Samsung Series 5 NP530U4C-S01IN Laptop (Core i5 3rd Gen/6 GB/1 TB/Windows 7/1 GB)

After months of research and going back & forth on different models, from laptops to ultrabooks, across different brands, I finally settled on this one. Writing this review after almost a month of consistent usage.nnPROSn----nn(+) Slim profile, Lightweight - If you have been using regular (bulky) laptops for a while, then you will enjoy carrying this around.nnNOTE - The VGA port sticks out on the left side, a bit annoying considering the design otherwise is fine. This is something the designers at Samsung should have paid more attention.nn(+) Excellent battery - There have been days when I have used this without a single charge, almost 4 - 5 hrs. The laptop is new, so over the long haul, it should give 2 - 3 hrs. Still, its impressive, thanks to its low voltage processor. nn(+) Great sound - I did not have any expectations when buying this model, but the results are truly impressive. You can enjoy watching online videos and movies without a need for headset.nn(+) DVD drive - Not many ultrabooks carry a DVD drive, this one does. nn(+) Touchpad - It feels great, almost as good as the Mac, and that's paying a big compliment. 2 finger scrolling also works fine.nnCONSn----nn(-) Performance - This is where this laptop disappoints. Maybe its the low voltage processor or the OS (Win7 HP). But there is a noticeable lag when using this machine. I have tried tweaking the Samsung battery settings for max. performance (lesser battery life), but the perf. is still not up to the mark.nnADVICE TO THE BUYER - Decide whether you want a slim, sleek laptop or a high performance. Its hard to get the best of both worlds without shelling out a lot of cash. nn(-) Price - When I purchased this about a month ago, there was an offer going on, the TCO came to Rs. 47,500. Even then, the price tag made me think 10 times because there are a ton of other options out there. nnWith the current price of little over Rs. 52K, I have no idea what the boys at Samsung are smoking these days. With no change in specs, I'm not sure how the price hike is warranted. If anything, they need to deal out more discounts to make room for the next gen. of ultrabooks.nn(-) Build Quality - The display lid doesn't feel sturdy at all.nnFINAL VERDICTn-------------nnAssuming the price comes down, this is a good buy for anyone who a slim, sleek laptop with long battery life. If you want performance, look elsewhere, go for the regular Intel i5 / i7 processors.

I purchased this ultra book after much research done online & consultations done with gadget geek friends. Using it now for the past 15 days & am proud that I chose this model. It is an robust performer with great features & superb looks. The 1.8kg weight allows easier carriage for a frequent traveler like me. Have been a regular buyer at Flipkart & trusted them with the price & delivery. An additional bonus was the Bank offer (used my HDFC Credit Card) which entailed an additional discount of Rs. 2500/- during the final payment. This has W-7 HP OS & I believe it is more user friendly & security conscious compared to W-8. The corresponding W-8 model was costing some 6-7K more.