Samsung X22 Assessment

Key Specs

• Assessment Value: £849.97

We’ve develop into fairly accustomed to Samsung producing properly featured and reasonably priced notebooks, significantly within the case of the Q35 and its successor the Q45, which nonetheless represents the most effective worth sub-2kg pocket book obtainable right this moment bar maybe the Asus Eee PC, which is a regulation unto itself anyway. Nevertheless, the Q45 isn’t the start and finish of Samsung’s pocket book vary, with the X22 being the most recent providing from the Korean big.

A mid-sized pocket book for company and enterprise customers, the X22 incorporates a 14.1in show and weighs only a fraction over 2.2kg with the usual four-cell battery. That is fairly a pleasing kind issue for a lot of, balancing the wants for mobility in opposition to the practicalities of on a regular basis use. Nevertheless, a fast take a look at this explicit sector exhibits the X22 has a formidable opponent within the form of Dell’s Latitude D630. How does the X22 examine in opposition to this massive hitter?


On value, one must say very properly. Our pattern mannequin (NP-X22A001/SUK) is offered for the affordable sum of £850 and for this you get a properly specified pocket book with a 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, 2GB 667MHz RAM and a 160GB SATA HDD. It additionally options an ATI Mobility Radeon HD2400 graphics chipset, in addition to Bluetooth, Gigabit Ethernet and Draft-N Wi-Fi. An 8x LightScribe DVD+/-RW optical drive rounds off the bundle and, on this proof, the X22 is a properly balanced machine for the value.

There are, nonetheless, a few explicit disappointments. For a pocket book of this measurement it could be good to see the next decision show than the 1,280 x 800 that’s on provide, whereas Samsung has additional skimped on the comparatively low capability 2600mAh four-cell battery. The latter does assist hold the burden to a manageable 2.2kg, however battery life takes a big dive due to this.


Throughout a subjective basic use take a look at, with the pocket book used for phrase processing and Web searching, the X22 managed a disappointing two hours and 5 minutes with the show set to its most and wi-fi enabled. This can be a distinctly under common outcome, since extra usually one may anticipate nearer to 3 hours have been the X22 to make use of a six-cell battery as most on this sector are likely to do.

Clearly then, though the four-cell battery makes the X22 extra transportable, that is offset by the truth that it doesn’t present the form of battery life that will make this further portability worthwhile. To counter this, an prolonged eight-cell battery is offered and this would definitely be advisable, although it’s nonetheless a disgrace there’s no half-way home within the form of a six-cell battery.

Aesthetically, the Samsung X22 is an fascinating factor to behold. Thrilling it isn’t, however then enterprise oriented notebooks not often are. Nevertheless, there’s positively one thing distinctively totally different concerning the X22. Completed solely in graphite gray, it’s in all probability to not everybody’s style and it does take some time to heat to the design, however the curvature and matte high quality of the end give it a smooth, low profile look that has its personal unremarkable enchantment. Personally, I really feel it has echoes of the large obelisk from 2001 A House Odyssey – although regrettably utilizing the X22 doesn’t lead to any thoughts bending time travelling.


Divergent movie references apart, it’s every part one would usually anticipate from a enterprise pocket book: easy, clear and unfussy. One fascinating side of the design, nonetheless, is the exterior end, which has a barely tough virtually sandpaper like texture to it that’s surprisingly tactile. Importantly it’s sturdy and gained’t scratch simply, decide up fingerprints or develop into utterly decimated from heavy use.

Furthermore, not like the NEC Versa S970, the general construct high quality belies the value as a result of the X22 seems to be and feels studiously strong and properly put collectively. One factor it does lack, nonetheless, is any form of enhanced safety for the display. This implies it’s barely weak to exterior strain, although no extra so than another ‘customary’ pocket book.


In any other case the X22 exudes a way of understated high quality, a reality solely enhanced while you open up the pocket book and are greeted by the brushed aluminium end. It’s a close to similar end to that discovered on the Q70, and it’s each nice to take a look at and a pleasing floor to relaxation one’s palms on whereas working. If one have been to make a grievance although, rounding off the entrance edge and corners ala the Sony SZ would make the X22 much more snug for day-to-day use.

Of the numerous good issues concerning the X22 although, the keyboard and touchpad are among the many finest. Keys have a splendidly crisp and responsive really feel to them, with no flex in any respect. As a rule the structure is superb too, with offset cursor keys under a correct measurement Shift and Return keys. Sadly, Samsung continues to position the Fn to the left of the Ctrl key. That is incorrect, please repair. Please! No such complaints may be made from the touchpad. It’s positioned barely off centre however immediately under the Spacebar, whereas the floor is easy clean and buttons crisp and responsive.


