Samsung galaxy s2 vs note

[iceman23]

isnt it to do with the retina display?

 

[Elimentals]

isnt it to do with the retina display?

I think it has more to do with the 98 billion in Apple's bank account.

 

[ranger]

Who in his right mind would take out a 24 month contract on a phone with no future,

About 24 months is about the only future you're going to get on any phone. Nokia has committed to supporting Harmattan until 2014.

After your warranty has expired, if you find features are slow, there will probably be community options. E.g. Mer/Nemo (already available for N900 and N950), which is a community-run continuation of what was Meego, which seems may also be a platform of choice for the RaspberryPi (there is an existing project with XBMC on Mer on RaspberryPi).

no updates,

The 2nd update for the N9 will be available in a month (is already available to developers on N950). See some changes and screenshots here.

There seems to be some evidence of PR1.3 being in the works (e.g. some features that were slated for PR1.2 being noted as delayed until PR1.3 IIRC).

no software development, etc?

Granted, it doesn't have the vast number of apps that iOS and Android have, but note that it has a lot of functionality built-in (e.g. support for most non-smartphone-specific IM networks integrated into messaging, twitter/facebook notifications - in PR1.2 also on the lockscreen).

But they are sold here ... and people take them for a 24 month partnership. Is there something I don't understand here?

Have you tried one?

From Nokia's results, it seems that the N9 on its own has sold more than both of Nokia's new WP devices in 2011Q4 ...

The Nokia N9 cannot even run WhatsApp, because the WhatsApp Devs said they won't be developing for a dead OS. :wtf:

So, 'cannot even' is a bit deceiving. N9 supports many IM services out-the-box (GTalk, Facebook, Skype, SIP). You can (either via command line with mc-tool, or by installing an app) add generic Jabber accounts. After installing some additional packages (can't really call them apps, they are just telepathy backends) you can add MSN, AIM, Yahoo, QQ, Vkontakte .

There is a petition somewhere about Whatsapp on N9.

However, eBuddy XMS, which has a similar feature set as WhatsApp is available for N9 (and iOS, Android, BB, Symbian).

Well thats not exactly 100% accurate as some apps like the games do enter a suspended state when you move away from them so yes it does have multitasking but it does it with some trickery.

No, Maemo does not force apps to suspend, but the app will get an event when it loses focus (or is being swiped away), and most games auto-pause in this case. Look at some demos, you can see e.g. a compass in the multitasking view still works (turns) while not in the foreground. No trickery.

I would take a N9... not as my main phone, more like a toy to try and hack and get Ubuntu running.

Why would you do that, when it already runs Debian and a fantastic touch-friendly interface? If you're missing something that is available on Ubuntu, compile it ... (best done with commandline or Qt-based apps, but then Ubuntu seems to be going Qt/QML anyway ... but then what is the point of them using GNOME ...).

The N9 has a single core 1ghz processor, the GS2 has a dual core 1.2 and the Note a dual core 1.4ghz processor.

Core count and processor clock speed are not the only factors that affect the speed of the software interface you use. For example, bot SGSII and N9 have 1GB of memory (and, note, teh SGSII is a bit more more expensive, and the Note is substantially more expensive).


Sure, there might be phones with better specs, and for some people they may be better, but I don't think you should discount the N9 (depending on your use case). My use cases are currently better satisfied by my N900 (and almost all of them are the same or better on the N9) than Android or iOS. A lot of work done on the N9 is very good, and the integration it allows only matched or exceeded by Windows Phone (watch some 'My phone was smoked by Windows Phone' videos on youtube).

But, if you are giving your soul to Google, then maybe Android is for you.

I will probably take an N9 when I can, because you are given choices, you lose no basic phone functionality if you don't want to depend on Google for everything, you get more freedom (specifically engineered into the device), and it contributes to the whole open-source ecosystem (and not just the 'Android' ecosystem, which has very little value outside mobile consumer electronics).

Regarding Android on N9, there is a port for N900 (but isn't fully functional, I think 3G and GPS don't work, not sure about voice calls), but I haven't seen any effort for N9. I think most N9 / N950 users prefer Harmattan anyway. There are some companies with Android compatibility runtimes for N9 (allowing Andriod apps to run with virtually no modification), but these haven't been released.

 

[BeVonk!]

isnt it to do with the retina display?

That retina display is of little value to me as I am concerned about touch targets on a touch screen device. No use having pixels that small to give a high def resolution on a tiny screen when fingers are as thick as they are. I don't use a needle to touch links etc.

One hears about all these gazillions of iPhones sold but why is the price not coming down as per economy of scale principles? Surely prices must come down as volume goes up. It is, but Apple stick all the benefit money in their pockets, giving the customer nothing of the economy of scale benefits.

 

[randomwalsh]

went to a store on the weekend. Held the Note, pretended to speak to the 200g Chocolate bar next to my ear and I love it

 

[BeVonk!]

went to a store on the weekend. Held the Note, pretended to speak to the 200g Chocolate bar next to my ear and I love it

LOL! It is an awesome device. Watched the whole of Homeland Season 1 on it over the weekend and it worked really well. Despite its size it fits into my shirt pocket with ease (not heavy). I'm now seriously considering selling my S2.

