Gotta Say - I Love This Freakin' Thing... Part Deux!

[billykac]

*Update 9/26/16*
The news of battery issues never really bothered me. Great products sometimes have issues to resolve - I really don't care.
The recall process looked promising at first, but Samsung, Verizon and Sam's Club, all dropped the ball. I leaned on them, hard.

Now, it's been about 4 days with my replacement N7, and I gotta say, I love this freakin' thing.

I am back with an N7 b/c there's just nothing on the market now, or expected to be on the market this year (yes, I am looking at you Pixels and V20) that even comes close, for me. iPhone is far too 2012 to even make the cut.

Happy to be back in the saddle.
-bk

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For any of you N5 forumites, you may recall a thread with this title from a year ago about my new N5.

So, I have to say again this year, I love this freakin thing! New year, new device.

For me...
- The most beautiful screen I've ever seen on any handset. Plus the edge feature makes it just that much more beautiful.
- Gorgeous design. Balanced. Feels great in my hand.
- Fast, fast fast. To be clear, there will always be comparisons with competing hardware, but please, this freakin thing is fast!
- Love the expandable storage. I have a 128gb card partially filled with FLACS. It's great not to have to have to stream.
- Audio to die for. As covered in another thread, through Level Pro BT in-ears, Audio-Technica over-ears, or Shure in-ear monitors, I am thrilled with the audio experience.
- Battery life exceeds my N5, which was more than enough to get through long days.
- USB-C is simple and seems to make a better, more secure connection.
- Iris scanner is killer. Unbelievably fast, consistent, works in the dark, through glasses, inside and outside. I almost never use the fingerprint scanner.
- Love the Samsung offers. Many of us got gift cards, a Samsung pay promo, and a choice of an amazing 256gb card or excellent Fit 2. Who else routinely does this?

Absolutely perfect? No. But for me, damn close.
This is a great device.
-bk

 

[ThrottleJohnny]

Re: Gotta Say - I Love This Freakin' Thing!

I'm so glad you are happy with your device! Enjoy. There is no experience better than a Note one Imo.

 

[skatergirl]

Re: Gotta Say - I Love This Freakin' Thing!

This is an awesome phone even if it is a little fragile. I love, love, love it.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Viscomi4444]

Re: Gotta Say - I Love This Freakin' Thing!

I'm loving my phone as well. I came from a note3 so it took some time to get used to. The battery is getting better and better by the day because its settling in. It's as snappy as I want it to be. Finally, a thread that isn't negative.

 

[dcooper830]

Re: Gotta Say - I Love This Freakin' Thing!

Yes!! I've had mine for 5 days now... struggled a little bit getting the tempered glass screen protector to work with the Otterbox commuter case... but I got it to work!

I was a little disappointed at first when I realized mine had a very slightly reddish pinkish hue... but actually realized I like that ... and I actually set the blue light filter to about 25% or so and keep it on all the time. Kinda gives the white backgrounds a slight strawberry almond color I really enjoy!

This phone is very cool looking.. and just about as fast as an iPhone... if not just as fast! I'm experiencing ZERO lag and fast fluid Performance!! Plus the screen is pure eye candy.

And, being a Note user since 2013, I use the S-Pen a LOT! Comes in handy for many different things.

I love the coral blue color! Looks very sleek and cool.

I've had every Note since the 2 .. and been extremely happy with ALL of them... and this Note 7 is no exception!!

 

[Jean Sagarese]

Re: Gotta Say - I Love This Freakin' Thing!

Loving mine too - figured out how to print tonight - coming from a iPhone 6 Plus

 

[billykac]

Re: Gotta Say - I Love This Freakin' Thing!

Forgot to list in my OP...

- Totally amazing camera.

I have been a photo buff for decades, plenty of lab time back in the day, lots of analog hardware sitting in the closet and lots of digital cameras sitting right next to them. The N5 and now the N7 is my go-to for all photography. This lens is unbelievably sharp, super-wide 1.7 aperture so low light is crazy good, Sammy's photo app is better than ever and the results... Damn. Nothing short of amazing, IMO.

I intend to make some time this weekend to crawl through all the manual settings and to try them all out. Funny, even though I am excited about having this manual control, I still opt for quick auto-everything settings for almost all of my pix.

 

[jimd1050]

Re: Gotta Say - I Love This Freakin' Thing!

I thought I recognized that "Subject Line" Billy! I gave you a great big "Ditto" back then and I'll give you a great big "Ditto" again now! I've had mine since Friday morning at 10:30 AM, as soon as I could get the AT&T Rep to let me hold the damned thing! And though I still loved my Note 5, especially since the Marshmallow upgrade, I have not been able to find anything I don't like about the Note 7 yet... it is "Freakin' Awesome"!

 

[dpham00]

Re: Gotta Say - I Love This Freakin' Thing!

Glad to see that you love it!

 

[ee_nay]

Re: Gotta Say - I Love This Freakin' Thing!

same i want to win it so badddd

 

[billykac]

Re: Gotta Say - I Love This Freakin' Thing!

My BT experience is also improved over every device I've owned thus far. I use BT speakers every day - different speakers in various rooms in my house. So, connecting speed and stability is something I am acutely aware of.

Even though my N5 had excellent BT, the N7 connects startlingly fast, and remains connected even when I pause the audio for quite a while. Absolutely no drop-outs either.

Yet another amazing aspect of the N7, IMO.

 

[billykac]

Re: Gotta Say - I Love This Freakin' Thing!

