If it looks good... (Samsung X06 LTM 740)

Member Name: thespurs

Product:	Samsung X06 LTM 740
Date:	15/05/06 (227 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Light and very thin, stylish and modern, very cheap

Disadvantages: Not amazingly fast

I have recently started to work in London for an Inventory company that my Father owns and is run by older Brother. The nature of the job is such, that having a laptop means that I can be far more efficient in both the quality of work that I do and the speed in which I can get it done. It also means that when I am travelling on trains and buses, I can get even more work done in time that I would otherwise spend reading a paper or staring out of the window.

There were a few decisions to be made about the type of laptop we would opt for. We decided that I only really needed a laptop that performed basic functions and was comfortable and easy to work with. I would only ever be using Microsoft Word and Excel, along with Internet Explorer on occasions, so a machine capable of running those programs was what was required. There would be no playing computer games or streaming videos via the internet, so performance wasn't really a great issue.

The next thing to consider was the size and weight of the machine. I was keen to find something that I find comfortable to work with and carry around with me. It therefore needed to be relatively light, nothing above 2.5kg where possible. It can be, at times, rather cramped on the trains so we wanted something that was relatively small and easy to manoeuvre in tight spaces. This would mean that a 14 inch screen was about the limit to which we could stretch.

Finally, the price of the computer has to be a major part of the decision making process. There is no need to spend more than you need to when buying a laptop. Taking into account that fact that only on with basic functionality is needed, about £600 would be the cap. That gives you a reasonably wide selection without breaking the bank and wasting money.

After much searching, both online and at major electrical retailers, we weren't having a tremendous amount of luck in our hunt. We then headed for Tottenham Court road, where we knew there would be a great range to chose from and reasonable prices to match. We finally wound up with this, the Samsung X06 with Celeron.

The laptop certainly has the looks and the style to rival any other. It comes in a dazzling silver finish, a refreshing change from the blacks and matt grey colours we have become so accustomed to seeing. It provides that sort of modern, revolutionary touch and you feel you are getting a good piece of technology. It is sleek too, slight, once again adding to that ultra modern feel that means everything should be smaller and more compact. It isn't emblazoned with logos and brand names, just a small silver 'Samsung' logo adorns the top (appearing upside down when the screen is closed). The look is not really what you should be looking for, but with this you can't help but mention it.

I was surprised at how light the Samsung X06 is to carry. It weighs in at about 2.2kg, which is a little less than 5 pounds for those imperials out there. So, overall, a pretty light piece of kit to lug around with you everywhere you go. It is deceptively light, as I said, from looking at it to actually holding it in your hand and resting it on your lap. They have done well to get 14 inches of screen in and keep it so thin. I feel that it's largely down to the thickness of the machine and how light the clip-on battery is. I can't really have any complaints here, in fact I can only give praise to what Samsung have done.

I have also found the machine to be very usable when out and about. That for me is the main thing that you have to look for when buying a laptop. The fact that it is as thin as a sheet (not literally) really adds to the overall suitability of the machine for mine and any train travellers' needs. It doesn't take up too much room and isn't all bulky and ungainly when you have it open and in use. This has to be one of the strong points of this machine. Most of the other laptops on offer in the 14 inch screen size, seemed to be far bulkier.

On the performance side of things, the laptop by no means operates at breakneck speeds but it certainly does a job for you. All in all, for a very mobile machine, which the Samsung X06 is, you get reasonably good performance. You get 512MB of RAM and a 60GB hard drive for your money. The visual display is also very sharp and well refined. However, when you unplug the machine from the mains it can be a little dark and doesn't really withstand the glare of the sunshine or bright light too well.

The keyboard and the touch pad are actually really rather well done and nice and easy to use. The keys are set so that you let your fingers sort of glide from one to the next and you don't really need to press them down with any great force in order to get a reaction. My typing speed must be at least 10-15% faster on the laptop than on this, my PC keyboard. The touch pad is well balanced in its responsiveness to your finger movements. It is also good for 'left clicking', rather than using the standard button. The very small scroll button is good too, but not something that I can say I will make much use of.

The price of this Samsung laptop is a more than respectable £499 including VAT. That was the high street price and I found it in a shop situated on Tottenham Court Road in London. I haven't found it available at many other retailers, so this is the only real price that I have to go on. There may be some people that are a little cynical about buying a Samsung built laptop, but they are an internationally recognised manufacturer of electronics so you can every confidence in their legitimacy as a company.

So to sum up, if you are looking for a cheap, light weight and highly mobile laptop for mainly work and emailing then this could be the one for you. There is little, if anything at all, that lets you down here. There is in many ways not a great deal of expectation really, in a laptop that costs under £500. You can't really be left disappointed. Bear this one in mind in future and always remember to explore all of the options available to you before you buy.

Summary: It looks classy and also light and moveable.

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