Processor: Intel Core Duo (T2300/ 1,66 GHz) 2 MB Cache 667 MHz FSB
OS: Microsoft Windows XP Home
RAM: 1.024 MB PC2-4200 (1 x 1.024)
HDD: 100 GB SATA 5.400 RPM (doubts here)
Display: 15.4" WSXGA+ (1680x1050) Glare TFT
Graphics card: ATI X1600 256 MB
Optical Drive: Ultra Slim DVD-Super-Multi Dual Layer burner
Communication: Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g, 100/1000 Ethernet, 56K V.92 Modem, Bluetooth 2.0
Extras: Remote control in the Express Card slot
Case: Silver Magnesium-alloy case
Battery: approx. 3 Hours
Service: 24 Months On-Site for the whole Europe.
Weight: approx. 2480 gramms
Price: £1135 together with shipping.
Display:
No dead pixels on the screen, but there are some interesting artifacts are visible on a black background when viewed from the side. See the picture below.
The resolution is 1600x1050 and I am actually running at a resolution of this despite having a less than perfect eyes. It's surprising myself that I do not want to lower the resolution. When lowering the resolution text was crisp and clear and I do not think this is just a service ClearType. Set the resolution is something that I am always afraid of doing it on the LCD, based on my previous experience. However, this screen may take just ANY resolution you like.
Regarding the brightness, I use it mostly indoors, where it is convenient bright or dim - as I want it. In direct sunlight is helpful, but not bright at all, color is hardly noticeable. Brightness setting is not remembered on restart, unless one uses the Battery Manager - more on this later. There is no light leakage or uneven backlighting large.
Keyboard:
This is something I'm not happy with. First of all, has got the German signs on it, but this is the most annoying. Disturbance # 1: The PageUp / Down / Home / End / Del / Insert key so that is not appropriate simply put, look at the picture below.
I can not navigate using the buttons without having to check each time before I use them - like a time waster. Fn / Ctrl swap button:
And there is no option in BIOS to fix this. Keyboard combinations like CTRL / SHIFT-X is a headache with my well-established and proven finger-layout. Left SHIFT key is also very short, on the other side of the right is great in my opinion. Although very disturbing, as time passes, I will definitely get used to the layout. There was something but now it will not solve: the sensitivity. Interference "Main" is a keyboard sensitivity in general, but especially the SPACE BAR. If I touch him on the right side, I heard a 'click', however, had no effect. I ended up writing several words together without spaces - even while typing this review. Somehow it really needs a touch harsh I do not get used.
I started using the mouse begins with the day 1 with this notebook, but a quick test did not reveal any problems with the touchpad. The buttons are easy to stiff, but not too stiff. Synaptics drivers can be installed, but it works pretty well even without them. Touchpad sensitivity can not be set without using the Synaptics driver suite, because most of the time I remained totally disabled touchpad. The problem is, I've found myself accidentally moving the cursor with your hands too often. These settings but can not remember between restarts.
Port:
X60 has the regiment throughout the port, unfortunately there are only 3 USB ports (two on the back) - this is a bit of a loss. If one is used for the mouse, and one for the webcam, there is only one remaining on the right side. It's a bit annoying, but then again, it's not hard to live with it.
There is no DVI port, however, was present in the port replicator is where you really need it. I do not expect to use the notebook with an external LCD panel without the port replicator. To connect a VGA ocassional satisfactory. In the "office" but you are, where your notebook will be most of the time, it is convenient to just push your notebook to the dock and have all the devices connected.
On the left side you'll find a VGA connector, ExpressCard slot, a telephone line, firewire port and audio connectors: Mic-in, Headphone-out and SPDIF. Important to note that the SPDIF is actually combined with headphone jack connector 3.5-out it. This is the first time I came across a solution like that, but I like it because it saves space! The ExpressCard slot is the home of a slim remote control. This is another useful tool. You can start and manipulate your favorite media player (but mostly just AVS) from your bed :)
Right there in front of the infrared port, in addition to the card reader. Do not expect the data transfer even though the FIR, it behaves like devices (Human Interface Device) compliant USB HID. It receives signals from the remote bundled and behave in such a keyboard. This also means that it is very unlikely that you will succeed WinLIRC hooking on it. However, if you make it work, do not forget to post "How To"
In addition we have S-video out, gigabit Ethernet connector, Kensington lock and holes for the AC power plug on the back. The right side of the notebook is completely occupied by DVD combo, leaving little place for only a single USB port and WiFi switch.
Speakers & Sound:
The speaker is really disappointing me. Not that I expect the BOSE or Harmann Kardon, but even my former HP NC6000 has a better sound. And if not better, than at least by some of the DBS hardware. The speakers are located at both ends of the black strip above the keyboard just a beeper. Internal soundcard is a very high quality though. Connecting my KOSS headphones, the music is truly inspiring. No hissing, no ambient noise, just pure sound, though rather plain. Fortunately, if the bass usually will not do it, there is always SRS! This makes the lower frequency is shaky. Built-in stereo mic to work really well with Skype, especially with the setting "sound". There is absolutely no need for a mic on the headset.
Heat and Noise:
Heat output is also on the left side, which is good! Wristpad not get warm even when the game (also good). 08XA new BIOS allows for operation without a fan really - you can not hear you run the notebook. HDD is also nice and quiet. You can leave the laptop running at night beside your bed for some P2P and will not disturb your sleep.
