Samsung 15" Series 9 NP900X4B thread

Very interesting thread...and I read through 90% of it, phew.

I'm 99% set on purchasing the 15'' Samsung, but do you think they will drop the price once the Ivy Bridge version is announced?

I'm leaving for a trip on June 19th, so I would want to buy it before then (inc time for shipping). Surely once they announce the Ivy Bridge model, the price would drop by a couple of hundred?

I'm also a little disappointed by the commenter early in the thread that mentioned that the SD card does not go fully into the slot with the little door closed, I was hoping to get around the small SSD with a large SD card.

 

It looks like Samsung is trying to phase the introduction of the Ivy Bridge models to avoid overlap with the Sandy Bridge ones.

The slot is not spring-loaded so Samsung have deliberately left some card sticking out so users have something to grip on for removal. Some users are advocating a microscopic USB flash drive that can be left in place. Also, my measurements of SD card speed show that the SD slot is slower than USB 2.0.

John

 

Hey, thanks to those who answered my "how's it going so far question".

I have another one for you, how is everyone finding the touch pad issue that was widely reported initially. I believe people were hitting it as they typed and moving their cursor a lot. One person if I recall correctly said it was "about to push him over the edge" (I hope you survived).

Thanks

 

My X3B pad isn't perfect but it's the most usable one I have ever put fingers on.

Perhaps the biggest problem is that there are numerous settings in the registry that aren't accessible through the pad control panel.

John

 

Hmm...

That's good to know! Doing a quick look for micro usb drives that could stay in a port while traveling shows mostly 16gig sizes, though there is one HP 32 gig that's a bit larger in size:
Store 'n' Stay USB Drive - 16GB: Everyday USB Drives - USB Drives | Verbatim
Amazon.com: Kingston Digital DataTraveler Micro (DTMC/16GB): Computers & Accessories
Amazon.com: HP 32 GB Flash Drive P-FD32GHP165-EF: Electronics

The Kingston looks the nicest, but it doesn't say if it's USB 2 or 3 speeds.

 

For small flash drives also see this post in the NP900X3B thread.

John

 

Hi John,

It is the NP900X4B as shown below:


Here are the news paper packed inside the box that is dated on April 18th, 2012:



The viewing angle is about the same with my other laptops. But when I compared it with my Samsung Galaxy 10.1 tablet, the viewing angle on the tablet is way better indeed.

 

Hello Everyone, after trying multiple bags I have finally found the best messenger bag for my lovely NP900X4B. It is the Stm Bags LLC Vertical Small Laptop Shoulder Bag. This bag is originally designed for the 13" laptops but perfect for the Samsung 15" NP900X4B. It is very snug and fits like a glove. I used to carry a Sony 11.6" laptop that is also about 3.5 lbs in another messenger bag. I virtually felt no difference between carrying the 15" Samsung and the 11.6" Sony. I guess part of the reason is because of the width is quite short although the length is a little longer. It is also stylish. I could fit my Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1" in the other compartment along if needed. For $50 USD shipped, it is very reasonable (I'm not affiliate with the seller in any way). Please disregard what it say on my t-shirt. LOL

Features:
High-density foam padded laptop compartment with super soft plush cord lining
Designated padded iPad pocket with soft nylex lining
Quick access zippered pocket (on front flap)
Organizational panel for keys, wallet, cords and accessories
Removable padded shoulder strap
Comfy foam grab handle

Specifications:
Main Fabric: 300D water resistant micro ripstop polyester
Lining: STM plush power corduroy lining

Unit Dimensions: 14.2" x 10.2" x 2.8" (external bag), Weight: 1.6lbs.; 13.2" x 9.6" x 1.6" (laptop space)
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS BGS DP400101
Stm Bags LLC Vertical Small Laptop Shoulder Bag - Black - dp-4001-01
Additional Compartments: Yes
Case Type: Briefcase / Bag
Notebook Screen Size: 13 Inches

Here is where I purchased it:
Stm Bags LLC Vertical Small Laptop Shoulder Bag - Black - dp-4001-01 013964138085 | eBay

Here is me with the bag and laptop:








Enjoy! :wink:

 

Nice bag.

