The massiveSamsung Galaxy Note Pro , like the Microsoft Surface, functions best on a desk. Offering a 12.2-inch screen and weighing 1.65 pounds, it’s virtually identical to the Galaxy Tab Pro save for the addition of an S Pen stylus.
According to Samsung, the Wi-Fi version of the tablet houses a 1.9GHz quad-core ARM Cortex A15 chip and runs Android 4.4 (KitKat).
On our performance tests it produced a Sunspider score of 0.97 second (hitting the upper echelons among tablets), and a PeaceKeeper score of 815. For the sake of comparison, the third-generation iPad managed 516 in PeaceKeeper (higher scores are better).
You can configure the optional ($70) foldable cover so that it wakes and unlocks the tablet when you flip it back. The cover also doubles as a flimsy stand. To use the tablet as a laptop replacement, however, you’ll need to buy a Bluetooth keyboard and possibly a mouse.
Charging takes three to four hours, but battery life is excellent: You’ll see two, possibly even three days of casual use from its integrated 9500-mAh battery. In our looping video test, the battery lasted 8 hours, 37 minutes.
The 12.2-inch display boasts a resolution of 2560 by 1600 and a pixel density of 247 ppi. You can hook up an external monitor via an optional ($40) HDMI dongle.
Pulling out the S Pen triggers several options, including my favorite, the Pen Window. This mode lets you run a second app inside a window, providing Android with a desktop-like multitasking environment.
Even better is Multi Window mode: To trigger this mode, you swipe in from the right side, using a list of supported apps.
Dragging one app to the main screen fills it. Dragging a second one “snaps” the screen into two halves—and so on, up to four screens.
Productivity apps such as Cisco’s WebEx and Samsung Remote PC (an alternative to Microsoft Remote Desktop) are included. On Google Play, Hancom’s Hanword word processor costs more than $17, but on the Note Pro, it’s free, as are similar apps to view and edit PowerPoint and Excel files.
Aside from some possible font-compatibility issues, the Hancom apps work surprisingly well. Google’s own Quickoffice is also installed.
Android versions of virtually every productivity app you could want are available from either the Samsung app store or Google Play, adding up to a PC-like experience on an Android tablet.
Considering the sum of its parts, the Galaxy Note Pro is not only a viable choice for a tablet enthusiast but also an option for an adventuresome road warrior eager to leave the Windows world. If only Samsung could knock another $150 or so off the price.
Samsung Galaxy Note Pro (SM-P900)
PROS:
• Large, vivid screen
• Excellent battery life and performance
• Office and videoconferencing apps built in
CONS:
• No wired display connection
• Flip cover doubles as a flimsy stand
BOTTOM LINE:
This capable tablet offers a generous screen, excellent battery life, and access to plenty of productivity apps. Click Here to Buy