Just came back to drop another post based on my news feed in the past few days. It's so frustrating to see the endless negativity. I am seeing a stream of reports like:

- N7 can't compete with last year's iPhone
- XDA says outrageous lag overtakes Samsung phones after a few weeks rendering them unusable
- Verizon's N7 has broken firmware that needs to be replaced

I find this news buzz confounding when:
- The XDA site reports perfect/near perfect ratings, from it's own membership, across every aspect of the N7. Go visit the site and take a look.
- So many of us just don't report *any* of these issues. Is the silicon in our processors cut differently? Do all VZW customers have different firmware? Or is it more likely that we use our N7's differently and set-them up differently? Sure, there will be duds, which should be replaced, and there will be owners that prefer iPhones or some other device, and they should use what works for them.

If I go back and look at the Note 5 buzz-cycle from last year it was much the same. Haters hating, doubting and nit-picking. Many others (like me) not seeing any of the issues over a year of usage. Interestingly, this is the case for so many of the gadgets we've integrated into our lives. I bet if I changed the title of this post to...

**Warning: New Samsung Note 7 Eats Infants**​

... the read-count would be in the 10's of thousands in the first week. It would probably make it into my news feed.

For me, I am still in my first week of ownership, but just as with the N5, the N7 amazes - and even more so. It's great to have a forum within which to communicate this!

 

[cwbcpa]

Re: Gotta Say - I Love This Freakin' Thing!

Just came back to drop another post based on my news feed in the past few days. It's so frustrating to see the endless negativity. I am seeing a stream of reports like:

- N7 can't compete with last year's iPhone
- XDA says outrageous lag overtakes Samsung phones after a few weeks rendering them unusable
- Verizon's N7 has broken firmware that needs to be replaced

I find this news buzz confounding when:
- The XDA site reports perfect/near perfect ratings, from it's own membership, across every aspect of the N7. Go visit the site and take a look.
- So many of us just don't report *any* of these issues. Is the silicon in our processors cut differently? Do all VZW customers have different firmware? Or is it more likely that we use our N7's differently and set-them up differently? Sure, there will be duds, which should be replaced, and there will be owners that prefer iPhones or some other device, and they should use what works for them.

If I go back and look at the Note 5 buzz-cycle from last year it was much the same. Haters hating, doubting and nit-picking. Many others (like me) not seeing any of the issues over a year of usage. Interestingly, this is the case for so many of the gadgets we've integrated into our lives. I bet if I changed the title of this post to...

**Warning: New Samsung Note 7 Eats Infants**​

... the read-count would be in the 10's of thousands in the first week. It would probably make it into my news feed.

For me, I am still in my first week of ownership, but just as with the N5, the N7 amazes - and even more so. It's great to have a forum within which to communicate this!

Very well said. My experience with the N7 has been about as flawless as it gets, but as I noted(no pun intended) in another post, I have had a great experience with every phone I've had for the last 3 or 4 years. The Note line is my favorite, but I've had other Samsung phones, HTC, Motorola, LG and iPhone. They all worked great and I only switched because I wanted to try something new. Not because of some crazy thing happening with the phone.

 

[WeAreAllUnique]

Re: Gotta Say - I Love This Freakin' Thing!

One of the things I have enjoyed the most is the upgraded S-pen and the s-pen software. It makes writing notes or messages easier now than on previous Notes. The writing input box is much improved and more accurate. Love this thing.

 

[billykac]

Re: Gotta Say - I Love This Freakin' Thing!

One of the things I have enjoyed the most is the upgraded S-pen and the s-pen software. It makes writing notes or messages easier now than on previous Notes. The writing input box is much improved and more accurate. Love this thing.

Good point Doc. The whole approach to Notes has been simplified, while actually adding functionality. Nice job with design of that app.

 

[cwbcpa]

Re: Gotta Say - I Love This Freakin' Thing!

One of the things I have enjoyed the most is the upgraded S-pen and the s-pen software. It makes writing notes or messages easier now than on previous Notes. The writing input box is much improved and more accurate. Love this thing.

I agree. I really like all of the improvements to the S Pen and the software. The only thing I'm missing is Action Memo. I can't figure out how to get some of those functions back. I liked being able to jot a number down and add it to contacts later. I was excited to combine that with the always on display.

 

[Karen Hildebrand]

Re: Gotta Say - I Love This Freakin' Thing!

I love mine!! Im coming from a first release s6 edge that was nothing but trouble from the non rotating screen fixed with a patch to the 2 hour battery life, and too hot to touch..waited way too long to upgrade. This is my first note and wow, couldnt ask for a nicer phone. Love everything about it so far and Im sure theres way more to learn. Got the silver and its rocking with a slim profile rose colored case.

 

[ctk4949]

Re: Gotta Say - I Love This Freakin' Thing!

I love my Note7!! Wish it was the unlocked version tho. Stupid verizon!!!!

 

[billykac]

Re: Gotta Say - I Love This Freakin' Thing!

Got another point to add to the OP list above...

- Fastest wifi connection I've seen yet. At home, I have a fast internet connection and a high-performance router, so things are always good in these parts. The N7 wifi out-performs everything in my house: other phones, laptops and desktops.

I've owned it for a week now. Still discovering awesome stuff about the N7.

 

[cwbcpa]

Re: Gotta Say - I Love This Freakin' Thing!

Got another point to add to the OP list above...

- Fastest wifi connection I've seen yet. At home, I have a fast internet connection and a high-performance router, so things are always good in these parts. The N7 wifi out-performs everything in my house: other phones, laptops and desktops.

I've owned it for a week now. Still discovering awesome stuff about the N7.

I did a little test (not scientific at all) last night. I downloaded a video to an iPhone 6s last night and after it got to about 10% I started downloading the same video on my N7. The N7 finished and the iPhone was at 80%. Again, not scientific at all. Just two phones on the same wifi downloading the same video.