Review Samsung NP355V5C-S05DE/S03IN Laptop, AA-PB9NS6W /AA-PL9NC6B computer batteries

Product ID:1001369 Battery Type:Li-ion Property:original computer batteries Battery Voltage:11.1V Battery Capacity:49Wh \ 4400mAh Battery Color:Black / White

Battery Life

Buy new SAMSUNG NP355V5C Series Laptop Battery,11.1V 49Wh 4400mAh computer batteries

7 hours and 5 minutes - this figure represent the maximum AA-PL9NC6B battery life of the Samsung 355V5C. This time was measured with the lowest brightness and disabled wireless modules. In most cases, this test result is far from reality. More genuine results are provided by tests resembling practical use, like when surfing the web via WLAN, with a normal brightness of 150 cd/m2, or playing a DVD with the maximum brightness. In the first case we determined a battery life of 3 hours and 15 minutes. The DVD playback test on the other hand led to 2 hours and 22 minutes. While these results could still be described as good for multimedia notebooks from two years ago, figures such as these are more likely to be encountered at the bottom end of the scale of contemporary notebooks. A very positive example in this case would be the Samsung 300E5A, which can be used to surf the web for more than 6 hours via WLAN. Swapping the included 48 Wh battery for a more potent alternative is also not possible with the review device.

Case

Plastic is the main material of choice for the Samsung 355V5C in order to lower costs. The display lid is clad in shiny gray plastic. While opening the notebook, the user is greeted by a matte surface. For those that don't take a liking to the gray display lid, there are also the colors blue and pink available as alternative choices. The color of the keyboard area and the palm rest also change accordingly. Regardless of this, the bottom of the notebook remains black in any case.

When it comes to the build, Samsung has allowed a few considerable blunders to sneak in. The sides, for example, don't have perfectly sharp edges, and the gaps between adjacent panels are not even in some places. The resistance to pressure on the other hand is reasonably good, while only the left and right sides of the keyboard can easily be dented inwards. The palm resting area on the other hand only gives way with a lot of pressure. Another positive is the optical drive, which is firm and doesn't wobble in its slot. In many cases this is an area of criticism for notebooks in this price segment.

The display is held in place by two hinges which aren't able to prevent teetering of the display. Nevertheless, these are still too stiff to allow the display to be opened easily with one hand.

The battery is located on the bottom of the device, and is held in place by two hooks, and can be removed if required. Access to the cooling system in order to clean it is not possible with this Samsung notebook.

With all the flash behind these new designs, it's easy to overlook something such as the Samsung Series 3 NP355V5C. Intel is powering the Ultrabook boom, but we've got an AMD processor in this 15.6-inch laptop. SSDs are the hot technology, but here Samsung has swapped speed for a huge hard drive.

Its size (32 x 372 x 243mm, or 1.26 x 14.65 x 9.57 inches) and weight are fairly standard for this kind of home laptop. At 2.5kg (5.5lbs) it feels a good chunk heavier than an Ultrabook, especially something such as Samsung's own Series 9, but it it's nothing unusual for a 15.6-inch laptop.

Connectivity

From the perspective of interfaces, all the most important connectivity options for multimedia use should be included. And the new USB standard 3.0 wasn't forgotten either. An ExpressCard slot for the addition of further interfaces such as FireWire or eSATA, has been omitted. (SAMSUNG AA-PA1N90W adapters) 

All the interfaces have been spread across the sides of the notebook. Whereby there are two USB ports on either side such that two Y-cables can be used. The two USB ports next to each other can however get in each other’s way if the USB sticks are too wide. In an ideal scenario, the video and LAN ports would be located at the back of the notebook in order to avoid a mess of cables on the desk. The position of the four status LEDs on the other hand is favorable, and also don't annoy the user in dark surroundings.

Keyboard

The keys in the chiclet keyboard have dimensions of 15.5 mm x 15 mm, and are therefore slightly rectangular. These dimensions however only apply to the normal letter keys. The width of the numeric keypad keys lies at 13.5 mm due to the lack of space. This difference is however only optically significant, and doesn't stand out in a negative way.

What is negative however, are the rattling keys and the vibration of the keyboard base when the keys are pressed quickly. In addition to this, the relatively soft pressure point of the keys is also an area of criticism. Due to these characteristics, the keyboard gives a spongy typing feeling.

Touchpad

The touchpad provides more than enough space even for big fingers, with its dimensions of 98 mm x 50 mm. Fingers glides easily and smoothly across the matte surface. Precise navigation using the touchpad should therefore not have any obstacles in its way, if it wasn't for the frustrating multi-touch scrolling. This only reacts about every fifth time to the input commands. In this case the response can be improved using the Synaptics software though, by enabling the side scroll strip. Another negative aspect is the very loud clicking mouse buttons which also come with short travel.

