By SUBASHINI SELVARATNAM
bytz@thestar.com.my
The Samsung Chronos is a sturdy notebook that doesn't skimp on features.
THE Samsung Series 7 Chronos 700Z3A-S01 has the look and feel of a notebook that is designed for serious business.
It doesn't have an eye-catching design or fancy colours but it still looks elegant in its metallic grey finish. The aluminium chassis is always cool to the touch and looks solid, and underneath it's packed with lots of features.
The Chronos is definitely not the thinnest or the lightest notebook that we have reviewed. It is 23.9mm thick and weighs 2.05kg so you will need strong shoulders to lug it around.
Speedy notebook
The notebook is powered by an Intel Core i5 processor running at 2.40GHz and it has 4GB RAM which is pretty standard. For storage it has a whopping 1TB hard drive which is great for keeping multimedia files which you can view while on the move.
It has a speedy startup of about 35 seconds which is great because you can begin working on it almost immediately.
Typing documents on the keyboard is a pleasant experience. The keys are well spaced out and the palm rest has ample space which is great for typing for long hours. The touchpad is very responsive and just the right size.
ISLAND STYLE: Typing on the keyboard is a pleasant experience as the keys are well spaced out.
There are also plenty of function keys to make accessing most tasks easier. It has shortcuts for the keyboard backlight, volume control and even a key for ejecting the DVD drive.
It doesn't have to be about all work and no play with the Chronos as the notebook is a pretty good multimedia player.
Samsung is well known for it's display quality and the 14in display, which has a resolution 1,600 x 900-pixels, doesn't disappoint. It is great for watching 720p HD movies as everything pretty much looked vibrant, sharp and bright.
Also, the notebook's stereo speakers and woofer made watching movies quite a mesmerising experience as they were loud and clear.
If you want to watch a movie on a larger screen, you can connect the notebook to a HDTV via the HDMI port.
CONNECTIVITY OPTIONS: There are lots of ports available on the Chronos.
There's is also a 1.3-megapixel webcam for keeping in touch with family, friends and business associates. It worked without any hiccups.
One advantage of a bigger notebook is the battery life. The Chronos' eight-cell battery lasted a good 5.5 hours when we used the notebook to type this review, watch a couple of videos, surf the Internet and listen to music.
If you are the type that travels a lot, you'll appreciate the notebook's battery life even more.
Conclusion
The Samsung Chronos 700Z3A-S01 is a sturdy notebook that has a decent set of features. It's not the slimmest or the lightest but it has a nice display, fast processor, ample amount of storage and two USB 3.0 ports.
If you don't mind the price tag then give the Samsung Chronos a shot.
Pros: Sturdy; backlit keyboard, spacious hard drive; good battery life.
Cons: A bit pricey.
CHRONOS 700Z3A-S01
(Samsung)
Notebook
PROCESSOR: Intel Core i5 2.40GHz
MEMORY: 4GB RAM
DISPLAY:14in (1,600 x 900-pixels)
GRAPHICS: AMD Radeon HD6490M hybrid graphics chip
STORAGE: 1TB hard drive
CONNECTIVITY: WiFi 802.11bgn, Ethernet port, Bluetooth 3.0
PORTS/SLOTS: Two USB 3.0 ports, USB 2.0 port, HDMI out, 4-in-1 card reader, headphone/microphone combo jack
BATTERY: 8-cell
OPERATING SYSTEM: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
OTHER FEATURES: 1.3-megapixel webcam
DIMENSIONS (W x D x H): 325 x 226 x 23.9mm
WEIGHT: 2.05kg
PRICE: RM3,599
RATING: 3.5
Review unit courtesy of Samsung Malaysia Electronics, 1-800-88-9999