Is that your Korean man cave? Ship much?

 

Thanks. So it is a US version with the 340 nit display and doesn't answer the questions about whether the Koreans get a better display.

John

 

Hi Thors, I do not mind living in a Korean man cave with Korean girls if any.

Yes, I do online business which is why you see many shipping boxes in the living room. The online busniess is what got me to get the NP900X4B with larger than usual screen. Being able to copy and paste invoices and provide technical support quickly is critical for me.

 

Ah thats too bad you got the NP version, well not bad, just we are hoping to find someone who can verify the NT has a 400nit screen. If youre Korean, do you know if the Korean version is 400nit? Maybe there is some information on some Korean websites

 

Lyen - great bag, it's on my list!

I was planning on getting this for a sleeve:
Amazon.com: Case Logic LAPS-116 15 - 15.6-Inch Laptop Sleeve (Black): Electronics

What do you think of this size? Will it be too big for a 15'' laptop?

 

Guys, what are your thoughts on buying a Korean model, but doing a complete cleam install with Win 7 ?
Would I lose any features/functions that were originally on it?

 

Why would you want to buy a Korean model?

 

Hi SirPudgy, thanks for your compliment.

The sleeve from your link is about 2.3 inch too long and 2 inch too wide.

This is what I bought to for my NP900X4B prior I bought the STM bag:
THE SF SLEEVE designed for MacBook Pro

This sleeve is designed for 13" laptop and it also fits very nicely (although it is not snug fit). I love it because it is made in San Francisco (the city where I live).

Here is my ACME sleeve with the laptop:

 

Hi Ultrabookfan,

I have to clarify I am not Korean although I do like Korean girls. I would not bother getting the Korean version if the Korean girl(s) is not included.

The NP version is actually not bad at all. The brightness is enough to light up my bedroom and turn it all the way up in dark.

 

Oh because my friend is working in South Korea and he said the NT900X4B is available in all of the Samsung stores, display models to test and lots in stock.
So I can pick you up easily, but still debating. If anyone needs any help getting one , let me know too

 

Ask your friend to take photos of the screen from wide vertical angles. That will reveal if it is a PLS panel because that would be the only reason for specially importing it. My NP900X3B review has some screen photos alongside my Lenovo T420s that clearly show the difference in vertical viewing angles.

John

 

They key is to find a sleeve for a macbook that fits is very very snug, since the NP900X4B has a tad smaller dimensions. Or, find a 14" sleeve that is loose for most notebooks. That's how I found mine for the 13" S9. If you're looking for sleeves made to fit exactly for a 15.6" screen, it'll be too loose.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sam...g-series-9-13-3-np900x3b-142.html#post8469122

Are you sure that is designed for a 13" notebook? From the pics, it even looks loose for the 15" S9

 

Oops, you are right. It is actually the ACME 15" MacBook Pro sleeve.

External Dimensions:
Height: 10.4" | 26.5cm
Length: 15.4" | 39.2cm
Width: 1.4" | 3.6cm

Internal Dimensions:
Height: 9.9" | 25.2cm
Length: 14.5" | 36.8cm
Width: 1" | 2.5cm
Weight: .7lb | .295kg

 

This might be interesting for those looking to place a SD card into the case wihtout having overlap. Unfortunately microSD only.

Nifty Mini Drive

Also dont forget about the relatively low speeds of the SD drive as measure by John.

Edit: of course no affiliation with the project whatsoever, found it in German IT news.

 

With 64GB micro SD now being available the size is not a big issue. However, I would warn anyone buying this to think carefully about how to remove the device from the slot before they insert it. Perhaps glue on some tape to form a tab.

I would like someone to give a second opinion on this. Perhaps "low" is the wrong word but the speed was a little slower than when the same card was in an adaptor plugged into a USB port.

John

 

Well, I just got my Sam Series 9 in the mail, and am very happy so far! The boot time is super fast, and the unit is very speedy in general.

