My Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Review

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Review

Today I will review my Samsung Galaxy Note 2.  This unit was from SUN Cellular's Data plan P2,499.  With the addition of a thousand bucks and this unit will be mine after 30 months.  Anyway, the reason that I am getting the plan is for business use. The good thing about the plan is that it can call free landline calls and also have an unlimited data plan.  So here goes the review.

Screen and Size

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is quite incredible to look at.  It is a huge phone with a 5.5 inch AMOLED screen. This simply means that you can view more detail in every picture, text, video that you can play with this baby.  The Note 2 simply is an elegant device to put on the table while you are having a meeting with somebody.  No doubt that it can attract attention especially when the screen turns on if a text message or an email arrives.  The good thing about having a big screen is that it is very pleasurable to view videos and has a larger perspective of the pictures taken from its camera.  The Galaxy Note 2 is quite annoying when you operate it with only one hand. I often get false touches causing you to lose focus to whatever you are doing.  The screen is stretched out up to the side edges so a small overlapping finger would definitely trigger a tap.  But nonetheless the viewing experience is very good.  Good thing I have a large grip but there were times that I dropped the phone on the sofa while holding it with a single hand.

Network

The SUN Cellular Network is not that advanced compared to other providers like Smart and Globe. I think it was just recent that they upgraded their mobile internet into HSDPA. This is because previously, I always get a GPRS and EDGE signal from my past Prepaid SIM Card. It was just now that I am experiencing fast HSDPA speeds using SUN Cellular Network.  Well of course, that is my own opinion. For those who are already enjoying SUN's Mobile Internet then you do the talking.  As for now I often get EDGE signal from my screen and it is more than sometimes.  But when I get to have an HSDPA signal then I can send and receive emails fast.  Even downloading is quite fast. But since I always travel going from a part of the city to the next then the signal is really annoying.  There were these times where I cannot be reached by some of my contacts and wonder why this is happening when I am always on a full GSM Bar.  I called up SUN Customer Service and they told me that this sometimes happen to Galaxy Note 2 units.  They said that I should turn-off the WCDMA function in the setting in order to be reached.  This I did not agree, as what is the purpose of having an unlimited internet connection if you turn it off?  Anyways, that happened only twice and it usually happens when I am in the province which adds up the province's limited network capability.  So overall the Network experience using the Note 2 is not that nice.  Of course there could be a different story when you are using Globe or Smart. So I won't be the judge of that.

Processor

The Note 2's processor is 1.6GHz Quad-Core.  My comment on this is that is quite fast for a cellular phone to have.  It has almost the same processor speed as compared with my Intel i3 Laptop.  I have seen this video on Youtube where this guy actually used his Note 2 as a personal computer. No wonder, this baby has lots of juice, sometimes I think that it is overpowered as to where the rest of the resources will go. Based on the performance of the processor I have only one problem with it.  When I attach pictures to emails or in facebook it takes time to load the picture thumbnails on the process of selecting one.  I don't know if it's the processor's fault or the file allocation of the built-in memory or it might be that I am using a crappy SD Card.  If Samsung can improve this then it would be a perfect device in terms of performance.  I am not into playing games with the Note 2 as my apps are the boring ones like Unit Converter, VidTrim, Zinio, and Kindle.  I am not the gamer type so please forgive me for not including the games in this review.

Operating System

The Operating System is an Android 4.1 (Jellybean).  The system is very nice with the default home screen and the default Samsung system apps.  That is why I added extra skin on it with the use of GoLauncher and other alternate moving wallpaper to make it quite appealing to the onlookers.  If you want to improve your user interface then try looking Coldfustion in Youtube.  Actually this is my third Android Device so I am somewhat familiar with the interface.  I have been using Apple iPod Touch for years already and sometimes I find some functions in the iOS not present in the Android system.  It's like having a hangover over drinking apple juice the night before.  But overall the Android system is quite useful rather than visually appealing.  Apple is apple while Google is google.  It's like comparing a Ferrari with a Porche, the one is good looking while the other is ugly.  The feel and look of Android is nothing compared to Apple but the functionality is quite endless.  What I really love about the Android system is that there are more free apps and it is very flexible. The Play Store does not require credit card details for you to download apps and the data transfer from PC to your phone is just like a cut and paste function on a USB thumb drive.  What's even good is that all movies, videos, music files are viewable under the Android system. Only the .MOV cannot be played but the rest is no problem. No conversions needed and no waste of time and money.  Overall, the Android Jellybean makes me a happy man.

