Samsung Series 7 Laptops - 15.0" and 15.6" Models (NP700Z4 & NP700Z5)

Any non BB models shipped yet? Waiting for this laptop is seriously testing my patience

 

Can we please stop bickering and get back to the task at hand? I'm pretty sure no one here came to read page after page of why we feel the need to be validated. Seriously... who gives a crap?

There are some real questions for which people are still looking for answers. I for one still have the following:
1) what are the best memory upgrade options? What class/speed is the factory soldered memory?
2) is it possible to swap out the optical drive for an ssd or another hard drive and if so, what would be the best configuration given the available connections?
3) is the original hdd a sata ii or sata iii connection?
4) how is the wifi signal? Can it be upgraded if necessary?
5) what do you lose if you do a fresh windows install without the Samsung software (bloatware?)?
6) is it worth it to get the s03 model for an extra $150 if you dont have a license for professional or ultimate?
7) lastly, if anyone has received a non-best buy model, please confirm that you have express cache, bluetooth, and a backlit keyboard. And please provide a review of the screen!

THANKS!

 

3) Sata III
4) mine sucked, installed a Intel 6200 with no problem. I need 5.2. BB model is a 6150 (WiMax) single band.
5) Nothing, download what you need from Samsung.

 

deerchaser,

What was wrong with the factory wifi?

Also, what's a 5.2?

Thanks

 

I think he means dual band...2.4 and 5 ghz

 

So then I guess s03 isn't worth it if you have a win 7 pro or ultimate license handy since you can upgrade your memory for about 40 bucks...good to know!

Assuming we can take out the optical drive and move the hdd drive in its place (I can't imagine it would be too hard to secure it in that space) we could install a small ssd drive for the os and applications for relatively cheap... I'm just wondering if that's overkill considering the express cache available without an ssd. What do you guys think? Would this be analogous to ssd drive performance over a seagate xt drive?

 

Yes, the 6150 is single band, plus I don't use 4g (wimax). 1000, 5100, 6100 are all single 2.4ghz. I really have no clue what wifi card the non-bb comes with. Prob Intel 1030, 6230 would be much better now that the driver is fixed. Easy and cheap to change.

 

I wonder if you could install Bigfoot Killer Wireless-N?
If 6200 works then I believe 6300 intel would also work. I can get Intel 6300 one easily it cost like 40 bucks.

 

6300 wont help unless you install the 3rd antenna. I think the bigfoot would also work, dont think samsung has a whitelist like HP.

 

Right I forgot about the 3rd antenna. But since it's so thin wouldn't it be hard to install another antenna?

 

If you want to pull the display apart. 6300 would still work as a 6200. Just match the ant connections.

 

Hey Guys, how would you guys compare this to the Asus N55SF obviously not as good a looker and the CPU is down fro i7 ro i5 but GPU is up. As looks like this wont be released before my mate comes back from thinking this as an alternative. Opinions?

 

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Fine. Why did you not also write this to dp3000? By the way, I'm sure he is a nice guy and I hope he writes me back so we can talk a least a bit about the Samsung 7.

 

The non-bb model has the broadcom card, not an inter card. I assume this because the support page for the bb model has divers for intel wifi card but the non-bb models have drivers for a broadcom wireless card.

 

sinman02, those are good questions. I'll start to think about them. For me, the big issues are the screen being less than advertised, not that great to me (contrast and viewing angles), and some unexplained sluggishness after removing some bloatware (wild tangent games, two Best Buy apps, and Norton --- I replaced with Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes which have small footprints in my experience). Test numbers backed up this sluggishness --- 2D graphics were particularly disappointing (I posted a while back). (Admittedly a decent price point but not what I'd expect on a premium machine and this is marketed as one --- and may very well be one in many ways). Then again...

The machine is advertised as having incredible features and it is not all questionable by any means --- nice build quality (a step below the MBP), has been relatively quiet (only 6490 card, not the 6750), I'd love to have the 6750 card in a machine(!), small power brick, portable, slim, classy looking, a decent battery, the screen does have 1600 x 900, and the track pad is very good for a Windows system.

For all, I have a question. The new Acer S3 has a SSD cache but it is 20 gigs (with a 320gig HDD). It is 8 gigs on those Series 7 that have them. So, is this 8 gigs likely big enough to increase speed sufficiently? How does the system decide what to speed up (what is used the most often?) --- if this is a dumb question, sorry.

Taking it a step further a very recent review of the G74 by anandtech (he liked it) showed that having two drives --- an SSD and a bigger HDD increased speed by approx. 30% (which he expected; see the article for more info, it's a good artilce in general --- but no, I'm not spending $1,999 on an Asus without optimus!; Indeed, it makes the price of the Samsung 7 seem better). So, should we expect less than 30% from the Samsung type of set-up, a more selective approach with this set-up, or is the Samsung type of set-up a more intelligent approach?

Thanks.

 

Guys I just want to talk about the laptop, let us just forget what happened.

My main question about the laptop is if you can replace the ODD with the main hard drive that came with the laptop and then place a second SSD drive?

