If you were in my shoes...

atrain311 · Sep 4, 2014

Hi all, I respect this community enough to ask for your input.

By now we know there is a debate of whether the N4 is that much better than the N3 and to be honest with you, I love my N3 and would just keep it, but...

Each time I upgrade, which is usually every year, my wife is the beneficiary of my old model. So, the plan was that she would get my N3 when I get the 4. Recently, her N2 (my old phone) hit the pavement and the screen cracked, making it so she needs a new phone more than ever. Again, the plan was she would just get my N3. I'm not blown away by the 4, but would you still get it in my situation or would you push your wife into a different model (maybe the s5) if you liked your N3 as I do. Or, do you think it is just worth taking the plunge, getting the 4 and giving her the 3?

I know this seems trivial, but my gadgets are my thing so I would like opinions. Thanks so much!

Joe

rushmore · Sep 4, 2014

Nothing here seems to cause need to differ from your previous convention. The wifey is getting a great device with the N3 and unless Samsung screw up, you will have a great device with the N4.

Funny though I tend to notice more ladies with Notes than guys. My guess is because they have a purse to put it in.

$800 is too much for me since not seeing that much more phone over my S4. I am hoping the Note 3 drops to $500 at Verizon when the Note 4 hits

atrain311 · Sep 4, 2014

rushmore said:
Nothing here seems to cause need to differ from your previous convention. The wifey is getting a great device with the N3 and unless Samsung screw up, you will have a great device with the N4.

Funny though I tend to notice more ladies with Notes than guys. My guess is because they have a purse to put it in.

$800 is too much for me since not seeing that much more phone over my S4. I am hoping the Note 3 drops to $500 at Verizon when the Note 4 hits

I'd be lost without a Note device. All of my work is done on it and I'm not some fancy business guy, I'm just a first grade teacher. So, there's no phone for me without a stylus from here on out.

I guess my biggest thing and this is silly I know, is that when I went from the N2 to the N3, I felt like it was SO much slimmer and lighter that it made my day. I kinda feel like I'm taking a step backwards again with the 4 being a bit (and it is just a bit) bulkier.

Teegunn · Sep 4, 2014

atrain311 said:
I'd be lost without a Note device. All of my work is done on it and I'm not some fancy business guy, I'm just a first grade teacher. So, there's no phone for me without a stylus from here on out.

I guess my biggest thing and this is silly I know, is that when I went from the N2 to the N3, I felt like it was SO much slimmer and lighter that it made my day. I kinda feel like I'm taking a step backwards again with the 4 being a bit (and it is just a bit) bulkier.

Stick with your plan and upgrade. I would. And I use my note devices constantly for work (own several retail businesses). You name it I can pretty much do it all on this device. Payroll on my excel sheet I custom made on my PC transferred over and works fine on my N3 for example. Not having to hand figure payroll for over 20 employee's and not having to dig out anything but my phone (if I wish) is just one small example. The size is about perfect for me - it fits in my pocket no problems. Once in a blue moon I wish it was a tad smaller, but that is very seldom. Like I said, if I were in your shoes I would upgrade unless some kind of bad news, deal killer surfaces about the N4 before launch.

atrain311 · Sep 5, 2014

Teegunn said:
Stick with your plan and upgrade. I would. And I use my note devices constantly for work (own several retail businesses). You name it I can pretty much do it all on this device. Payroll on my excel sheet I custom made on my PC transferred over and works fine on my N3 for example. Not having to hand figure payroll for over 20 employee's and not having to dig out anything but my phone (if I wish) is just one small example. The size is about perfect for me - it fits in my pocket no problems. Once in a blue moon I wish it was a tad smaller, but that is very seldom. Like I said, if I were in your shoes I would upgrade unless some kind of bad news, deal killer surfaces about the N4 before launch.

