Samsung Series 5 Chromebook review

Samsung has launched the world’s first consumer available Chrome OS laptop in the form of the Samsung Series 5 Chromebook, a device that is merely breeching the first crest of a system’s massive potential.

 

Sporting Google’s new browser-based operating system and running a cloud centric storage format, the Samsung Series 5 Chromebook is a step away from the traditional laptop offering instead moving into future territory utilising the web as a foundation for fast, secure computing.

 

 

Samsung Series 5 Chromebook performance

With the browser-based Chrome OS requiring little computing power to boot-up, the Samsung Series 5 Chromebook can go from switched off to on, logged-in and browsing the web in around 10 seconds thanks. This is all the more imprssive given the 1.66GHz Intel ATOM N570 processor was designed for low power consumption rather than performance. That said, It is dual-core and Google's cloud OS was built from the ground up as a fast player and our tests reflect that. We also found that , from sleep mode the device is instant-on removing tiresome and annoying wait times.

 

Although an oversized multi-gesture touchpad and Apple MacBook-eque keyboard with dedicated search button combine with the simplistic OS for a user friendly interface, the lack of offline capabilities is still a hugely damaging downfall. Shame the touchpad gestures are limited .There' s no pinch-to-zoom, with only dual finger hold and dual finger swipe showing up.

With Google announcing offline capabilities will be added to a number of services such as Google Docs by the end of the summer the Series 5’s ability to save content to the internal 16GB SSD as apposed to the cloud is a feature that will remain relatively inert until such updates are brought in.

 

 

Samsung Series 5 Chromebook screen

Considering Samsung’s reputation as a leading supplier of premium screen technologies, the Chromebook’s screen is a slight disappointment with its 300nit Non-Gloss offering taking out the sparkle and crisp colours usually associated with Samsung displays.

 

Amply sized at 12.1-inches with a 1280 x 800p resolution, the Series 5’s WXGA LCD display is slightly grainy with detailed images and graphics lacking the vibrant colours and sharp edges you would both hope for and expect.

 

 

Samsung Series 5 Chromebook specs

A seemingly glaring omission from a device that currently sports no offline abilities is the Series 5’s lack of an Ethernet port. Whilst Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity options allow users to access the web and thus use their Chromebook device in the majority of situations, travelling with the Samsung machine will frequently leave you with nothing more than a rather plasticy paperweight.

 

A HD webcam and impressive battery life are both welcome additions to the Series 5 Chromebook’s specs with two USB 2.0 and a 4-in-1 card reader providing the data transfer options.

 

 

Samsung Series 5 Chromebook verdict

Whilst Google’s Chrome OS is undoubtedly set to spark a new era in home and portable computing, the service as well as the first device to support it are still finding their feet and lacking that all important final piece of the puzzle.

 

Samsung’s Series 5 Chromebook is a strong first offering for the Chrome OS and for many internet-heavy users will satisfyingly fulfil all of their needs, taken out of its web comfort zone, however, and the Chromebook fails to impress.

 

 

 

Samsung Series 5 Chromebook specs 

OS: Google Chrome OS
Screen: 12.1-inch WXGA 1280x800p
Processor: Intel® ATOM™ Processor N570 (1.66GHz, 667MHz, 2 x 512KB)
Graphics: NVIDIA's 1GB GeForce GT540M graphics
Memory: 2GB RAM
Storage: 16GB SSD
Connections: 2x USB 2.0, 4-in-1 card reader, 3G, 802.11abgn Wi-Fi
Optical drive: None
Battery: 8.5 hours (claimed)
Dimensions/Weight: 294.2 x 219.5 x 19.9mm /1.3kg

 

 

 

Posted by Luke Johnson

MAXIMUS MANTECH INTERNATIONAL MANHATTAN ASSOCIATES LSI LINEAR TECHNOLOGY