Thanks to you too. Glad that can have some healthy discussion with fellow LYN members.
Ok, about the better performance, I do understand on how you view it as something of not much significant although given that you've already understand some of my points. But personally, I'd say it's more about future-proofing (not really the correct term, though) over the course of the phone's first year span. Initially, all people can see is that it's faster and with potential of expanding further, but that's not the end.
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That's where the App Store comes into the view. Big developers, especially the ones doing AAA titles, do actually have early access to the hardware some weeks before it's being launched (already detailed by Anandtech on last year's iPhone 4S). Now back to the videogame example, it's also a practice widely done in that very same industry. Developers get in the know of what capability the hardware has. As for the outsiders, they can predict on how much the capability it gonna target, and start building from that. Albeit being a bit tougher, getting the OS preview much earlier through beta version does make dev's life more easier.
So you may ask why the above. Just take example of some gaming app, FIFA13 and Sky Gamblers : Air Supremacy and get them onto previous devices pre-4S. Run them and all you gonna get is Sky Gamblers Lite. Run FIFA13 on iPhone 4 and it tends to have its animation lag (most likely gonna resolved in future through the "Lite" route, if you catch the drill).
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It's not just a question of performance, or about how fast it can run. It's the performance being made into use for the particular device. And it's about assuring on getting the full experience of a newly-made app, of which Apple is actively working with some devs in the background. And you don't see that level of collaboration even on Nexus-class device. Madfinger's Dead Trigger preview on Google IO doesn't count, since Tegra 3-based devices already hit market 6 months prior that.
This is abit resembling on how the console games are made. They were only given some outlines and APIs, the alpha hardwares can be only some computers with the targeted hardware capability (for the xbox360, they were given custom Mac Pros as alpha device although it's not even accurately representing which capabilities does the console gonna arrive with). That was enough to get them start working with a preliminary target specs in mind, and after that they were given real development boards. And finally the near-final hardware.
Now imagine if these doesn't takes place in the whole timeline. People buying a PS3 are gonna get really pissed off since their visuals are limited to PS2-quality for its launch year. Oh boy, seems that I've been out of topic a bit.
To make it short, they make sure that the extra oomph in their hardware doesn't left untapped for the device's premiering year. And they're not throwing out new specs just for the sake of telling us "Wow, that's fast".
But still, if significant performance increase is still negligible for you, then I'd say the original Galaxy Note should already suffice. It also falls into JellyBean rollout, which makes more than enough for new buyers. Also if you do really notice, the
upgrade from Note - Note II is actually a reenactment of iPhone 4S - iPhone 5 upgrade situation. Roughly twice the performance, while being physically taller. I'm not joking.
As for Note or Note II, it's still a solid device to own. What I'm just trying to outline here is that both falls under very different category. It's not like a good thing to make a poll on how a van fares compared to a lorry.
So my rumblings aside, judging from my personal view on performance, your current iPhone 4 is so much due for an upgrade, no matter for iOS or Android's latest. But then, going straight to either latest device will only further proves my point. And yup, either side do have their own pros and cons for sure.
But, if writing and drawing is your main priority then you may not even need to head to Play Store at all. Preloaded apps are already great to showcase its unique selling point. btw, apps being optimised for GingerBread doesn't mean it can't be run on newer devices though, so that doesn't sound so bad. It's just that newer improvement that are OS-specific aren't making way to the app, so they're not going for its total potential, while it's 100% working fine on the same time.
About physical appearance, this round it won't matter much. Since both aluminium and plastic are supposedly scratched-off easily,
both will end up in cases most of time anyway.
So yup, go ahead and get the Note II if you might. It is the most powerful Android phone available on our shores to date. That tempted me to replace my current Android device (hey, I do droid too!) but then I'll be better off wait for the next Nexus device. I'm just not really convinced with manufacturer's own tinkering to the OS, but that's just me. Apart from the Exynos 4 Quad stuff that I've mention previously, though. And another thing I do despise is its charging time, especially if travelling only with its USB cable.
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Still, my most likely numero uno going-to device will be an iPhone 5. Well, each to their own. No devices are made equal, me guess?
The more I read your post, the more I'm pulled back to iPhone. Maybe I should reconsider rather than regret. I'll reply a full post later tonight. Busy right now.
Finally back at home to reply to this post.
I think I'm gonna go with the Note II. I like the creativity and productivity part. I need a bigger phone (sign of getting old) and I like the big screen, the photos looks better though the camera lose out to iPhone 5 but naturally bigger screen = bigger photo = more appealing.
I'm probably at that point where I'm sick of iOS, I want to go back to Android, regret and come back again in iPhone 6 or 7. It's just a change but I really do appreciate your input as you've taught me things that I didnt know and I still dont understand but it makes a lot of sense to me.
I might regret getting the Note 2 but least I wont be bored with that same old iOS look. My friends are warning me that it will be very exciting to see my reaction when a custom ROM crash on me. I will probably root the device at a later stage but not flash it with customs due to bad experience during my HTC Desire days.
Let me go back and read what you wrote about the Exynoss 4 Quad stuff, I forgot... But anyway, once again, thanks for your input.
Btw, I just realized all the spoilers you placed have contents in them. I've missed reading them! LOL!