Thanks, guys. The more I think about it and the more I come to grips with certain things like slightly larger, rear facing speaker (how do you listen to music in the shower without having to put your beautiful phone face down now?) the more I realize I'll be happy with this device. With the EDGE program, the N5 is just a year away if I'm really unhappy but I doubt I will be. The more youtube videos I watch, the more comfortable I feel. Thanks again for the input.

ronbien · Sep 5, 2014

Why not save a few bucks and get her a discounted Note 3 and then you would have the same devices? Seems like the best of your considerations.

zipred · Sep 5, 2014

My Note 3 has been just fantastic, and I've had a vast number of smartphones each and every year. My suggestion would be to buy the Note 4 for you and the note 3 gets passed on. I think once you've used the Note 4 for a short while you'll come to truly appreciate the upgrades and improved productivity from the next gen S-Pen it includes. Reading about the S-Pen specific software upgrades, you're one who like myself will really appreciate those.

Teegunn · Sep 5, 2014

atrain311 said:
Thanks, guys. The more I think about it and the more I come to grips with certain things like slightly larger, rear facing speaker (how do you listen to music in the shower without having to put your beautiful phone face down now?) the more I realize I'll be happy with this device. With the EDGE program, the N5 is just a year away if I'm really unhappy but I doubt I will be. The more youtube videos I watch, the more comfortable I feel. Thanks again for the input.

I've actually found that if you put the phone on it's back on a hard surface a rear facing speaker is louder than a bottom facing. The rear facing will reflect off of the hard surface creating, to my ears, a louder, fuller sound. Now of course I think two front facing would have been much better, but the difference between front/rear facing will be nil IMO.

drexappeal · Sep 5, 2014

atrain311 said:
Hi all, I respect this community enough to ask for your input.

By now we know there is a debate of whether the N4 is that much better than the N3 and to be honest with you, I love my N3 and would just keep it, but...

Each time I upgrade, which is usually every year, my wife is the beneficiary of my old model. So, the plan was that she would get my N3 when I get the 4. Recently, her N2 (my old phone) hit the pavement and the screen cracked, making it so she needs a new phone more than ever. Again, the plan was she would just get my N3. I'm not blown away by the 4, but would you still get it in my situation or would you push your wife into a different model (maybe the s5) if you liked your N3 as I do. Or, do you think it is just worth taking the plunge, getting the 4 and giving her the 3?

I know this seems trivial, but my gadgets are my thing so I would like opinions. Thanks so much!

Joe

Joe - I think ultimately, considering the circumstance, an upgrade has to happen (whether that be for you or her).

I had a longer reply in mind for you, but bottom line is that it'll really come down to what your wife's needs are (when it comes to a "new" phone). If she's open to other brands, the G3 might be appealing to her. Despite much of the criticism on here, I think the G3 is a significant upgrade from the Note 2. Considering it has the same size screen, but significantly easier to handle, I think that's a worthy consideration (if you don't end up getting a N4 and handing down the N3). Drawback is, if she's not tech savvy enough to troubleshoot on her own, it'll be up to you to maintain the G3. With the N3, it'll be easy, but with the G3...obviously, learning LG's UI has to be taken into consideration.

jolaw1 · Sep 7, 2014

How about getting her the NOTE 4 then you can stay with the Note 3? I am the one that usually gets the newer phone and passes my older phone down to my husband. He likes it because I get time to learn the new phone, then when he gets one, I can show him all the things I have learned.

atrain311 · Sep 7, 2014

jolaw1 said:
How about getting her the NOTE 4 then you can stay with the Note 3? I am the one that usually gets the newer phone and passes my older phone down to my husband. He likes it because I get time to learn the new phone, then when he gets one, I can show him all the things I have learned.

I'm going to come across like such a jerk and if you know me, I promise I'm a good guy, haha, but my wife doesn't treat her phones good enough to deserve the new one, lol. And she'll admit that. Dropping and breaking her n2 is the least she's done to it. She's dropped 3, count them 3 phones in the toilet including my n2 twice! She lost the n2 for days and by chance my daughter found it under the passenger seat in my my car. She just doesn't have that ocd that I do about caring for these babies.

