New Samsung Q210 / P210 notebook (12.1")

A slight sidetrack, but can someone with the Q210 run the SiSoftware Sandra memory bandwidth benchmark and post either here or in this thread? I (and a few others) would like to know how the DDR2-800 RAM performs.

Thanks,

John

 

Could someone test the webcam on this laptop, specifically when using skype and at night so your using indoor lighting. But could you test it so you see what the recieving end is seeing as whats shown on your own laptop of yourself doesn't represent the quality of what the other end is seeing if you get what I mean.
I had a Asus F9E which the webcam was terrible, looked ok my end, but the person on the other side of the call said it was blocky and very slow framerate. I tested it myself by calling my desktop and the camera is just a waste of time, blocky, no detail, just a blur, slow frames. I ended up returning the laptop because of it.
So now I'm in the hunt for a new laptop.

Also can you comment on the mic too, thanks.

 

Hi all,

I think I am going to get this laptop. I have just been looking for the cheapest price and it appears to be at Laptops Direct - http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Samsung_Q210-AS02UK_NP-Q210-AS02UK/version.asp which has it for £649.97 exc. delivery.

Does anyone have any experience of this company? From reviews I have found here: http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews61649.html, they seem to be quite a bad company!

However, I am usually willing to just go with the company that has the cheapest price for goods, but seeing as this will probably be the largest purchase I have ever made online it would be useful to get some additional feedback on this company.

Thanks

 

I've bought a couple of computers from Laptops Direct. On both occasions the next day delivery was the day after they shipped the computer, not the day after I ordered it. Somewhat annoying when you stay at home waiting for the deliver.

Be prepared to spend some time on hold waiting to get through to customer service if you need to.

I've had very good service from DigiUK and others have reported good service from SaveOnSamsung.

John

 

Hi John,
You were dead right about www.laptopsdirect.co.uk getting the CPU bit wrong.
I mailed them about the discrepency and they admitted they had actually got it wrong, the CPU on the higher spec Q210 is indeed the P8400 rather than the squiffy, confused P8600 that they are quoting.

Other than that I myself am still in two minds about this Notebook due to the glossy, fingerprint magnet finish after seeeing one of the Toshiba portables Maybe the U400 with the same finish and absolutely covered in marks.

Other than that for the price with that spec it seems superb, why did they move away from the matte finish!!!

And for you UNCHANGE:-
www.laptopsdirect.co.uk do not deliver for free unless you purchase an accessory along with the notebook.
Could always purchase the recovery DVD that is'nt included in the price for £12 extra but that then takes the price to the same bar a couple of quid to that of www.saveonsamsung.com - Supposedly a good company.

Good Luck

 

Well I was also looking at getting it with laptop insurance, which would also make the delivery free (I would also get a boot disc I think, although I'm not sure if this is really necessary.

Does anybody have any experience of this insurance that is available at laptops direct: http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/3_Ye...ance_up_to_600_inc_vat_INS-PCALL4/version.asp

And if I bought this would it still be necessary to get a Samsung extended warranty (these are expensive, and I can't see what it would cover in addition to the insurance).

p.s. This is the cheapest I can find insurance available anywhere.

 

That insurance covers theft and accidental damage, but it may not cover breakdown. See this Q & A.

Note, however, that you can purchase and register the Samsung 2 year warranty extension at any time during the first year of ownership. So you have time to find out if there are any possible problems.

John

 

How much is the extended warranty?

What is your opinion on the laptop insurance - worth it or not?

Couldn't you just claim that any technical faults occured as a result of accidental damage (I'm not advocating fraud, just speculating!)?

Thanks for your help.

 

The Samsung extended warranty is ~£100. There is also Samsung's own FastCover insurance for ~£100., so that seems to be the going rate. Details here.

The challenge with any insurance is to make sure that the small print is not loaded with exclusions. Otherwise, for example, you discover after the event that leaving you computer unattended invalidates the theft cover.

I can't comment on the "accidental" damage. If you don't want insure against that risk then have a standing rule of no drinks within half a metre of the computer.

John

 

I think I will take the 3 year insurance and then potentially extend the Samsung warranty if it appears that faults may occur - and if I can't claim on the insurance.

Going to have a read through the policy now. Be interested to see what you think of the exceptions.

Thanks again

 

Clauses like this are open to dispute.

This could mean: Did you lock the computer in the car boot or leave it inside? Did you have a mug of tea right next to the computer? Did you have the power lead tucked away so you wouldn't trip over it?

Just be prepared to argue these points if you need to make a claim. By the time you have taken all the reasonable precautions then you have substantially reduced the risk of a claimable event. We could do with the computer equivalent of the no-claims bonus for not crashing your car.

