Samsung Series 9: Out MBA-ing the MBA?

[fyrefly]

Samsung has just released details on their "Series 9" laptops at CES.

It looks pretty, and it's stealing Apple's tagline of "The thinest and ligthest 13" laptop available".

But the Samsung has a couple of things up on the MBA, including:
- BACKLIT KEYBOARD
- Core i5 processor (i5-2537M running at 1.4Ghz, turbo boosting to 2.3Ghz).
- Ethernet
- HDMI

Now, I'm not saying the MBA should get Ethernet or anything soon, but I think that a return to the Backlit Keyboard and a bump to Sandy Bridge would be in order for the MBA by at least the summer.

But oh yeah, this thing is rumoured to cost $1600. About the same as a MBA ultimate.

I, for one, am happy that Apple might be getting some real competition in the "thin and light" space. More competition leads to the companies working harder for our business, and that benefits consumers.

More info from Engadget:
http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/05/samsung-9-series-laptop-unveiled-ready-to-slice-the-macbook-air/

 

[Hellhammer]

LOL, 0.01lb lighter They made that just to steal Apple's words. Anyway, it's 0.68 inch all the way while MBA is curvy, from 0.11" to 0.68". Nice to see some competition though it must be a nice laptop. Would like to hear about the battery life though

 

[KPOM]

LOL, 0.01lb lighter They made that just to steal Apple's words. Anyway, it's 0.68 inch all the way while MBA is curvy, from 0.11" to 0.68". Nice to see some competition though it must be a nice laptop. Would like to hear about the battery life though

They claim 6.5 hours. It is a pretty impressive machine, and assuming Apple is willing to go back to Intel Integrated Graphics with the new Sandy Bridge chip, basically indicates what's possible in the next upgrade to the Air.

Samsung looks like they did a nice job with this.

 

[KnightWRX]

Samsung says it should be around $1,600, though it isn't providing a release date right now.

They're not exactly under-cutting the MBA either.

 

[notjustjay]

They're not exactly under-cutting the MBA either.

Which is actually a nice perspective for Mac buyers. We all like to complain about the Apple tax (especially the PC zealots). It's good to see that when a competitor makes a machine that's substantially the same as a MacBook Air, the cost is also substantially the same (if even a bit higher). It means that Apple's prices aren't always so out of line after all.

However, that higher price does buy you a newer chipset and a few other features (like the backlit keyboard and more ports).

 

[lilo777]

They're not exactly under-cutting the MBA either.

Remember that this is MSRP and there is a difference between Apple's MSRP and Samsung (or anybody else to this matter) MSRP. Retail price most likely will be lower. And it it does not require Ethernet adapter.

 

[drxcm]

I'd take the MBA any day, that Samsung sure is ugly.

 

[size100]

4gb of ram standard and a much faster processor. nice.

backlit keys do nothing for me. they would be turned off.

The processor is a nice upgrade though.

 

[Kachadurian]

Which is actually a nice perspective for Mac buyers. We all like to complain about the Apple tax (especially the PC zealots). It's good to see that when a competitor makes a machine that's substantially the same as a MacBook Air, the cost is also substantially the same (if even a bit higher). It means that Apple's prices aren't always so out of line after all.

However, that higher price does buy you a newer chipset and a few other features (like the backlit keyboard and more ports).

but it doesn't get you MAC OS. I know there's a lot of windows users now on MBAs and MBP, but for a lot of us (me anyway) it is still largely about the OS.

And, the samsung is sort of ugly.

Tom

 

[crazyyankeefan]

I think we all have to agree sometimes when we purchase an Apple product, we don't spend for its performance alone. We also spend for its design and we like others to see the bright "Apple logo" when we open our laptop in a library or a coffee shop.

Samsung, as a Korean manufacturer, is known for mocking/copying/mimicking (whatever you like to call it) their product design from Sony or Apple. If you look closely at their Galaxy S phones and their integrated Android OS, you can certainly see a lot of resemble of iPhone. Same to this computer, it just looks like they mix some of the design from MBA and Sony laptops together.

 

[Sounds Good]

This looks good. Very good.

 

[OceanView]

I like the black metal (brushed aluminum?).

 

[size100]

I think we all have to agree sometimes when we purchase an Apple product, we don't spend for its performance alone. We also spend for its design and we like others to see the bright "Apple logo" when we open our laptop in a library or a coffee shop.

Samsung, as a Korean manufacturer, is known for mocking/copying/mimicking (whatever you like to call it) their product design from Sony or Apple. If you look closely at their Galaxy S phones and their integrated Android OS, you can certainly see a lot of resemble of iPhone. Same to this computer, it just looks like they mix some of the design from MBA and Sony laptops together.

I'd rather not have people see the apple logo. But we sure as heck don't pay for the performance alone. C2D laptops with 5400rpm harddrives do not go for 1200 dollars or half that, but we are willing to pay for MBPs.