GPS

One app that I always use is the Map.  But sorry to say that the built-in GPS sometimes misses the exact location to where I am standing.  Maybe because of the slow cellular network that is aiding the GPS receiver or the GPS receiver itself.  But overall, I use this as secondary to my Garmin.  It is easier to navigate with the Note 2 because of the more responsive Google Map.  Another downside is it does not display all the alternate routes at the same map displayed giving you just one choice of route when travelling.  I hope that I just haven't discovered it yet or I hope that Google will add this up to their next update of their Google Maps.

The S Pen

This device actually replaced my small sterling notebook. This can accept handwriting as if I am using a Pilot ballpoint pen.  It is good in responding to hand writing.  But there were times when it lags especially when a lot of programs are opened in the background. Also there is a problem with the touch back button as it is oftentimes pressed when using the Note 2 on portrait mode while I am writing something.

Battery Life

The Galaxy Note 2 is a combination of a phone and a tablet. And due to this it enjoys an energy source same as a tablet.  With my normal daily activity: Evernote Note Taking, S-Pen Note Taking, Wifi Internet, E-mail sending & viewing, Mobile Internet, GPS navigation, and Facebook picture uploads, the Note 2 never failed on me when it comes to giving up it's juices. When I am fully charged in the morning leaving home, the recharge will be on the next morning. I really don't need to bring the charger and micro usb cable with me all the time. No need for a power bank also.

Camera

The 8 Megapixel Camera backed with an LED flash gives off more picture quality as compared with my Dad's iPhone 5.  The colors bursts out of the screen viewing it from the AMOLED display. And the auto-focus is excellent, almost works like a normal digital camera. There are really cool functions which I haven't explored yet but I find it quite useful from the persepective of my daily business use.  The only downside I see is that it takes a longer time to turn it on especially on candid shots unlike the iPod Touch 4th Gen I had before where there is an option of using the camera even if the phone is locked.  Maybe I need to research more of this function as soon as I get my hands free from my very busy daily business work.  I am no photo guy anymore but I find the Note 2's camera very useful especially when you need to photocopy a document or instead of copying the notes on a blackboard or whiteboard I simply just snap a shot and store it in my notes folder. You just have to take caution of your storage space since my Note 2's storage space is limited to just only 10GB.  I see that the specs in Samsung's website says that the minimum is 16Gig but mine's not the case. Usually I store pictures in the smallest size since the picture quality and the auto focusing is supreme, no need to worry about the quality degredation.  The smaller the picture, the easier it is to share or send via email.  The front camera is quite the mediocre one but enough to snap some decent shots but not in low light conditions.

Earbuds

The Note 2's default earbuds are one of the best I've ever worn.  I am not a big fan with in-ear earbuds. But the Samsung's earbud changed all that.  I enjoy wearing it even if I am just listening to audiobooks. When listening to lossless FLAC music the bass is superb with full rich sound coming in your ear. I am no Audiophile, all I want is a thumping bass and rich clarity of the music. Well this earbud satisfied my crave for it.

CONCLUSION

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is quite a beast and the 5.5” AMOLED display makes it one of the top Smartphone that really lives up to it’s specifications.  The usefulness of the device is the big plus for me, in fact, it literally replaced my small sterling notebook.  I can live without a laptop for weeks by just using this device.  For me it really outclassed the rest of the competition including the Big A.  The overall verdict is that it is worth the purchase on a 0% interest plan either in 12 or 24 months.  As long as you have it in your hands then it’s a worthy everyday smartphone at all.