John

 

Please note that SaveOnSamsung have now reduced their price to £647.47 after I used their price promise service, forcing them to go lower than Laptops Direct.

I now think I will order from SaveOnSamsung, but I do want to purchase insurance and they do provide the Samsung FastCover insurance. However, I am unable to find the policy for this anywhere, including the Samsung website, where there is no mention of this policy at all. I was going to order this lunchtime and try and get it for the Bank Holiday weekend, but this is currently holding me back,

 

Has anyone seen anything about the P210, apart from the basic spec? Is it worth paying extra for less RAM and less glossyness? Paying for two lots of windows sticks in my throat a bit!

Those of you with a Q210 - how do you find the finish, is it ok to live with? Such a good spec for the money...

 

My sentiments exactly, beating myself up over this one, is it really possible to live with that glossy finish?????
C'mon Q210 owners out there,
PLZ give us an honest answer.

 

Indeed, I echo the calls and would really like to know the answer to this question too. Although, I am pretty sure I am just gona go for it, as the specs are irresistible, I'm sure I can get used to the gloss...hopefully.

 

Received my q210 today, so far am very pleased with it. performance is excellent, and using the 12.1" screen is no-where near as cramped as i had imagined it might be.

i ordered from laptops direct, specifying delivery today (as i took the day off work), and it arrived this morning, so i have had a good experience with this supplier

2.82 GB/S

will do an everest test shortly as i know you wanted to know those results too.

 

i also got mine q210 yesterday, im very glad with the upgrade from my old q45. for the germans: i have written an test, u can look for it in forumdeluxx http://www.forumdeluxx.de/forum/showthread.php?t=523986

 

Thanks for that result. It is slow, as if you had only one module. What is the RAM configuration? Can you use CPU-z to check the RAM details including the timings.

We can also ask WEI for it's opinion, although the results vary wildly.

The other thing people want to know about is the glossy finish.

John

 

type: DDR2
channels #: Dual
Size: 3072MB
DC Mode: Symmetric
CAS# Latency: 6.0 clocks
RAS# to CAS# delay: 6 clocks
Cycle Time: 18 clocks

i dont know what most of that means. am concerned that the test was slow, would closing down background programmes give a more realistic reading? e.g. vista side panel?

 

Hi John,

just ran it again but changed the performance profile to speed mode. The Q210 has a function button that changes between profiles to balance energy and battery consumption against performance. My previous test was on the 'normal' mode. I have just set it to speed mode and got a result of 5.41 GB/s (int), 5.43 GB/s (float), which i assume is a bit more like it.

regarding the glossy finish, this laptop is no different to any other glossy plastic you may have seen on other hardware. It picks up a lot of fingerprints and smudges. My desktop keyboard (logitech dinovo edge) is the same type of glossy plastic and it's fine. apparently, in east asia, gloss is considered to be a mark of high quality. this explains the use of this material on high-end products produced from these areas, the HTC touch diamond mobile phone being another example.

it's really a matter of personal preference. i didnt buy this machine for appearances and am well pleased with my purchase.

i'm happy to answer any more questions anyone has.

 

Hey lotf, can you test the webcam and mic on skype and let us know how it performs with indoor lighting.

Also can you show us the Vista Experience Index rating

Cheers

 

Thanks very much for the Mk II result for the Memory bandwidth. That looks much better. DDR2-667 + Santa Rosa chipset scores around 4 to 4.4GB/s. The DDR3 RAM in a new Thinkpad managed about 5.6GB/s, so only about 4% faster and substantially more expensive.

I suspect that the new chipset is the main factor in improved memory bandwidth.

John

 

Sure, i'll try and do this for you. i dont use skype much myself, so i'll need to find a time when my dad (only other person i know that uses it) is free and get him to test it with me.

4.4 overall.

processor: 5.2
memory: 5.9
Graphics: 4.4
Gaming graphics: 5.1
Primary HDD: 5.3

 

Ok, I am going to buy this.

Can I just confirm that SaveonSamsung is a trustworthy site to use? I mean the website is just so dreadful, and looks illegitimate, can anyone confirm that they have had a good experience with them? I also couldn't find a telephone number for them on the site, which is also a little concering.

Thanks

 

Several members have bought from SaveOnSamsung and none have reported problems.

Did you try the Contact Us link? It gives a phone number.

Personally, I find the website simple and easy to navigate. Many of the site that are rich in eye candy are more difficult to use (Samsung's own site is one example).

