Samsung Series 4: the Thinkpad X220 killer?

Hey all, was looking around for X220 contenders and discovered that Samsung is also releasing new Sandy Bridge business laptops: the Series 2, 4, and 6.

The Series 4 caught my eye with its 12.5" version powered by the Sandy Bridge i3/i5/i7. Turns out they all have hard external casing, HDD drop sensor, and anti-spill design. Sounds like it might be the same durable design as the hyped ultra-light Series 9.

Announced on Engadget: Samsung serves up Series 2, Series 4, and Series 6 laptops for serious, professional types -- Engadget

Did some more research and found the model number of the Series 4 (NP400B2B), some specs, and prices.

From Priceguidenetwork:

Weight: 3.74 lb
Platform: Samsung Series 4 Model
Name: Samsung Series 4 Business Notebook (400B2B)
Description: Samsung 12.5 Series 4 Business Notebook PC
Screen Size: 12.5 LED HD Display
Brightness: 200 nit Display
Processor: Intel Core i5 - 2520M Processor
Processor Speed: 2.50 Ghz
Hard Drive Size: 320 GB 7200 RPM SATA
Memory Size: 4GB DDR3 expandable to 8GB, 2-slot SODIMM
I/O Ports: Docking Station Connector, 2 x USB 2.0, (1 Sleep-in -Charge, 1 USB/eSATA Combo 1 x USB 3.0) VGA, HDMI, Headphone in, Mic-in, RJ45,4-in-1 Multimemory Card Slot (SD, SDHC, SDXC, MMC)
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 3000
Optical Drive: DVD/RW Super multi Dual layer
Durability: Hard drive free-fall sensor, spill-resistant keyboard
Connectivity: Intel 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth V 2.1 high/speed, 10/100/1000 Mbps Gigabit LAN
Battery: 6-Cell 66 Whr Lithium Ion, 9-cell optional
Operating System: Genuine Windows 7 Professional-64bit
Security: Kensington Lock, Fingerprint Reader, Trusted Platform Module (TPM)
Other: 1.3 MP HD Webcam
Docking station: available

Anti-reflective SuperBright LED screen confirmed here: Dabs.com


Prices:

CDW: $989
Priceguidenetwork: $988
ProVantage: $961
Costcentral: $940



As for the Thinkpad:
- USB 3.0 is only available with the i7 (X220 data sheet)
- no HDMI (mobiletechreview)
- no optical drive (mobiletechreview)
- 3.0 lb only with 3-cell, but 3.4 lb with 6-cell (mobiletechreview)

Of course, the X220 has a lot going for it. It has IPS and renowned quality/durability, among other things. Series 4 looks like a slightly less-expensive alternative.

Series 4 specs look promising. Its cousin, the Samsung Series 9 is much anticipated for its thinness/lightness, but will have ULV Sandy processors. This Series 4, however, uses the full powered mobile Sandy Bridge cpus like the X220. And if the durability and quality is as good as the hyped Series 9, then it may well be a true contender to the X220.

I'm in the market for a 12"-13" non-ULV Sandy Bridge laptop and just wanted to get your thoughts. Thanks.

 

Thinkpad Pro:
IPS screen.
Optional ultrabay battery.
More robust.

 

Thanks for the info, it's great to have something to compare to, Samsung is great, I like their products. I will definitely think about it, mainly because the X220 is not availlable through CTO in my country and is very poorly distributed and overpriced. The Series 9 looks awesome but I read that it has wifi issues and that the screen brigness auto-thing is buggy too.

Yes that's the main concern for me, how is the screen? That's one if not the most important thing for me, that's why I was also interested in the Series 9.

 

No ultrabay battery on the X220, but add:

Thinkpad keyboard
Trackpoint
Battery life
mSATA ssd + hdd

 

I meant the dock battery.

 

Slice battery?

 

IPS is the major thing, but also ThinkPad durability/reliability and support. Also Samsung is hard to get repairs done, not too many shops are ASP so Samsungs to be fixed under warranty usually requires you to RMA it for weeks...not good in a business.

 

Yes, lol, I meant slice battery.

 

As with the 9, the 4 looks like a knockoff of someone else with more Samsung (i.e. a largely worthy but curiously unimaginative attitude to design).

The Thinkpad is more anti-design.

However I'm still not convinced that a TP would be ultimately appreciably more durable than a machine in the tier of a Samsung though especially if they(Samsung that is)'ve made an effort to address durability for business use. What I like about the Thinkpads is less the myth than what they deliver in terms of features and software while offering adequate build quality and durability.

Take the flat black finish for example: The finish on all of my X's (probably the longest I've had a Thinkpad in the last 5 years) are starting to look tattered, and all are less than a year old. Other machines I've subjected to the same sort of use over the same period - Sony Z's, and even the cheapo Fujitsu PH530 and others - all look in much better shape cosmetically, partly because they make better material choices.

 

Purely going by specs, the X220's advantages:
- IPS display
- slightly lighter
- DisplayPort (can support up to 2650x1600-out, instead of HDMI's 1920x1080 out)
- 2.0 MP webcam
- available slice battery

More arguable/subtle advantages:
- no optical drive
- Thinkpad build/design + keyboard

The only things that I see going for the Samsung are:
- USB 3.0, if you just have to have it
- optical drive, again if you have to have it