Samsung X1

If the flamingly sexy Q30 from Samsung is the notebook that could set the hearts of the female workforce pulsating with desire, then the latest X1 from the Korean giant could well cast the same spellbinding effect on cleanly shaved and well groomed new age men in search of a tasteful yet competent mobile computing slab. Unlike the alluring red shade of the 1.10kg Q30, the color of choice for the X1 is a slightly more conventional combination of light silver and matte black - so as to blend in with the corporate tone of most offices.

Although the new X1 is marginally heavier than the Q30 at 1.70kg, the reason behind the weight disparity can be attributed to the X1 being a much more integrated notebook than the Q30 as it features a built-in top loading optical disc drive, instant boot DVD/MP3 playback capability, Bluetooth and a larger 14-inch WXGA Super Bright Gloss LCD panel. Internal component-wise, an Intel Pentium M ULV 753 processor operating at 1.2GHz with 2MB of L2 cache is the processing heart of both the Q30 and X1. This commonality in the choice of processor is where the similarities end though because other than the processing unit, the Samsung X1 is clearly the more superior workhorse as it is built upon the newer Intel Centrino Mobile Technology platform, running off the improved and faster Intel 915PM chipset and a more powerful integrated graphics controller.

Samsung X1 Centrino notebook.

Front View – (left to right: Status LEDs, mouse buttons and 5-in-1 card reader.)

Left Face – (left to right: Left speaker, Analog D-Sub, RJ-45 Ethernet jack, RJ-11 modem phone jack, 1 x USB port, 1 x IEEE1394 mini jack, microphone jack, earphone jack and PCMCIA slot.)

Right Face – (left to right: 2 x USB ports, power jack and right speaker.)

Rear View – (Kensington Slot.)