John

 

I'm gonna purchase this too after the bank holiday weekend and saveonsamsung seems to be a good place to get it from.
E-mailed them 2/3 days ago about that Samsung FastCover insurance asking if they could post me the policy details but not heard anything back, whose gonna buy an insurance policy without knowing the ins and outs of the agreement??
price sounds right though as with the Q210 itself.

 

Hi, im considering getting either the Q45 or the Q210.
Which would you recommend?

The specs for the Q45 are;
Samsung Q45 T5550 12’1 WVP 3GB Notebook PC
Samsung Q45 T5550 12'1 WVP 3GB 320GB Intel Core 2 Duo T5550 (1.83GHz) 667MHz FSB with 2MB Cache 3GB (1*2GB + 1*1GB_D6) 320GB SATA HDD DVD Super-Multi Dual Layer Light Scribe Extended 6 Cell Li-ion Intel GMA X3100 10/100, 56K modem 802.11abg/n, Bluetooth 2.0 2 USB, 6 in 1 slot, Webcam (1.3M) Weight: 1.89kg Silver Nano Keyboard / Anti Bacterial Windows Vista Home Premium
(Copied and pasted from microanvika...£499)

The q210:
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Santa-Rosa (T5750 - 2.0 GHz, 667MHz FSB, 2MB)
Hard Drive 320GB SATA
RAM HIGH (3072MB 3GB)
the rest can be found at http://www.saveonsamsung.com/Samsung_Q210_430977.html
this one is for £567 from "saveonsamsung.com"

any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

 

Various considerations:

1. The dedicated (albeit not very powerful) GPU of the Q210 will make it more suitable for light gaming than the Q45.

2. I suspect the Q45 would probably win the maximum battery time battle. Trusted Reviews got a good battery time with their reviewed Q210 but that has the P8400 which has a lower power rating than the T5750.

3. The battery sticks out the back of the Q45. It is flush on the Q210. That's a matter of preference since it makes no difference in everyday use.

4. The Q210 has the red stripe and more shiny plastic.

5. The Q210 has the Ctrl key in the bottom left of the keyboard, the Q45 has the Fn key in that position.

6. The Q210 has one more USB port, an HDMI port, and Express Card slot.

7. If the previous report is correct, the new PSU is slightly smaller than the old one.

Between those two versions the Q210 will be faster, but you would need to put them side-by-side to see the difference.

It's a tough call. Does the Q210 have any "must have" features?

John

 

Question for the Q210 owners:

I've just been looking at the Q210-FSS0UK specs (that's what it says in the address bar) on the Samsung UK site. Those specs list two GPUs:

Has Samsung included both a dedicated and integrated GPUs (as Lenovo has done on the T400 / T500) or is it that they mean general options for different versions.

Can someone look in Device Manager?

Thanks,

John

 

Thanks for the amazingly quick response!

With regards to "must have" features I would probably say no, other than it is newer, which technically isnt a must have feature.

I was considering the Q70 also but it seems that the Q210 is a combination of the Q45 and Q70 which made me think that it was maybe better chice than either, getting the best of both worlds I suppose. Would you agree?

Thanks again!

Chris

 

The Q310 is the successor to the Q70 but has a significantly higher price tag than the Q210. I reviewed the Q70 last year and was underwhelmed because it was basically a Q45 in a bigger box. The design of the Q310 looks much better.

I see the Q210 as an evolution of the Q45 which, in turn was an evolution of the Q35.

John

 

device manager shows the geforce 9200 as the only display adapter.

 

Thanks for checking.

So the specs on the website cover a range of options and we may see a Q210 with the X4500.

John

 

Hi John,
I'm back one last time to draw on ur wealth of knowledge before purchasing this product, want to make an order today and have one last query.
I'm happy with the spec, the price is right and personally I believe the machine itself looks fine especially now i realise the keyboard itself is of a matte finish but.......
In your opinion as far as lots of photo editing and photoshopping goes do you think it would be wiser to go for the Q310 with the 13.3" screen as opposed to the Q210 wth its 12.1" screen.
The extra weight with the Q310 is so marginal that it does'nt make much of a difference but the extra size is troubling me somewhat.
Spose we can't have it all ways eh.
Personally I would prefer the smaller Q210, what do you think?

 

Both displays have the same 1280 x 800 resolution.

The pixels are very slightly bigger on the Q310 which means the default text and graphics sizes are all slightly bigger. The Q210 has 124.75 pixels per inch while the Q310 has 113.5 PPI.

Unless you think your eyes would like something bigger or you would like a few more keys on the keyboard then the Q210 offers slightly smaller size and better value.

