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Samsung Series 5 13.3-inch Ultrabook - The Meatier Choice

5/17/2012 4:15:03 PM

It's an Ultrabook that gives you more, for the good and bad of it

We find the Samsung Series 5 (13.3-inch) Ultrabook to be a peculiar thing. Here is an Ultrabook that gives a little more than what other Ultrabooks don't; and yet, as a result, it's also a little less of an Ultrabook (in perspective). That aside, the Samsung Series 5 is an undeniably well-made notebook. It's just peculiar, and that's the good and bad of it.


Description: Description: Samsung Series 5 13.3-inch Ultrabook


On the onset, the Samsung Series 5 looks great. Stylish, classy, "Hi-Yo Silver!" great. The straight, simple cut of the device, as well as its sturdiness, makes it one nicely designed notebook. It unfortunately inherits the Samsung Series 7's rather uncomfortable palmrest, which edges cut into the wrist.

You'll notice, though, that the Series 5 is rather larger than the usual Ultrabook. It would seem that the Series 5 is clearly designed to provide more. More, in this case, is an actual optical drive, something other Ultrabooks shun. And as you have it, it's also a bulkier device.


Description: Description: Samsung Series 5 13.3-inch Ultrabook


But from this, you can see that the design choices here WORKS. It may function and sized as a full-fledged notebook, but it still has that "Quick-Boot" sensibility. It's just deciding which part of it works best for you.

Either way, you'll be glad to know that the Series 5 works great. It has a good, responsive keyboard and a smooth touchpad. The screen displays nicely and brightly and the audio is loud and clear enough for multimedia. The performance here is as any Ultrabook of its specs would; you can work, surely, and videos here will run smoothly in its 1080p glory.

The battery life managed 5 hours in our test - decent enough for its offerings.


Samsung Series 5 13.3-inch Ultrabook

Price $879.95

Info www.samsung.com

 

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i5-2467M @ 2.40GHz

RAM: 4GB

OS: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)

Display: 13.3-inch SuperBright Anti-Reflective HD LED display (1366x768)

Storage: 1TB

Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x USB 3.0, HDMI, Ethernet

Extras: Webcam, Card Reader

Dimensions: 315.1 x 218.9 x 14.9-17.6 mm

Weight: 1.45kg

 

Ratings

Performance

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Features

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Design

Description: J:\Online\2012\05\15.05.2012\HTML\Tech_Desktop_ASUS_Essentio_CM6850_Desktop_PC_-_Essentio-ly_Essential_files\image003.png Description: J:\Online\2012\05\15.05.2012\HTML\Tech_Desktop_ASUS_Essentio_CM6850_Desktop_PC_-_Essentio-ly_Essential_files\image003.png Description: J:\Online\2012\05\15.05.2012\HTML\Tech_Desktop_ASUS_Essentio_CM6850_Desktop_PC_-_Essentio-ly_Essential_files\image003.png 

Value

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(+)Optical drive

Nice keyboard and touchpad

Good audio and display

Looks great

(-) Bulkier than most Ultrabooks

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