Software:
Operating system that was installed was German. Although I speak German, I just can not stand anything on a computer that is not English (I am Hungarian nationality), then the first thing is to reinstall the OS with Windows XP Pro. Not sure if I really needed 'Pro', but since I have it, it was the obvious choice. The installation was easy, all the drivers supplied on the DVD, and besides, you can download from http://www.samsungpc.com. Samsung bundles a utility, even though I did not find it useful. The most important (for me) is as follows:
MagicKB - ensuring extra keys on keyboard work and add a simple OSD
DISPLAYMANAGER - Is intended to replace the simple OSD MagicKB with both alpha-average graphics. I especially like this!
Samsung Battery Manager - I have installed, but to be honest, I do not use it. At this point (version 2.0.1.7), "Custom" profile does not allow you to specify different settings based on the status of the battery - this is disappointing. Only profiles that have been determined to have this capability, but than again: max brightness is too much for air conditioning and LCD brightness minimum is not enough to look nice when in DC. Auto-dim feature neat though.
Samsung Network Manager - I find it difficult to use this application and I do not really need it. May still be useful for some applications - allows to switch the network / proxy and possibly Wifi settings, although I have a problem with the latter. I can not set the Wifi as I like to use this utility. Built-in Wifi Windows administrator does the job instead.
Firstware Recovery Pro - is enough to create a disaster. Personally I would suggest you avoid it by all means. When I had my new OS installed, I want to take a snapshot of using this software, since the bundled. This application allows you to create a special partition that is intended for backup purposes. I myself, being the picky person I am, want to use the first partition (usually belonging to AVS NOW - correct me if I'm wrong). Firstware not allow it, on the contrary, it insists on cutting the back of my data partition [D:]. Well, take a few GB from the back of my drive. Chop it all right, but when I decided to delete the partition WHEREAS, because I just was not happy with Firstware. Suddenly all my D: drive is lost with all my data on it. I have to get the better of the knowledge and tools to recover the partition and at least some of the more important files that I already have it. From that point, I just proved my back to the utilities: Acronis TrueImage.
AVS Premium - Installed. A very nice full-screen application with DB media. I like it, but then again, I feel too big, plus it can not play Quicktime and RealMedia. Unfortunately this is the only application that is able to respond to those three special buttons on the side (Videoo, slides, music).
Cyberlink DVD Solution - Installed, but I have not used it ... yet. HDD is large enough to store all my files, and every time I need a media player, well, nothing can beat MediaPlayerClassic.
Performance:
SuperPi benchmarking and all applications have been presented by the previous reviewer, so I will remove this section. What really matters to me, is that ReplayGain in foobar2000 if the job runs at a speed of about 150x realtime, my favorite game (LiveforSpeed) reach 60-70 fps with 4xAA, 4xAF at 1400x1024, and that the SFZ soundfont player from the RGC: audio capable 64 polyphony with 32 quality settings with a 150MB soundfont. If you do not know what is and what SFZ soundfont, you obviously do not need it, and stop wondering about :-)
But then again, I could not remove the HD benchmark. Always the same processor in a particular laptop, but the HDD including varied very often, so here it goes. The following is taken from SIW:
Fixed hard disk media types
Model HTS541010G9SA00
IDE ATA Interface
Serial Number MP2ZM4X0H3W0BR
Revision MBZOC60D
Size 92 GBytes
Removable None
Location Secondary Controller - Master hard
Controller Buffer Size 7538 KBytes
The ability of DMA, LBA, IORDY_Disable, IORDY
Support PIO Mode 0-1 - 2 - 3-4
DMA SW Mode Support Not Supported
Supports MW DMA mode 0 - 1 - 2
UDMA Mode Support 0 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 (ATA/66) - 5 (ATA/100)
Current UDMA mode 5 (ATA-100)
Support NCQ Yes
Support IFPWRMNGTRCV Yes
SMART Support Yes
The only reservation I have here, whether it actually works using NCQ. It is said ATA interface (as opposed to SATA), but NCQ is supported. According to the manufacturer's website, this model supports only SATA drive 1.5GB / s (ie SATA1) and as far as I know, SATAII, rev. 2.5 is required for NCQ. So what?
Batteries:
A fully charged battery lasted exactly three hours for me, with WiFi, display brightness to the minimum and do the job 'office', browsing, editing documents and listening to music. Processor utilization is almost always zero in all these processes, so it is an indicator of performance. Of course with a full background or a 100% CPU almost touching one-hour battery 2, but given the powerful GPU, it can be justified. But no master stamina after all.
Conclusion:
I'm happy with my purchase, even though I mentioned above shortcomings. Everything turned out exactly the machine I had expected. This is clearly not a long-life battery ultraportable notebook, but the blended mixture of PC desktop-replacement multimedia notebook with that of the portable. They call studentbook. Feature-wise, it was a dream student. Everything you can think of. As far as price is concerned, although it's a very competitive price in the market, I still think this is a bit expensive for the average buyer ..
Pros:
CPU Performance
Large GPU
Light
Build quality
Remote control
Stay cool
High-resolution display bright
Calm
Many port
Cons:
Keyboard problem
Displaying artifacts
Some of the bundled utility has not matured
BIOS does not remember setting the brightness or touchpad status (enabled / disabled)
Rather poor speaker
USB connector on the right
