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Pricing and Release Date in the US...
- Thread starter drexappeal
- Start date
SixtyDashOne
Member
It's probably about what you might expect. The speakers obviously are not facing you (looks like they are on the bottom edge of the device, if you were holding it portrait style). I did watch some Netflix on the 8 last night with just the 8's speakers (American Horror Story ftw) to test them, and I did not really find myself wishing the speakers were better. I mean I felt that they're definitely "good enough" for being tiny things and watching Netflix or Youtube. But usually when I'm watching video like that I have got my earbuds in, so the built-in speakers are kind of a moot point for me anyway. This was done in the house though, so I'm not sure about if you were in a noisy environment.
The Note 8 seems to be roughly about as loud as the Note 2. I have email going to both devices and the notification whistle usually goes off one right after the other, and they seem about the same, I can't tell which is which. I have never had any issues hearing the Note 2 though anyway, even in loud environments.
M
Member 536573
Guest
Personally, I'm happy as a clam w/ the sound & speaker volume.
No complaints here at all. I wish the volume rocker was on the left side like it is on the Note 2, but no biggie.
No complaints here at all. I wish the volume rocker was on the left side like it is on the Note 2, but no biggie.
they have "stereo" mode, but with them both being on one side, it's just a bad experience. they get plenty loud, it's just unbalanced. the quality i'll leave up to someone else to describe, as i'm... what's the opposite of an audiophile? it really should have one on the top and the bottom.
doesn't bother me much, other than the "it cost $400, and this should have been fixed on the first development pass" factor, because i use headphones more often than not.
ScandaLeX
Wasn't Me
I'd probably use it like I do my phone. When around other people I use a headset but alone, especially when taking a bath I use a BT speaker.
Also I'm no audiophile by any stretch of the imagination so the 8 will serve it's purpose.
I wonder what the thinking was in placing both speakers at the bottom knowing in landscape they're now on one side.
Also I'm no audiophile by any stretch of the imagination so the 8 will serve it's purpose.
I wonder what the thinking was in placing both speakers at the bottom knowing in landscape they're now on one side.
NeoGrandizer
Android Expert
Not just one side. I can easily see myself covering one of the speakers when holding the Note 8 in landscape. Thus sound will be muffled. That's why I like the Note 10.1's speaker arrangement. My hands don't block the speakers one bit. I'll get full sound out of them.
I often find myself covering the back speaker of the Note 2. I don't adjust my hand positions though as it is the most comfortable position I have when holding the Note 2 in either landscape or portrait. That is a major downside for me. I don't use headphones because I wear glasses and become very uncomfortable after a while. Even earphones will be uncomfortable after a while.
I often find myself covering the back speaker of the Note 2. I don't adjust my hand positions though as it is the most comfortable position I have when holding the Note 2 in either landscape or portrait. That is a major downside for me. I don't use headphones because I wear glasses and become very uncomfortable after a while. Even earphones will be uncomfortable after a while.
NeoGrandizer
Android Expert
Delete. Duplicated post.
SixtyDashOne
Member
Not just one side. I can easily see myself covering one of the speakers when holding the Note 8 in landscape. Thus sound will be muffled. That's why I like the Note 10.1's speaker arrangement. My hands don't block the speakers one bit. I'll get full sound out of them.
I often find myself covering the back speaker of the Note 2. I don't adjust my hand positions though as it is the most comfortable position I have when holding the Note 2 in either landscape or portrait. That is a major downside for me. I don't use headphones because I wear glasses and become very uncomfortable after a while. Even earphones will be uncomfortable after a while.
If you're holding it in landscape, couldn't you just flip the device so that the speakers are on the other side from your hand? If I hold it in landscape I usually hold it with my left hand with the speakers firing to the right. If I wanted to hold it with my right hand, I would think you could just flip the device so that the speakers are firing to the left.
I do agree front-facing speakers would be nice, but they probably would have increased the bezel size too much which I am guessing is why Samsung did not go that route.
I am somewhat of an audiophile with a killer 7.1 setup in the living room, and I still have no beef with the 8's speakers. I mean you can only realistically expect so much out of 2 tiny speakers that are smaller than a postage stamp combined.
You may want to look into a good set of earbuds. I wear glasses at work and I'm sitting in front of a computer monitor all day. I have a set of Sennheiser earbuds that are very comfortable. They came with 3 different sized rubber tips so you can fit them to your ear canal. I like earbuds because they don't interfere with my glasses. I have them in my ears for most of my 8hr day while at work and don't find them fatiguing on the ears at all.
ScandaLeX
Wasn't Me
Earbuds aren't an issue. I've got a bunch of them around here and if I want truly loud volume I can always connect to my BT speaker.
Since there wasn't much info available via Google I figured what better place than here to get some real opinions about the volume from people who actually have the device.
I realistically don't expect it to sound like a booming system and the comparison that it's on par with the Note 2 volume is good enough for me as I feel the volume on my Note 2 is incredible.
