Samsung's Tab S4 Is Both An Android Tablet and a Desktop Computer (arstechnica.com)

Today, Samsung unveiled the successor to the Galaxy Tab S3 from last year. The aptly named Galaxy Tab S4 features a 10.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a 2560 x 1600 resolution, Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor with 4GB RAM, 64GB internal storage (expandable via microSD card) and 13-megapixel f1.9 rear-facing camera. Unlike the Tab S3, it includes Samsung Dex software that lets users connect a Samsung mobile device to a monitor and then use the device as a pseudo-desktop. Ars Technica reports: The first Dex dock came out over a year ago and was designed to be used with Samsung smartphones. Users could plug their device into the dock, connect it to a monitor, pair a keyboard and a mouse, and use the setup as they would a full desktop PC. The system ran a version of Android that Samsung modified to better suit a desktop UI, which included a lock screen and a task bar area with app icons. Dex on the Galaxy Tab S4 works just like this, with a couple of extra features that leverage the power of a tablet. When connected to a monitor, both the big screen and the tablet's screen can be used simultaneously. In a short demo, Samsung showed how the device supports up to 20 open windows at once and how features like split screen and drag-and-drop can be used just as they would on a desktop PC. Users can launch Dex when not connected to a monitor as well, and that produces the same modified Android UI on the tablet's 10.5-inch, 2560 x 1600 Super AMOLED display. When connected to a monitor, both the big screen and the tablet's screen can be used simultaneously. In a short demo, Samsung showed how the device supports up to 20 open windows at once and how features like split screen and drag-and-drop can be used just as they would on a desktop PC. Users can launch Dex when not connected to a monitor as well, and that produces the same modified Android UI on the tablet's 10.5-inch, 2560x1600 Super AMOLED display. The tablet carries a $649 price, but includes all the specs mentioned above, as well as support for signature Samsung features like Air Command, translate, and off-screen memos, and a redesigned S Pen.

Comments

nice

[zlives]

lets try this yet again and see how it doesn't work.

Re:nice

[Tough Love]

I think the bigger problem is that they didn't bother using a current gen SoC.

Absolute nonsense. This was already doable eight years ago with Xoom tablet, a fraction of the horsepower and memory of today's Tab. I am sure of this because I did it. Absolutely no issues with the hardware, the issues are all software: crappy mouse support, crappy cut and paste, near total absence of keyboard shortcuts, no draggable application windows, fucked up lame excuse for a task bar. Fix those and you could run full Libreoffice that same as your current desktop, not some crappy Android UI abomination.

It's just astounding that these small software deficiencies haven't been fixed for eight years. Samsung could have done it at any time, that would have been truly epic. But now they are finally doing it, please don't fuck up.

This unconscionable delay is mostly on lily liver Google. Smart People. Not.

Re:nice

[Tough Love]

In a KB/Mouse environment what is android going to give you?

Nothing, Android only takes stuff away. There is no valid reason for it. Bogus reasons include Google's complete domination of Android system development. Many users want to have for-real Libreoffice on their tablets but Google doesn't want that. They want to force users into their cloud and they are willing to torment a certain small but important segment of users to do it.

Somebody at Google is going to burn in hell for this. Not so long ago I was a big Google fanboy but now they managed to get me alienated to the point where I'm thinking a bust-up is the best remedy.

Re:nice

[Anne Thwacks]

crappy mouse support, crappy cut and paste, near total absence of keyboard shortcuts, no draggable application windows, fucked up lame excuse for a task bar.

You forgot to mention using stupid, half baked icons instead of drop-down hierarchical menus with text options for those of us who are not completely illiterate.

What's the screen resolution and type again?

[Brama]

This isn't clear from the obvious ad^W^Wpost!

The pricing is ridiculous

[guacamole]

I applaud Samsung for keeping the high end Android tablet products alive, but at 650USD (which is MSRP for base model), it's basically competing in the laptop territory. Moreover, would you spend this kind of money on a computer whose manufacturer does not guarantee updates after two years? (in fact, the first two years the updates can be also very spotty). Finally, considering the pricing, they could at least ship with with a 2018 SoC, instead of SD835 from 1.5 years ago.

While Android tablets have their niche in computing, most people treat them as a toy or as a media consumption device for streaming video, and such price is simply ridiculous.

Re:The pricing is ridiculous

[Anne Thwacks]

It could be, just by adding a standard windowing interface.

No - you have completely missed the point - It could be if they cut out all this locked-down shite.
A PC is when you can choose your own OS. Until then, it is just a noose for you to stick your head in.

Re:Battery?

[Tough Love]

having a "laptop-class" machine at this price without a removable battery is unacceptable anyway.

Not true. Just about any current tablet battery will outlast just about any current laptop. For desktop replacement you run plugged in. Think Biz trip. I'm not speculating, I've done it regularly. Only the Android GUI sucks, not this way of using a tablet.

Replaceable battery is another thing. It is common for a battery to die while the tablet is otherwise still perfectly usable. It better not be a big deal to replace it.

If you are actually concerned about battery life, external batteries are awesome, cheap and effective. This is way better than shutting down the tablet to change the battery, which is theoretical anyway because replaceable batteries are already as dead as floppy disks and aren't coming back.