The 2012 Samsung Series 9 13.3" (NP900X3B)

My S9's pad (more like a playing field) is much better than anything else I have used. I love the two-finger scroll but the two-finger tap is unreliable. Also, the cursor sometimes moves when I press the left button.

You can use the ETDAniConf program from here to access more settings.

Perhaps you should try complete removal and then install the latest version (if you need to download it then it's on the NP900X4B downloads).

John

 

Yeah, I've tried it. The drag clicking continues and even when all gestures are selected, I still can't scroll with two fingers or anything else. I've tried rolling back, uninstalling, reinstalling from both the X3B and X4B drivers to no avail. Did two complete restores in recovery and still no dice.

Was on the phone with Samsung a few times today and they just wanted me to send it in for repairs.

 

If it's problems fresh out of the box then they should classify it as DoA and authorise the retailer to replace it.

On a different subject, here's a good flash drive to go with the S9 and its congested ports. The whole body is basically the size of a USB plug.

John

 

I havent got the laptop yet but I completely forgot about the thinness/Flash drive issue...
That USB stick looks great, pity it's not 3.0.

 

I like this Mac Air Sleeve, but $39.99 for "faux-leather" seems a little extreme.

 

I wouldn't do that unless a return means a restocking fee or something.

 

Try an exchange first. RMA for repair means time away from your notebook you had already paid for, and getting it back might still have the same problems if they deem it has "normal"

When I ordered mine just yesterday, it was $30. Looks like price increased or the amazon seller I got it from just ran out so it defaulted to a different amazon seller.

 

yeah i have similar problems to you and i have two of these. don't think it's a hardware or software issue with your machine in particular.

i think it happens when you move your thumb slightly when highlighting things- then it gets stuck highlighting... something about ClickLock (even though it's disabled)

i think the touchpad is just way too sensitive, in addition.

after beating on it for a while it seems to work better.
trying the etdaniconf.exe software now - maybe i can get rid of the horrid drag the cursor for no reason thing.

EDIT:
turning down the sensitivity seems to have helped a lot.

 

Has anyone yet tested the webcam? The generation one 9 Series from last year was really bad. Even a normally-lit room came off as dark. I'd be curious to know if this year's camera is any better.

 

I'm not having this issue on my S9, but I did have similar issues with the Toshiba Portege I had (more like the pad would hang up while dragging... as if the trackpad surface was uneven, which it actually felt like it was. Not smooth like S9 or Macbook air). Can you go to a store or find another to test out? Sounds like a bad machine...

 

I reckon this PNY
is better!
Get a 32gb micro sd card & you're up + running....

Wonder if the system will recognise a 128gb micro sd card?

 

HP make something similar. However, the drawback of the small flash drives is the problem with pulling them out (I've fixed a small lanyard onto mine) and the S9 sockets seem to be very tight.

If you objective is to leave some extra storage attached then that microscopic flash drive is a better solution.

John

 

Am I really the only person having this issue? I believe it only happens with the new touchpad driver (10.7.13.1). I've attempted uninstalling and re-installing the drivers to no avail. Can anyone tell me the previous driver version number so I can try to find it and downgrade?

By the way, I've also found that a single finger horizontal swipe from left to right behaves like an alt+tab. it switches to the next running application. I have my settings as follows

single finger:
allow tap
release on finger lift

two finger:
scroll with no additional settings
tap for menu
no zoom
no rotate

three finger:
none

four finger:
none

 

You might want to take a look at the NP900X4B and NP900X3B pictures I posted at the http://forum.notebookreview.com/samsung/637717-samsung-15-series-9-np900x4b-thread.html#post8443992.

The 13.3" screen really rocks and it shows in the pictures.

 

I literally can't believe the difference in color.

 

Is a TPM chip offered for NP900X3B? I can't seem to find any information to that end..

 

They do not have a model available with TPM chip as of yet. For the 2011 models, they added a TPM chip to any model that shipped with Windows 7 Professional. So far, all of the 2012 models are shipping with Home Premium and no TPM.....which is show-stopper for me unfortunately.

 

Any people here live in Hong Kong?
Am off there next week & was wondering if the X3B was any cheaper there?

Think we can get it in the UK for £1199 less 20% (so £958)....

John Lewis/Amazon/PC World!

Thanks,

Nic

 

There's no X3B on the Samsung HK website.

BTW, the VAT cashback is 1/6th of the price you pay.

