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the_Monk
the_Monk
Join Date 01/2008
+221

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 9.7"

September 17, 2015 7:55:45 PM from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

 

Is it worth it?  Seeing as several retailers have been offering it at a substantial discount I finally picked one up.  Here are my concise thoughts.

 

CONS

1024x768 (what is this 2010?!?)

1.2 quad core somewhat weak processor

2 GB RAM

16 GB onboard storage (expandable via SD card)

 

PROS

1024x768 (while somewhat of a negative is also a positive in the sense that the tab a can get away with a weaker proc as well and therefore enjoy PHENOMENAL battery life)

1.2 quad core proc (less heat generation and again contributes to the awesome battery life of this tablet)

Android Lollipop operating system

MS Office suite of applications included

S PEN!!!  (Samsung's iteration of the 'stylus' is probably the best/feature rich experience on the market today and to have it included in this 'budget' tab from Samsung is just awesome!)

BATTERY the life of the battery on this tab blows me away.  I have easily achieved 15-18hrs with moderate to heavy use and well that is just cool! 

 

What would I (did I) buy this tab for?  The S-Pen, MS office suite and the battery life!  If those 3 things aren't paramount for you then another tab might be a better option for you.

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the_Monk
Jafo
Join Date 03/2001
+1752 sdemployee
Reply #1 September 17, 2015 9:53:06 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Can't remember the specs but typing this in a hotel room in ny 12000 miles from home on a pro ver ....no issues with it. Big enough to actually do something with. 

As long as I can ip ban nutters from it.....alls goood....

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the_Monk
RedneckDude
Join Date 04/2009
+2197
Reply #2 September 17, 2015 10:40:09 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

I have the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition and I love it.

Display10.1” 2560x1600(WQXGA) TFT

 

ChipsetWiFi/3G : 1.9GHz Quad + 1.3GHz Quad
LTE : 2.3GHz Quad

 

Camera/Flash8M w/ LED Flash + 2M Full HD

 

32 GB + 32 GB SD.

 

3 GB ram.

 

S Pen rocks!

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the_Monk
starkers
Join Date 05/2004
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Reply #3 September 18, 2015 2:47:09 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Android Lollipop operating system

For me that's not a pro.  I don't like Android [or even IOS, for that matter] as it feels more like an apps manager than an OS.  I prefer something with a FULL OS, hence the HP 2-in-1 with Win 8.1.... on which I can install full programs, not just apps from the store.

Other than that, the Samsung tablets are okay and a cut above many competitors offerings, but without a full OS they're not for me.  My next tablet will be the Surface Pro 4... though I'm not so keen on Windows 10.  However, for a light and portable machine that can go with me anywhere, I guess I can suffer its fugly UI and icons until Stardock updates the programs to resolve that issue.

 

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the_Monk
harpo99999
Join Date 02/2008
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Reply #4 September 18, 2015 6:20:21 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

starkers, in my opinion window HEX is an appropriate name for THAT version, as it makes desire to use along with everything else disappear, and as far as the 'phones for idiots' and the 'bigger phones for bigger idiots', I attack problems on them, BUT often hit granite mountains in my attempts to get things done with them, and while I can eventually bash my way through the granite mountain it is usually quicker and eaasier to stop and re-think the entire exercise and go around the mountain by other methods

hArPo the ghOSt NON-subscriber tech

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the_Monk
the_Monk
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Reply #5 September 18, 2015 2:01:31 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

Starkers,  weren't you singing the iPad's praises just a few months ago?   

 

In any case as stated in the op the 3 reasons I bought this tab for weren't about replacing my desktop or even a good notebook and were certainly strengthened by the discounts offered at retail currently.

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the_Monk
starkers
Join Date 05/2004
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Reply #6 September 18, 2015 2:11:09 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting the_Monk,
reply 5

Starkers, weren't you singing the iPad's praises just a few months ago?

Nope!  That would just never happen... not in a million years.  What I have [and like using] is an Apple MacMini with OS-X Yosemite... a full OS and not a pretend one that manages apps and not a lot more.

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the_Monk
RedneckDude
Join Date 04/2009
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Reply #7 September 18, 2015 3:09:15 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting starkers,
reply 3

I don't like Android [or even IOS, for that matter] as it feels more like an apps manager than an OS. I prefer something with a FULL OS, hence the HP 2-in-1 with Win 8.1....

 

I have a 10 inch Toshiba Windows Tablet as well. But that's too small for Windows, IMHO. YMMV. If I had it to do over, I wouldn't have bought it.

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the_Monk
starkers
Join Date 05/2004
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Reply #8 September 19, 2015 3:12:30 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting RedneckDude,
reply 7


Quoting starkers,
reply 3

I don't like Android [or even IOS, for that matter] as it feels more like an apps manager than an OS. I prefer something with a FULL OS, hence the HP 2-in-1 with Win 8.1....



 

I have a 10 inch Toshiba Windows Tablet as well. But that's too small for Windows, IMHO. YMMV. If I had it to do over, I wouldn't have bought it.

Yeah, I looked at some 10 inch tablets and felt they were all undersized.  What I have now is 13.5", which is just a tad smaller than a lot of laptops and just right as a stand-alone tablet or as a notebook.  I could have gone for the model above at 15.5", but I felt it was a little cumbersome to hold [in one hand] as a tablet.  Besides, it wouldn't have fit in my carry case along with my other accessories, whereas the 13.5" version is a perfect fit.

I do have an Android tablet to fall back on as a spare, but it rarely ever gets used and mostly collects dust these days... apart from when Shaunna uses it for checking emails, etc, while away.  For mine, Android is very limited and restricts use to 'apps' [most of which I'd never use] that are just diluted versions of full programs which can do so much more. 

Sure, some apps can be useful, and Android is okay for content viewing and checking emails, etc, but I want/need more than that... such as full programs with a full range of feature and options.  Being watered down versions and therefore much smaller, 'apps' have the most basic functions and that's it.  If I want to resize a photo or convert music or videos, I want to have all the options available and not end up having to redo it later [for best results] with a full-featured program on a more capable machine.

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