Customer reviews from Samsung US
Samsung - Laptop / Intel Core i5 Processor / 14" Display / 4GB Memory / 640GB Hard Drive - Aluminum
Average customer rating
4.4
(98 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 98 reviews
5 Stars
61
4 Stars
27
3 Stars
5
2 Stars
3
1 Star
2
91%of customers recommend this product.
(
78 out of
86)
Customer Reviews for Samsung - Laptop / Intel Core i5 Processor / 14" Display / 4GB Memory / 640GB Hard Drive - Aluminum
Customer Rating
5
Great performance and Value
on July 3, 2011
Posted by: Meeker46
Expertise:Expert
I intentionally waited about 6 months to write this review so I had time locate (and sometimes fix) any quirks. Good news is I found very few. As a university instructor, I was not intersted in fancy graphics or big screens. I wanted something that could run multiple Office programs and browser tabs without sacrificing speed or performance. The is that computer. The good and the bad:
Value:
This was the least expensive laptop I could find with an i5 processor and screen larger than 9 in. Nothing bad to say here.
This was the least expensive laptop I could find with an i5 processor and screen larger than 9 in. Nothing bad to say here.
Performance:
1. This computer does not sacrifice speed for performance.
2. I don't know why some people seem to have battery issues. I get ~8 hrs of battery life (no kidding!!), and that is with settings set to not reduce screen brightness when unplugged. For one, those descriptions on the sale sign did not lie about battery life!.
1. This computer does not sacrifice speed for performance.
2. I don't know why some people seem to have battery issues. I get ~8 hrs of battery life (no kidding!!), and that is with settings set to not reduce screen brightness when unplugged. For one, those descriptions on the sale sign did not lie about battery life!.
Design & Feature (these really go together):
GOOD -
1.This was also the least expensive computer (actually, on of the few in general) that had a metal construction. One thing that has surprised me is that the cover has not gotten any scratches on it! Screen is sharp but has minimal glare.
2. I love the raised keyboard. Responds well and looks really slick.
3. Lightweight and very thin.
1.This was also the least expensive computer (actually, on of the few in general) that had a metal construction. One thing that has surprised me is that the cover has not gotten any scratches on it! Screen is sharp but has minimal glare.
2. I love the raised keyboard. Responds well and looks really slick.
3. Lightweight and very thin.
BAD (and how to fix some)
1. You've probably already read this if you did your homework, but the touch pad is horrible. The programming behind it has too many features - I recommend going into those settings and disabling a lot of it. The other problem (which was just really stupid design, is that the tracking part of the pad overlaps the click buttons, so you have to keep your finger very still if clicking with the buttons and not tapping on the pad or the cursor moves as you click. This also makes dragging very difficult. SOLUTIONS: Out of habit, I often click with the left hand while dragging with the right and that seems to help. Also, the click buttons respond better if you click towards the outside. Finally, I also always use an external mouse (ergonomic due to pain problems), so a majority of time it is not a problem.
1. You've probably already read this if you did your homework, but the touch pad is horrible. The programming behind it has too many features - I recommend going into those settings and disabling a lot of it. The other problem (which was just really stupid design, is that the tracking part of the pad overlaps the click buttons, so you have to keep your finger very still if clicking with the buttons and not tapping on the pad or the cursor moves as you click. This also makes dragging very difficult. SOLUTIONS: Out of habit, I often click with the left hand while dragging with the right and that seems to help. Also, the click buttons respond better if you click towards the outside. Finally, I also always use an external mouse (ergonomic due to pain problems), so a majority of time it is not a problem.
2. With the out-of-the-box settings you cannot attach an external monitor: the computer will go to sleep even if it is plugged in. To fix this you need to disable Samsung's Faststart programming. If you're not sure how to do this, try a quick online search - many answers.
3. The battery cannot be removed without taking off the ENTIRE backplate while on most computers it can just be slipped off. Why is this a problem? Two reasons: I always used to carry an extra battery for my old laptops (especially when travelling) so I had a spare if I didn't have access to an outlet. But even worse, If you spill liquid on your laptop the first two steps are always unplug it and take out the battery. When I accidentally spilled coffee on my keyboard (stupid, stupid, stupid) it took me almost 20 min to get the battery out. Unbelievably, there was no damage after leaving it out to dry for ~12 hours.
