Samsung's Core i5 Laptop Is Lighter, Thinner Than Air

[fyrefly]

there was the sony vaio t series that came out back in 2008:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/23/sonys-11-inch-vaio-tt-worlds-lightest-blu-ray-laptop/

The sony is 1" thick. Hardly matching the MBA form factor. It's as thick as a MBP. Yes, it's only 2.87 lbs, but it's only 11" screen and costs $2K.

 

[radiohead14]

The sony is 1" thick. Hardly matching the MBA form factor. It's as thick as a MBP. Yes, it's only 2.87 lbs, but it's only 11" screen and costs $2K.

never said it was. i was only responding to this section:

There are ultraportables with very thin optical drives.

Links, please.

 

[noripwr]

I have a feeling if the MBA came in a 9.9" variant, your definition for netbook would conveniently change also.

Now while I do not agree that the MBA is a netbook, I do agree that your definition of what constitutes a netbook is indeed arbitrary.

MBA IMO falls in between. It's feature set does resemble that of a netbook. It's performance is that of a full blown laptop.

As reference to your post, the 11'' MBA 2gb on 10.6.7 kicks the ***** out of my Samsung N110 4gb Intel Atom netbook running Win7.

The Sammy had various ports that I hardly ever used. I truly only cared about the usb. And I couldn't do anything productive with the horrible screen res. For $530 that I paid when the N110 first came out, the only amazing thing about it was the 10 hr battery life. Of course, that's Atom for you.

 

[skeane87]

This is the lightest and thinest product you will ever find!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaKWHvUASgk

 

[Big D 51]

It's nice but there's no way I'd trade my MBA for it. Granted, I am a total mac geek...but still.

+1 ... I like the black but its not mac

 

[chaoticbear]

I take it that you don't own an iPhone 4 then. Text is the same size but it is ultra crisp (no rabid edges). Images are crisp as well. You can not see the pixels (which is what the retina display is referring to). It is not hard to see the individual pixels on the current 11.6" MBA screen).

There will be a time when ALL laptop screens will have pixel densities as high as the iPhone 4. I want that now in my 11.6" MBA. I will pay an extra $1000 for that screen.

The problem with that is that anything in the current OSX would be unreadable; since it doesn't support resolution independence, the text would be absolutely tiny. iOS handles this just fine, though.

(and lol @ "rabid edges")

 

[Hellhammer]

Toshiba Portege, for example.

There aren't dimensions on Toshiba's site but in my eyes, it seems to be closer to 13" MBP's form factor, not MBA's.

You said that "if it had an ethernet port, you would have to leave it plugged in". You can use gigabit ethernet when you need it and still not plug it all the time.

And what is the need for it then? The people who buy MBAs don't need it. I know you are going to say that it can be used for file transfers but how many have an external storage solution with Gigabit Ethernet? I bet not that many, USB is sufficient for most people. Besides, it will be useless when Thunderbolt and/or USB 3.0 is added.

there was the sony vaio t series that came out back in 2008:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/23/sonys-11-inch-vaio-tt-worlds-lightest-blu-ray-laptop/

I also said:

I have yet to see a laptop that matches MBA's form factor and specs with an optical drive. ODDs take a ridiculous amount of space and are more or less useless.

That is what I said first. Yes, there must be netbook with ODDs but they are inferior in all other ways then. If ODD is taking 1/3 of the innards, there is simply no space for other parts. Sure you can put an Atom in there but then it isn't comparable with MBA anymore.

 

[iRun26.2]

The problem with that is that anything in the current OSX would be unreadable; since it doesn't support resolution independence, the text would be absolutely tiny. iOS handles this just fine, though.

(and lol @ "rabid edges")

I know. My request assumed that the future Retina Display on the MBA would have the necessary scaling software in OSX.

 

[ZZANG]

Samsung has been and always been a pretty damn good company. They have really stepped it up in their new product lineup for PC owners...

Either you are a Apple diehard fanatic or not - you have to appreciate quality when you see it.

Most arguments are one liners - "it's not a Mac." or "it has windows." who cares. If it works for those that want it and does what it needs to do - don't go knock'n on a product just cause you are a sheep.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[iRun26.2]

Samsung has been and always been a pretty damn good company. They have really stepped it up in their new product lineup for PC owners...

Either you are a Apple diehard fanatic or not - you have to appreciate quality when you see it.

Most arguments are one liners - "it's not a Mac." or "it has windows." who cares. If it works for those that want it and does what it needs to do - don't go knock'n on a product just cause you are a sheep.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

But the OS is part of the package (and, for goodness sake, this is a MACRUMOR's forum)!

Certain software requires OSX (X-code, for example) and, because of that, it will not work for some of us. When you don't have a choice, you are not sheep. People who stick with Windows without considering OSX are the sheep in my mind.

