Samsung 15" Series 9 NP900X4B thread

Unless Samsung ship the X4B (Sandy Bridge) soon, it will get overtaken by the X4C (Ivy Bridge). I can't see the sense in making both at the same time unless there's a big price difference.

John

 

I love your optimism. I still think we are months from seeing IB systems stuffing the channel.

I hope you are right. An IB SS9 with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD is my dream system.

 

I'm just building on the recent reported Intel rhetoric about ramping up IB production during Q2. Are they going to sit on all the chips until a grand release date or trickle them out (perhaps at inflated prices) to selected manufacturers to put into a limited number of products? And given that the 17W parts achieve 17W because they run at lower maximum speed, which is an easier test to pass, then they could well be the first IB CPUs to enter the supply chain. Also, if Samsung skip the X4B then there's no headache for the retailers with people returning their almost new X4Bs in favour of the X4C. I suspect that Samsung don't really know what is happening either because Intel haven't been very forthcoming about an official IB release date.

John

 

I think we'll know for sure in the next 3-4 weeks. If they ship the 15" SB machines here in the US, that will be a hint.

 

I'm amazed there's so much interest in this computer given that it STARTS at $1500. Seems so expensive for a PC.

 

The line forms right here. Uh-huh....right behind me.

 

I don't buy laptops often (once every few years) but when I do I try to go for the best "value" laptop. Price is just one aspect of the value equation. This laptop has the greatest bang for the buck in terms of value for me.

 

Same here. Although after buying my last $1300+ laptop I seriously expected to be paying LESS for my next laptop, not more.

 

Maybe the Samsung Series 9 isn't for you.

I have a ThinkPad T420 that is much more powerful, has and i7 proc, dual GPU Optimus graphics, 16GB of RAM, a phat SSD, 14" 1600x900 screen, optical disk, ports out the waazoo, and the base unit cost me $899. It's typical flat black and over an inch thick. Weighs less than 5 pounds.

I could buy a good laptop for less than $500. I could buy a decent Ultrabook for less than $1000.

But I am not looking for good or decent. I am looking for head turning, game changing killer.

 

The Lenovo models coming in April and June are the only other options I am considering at the moment. I do wish the M3 Ultra had a better screen.

 

But your Tthinkapd is ugly as sh*t sorry but it's true. In comparison to the S9, it's nothing.

 

LOL. Exactly. And I am tired of Lenovo and their antics. Time to try some other vendors for a little while.

We are on the same page.

 

As a T420s owner I totally agree.

John

 

@John Ratsey
@F0LK!

Guys what will be Your choice: S9 X4B 15' [or virtually coming X4C] or Asus Zenbook 13.3'?
Should I wait for a new IB S9X4C? What will be the pr1ce?

Now Pro & Contras:
Asus has solid sterdy design and quality. Aluminium keys are awesome. Touchpad improved. But small and glossy display...

Sammy S9X4B matte display 15' really rocks. But how about the rest of overall quality?

Thanks!

 

According to Laptopmag the port on the left side is mini DisplayPort.

Samsung Series 9 15 inch - YouTube

I thought it's mini-VGA. Hopefully that's not a mistake by the reviewer and it's mini DislayPort indeed.

 

Funny, I've always liked the Thinkpad aesthetic. But between their dim screens and wailing fans I don't think I'll buy one again. For my last computer I got a vaio z mostly for the incredible screen but the fan noise is even worse. Please please Samsung put a quiet chip/fan and a screen as bright and vibrant as a vaio z in your 15" series 9 and I'll get in line behind CJP2 for this computer.

 

My second gen Samsung Series 9 13.3" is completely silent. The screen is fantastic. I think the 15" will be perfect too. Although the 13.3 is 400 nit, the loss of 60 nits on the 15" isn't going to be a big deal. The 400 nit screen will burn your retinas on high.

And yes, that's a freaking proprietary mini VGA port on both of the second gen machines. Samsung is currently the only maker of the dongle. The dongle is not yet for sale in the USA.

 

Just saw that the first wave of IB chips will be desktop and higher voltage mobile versions in April, followed by a second wave of low voltage mobile chips in June. I would imagine this impacts the X4C release, but it would make it hard to buy an SB in May with that on the horizon.

 

For me, the bright and matte display is the key selling point and I want 900 vertical pixels that are no smaller than those in my current T420s. I wouldn't want to settle for less than 3 USB ports. There have been no complaints about the Series 9 build quality although the keyboard travel is limited. We can expect the IB version within 3 months. However, some of us also want a 256GB SSD.

The Samsung Series 9 User Guide shows mini-HDMI on one side and a mini-VGA on the other. I think they should bundle the standard VGA dongle like they bundle a network dongle so that people have basic connectivity. Some of the HDMI-VGA adaptors were available in UK for the Series 9 13" but they seem to have sold out.

John

 

RE: Dongles, I think I would have put up with a few milometers more of thickness to not have to carry around dongles. I am sure it is more complex than that but the potential of leaving a mini hdmi converter at home when I need it outweighs the absolute thinnest thing possible. Like I said though I am sure it is not just add 5mm and now I have a full set of ports.

