Follow up on my Note 2 experience…

[GeneL]

"Maybe it was because of my lack of sleep, but yesterday I bought an unlocked Note 2!"
http://forums.macresource.com/read.php?1,1506917

Speaking of apps and app management…

…at first, I was bothered by some of the pre-loaded apps and the way the apps were arranged on the screens (home screen, etc).

I just couldn't figure out how to organize everything the way that I wanted. This really bugged me, since I had two other android devices that I knew very well and had long since learned how to tailor things to fit my needs.

A bunch of the apps were new to me and I had no idea how they worked or what they were good for.

Then, I couldn't figure out how to download apps, that I already owned, from the Amazon App Store.

I knew that I should be able to install them on my new Note 2, since these apps were already installed on my Droid X and my "Android" HP Touchpad.

Fortunately, I had terrific assistance from Daniel in Best Buy's cellphone department. He pointed out the simple step that I had missed on the Amazon App Store webpage and right away, down they came.

I am absolutely amazed at the speed of the downloads, using LTE rather than wi-fi.

Using 3G on my Droid X, there was a big difference versus a wi-fi connection. On the other hand, LTE seems just as fast as using wi-fi, so it looks like I won't be stuck anymore, if there's no wi-fi available. Yay!

It really shows up in the video when I watch TV programming that is streaming from my Cox HD-DVR at home using my Slingbox and the SlingPlayer app on my phone.

The picture quality and the size of the images on the Note 2's big screen are superb!

I've only had this device (I hate to call it a phone, because it is so much more) for a few days and I can see that I will be in for a learning process, but I am definitely happy with my purchase and will recommend it with enthusiasm.

While I was at Best Buy getting "educated," I remembered a question that I had in the back of my mind. It came from my research about the Note 2.

A review, that I had read online, mentioned that the model being recommended was the "factory unlocked" Note 2. There were reasons given that I hadn't remembered to ask about when I made my purchase the other day.

Without thinking, I had ended up with an unlocked "Verizon Note 2" and now I was pretty sure there were reasons why I should have actually purchased the Samsung "factory model."

I asked Daniel whether I could get an unlocked Note 2 that was specifically from Samsung and would work on Verizon's network.

He told me that they didn't stock it, but he could get one in for me at the same price.

Among its other benefits, the factory unlocked model wouldn't be saddled with all the Verizon apps that were pre-installed on my present phone. Also, this model can be used with carriers other than Verizon, including overseas (I should be so lucky!).

The best news was that It would be the same price and I could have the same two year Geek Squad warranty which covers everything except loss, but includes replacement if the phone is damaged.

This could easily happen because the Note 2 is a handful and its case is thin, smooth and slippery. I had recently dropped my Droid X and damaged the screen, so experience tells me that insurance is a necessity.

There seems to be no drawback in switching to the factory model and a number of plusses. So, within the 30 day grace period, when I feel that I have mastered the Note 2, I will switch over to both the factory model and, yes, the Titanium color.

I haven't experimented with the camera yet, but since everything else that I've tried out has been so terrific, I am excited to see how well this beauty performs as a camera/camcorder.

So far, I can see that Samsung is giving Apple a run for the money with the Note 2.

As the saying goes, "iPhone? You can keep your stinking iPhone!"

[sekker]

Glad you are happy and thanks for the mini review.

[MGS_forgot_password]

I've installed Nova Launcher on my Samsung phone (as well as my Andriod-ed Touchpad and Nook Color) and it let's you "hide" apps that you don't use.

That being said, Samsung's put a lot of work into the Touchwiz UI and it's pretty good.

[testcase]

The trainer I work with bought a Note2. She is not at all knowledgeable re: tech gear and, doesn't like reading manuals. She too loves the big clear screen and, the large virtual keyboard. She bought her's at Costco and has already been back twice to have the sales rep help her. Her most common problems have been with camera settings. She's on Verizon with a family plan and, I think she's actually saved a few dollars over whatever her previous contract had been.

I'm glad you mentioned the difference between a Samsung unlocked phone and a Verizon unlocked phone. I have a friend who travels abroad several times a year. I'll have to ask if he'd be willing to buy an unlocked Samsung phone for me next time he's across the pond.

[Article Accelerator]

GeneL wrote: I can see that Samsung is giving Apple a run for the money with the Note 2.