John

 

Well, I took the plunge and went for the Q210 rather than waiting to see what the P210 is like. Will have it tomorrow, ordered from saveonsamsung.com

I'll report back on my opinion of the shiny plastic, but decided the spec was too good to miss at that price. And at the end of the day, it's a functional tool, not an ornament, so I'll cope! Maybe I'll just be done with it and sandpaper it on arrival...

Oh, has anyone tried to get the stickers off a Q210 or anything with a similar finish?

 

Did anyone find any more out about the FastCover insurance? Once this has been clarified I will take the plunge (or opt for the other insurance at LaptopsDirect if it isn't).

 

I ordered my high spec Q210 from www.saveonsamsung.com today but without any further insurance other than the 1 year warranty, mailed them last week about the policy details for the fastcover and they never replied!!!

Decided not to go anywhere near www.laptopsdirect.co.uk after diverting to that link given earlier in this thread and reading those extremely disturbing and poor reviews....

Good luck anyway and if you do get any policy details maybe you could post them on here.

 

Not sure what the problem was with getting a response from Saveonsamsung. I emailed them literally 2 minutes ago and they have replied! Quite possibly the quickest reply I have ever seen! So if this is anything to go by, their customer service must be pretty good.

Anyway, this was the response regarding the FastCover insurance:

I think I will go with the CompuCover insurance at Laptops Direct.

 

Did you look on the Samsung website? The FastCover policy is here.

John

 

That is really just a fact sheet. There is no policy wording like the previous insurance mentioned.

 

I have the Q210 since 2 or 3 weeks and this small machine really rocks. The real runtime is something between 2.5 and ~5 hours (maybe 5.5 hours) depending on the type of usage. The system is at all really fast even under battery safing conditions.

The links "paqs" posted are pictures and information about my Q210

The first link is the specification about my Q210, the second link is a short review about my Q210 written in the Samsung P35 forum.

Btw. the PSU of the Q210 is the same size and has the exact electrical data like the PSU of the Samsung P35.

And to make it sure YES the Q210 has a TSST TS-L633L SATA device

You can remove the keyboard very easyly, it is described in the manual. But I did not disassemled my Q210 since there is currentlys no need

If there are questions about the Q210 I'll try to answer it if I can...

 

Recieved my Samsung Q210 yesterday from www.saveonesamsung.com in good faith with a good service, excellent delivery times and for the handsome sum of £647.47
Whoever said this nifty little beast rocks is'nt far wrong, <very inclined to agree. Its pretty **** fast and comes in such a small lightweight package its a minimalists dream.....
Next thing is along with someone else who is interested in doing the same thing, how to remove those ghastly stickers, any tips and tricks from notebook/laptop owners out there?

 

I got mine on Wednesday.
Well, what can I say? Super fast. Been playing Civ IV, and ok, it's not cutting edge, but never seen it run so fast before

The glossy finish is actually ok. Yes, if you look at it, it's grubby, but it's not something I usually notice.

Stickers - some will peel off fine. For those that leave residue, use the removed stickers to pull off the gunk. Got rid of most of mine that way. For the rest I rubbed my thumb over the area for a while. Don't worry about using a fingernail to scrape some off. But watch out for a couple of the stickers, they'll try to cut you! Mine is now pristine

Very happy. Only minor issue is that my 12" crumpler sleeve is a bit difficult to close, perhaps due to the thickness of the laptop.

 

Hey, just another quick question and maybe it seems obvious but is the faster P8400 worth the extra money?
Will it give the Q210 more longevity?

Thanks again guys

chris

 

So, is the difference

between

worth ~£100?

In terms of speed difference we are talking of maybe 15% and you would need either a stopwatch or benchmark programs to see the difference.

What the P series CPU should provide is a little less heat under heavy use and slightly longer battery time. However, there's such a spread in the CPU characteristics you might strike lucky and get a T5750 which runs a low voltages. But if you wanted to get the best battery time then the P210 with the Intel GPU might be a better choice.

John

 

Great, Thanks again John for all the help! Think i will go for the P8400 for the main reason of increased battery time.

Cheers

Chris

 

Hey Guys,

Just ordered mine today. I have one question though. This might seem like a silly question, but will the q210 support a 64-bit OS?

 

That's a question you had better direct to Samsung support. The download site does not explicitly list 64 bit drivers but it is possible that the installer packages include drivers for both 32 bit and 64 bit Vista. Alternatively, if you can identify the hardware components then you can check the relevant manufacturers websites. However, some of the Samsung utilities do not include 64 bit support then you may lose functionality such as the Fn key controls.

You can contact Samsung support via the send email link on the FAQ page (first check the FAQs).

John

 

Thanks John, I'll do that and post back here when I find out...