Samsung can copy as much as they want in laptop design. Especially when other, apple, manufacturers refuse to put in new hardware and rely too much on their design and people that dislike windows.

 

[Aatos.1]

The Samsung 9 is a very impressive machine. Makes my new MBA look ... dated. Oh well, Apple never did care that much about using the latest processors or leading in anything other than their idea of industrial design. I'm not the least bit surprised. Kudo's to Samsung.

 

[size100]

Very adult looking. Has the samsung style that some may not like. More "asian" styling than most brands.


Is anything mentioned about the screen?

 

[Hellhammer]

You guys are forgetting that the Samsung has Intel IGP as its GPU which is worse than the 320M (the tests found in AnandTech and others were done with 850/1300MHz and 650/1300MHz parts while i5-2537M is ULV part and its IGP runs at 350/900MHz). The CPU is noticeably better though

 

[Sounds Good]

Full specs: 1.4GHz Intel Core i5 processor (2537M), with 3MB cache and turbo boost to 2.3GHz; 13.3-inch backlit-LED display (400 nit); 1366x768 screen resolution; 128GB sold-state drive; 4GB DDR3 memory; Intel HD GT2 integrated graphics; 3 watt (1.5W x 2) stereo speakers with 1.5 watt sub-woofer; USB 3.0; Bluetooth 3.0; 802.11b/g/n; WiMax; Windows 7 Home Premium or Professional (64-bit for both); 6.5 hours claimed battery life.

EDIT: Here's the press release.

I like it.

 

[Xeperu]

My take on this from a value based perspective.

1. $1600,- THUNDERING TORNADOES, WHAT THE HELL??
2. No dedicated GPU. I'll take the 320M with the slower CPU over this any day. Also cheaper. (MBA)

Resale value.

Buy Samsung: $1600,-
Use 1 year, keep in good condition
Resale value:
$750,- to 900,-

Buy MBA 13", 128GB, 4GB: $1400,-
Use 1 year, keep in good condition
Resale value (before release of new rev.)
$1000,- to $1100,-

Yes people. It works this way.

 

[gri]

Well, that proves that a backlit keyboard would be theoretically possible in a laptop as thin as the MBA... Lets hope this is a reason for Apple to beat the competition with an update... Or with updated MBP, now in MBA form with more extras...

 

[Sounds Good]

Well, that proves that a backlit keyboard would be theoretically possible in a laptop as thin as the MBA...

Good point. That's a feature I wish the new MBA had.

 

[ecib]

Specs aside, it's beautiful looking imho.

 

[notjustjay]

but it doesn't get you MAC OS. I know there's a lot of windows users now on MBAs and MBP, but for a lot of us (me anyway) it is still largely about the OS.

Absolutely, but there are things about OS X that are beginning to bother me more and more (Apple's general trend of iOS-ifying it doesn't seem to help things any) and I'm beginning to comtemplate a switch back. Or at least have a Windows machine in the house again so I can work with both platforms.

But the post you replied to was primarily about cost. It's good to see that a premium Windows machine is no cheaper than a premium Apple machine.

My next computer will likely either be a 13" MBA, or something like this Samsung.

 

[pandamonia]

My take on this from a value based perspective.

1. $1600,- THUNDERING TORNADOES, WHAT THE HELL??
2. No dedicated GPU. I'll take the 320M with the slower CPU over this any day. Also cheaper. (MBA)

Resale value.

Buy Samsung: $1600,-
Use 1 year, keep in good condition
Resale value:
$750,- to 900,-

Buy MBA 13", 128GB, 4GB: $1400,-
Use 1 year, keep in good condition
Resale value (before release of new rev.)
$1000,- to $1100,-

Yes people. It works this way.

The 320M wont have anything on the new intel GPU trust me. The CPU will own the MBA until apple upgrade.

Also you can put OSX on a normal laptop its not hard.

 

[drxcm]

The 320M wont have anything on the new intel GPU trust me.

Every other thread on the topic I've read says otherwise, care to elaborate?

Also you can put OSX on a normal laptop its not hard.

Maybe not hard, just illegal.

 

[size100]

1400 compared to 'around' 1600. Thats not to bad considering it will be discounted more. I will be adding an ethernet usb adapter and a display port adapter to that 1400 like a lot of people.

Most people would trade the GPU/CPU combo in the MBA for whats in the 9-series. Its not a 'slight' CPU upgrade. It will not match the graphics of the 320m. But will blow the 1.86ghz c2d out of the water.



Resale value of the MBA using a C2D, which will be 5+ years old when you sell, processor might not be that great. It might cause people to hesitate. Thats the problem with buying 4-year old hardware.

I think we are a being a little to optimistic about resale value of these current MBA and MBP because of the current resale value of the MBP, which hasn't had a great upgrade in a while.