As part of our series on the Samsung Galaxy Note, the first thing we noticed men say about the Samsung Galaxy Note is "it will not fit in my pocket" then they say it's too big. At SIGGRAPH, this week I carried a Samsung Galaxy Note with me throughout the event along with a regular 4" smartphone.
The Samsung Galaxy Note is not much taller than the Samsung Galaxy S III, the major difference is the width and design for note taking.
The Galaxy Note easily replaces a small notepad and takes up the same amount of room as a large pair of sunglasses.
To make things easier for note taking I carried around the Samsung Galaxy Note in a press pouch which is about the same size as a passport holder. As you can see in the photographs, the Samsung Galaxy Note is also slightly shorter than a checkbook holder but wider.
If you compare the Samsung Galaxy Note to a cordless landline phone from a few years ago, it looks small in comparison.
The nice thing about the Samsung Galaxy Note is that it can be used in place of a tablet and what we are trying to determine if it can be used in place of a notebook computer. The ultimate task will come when I write an entire article including photographs on a Samsung Galaxy Note using handwriting recognition.
The Samsung Galaxy S III comes with different software than the Samsung Galaxy Note . The major software you'll be using on a Samsung Galaxy Note relates to the S Pen (which does not come on the SG S3) and media sharing software on the Samsung Galaxy S III including the ability to stream video via AllShare and S Beam to other Samsung Galaxy S III smartphones. The Galaxy Note comes loaded with Polaris office, S Memo and S Note.
As far as color options go, the Galaxy Note comes in white or black. While the Samsung Galaxy S3 comes in white or blue for most carriers and red at AT&T. A black version of the Samsung Galaxy S III is rumored to be coming out soon.
Both devices have Super AMOLED touchscreens however the wider Note is 1280 x 800 pixels wide the S3 is 1280 x 720 pixels. Both have 8MP cameras while the Note does not have image stabilization.
As far as size goes the Note is 5.78" x 3.26" x 0.37" while the Samsung Galaxy S III is 5.38"x 2.78" x 0.34". The Samsung Galaxy Note was released earlier this year and has one gigabyte less RAM (1 GB Note/2GB S3).
A larger more powerful Samsung Galaxy Note is expected to be announced on August 28 which may cause a price drop for the Note. The Galaxy Note became available from T-Mobile this week.
If you want to choose which device according to the Olympic Games, both of them appeared in the Olympic opening ceremonies 
while all athletes received a Samsung Galaxy S III. therefore both are Olympians.
The Samsung Galaxy Note has a feature that allows you to operate with one hand. The reviews of the Samsung Galaxy S III have been excellent. Earlier reviews of the Samsung Galaxy Note were favorable but reviewers didn't understand the software which has since been upgraded.
To help you decide if you want a Galaxy Note is not size but function. It you like to take notes with handwriting and be able to see what you are writing the Note may be for you.
The Galaxy Note offers the phabulous phablet capabilities in a manageable size. The proof is in the plumbing, because my plumber took great aplomb in showing me his Galaxy Note, and I may soon go over to the phablet side, when I write an entire article on it.
When I attended SIGGRAPH, I recorded videos using the Galaxy Note of Kinect animation and LED wireless for toys, magic wands and hugging.
I haven't given the Note true consideration but this post has inspired me to do so since the new version will hopefully be announced in a few days. Good to see other contractors using high-tech toys.