John

 

WEBCAM?

Has anyone yet played with the laptop's webcam? I have the generation-one 9 series from 2011, and though i LOVE it, the webcam stinks.

How does this webcam stack up?

 

Thanks John, in fact I got so annoyed with my current laptop that I gave in & Ordered one from JL...

Should be picking it up tomorrow with any luck!

How's your case - would you recommend it?

Kind regards,

Nic

 

it's pretty good. no complaints. here's a shot taken w/the webcam:
www.scribl.it/makerdone.PNG

in case you can't see:
scribl dot it forwardslash makerdone.PNG

 

Thanks Triskite. Have you tried using the webcam when there's no outside light (ie, at night?). I found with my room light on (using a lamp), the webcam on my 9 series generation-one wouldn't capture enough light. Everything was super dark.

 

ALERT FOR ALL OWNERS!

The air vents on the back bottomside of the case are very fragile. I had it in my rolling briefcase, and apparently hit a bump hard enough to crack the vents. I don't thing they were cracked in shipping, and I'm not sure if it was a manufacturing defect.

I'll be buying that trimsleeve for sure. I also will go back to my trick of putting an umbrella into the bottom of the rolling briefcase to absorb some of the shock (and have an umbrella with me at all times).

 

im from hong kong and they dont have it here yet still selling the old s9

 

umm soo...

i've been told now by 2 samsung reps that the ram IS upgradeable (by intellisol) and 2 reps that it is NOT.

the most recent guy actually seemed to know things like what ram is and what the np900x3b is vs. the 3a. he was like ' i know this computer very well. it IS upgradeable'

anyway, have other folks found this out definitively yet or not? anyone done the intellisol upgrade?

i'm gonna give a call tmrw when they open...

 

OH, keep us updated if it is possible and the pricing.

 

Did you give him more details? For example, if the ram is soldered on the motherboard, how is it possible to upgrade? See what his response so this questions is.

 

he confirmed that it is not sodimm (we already knew that) but did not give specifics of whether soldered.

if you run 'speccy' or other hardware specs programs it does show up as having an empty slot (or 2/4). even if ram is soldered it may still be possible to upgrade.

will update tmrw

 

That sleeve I ordered is more rugged than the S9 needs for normal use. I'm still searching for a thinner and lighter sleeve for normal usage.

John

PS: I made a review which is now posted.

 

Nice review and pics. What camera did you use?

Regarding the rating on expandability, are we the target audience? Should expandability even be rated on an Ultrabook?

 

Ok, thanks again - have ordered one as I need some protection but maybe a sleeve type will be better...

Good review too

Cheers,
Nic

 

If you are looking for a good sleeve, see Elements Special Edition for MacBook Air 13"

I have the version before they put the odd logo on it. Mine is gray instead of black. See Amazon.com: Tucano USA Second Skin Script Microfiber Sleeve For MacBook, 13.3" Color: Gray: Electronics for the one I have.

 

How is the fit of these two sleeves? If it fits the macbook 13" perfectly, then it'll be too loose for this S9 since the S9 is smaller than a macbook. Hopefully the one I ordered will have a perfect fit for the S9 since it's too tight for the macbook air 13"

 

Great review John. About the CPU and overall performance. It seems that many reviews see the S9's as having a below average performance but when using it for normal stuff (e.g. web browsing, flash vids, word docs, etc) is there a noticeable difference? And which is more accurate at showing the overall performance, PCMark Vantage or PCMark 7?
How does this 1.5-2.3 GHz Ultra Low Voltage CPU compare to a 2.0 GHz CPU from 2008?
Sorry for the noobie questions

From the pictures online the keyboard seems completely normal, I'm assuming those are the American version, so when you mentioned it had a small left shift key I went crazy!! It's so annoying not having a proper shift key...

 

I've ordered this one (the Speck sleeve) for my S9 as well, should have it in a couple of days and can let you know how it is.

 

NP900X3B (UK version) PCMark Vantage result 8046.
Real life performance is comparable with my Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 processor

 

Just a quick one Thors - when you reset the pagefile threshold - what did you use?

Thanks,Nic

 

As per the photo properties: Sony HX7V. I find it has very good indoor performance.

It's slightly upgradeable because the adventurous user can upgrade the SSD.

I haven't analysed what differs between the benchmarks. The notebook is quite usable. See notebookcheck's benchmark list which puts the i5-2467M above the P9500. Both CPU and GPU performance are enhanced by having the memory controller on the CPU die, plus other improvements.

