The 2012 Samsung Series 9 13.3" (NP900X3B)

That's a good guess, but according to MS's tech spec, both are "OPERATING SYSTEM | Windows 7 Home Premium." In addition, both are the same price. Who would buy the Home Premium if it is the same price as the Pro?

 

The UX31 is heavier (only .5 pounds), but it's really noticeable. 20% increase in weight over S9. I also like the S9's styling better. The UX31's edges are too sharp, and dig into my wrists when I type. Plus, the keyboard seems to register better on the S9.

Both screens are nice, but I prefer the matte screen of the S9. Trackpad feels roughly the same so far. Then again, I'm day one so I'll give more impressions later.

Right now, I'm working on freeing up space. I'll need to read through this thread to see how others did it. It only comes with 96gb available, and 26 of that is taken up by the OS! So, really only 70gb useable. Way too small...

Is the S9 worth the higher price (UTX comes with 256gb and i7 for less)? Jury is still out, but for me I needed a backlit keyboard and lighter weight. Worth it for me, but maybe not to others?

 

Quick note: I used Samsung Recovery, made a system restore onto my external HDD, then did a factory restore off the partition. After that, I removed the bloatware and was left with 77 out of 96gb. I figure when I start running out, I'll reclaim the partition. After I got it to 77gb, I did a sytem imaging with Samsung Recovery in case I need to restore it.

Still loving the machine on day 1...

 

I don't see any discussion about this here, has anyone received notification of a BIOS update? I did this morning, I clicked OK to proceed after the update installed, it went to reboot. It never went back to the OS and the screen remains black (off). Only the power button is lit, pressing the button power again shuts it off. Samsung support has been of no help, still waiting for tier 2 support.

 

Yes, I received the notification from the Easy Software Agent. I ignored it.

Sorry it failed on you. This highlights one of the concerns I have about sealed case designs. I feel really uncomfortable shipping a machine in that state somewhere with my data on the mSATA drive.

I might buy an Intel mSATA drive for this contingency. One thing is for sure, I would pull the existing drive and install it into my Thinkpad, then nuke my personal data before it leaves my sight.

 

I agree, these designs leave the user with almost no options when something goes wrong. The samsung's rep was asking me to pull the battery off.

 

Note that the User Guide shows a hole in the bottom through which you can poke something to do a reset.

John

 

I used the pinhole and now it doesn't turn on at all. Supposedly the pinhole would force a shutdown/reset if unplugged from the wall adapter and you need to plug it back in for it to turn on again.

 

^ Looks like you bricked it doing a bios update? Flashing firmware and bios updates are one of the most fragile steps to any hardware.

 

I manually flashed the bios a few weeks ago when I first got the laptop, and had no issues flashing it. These were the instructions on Samsung's webpage that I followed. Sucks that your laptop won't start again.

"
This is the program that help you update the BIOS.[How to update the BIOS]
1. Please click the attached file and select the ''download''. Save the file in a folder and double click it.
2. After activating the file, you can see the Windows messages. Please follow the steps and the BIOS update process will start.
3. After BIOS update, the System will restart automatically. During the POST, please press F2 to enter the System Setup menu, click F9(Load Setup Default), and then press F10(Save and Exit).CAUTION : MAKE SURE NEVER TURN OFF(OR RESET) YOUR SYSTEM DURING THE BIOS UPDATE."

 

This is just a thought, but you could download the Windows 7 ISO from this thread, put it onto a USB flash drive, delete all the partitions, and then install a pure OS.

 

The pin hole is to reset the battery. Samsung has devised some sort of weird circuit breaker into it.

Has someone seen instructions for how to use that reset properly? I'm not sure it will help with the bricked BIOS situation.

 

The price coming down already? 1299
Samsung 13.3 Core i5 128GB SSD Notebook at CircuitCity.com

 

Yeah. I ordered mine a few days ago, so expect the prices to start dropping and the ivy bridge version with i7, 8gigs ram and larger hdd to be released any day now.

 

A01 vs A02

I've been DMing with SamsungSupport on twitter about this, asking if they could dig up anything. This is what they told me:

"The the A01US has a faster CPU i5-2467M on the A01US, i5-2537M on the A02US is the only differences that I've found."

This info does not coincide with the specs on the Samsung website, so I'm not sure which is accurate. They did take a few hours to dig up info so maybe they actually went and spoke to the engineers? Who knows. I'll keep you guys posted if I find out more.

 

If that was true, they wouldn't be the same price.

 

First of all, thanks for pushing this uphill. It should be easy enough for us to check: could somebody who has the A02 model go into Windows System Information and check the processor? My A01 is definitely i5-2467M.

