Manage updates with the Download AppSamsung Series 5 UltraTouch hands-on Video
Samsung Series 5 UltraTouch hands-on Video Transcript
I'm Dan Ackerman, and we are here taking a look at the Samsung Series 5. Now we've looked at Series 5 laptops before, and I'm sure we're gonna look at them again. This 13-inch model however is a little bit different in that it is the first one we're seeing with Windows 8 and a touchscreen on it, which means that Samsung is taking its existing Series 5 line which has been perfectly nice and updating it, so it goes toe-to-toe with pretty much every other current laptop out there. The nice thing about this particular system is it sits right in the middle of kind of the price band we've seen a lot of 13-inch Windows 8 laptops that are $1300 and even $1600, very nice machines. We've seen a bunch of Windows 8 laptops that are under 600 dollars, and for the money that you spend, they're actually pretty good, although a little bit more plasticky, not quite as high end. The Series 5 here, even though Samsung has higher end lines like the Series 7 and the Series 9, this one is still made almost entirely of metal, feels very solid, nice brushed metal sort of accents on the back of the lid, on the keyboard tray here. You definitely would not be embarrassed to pull this out at a coffee shop, even though it's Samsung's mid-price line. This particular configuration has got a Core i5 processor. It's got a standard 500 gig hard drive, a little SSD cache on it, and it's $850 which is a pretty reasonable price especially when you consider the design and the construction. The workmanship is definitely a little bit above average from what you normally get for that price. There are a couple of things that make this feel like a little bit more of a budget product. Number 1, the screen resolution is only 1366 x 768; that still works for 13-inch laptop, any bigger and it sort of starts to look a little bit dated. And you've also got the touchpad with the separate left and right mouse buttons; in most modern or more high-end laptops they're all moving towards that single pad, click pad design where the buttons are sort of integrated right into it. Other than that however, you pretty much get all the bells and whistles that you'd expect from a current Windows 8 laptop including the 10-input touchscreen. For 850 bucks, you're probably not gonna find something that's quite as solid, quite as roadworthy as this. I am Dan Ackerman, and that is the Samsung Series 5.
Related Videos
If you ignore the ultrabook branding, and instead think of this as a somewhat slim midsize, mainstream laptop, the 14-inch Samsung Series 5 is a fine example of the form.
Getting our hands on touch-enabled Windows 8
CNET's Kara Tsuboi and Seth Rosenblatt discuss Microsoft's entry into the touch-enabled OS world with Windows 8 and what it means for the company moving forward.
This Dell has a great slim design for a budget-minded 15-inch touch laptop, and even fits in an optical drive.
Samsung Series 5, the AMD version
The 4-pound Samsung Series 5 isn't as light and portable as some slim 14-inch laptops, but this AMD-powered version can be found at a significant discount if you shop around.
Road testing Google's ChromeBook Pixel
Three testers take the sleek, touch-enabled, 13-inch Google ChromeBook Pixel out for a few days to see if the cloud-based device works as a functional, everyday notebook.
Join Always On as we get a tour of the home of the future, including touch-enabled kitchen panels, automated lighting, and thermostats.
At GSMA 2009, Kent German takes a First Look at the Samsung Ultra Touch, a touch-screen phone that's packed with multimedia features.
Samsung has captured our attention in its U.S. desktop debut with the Series 7 all-in-one, and we expect this PC will draw in many mainstream customers with its appealing looks and accessible touch interface.
Samsung reveals eye-popping TVs
At CES 2013 in Las Vegas, Samsung showed off its new lineup of HDTVs, including its F8000 series LED televisions and both an 85-inch and 110-inch 4K Ultra HD TV.
The Samsung Series 7 Chronos stands out from the desktop replacement crowd by hiding high-end components, including a quad-core processor, inside a very a slim design.
Samsung Series 5 UltraTouch Review
The good: With a slim, sturdy design and a powerful mainstream CPU, the touch-enabled Samsung Series 5 UltraTouch is a great sub-$900 13-inch Windows 8 machine.
The bad: Good thing it has a touch screen, because the touch pad is a bit jumpy. Performance is slower than that of similar Core i5 laptops.
The bottom line: Samsung's midprice Series 5 UltraTouch looks and feels like a more expensive machine, but keeps it simple by skipping the complex hybrid mechanics of so many new Windows 8 systems.
Samsung Series 5 UltraTouch Specs
Manufacturer: Samsung
Part number: NP540U3C-A03UB
- Product Specifications
Samsung Series 5 UltraTouch Prices
Online stores
| Store | Certified rating | Inventory | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  Rate this store See store profile | In stock | $799.99 |
 | Rate this store See store profile | In stock | $799.99 |
 | Rate this store See store profile | In stock | $690.00 |
 | Rate this store See store profile | In stock | $690.00 |
| Best Buy | Rate this store See store profile | Not in stock | $529.99 |
