eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.
Samsung has officially introduced the Galaxy Note 10.1, a device that, for all intents and purposes, can be considered a true counterpart to both Samsung’s own Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Apple’s iPad. As one might expect, given the name, the device comes with a 10.1-inch screen and delivers Wi-Fi connectivity. It’s the successor to the 5.3-inch Galaxy Note.
When the device launches on Aug. 16 for a starting price of $499, one can bet the Samsung name will be enough to entice consumers to at least get a close look at it to see if it’s worth buying. If this tablet is similar to the others Samsung has offered up in recent years, there’s little debating that it’ll be a strong competitor to Apple’s new iPad.
Still, the Galaxy Note 10.1 is new. And some folks are still trying to figure out if it’s as good as it looks on paper. Simply put, it is. Read on to find out why.
1. It’s Samsung,isn’t it?
Samsung has proven itself as a superb provider of mobile products. The company’s initial Galaxy Tab was a winner and its smartphones continue to impress the market. Samsung followed up with the high-quality Galaxy Note. So it’s easy to see why so many mobile product buyers believe in Samsung’s products. Considering that, why wouldn’t they also look favorably on the Galaxy Note 10.1?
2. The price is spot on
Samsung has decided to start the Galaxy Note 10.1 out at $499. It’s the perfect price tag for the device’s value proposition. For the same price as an entry-level iPad, customers can get a device with a bigger screen, superior features and additional functionality, provided by the stylus. In terms of value, the Galaxy Note 10.1 is spot-on.
3. The design is superb
Looking at the design of the Galaxy Note 10.1, it’s hard not to find it appealing. The device is thin, not too wide and is light enough to stow in a bag and carry without much trouble. Samsung has done a good job at designing a nice-looking tablet.
4. The 1.4GHz quad-core processor is trouble for Apple
When customers consider the Galaxy Note 10.1, they will inevitably compare it to Apple’s latest iPad. Upon doing so, they’ll find that the Galaxy Note 10.1 is actually more powerful than Apple’s option, boasting a 1.4GHz quad-core processor. Apple’s tablet comes with a dual-core processor. That should appeal to tablet buyers.
Galaxy Note 10.1 Has Enterprise Appeal
5. It’s all about the stylus
It’s odd that tablets have been available for so long, but Samsung is really the first company to find a way to turn them into digital notebooks. To do that, Samsung is delivering a stylusâthe so-called S Penâwith the Galaxy Note 10.1 With help from the stylus, the tablet becomes a full-fledged slate and digital notebook.
6. An enterprise favorite?
It’s entirely possible that the enterprise might warm to the idea of adopting the Galaxy Note 10.1. With its stylus integration, it would seem that the Galaxy Note 10.1 would be ideal for folks who often take notes or want to sketch out some ideas in the office.
7. Multi-screen viewing
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 10.1 comes with multi-screen functionality. In other words, the device’s display allows users to view one screen on half the display, and another on the second half. It’s a neat implementation that can’t be overlooked when evaluating its software.
8. Unique additions like Smart Stay
Power handling is always a big concern with tablets. With that in mind, Samsung has built a valuable new feature into the slate that tracks the user’s eyes. If the person is looking at the screen, it’ll stay on. If they’re not, it’ll turn off. It might prove to be annoying to some users. But others should find that it’s a neat way to save power.
9. It builds on the first Galaxy Note
The first Galaxy Note was somewhat confusing to customers at first. The device wasn’t quite a tablet, but it also wasn’t a smartphone. Still, it was successful. The Galaxy Note 10.1 builds upon that and makes it a bit clearer to customers what it isâa tablet. That’s an important consideration as one considers the Galaxy Note 10.1’s broader market appeal.
10. It’s arriving comfortably between iPad releases
One of the big issues affecting any tablet nowadays is its launch’s proximity to the iPad’s first day of availability. Tablets that are shipped close a new iPad’s release date tend to get burned. But the Galaxy Note 10.1 is coming out months after the new iPad launched, and months before the next one will launch. It’s the perfect launch window. That should only help the device succeed.
Follow Don Reisinger on Twitter by clicking here