 

Why have mini-HDMI AND mini-VGA ports when you can get an HDMI to VGA dongle? I can't understand why displayport got dropped. Maybe that proprietery port can drive DP out as well? Not sure how licensing fees work if they tried that...

 

The amazon page won't allow preorder anymore.
Currently unavailable

 

The Verge's review is out... guess the screen is not as nice as the 13.3" Samsung Series 9 NP900X3B as you guys have already noted.

Samsung Series 9 review (15-inch, 2012) | The Verge

 

Man I don't know what to do I need an ultrabook now, Ivy bridge is around the corner and my dell xps 16 just got a small dent in the corner and now I have to sell it also without a dvd rom (2 hdd's, one ssd and one 750gb).

Oh what to do, I had a samung series 7 from best buy for a day and the matte screen was horrible. I kinda need a matte screen since I work everywhere but it can't suck.

I think I might need to see it in person before I buy the screen is the main thing holding me back.

also just saw this doesn't look that bad
Samsung Series 9 15 inch - YouTube

 

Seems odd Sean Hollister didn't review the 13.3" side-by-side with the 15".

 

also does this have an 830 ssd, makes the most sense since samsung already makes it.

 

Probably, but not definite. The first batch of the 2nd generation 13" S9 to be sold in the UK used a Sandisk SSD but the corresponding model sold in the US used the Samsung SSD.

John

 

TheVerge reviewed this model today here is the results:
Samsung Series 9 review (15-inch, 2012) | The Verge

 

anyone know if the reason is because it sold out or Samsung did not release it yet?

 

Not released yet

 

Evidently there are a few in circulation. Did anyone see this PCMag review?

John

 

I just saw it. "Only 57GB of 128GB SSD available at startup"

 

Darn it, I need that 15-inch ultrabook to have a Number Pad.
I wish they would make it like the 15-inch Series 7's keyboard, the one with the numpad.

 

no number pad for me, that's one of the few things I hate about the series 7. Mouse pad has to be centered for me.

 

Totally agree. The numpad just takes up space and gets in the way. For me, this 15" has everything I want in every way - as soon as we see a model with a larger HD. As for the keyboard, having the dedicated row of home/end/page up/page down keys is perfect.

 

Same here. No number pad, thank you.

 

So given we have nothing to go on, here is something I have been thinking about.

How long will it take, and who will tackle it first, to bring out ultrabook 15" laptops following Samsung and Apple? In looking at the Zenbook, I am starting to think that a 15" Zenbook around the same weight as the 15" series 9 would be a pretty great machine.

Hmm, well that turned into more a musing, but hey, we have nothing for a month it seems.

 

I'm thinking the next 6 months are going to be fascinating.

 

I'm thinking I might get last years samsung series 9 for 800 dollars refurb on ebay. That's if I can sell my dell xps 16 for like 500-600 bucks.

I'm thinking in the next 8 months something is going to come out that I can't refuse.

 

Vizio announced a 15" ultrabook at CES to be released "this summer"

 

I forgot about that one. So we have three so far.

Re: buying last year's series 9, I have been thinking the same sort of thing, as it seems like about six months from now we will have a few more options.

I bought the Zenbook tonight, I have two weeks to return it. It is pretty damn nice, but the idea of this with a 15" display is highly appealing. It has the same ELAN touchpad that the Samsung will have and it seems pretty nice, although sometimes it isn't registering movement until I drag my finger halfway across it. Latest drivers.

If I do return it, it is going to be hard to add another 500 dollars to get the series 9.

 

Samsung's 15-inch Ultrabook is great, but do you guys have any news as to when Asus will come up with their own 15-inch ultrabook?

This Sammy doesn't have discreet graphics right?

 

It doesn't have discrete graphics no. Hopefully an IB version though, with the improved HD4000 graphics.

 

NewEgg is listing the 15" as "In Stock"

Newegg.com - SAMSUNG Series 9 NP900X4B-A02US Notebook Intel Core i5 2467M(1.60GHz) 15.0" 8GB Memory 128GB SSD HDD Intel HD Graphics 3000

 

That's odd since all the reviews that just came out said it would be released at the end of April.
I'm not too sure about buying a computer from newegg. There are no refunds if you don't like it, only exchanges or repairs for defective ones.

 

Yeah that's very odd, but newegg's link is valid and you can actually order it. If anyone wants it for sure, order it from newegg and see if they'll actually ship it to you. Amazon also has it listed, but on preorder:

Amazon.com: Samsung Series 9 NP900X4B-A02US 15-Inch Laptop (Titan Silver): Computers & Accessories

 

I am gonna try by phone when they open at 8:30am EST and will report back here.

 

I ordered one - it says 1 day delivery.
If I get this - will post the unboxing etc . . .

 

Well - I guess NEWEGG was wrong in putting this up.
I got an order cancelled email - I am currently waiting in a customer service line to ask the rep why . . .

 

My newegg order still says "paid/packaging"....but I fear that I will suffer the same fate as Corteen... will update board...