Samsung Note 8

[Kumabjorn]

Seems Samsung is releasing a Note with an 8" screen. Could be the ideal solution for students. Large enough screen for textbooks with the added feature of note taking and the capability to organize them.

[SeaKing]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Seems Samsung is releasing a Note with an 8" screen. Could be the ideal solution for students. Large enough screen for textbooks with the added feature of note taking and the capability to organize them.

The same people that thought the original Note was crazy are at it again.

If you want only one device and you want a very usable screen (stylus) and a phone, it will fit the bill. You just need a cargo pocket or a big belt holder.

[Kumabjorn]

As I said, I think it will be THE student device. Easy to throw into a backpack, add a small BT keyboard and you can work on term papers anywhere, including Starbucks while listening to music. In class it is easy to take notes, check formulas on Wolfram Alpha, Wikipedia access and provided everything the teacher hands out is in PDF they can just download it in the classroom. The Note 10.1 is probably more versatile but the Note 8 hits the sweet spot between usability and portability for the academic segment of the market.
Price off course is still undecided, but I'm thinking $229, maybe a Student Edition with USB connector and BT keyboard/cover for #259.

[DuckieTigger]

How come is 8 sweet, and 10.1 too big? Compared to ANY text book that you frequently lug around in college or university, a 10.1 inch is hardly worth mentioning.

[Kumabjorn]

True, but it is heavier to hold, people will hold it with their weaker hand, using the stronger for writing. Some lecture halls, from my experience, doesn't have tablet holders. The size also makes it harder, in my experience, to keep it stable while only using one hand. The problem might not be as noticeable for men as it is for women though.

[DuckieTigger]

Back in the days, I never held my binder with empty paper with my left hand. It was always flat on the little desk in front of me - either in the big rooms with benches, or the small ones with real tables and chairs. It is hard to take notes on paper when you have to hold it in your hand. The one problem I can see though is resolution and speed. I doubt the Note can compare to writing on paper.

[Kumabjorn]

Our experiences differ. I was in a lot of large lecture halls that didn't have small desks attached, or if they did they were usually so flimsy as to be unusable. The Note 10.1 is very close to being paper realistic. I would assume the 8 to have similar specs. The 10.1 would be similar to an A4 and the 8 to a B5 notebook.

[kevinp]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Price off course is still undecided, but I'm thinking $229, maybe a Student Edition with USB connector and BT keyboard/cover for #259.

You're dreaming. The Note 10.1 sells for $450. My guess would be more like $350.

[Kumabjorn]

Perhaps, but they just lowered the price on the 10.1 and I think they might want to give it a competitive price against the iPad Mini.
From the information I gained it seems the Note 8 primarily relies on established components and those should be under downward price press. At any rate it will be interesting once Samsung disclose the price.

[grumbles]

10" isn't anywhere close to A4. I don't have an A4 sheet handy, but a letter size sheet (8.5 x 11) has a diagonal of 13.75" and an A4 sheet is close to letter size (a little narrower and a little longer.) An 8 inch tablet would be a nice size, but it is 2 inches less than a 10 and almost 6 inches shorter that a letter sized sheet.

I've reading quite a few pdfs on my 10" Transformer. It works wee but I would love to have the Toshiba 13" just for pdf. Eight inches would be too small.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Perhaps, but they just lowered the price on the 10.1 and I think they might want to give it a competitive price against the iPad Mini.
From the information I gained it seems the Note 8 primarily relies on established components and those should be under downward price press. At any rate it will be interesting once Samsung disclose the price.

350 is competitive against the iPad mini. You pay a little more but get a Wacom pen, an expansion slot and Android. For Samsung the days of must-be-cheaper-than-Apple-to-sell are over. When you spend a lot on R&D and make innovative products you don't want to sell them all at bargain prices. And Apple is no longer cool, remember? The Mini is just a rehash of the iPad2.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

350 is competitive against the iPad mini. You pay a little more but get a Wacom pen, an expansion slot and Android. For Samsung the days of must-be-cheaper-than-Apple-to-sell are over. Apple is no longer cool, remember? The Mini is just a rehash of the iPad2.

Except their designs really suck - white, shiny, plastic cases trimmed in ghastly chrome

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Except their designs really suck - white, shiny, plastic cases trimmed in ghastly chrome

If 2 monkeys our age think they are cool --- that means they have missed the mark!

[SeaKing]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Our experiences differ. I was in a lot of large lecture halls that didn't have small desks attached, or if they did they were usually so flimsy as to be unusable. The Note 10.1 is very close to being paper realistic. I would assume the 8 to have similar specs. The 10.1 would be equal to an A4 and the 8 to a B5 notebook.

In, one little college I went to the psychology dept lecture halls didn't have desks. There was tiered bleacher steps that you sat on. You only had your lap for a desk.

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by grumbles

10" isn't anywhere close to A4. I don't have an A4 sheet handy, but a letter size sheet (8.5 x 11) has a diagonal of 13.75" and an A4 sheet is close to letter size (a little narrower and a little longer.) An 8 inch tablet would be a nice size, but it is 2 inches less than a 10 and almost 6 inches shorter that a letter sized sheet.

I've reading quite a few pdfs on my 10" Transformer. It works wee but I would love to have the Toshiba 13" just for pdf. Eight inches would be too small.

I was trying to point out the relationship between the devices, not the dimensions in relation to paper sizes. I did this poorly and apologize.