Samsung Series 4: the Thinkpad X220 killer?

Hey all, was looking around for X220 contenders and discovered that Samsung is also releasing new Sandy Bridge business laptops: the Series 2, 4, and 6.

The Series 4 caught my eye with its 12.5" version powered by the Sandy Bridge i3/i5/i7. Turns out they all have hard external casing, HDD drop sensor, and anti-spill design. Sounds like it might be the same durable design as the hyped ultra-light Series 9.

Announced on Engadget: Samsung serves up Series 2, Series 4, and Series 6 laptops for serious, professional types -- Engadget

Did some more research and found the model number of the Series 4 (NP400B2B), some specs, and prices.

From Priceguidenetwork:

Weight: 3.74 lb
Platform: Samsung Series 4 Model
Name: Samsung Series 4 Business Notebook (400B2B)
Description: Samsung 12.5 Series 4 Business Notebook PC
Screen Size: 12.5 LED HD Display
Brightness: 200 nit Display
Processor: Intel Core i5 - 2520M Processor
Processor Speed: 2.50 Ghz
Hard Drive Size: 320 GB 7200 RPM SATA
Memory Size: 4GB DDR3 expandable to 8GB, 2-slot SODIMM
I/O Ports: Docking Station Connector, 2 x USB 2.0, (1 Sleep-in -Charge, 1 USB/eSATA Combo 1 x USB 3.0) VGA, HDMI, Headphone in, Mic-in, RJ45,4-in-1 Multimemory Card Slot (SD, SDHC, SDXC, MMC)
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 3000
Optical Drive: DVD/RW Super multi Dual layer
Durability: Hard drive free-fall sensor, spill-resistant keyboard
Connectivity: Intel 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth V 2.1 high/speed, 10/100/1000 Mbps Gigabit LAN
Battery: 6-Cell 66 Whr Lithium Ion, 9-cell optional
Operating System: Genuine Windows 7 Professional-64bit
Security: Kensington Lock, Fingerprint Reader, Trusted Platform Module (TPM)
Other: 1.3 MP HD Webcam
Docking station: available

Anti-reflective SuperBright LED screen confirmed here: Dabs.com


Prices:

CDW: $989
Priceguidenetwork: $988
ProVantage: $961
Costcentral: $940



As for the Thinkpad:
- USB 3.0 is only available with the i7 ( X220 data sheet)
- no HDMI ( mobiletechreview)
- no optical drive ( mobiletechreview)
- 3.0 lb only with 3-cell, but 3.4 lb with 6-cell ( mobiletechreview)

Of course, the X220 has a lot going for it. It has IPS and renowned quality/durability, among other things. Series 4 looks like a slightly less-expensive alternative.

Series 4 specs look promising. Its cousin, the Samsung Series 9 is much anticipated for its thinness/lightness, but will have ULV Sandy processors. This Series 4, however, uses the full powered mobile Sandy Bridge cpus like the X220. And if the durability and quality is as good as the hyped Series 9, then it may well be a true contender to the X220.

I'm in the market for a 12"-13" non-ULV Sandy Bridge laptop and just wanted to get your thoughts. Thanks.

 

Thinkpad Pro:
IPS screen.
Optional ultrabay battery.
More robust.

 

Thanks for the info, it's great to have something to compare to, Samsung is great, I like their products. I will definitely think about it, mainly because the X220 is not availlable through CTO in my country and is very poorly distributed and overpriced. The Series 9 looks awesome but I read that it has wifi issues and that the screen brigness auto-thing is buggy too.

Yes that's the main concern for me, how is the screen? That's one if not the most important thing for me, that's why I was also interested in the Series 9.

 

No ultrabay battery on the X220, but add:

Thinkpad keyboard
Trackpoint
Battery life
mSATA ssd + hdd

 

I meant the dock battery.

 

Slice battery?

 

IPS is the major thing, but also ThinkPad durability/reliability and support. Also Samsung is hard to get repairs done, not too many shops are ASP so Samsungs to be fixed under warranty usually requires you to RMA it for weeks...not good in a business.

 

Yes, lol, I meant slice battery.

 

As with the 9, the 4 looks like a knockoff of someone else with more Samsung (i.e. a largely worthy but curiously unimaginative attitude to design).

The Thinkpad is more anti-design.

However I'm still not convinced that a TP would be ultimately appreciably more durable than a machine in the tier of a Samsung though especially if they(Samsung that is)'ve made an effort to address durability for business use. What I like about the Thinkpads is less the myth than what they deliver in terms of features and software while offering adequate build quality and durability.

Take the flat black finish for example: The finish on all of my X's (probably the longest I've had a Thinkpad in the last 5 years) are starting to look tattered, and all are less than a year old. Other machines I've subjected to the same sort of use over the same period - Sony Z's, and even the cheapo Fujitsu PH530 and others - all look in much better shape cosmetically, partly because they make better material choices.

