Tab 3 8.0 is a winner

[trankster]

I am surprised there is not more discussion on the Tab 3 8.0. I could not be happier. My prior tablets were Nook Color rooted, Galaxy Tab 1 10.1 and Nexus 7 16gb. I really liked my N7 until it got laggy as the memory started to fill. I ordered the Tab 3 8.0 in large part for the expandable memory (I have a 64gb sd card installed), and also for the larger screen. What I got was much more. The battery life is quite good, screen display quality is excellent, there is no lagginess and apps seem to run smoothly and start up quickly, bluetooth connects to my BT speakers, no fatal errors, reboots or other misbehavior. Size, weight and thinness are small enough to make the tablet conveniently portable. I wasn't sure about speed with dual processors, but that does not seem to be a problem. I use mine for email, calendar, ebook reading, online forums, downloading photos from my camera for blogging and editing, music streaming, movies etc. and it meets or exceeds my expectations. All in all a very good tablet. I hope sales are strong and this is a winner for Samsung.

 

[HurrycaneJohn]

I agree Trankster! I have been very pleased with the performance of my Tab 3 8.0 and I would highly recommend this tablet to anyone who can afford it.

 

[007shark]

This is my favorite technology investment besides my desktop tower. I compared the specs and knew that a side by side comparison with other 7" tablets would hurt initial sales of this tablet. But I think this tablet is spectacular. It has many features missing from other tabs, and the extra 1" in screen size makes a world of difference. I think this tab will get popular at the holiday season. Samsung tabs seem to have great sale prices then.

 

[dan55]

agreed. it is a very nice tablet imo

 

[dan55]

it's a very quiet forum for sure

 

[n2bowling]

Nice thread, I love my Galaxy Tab 3 8". In another forum it was suggested to me to get the new Nexus 7 but I ended up getting the Sammy Galaxy Tab 3 8" instead and I am very happy with my purchase!!

 

[dan55]

yeah loving mine still

 

[HurrycaneJohn]

it's a very quiet forum for sure

Probably because this is the only forum devoted specifically to the Tab 3 8.0. Most of the other forums are Tab 3 forums which includes the whole line - 7.0, 8.0 & 10.1

 

[dan55]

hi. yes good point.. guess they are almost the same apart from the screen size

 

[HurrycaneJohn]

Actually, the 8.0 and 10.1 have more functionality then the 7.0 .... and there in lies the problem. The Tab 3 7.0 is the weak link and also seems to be the most popular seller because it is has cheapest price. Unfortunately, most of the weaknesses on the Tab 3 7.0 are attributed to the entire Tab 3 line in many of the Tab 3 generic forums. The truth is...

The Tab 3 7.0 doesn't have backlit Home and Back Keys
The Tab 3 7.0 doesn't support Move to SD
The Tab 3 7.0 has a smaller screen and less memory.
The Tab 3 7.0 has a slower processor
The Tab 3 7.0 doesn't support HDMI out

The Tab 3 8.0 and 10.1 have lager screens , more memory, faster processors, support Move to SD card ,support HDMI out and have Backlit Home and Back keys.

 

[dan55]

thanks for the info - thats why i like my t3-8
....just wish the good ol beeb would sort out the catch up tv download feature :/

 

[n2bowling]

How does the "HDMI out" work?

Thanks, Jake

 

[HurrycaneJohn]

How does the "HDMI out" work?

Thanks, Jake

You need to buy an HDMI A to A cable and a HDTV adaptor ( samsung sells one on their website for 20.00, but you maybe able to get one cheaper on Amazon or eBay)

You connect one end of the HDMI cable your HDTV set and the other end to a HDTV adaptor. Then connect the HDTV adaptor cable into your Tab 3 8.0 .

 

[brosko]

Actually, the 8.0 and 10.1 have more functionality then the 7.0 .... and there in lies the problem. The Tab 3 7.0 is the weak link and also seems to be the most popular seller because it is has cheapest price. Unfortunately, most of the weaknesses on the Tab 3 7.0 are attributed to the entire Tab 3 line in many of the Tab 3 generic forums. The truth is...