Samsung Series 3 NP370R4E-S06PH

Airflow out

Right Ports

Left Ports

User's View

Before I bought this Samsung laptop I tried researching first some reviews about it but found none. That is why for the sake of the consumers here is my personal review of this product.

Hardware
Aside from having a third generation Intel i3 core processor (3120M), 4GB of RAM, 1GB of switchable Graphics, and a 14" matte finish screen, the next thing that I got attracted to was the internal hard drive of 1TB, or in other words 1,000GB of storage. Being always conscious about storage space, ever since I got used to the habit of conserving due to my old eMachines Netbook of only having 160GB, I won't be worried about it for quite some time now.

The design of the cooling system is quite better than the other choices. If you will notice the exhaust fins are at the back part instead of having it on the sides. This also gives the laptop to breathe more when you place it on a bed while typing or on a pillow, just like the design of Macbooks.

The screen size is just enough for viewing documents and texts. The matte finish is excelent especially when ambient light is high.

The keyboard keys are well spaced but i found the touchpad in a not so good position. My palms accidentally lifts the pointer somewhere else in the screen which is quite annoying when you are on heavy typing job.

The laptop's frame is made of plastic making it lighter but also making it feel cheap. And the white color gets other people think that its a Mac.

The 1GB graphics card helps a lot especially while playing 3D games like Black-Ops Modern Warfare.

The mostly used socket for me is the HDMI and the VGA port. Other things are quite mediocre.

One lacking function is the monitor off key which is handy when projecting the image on an external Television. This is a little bit annoying when you are watching a movie on a big screen and the laptop screen is also displaying it on its screen. Not a major concern but quite a bit for me.

Software
Having Windows 8 pre-installed is not a comfortable thing for me. Aside from myself being new to the Operating System, there are many things that are lacking as compared to Windows 7. One example is that the device drivers for printers are not yet available for Windows 8 which is quite a hassle. The Windows 8 apps which most of them like Mail, Skype, and Dictionary, are pretty slow as compared to the Desktop versions. It gives the impression that Microsoft is trying to be like Apple, simple & straightforward. And the Windows updates are killing time during restarts. And there are some programs that cannot be installed maybe because the system is already running on a 64 bit platform.

The only thing that is an advantage is that the sleep function is quick in terms of wake-up and putting it to sleep instantly by just closing the lid.

Performance
This laptop's performance is great in terms of the average daily tasks which multiple files and windows are open simultaneously. HD playback is a breeze especially the 1080p movies with DTS audio format. When using an HDMI cable and using my 32" LCD TV, watching HD movies are more enjoyable.

I have no problems in gaming since the laptop automatically switches its graphics to the 1GB external video card, so no frame by frame movement can be observed.

I also use video editing software like Adobe Premiere and video file conversion software like Xilsoft. There are no problems encountered whatsoever.

The major downside are the lack of device drivers and a horrific Windows update experience.

With 1 TB of storage, a fast processor and enough ram to use for major tasks, overall its a laptop that is worth buying.

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Philips SHL8805

I bought this pair of headset way back in 2011 when my wife was looking for another item to avail of SM's 6 months 0% interest installment option if your items to purchase is worth at least P5,000. I was looking for an item to fill the gap of P2,500 and what came to my mind was a pair of high quality headset.  This one came with a bang since it costs P2,990.00.  The main reason I chose this one is because it is the only headset in SM's Music Store that has a remote control.  The other choice was Audio Technica but it didn't have the remote feature.  Also, this Philips headset sounds almost completely the same as with the Audio Technica counterpart.  The black variant was much cheaper but unfortunately there was not one available so I was forced to just pick this white one instead.

The unit came with a 1.2m cord and the jack was gold plated (I think).  But the important thing for me is the bass and I find it quite strong as compared to some Senheiser headsets.  But the Monster Beats headset is one notch superior.  As for the midtones and the high ones are quite decent enough to hear what you don't normally hear from some earphones.