 

Purely going by specs, the X220's advantages:
- IPS display
- slightly lighter
- DisplayPort (can support up to 2650x1600-out, instead of HDMI's 1920x1080 out)
- 2.0 MP webcam
- available slice battery

More arguable/subtle advantages:
- no optical drive
- Thinkpad build/design + keyboard

The only things that I see going for the Samsung are:
- USB 3.0, if you just have to have it
- optical drive, again if you have to have it

 

displayport only if you have a displayport capable monitor. Otherwise, DP->DVI singlelink(1200p) or 2048x1536 (vga). not sure if a $60 Active DP->dual-link DVI works

USB 3.0 - you can get an expresscard USB 3.0, but it'll cost some $ of course

 

Most companies that create ultra-portables use old processors (apple) OR use lower-powered CPUs (the others). Is Samsung decreasing the clock speeds of the CPU?

 

According to the specs, it's a standard-clocked i5 2520m, which is 2.5 GHz, with Turbo mode allowing it to go to 3.2 GHz.

 

Samsung have produced some good models in the past (the Dell latitude X1 was a rebadged Samsung). We can only know how good any new models are when they get into the hands of users. The new Series 9 has many good features but also has some causes for concern.

John

 

Samsung is building great laptops with good keyboards and non-pseudo battery lifetime, but I don't think the X220 is a laptop that can be killed
It might have some weak points, i. e. the low (but sadly standard) resolution, but as package it is hard to beat

 

What is their support like? I had a hard time trying to get Samsung to sort out a few issues with a new model of mobile phone, like get a replacement battery (they weren't able to source one). If their PC support is like that, I'd stay clear of them.

 

Samsung produces good laptops only when it tries to be itself rather integrating derivative design elements from other laptops into its own ultraportable.

 

A two-port 3.0 USB expresscard is not much though, at around £12. In any case, the expresscard slot is great for increasing the number of USB ports because three is not always enough.

USB 3 EXPRESS CARD [TS-PNU3] - £10.15 : lunaonline.co.uk for - Laser Printers, Toners, Laptops, PC's, Servers, Monitors, Networking and much more

 

Look alike? Sure. Killer? No, not even close.

 

I dunno if the screen quality is good, and the prices are the same as the base X220 I may have to take a good look at this, as I still us my optical drive to burn cds to play in my car.

 

It's got pretty much all the features I want at a good price. This is Samsung's brand new business laptop line, so they're yet to be proven in terms of quality and longevity. We'll have to see how the reviews fare. The Thinkpad X has been the reigning champ for years, so it's still high on my list. Decisions, decisions.

 

yeah, get the 1 port b/c the other ones stick out (newegg has one)

 

Thanks. Will look out for something similar in the UK.

 

Came across this unbranded 2-port 54mm expresscard that doesn't protrude. Performance seems excellent but some issues reported too (the x200 owner).

Amazon.co.uk: Customer Reviews: Express Card Expresscard 54 slot to USB 3.0 x 2 Port Adapter up to 5Gbps Compatible USB 1.1 / 2.0 Windows XP/Vista/7

Another thin one but only 34mm unfortunately:

1 port USB3.0 Recessed Express Card - Storage Depot

 

My thought is that you should go buy one and tell us how it works out for you. It looks decent spec wise, but I buy ThinkPads for their design & engineering (mechanical durability, heat and noise management, ergonomics, serviceability), parts availability, and long-term driver support.

If all I care is spec, I would be an Alienware customer.

If the Samsung measures up in these areas, and if it is still going strong after three years, well, I might consider Samsung when I pick my next laptop. Before that happens, I would rather have someone else experiment with his/her money.

 

As far as Samsung Series 9 versus Thinkpad X220, there are actually more advantages on each side:

Samsung: 400 nit screen, great for outdoors
Thinkpad: IPS screen, great viewing angles, though probably doesn't match the extra brightness of the Samsung

Samsung: larger screen, larger palm rest so your wrists are supported while you type

Thinkpad: favorite keyboard, custom docking available rather than just usb hub which can be less reliable and effective

Samsung: Lighter and thinner despite larger screen and wrist rest
Thinkpad: Faster, better battery life

Other less significant details. Price is comparable if similar drives and warranty. So, really a close call, depending on what you value. Wish the X220 screen and wrist rest were bigger. Wish the Samsung had a docking station. Probably have to try them both out.

 

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is what I noticed when I shopped for Alienware M11x battery. Thinkpad replacement parts are super-easy to find and relatively cheap. You can cherry pick them on eBay.

For Samsung, eh.... hf trying to snatch something off eBay or wherever else that's not expensive. I wouldn't say killer - probably a decent laptop, but feature-wise it just doesn't even come close to X220.

 

The other big one is support. User replaceable parts like keyboard, palmrest, memory, hard drive, etc they overnight to you. Bigger stuff like motherboard or screen that you have to send it in for, including transit time to/from and the actual repair is usually 3-4 days. Or you can take it to a local service center and have it done in a few hours. Or get On-Site warranty and they come to you.

Other part of support, is non-hardware-failure support. The tech support is simply fantastic. Apart from that, the Thinkpad user base is so large problems are easily rectifiable through forums.

The biggest one is lack of trackpoint. I couldn't move to most other brands even if they caught up to Thinkpad standard in other areas, for this reason alone. Same with the middle button, I use it every few seconds in the browser. Small stuff that saves a tremendous amount of time when you add it up.

Thinkpad build quality and ruggedness.
Thinkpad keyboard.

Etc.
Etc.

 

Is it me or does the keyboard look a bit chiclet like in the vain of the Edge or X1x0?

 

Has anyone heard something whether it is possible to replace the DVD drive with a second HDD?