I was geeking out over how cool it was and figured it suited exactly what I needed.  Namely a phone and internet device.  Sure it would look like a big, flat brick if I actually used it as a phone in public but the headset that can with it was very nice but they needed to be replaced by a Bluetooth piece because the wire became seriously inconvenient.

Late last year I started to experience an incredibly annoying problem.  As with any piece of equipment that relies on software, there are bound to be the odd issue that pops up.  Things like slow speeds, apps crashing and such.  My Galaxy Tab decided to just shut down.  No warning it just turned off.

The first time it happened I thought it was odd and of course annoying so I turned it back on and went about my day.  Then sometime later it happened again.  Ok, now this has taken a step above annoying.  I started to use Evermore (damn cool app/website/program) to track when this happens.

I took it into Samsung service and they reinstalled the OS.  A few days later it shut down.  Sigh.  I went back again because now it was shutting down a couple of times per week.  They replaced the main board.  A week later guess what….yup, shut down. I went back and they replaced the battery.  I decided to see how this worked over a month.  It shut down once a week.

So back I go to Samsung (I had a Korean friend do all the talking) and they agreed to replace the unit.

Here’s where things are different I’m Korea.

When I went to the service centre, it was a Samsung service centre. They serviced any/all Samsung products.  The phone stores really only deal with contracts.

Now that Samsung agreed that the device needs to be replace through no fault of my own, and seeing as the device was on a payment plan, I got a kind of ‘release’ note from them.  This allowed me to go to my mobile provider(SKTelecom) and get an official contract release letter from them.  I am now free to go to anyone and get a new device and I will get a full refund for the amount I have paid so far on the Galaxy Tab.

I will say this.  The service (both Customer and mobile) has been good so zeroing complaints with that.  Too bad this shut down issue is marring an otherwise respectable company(ies) .

Ok now to see about my next device.  I know there has been two updates announced. The Galaxy Tab Plus (slightly thinner) and a Galaxy Tab 7.7(thinner still, lighter but bigger screen [7.7 obviously]).  While I would hate to kinda waste the new case cover I bought last month the 7.7 has a lot of upgrades that I would enjoy(faster, higher Res screen).  Guess what….not available.  Even getting another Galaxy Tab 7 is hard.  It is odd that Samsung can sell these outside of Korea (the Tab Plus was released Sept ’11 and the 7.7 Jan ’12) but neither in South Korea.

This is very depressing.  The Galaxy Tab so we’ll suited my needs.  The Galaxy Note is a nice device but significantly smaller and I already don’t like the 7″ screen for reading books.  A 10″ would be fine but the Galaxy series 8.9″ – 10″ aren’t phones, only data.

I have the option of keeping this device till I decide what I want to do.  I could wait and see if the 7.7 gets released here but who knows when/if that will happen.  Meanwhile I have to deal with shutdowns.

I could get a used Tab but it is used and no guarantee it will be any better and certainly no warranty coverage if I do.

I could consider going to two devices.  I am not keen on having a phone AND a tablet.  Seems overkill when the tech is available all in one right now.

The Galaxy Note is a nice device.  It would do most of what I already do.  It has a stylus and is touch screen as well.  I will have to revisit the keyboard as my two-thumbing keyboarding is pretty decent on the current Tab, not sure how a smaller device would be.

I have been testing voice-to-text and it works really well (You listening Microsoft?! Your software needs serious work!).  The only issue is talking in public is not ideal.

I have been toying with the idea of an E-Book reader. So maybe downsizing my phone and getting a wifi-only tablet would be a good idea.

Decisions, decisions, decisions.  I’ll be considering my options over the weekend.

Update: just checked in a store to get more details.  I forgot that I am one of the last people to have an unlimited data plan.  New plans, especially with the LTE setup, are gonna cost me more.  Sigh.  Really having a hard time of letting go of the unlimited data option now but the Galaxy Note is very cool and has some nice input features.  Almost makes the keyboard useless.