Samsung Note, like or dislike?

[Sprottn]

Any input on pro's and con's of this phone?

My boss had gotten one for work but then we didn't get to use it because she decided to keep it for herself

and left us her old phone.

I like the idea of the included stylus but is there really a lot of use for it?

Is the phone fairly sturdy?

Thoughts please?

[dilbertaz]

Assuming you are referring to the Note 4, I have only had mine a couple of weeks but love it so far.  It is big to carry around and can be difficult to find a case with holster for it.  It is blazing fast, considerably faster than my previous S4, everything from downloads, installations, photo processing, etc. is all done in a fraction of the time it was on old phone.  I haven't gotten in the habit of using the stylus much yet but can see myself using it for many things, once I remember it is there.  The phone is incredibly solid and the Gorilla Glass 4 is great.  The screen is one of the best on the market, great color, size, and resolution. I use mine with a Plantronics Edge headset so I haven't used it to talk on directly as a phone very much.  The only real cons thus far really come down to the size of the phone and finding a good case that still fits in the hand and has a good grip (originally bought a Seidio brand one like I had with my S4 but on the Note 4 they decided to use a powdery coating instead of the rubbery coating which I found to be unusable)  currently using a Pelican branded case which has a great rubber grip and rubber strips on the back but the holster tends to slip off my belt to easily because the clip that hooks under the belt is a bit small, but the holster built-in kickstand is nice (Pelican is only available from AT&T stores unfortunately).  Depending on your hand size one handed mode can be a life saver. 

[GalaxyClass]

It's an excellent phone system overall, but I don't like the size or weight.

[dilbertaz]

It largely depends on how you are going to use it and carry it, if you don't mind the size for your purpose it is a great device, but I can see how it wouldn't work for many people because of its size.

[mama23dogs]

I Have had the Note 3 for a year, the Note 4 is a much better build.  I will be looking at the next generation as mine is still going strong.

I use the S pen all the time.  If you haven't downloaded Stylus Beta, what are you waiting for!

I don't hunt and peck through text or email, I just write.  The recognition is even good enough for passwords.  It is my default input.  Second choice is swift key.  if you have access to the play store, you can watch a demo of the S pen with Stylus Beta in action.  If it can decipher my chicken scratch it can do anything.  (Ok, it is really impressive)

The S pen with the S memo app are also very handy.  I am as paper free as possible.  i write a note, and it saves till I erase it.

if you don't need a calendar that syncs, there is even an app called 'Hand Calendar free' from Asia.  It's a simple calendar app that lets you write in notes and adds icons for each on the date.  Too bad it can't sync or it would be my only calendar app.

I haven't filled up the 32gb of onboard storage, but I had so much trouble with only 16 GBS that I am glad of the real estate.   I found a couple of great free MP3 downloader and built a nice stash of music to listen to.

Camera is fantastic.  Onboard video editor is pretty good and accurate for cutting.  Photo gallery allows you to make a note on the back of pictures. (Handy for adding who, what and where!)

I Can't say enough good about it.  I wanted it for months before I got it.  Very pleased with it.

THe Note is my second Samsung phone, I had the S3 before it. 

[dilbertaz]

How is the Stylus Beta (MyScript Stylus beta is that the right one?) different than the built-in handwriting pad (part of the samsung keyboard settings is an option to show handwriting pad when s pen is pulled out and needing text entry).  It looks the same as the one in the stylus beta and works great even with my chicken scratch cursive handwriting.

[mama23dogs]

Yes, that's the right app.

the built in memo pad is stylus ready.  But the rest of the phone is keyboard driven, which is too slow and un natural for me.  by replacing the keyboard with handwritting as primary input, I find text and emails much faster and easier.

i Tried it on my S3, but it needs the S pen to make it really work well.

[dilbertaz]

If I go into Language and input and select the settings wheel next to Samsung keyboard at the bottom of that is a checkbox for Pen detection, when turned on and my pen is pulled out I get the handwriting pad instead of the keyboard for any textual input in any application, not just the memo pad.  It may be a Note 4 specific setting, I don't know, but achieves the same thing as that app I believe.  I need to change my avatar, I keep seeing yours and confusing your postings with mine. 

[mama23dogs]

Yes.  Change language and input default to stylus beta.  To stop the memo pad from popping up, change the s pen settings to do nothing when S pen is removed.

[mama23dogs]

I Wish I could use one of my dogs as Avatar, I have 3 big rescue mutts.  Train dogs for a living.