This review is from: Samsung Series 9 NP900X3B-A01US 13.3-Inch Laptop (Titan Silver) (Personal Computers)
The Samsung Series 9 2nd Gen (SS9) is a beautifully crafted piece of machinery. This system is presented gorgeously straight right out of the box in its packaging and presentation. So far, I have no regrets on my purchase although it is quite a pricey system. Considering many people are familiar with the Macbook Air 13.3″ (MBA), I will frequently compare the SS9 for the rest of the review to it. Also, I did not purchase this system through Amazon but through a local Comp USA who was selling the system at $1299.00.
Display The display is 400 nits of brightness with a matte finish. It can easily be used in any environment whether it be dark in a room or outside on a patio in near direct sunlight. The MBA has a reflective screen with an anti-glare finish that still offers glare. The SS9 also comes with a higher resolution screen at 1600 X 900 compared to the MBA’s 1440 X 900. Honestly, higher resolution isn’t always better because it becomes more difficult to read text at higher resolutions. The display colors appear natural, bright and vivid. This is the nicest screen I’ve ever seen on any system. I do prefer this screen over any and that of the MBA.
Sound The sound is loud and crisp with a little bass to it. The MBA has a little more bass, but doesn’t go as loud. The sound is great for watching any streaming media and ok for listening to music. It’s a way better experience with audio watching movies on the SS9 than the MBA. The sound is seems more directional.
Keyboard The keys are shallow, square and flat. They’re not overally shallow like the Toshiba Portege, but I would say it has an acquired feel to it. Typing is smooth, quick, responsive and natural. Typing on this machine is different than the MBA. The MBA has more curvature and give to the keys. The back-lighting to the back-lit keyboard is the first of its kind. It projects an aqua-marine green color. I’m not a fan of it, but it gets the job done for those late nights. Also, the color prevents interfering with night vision. Although neat and interesting, I still prefer the white back-lit keyboard of the MBA over the SS9.
Trac-pad This system must have the most responsive and best trac-pad to date on any windows based system. My favorite feature is the two finger tap because I do not like to physically click the trac-pad out of personal preference. It is right on par with the MBA and responds nearly without flaw. I prefer using the trac-pad over a mouse on this system; most other laptops its the other way around. The trac-pad is glass covered with a black finish.
Connectivity Wireless (Wifi) works great. I don’t have anything to really put into perspective with this system other than my wife’s Toshiba laptop. My wife has three bars of signal on the opposite end of our home away from the router while this system still maintains a full signal. This is a huge improvement over the original SS9. Ports, you can check the specs. They’re nothing spectacular and I prefer the MBA’s multi-display port over the SS9 proprietary VGA dongle port that isn’t included with this system. This system does include a micro-HDMI port that I prefer to use with external monitors over the propriety SS9 VGA dongle. The proprietary ethernet dongle is included with this system so you do not need to use a USB based ethernet dongle to take up a USB port. There is an SD card reader under the chassis on the right side of the computer under a discrete flap.
Performance I have yet to hear the two fans kick on with this system (Yes, this system has two separately controlled fans). I have actually been able to look at the fans running independently at the bottom of the chassis, but I have yet to see both on at one time if they even come on at all. This system is also the most quiet and cool laptop/computer I have ever used. I’m shocked at how cool it runs. The only way for you to fully understand this is to see/experience for yourself. The fans hardly ever come on when running full screen video after an extended period of time. I would be concerned about a defect if it weren’t for the fact that I have seen both fans run before and the system puts off little to no heat which baffles my mind in such a slim form factor; this is one of the most unique things about this system. The responsiveness of this system is lighting quick for basic computing tasks, boot up and start up from standby. I believe the MBA comes with the 1.7Ghz ULV processor while the SS9 comes with the 1.6Ghz ULV processor. Either processor is preference and one is not much more powerful than the other; I prefer lower Ghz for longer battery life and cooler performance. I prefer the 1.6Ghz for heat dissipation and I didn’t purchase the SS9 for heavy computing like compiling video. I purchased it for school to type up papers and putting together presentations, writing/responding to email and a little media consumption. The MBA is…
This review is from: Samsung Series 9 NP900X3B-A01US 13.3-Inch Laptop (Titan Silver) (Personal Computers)
I love the Samsung Series 9 2012. I upgrade about one laptop a year (out of boredom, not necessity), and this has been one of my favorites. I had the previous 2011 model too. The 2012 is built solid and sexy. It is incredible thin, a smaller footprint then the Macbook Air even. What I love the most is probably the PLS screen… it is matted, great colors and viewing angels, high resolution, and has a tiny bezel – you probably won’t find a better screen then this. Images and videos come alive. The latest Samsung SSD inside is incredibly fast. The touchpad works very well for me, one of the best on a PC. The keyboard is a bit shallow, but after some time, I have gotten used to it. Ultraportable laptops aren’t for everyone, but if you are looking for one, I would recommend this.