Well, no you can't because as far as I know, you have no experience with Apple's phone offerings.

[GeneL]

Article Accelerator wrote:
[quote=GeneL]I can see that Samsung is giving Apple a run for the money with the Note 2.

Well, no you can't because as far as I know, you have no experience with Apple's phone offerings.


No experience? Where did you get that idea from?

I am surrounded by iPhones! Friends, neighbors, relatives…there's no shortage around here.

I've had the opportunity to "play" with every model, since the iPhone first hit the market.

Actually, a year ago I was waiting for the new iPhone so I could replace the borrowed basic Verizon phone that I was temporarily using after giving up on the Treo, Centro and Pixi phones that I had used with Sprint.

I wanted an iPhone in the worst way, but when the new model came out, it still had a small screen.

I know that I wasn't alone in my disappointment when the 4s arrived with basically the same screen as the previous model.

As I've said for a long time, I wanted a cellphone with a larger screen, so I could enjoy programming streamed from my home DVR.

I decided to buy a used Droid X on eBay to hold me over until Apple decided to produce a larger screen.

Okay, the iPhone 5 is a bit bigger, but for me it just wasn't big enough.

Comparisons between the iPhone 5 and the Galaxy 3 and the Note 2 show that some features are superior on the iPhone and there are features on the Samsung phones that outshine the iPhone.

Besides size, I love the S-pen, which can be used like a mouse as well as writing and drawing. It will take me a while to master the myriad of features that my Note 2 incorporates, but so far, I do love it.

You like chocolate, I like Black Raspberry… it's a matter of personal taste and the numbers are indicating a wide taste for Samsung's latest beautiful "large screen" models.

So, yes I can!

[vision63]

GeneL wrote:
[quote=Article Accelerator]
[quote=GeneL]I can see that Samsung is giving Apple a run for the money with the Note 2.

Well, no you can't because as far as I know, you have no experience with Apple's phone offerings.


No experience? Where did you get that idea from?

I am surrounded by iPhones! Friends, neighbors, relatives…there's no shortage around here.

I've had the opportunity to "play" with every model, since the iPhone first hit the market.

Actually, a year ago I was waiting for the new iPhone so I could replace the borrowed basic Verizon phone that I was temporarily using after giving up on the Treo, Centro and Pixi phones that I had used with Sprint.

I wanted an iPhone in the worst way, but when the new model came out, it still had a small screen.

I know that I wasn't alone in my disappointment when the 4s arrived with basically the same screen as the previous model.

As I've said for a long time, I wanted a cellphone with a larger screen, so I could enjoy programming streamed from my home DVR.

I decided to buy a used Droid X on eBay to hold me over until Apple decided to produce a larger screen.

Okay, the iPhone 5 is a bit bigger, but for me it just wasn't big enough.

Comparisons between the iPhone 5 and the Galaxy 3 and the Note 2 show that some features are superior on the iPhone and there are features on the Samsung phones that outshine the iPhone.

Besides size, I love the S-pen, which can be used like a mouse as well as writing and drawing. It will take me a while to master the myriad of features that my Note 2 incorporates, but so far, I do love it.

You like chocolate, I like Black Raspberry… it's a matter of personal taste and the numbers are indicating a wide taste for Samsung's latest beautiful "large screen" models.

So, yes I can!
I'm glad you're enjoying it. It is the bomb phone. People love it. Hopefully Apple will represent in this arena. Millions upon millions of people want a large screen iPhone. I know this in my bones.

[GeneL]

vision63 wrote:
I'm glad you're enjoying it. It is the bomb phone. People love it. Hopefully Apple will represent in this arena. Millions upon millions of people want a large screen iPhone. I know this in my bones.

Exactly my thought!

I waited and waited for Apple to introduce a cellphone with a much larger screen, but it never came and I needed to get a new phone.

If I could have purchased an iPad with 4s LTE cellular functionality, that's what I'd have now.

Maybe one day?

I still think that it has become a "my way or the highway" attitude at Apple. Not just regarding cellphone design, but in many other aspects of design.

There are so many exciting (at least to me) new designs out there. The "convertible" laptop/computers with touch screens seem to be a really interesting step towards blending the best ideas of computer design and operating systems.

I am disappointed that Apple isn't in the lead of these technologies.

It seems to me that an awful lot of people want devices like this.