I guess that's another part of my dilemma. ... after giving her my old phones it really is like saying goodbye because that phone will never be the same, lol.

Teegunn · Sep 7, 2014

atrain311 said:
I'm going to come across like such a jerk and if you know me, I promise I'm a good guy, haha, but my wife doesn't treat her phones good enough to deserve the new one, lol. And she'll admit that. Dropping and breaking her n2 is the least she's done to it. She's dropped 3, count them 3 phones in the toilet including my n2 twice! She lost the n2 for days and by chance my daughter found it under the passenger seat in my my car. She just doesn't have that ocd that I do about caring for these babies.

I guess that's another part of my dilemma. ... after giving her my old phones it really is like saying goodbye because that phone will never be the same, lol.

I have 4 lines on my account. My phone and one of my daughters (2 daughters) are the only ones that ever make it more than 6 months unscathed (we both keep our phones in good condition through our contract). Both other lines it is every 3 months they outright break or ruin their phone somehow to where they are now using a droid x and a droid x2 because I am not paying yet another $99 fee for insurance to replace yet another broken phone by them. So - take care of your stuff, you get upgrades. Don't take care of your stuff, those who do take care of their stuff get to use available upgrades. Simple and fair.

drexappeal · Sep 7, 2014

atrain311 said:
I'm going to come across like such a jerk and if you know me, I promise I'm a good guy, haha, but my wife doesn't treat her phones good enough to deserve the new one, lol. And she'll admit that. Dropping and breaking her n2 is the least she's done to it. She's dropped 3, count them 3 phones in the toilet including my n2 twice! She lost the n2 for days and by chance my daughter found it under the passenger seat in my my car. She just doesn't have that ocd that I do about caring for these babies.

I guess that's another part of my dilemma. ... after giving her my old phones it really is like saying goodbye because that phone will never be the same, lol.

If that is the case, Note 4 for you or Note Edge... LOL... And no, you don't sound like a jerk. Some people just aren't good at caring for devices. I know a few in my family.

MISS DIVA · Sep 7, 2014

My son(21 yrs old) has a penchant for destroying phones so I feel atrain31's1 pain

. I would sooner give a total stranger my old phone(pristine condition Note 1) to a complete stranger than hand it down to my beloved child.

Why don't you get her a Note 3 clone so when she drops it down the toilet, it won't make you weep in despair

.

atrain311 · Sep 7, 2014

drexappeal said:
If that is the case, Note 4 for you or Note Edge... LOL... And no, you don't sound like a jerk. Some people just aren't good at caring for devices. I know a few in my family.

The more YouTube videos I watch the happier I am about the N4. I think I'll really like the subtle design changes and overall I'm getting a phone like my N3 just on steroids.

As long as I can recover my s notes from one phone to the next (as I said, I use that feature daily at work either in meetings or with my students) I'll be a happy guy.

volimte21 · Sep 7, 2014

I think you should go for the Note4 and pass the Note3 to your wife , (I know she'll be happy) they are both awesome but, the Note4 is amazing am going to get the international

for me ,is like a mini pad

atrain311 · Sep 7, 2014

I know this isn't the Note Edge board but if I'm deciding between that and the N4 I think it fits here.

If you use your note phones heavily to take notes like I do, do you think that bent lip would make it hard to hold the phone while writing? That may be my deciding factor.

drexappeal · Sep 7, 2014

atrain311 said:
The more YouTube videos I watch the happier I am about the N4. I think I'll really like the subtle design changes and overall I'm getting a phone like my N3 just on steroids.

As long as I can recover my s notes from one phone to the next (as I said, I use that feature daily at work either in meetings or with my students) I'll be a happy guy.

One thing I discovered when backing up my Note 3,whe I recently got a warranty replacement, make sure you have also backed up the hidden files and folders. Unfortunately those don't show up when connected to a PC, so I ended up losing all of my Action memos.

I may try copying the files and folders via OTG next time, so I don't lose anything.