Best way to import laptops from US to UK, depending on the model being sold in the US

 

4) Interesting... the Series 7 box I saw at Best Buy said it had an Intel Wireless N (2x2). 2x2 would mean it's not single band.

 

amazon now has the 14" for sale. listed to ship within 1 to 2 months.
Amazon.com: Samsung NP700Z3A-S01US 14-Inch Notebook: Computers & Accessories

also the product page for the 15.6" on amazon is no longer available for pre-order. It now states the laptop is Currently Unavailable.
Amazon.com: Samsung NP700Z5A-S02US 15.6-Inch Notebook - Silver: Computers & Accessories

Did anyone get their pre-order shipped out? or does this indicate a further delay?

 

BB is a big pusher for WiMAX, thats why.

 

The laptop I had came with a Intel 6150. Which is single band (2.4ghz 2x2) plus WiMax. 2x2 does not mean dual band, it relates to the number of antennas and the number of simultaneous spatial streams (802.11N). A dual band with wimax would be the 6250. Dual band with bluetooth would be a 6230.

 

i was wondering the exact same thing...

i really want this laptop...samsung needs to hire new marketing and PR because they suck at it badly...

 

They were good in the beginning but after it's about to release it's like what the **** is happening.

 

Guys, I'm especially interested about the 1st and 2nd question. Can someone to please take apart his laptop and check it out?

 

i order my unit from usacomp(tiger direct), i went again to bb store in NY to see their model, i did not like the huge touch pad but i think i will get used to it in the end. the screen was a little dim for me but i think the brightness was not at 100% (seem they lock all the fn functins on the unit) the WEI score are:
Processor: 7.4
Memory(RAM): 7.4
Graphics: 5.2
Gaming graphics: 6.3
Primary hard drive: 5.9
the dvd/cd burner model is mata DVD-RAM uj8a7as, can i add another hd instead of the dvd burner?

 

It should be possible but it's a matter of getting a caddy case that fit perfectly in that spot. Would be nice to see what Sata it's using.
If mbp can do it, then I don't see why Series 7 can't. It just might have to wait until someone comes out with a case that fits in the optical drive.

 

How is the screen, does the screen really have bad contrast ratio like akula57 say in his previous post, do you guy share the same verdict. The screen quality is my top concern on my next laptop, I do not want to stuck on a screen that has low contrast ratio.

If the screen indeed does have low contrast ratio, now I know where are the corners they cut to get the price where it is. I hope that higher spec machine and 14in version does not suffer from the problem.

 

I've seen the screen in bestbuy. Contrast, gamut and viewing angles were subpar. The 12,5" series 3 right next to it had a better screen.

 

Hi k2001, you can find the screen measurements I took in this post. Bottom line: contrast ratio 179:1, 44% color gamut. Those numbers might be kind of average for a cheap panel. However, the bluish cast of the neutral greys seems likely to be fatiguing after a while.

 

I'm wondering if you could just use some 3M dual lock strips to fasten the extra hard drive in the space vacated by the optical drive... I would think there would be more than enough space. Heat generated by the hard drive may be an issue affecting the adhesive. I don't know how hot a 7200rpm laptop drive gets, but I know that dual lock strips hold the ezpass on my car windshield throughout the hot summers parked in direct sunlight and it's never been a problem...I'm sure the inside of my car can be over 100 degrees F with the windows closed. Should hold securely enough provided I don't use the laptop as a frisbee. Even then, it may still hold. The stuff is pretty good if applied correctly. A little ghetto, I know, but if it holds, and no one can see it, who cares? Probably a five dollar investment without waiting for someone to build a caddy for it. What do you guys think?

http://www.amazon.com/4-Strips-Repl...JQ0A/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1318480770&sr=8-3

As for memory, corteen on this forum posted that he upgraded his replaceable memory stick with a 4gb Kingston HyperX 1600 DDR3 ram and got 7.6 on the windows experience index. I'm thinking the Kingston may be a bit overkill for $78, but I found a GSkill 4GB 1600 DDR3 for $34.

Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Laptop Memory Model F3-12800CL9S-4GBSK

If I can get 7.6 with this...I'd be happy...

 

Hey guys I have the best buy version for another 15 hours ask me anything, I have to ship it off soon to some family. Pretty much I'll confirm what everybody is saying is true. This is a great laptop but the hard drive and screen make it a no go for me ( for family its fine ). To me this is the best laptop you can buy at best buy for the price and what you get.

But I could not decide to return it or keep it because the contrast is that bad. Now let me say it's not horrible but I come from a RGB led screen and I'm not a big fan of matte screens. If you turn down the brightness 5 points and contrast 5 it really looks alot better.

This is not a bad buy if you can deal with the screen and upgrade the hard drive to a ssd sata 3. I also reinstalled clean windows 7 and it didn't make that much of a difference. But I will say doing that then reinstalling the factory spec seems to have made it faster. I think because the image is just loaded onto a blank hard drive and that is what causes it to lag. When I first got it I had points where it would just hang up and freeze.

For anybody here don't get the best buy version, not because it's bad but there are better versions. This really is a nice computer I have been using it 6 hours full brightness on battery not one single fan or heat can be noticed. And I'm sitting here in silence. And it's sitting on a leather couch with the vents probably blocked.