I found this:
Intel Core i5-2467M Vs Core i5-2537M | Compare Processors
comparing the two processors. It says that the 2537m is faster, but then posts WEI scores of 6.3 for the 2467m and 5.9 for the 2537m. My WEI scores are, in fact 6.3 for the processor, so that much is correct.

The hard numbers on the above site are so close that I could imagine Samsung releasing two versions for the same price to different vendors, but the WEI is different enough that I would feel bummed to end up with the slower one.

On the other hand, this spec page from Samsung has the same processor on the A02 as the A01:
http://www.samsung.com/us/computer/laptops/NP900X3B-A02US-specs

 

All this info just doesn't make sense. First of all, generally the higher numbered processor model should be the faster one, but this is the opposite.

i5- 2537M = 1.4ghz, 2.3ghz turbo = slower
i5- 2467M = 1.6ghz, 2.3ghz turbo = faster

Second, samsung isn't even sure on what the differences of their own model is, and lists them both as exactly the same.

And I just did some quick google search for the ivy bridge NP900X3 C, and it looks like the processor will be a Core i5-3317U (1.7GHz/2.4GHz turbo, 22nm, 17W).

 

That is my suspicion also. Unless this is the result of some odd supply problem and they are trying not to advertise this issue (but that's unlikely).

I asked what the source of this information was because the spec sheets on the website indicates they both have the i5-2467M CPU, and the she replied: "From an internal source. =)".

The lady was very personable in our conversation and I believe she was digging for answers as best she could (not just making it up). If the information is incorrect, I suspect it comes from a source who claimed to know an answer they did not actually know.

I guess we'll find out once more get in the wild...

 

Probably the only way to check the hardware differences is to compare the labels on the boxes although someone in the marketing dept should know what they have ordered from the factory.

John

 

Thanks, I didn't know I could do that. If I run out of room, I'm going to try that! The Samsung Recovery programs seems to be pretty good, and there weren't too many bloatware programs. I'm afraid to delete the partition, though, since I'm not sure the backup I made will work without the Samsung program.

 

The very first thing I did when I received my notebook was run the Samsung Recovery 5 program and build the DVD set. I assumed on the restore is was going to be just like the factory out-of-the-box experience. It wasn't. It's a complete backup of the environment that is there at the time of the backup.

Well, almost.

At the time I did the backup, the drive had the factory partitions. At the time I did the restore, there were only two. The restore process did not completely reconfigure the drive partitions, create four, and restore exactly like it was at the time of the backup.

Instead, it just restored the OS and apps which is fine but I thought you all might like to know since I tested it.

 

So, I did the backup. I restored it just to make sure it worked (it did). Does that mean I can delete the partitions now? Which ones did you delete, and how? Thanks!

 

BTW, has anyone found a form-fitting case they like yet? All the ones I've seen are a little big...

 

When I get a new computer, before logging into Windows, I usually just make a full hard drive backup (using Acronis True Image). With the SS9, it was only 24.4GB. This way, I can recover the whole drive, just certain partiitions etc. It is faster than burning a bunch of dvd's too.

 

I tried a total of 3 cases, and this is my favorite. It is reviewed as too tight for the macbook air, but its perfect for our smaller SS9 .

Amazon.com: Speck Products MacBook Air / Ultrabook 13-Inch TrimSleeve Black (SPK-A0293): Electronics

 

I actually did that, too.

I deleted the partitions when I clean installed Windows 7.

 

I'll also appreciate if someone knows and can post about this. Samsung support has been of no help, suggesting to remove the battery and not looking into any technical details. I'm currently outside the US so they had me call local support and go to the local service center. They took a look at it, removed the bottom case and said the motherboard will need to be replaced because there is no power. Obviously I can't agree with this being the only solution. They said it will take 45 days or more to receive the part from Korea. Samsung US won't do anything unless I ship it to them from the US.

I called Amazon and told them about the problem and they were extremely helpful. They said they will send me a replacement for free as soon as they get the next shipment, as they are currently back ordered. They told me to hold on to this one for now in case Samsung finds a solution or a miracle happens.

 

There will be an option during Windows 7 installation to modify/delete the partitions. I'm not sure if the S9 has any hidden partitions but if it does, you can use Partition Wizard.

 

Yes. When you get to the point in windows 7 setup that asks which partition to install into, I deleted all four leaving a single 119GB unallocated partition. I used the unallocated partition as the target and the install proceeded normally.

 

Does anyone have experience with ordering through this site?
Is it a safe purchase?

 

I only know that circuitcity.com was purchased by the same people that own tigerdirect.com, and they've been around forever. Also there is a circuit city retail store in Delaware.