Teegunn · Sep 8, 2014

drexappeal said:
One thing I discovered when backing up my Note 3,whe I recently got a warranty replacement, make sure you have also backed up the hidden files and folders. Unfortunately those don't show up when connected to a PC, so I ended up losing all of my Action memos.

I may try copying the files and folders via OTG next time, so I don't lose anything.

You need to root to get to many of those files I believe. Yet another reason I must have root on all my devices.

drexappeal · Sep 8, 2014

Teegunn said:
You need to root to get to many of those files I believe. Yet another reason I must have root on all my devices.

Really? I thought Root was only required to get to the portion of the internal storage that isn't writable?

It would seem odd that the action memos are stored in a location where a user can't get access to them, without root. If Samsung did that, not a very smart move.

bubbameat · Sep 8, 2014

Keep with your previous logic. Wife+Happy=you being happy. AND you have the perfect excuse for a brand spanking new N4. Give in! Give in to the temptation.

atrain311 · Sep 8, 2014

bubbameat said:
Keep with your previous logic. Wife+Happy=you being happy. AND you have the perfect excuse for a brand spanking new N4. Give in! Give in to the temptation.

While married for 11 years, we will have been together 20 this December (high school sweethearts). I can agree with your assessment. "If mama ain't happy, no one is happy"

Like I said, I'm going to pull the trigger (now deciding between the Edge or N4...all depends on if I can hold the Edge firmly enough to take all the notes I need to everyday)...and my S-Notes and Action Memos HAVE to come over to the 4, so if anyone has good advice on how to do that without root, I'm all ears!!! Thanks!

drexappeal · Sep 8, 2014

atrain311 said:
While married for 11 years, we will have been together 20 this December (high school sweethearts). I can agree with your assessment. "If mama ain't happy, no one is happy"

Like I said, I'm going to pull the trigger (now deciding between the Edge or N4...all depends on if I can hold the Edge firmly enough to take all the notes I need to everyday)...and my S-Notes and Action Memos HAVE to come over to the 4, so if anyone has good advice on how to do that without root, I'm all ears!!! Thanks!

Joe - I'd pop into a Best Buy and speak with the Samsung Experience folks, to see if action memos can be ported over without issue.

Just remembering how upsetting it was that S-Note was completely changed on the Note 3 with no "easy" way of synchronizing S-Note on the Note 3 with the Note 8...That was such a downer because it made it so easy for me to synchronize my work and personal business notes between the Note 2 and Note 8.

Of course, I had the Evertnote workaround (which still kinda sucks and doesn't really work the way I'd want it to), but considering Note taking sounds just important for you as it is for me...that's definitely a "must ask" question, before making the jump.

atrain311 · Sep 8, 2014

drexappeal said:
Joe - I'd pop into a Best Buy and speak with the Samsung Experience folks, to see if action memos can be ported over without issue.

Just remembering how upsetting it was that S-Note was completely changed on the Note 3 with no "easy" way of synchronizing S-Note on the Note 3 with the Note 8...That was such a downer because it made it so easy for me to synchronize my work and personal business notes between the Note 2 and Note 8.

Of course, I had the Evertnote workaround (which still kinda sucks and doesn't really work the way I'd want it to), but considering Note taking sounds just important for you as it is for me...that's definitely a "must ask" question, before making the jump.

Great advice, thank you!!!

Teegunn · Sep 8, 2014

drexappeal said:
Really? I thought Root was only required to get to the portion of the internal storage that isn't writable?

It would seem odd that the action memos are stored in a location where a user can't get access to them, without root. If Samsung did that, not a very smart move.

I wasn't specifically talking about action memos (I've never used them on my N3), but yes, for complete data transfer most times you need root. I mean, what good does it do on the google play store to re-install apps on your new device but not the app data?? And that is exactly the biggest fail I have always had with Android - horrible backup service. It's also why I root - to be able to move apps and their complete data to a new/different device. That is what I was referring to with my root comment.

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