Display

The 15.6-inch display has a WXGA resolution (1366x768 pixels) and an aspect ratio of 16:9. The pixel density works out to be 100 PPI (Pixel per Inch). This is in line with some of the competition. For comparison, we have the smaller Asus Zenbook UX32VD that reaches a very high pixel density for notebooks of this size with 166 PPI. The matte display AU Optronics B156XTN02.1 houses an affordable TN panel, which is illuminated by white LEDs. A choice of other displays is not provided by Samsung for devices from its Series 3 notebooks.

Unusual for Samsung notebooks is the very low brightness of the display. Despite the prefix SuperBright, the average brightness only reaches a mediocre 207 cd/m2. The illumination distribution of 89% on the other hand stands out positively since this prevents any discrepancies from being visible. The contrast ratio of 195:1 on the other hand is too low, and can be due to the quality of the very affordable TN panel. Compared to its rivals, the contrast can however be classified as high since hardly any device in this price segment has a contrast ratio exceeding 200:1. An IPS panel cannot be expected in this price segment in any case. As a special feature Samsung has installed Movie Color Enhancer, which automatically optimizes the displayed images while playing movies.

The sRGB and AdobeRGB color spaces aren't covered by our review sample. This requirement should only apply to professional use though, who need it for editing images. Compared to the competition from Dell and Medion, the display of the reviewed device is ahead in most areas.

Outdoor use with the Samsung 355V5C is only recommendable in the shade, despite the matte display surface. With direct sunlight, the brightness of the display is quickly trumped, preventing recognition of the displayed images. And also with strong shadows, due to light from behind the screen, the contents of the display are difficult to discern.

The viewing angles are also not able to make a good impression due to the TN panel. An inversion of the colors is noticeable from every angle except the ideal viewing position. Thus the display is only really perfect for someone sitting directly in front of the notebook.

Speakers

Music is emitted from the two speakers located above the keyboard below a metal mesh. The audio sounds a little thin due to the missing bass frequencies, although it is able to score points with a high volume, which additionally doesn't suffer from the usual distortion characteristics. High and low frequencies sound relatively well balanced. Using the pre-installed Easy Settings software, it is also possible to adjust the equalizer setting as preferred.

For those that have an elevated requirement in terms of audio quality, the notebook provides the usual audio output via digital and analog ports for external headphones or speakers. (SAMSUNG AA-PB9NS6B batteries)

Verdict

All in all, Samsung has compiled a relatively comprehensive and high performance package. Anyone who can come to terms with the lower manufacturing quality and battery life could find the 355V5C to be a gaming capable multimedia notebook at an affordable price.

Those that place a high value on manufacturing quality, should take a closer look at the Acer Aspire V3-551G, although the matte display would have to be sacrificed with this choice. The Medion Akoya P6812 on the other hand also has a matte display, and also offers a high performance graphics card and Intel CPU. The downside of this option is however the increased weight and bigger dimensions. In both the case of the Medion and the Acer Aspire V3, users will also have to come to terms with sensitive shiny surfaces. Matte throughout are the Acer TravelMate 5760G and the Samsung 300E5A. In the latter case, the expectations from the graphics card would have to be curtailed however. In addition, both of these options would also imply that a USB 3.0 interface will no longer be available.

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Review Samsung RV515-S03DE Laptop, AA-PB9NC6B / AA-PB9NC5B computer batteries

Product ID:1001369 Battery Type:Li-ion Property:replacement computer batteries Battery Voltage:11.1V Battery Capacity:4400mAh Battery Color:Black

Battery Life

The 48 Wh of AA-PB9NC6B battery capacity does not indicate an extremely long runtime. We can confirm this. The Samsung user will have to be satisfied with 3:27 hours rather than the 5:22 hours of an E2-1800 system (HP's 655). The idling/standby time also drops from 6:32 to 5:22 hours in this comparison. The battery capacity of 47 Wh in HP's 655 is almost equal.

The runtime is only marginally better when compared with the old Intel-RV511 (not quite three hours, Wi-Fi test). Apparently the HD 6470M annuls the Zacate APU's runtime advantage in the SAMSUNG RV515. The battery needs 2:14 hours for recharging, which is still an acceptable time. It does not matter whether Prime95 (CPU stress), FurMark (GPU) or Battery Eater's Classic are used for the load runtime. The result is always roughly two hours.

Case

The workmanship of Samsung's RV515 is equal to the prior RV511, which is not a positive rating in this case. The rigidness does not satisfy us. We can warp the base unit with both hands and provoke an obvious creaking noise. The plastic base plate can be dented on its left and right. Particularly the DVD drive is a weak point.

