The Galaxy Note 2. My Reservation About the Device

The Phablet. A new word in the technology world my computer can't even comprehend. I'm adding it to my digital dictionary. Anyway, I want to talk about the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. It will be released in the US on October 24. It is a monster phone that is trying to redefine the category while creating its own category.

Here are the specs:

• 5.5 inch Super AMOLED screen
• 720x1280 pixels, 267 ppi pixel density
• Micro SD card slot 
• 2 GB of RAM
• Quad Core 1.6 GHz processor
• 'Super awesome' S-Pen
• Android Jellybean
• 8 megapixel rear camera

Pros to the Note 2 compared to the iPhone 5:

• 2 GB of RAM is what makes this phone a powerhouse. It can effortlessly open applications and run them together, but a lot of that is for the useless pop-up play feature.
• The screen size is mostly a pro, but also a con.  On the pro side, everything is easier to see and details are sharp. There is also a lot of room for the applications to spread their wings and despite the size, everything happens FAST. 
• The micro SD card slot is extremely useful.  Removable memory gives you the flexibility to have exactly what you want in your device. Maybe you have a SD card with a lot of pictures from vacation you want to share at a family gathering. Maybe you want some HD movies to watch on a long plane flight. Maybe you don't want to be handcuffed by Apple into spending more money on an iPad by going for 64 GB of storage because you're afraid to run out of room with so many cool games available with the new Retinal Display.....not that it happened to me or anything.....
• Otherwise, the iPhone is comparable in terms of the operating systems and cameras.

Cons to the Note 2 compared to the iPhone 5:

• My research indicates that, while the screen looks very sharp and colorful, it is not superior to the iPhone 5 and the Retinal Display.  
• After watching countless YouTube videos of hands-on demonstrations with the Galaxy Note 2, I came to the realization the screen was just too big. And that's coming from a guy who's 6' 4".  

• I really believe a smartphone should always remain comfortable to hold in one hand. Typing should be simple with just your thumb while you're moving or carrying something else. I do concede there is a function that shifts the keyboard to one side of the screen for thumb typing, but its a hassle to activate the feature and it makes the keys smaller and squished together.
• I am also not overjoyed with the S-Pen. I'll use a stylus on my iPad once in a while, but the touch gestures are more convenient and feel more natural. I do not want my phone being a two-handed device. I would use the S-Pen for detailed drawing or quick note taking, but that would not be very often.
• The review is kinda feeling like my Galaxy S III review and for good reason. The Galaxy Note 2 is only different because of the screen size. Everything about it rests on that hardware feature. The better processor and RAM are for the larger screen as is the larger battery and the S-Pen.  And I was already hot and cold about the Galaxy S III screen size.

While there is still a strange attraction between me and this device, I will sleep easy knowing I have the iPhone 5 at my bedside. The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 will only have a niche market, but it will receive strong reviews and be compared to the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S III. It's not a question of quality or technology. It's a question of comfort level and respecting the norm in regards to smart phones. This should be one very interesting holiday season.