Samsung Series 9 NP900X3A-B01 Laptop Review
The Samsung Series 9 NP900X3a-B01 is Samsung’s top-spec entry into the ultraportable laptop market. Designed to compete with the Macbook Air, this machine is not only very portable, but visually stunning. Although not cheap, the Series 9 falls far short of the top-end of the ultraportables price range which only adds to its appeal.
Key Specs For The Samsung Series 9 NP900X3A-B01
- RRP: $1349.00
- Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium
- Size: 12.9” x 8.9” x 0.64”
- Weight: 2.88lbs
- Display size: 13.3”
- Storage: 128 GB SSD
- Processor: Intel Core i5 1.6GHz
- RAM: 4 GB DDR3 (upgradable to 8GB)
- Battery life: 7 hours
Samsung Series 9 NP900X3A-B01: The Pros
Large Touchpad: Ultraportability often requires compromise, and space-saving design can mean a loss in comfort. Many ultraportable laptops suffer from small touchpads, but the Samsung Series 9 has one of the largest touch pads available. The smooth surface feels good to the touch and its size means navigating your machine whilst on the move is as easy as using a desktop.
In keeping with the stylish product design, the touchpad is also a clickpad. This means that there are no visible buttons below the touchpad, unlike most other laptops. Instead, the clickpad functions in a similar way to the Macbook’s – a simple press at the bottom of the touchpad serves the purpose of a mouse click.
Design: Many users of laptops, netbooks and ultraportable devices are concerned about product design. This is particularly true when considering high-end products where prices are high and users expect a little extra. On this front the Samsung Series 9 does not disappoint. The sleek and slim line design is complimented perfectly by the brushed metal casing, and the chiclet keyboard adds to the head-turning stylishness of the product. Flip-up port covers complete the minimalist styling and professional finish of the product.
HDMI: Most ultraportable laptops do not include HDMI connectivity. This means that they are unable to connect to HDMI devices such as HD televisions and monitors. For the Samsung Series 9 this isn't a problem. Bundled with the product is an HDMI adaptor that allows HDMI output through one of the built-in USB ports. This makes it possible to watch movies and view photos from your laptop on an HD television, maximising functionality to enhance the user experience.
Sound: Many users enjoy watching films and listening to music whilst out and about, and often enjoy sharing the experience with others. The speakers on this device are well above-average, offering excellent quality and good volume to ensure that both music and films can be enjoyed any place and any time.
Screen And Keyboard: For anyone wanting to use their computer on the move, environmental adaptability is vital. This is why the matte screen and backlit keyboard are such a highlight of this product. Working in low light conditions isn’t a problem thanks to well-lit keys that ensure you can see what you're typing even in the dark, and the matte screen means that working in bright light, and even outdoors, is never a problem.
Super-Fast Start Up: It can be very frustrating to wait for a laptop to start up after leaving it on sleep mode, particularly when you’re in a rush! Fast start up after sleep mode has always been one of Macbook’s greatest strengths, but now there is a rival in the form of the Samsung series 9. With Samsung’s innovative technology, the Series 9 is able to go from sleep to full operation in under 3 seconds. When you’re on the move and need to access information quickly this is a truly valuable feature.
Powerful: The Samsung Series 9 is a high spec product offering truly powerful performance. It’s 1.5 GHz dual core i5 “Sandy Bridge” processor works alongside 4 GB of DDR3 RAM and an mSATA SSD to provide high speed and great multitasking capacity.
Upgradable: If you still need a little more power from your ultraportable laptop then it’s easily had. The Samsung Series 9’s 4GB of RAM can be upgraded to 8GB very cheaply.
Battery Life: For ultraportable devices battery life is one of the most important features. The Samsung Series 9 is among the best in its category for this, offering around 7 hours of usage before requiring a recharge. This is more than enough for most long-distance journeys and means that you won’t need to worry about being interrupted whether you’re in the middle of work or play.
Samsung Series 9 NP900X3A-B01: The Cons
Storage: Many users of ultraportable devices require little in the way of storage space. This is particularly true of those who use their ultraportable laptop for little more than word processing and web browsing. However, for users who wish to store large amounts of data on their device the on board 128 GB SSD could prove limiting. For photo and video storage, or for applications which require large amounts of disk space like photo editing software, limited storage space is a particular issue. Alternative options include external HDDs, or cloud storage.
Bloatware: As with many devices, the Samsung Series 9 comes with its share of bloatware. The majority of users find this undesirable, which means having to manually uninstall all unwanted programmes. This takes up time and can be frustrating, especially when it is unclear whether a programme is bloatware or not.
Fingerprints: Although the metal casing and high-quality plastic of the keyboard look good, they mark with fingerprints very easily. For some this may not be a problem, but for others it will be. Whilst the materials from which the device are made are easier to wipe clean than many other products, it is still a chore having to do so.
Is The Samsung Series 9 NP900X3A-B01 Worth Buying?
Overall this ultraportable laptop is an amazing piece of kit. It rivals the Macbook Air in terms of power and speed, and comes in significantly cheaper. Whilst some rival products do offer additional features, these aren’t generally deal-breakers. The only serious flaw is the limited on-board storage, though this is the same with any other ultraportable using an SSD drive.