The hinges have a firm hold on the lid but do not prevent it from rocking. The lid's closing force is very good. We have to use both hands and a lot of force. This reduces the risk of unintentional opening during transportation. The maximum opening angle is approximately 140 degrees. (SAMSUNG AA-PBYN4AB batteries)

The grayish shimmering surfaces inside are matte but also susceptible to scratches. The paint will wear off on the sharp edges on the wrist rest's left and right when used extensively. The lid's grooved surface has a pleasant to the feel texture that particularly prevents fingerprints completely and provides a very secure hold.

Connectivity

Except for one USB 2.0 port, the interfaces are all focused on the case's left. The port placement seems reasonable. As so often the case, no interfaces are found on the rear. But at least the two left USB 2.0 ports are at the very back. VGA and HDMI are located in the center. Thus, the unwieldy cables can be routed to the back when on the desk. (SAMSUNG AA-PB9NC6W batteries) 

Communication

The draft-n standard Wi-Fi module (Atheros AR9285) does not feature Bluetooth. The Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller can transmit data at gigabit speeds in the network. This is still the fastest option for PC-PC data transfer via switch.

Keyboard

The number pad and arrow keys are smaller than the others. The number pad's standard layout with the comma and return at the bottom right complies with desktop keyboards. The arrow keys are squeezed in between the shift key and number pad.

We can type quite accurately and fast on the keyboard. The key drop is medium and the stroke is firm (not hard). The surface noticeably yields above the DVD drive and causes a weak typing feedback. The pressure point is clear but the level surface thwarts accuracy.

Typists will like the elevated wrist rest. Big hands have room here; the surface is tilted toward the user and the weak isolation keys are in a recess for easy access. However, the black high-gloss plastic that surrounds the keys seems contra-productive. Dust and fingerprints accumulate on the sides, beneath and in the center of the keys. Scratches will also soon become apparent.

Touchpad

The Elan Smart Pad features a very large surface that is sensitive up to its edges. It has two scroll bars (vertical & horizontal) that are not marked visibly (can be disabled). The surface is matte and gliding is rather slippery. Multi-finger gestures, such as rotate, scroll or zoom, are implemented quickly. The keys medium drop, soft stroke and smoothness enables fast clicking. However, the high-pitched clicking noise is loud and ultimately gets annoying.

Display

Samsung has recently resumed using a glare-type HD screen (1366x768 pixels; model: CMO N156BGE-L21). It is no longer matte as in the RV511. The contrast of 237:1 is average. However, rates of up to 200:1 are common for lower and medium priced office laptops and multimedia devices. The CMO screen does not reproduce the nicely saturated black colors of a high-end screen. The glare-type however "camouflages" this shortcoming a bit.

The color spectrum is remote from the Adobe RGB 1998 (t) reference. The same is true for sRGB (t). But this criterion is only relevant for professional users.

The TFT still distributes the brightness homogeneously over the surface: 87%. The LED brightness deviations are marginal. The minimum and maximum are only 28 cd/m2 apart. The average brightness of 207 cd/m2 is only middling. A very good value would be between 250 to 300 cd/m2.

The screen's weak brightness is not strong enough to effectively defy reflections in daylight. Thus, eye-friendly reading is not possible. The brightness is maintained on battery. The 15.6-incher does not feature a light sensor for adaptive brightness control.

The SAMSUNG RV515 has narrow viewing angles like almost all office and multimedia notebooks. Color deviations start at about 15 degrees when the eyes drift up or down (vertically). We can deviate up to 45 degrees from the center horizontally (right and left) before annoying ghosting turns up. (MSI BTY-S19 Battery)

Speakers

The speakers will not impress hi-fi fans. They will be forced to use external speakers or headphones. The sound is midrange-heavy (thin sound) and clearly distorts at maximum volume, which is adequate for a 15.6-inch device. A 3.5 millimeter audio jack is available for external speakers or headphones. The audio signal can alternatively be transmitted digitally via HDMI.

Verdict

Samsung's RV515 (NP-RV515-S03DE) is doubtlessly an interesting project. The Radeon HD 6470M improves the E-series APU's gaming performance by a few percentage points. Where current games were unplayable with the original E-450 APUs in low settings in the past, they now run sufficiently smooth - no more and no less.

Fortunately, the testers do not have to decide whether this is a strong enough purchase argument. The RV515 does many things right in terms of mobility, ergonomics and input devices. Fast typing is possible (although a bit spongy over the DVD drive) and noise is an unknown word. 3:30 hours of runtime (Wi-Fi test) however confirm our fears that the HD 6470 reduces the battery life compared with an E-450 and E2-1800.

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