These, mixed make utilizing the X22 a pleasure, however gallingly Samsung blights its copybook by utilizing a shiny end for the 14.1in show. Tremendous, it could improve colors and distinction for video viewing however, as with all shiny screens, it suffers from no small diploma of reflections. For a enterprise pocket book that is hardly ultimate and Samsung should take a leaf from its rivals, proscribing such finishes to its shopper focused fashions.

Wanting on the connectivity on the X22, it’s good to see Samsung disposing of among the extra annoying legacy connections on this mannequin. First, on the left, you’ll discover two USB ports, Ethernet, D-SUB (VGA) and HDMI. The latter is at all times a sexy addition, particularly because it has develop into so common to do shows on HDTVs nowadays. Alongside these connections there’s a reminiscence card reader and above {that a} 34mm ExpressCard slot, which is right for including an HSDPA card do you have to want one.


This kinds the vast majority of connectivity on provide, with headphone, microphone, modem and one additional USB port becoming a member of the optical drive on the suitable edge. If one have been being tremendous essential, it could have been good if Samsung have been in a position to squeeze in a 54mm ExpressCard slot, however at the very least with the 34mm slot it has completed away with the comically massive PC Card slots that proceed to blight so many notebooks.


Taking a look at another points of the X22, there’s a superbly succesful 1.3-megapixel digital camera inset above the show. This must be helpful for video calls and the like, although unusually the built-in microphone is positioned by the touchpad slightly than by the digital camera as you would possibly anticipate. Having touched upon the reflective shiny end, it should even be famous that regardless of this the show on the X22 is usually wonderful. Textual content is sharp and straightforward to learn, colors outlined and properly toned and total it’s a shiny and nice to make use of show.


Much less constructive issues may be mentioned of the audio system, that are located above the keyboard and pump out a measly 1.5 Watts every. To place this into context, the built-in audio system on most LCD screens are 2W and everyone knows how nice these are! Briefly, it’s properly price investing in some headphones, or maybe the Sony USB Moveable Audio system that Ed checked out lately.


Offered software program is all pretty customary fare, with trial variations of McAfee Anti-Virus and Workplace 2007. There’s additionally a reasonably intensive set of Samsung branded functions, together with Cyberlink DVD and Samsung’s personal wonderful restoration answer. Our system got here with Vista Residence Premium put in, with different choices together with Vista Enterprise and XP Skilled – which can please Gordon and lots others in addition to.

For efficiency testing the X22 was put by our normal set of exams, together with PCMark 05 and our in-house Photoshop Parts and VirtualDub exams. We’ve additionally a obtained a brand new take a look at, with a brand new version of PCMark, PCMark Vantage, now obtainable. Sooner or later we’ll be going by among the new options of Vantage, however for now it’s suffice to say that this new model provides much more real-world testing, extending testing into areas equivalent to audio encoding, picture authoring and productiveness. Sadly, because it’s nonetheless early days for this system, among the exams failed to finish, however there have been sufficient particular person outcomes to make them worthwhile. Furthermore, in time we can be transferring over to Vantage and abandoning PCMark 05 utterly.

General, efficiency was first rate with the X22 evaluating properly to equally specified Latitude D630 throughout all exams. Additionally, as a result of the X22 makes use of a discrete ATI card, it outperformed the D630 in graphics and gaming exams comfortably. Nevertheless, the worth of that is debatable since these are each enterprise notebooks, whereas even with the superior graphics efficiency the X22 isn’t any gaming machine.


Nevertheless, maybe an important issue with regard to efficiency is the battery life, which has already been mentioned. Had the X22 lasted longer than simply over two hours then it could be a severe contender, nevertheless it loses at lot of kudos on account of its under common stamina.

In the end, it comes down as to whether you demand good battery life, or portability. As customary, should you go for the Latitude D630 you get a six-cell battery able to three or extra hours of cordless utilization, whereas it weighs 2.4kg. With the X22 you get between two and three hours of battery life, however it’s 200g lighter at 2.2kg. As you may inform, there’s not a lot in it and in reality it’s been arduous to come back to any coherent conclusion relating to the X22’s deserves. It has many advantages, together with a easy and unobtrusive design that maintains some class, whereas the addition of HDMI is one thing distinctive in its favour.


Nevertheless, as a complete there are slightly too many nagging questions regarding the X22. Is the display too reflective? Is the battery life inadequate? Is there sufficient desktop real-estate? Is it mild sufficient for normal cellular use? In case you can forgive a few of these issues although, then the X22 is a compelling possibility for its worth alone.

”’Verdict”’

An reasonably priced and properly appointed system, the Samsung X22 is let down by a myriad of little niggling doubts. In case you imagine it addresses your particular wants it’s a really worthy possibility, however for others Dell’s Latitude D630 might show a extra full answer.

”’Samsung X22:”’ Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 2.0GHz, 2GB 667MHz DDR2, 160GB SATA, ATI Mobility Radeon HD2400.

”’Dell Latitude D630:”’ Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 2.0GHz, 2GB 667MHz DDR2, 160GB SATA, Intel GMA X3100.