Thanks all for your input....keep your opinions about the overall tablet coming.
Since there wasn't much info available via Google I figured what better place than here to get some real opinions about the volume from people who actually have the device.
I realistically don't expect it to sound like a booming system and the comparison that it's on par with the Note 2 volume is good enough for me as I feel the volume on my Note 2 is incredible.
Thanks all for your input....keep your opinions about the overall tablet coming.
NeoGrandizer
Android Expert
I hold with both hands as it's comfortable when typing. I keep the buttons to my right hand for easy access. I rarely handle the device in landscape one handed. I only handle it one handed when holding in portrait mode. Even with that, my left hand blocks a good chunk while I'm writing with my right. Ergonomically speaking, I suffer little fatigue when holding the device. However, to achieve this, I always end up blocking the speaker. I tried holding it different ways, but suffer fatigue quickly. But that is how my hands work I guess.
They went that route with the 10.1. I don't believe it would have increased the bezel by much. The HTC One is now following the 10.1's example. The issue, I think, might be more with the implementation of the hardware buttons on the 8.
Lopsided sound if held in landscape. Also, holding comfortably in 2 hands while in landscape may block and muffle sound coming from the speaker. One also never cranks past a certain point for sound as distortions may begin being heard. This is just me and my preferences. I'm sure others will be fine with it and should not affect them in getting it.
I think the issue is more of the rubber/silicone tips irritating my skin after awhile. They feel comfortable at first, but then become uncomfortable because of my skin becoming irritated. I guess it's more of a sensitive skin issue. If I consider a tablet (or mid-size) I expect to do some things with it.
And I don't ever plan on playing a movie in portrait. I want to see it fully on the entire screen...
drexappeal
Extreme Android User
WTH...Note 10.1 increased in price again. I bet that was done, just to justify the 399 price tag on the Note 8.0!...LOL...What a crock.
Best Buy has the 16gb Note 10.1 at $479 right now, instead of the 449 that it used to be at. 32 is back up to 529. Maybe I shoulda jumped on that one when I had a chance. Oh well. Guess I'll just wait awhile.
Best Buy has the 16gb Note 10.1 at $479 right now, instead of the 449 that it used to be at. 32 is back up to 529. Maybe I shoulda jumped on that one when I had a chance. Oh well. Guess I'll just wait awhile.
SixtyDashOne
Member
I went to Best Buy today and they STILL don't even have the 8 on display. I know they have them in stock, but they are only displaying the 10.1 and the Tab 2, etc. Makes me wonder what's up with that.
SixtyDashOne
Member
The funny thing is they have an open spot right next to the 10.1, which is where it would logically go, but it's just not there. They told me they got it in stock on the 11th, and still have not put one on display. There is no clue to be had throughout the store that the thing even exists, aside from the fact that they have the official book cover for it hanging on the rack in the accessories section.
NeoGrandizer
Android Expert
Can you check and see if another dealer has it for cheaper? Then ask BB to price match or beat the price?
In Canada, the MSRP for the Note 8.0 is $429.99 and the Note 10.1 is $499.99. We don't have the 16GB Note 10.1 version. Still that price is just ridiculously close to each other with the 10.1 still offering better value for the buck.
ScandaLeX
Wasn't Me
Are you saying the 10.1 is the better tablet?
Elaborate please.
drexappeal
Extreme Android User
NG said better value for the buck. I interpret that as saying, it's better to buy the 32gb 10.1 at 499 than the 16gb 8.0 at 429.
"Better" tablet is a little subjective.
NeoGrandizer
Android Expert
As drex stated, a better value. Bigger screen real estate, 32GB storage, camera flash, 2 stereo front facing speakers, split or cascade screen support for supported apps, etc. When someone looks at price and feature set, the 10.1 has the better value and feature set compared to the Note 8.0. Or at least to me. If I did not own either, the 10.1 so far beats the 8.0 in value for the buck. Especially when the 10.1 was on sale for $20 more than the 8.0.
Drex, you might find this interesting: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2244428
drexappeal
Extreme Android User
The main thing that doesn't make this a viable option for me is the fact that media files are extremely important for both my personal and work life. I have my Sprint and International Note 2's, both with 64gb microSD's, and both cards are practically full (Maybe around 4gb remaining...if that) and the internal storage on both, only has about 800mb remaining.
I'm sure that if I rooted and uninstalled some apps and got rid of some files that I don't necessarily need, that would free up some space without a doubt. I just haven't had the time to make sure I know what I'm doing as far as rooting and more importantly, recovery back to OEM.
Anyhow, easiest option for me is to have a higher capacity internal storage, so I won't need to pull the tricks like swapping directories. Realistically, all I'd like to see is a formal statement from Samsung stating they either will or won't be offering the 32gb version. I'm still pretty much set on getting the Note 8.0 (too many advantages over other choices for me not to get it), but I'm basically trying to be as patient as possible when it comes to purchasing, since I don't intend on changing tablets for a while.