Samsung Galaxy Note: Take it or abandon it

What can be called as a fusion between a smart phone and a tablet, the latest launch by Samsung in the Indian mobile handset market is the new Galaxy Note that boasts of a monstrous 5.3-inch WXGA 1280 x 800p HD Super AMOLED (Super Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode) display and is powered by a 1.4GHz dual core processor. As the new campaign from Samsung suggests “Freedom from multiple devices”, this is definitely a new product that is all set to open a new category in the mobile handsets market and thus targets people who want to buy both- a tablet and a smartphone, but can not/do not want to invest in both. The device also comes with smart pen that can be used to navigate and input handwritten material into the Galaxy Note apart from the usual touch screen features that will take commands from your finger's touch!

Apart from the unusually large screen that provides an exceptional viewing experience incomparable to a smartphone at present, the touch screen and advanced Smart Pen interface allows users to sketch, write, create and share more than ever before from a single device. The latest Samsung Galaxy Note runs on an Android 2.3.5 (Gingerbread) operating system platform and comes with an integrated 16 GB internal storage that can be expanded to 32 GB via the microSD card slot. The company has however confirmed that the device will be getting an Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich updated platform as an upgrade by sometime early nest year. On the connectivity front, the new Galaxy Note supports Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi, A-GPS, and HSPA+.

With the launch of Galaxy Note, Samsung also announced the launch of ‘S Choice’ category of Samsung Apps which have been specially designed for Galaxy Note’s Smart Pen feature. Among them, the S Planner, is a smart and intuitive scheduler that works as a comprehensive professional planning tool and another S Memo is a note-taking application. The screen is the biggest ever offered by Samsung smart phones that despite boasting of the power efficient Super AMOLED technology will consume higher volumes of power, and hence with the usual Li-on 2,500 mAh battery and it can not be undermined that upon use, the device may have a slight battery problem.

However, in consonance with the technological requirements of the new 3G technology in India, it does have a front camera sporting 2 mega pixel and a rear rather intriguing 8 mega pixel camera with action shot, beauty, panorama shot and smile shot functionality. The video recording with this device can be shot in 1080p HD on the integrated camera. Apart from being very slim (the dimensions of the device are 146.85mm x 82.95mm x 9.65mm), it weighs just 178 grams. However due to its big size, to use this device with one hand like any other cellphone will be a big difficulty which means a complete no- no at the time of driving (Well, good for the consumer's safety).

Also, holding the device next to your ears while talking also looks kind of weird. But the sheer size of the screen makes it a great device for reading, web browsing, and video playback. Also, all thanks to the Super AMOLED technology, the colours look vibrant, the text appears crisp and the visibility even in the sunlight is excellent.

And all of this at the introductory price tag of Rs. 34,990/- only. The company intends to sell 1-lakh units by the end of this year as the device is aimed at executives, professionals and creative people such as professionals in the film, advertising, fashion designing and architecture industry who can benefit the maximum out of this new hybrid design. Even though Samsung has done a great deal at bringing close the two devices namely a smartphone and a tablet in an altogether great package, how will it do in the Indian market is a matter of real contention. In a population where the high end phones are still subject to flaunt, it may do well, but then the basic difficulty in handling the device to fulfill the basic requirement of using it as a phone may repulse the target customers. So how does the Indian market react to the hybrid, is a matter to wait and watch.