4. The keyboard again. With a Mac-like design, why couldn't they make it backlit?
4.5 It does not have Bluetooth. Why does this only get half a point? Because I don't use Bluetooth for anything.
BOTTOM LINE: I know that seems like a lot of bad things, but the good far outweigh them. I highly recommend this computer to anyone looking for a functional computer that gets the job done efficiently and with style. Kudos to Samsung and welcome to the world of consumer laptops. I hope it only gets better from here.
Pros: Inexpensive, Durable, Lightweight, battery life, style
Cons: touchpad is awful, battery is difficult to access
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
4
Performance
5
Design
4
Value
5
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
5
i love this product.
on March 3, 2011
Posted by: chidoman
from Houston , tx
Expertise:Expert
i own this laptop and since the first time i saw it i fall in love had before a sony vaio but over expensive and fail to much so need it another brand new product.
Pros: Built-in speakers, Bright display, Inexpensive, Durable, Realistic color, Lightweight
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
5
Performance
4
Design
5
Value
5
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
5
Excellent laptop
on June 7, 2011
Posted by: PAHawkeye
from Des Moines, IA
Expertise:Intermediate
Rugged, small, light weight, long battery life, what more could you want? Very happy with this PC. I travel a lot and I can hardly tell I have a computer in my bag anymore. If there were one thing I'd change is the ability to add a docking station.
Pros: Bright display, Inexpensive, Durable, Realistic color, Lightweight
Features
5
Performance
5
Design
5
Value
5
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
5
I bought this for School...
on June 27, 2011
Posted by: UofOStudent
from Eugene, Or
Expertise:Intermediate
and couldn't be happier, it's fast, graphics are great and easy to connect to school networks for power point presentations. It's light, slim and portable for international travel, and has benefits far outweighing a netbook. It even took a spill onto the sidwalk from my backpack and still works perfectly, very durable body.. minor scratches. Great product and look forward to more great stuff!
Had lots of ports hdmi and usb.
Mouse took some getting used to, but easy to get used to.
Had lots of ports hdmi and usb.
Mouse took some getting used to, but easy to get used to.
Pros: Built-in speakers, Bright display, Inexpensive, Durable, Realistic color, Lightweight, multiple ports
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
5
Performance
4
Design
4
Value
5
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
5
Great Value, Design, and Features
on December 18, 2010
Posted by: KevCo66
from LA, CA.
Expertise:Expert
I have to say that so far I have had zero problems with my laptop, I love the sleek and stylish design as well as the performance and the included manufacturer software. Some of the software that comes with it I will not use but may be very useful for consumers that want things to run very seemlessly, the customization and options are great. I like that the keys on the keyboard are a little spaced out, I didn't realize it when I bought it, but I've noticed that it greatly reduces mistakes especially if your not the best typist in the world. I also love the "feel" of the keys. The laptop also stays very cool and the air vent for heat exchange is located at the back in the middle which is very good if you actually have the laptop on your lap as it will not be blocked by the leg. The touchpad is very nice as well. Overall I'm very satisfied with the screen and system performance. If I had to give any negatives they would be that it does'nt have a SATA port and it's built in memory card reader will not take MemoryStick
Pros: Bright display, Inexpensive, Realistic color, Lightweight, thin, great keyboard, performance, stylish
Cons: no sata port
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
4
Performance
5
Design
5
Value
5
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
5
An all-around great machine that will last me years
on January 10, 2011
Posted by: BHannify1986
from Redlands, CA
Expertise:Expert
I pride myself in owning good tech, and taking care of the tech that I own. I'm proud to report that this laptop will last me for many years. It is powerful, sleek, responsive, attractive. I enjoy typing on the keyboard so much that it has actually improved my productivity as a freelance writer.
Watching a DVD? Fire this bad boy up and enjoy impressive visuals and great sound.
Music? Decent speakers provide good depth and sufficent volume to music, but won't blow away any concert hall.
Battery life? I'm not too sure how this thing is being advertised as being capable of 7+ hours of battery life. The most I can get is 4.5, but that's still pretty impressive! More than enough time, in my opinion.