It's a UK not a US keyboard. european keyboards have one extra key and it's the left shift key that usually gets shrunk to make space.

That's about 10% better than mine. do you have the Sandisk or Samsung SSD?

John

 

I have not tried the new black elements sleeve. I only supplied the link because they are no longer making the second skin version I have. The Second Skin version I have is slightly loose because as you mention, the SS9 is smaller. But it was $19 at a local retailer so it was a no brainer until I find something better.

It's currently set at 3-6GB. It's currently using 3GB which was the initial size.

 

Thanks Thors!

 

no brainer at $20 !
i go for the $6 :b
12'' Black/Red Laptop Notebook Reversible Sleeve

anyway, called intellisol, they confirmed the ram is soldered on. they said upgrading no matter what voids warranty, and then i asked if they could solder on some more ram, considering the warranty will be void either way.

she is having the mgr call me when he gets in later

on another note, i swapped the SSD from an a01 into an a02 and it booted (using it now) - no windows complaints about activation violations.

 

i liked your review except your claim that you need an adapter for the hdmi.

microhdmi is standard. don't you use it for your cell phone?

the cable is $3

6' High Speed HDMI With Ethernet Micro HDMI to HDMI Cable, Type A Micro HDMI to Type D HDMI Cable

you don't need an adapter...

 

My point is that I don't think most people buy notebooks, and certainly sealed case design Ultrabooks with upgrade-ability in mind. I just thought that category and a single star seemed out of place for Ultrabooks. Something for future consideration.

I don't think most phones come with a cable and I doubt most people are in the habit of buying and using one.

My cable was $4.

 

My cell phone is for making phone calls! Perhaps I should have been more specific - it's an adaptor to be able to output to VGA as the standard interface for a projector. I'm now in one continent and the S9 is in another because I could get the adaptor, yet.

Perhaps you should make a comment on the review thread that the micro HDMI (unlike the mini VGA) is a standard socket.

John

 

Triskite, why do you think it'll fit in the 12" reversible sleeve? it says it's length is 11.8", whereas the 9 Series has a length of 12.4"?

 

FYI, my cable arrived in the mail today. Unfortunately it appears the signal only travels one direction. It is HDMI male on one end and DisplayPort male on the other.

It allows you to output from DisplayPort and display on a HDMI connected device. The cable works fine when connecting from say a ThinkPad (DisplayPort out) to a HDTV using HDMI as the input connector.

It doesn't however let you output from HDMI and connect to a DisplayPort connected display like a Dell U2711.

I have been looking around and it appears the HDMI licensing organization already issued some press that if any cable or adapter makers try to convert from HDMI to DisplayPort, they risk litigation. Now I know why there are no solutions.

My Conclusion: The HDMI implementation on the Sandy Bridge Samsung Series 9 2012 notebooks is limited to a max resolution of 1920x1080 when using Windows. Samsung should have picked mini DisplayPort out instead of HDMI and the silly proprietary VGA port. Strike one.

 

That's just ridiculous. I bought a U2410 external monitor specifically for its 1920x1200 resolution (instead of just 1920x1080). There's no way I'd buy a laptop that won't let me make full use of my monitor -- especially when it's a $1400 laptop.

 

I've had that sleeve before - it's stretchy so i think it will work. i'll know when it arrives. also, the s9 is in a 12" chassis so already pretty close

i heard back from the intellisol manager today

the ram is indeed soldered on. it shows up as having a slot free bc apparently it is the same 'bios' as the previous s9 (2011).

he said while it theoretically is possible to upgrade the ram they don't have the equipment to do it - but i could google it to find someone that could.

I also got some inside info on the np900x3c !

!!!

!!!!

they just finished their training on it. they are typically trained within 30 days of the release of a new product.

when asked about the exact date, he said 'i think in may sometime'

he went on to rave about how awesome it is. 'it's way nicer' than the 3b, he said.

lol. i feel like we just bought the razr, before the maxx was announced.

requested RMA.

 

May release date is actually pretty soon. I was expecting no earlier than late June, so I just ordered the 900X3B, it just shipped today and on its way to me. I may just leave it unopened and return mine if this is true.

Did you ask him in what ways is it "way nicer"? Only huge difference is slightly faster processor, which is also a small upgrade in the integrated GPU. Personally, these two upgrades won't affect me much.