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    The Week

    The Samsung Galaxy Note: Tiny tablet or giant smartphone?

    By The Week's Editorial Staff | The Week – Tue, Feb 7, 2012

    A grandiose Super Bowl ad introduces America to a rather cumbersome new gadget — and its much-mocked stylus pen

    Samsung spent millions on a long Super Bowl commercial that promoted the tech giant's new Galaxy Note device. (Watch the clip below.) But with a massive 5.3-inch screen (the iPhone's is 3.5 inches), consumers are puzzled: Is the Galaxy Note a small tablet? A comically big smartphone? And what of that stylus being roasted on Twitter? Here, three key things you should know about Samsung's new flagship device:

    1. Its strange size is dividing techies
    The 4G Android device weighs 6.45 ounces — 30 percent of an iPad 2's weight, but 32 percent heavier than an iPhone. The Galaxy Note problematically "straddles the line" between smartphones and tablets, says Tony Bradley at PC World. "It is too unwieldy to be a great smartphone, and too small to be a worthwhile tablet." And who wants to pick their "wardrobe based on which clothing has pockets capable of holding" a gadget? I actually really like it, says Jared Newman at TIME. Even though "using it with one hand is out of the question," I was "mesmerized" by its "crisp, jumbo-sized display." Just don't call it a "phablet."

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    2. The stylus is an object of mockery
    The Galaxy Note Super Bowl commercial "aired during the fourth quarter," says Eric Zeman at Information Week. "Before the game was over, 'stylus' and 'palmpilot' were trending" on Twitter, briefly making the Galaxy Note's seemingly antiquated stylus the internet's laughingstock. "Most people don't miss using a stylus." Hold on, says Jason Perlow at ZDNet. The PalmPilot was no joke. Touch-based applications are "absolutely the way of the future, but the plain and simple truth is you can't do everything by touch." Complex diagrams and handwritten notes all require more accuracy than a fingertip offers. Don't "dismiss the stylus."

    3. Good or bad, it's coming soon to an AT&T store near you
    The Galaxy Note will be released for sale on Feb. 19. It costs $299.99 with a two-year contract, and will require an AT&T data plan of at least $20 per month. Yes, the Galaxy Note is different, says PC World's Bradley. But you know what they say: "Variety is the spice of life." 

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    9 comments

    • winning streak
      winning streak  •  Garden Grove, California  •  3 mths ago
      That size can fit any guys pocket or suit unless your into the emo stuff, sign me in!
    • les
      les  •  Irvine, California  •  3 mths ago
      at CES my experience with the note was amazing.. as a long time iphone user i was ready to make the switch right there at the show.. two of my friends were also moved by the performance of the note. it did fit in all of our pocketts and we placed our pre orders without
      hesitation. check out the you tube vids on the phone which has been in service for several months in europe. you can also get bigger batteries if your a real hog.. up to 5000mah.
      • Chip
        Chip 3 mths ago
        Great tips! Thanks!
    • Anonymous
      Anonymous  •  3 mths ago
      i've actually been wanting something precisely like this. hafta check up on the specs and whatnot, but this concept sounds right in my wheelhouse.
    • DanU
      DanU  •  3 mths ago
      Phablet
      • Chip
        Chip 3 mths ago
        Smile when you say that, pilgrim...
    • Richard
      Richard  •  3 mths ago
      I actually got to use one of these for a few weeks when I was out of the country, and I LOVED it. It is big, but if you have a Galaxy SII or Infuse, its not really that much bigger. And it has a fantastic screen; on top of that its blazing fast; and the stylus is totally optional; only if you want to do something that requires a fine touch like drawing pictures; I never used it and didn't miss it. But I will DEFINITELY be buying one the day they're released for US sale :)
      • Chip
        Chip 3 mths ago
        Thanks for the review! I want to get one as well! I've seen unlocked versions for sale already from $550 shipped from UK, to $684 on Amazon. At $300 from AT&T, I may just BUY one to use with T-Mobile if I choose to stay with them. I've got two months left on my current contract. Then, when I do renew, I can get another phone as well to have as a spare... I actually cut out a piece of plastic to the dimensions of the Note, just to see how it felt in my pocket. None of the "cons" listed in the article bother me in the least, assuming it fits in my front pants pocket. Call it a Phablet all you want!
    • JohnW
      JohnW  •  3 mths ago
      There is no way I'm going to be holding that phablet.... err I mean brick up to my ear.
    • Nony
      Nony  •  3 mths ago
      Pretentious toy.
    • rodney
      rodney  •  3 mths ago
      I for one like using the internet on my smartphone......so a big screen, within reason, would be a deciding factor for me. Actually I'd like to see a smart phone the size of a dell streak. I'm hopeful that the Asus Padfone will hit the U.S. cell phone companies this year. That is the perfect device for me.
    • Alex H
      Alex H  •  Buena Park, California  •  3 mths ago
      Destined for the dustbin...
     Post a comment

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