I also find it quite comfortable to wear but prolonged use makes your ear feel like a Munchkin. The reason is that it's just an on-ear type so it kinda squeezes your ears a little. Its also not difficult to store since you can twist both the left and right earphone to make it flat, perfect for storing in your backpack.

This one never failed to amuse me except for the white color which makes it quite flashy & makes it look like its more expensive than how it costs.

Headphones

Choosing the right type of headphones is quite gruesome sometimes.  If you are an audiophile you would opt for a more expensive one like Bose, Senheiser, Sony, or Shure.  But if you have nothing to spare for these expensive types, you would ought for cheper ones found in stalls inside the malls or even Green Hills.  But what about CD-R King headphones?  Since we have an internet shop we already bought a dozen types.  The first ones that I have bought were just the standard P60 type.  But it turns out that after just weeks your P60 is gone.  The material used was very cheap that it will easily break and the copper wires are so thin that your nose hairs are thicker and more durable.  But the P150 types are quite sturdy and lasts for at least a month. The latest headsets that we bought were the neckband types since there were no more headband types with  the linen ply all over the wires.

Well, it depends on how you will use it.  We opt to buying the ones which have linen thread surronding the wires thinking that they are durable looking compared to the ones which only have rubber wires.  The ones that lasts more are the neckband types.  As for the headband types the usual point of breakage is the part where you adjust the band depending on your head size.  Also, the wires that are found just beneath those adjusting headband types easily break when it is oftenly adjusted.  While on the necband type, there is'nt anything to adjust so the wires beneath the band are untouched.  Our last batch of headsets are the neckband types and it lasted for 10 months already.  It looks like that CDR-King headphones improved their design which made the quality of their headsets quite sturdier than before.  But of course the quality of audio isn't that good compared to the high end types but they are enough for a Skype conversation and Youtube videos.

Don't Worry, Know the Warranty

As on my previous posts, I have mentioned that I have two MSI Motherboards that failed.  These are 2 out of 10.  Thinking that the boards are no longer covered with warranty, since PC Express claims that there is only one year warranty for MSI motherboards, I tried to see what was really wrong with these boards.  There were no signs of burn marks, damaged components or anything.  I lost hope and thought that there will be two PCs in our shop with no motherboards.  One day I mentioned the problem to one of my officemate, who happens to also have a computer shop.  He told me that most of the motherboards have at least two years of warranty.  He suggested to look for the official distributor and call them to double check if the one year warranty that PC Express claims is valid.  So I did looked up in the internet and found in MSI's website that their official distributor in the Philippines is NetEssentials and their office is found in 8th steet along Boni Serrano which was quite near our office.  According to them the warranty of MSI boards is 2 years.  To my surprise, I jumped for joy!  My Mobos are still covered!  The following day I hurriedly brought the two boards to NetEssentials.  They did the necessary inspections like the one I did before, looked for any burn marks, damaged components, and the sticker with the serial numbers.  After been visual inspected, they gave me a slip and said that I can follow-up the status of the boards after 3 working days.  It took 1 week before the boards were replaced with new ones.  They said that the problem was the on-board graphics.  Although its been a week, it is better to have them back than not having them fixed or replaced at all.

This has been a lesson to me, that before having your device or any other electronic appliance or gadget repaired by yourself or an outside technician, know first if it is still covered with warranty.  Some brands let their products carry an international warranty.  This means that if you bought it from someplace else like Singapore, Hong Kong, or even in the US of A.

One of my experience regarding the warranty is repairing my 2nd Generation iPod.  After failure to repair it I delegated it to the Mac Center in Megamall.  After having it shipped to Singapore I found out that it was still under warranty with only a few days left for the warranty to expire.  They could have replaced it with a new one if it not I have opened it.

Recently, my boss asked me if I can fix his HP Netbook since it won't boot up.  My advice is to contact HP first and know if it is still under warranty and have them fixed it instead of me.  After one day he endorsed it to HP and they repaired it since it is still covered with warranty.  Unfortunately, HP will have to format the hard disk and reinstall the system including the OS.  Bummer.

So if you have a defective gadget, Do not worry, know the warranty!