If samsung makes this with a better screen I will buy in a heart beat,

 

AFAIK RAM speed is limited to the slowest chip, so it won't matter which speed you buy unless it's lower than the soldered-in module. I imagine that one's no higher than 1333.

 

I've been waiting for this laptop since I saw it on engadget. I've also been following this thread pretty closely, I finally came to the conclusion that I had to see it for myself. The closest BB that had the lower end samsung without the express cache was 60 miles away, so I drove there. '
Walking up to the laptop, I was very impressed. It looks perfect! Funny they had the mac book line beside it so I was able to compare screens very easily.

Now I know why there is just so much confusion or better yet so much criticism for the screen. From what I can tell, the blacks on the screen and the colors aren't very dark unless you are directly aligned with it. As well the panel didn't seem very bright, the function keys were locked but after going through the graphic options I found the brightness was at its highest point, also changing the color options didn't really make much of a difference, but for being a matte screen it worked very well. I didn't notice how there were almost no reflections till I compared it to the macbook pro. I found myself trying to reposition the macbook to remove glare, an impossible task, something I did not have to do with the samsung. The macbook screen is practically a mirror, on the samsung screen even if I tried to find my reflection it was very difficult. If I was offered the macbook pro 13 and the samsung on amazon I would go with the samsung.
Secondly I wouldn't say the colors are washed out, because when it was aligned the colors seemed great on the samsung. Washed out screens to me are the screens on a regular BB asus or hp dv4, those screens are imo unbearable.

To sum things up, the screen on the samsung is fine. It's definitely not an amazing screen, but it is above average and not a deal breaker for me. Coming off a dell xps 15 l502 with a 1080p display and an hp envy 14 with a radiance display, if nothing else catches my attention by the end of this month. I will be going with the samsung 15.6 from amazon, giving my dell to my brother, I already gave my hp envy to my sis, and I will be a very happy costumer.

 

By the way, if anyone wants to evaluate the display on a Best Buy demo unit, you can go to the Start Menu and run Samsung EasySet (? I think that's what it's called). From there you should be able to set the brightness even though the Fn key is disabled. You can also mess around with Display Color to see if that helps you at all.

 

I have been following this forum since late August with the Good News of the Samsung Series 7... But it has turned into a big joke, where nobody knows a thing about it and Samsung could care less..\
Now I hear that the new Intel Ivy Bridge, coming in a few months will way out perform the Sandy Bridge....
So about the time Samsung "advises" where the Series 7 is, it will be obsoleted.....
Time for plan A, a Mac Book Air.. Those folks know what they are doing....

 

Ivy Bridge isn't really relevant here. It promises better graphic performance, but it still won't stack up to the 6750 card in this laptop, and you're not getting almost any additional benefit out of more CPU performance. Unless you're doing scientific calculations even the i7 quadcore in this machine will be sitting idle most of the time.

 

(Plus, the MBA won't get an Ivy Bridge refresh until at least late next summer, I suspect.)

 

i'd like to agree also...and not to mention it will cost at least 1700 to set one up similar to the 1149 samsung series 7

 

Do you know if the 15.6in Series 3 and 6 have the same screen as the Series 7? I know resolutions is the same, and I even think they are all rated at the same 300nits.

 

hi...

possible to post a video review?
show power adapter as well, how big isit?
where are the vents and speakers?

 

Hey guys, for those of you who bought it, it would be really nice of you to run a detailed system information report (like Sandra SiSoft, Aida64, Everest, etc.), save the results and bring them out here. Thanks.

 

I called the french dealer that currently has the product listed ( here) and they told me that they are expecting the laptop next wednesday. I'll call them on the following day to make sure they have it, try to check it out and report back on the final version.
Unfortunately we do not have the BB model so i won't be able to compare the both, especially the screen.
If there's anything you guys wuld like me to check please let me know.

Edit: added the link

 

Funny thing, there's a Facebook page with lots of people asking for the release date in their countries: Samsung SERIES 7 CHRONOS | Facebook

Well, starting with October 5th, no answer at all. Otherwise they responded quite quickly before that date. Seems that they don't know the answer anymore. Just hope they haven't taken late holidays.

Crystal clear, sort o postponement. Not bad at all as far as they're to fix the screen issue... fingers crossed...

 

my store just changed the delivery date from mid october to late october

 

Well the Asus UX31 is out in the UK on the 21st Oct - if Samsung don't pull their fingers out then they'll be loosing a potential customer!

 

Well atleast in Germany the S03 is available online (but without detailed product description, "look at Samsung Website", but no product info on German site either ), the S01 is scheduled 10.11.2011...

 

I hate to say it but Samsung has the worst customer serive, probuct support I have ever had to deal with. That played a big factor in why I returned the 7. They WILL NOT give you any information or even hint any info. While I like my Samsung phone, their service sucks!

 

Hi, I'm french too.
Can you tell me please were did you found a store which have it in pre order?

 

Arès, I just added the link to the post you just quoted, I guess it didn't work when I originally posted it.

 

Thank you!