On paper, Samsung's new Galaxy Note 8.0 tablet is a perfectly fine piece of hardware.
It runs Android 4.1, has a 1.6 GHx quad-core CPU, 2 GB of RAM and an 8" 1280 * 800 super clear LCD Display. there is also a 5MP Camera, a 2MP front-facing sensor. Tablet mainstays like 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4GHz and 5GHz) Wi-Fi support, Bluetooth 4.0, and GPS are included as well as a gyroscope, accelerometer, and a digital compass. The tablet will come in both 16GB and 32GB varieties.
If you've spent any amount of time with the Note II, you'll know what to expect from the Note 8.0 as its external design is incredibly similar. You get the same all around plastic build -- ringed here with metal -- ports for microSD and micro-SIM, 3.5mm headphone jack and physical home key.
But where the Note 8.0 strays is one of its key improvements: users can now effect the capacitive menu and back buttons using the S-Pen stylus which brings in all manner of Air View and handwriting / formula / shape recognition to the mix . Admittedly, it takes a bit of retraining to get used to... you'll want to use your finger out of habit, but it's a wonder Samsung took so long to implement something so crucial. So, you can officially hang up that gripe right now.
However, while the Note 8.0 looks a lot like the Note 2 in terms of spec, other features have been added such as a dedicated e-book reading mode that adjusts the contrast and resolution to save reader eyesight. Reading mode and Smart Remote are clearly the Note 8.0's two biggest software features.
I personally think as an 8-inch tablet, it'll compete directly with the 7.9-inch iPad Mini. I'd say the success of the Mini can be directly attributed to its size, weight, and app offerings. Samsung seems to have delivered on the former two with the Note 8, but is unfortunately still reliant on the Google Play store for the latter. While the store continues to improve its offerings every day, it's still nowhere near as compelling as Apple's App Store.