I also go the case recommended by Lyen here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/sam...-series-9-np900x4b-thread-71.html#post8532683
and it indeed fits the laptop perfectly - as well as my Samsung 10.1 galaxy tab. Thanks for the idea!

For those who have this already: did you download all the driver updates on the Samsung website? :
Support - Series 9 Notebooks NP900X4B | Samsung Laptops
There's almost 25 drivers and 1 firmware update. Should I just power thru and install them all?

 

See how what is listed there compares with what the Samsung Easy Software Manager offers. The latter may be even more up-to-date.

I would note that a few weeks ago an update to Easy Settings messed up my IRST after I had got it working as described in this thread.

John

 

For those that have used their 15" for a while, a couple of questions:

- Any regrets for not getting the 13" since the screen is the same resolution, but with better viewing angles? How's the color on the 15" screen?

- How do you like the trackpad? I tried out the 13" at Best Buy and was perplexed about the right-click functionality. I'm guessing there's just a learning curve here, but it was quite annoying at times. Are there some tricks to getting it to always recognize what you want? I also found that the mouse often moved when I tried to click down, since the button is built into the touch surface. Most ultrabooks seem to have these buttonless trackpads, so maybe I'm just missing something.

 

The ELAN touchpad settings can be adjusted. I use the two finger tap for right mouse clicks. Works great.

 

Hi M4rauder,

I have own the NP900X4B for six weeks. I do not regret getting it than the 13" version. In fact, I am glad I got it as soon as it was available. I have already saved 4 minutes of boot up time and 2 minutes of shutdown time each day comparable with my other 11.6" Sony VAIO TX670P laptop. I already save 252 minutes for that at least considering if once a day. Time is money. Period.

As for the display, the brightness is very bright. It is enough to enjoy the sunshine at the same time. Color is as good as my other Sony, Dell, HP and Toshiba laptops I had in the past. Viewing angle is the only thing that feels like from laptops made years ago. The extra resolution and screen size really helps increase my productivity for serious work especially working on spreadsheets and emails.

The trackpad is a piece of interesting device. I do admit it takes time getting used to. Once you learned the tricks and functionality, you will love it. I feel that after six weeks using the laptop for work. I am actually using the tracking more and more to do up/down scrolling with 2 fingers, back & forward with 3 fingers, pull up the aero window with 4 fingers. I also love to do the pinch and expand with 2 fingers for text size increase/decrease. It is quite fun and usable.

Lastly, the reduction in weight helps reduce the discomfort level when carry it and walk for a mile or two.

 

Lyen, Thor, thanks for your feedback! I will head back to the store and try out the trackpad again. It makes sense that there's a little learning curve. Reviews that I've read have mostly praised the trackpad.

For the LCD, I ask because not seen any color gamut test done on the 15's screen yet. I do color-sensitive photo editing sometimes, so I was looking for a screen that is at least better than the typical 40-60% color gamut coverage on most laptops. I fear that the 15" probably falls in this range though, based on notebookcheck's review of the 13". If I buy the Series 9, I will likely need to purchase an external monitor. It seems that only the Sony Vaio Z has the color gamut of an external monitor in an ultra-portable form factor.

 

You are very welcome!

Hint: You will likely dislike the trackpad when test it in any stores unless the sellers have updated with the latest trackpad driver. Without the updated driver, it feels no better than the trackpads on the Asus ultrabooks.

 

For everyone in the US, NP900x4C (Ivy Bridge) officially out now on Amazon and Bestbuy for US Guys, $1399 so actually cheaper than the "B" version (it's MSRP on Samsung's site so not a sale)

 

Will the sandy bridge drop in price?

 

Unless they have a huge inventory, I doubt it. Most likely it will just become unavailable.

 

I have picked up an aftermarket DC adapter due to the tip of the original one was crooked.

The DC adapter is rated at 2.1A at 19V. The price can be had for around $15 on eBay.

Pros:
It is smaller in size.
It is 50 grams lighter in weight.

Cons:
The temperature is almost twice as high as the original.
The tip is the same as the original (I could not find any 90 degree angle tip).