And lastly, when I'm feeling like I need a little guilty pleasure, I'm proud to report that this bad boy can play Starcraft 2! I've yet to test out the true gaming capabilities of this machine, but I've heard reports that it can play Batman Arkham Asylum or Modern Warfare 2.
All in all, a great laptop for work or play. I HIGHLY recommend it.
(Last point: Some people have gripes with the touchpad. I'm not too sure why. My advice? Get used to it. You'll find the multi-touch features are actually useful, especially the three-finger window switching feature. I love it.)
Pros: Durable, Realistic color, Lightweight, i love the sleek brushed steel exterior., very lightweight. under 5 lbs!, the touchpad is great! stop whining people!
Cons: who said the battery life can exceed 7 hours?
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
5
Performance
4
Design
5
Value
5
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
4
Great design, but could be better
on January 30, 2011
Posted by: JaFlo
Expertise:Expert
I love the look and feel of the QX410. Its the nicest design of anything in its class and price range. It doesn't look or feel like a toy as many other brands do. That's what sold me on it.
The keyboard is great. I love the feel of the keys and the "island style" layout.
I dont like the glossy screen as it reflects too much light and fingerprints easily. I expected a better screen from a company that makes superior TV's.
The touchpad can be problematic at times, even after fine-tuning the settings. This, however, seems to be a common problem among many brands of laptops that Ive used. Apple seems to be the only manufacturer that has figured out how to make a descent touchpad.
Performance is ok, but I expected more. There is a lot of "bloatware" that comes installed on it and slows it down. After removing some of it, performance was slightly better. The hard drive seems kind of slow. A 7200 RPM drive would have been a better choice. I imagine an SSD drive would make this computer much faster, as with any computer.
I don't like the non-removal battery. Its destined to fail someday, and will require taking the laptop apart to replace it. I am capable of doing this myself, so this wasn't a deal-breaker for me.
Overall, I'm satisfied with my purchase. Despite a few flaws, its a solid feeling laptop with average features for the price.
Pros: Built-in speakers, Durable, Lightweight, aluminum finish, great keyboard, nvidia graphics
Cons: glossy display, bloatware, battery, slow hard drive, touchpad
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
3
Performance
3
Design
5
Value
4
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US
Customer Rating
5
Great laptop, excellent build quality and features
on May 20, 2011
Posted by: Hibiscus
from Chicago
Expertise:Expert
I've had this laptop about six months and I'm still extremely happy with it. The build quality is fantastic, it looks great and it's solid. The metal casing is tough and doesn't get scratched or dirty. The trackpad hasn't worn out and gone all smooth yet, unlike on my previous laptops.
Performance is great, battery life is very good, though not quite as good as they claim. I suppose I'd get seven hours if I didn't touch it and left it with the screen all dark, but in actual use I get somewhere between four and five. Still very reasonable.
Very cool feature: one USB port is powered even when the machine is sleeping so you can charge devices off it.
Not so great: the Intel WiFi software turns your laptop into a hotspot for other wireless devices. I found this very useful. But one day it just started to not work very well, most things won't connect. I've done lots of research and it's a problem with the Intel drivers that affect many machines, not just this one. But it's quite disappointing that it doesn't work right.
Great: system runs pretty cool, even under heavy load. My lap used to be scorched by my old laptop, now I'm just uncomfortably warm.
Not great: lack of FireWire. It's not a huge problem, but I wanted to hook up a FW video camera and wasn't able to.
Okay: the keyboard is pretty good. Not the best I've used, but pretty good. It's a bit soft for my liking, but I prefer heavy clicky keys. It's better than most. The keycaps do lose their texture after a few months of use though.
Overall: Absolutely great machine. What issues I have aren't major. Battery life is really quite good, weight is good, build quality and style are excellent. I'm extremely pleased with this machine and (especially if this wifi hotspot business can be worked out) I'd buy it again without hesitation. Very highly recommended.
Pros: Durable, Lightweight, build quality, style, charging usb port, runs cool, keyboard, value for money
Cons: no firewire, buggy wifi hotspot mode
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
4
Performance
5
Design
5
Value
5
Written by a customer while visiting Samsung US