Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 styles stylus in hands-on snaps

Run for cover folks, and grab all the canned goods you can -- Samsung's constructed an even more massive version of its Galaxy Note smart phone. This time it's a fully-fledged tablet, but like its slightly smaller predecessor the Galaxy Note 10.1 comes with an itty-bitty stylus, designed to lure creative types.

Click through the photos above to get an eyeful of Samsung's very latest Galaxy gadget, and read on for the skinny on this artsy new tablet.

As you probably guessed, the Note 10.1 features a 10.1-inch display, with a 1,280x800 pixel resolution. That's not a particularly large number of pixels, but at least you can use the built in stylu-- sorry, 'S Pen' to doodle on the display.

The S Pen boasts 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity, while the tablet has palm-rejection tech that stops the flat of your hand from registering on the touchscreen while you're doodling. My intrepid colleagues in the US report mixed results while using this technology, however.

There are several bits of software on board to take advantage of the stylus' powers, including note-taking apps and crayon physics games, but a touch-based version of Photoshop is the most intriguing addition.

The S Pen slots into the bottom of the tablet, which is actually a rather poor bit of placement as it means the stylus may fall out when you lift the tablet up. If you've got the Note 10.1 nestled in a dock you'll also find the pen's housing too close to the desk to slide the stylus out.

There's a 5-megapixel camera stuck on the back, while a quad-core tegra 3 processor gurgles away beneath the surface. Performance is solid when it comes to tapping through menus, but you'll notice a bit of unattractive lag as you slide through pages and apps.

UK pricing is still a mystery, but with the 16GB option costing $500 (about £320), don't expect the Note 10.1 to compete with the excellent Google Nexus 7, which can be yours for a wallet-pleasing £160. It's also powered by Android Ice Cream Sandwich rather than Jelly Bean, which is the latest version.

Are you intrigued? Or is this offering from Samsung not enough to charm your cash out your pockets? Tell me in the comments or on our Facebook wall.