 

[oronte]

Everyone I've shown my Note to has admired it, it's hard not to be charmed by the Note. As I've said before if you can fit it in your pockets (or if you carry a purse/bag with you) then it's hard to justify choosing any other currently available phone over it. For me Samsung have definitely created the ultimate all in one device with the Note.

 

[Elimentals]

Size does matter. iPhone 4S screen on top of Note screen ...

http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w480/BeVonk/Note_vs_iPhone_screens.jpg

Did a similar exercise with the Note Vs Nexus. I am starting to lean towards Nexus as my next phone, well Nexus vs MAXX and I dont think MAXX will make it to SA anytime soon

What I find interesting is that they run very closely matched screen resolutions.

 

[Bona Botse]

Did a similar exercise with the Note Vs Nexus. I am starting to lean towards Nexus as my next phone, well Nexus vs MAXX and I dont think MAXX will make it to SA anytime soon

What I find interesting is that they run very closely matched screen resolutions.

A more realistic comparison

 

[Elimentals]

A more realistic comparison

http://mybroadband.co.za/photos/data/500/Nexus_vs_Note.PNG

I see what you did there, but the reason I included the buttons was its part of the 1280x720 resolution claim.

 

[BeVonk!]

Elimentals, test a real live Note (not a shop fake) before you commit to anything. When I looked at the shop fake before I bought mine it had a plastic case like the S2. When my Note came it came with a metal case with a bit more weight to it ... very nice feel to it.

One can push the resolution up as much as you like but on a touch screen the actual touch target sizes matter ... and this is where the Note shines for me. It has a high enough res screen and is easy enough to use. I hate correcting tap mistakes. The larger screen also makes for practical video consumption.

And for fine work there is a handy pen in the case. Winner.

 

[DominionZA]

The larger screen also makes for practical video consumption.

+1 - and gaming. I have never played games on a cellphone as much as I do now on the Note.

I find myself playing games on my Note between rounds of MW3 when we play online at night.

 

[BeVonk!]

I must try games. Haven't done so yet. Can actually work better than on large tablet as finger reach is closer.

 

[HapticSimian]

Mate and I had my Sensation and his iPhone next to each other the other night. Couldn't believe how little that screen is... I'm still not convinced by the Note, but the iPhone is, well, just a little embarrassing.

 

[iceman23]

That retina display is of little value to me as I am concerned about touch targets on a touch screen device. No use having pixels that small to give a high def resolution on a tiny screen when fingers are as thick as they are. I don't use a needle to touch links etc.

One hears about all these gazillions of iPhones sold but why is the price not coming down as per economy of scale principles? Surely prices must come down as volume goes up. It is, but Apple stick all the benefit money in their pockets, giving the customer nothing of the economy of scale benefits.

definitely agree, just saying that's there justification.I also dont care for Apple, iOS and retina displays or how many pixels it has. Rather give me a cheaper better phone than one with bazillions of pixels that cost an arm or a leg.

Contract up for renewal in March so probably getting the Note, and will hopefully get the Lumia 900 when available.

Sorry Apple, my wife has already given you enough of my money. never again...

 

[BeVonk!]

Huge Note campaign at the Super Bowl this year I hear.

 

[Elimentals]

I must try games. Haven't done so yet. Can actually work better than on large tablet as finger reach is closer.

You should go get http://www.humblebundle.com/ for your note

Would love to see Anomaly Warzone earth on it, and Goo might even be playable on the Note vs My DHD

 

[DominionZA]

You should go get http://www.humblebundle.com/ for your note

Would love to see Anomaly Warzone earth on it, and Goo might even be playable on the Note vs My DHD

I downloaded all the games last night after I saw your link. They all work great and look great on the Note. Goo I had the most fun with though.

 

[Gamer]

I'm another one stuck in the S2 vs Note decision. I had an S2 last year but I think it was a dud. I was getting 4 hours life out of the battery and they gave me a new one. I sold it still sealed in the box as I was feeling a little once bitten, twice shy. I'm back to looking for a decent phone and have stumbled back to these two for choice. I think I'm going to go fondle a Note this weekend and see how it feels. I think it's too big for my taste.

 

[DominionZA]

I'm another one stuck in the S2 vs Note decision. I had an S2 last year but I think it was a dud. I was getting 4 hours life out of the battery and they gave me a new one. I sold it still sealed in the box as I was feeling a little once bitten, twice shy. I'm back to looking for a decent phone and have stumbled back to these two for choice. I think I'm going to go fondle a Note this weekend and see how it feels. I think it's too big for my taste.

I changed from a GS2 to a Note. For the first week I had it I kept wanting to get rid of it and go back to my GS2. By the end of the first week I was used to my Note and love it. Best device I have owned.
It just takes a little bit of time to adjust to the size. Then you don't even notice it anymore. In fact, everything else feels tiny and insignificant now