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Samsung Series 9 2nd Gen Owns the Stupor Thin Category,
The Samsung Series 9 2nd Gen (SS9) is a beautifully crafted piece of machinery. This system is presented gorgeously straight right out of the box in its packaging and presentation. So far, I have no regrets on my purchase although it is quite a pricey system. Considering many people are familiar with the Macbook Air 13.3″ (MBA), I will frequently compare the SS9 for the rest of the review to it. Also, I did not purchase this system through Amazon but through a local Comp USA who was selling the system at $1299.00.
Display
The display is 400 nits of brightness with a matte finish. It can easily be used in any environment whether it be dark in a room or outside on a patio in near direct sunlight. The MBA has a reflective screen with an anti-glare finish that still offers glare. The SS9 also comes with a higher resolution screen at 1600 X 900 compared to the MBA’s 1440 X 900. Honestly, higher resolution isn’t always better because it becomes more difficult to read text at higher resolutions. The display colors appear natural, bright and vivid. This is the nicest screen I’ve ever seen on any system. I do prefer this screen over any and that of the MBA.
Sound
The sound is loud and crisp with a little bass to it. The MBA has a little more bass, but doesn’t go as loud. The sound is great for watching any streaming media and ok for listening to music. It’s a way better experience with audio watching movies on the SS9 than the MBA. The sound is seems more directional.
Keyboard
The keys are shallow, square and flat. They’re not overally shallow like the Toshiba Portege, but I would say it has an acquired feel to it. Typing is smooth, quick, responsive and natural. Typing on this machine is different than the MBA. The MBA has more curvature and give to the keys. The back-lighting to the back-lit keyboard is the first of its kind. It projects an aqua-marine green color. I’m not a fan of it, but it gets the job done for those late nights. Also, the color prevents interfering with night vision. Although neat and interesting, I still prefer the white back-lit keyboard of the MBA over the SS9.
Trac-pad
This system must have the most responsive and best trac-pad to date on any windows based system. My favorite feature is the two finger tap because I do not like to physically click the trac-pad out of personal preference. It is right on par with the MBA and responds nearly without flaw. I prefer using the trac-pad over a mouse on this system; most other laptops its the other way around. The trac-pad is glass covered with a black finish.
Connectivity
Wireless (Wifi) works great. I don’t have anything to really put into perspective with this system other than my wife’s Toshiba laptop. My wife has three bars of signal on the opposite end of our home away from the router while this system still maintains a full signal. This is a huge improvement over the original SS9. Ports, you can check the specs. They’re nothing spectacular and I prefer the MBA’s multi-display port over the SS9 proprietary VGA dongle port that isn’t included with this system. This system does include a micro-HDMI port that I prefer to use with external monitors over the propriety SS9 VGA dongle. The proprietary ethernet dongle is included with this system so you do not need to use a USB based ethernet dongle to take up a USB port. There is an SD card reader under the chassis on the right side of the computer under a discrete flap.
Performance
I have yet to hear the two fans kick on with this system (Yes, this system has two separately controlled fans). I have actually been able to look at the fans running independently at the bottom of the chassis, but I have yet to see both on at one time if they even come on at all. This system is also the most quiet and cool laptop/computer I have ever used. I’m shocked at how cool it runs. The only way for you to fully understand this is to see/experience for yourself. The fans hardly ever come on when running full screen video after an extended period of time. I would be concerned about a defect if it weren’t for the fact that I have seen both fans run before and the system puts off little to no heat which baffles my mind in such a slim form factor; this is one of the most unique things about this system. The responsiveness of this system is lighting quick for basic computing tasks, boot up and start up from standby. I believe the MBA comes with the 1.7Ghz ULV processor while the SS9 comes with the 1.6Ghz ULV processor. Either processor is preference and one is not much more powerful than the other; I prefer lower Ghz for longer battery life and cooler performance. I prefer the 1.6Ghz for heat dissipation and I didn’t purchase the SS9 for heavy computing like compiling video. I purchased it for school to type up papers and putting together presentations, writing/responding to email and a little media consumption. The MBA is…
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|Solid and Beautiful,
I love the Samsung Series 9 2012. I upgrade about one laptop a year (out of boredom, not necessity), and this has been one of my favorites. I had the previous 2011 model too. The 2012 is built solid and sexy. It is incredible thin, a smaller footprint then the Macbook Air even. What I love the most is probably the PLS screen… it is matted, great colors and viewing angels, high resolution, and has a tiny bezel – you probably won’t find a better screen then this. Images and videos come alive. The latest Samsung SSD inside is incredibly fast. The touchpad works very well for me, one of the best on a PC. The keyboard is a bit shallow, but after some time, I have gotten used to it. Ultraportable laptops aren’t for everyone, but if you are looking for one, I would recommend this.
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