X-bit labs

14" Widescreen: Most Optimal Solution? 10 Contemporary Notebooks Roundup (page 21)

Category: Mobile

by Vasily Melnik

[ 06/07/2006 | 10:56 PM ]

As for the touchpad replacement, I even think they should have never made it. This can hardly be called a decent TrackPoint:

Its positioning accuracy is average and its buttons are a nightmare, so if you do buy an X1, you should also purchase a notebook mouse right away. This is going to save you a lot of trouble.

Frankly speaking, this notebook is a pure image-making device and nothing more. If you need a notebook for work, you should consider something else. As for its image-making capabilities, its brand isn’t that prominent as to distinguish its owner.

The X1 complies with its concept, though. It is indeed a thin notebook that easily fits into a document folder which is quite a rare capability for this class of computers. It’s just impossible to be thinner that that:

The case is not more than 2 centimeters high at any side. The original approach to the component layout affected the placement of the interface connectors, too. There’s nothing on the front panel except a card-reader:

The card-reader is covered by a long panel which slips away too easily, so it’s only a matter of time when it’ll get lost if you’re using the notebook actively. Power and WLAN indicators are placed on the notebook’s front edge:

Other indicators are located near the Power-On button:

The rear panel is occupied by the battery:

It’s the side panels that carry the few connectors the notebook offers. One USB port and power adapter connector on the right:

And the rest is on the left:

External monitor output, LAN and modem ports, one more USB port, a FireWire connector, headphones and microphone sockets. The developer also managed to find a place for a PCMCIA slot:

Traditionally for Samsung, all the connectors are labeled on the notebook’s top:

So you can connect your peripheral devices without turning the notebook around – you won’t miss the connector you need.