Tablets are becoming more popular but is the world ready for a 12-inch model that pretty much runs on steroids?
Samsung is betting it is, with the new Galaxy NotePRO 12.2-inch Tablet available in all stores now, $769.99. It has an incredible resolution of 2560×1600 pixels translating into a very tight 247 pixels per inch. It includes a 32 GB memory and a MicroSD slot for up to 64 GB more memory. It uses the same Exynos 5 Octa (8-Core) 1.9 GHz Quad + 1.3 GHz Quad power, similar to the previous 10.1 NotePRO model.
The back 8 megapixel camera with AF flash and full HD video is welcome as is its thinness and lightness considering the expanded real estate screen. The front is 2 MP.
Initially I kind of thought it was too big for a tablet, competing with more capable hybrid Windows laptops. But you won’t find a 12 – inch 2560×1600 pixel screen for that price running Windows 8.
After using it for a few days, I got comfortable with the larger screen that affords more stuff to do on one larger screen, especially the Multi-window mode. That is Samsung’s smart add-on (of many more) on top of the Android 4.4 KitKat OS. It lets you open four adjustable windowed apps (two more than before) and run them on one screen. You can also open smaller Pen Windows apps on top (see photo) like calculator. Taking a page from the iPad “What will your verse be” the Note Pro 12.2 will let you work on four verses on one screen!
Samsung’s TouchWiz interface makes getting around settings and customization easy, as usual, with helpful hints along the way.
The included and rather pervasive magazine style Magazine UX new widget-Flipboard amalgamation becomes home for your news, sports and feature feeds. It sometimes gets in my way but is fun to use if you want to pass the time and catch up on reading the latest on a gorgeous large screen.
Along the several hundred thousand Android Apps, Samsung includes its own eclectic collection of apps that bring out the best on a tablet of this size, like Sketchbook Pro.
My overall impression? This no doubt is the best, and priciest tablet around. I don’t mind the faux leather back with stitching. And Samsung has managed to push the envelope on plastic metal like finish. My only criticisms are the S Pen is slightly sluggish when continuous freehand writing, but most first time users won’t notice. And the Remote PC is more suitable for copying files than running apps. If you already have a new Windows 8 laptop, maybe not, but if you are tiring of the iPad family then you owe it to yourself to check out this sharp piece of engineering slate and software.
The following apps, some extended trials, are included in the Note Pro. Bitcasa; Bloomberg Businessweek+; Blurb; Cisco WebEx Meetings; Dropbox; Easilydo Pro for Tablet; Evernote; Hancom Office for Android; LinkedIn; LIVESPORT.TV; NY Times; Oxford Advanced Learner’s A-Z; Remote PC; Sketchbook Pro
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