[mgmueller]

Just unboxing it.
I've got it from Amazon in less than 12 hours!

I really have to say:
I'm getting impressed with Samsung.
The package is the very same style as the one for Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9.
I very much like this kind of consistency.

And, as always, I love Amazon.
Their logistics always are perfectly to the point.
And, should you need support, they actually have one. Not just some outsourced help desk without any expertise. Real specialists, polite and competent.

And now....very first impressions about Samsung Galaxy Note:

Wow. It's not heavy at all.
The low weight makes it feel a bit flimsy and "plasticky".
But it's styled very nicely.
I'd say: Far from looking or feeling cheap, but slightly behind iPhone 4 (but then again: Who/what is up to par with Apple design-wise?) in its "touch and feel".
But, of course, for a phone that size, low weight is a good thing. I'll have it in my suit pocket most of the time.

The back cover snaps off easily. I'm not worried, it might come off on its own by accident.
SIM and Micro SD card both are placed next to the (user exchangeable) battery. For now, I've only got the Micro SD. I'm permanently running out of SIM cards. I'll have to see, whether I go for an additional SIM here or take one from another gadget or just stick to WiFi.

Volume is controlled on the left. The power button is on the right, where I'd usually expect volume control.

There's a software update waiting already. "Insert SIM card". WTF? Why can't I update via WiFi only?
Taking the SIM (for now) from my new Sony Tablet P. I guess, the SIM is needed for localisation.

Now, looking at the screen: Although the display is significantly bigger than your "usual phone", it's not pixelated at all. But nothing "special" either. I'd say, it's about what I'd expect from any "tablet".
In direct comparison, maybe due to the "special black" (Triniton, I guess), the display of Sonly Tablet P is somewhat more pleasant to the eye.
Nothing to criticise about Samsung Galaxy Note's display. But as so often, expectations because of enthusiastic reviews might have been a bit too high...

I like the pen/stylus. Very much reminds me of the good old PDA days. This actually might become my business phone/organiser.
The stylus is precise enough, even without WACOM driver update (read somewhere, this would be recommended).
Similar to HTC Flyer, you can take a snapshot of any screen (by pressing the button on the stylus and clicking the screen). In this snapshot you can scribble around then.
Nice: I've always missed some kind of bookmarking feature in the Android market ("I'm not buying this app now, but I might come back later"). For now, I guess I'll just take a snapshot instead.
There are quite a few apps in the market for handwriting, even some classics I already had on my Pocket PCs. I'll probably test some later, although I never got quite fond of these.
The Samsung note app works good enough. There are some impressive examples, but I'm certainly not that artsy. Still: Sometimes jotting down simply is faster than typing. And often a doodle makes more sense than text.

I'm thinking about rooting now...

Samsung has incorporated the same gimmicks as on Galaxy Tab 8.9. Example: If you press 2 fingers on the screen, for example in the browser or gallery, by tilting the display you can zoom in and zoom out.

More later on.