Here are the pictures:






Cheers!

 

That looks to be even smaller than the one I posted in the Series 9 accessories thread. Mine has the cloverleaf connector since that's all I could find. I would prefer the Fig-8 connector because of the thinner and lighter mains cable (I use a C5 to C8 adapter to connect a 2 core mains cable to the cloverleaf socket).

For those who are worried about using the metal S9 with an ungrounded PSU, there is a little floating voltage but nothing dangerous.

John

 

If anyone is curious what the screen looks like on the np900x4c, I took some photos comparing it to the np900x3b. And by some, I mean about 20-30.

See them here (second post):
Eyes on Mobile Tech

 

Anyone know the Part # for the NP900X4B-A02US Screen Panel? or Perhaps where i can order it? Because i am working in HongKong at the moment...and their repair Centre only do repair on the HK version of Series 9 laptop. i bought mine in the U.S.

Cheers,

Tiyako

 

I am 99.9999% sure that the panels (if different) will be interchangeable. Samsung won't want to unnecessarily complicate their own supply logistics.

John

 

understood! Thanks JohN!

anychance you know where i can buy panel for replacement?

Thanks,

Tiyako

 

I would normally start with the authorised service centre but presume you have been talking to them already. I've found this place that claims to sell the replacement displays. There may be others perhaps in China.

John

 

I just ordered Samsung Series 9 NP900X4C-A03US 15-Inch Ultrabook (Mineral Ash). It has 256GB SSD and 8GB Ram.. I will be getting this today and will provide more details on this model.

I am in the process of replacing my dell latitude which also has a docking station and 2 monitors. I will be experimenting with the USB 3.0 Docking stations and provide more details.. Looking at the Targus one for now.

 

Nice. Where'd ya order it from?

 

I bought it from Amazon.com. They had 18 in stock 2 days ago and looks like they are down to 1. I have been tracking this model for while since I wanted the larger drive size like most people here.

Delivery happens in a couple hours.. excited.

 

Okay guys, moment of truth time. I'm very tempted to order one of these NP900X4C-A03US laptops, but the price is holding me back (I really didn't wanna spend this much on my next laptop).

Question: what are all of the downsides and concerns about this laptop? I didn't follow this thread as closely when I decided to buy a MacBook Air (I've since changed my mind) so I missed a lot. Can you guys please fill me in? What are the reasons to NOT buy this laptop?

Thanks in advance!

 

I have been researching laptops for a while now. I have played with it for a while at the store and have been waiting for a larger drive...finally arrived.

The only drawbacks I have read about this model is the power supply plug being fragile. You can find replacement ones on ebay for under $25. So that may no longer be an issue. The other thing is the need to use a dongle for attaching it to an external monitor or network cable.

Overall I think the model I bought is the right one for most business and power users who need power and space too.

 

I would note that my X4C came with an L-shaped power plug which feels much less fragile so Samsung have finally woken up to this problem. However, some other X4Cs have shipped with the older straight plug.

John

 

John,

Any ideas if a 90W power supply would work with the SS9? I do know that the ones that come with the SS9 are 40W.

probably not.. but wondering if anyone is dumb enough to try this.

 

The power rating won't be a problem provided the voltage is correct - notebooks only take the power that they need. However, as far as I know, the only PSUs with the small diameter power plug are the 40W.

John

 

As an FYI to everyone, I just spoke to Targus and they are making the right power TIP that will work with the Samsung Series 9 laptops. This just happened recently and they will be supply this in most of their products moving forward. All depends on when the item was manufactured.

They are calling this TIP G.

It will be included with the 3.0 Docking stations (ACP71USz) also.

They will send one to you for FREE, but this will happen in a couple months as the supply they have now is for their packaged products. So they will have surplus tips available for shipment in 2 months or so. So if you have a Targus adapter, keep it around.

Call 877-482-7487 when the time is right.

 

Forgive me for not keeping up, but is the SSD on this thing user upgradable -- or no? Just trying to weigh my option$.

Thanks...