 

[jamesryanbell]

Most arguments are one liners - "it's not a Mac." or "it has windows." who cares. If it works for those that want it and does what it needs to do - don't go knock'n on a product just cause you are a sheep.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's not because people are sheep. It's because the OS is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING to a LOT of people. No OSX, no care. Plain and simple. Many, many, many, MANY people agree with that. For those that don't, go buy the Samsung. On THIS forum, better get used to "no OSX, no care". That's a big part of why we're here.

 

[Scottsdale]

Samsung has been and always been a pretty damn good company. They have really stepped it up in their new product lineup for PC owners...

Either you are a Apple diehard fanatic or not - you have to appreciate quality when you see it.

Most arguments are one liners - "it's not a Mac." or "it has windows." who cares. If it works for those that want it and does what it needs to do - don't go knock'n on a product just cause you are a sheep.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Apple loves Samsung as it's its number one supplier. We should all hope that finally the MBA is really challenged. Competition will bring much better MBAs to us, as Apple does respond to competition even though it has OS X to rely on.

I want Samsung's new line of notebooks to challenge MacBooks at all levels, and once the price matches the competition can begin. I would love to see Samsung challenge with high resolution retina-like displays in notebooks, lightweight materials and thin form factors, cutting edge technologies, and finally compatibility between devices and services.

I don't get all of the ridiculous trash talk against Samsung, as this isn't grade school and neither Samsung nor Apple benefits from the name calling. Competition WILL drive better Macs, and every time Samsung wins a small battle Apple will take notice. Whether it's a 400-nit bright display, a cool forward thinking design, or even just USB 3.0 making its way into the competition it will drive Apple to improve the MBA where it needs to.

I hope Apple rethinks the backlit keyboard, goes ahead with USB 3.0, adopts even better LCDs, and even goes with duralumin or some similar black design. The MBA is great, but IT CAN BE BETTER! And competition can twist Apple's hand faster than we can!

 

[gnasher729]

Most arguments are one liners - "it's not a Mac." or "it has windows." who cares. If it works for those that want it and does what it needs to do - don't go knock'n on a product just cause you are a sheep.

The last sentence comes quite close to an ad hominem attack.

But seriously, the hardware is not comparable with the MBA 13" because of the lower screen resolution. The cheapest model is more expensive than the most expensive 13" and a lot more expensive than the 11" which has the same resolution in much smaller size. MBA has some other fine details like the magnet power connector, the best mousepad anywhere, being able to use the optical drive of any other computer.

So even if you want a pure windows machine and have to add the price of a Windows license to the MBA, the Samsung is competitive, but in no way beating the MBA. And Windows users willing to shell out $1650 for a laptop are a rare breed, as Dell found with the Adamo (you could get one for $999 in the fire sale when they stopped selling it).

 

[cube]

There aren't dimensions on Toshiba's site but in my eyes, it seems to be closer to 13" MBP's form factor, not MBA's.



And what is the need for it then? The people who buy MBAs don't need it. I know you are going to say that it can be used for file transfers but how many have an external storage solution with Gigabit Ethernet? I bet not that many, USB is sufficient for most people. Besides, it will be useless when Thunderbolt and/or USB 3.0 is added.



I also said:



That is what I said first. Yes, there must be netbook with ODDs but they are inferior in all other ways then. If ODD is taking 1/3 of the innards, there is simply no space for other parts. Sure you can put an Atom in there but then it isn't comparable with MBA anymore.

The Porteges are very light. That's what matters, not if it's a bit thicker.

You don't need a gigabit NAS. Network backup to a local FW or USB drive would be painful without gigabit ethernet. Even tape drives from old generations are much faster than 100 mbps. File transfers between computers can easily take advantage of gigabit ethernet, too.


When the MBA comes with Thunderbolt it won't be crippled in this regard, just inconvenient.

 

[KPOM]

The Porteges are very light. That's what matters, not if it's a bit thicker.

Not necessarily. Thickness counts, too. I can't get a 1" thick notebook (or even one that's .68" all around like the Samsung) into the document pocket of my notebook case, nor will it fit into the front pocket of my luggage.

 

[radiohead14]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaKWHvUASgk

i hope the refresh comes with sandy bridge tho!

Apple loves Samsung as it's its number one supplier. We should all hope that finally the MBA is really challenged. Competition will bring much better MBAs to us, as Apple does respond to competition even though it has OS X to rely on.

I want Samsung's new line of notebooks to challenge MacBooks at all levels, and once the price matches the competition can begin. I would love to see Samsung challenge with high resolution retina-like displays in notebooks, lightweight materials and thin form factors, cutting edge technologies, and finally compatibility between devices and services.

