Samsung NP-X60

The Samsung NP-X60 (hereinafter called the X60) is a 15.4" widescreen notebook which follows on from the X50 series and includes the latest Intel mobile CPU and chipset. The X60 weighs in at about 2.5kg (5.5lb) with a 6 cell battery, which places it among the lighter notebooks with a 15.4" display. The version of the X60 reviewed here has the Core Duo T2300 CPU, the ATI X1400 GPU, a 100GB 5400rpm hard disk and a DVD burner. Other versions of the X60 are / will be available with the Intel integrated graphics or the ATI X1600 GPU and a higher resolution display.
For the past year I have been using an Asus W3A (also sold as the Z63A) with a Pentium M 750 (1.86GHz) CPU and Intel integrated graphics. Comparisons are made in this review with the Asus. The W3A is a version of the W3V with Intel integrated graphics. Overall, I have been very satisfied with the W3A once I got over the initial shock of discovering that the true weight was about 2.5kg (5.5lb) whereas it had been advertised as 2kg (4.4lb). However, this weight included a 9 cell battery with a running time under light use of over 4 hours. I wanted to upgrade to take advantage of a dual core CPU and was also keen to try a display that is one size larger. I do a reasonable amount of traveling, usually to places where good IT support may be lacking, so portability, reliability and durability are key requirements, along with reasonable battery life to get me through the power cuts.

Asus hadn't yet released a lightweight 15.4" laptop (such as a widescreen version of the V1 series) and while the Sony FE series is getting into the right weight range, it uses the Windows Media Centre operating system, which sends the wrong message to me. I have been watching the Samsung notebooks for some time and my impression has been one of good quality products although there has been a shortage of in-depth reviews. The Samsung X60 appeared to fit my requirements so I bought one from Laptops Direct UK. This supplier had stock at a reasonable price (UK £1176.95 British Pounds including VAT), offered a deal for a free 3G data card and offered a very good price on the extended warranty.
Specification of X60 as Reviewed:

• Intel Core Duo T2300 1.66GHz
• Intel 945PM chipset with 667MHz FSB
• 1GB PC4200 533MHz DDR2 RAM (2 x 512MB Infineon)
• 100GB 5400RPM SATA HD (Fujitsu MHV2100BH)
• 15.4-inch "SuperClear" glossy WXGA screen (1280 x 800)
• ATI X1400 (also called M54) GPU (128MB DDR2 RAM)
• Fixed 8X DVD multi-writer (Teac DV-W28EA)
• Intel 82573L gigabit internet
• Intel 3945 wireless abg
• SENS LT56ADW V92 modem
• Broadcom 2045 Bluetooth 2.0
• AD 1986A high definition audio with twin microphones and SRS enhanced speakers
• Synaptics touchpad
• Infrared remote control
• Ports: 3 x USB 2.0, 1 x 4 pin firewire (powered),network (RJ45), modem (RJ11), VGA, SVHS, microphone, headphone / SPDIF, 120 pin docking station (X Dock)
• 1 x PC card slot type 1 or 2 (Express ready)
• 5 in 1 media card slot (Memory stick / Pro, SD, MMC, Xd card)
• 6 cell battery (11.1V, 5200mAH, 57.72WHr)
• Dimensions: Advertised 361 x 265 x 23.9 -- 32.9mm (14.2" x 10.4" x 0.94 -- 1.30"), actual 360 x 265 x 27 -- 39mm (14.2" x 10.4" x 1.06 -- 1.54") (including feet)
• Weight: Advertised 2.48kg (5.46lbs), actual 2.54kg (5.60lbs) (according to my digital kitchen scales)
• Weight with PSU and power cables: 3.1kg (6.8lbs)
• Windows XP Pro SP2
• 1 year collect and return warranty
  See http://www.samsung.com/uk/products/mobilecomputing/dualcore/np_x60tv01suk.asp for more features of the X60 series.

Specifications of Other Versions (Other existing or future versions of the Samsung X60 may contain other configurations including)

• Different versions of the Core Duo or Core Solo CPUs
• Different capacity hard disks
• 15.4" WSXGA+ display (1680 x 1050)
• Different optical drives including a Lightscribe version
• Trusted Platform module
• Terrestrial digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) receiver (Korea only)