The Tab 3 7.0 doesn't have backlit Home and Back Keys
The Tab 3 7.0 doesn't support Move to SD
The Tab 3 7.0 has a smaller screen and less memory.
The Tab 3 7.0 has a slower processor
The Tab 3 7.0 doesn't support HDMI out

The Tab 3 8.0 and 10.1 have lager screens , more memory, faster processors, support Move to SD card ,support HDMI out and have Backlit Home and Back keys.

and the 8 is better that the 10.1. the 10.1 doesn't have multiscreen and also less ram.

 

[focused313]

i was at office depot tablet shopping and I decided on the gt3 8.0. I'm happpy I did. I previously had the acer a100 and the battery crapped out. I'm using this tablet as a head unit in my car and it's working great thus far.

load times are quick. its responsive and the screen looks good. The battery life has been wonderful, with bluetooth, gps, and wifi all going while I'm driving...I can leave it in the car for a day or two (after it's fiberglassed in it will charge on it's own).

the fact that it has a hdmi out works great with my flip down monitor. i chose it because of the bigger screen and the 64gb sdcard option.

 

[GirlFriday]

i was at office depot tablet shopping and I decided on the gt3 8.0. I'm happpy I did. I previously had the acer a100 and the battery crapped out. I'm using this tablet as a head unit in my car and it's working great thus far.

load times are quick. its responsive and the screen looks good. The battery life has been wonderful, with bluetooth, gps, and wifi all going while I'm driving...I can leave it in the car for a day or two (after it's fiberglassed in it will charge on it's own).

the fact that it has a hdmi out works great with my flip down monitor. i chose it because of the bigger screen and the 64gb sdcard option.

I would think twice about leaving it in your car. For one thing it'll be a theft magnet, and for another, electronic devices like tablets don't appreciate extreme temps like those found in a parked car during cold winter nights and sweltering summer days.

 

[brosko]

I would think twice about leaving it in your car. For one thing it'll be a theft magnet, and for another, electronic devices like tablets don't appreciate extreme temps like those found in a parked car during cold winter nights and sweltering summer days.

I agree, condition extremes in a parked car during the various seasons will more than likely kill the tablet in a relatively short time. Not to mention direct sunlight, temp changes causing condensation etc.

 

[Spikie]

I`m also very happy with the purchase of my tab 3 8". Was quite sceptical at first as I was unsure how I would get on with the screen size. I have a visual impairment. I need`nt have worried as I can use my fingers to tap and enlarge or just talk to write things. I do feel this is the best tab on the market

 

[trankster]

Update 3 months later. My Samsung Tab 3 8.0 has traveled from Caifornia to Western and Eastern Europe and back in my camera bag or backpack daily; uploaded and edited over 2,000 photos from my digital camera, blogged daily for 4 weeks of travel, read a dozen or so e-books, read online news and forums, Skyped and emailed--all with no issues. So called free WiFi at some hotels was another story, but my Tab 3 8.0 performed well.

 

[Sideman]

I bought a Tab 3 7.0 and did a lot of research first. According to what I found, the Samsung HDMI adapter is compatible with the 7.0, and my menu and back buttons light up just fine...but they do go out after a few seconds of non-use...to save some battery I guess.

From all I have seen, the 8.0 only has a bigger screen and more memory, which is good, and a slightly faster processor (1.2ghz compared to 1.5ghz). But, for the $100 difference, I think the 7.0 is the better buy.

I don't have an 8.0, but did seriously consider it. I just don't have need of a slightly larger screen, and have had no problems with the memory size, or processing speed of the 7.0...then again, I don't play huge games either.

YMMV

 

[brosko]

One awesome feature of the tab 3 8 is milti screen. I just love it. It makes it more like a computer being able to work on 2 things at once like that. Does the 7 have multi screen?

 

[Sideman]

Don't know Brosko. How would I find out? Is it in Settings somewhere?

 

[brosko]

it would be in the notification bar. but I just read on another site that the 7 does not have multi screen. you can still switch back and forth between apps however using the home button(push and hold, up comes list of recently used apps) so I guess it really is not a big deal after all.

 

[jjfad]

How much on screen time are people getting?

 

[brosko]

I get between 7 and 9, that's with 90-100% email and browsing ONLY, NO GAMES/VIDEOS.