I don't get all of the ridiculous trash talk against Samsung, as this isn't grade school and neither Samsung nor Apple benefits from the name calling. Competition WILL drive better Macs, and every time Samsung wins a small battle Apple will take notice. Whether it's a 400-nit bright display, a cool forward thinking design, or even just USB 3.0 making its way into the competition it will drive Apple to improve the MBA where it needs to.

I hope Apple rethinks the backlit keyboard, goes ahead with USB 3.0, adopts even better LCDs, and even goes with duralumin or some similar black design. The MBA is great, but IT CAN BE BETTER! And competition can twist Apple's hand faster than we can!

gasp! an open minded post with some sense! you don't belong here...

but for reals.. if the air gets the backlit keys back, thunderbolt or usb 3, and an updated cpu.. that's when i'll upgrade from my santa rosa mbp

 

[LarryC]

I was preparing a reasoned response, but I see you are nothing but a massive Apple Fanboy, who would never respond to that. So Im going to stop talking to you now.

Saying Windows is 'Wrong, Yucky, Disgusting, Evil, Foul, unnecessary' is frankly laughable. Comparing running OS X in VMware to 'dumping my wife for a whore' is simply ridiculous.

And questioning my morals, because I installed a legal, purchased copy of Snow Leopard on my PC to fool around with..

Wow.... just wow.....

I really do like the way you think!

 

[Twe Foju]

ugh, at a point i was really exited for the Samsung 9 series until i found out they are still not using a dedicated graphics like Air

if only they stuff the same 320M as with Air, i would have choose the Samsung hands down

but then again, with this, i am hoping that the next Air will also be a Sandy Bridge Processor and maybe a GT330M Nvidia

 

[DVD9]

Samsung 9 Series boots three seconds faster

Laptop Magazine did an unboxing of the 9 Series.

Then they tested the boot against the Air.

Twenty-four seconds for the 9 Series.

Twenty seven seconds for the Air.

 

[ritmomundo]

Laptop Magazine did an unboxing of the 9 Series.

Then they tested the boot against the Air.

Twenty-four seconds for the 9 Series.

Twenty seven seconds for the Air.

You missed something tho. Right under the video, they've got written: "It’s worth noting that the MacBook Air booted in 15 seconds when we first tested it. It’s no longer at the fresh install stage now whereas the Series 9 is almost right out of the box."

 

[Sayer]

The OP deliberately, or unknowingly, used a form of propaganda called technical jargon.

Duralumin is a trade name for an aluminum alloy originally developed over 100 years ago. A common alloy in the Duralumin line, used in aircraft, today is known as 2024. Apple has said they use "aircraft quality" aluminum for the unibody designs.

So using an obsolete trade name for the family of aluminum alloys is somehow turned into being "better" than what Apple is using. Even though Apple is already using pretty much that type of "superior" alloy. 2024 is expensive, more than likely the copycats are using lesser quality alloys to save costs, which is still technically a Duralumin alloy.

I also expect battery life to be terrible on this copycat, plus all the fun with real virus/adware/spyware threats and not the hobgoblin straw man arguments that Macs *could* get as many viruses and other exploits, they just don't because of their invisible marketshare. Also, Linux.

 

[X2468]

I ignore Apple Tax since I prefer OS X hands down.

 

[Eidorian]

ugh, at a point i was really exited for the Samsung 9 series until i found out they are still not using a dedicated graphics like Air

if only they stuff the same 320M as with Air, i would have choose the Samsung hands down

but then again, with this, i am hoping that the next Air will also be a Sandy Bridge Processor and maybe a GT330M Nvidia

You will more than likely be greeting the Intel HD 3000.

I have to commend Samsung for that 400-nit display.

 

[iRun26.2]

MBA Brightness

You will more than likely be greeting the Intel HD 3000.

I have to commend Samsung for that 400-nit display.

Does anybody know what the intensity (compared to 400-nits) is of the MBA screens (11.6" and 13.3")?

The 400-nits of the Samsung is a brilliant selling point. Who cares if you get 1-hour of battery power at 400-nits (just a guess). The option of that bright of a screen would be awesome!

 

[ritmomundo]

Laptop Magazine did an unboxing of the 9 Series.

Then they tested the boot against the Air.

Twenty-four seconds for the 9 Series.

Twenty seven seconds for the Air.

You missed something tho. Right under the video, they've got written: "It’s worth noting that the MacBook Air booted in 15 seconds when we first tested it. It’s no longer at the fresh install stage now whereas the Series 9 is almost right out of the box."

BTW, I just tested my MBA 11" (base model with upgraded ssd) which I bought in November, and I get a startup time of ~18 seconds and a shut down time of less than 3 seconds. It's snappy-ness still makes me smile