 

Hey guys, please spend 10 seconds to go to amazon and find the link on the bottom that says "tell us about a lower price", and enter the link from the CircuitCity's page so that Amazon price matches them. Amazon will price match most of the time, so it'll benefit those that will be ordering and those that have already ordered this notebook (to get a $100 partial refend)

URL: Samsung 13.3 Core i5 128GB SSD Notebook at CircuitCity.com
Price: $1,299.99
shipping cost: $8.64

Circuity City went out of business a couple years ago, and Tiger Direct bought them out, so their reliability is essentially the same as tiger direct. I've bought from both several times.

 

Thor, can you explain how you did a Windows 7 setup from scratch? I used the Samsung recovery program to backup system files, but that just seems to restore it back to factory settings (along with bloatware). It sounds like you did a fresh install somehow? Thanks!

 

I downloaded the Windows 7 Ultimate x64 .ISO file using my MSDN subscription and burned a DVD. I installed from it.

You should have a Windows 7 Home Premium DVD in the disk set package for the SS9. That will work. The key is on the Certificate they stuck to the battery charger.

 

I'm not sure if the included DVD contains bloatware, I'll try the clean install that SGMD referenced with the iso files since it worked for you too. Thanks for the tip!

 

Did you find anything that had a flap covering the end? Otherwise, that speck sleeve would be perfect!

 

The Microsoft logo DVD only has Windows.

 

The second best fit was the Tucano 13 Second Skins Sleeve for Macbook Air (completely covered). It does feel a bit loose though, not as nice fit as the Speck (plus all the MBA logo). I usually have the Speck in my day bag, so I don't mind the open end - fits snuggly, so doesn't move around at all. I even tried a wool one below, which is very sexy, but the footprint is much larger, and won't fit in my bag, so I am giving it to my friend with a MBA.

13 Inch MacBook Air Sleeve/Case Dunbar Gray Wool Felt by Adimaa

 

The circuit city link shows $1399.

I stopped at a MS-store on Friday to get a little hands-on with the unit.
They currently sell it for $1399 with a $200 gift certificate. I find that useful to upgrade the only 1-year-warranty coverage with the MS-package.

I noticed that the "mineral ash" color was slightly blueish and is nowhere
close to what the Series7 looks like. Can anyone confirm that Titan Silver
matches the Series7 finish? Is Amazon's "Titan Silver" actually the mineral
ash as described?

 

Can someone confirm if this supports 1440p through the HDMI? Had a quick search but could not find anything. Thanks.

 

Amazon's is the same color as the others; dark grey/black/bluish. It depends on the lighting. I definitely wouldn't call it Titan Silver...

 

The only place I've seen those silver models that look like the MacBook Air were in the CES pictures from January, and the Korean launch pictures.

I would like a silver model and hope the 256GB SSD models are silver.

 

Same here, even though I'm not desperate for 256GB. Backup, clean Win-Install should give me about 100 Gigs for programs and instantly necessary content, media can go on an SD and cloud, that 's plenty for me.

So I guess the "Titan Silver" was what reviewers called Mineral Ash back around the CES. I'm glad I did the hands-on, that color doesn't exactly blow me away directly looking at it...

The real silver ones with the black keyboard looked nice, though.

With Sandy Bridge being replaced soon and with not so many ultrabooks worth mentioning coming out right now, Samsung might have actually made a
smart move there releasing a SB-version now.

Initial excitement has settled in a little and I'm definitely gonna wait for Ivy Bridge or what might be coming down the road from other manufacturers.

 

Silver with 8GB and 256GB, an available case made for it, and I"ll buy it

By the time that is possible there will be something else announced and then we will have to wait 6 months for that to actually limp out

 

That's why I am never in the waiting game, grab it now if I like it and maybe upgrade it later. There will always be something potentially better 6 months down the road (or at all). My symblings however do love getting my "old" stuff.

 

Has anyone been able to boot from an sd card? I'm not having luck. In bios, fast boot was already disabled, and I've made the internal hdd last on the boot order list. I haven't yet tried a USB flash drive.

 

Boot what?

 

Linux, WinPE, Norton rescue environment? Anything?

I'm just wondering if it's an option at all to boot from since it doesn't exclusively list the SD slot on the boot list. On other machines I've had it count as a "USB hard drive" or similar, which is on the list. I remember other people stating that their S9 was rather particular about boot devices (would only work with certain USB dvd drives), so maybe it's something like that.

 

SGMD,

Is there a trick to using the USB flash drive on bootup? I changed the boot order in the bios to USB HDD and USB FDD before the Samsung SSD. However, it still doesn't recognize the USB flash drive that I made using the link you gave. Thanks!

BTW, I tried the USB drive in my Zenbook with the boot order changed. Worked fine. I have no idea why the S9 doesn't recognize the USB drive, even though I've changed the boot order? For those that have been successful, which USB port did you use? What boot order and other settings did you change? Thanks!