Just got my Samsung X10 laptop!

[AndyHui]

Damn this is a nice machine...

Centrino 1.5GHz, 40GB HDD, 256MB of RAM (will add more later), 14.1 inch screen, nVidia GeForce Go 440 with 64MB, internal DVD/CDRW combo drive, Firewire, and only 3.98lb's!

If you've never seen the Samsung X10 before, here it is.

 

[IgoByte]

Does it have an SXGA screen or only an XGA?

 

[AndyHui]

1024 x 768...so that's XGA, I think.

 

[IgoByte]

Originally posted by: AndyHui
1024 x 768...so that's XGA, I think.

Yep, that's XGA. Is that the only thing they offer?

 

[AndyHui]

Yeah, that's the max LCD resolution that they offer for this model at the moment. I think it's fine though. I don't like going to 1600 x 1200 on 14.1 inches...that's just too small.

 

[IgoByte]

Originally posted by: AndyHui
Yeah, that's the max LCD resolution that they offer for this model at the moment. I think it's fine though. I don't like going to 1600 x 1200 on 14.1 inches...that's just too small.

You're right about 1600x1200 but 1400x1050 is perfectly fine for a 14" screen. I have that on my T40 and am very happy. The XGA resolution was the only thing that bothered me about my old T23. The X10 sure seems like a nice machine otherwise...

 

[blues008]

How much was the total cost if you don't mind me asking?

 

[AndyHui]

Got it for HK$14880 (US$1980 or so). Also came with a free extended battery, extra power adapter, 64MB memory stick, some cheap optical mouse and a case.

 

[Pandaren]

Are you in the U.S. Andy? I thought the X10 wasn't available here through Samsung. It looks like the Gateway X200 is a rebadged X10, but it uses integrated graphics instead of the GF4Go440.

So when will you post a full review? How's the keyboard? Congrats - sounds like an awesome machine!

Edit: Oh - I see $HK in your purchase price. I guess you are not in the U.S.

 

[AndyHui]

The tactile response of the keyboard is excellent. Solid feel, good stroke depth and doesn't feel flimsy at all. The speakers are fairly weak... I was a little disappointed by them. The spot where my right palm would rest gets quite hot...where the hard drive is.

The model using integrated graphics is the Samsung X05 here.

 

[Pandaren]

The speakers are fairly weak... I was a little disappointed by them. The spot where my right palm would rest gets quite hot...where the hard drive is.

I have a T40 and the speakers are quite weak as well. The only notebooks that consistently have good speakers seem to be Toshiba ones (since they are comparatively large and mounted right under the LCD display).

Is the battery like the one in the T40p? I know some people with the Gateway X200. They say the standard battery is pretty weak (3-cell), but nobody I know owns the extended battery.

 

[AndyHui]

The battery from the T40 looks a little larger. The X10's regular battery is a narrow cylinder, 3 cells, rated for about 2.2 hours. The extended unit is supposedly good for 5 hours.

 

[nodoubts2k]

It looks very sweet. </drool>

would be pimp if it had ATI graphics

 

[mcdill]

I have a Samsung X10 also (I'm in Hong Kong as well). Mine has the same specs as yours although I have already upgraded mine to 512megs of memory. As my significant other has been hogging my desktop, I have been using the X10 as my "main machine" these days. The X10 does very well at what I use it for - web browsing, e-mail and MS Office apps for working from home. I haven't played any games on it yet, so perhaps I could have saved money by buying the X05 with integrated graphics instead

What I like: (1) Size, mainly. It's a very compact and light machine that you can take anywhere with you with ease. Perfect for Hong Kong and for travelling. I was considering the Compaq X1000/NX7000 but it looked very big in the stores. (2) It's also very stylish, although not as much as the Sony ZR1 (but probably cheaper). (3) Build quality seems to be quite good - I haven't had it long enough to judge reliability etc.

My beefs: (1) The standard battery is a shocker (for a Centrino) as it lasts only about 1.5 to 2 hours with my not too heavy manner of useage. If you are going to travel, the "longlife" battery (which lasts about 4 hours for me) is a must. I think in the UK the X10 comes standard with the longlife battery. (2) I agree that the speakers are quite tinny-sounding, but that's why I have a portable mp3 player. (3) If my eyes were better I would have liked a video resolution better than 1024x768.

