pen – and associated apps -, the weight, functionality and versatility is far better on the Note10.1. AND, as a Google apps user the Note 10.1 is much more accommodating 🙂

    Reply

  8. Eric says

    Can’t import PDF to S Note in the Galaxy Note 10.1

    Any idea whether this is an isolated case for myself or this is a firm ware bug for all?

    I’ve no problem importing PDF files to my Galaxy Note 2 but the latest 10.1.

    S Note will crash and quit itself once the importing process complete.

    Reply

  10. Alaa Ezzat says

    While the higher specs are better generally , every company have to make decisions , hard ones , for what to include and what to drop at least for now

    adding an extremely high res screen is not as useful for a 10″ tablet as increasing ram or processor , and even in my own opinion , the S Pen is a more important addition than high resolution

    i love watching movies on my gadget , i do watch a lot of them on my tab 7.7 and my galaxy note ,but this resolution won’t make life harder for me on a 10″ device , it did when i had the ipad 1 due to the stupid 4:3 aspect ratio , but once the aspect ratio fixed to 16:9 , 16:10 movie looks very good for me on such size

    think about USB OTG , The android freedom , the S Pen , the Higher Ram amount , The SD Card availability , and much more

    and you will realize that in hardware manner at least , GNote 10.1 tab is the winner

    all else is just the user preference , does the user prefer IOS over ICS , JB or prefer how the iPad looks over the others , only the preferences

    Reply

  11. Albert says

    A better display is defintely nice, but at a higher cost
    and shorter battery life (display is the number battery
    drainer…My Galaxy note and Galaxy S3 drains battery
    like water. What is important is functionality, useability. As it is the tab 10.1 stutters occasionally
    and that is with an old resolution. Higher resolution
    means higher CPU processing power. its quad core
    and 2GB of RAM seems not enough for the tab to
    function smoothly…and still add a higher resolution
    screen…?? For me the screen is already gorgeous
    and it won’t feel hot after several hours of use
    unlike the Ipad 3.

    Reply

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