Samsung Series 9 NP900X4C User Review Discussion

The 15-inch Samsung Series 9 NP900X4C is a larger-than-average Ultrabook with a thin profile, beautiful design and excellent battery life. Is that enough to make it a great laptop? Keep reading to find out what one owner has to say about this Ultrabook.

Read the full content of this Article: Samsung Series 9 NP900X4C User Review

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Excellent review, John. It's disappointing that the NP900X4C doesn't have an IPS display.

 

It's disappointing when put alongside the 13.3" Series 9 but the display (after calibration) is much better than many that I have looked at.

And postscript to the review (for anyone who reads the discussion) because since the review was drafted the computer (and myself) have been at work in India and there's nothing like real experience to supplement what is effectively an iniital impressions review. My additional work-based impressions are:
(a) It takes next to no space in the baggage
(b) I've never needed to worry about the battery life (but haven't yet had an all-day power cut)
(c) Away from my quiet room at home I haven't noticed the fan noise
(d) Away from sitting alongside the PLS display 13.3" Series 9, the 15" display seems excellent, subject to the need to be more careful about adjusting the screen angle
(e) The WiFi has been OK. There was one hotel where the WiFi signal was weak and I couldn't connect, but my backup of a USB WiFi adapter with big antenna couldn't connect either
(f) Despite the large size it is easy to use as on my lap and the Intel Rapid Start system makes it easy to grab brief opportunities to use the computer
(g) The lag I reported on the right touchpad button response after resume seems to have been fixed by the latest touchpad driver
(h) The 15" Series 9 appears even thinner than the 13.3" version because of the larger footprint. One of my colleagues looked carefully and then asked "where's the battery?"
(i) I have found that if the computer is squashed in a bag then the display can flex sufficiently to be pushed against the keyboard and collect some greasy marks (a problem I had with the Dell E6400 but is better than display damage I was getting with the Lenovo T420s)

I would note that a version of the NP900X4C with i7 CPU and a 256GB SSD (either Samsung or a equivalent performing Liteon) is available in some countries. This will be a better purchasing option provided the price differential is not excessive. As I noted in the review, I would not have bought this notebook unless I was able to change the 128GB SSD with higher capacity. I would like the i7 CPU (and a 512GB SSD) but, haven't been suffering from buyer's remorse.

John

 

Excellent review! Thanks for taking the time.

 

Great review, thank you for that! I wanted to ask how I can install the icc-profile but I just googled that you only have to save it, right click it and click install, easy enough for me

I'll hopefully get my 900X4D tomorrow, really looking forward to it!

 

There can be challenges in getting the profile to stick. If so, see here. Also, in Easy Settings > Display, I use the standard display colour and disable the movie color enhancer.

John

 

Nice review. Like the tip on calibration. Interesting that you're having wifi problems. My modem is way on the other end of the house, but I connect just fine. Perhaps it's a compatibility issue with the modem/router? I have a newish Netgear router...

 

Comments in the main X4C thread suggest that WiFi performance is not a major issue for most people.

My WiFi did improve with a newer Intel driver but is still down on the performance of other notebooks when placed in the same location. The router is a fairly new Linksys. When away from home I have been able to connect OK (but I am not looking for impressive speeds that I come to expect from having a 60Mbit internet connection in my house).

John

 

So in case anyone cares to try it, there's a guide to convert an MBR install to a UEFI install that'll make the NP900X4C boot windows 7 in UEFI mode once its been installed and updated. Problem is, a lot of the utilities and drivers don't work in windows 7 in UEFI mode even though they work swimmingly in windows 8 in UEFI mode and Windows 7 in MBR mode.

I can't enable or disable wifi or bluetooth.
I can't enable or disable keyboard lights
I can't enable or disable adaptive brightness
I can't enable or disable sleep/wake on close/open lid

The majority of the FN keys work just fine, it's the events that they trigger in software that seem to be misfiring

 

Have you installed Easy Settings, which includes the module that handles the Fn keys? Use Samsung's SW Update program to get the version 2 of Easy Settings. Use the Find Model option to locate the NP900X3E and download from there.

Also is the BIOS up-to-date? Last time I checked the original X4C was up to BIOS P06AAC while the newer X4Cs (shipped with Windows 8) have a different BIOS (now up to P08ABK).

John

 

I indeed have QuickSettings installed, and BIOS is up to date as of P08ABK. Switching from UEFI boot to MBR boot fixes the issues I commented on, and switching back to UEFI brings them back. Completely uninstalling and reinstalling all the samsung components while in UEFI results in them NOT working in UEFI. When switching back to MBR mode, they resume working after the complete reinstall. It's a deficiency in EasySettings for windows 7 that it fails to handle UEFI. Samsung is aware of the issue, but doesn't seem inclined to fix it.

Edit: I stand corrected. I only have 1.1.1.4 installed. I'll have to attempt to update that and switch back to UEFI. It's a time consuming process, so it'll have to wait until winter.

 

EasySettings 2 won't install and gives me an error

 

I think you'll get more help with software problems if you post in the Samsung forum ( this is the X4C thread).

Discussion here is about the review.

John