Regards
mcdill

 

[AndyHui]

I need to add RAM too, but I'll wait for the prices to drop a bit. No hurry.

 

[rogue1979]

Nice machine, I'm still using my Dell Latitude 500MHz CPt!

 

[nanyangview]

nice but the T40P still kicks its ass

and no it does not have the thinnest CD/DVD combo, IBM's is thinner.

 

[Pandaren]

nice but the T40P still kicks its ass

Trying to start a flame war between T40 and X10 owners? Actually, the optical bay is the same height in both systems (9.5mm). However, the T40's optical drive is a removable module, and the X10's is fixed.

 

[AndyHui]

I'd prefer fixed... seeing as how flimsy the entire laser head assembly looks... There's barely any tray. The entire head assembly slides out on two metal tracks with the motor in the centre and that's pretty much it.

 

[Pandaren]

I'd prefer fixed... seeing as how flimsy the entire laser head assembly looks...

I actually prefer having a modular bay for two reasons (1) easy maintenance if the drive breaks. I can have IBM mail me a new one and plug it in myself (2) I can buy a secondary battery that fits in the optical bay and get more battery life.

Of course having a removable optical bay probably makes a notebook a bit thicker, so it's not perfect. And it is easy for someone to steal the optical bay if they don't feel like cutting through the security cable on my desk. The use of a hex security screw would make it inconvenient for them though.

 

[nanyangview]

yeah and the X10 battery is pathetic to the most..

with a modular bay like T40, you can stick an extra battery in there. And the T40 Bay is not FLIMSY @ all.

so samsung cannot claim that they have the thinnest bay. It is pretty much a castrated Centrino.. BTW..T40s have much better WIFI Solution than overpriced Intel 802.11B. CISCO ANYONE? AGERE ANYONE?

 

[mcdill]

Nanyangview - I don't think this thread was intended to be a T40 vs X10 slanging match. That having been said, if work was paying for the laptop or if I was buying the laptop primarily for work purposes, I would probably have gone for the T40. There is little doubt that, objectively viewed, the T40 is the "better" workhorse. However, the product that Samsung is targetting at the T40-crowd appears to be the P30 (Centrino, 6-hour battery life, 15" screen etc), just released in the UK and not yet in Hong Kong.

My problem with the T40 is that it looks and feels too "corporate" for me. I get enough of that at work. The T40 was also quite expensive at the time I was buying (the SO would not have been happy). The X10 leapt at me with its styling; it was just so slim and sleek (ooh, shiny <G>) yet it had specs that were pretty good (e.g. the 5400 rpm hard disk). The X10's not a machine for the hardcore tech-head or worker but it more than meet my basic needs - just remember to bring the extended life battery with you if you want to go on the road...

Regards
mcdill

 

[Pandaren]

My problem with the T40 is that it looks and feels too "corporate" for me. I get enough of that at work. The T40 was also quite expensive at the time I was buying (the SO would not have been happy). The X10 leapt at me with its styling

Yeah, the X10 has more of the "fun" look while the T40 is a "business" machine. As far as I'm concerned, both machines are top notch designs aimed at different markets.

 

[AndyHui]

with a modular bay like T40, you can stick an extra battery in there. And the T40 Bay is not FLIMSY @ all. so samsung cannot claim that they have the thinnest bay. It is pretty much a castrated Centrino.. BTW..T40s have much better WIFI Solution than overpriced Intel 802.11B

Your argument doesn't make sense. It's not castrated in any way. The X10 is a full Centrino implementation.

The T40, the X10's closest competitor, comes with the Intel WiFi unit, not the Cisco unit (T40P, optional extra). In addition, the T40 is an entire pound heavier. Mobility was my first criteria.

I have other reasons for not buying IBM as well (horrendous track record at work for an entire fleet of T thinkpads over several years), but this thread is not about X10 vs T40. As above, different markets.

 

[RichieZ]

Nice, it amazes me how light it is with an optical drive. I got the Thinkpad X31 and its 3.6 w/o drive.