Memory: 4GB DDR3 (expandable to 8GB)

How does one expand the memory?

dtcbob wrote:The battery on this model is not user replaceable

Are you sure about that?

Hi!

Does anybody know if/when the battery is out of cycles, one is forced to replace it? or is possible to use it with the power cable alone and never contact Samsung to replace the battery? --which would make it semi-portable as it could only be used indoors...

Thanks!

Will a Wimax provider move to my area if I get one of these?

Haha really trying to be like apple using the mac touchpad and design and making the battery so you have to send it Into them to get replaced for 8 times as much. Every laptop I've ever had ive replaced the battery when it got low

crzyazndude wrote:WiDi = Wireless High Def

WiDi = Intel Wireless Display

jbest wrote:Anyone know if this can be converted to WIn7 32bit? I need an app that will not run on 64bit...TIA

With Windows 7 (I think Vista did this too) you can run programs under either 32 or 64 bit if you have the 64bit installed. All the old stuff should still work.

No webcam. Nuts.

wilarseny wrote:With Windows 7 (I think Vista did this too) you can run programs under either 32 or 64 bit if you have the 64bit installed. All the old stuff should still work.

No they dont - but thanks for the try.

what else besides the platter size, seek time and cache? I need o know, time is short.

theguruguys wrote:Before everyone starts yelling about the 5400RPM Hard Drive, the RPM is not the only thing that you use to tell the story on how fast the drive is. Platter size, seek times, cache, etc. all play a role. Many larger 5400RPM drives are faster than smaller 7200RPM drives. Without knowing exactly which model HD is in this laptop, it is not possible to look up benchmarks, but I seriously doubt this drive is 'super slow' as every seems to shout when they see 5400Rpm.

jbest wrote:No they dont - but thanks for the try.

You weren't clear enough. The 64bit windows7 will start 32bit apps. You appear to want more than that. You seem to want them to keep running and to work correctly, or at least as well as they do on the 32 bit windows version.

In answer to the original question: side-grading to the 32bit windows version is probably possible, but it doesn't seem to be something you can just do out of the box.

equazcion wrote:A note of caution: The touchpad on this doesn't have physical buttons. The area where buttons usually would be is just more touchpad, and when you tap there it performs a click.

There are a lot of discontinued laptops with this type of pad floating around for great prices, notably the HP ProBook 4 series, because people don't like this "feature". If you're used to resting your fingers on your touchpad buttons, you may be frustrated when that activates touch gestures or mouse drags.

Just a heads-up.

Speaking as someone who has had several HP notebooks and an HP netbook with this drawback, it is a HUGE negative.

If your palms touch the pad while you are typing (as they can't help but do for most people), those characters can become control characters causing all SORTS of bizarre and unfortunate things to happen (I have had it highlight and delete text so quickly that it was gone before I realized what was going on).

compare to this:
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/series/category/notebooks/ENVY14_series/3/computer_store

both have harder case, 14 inch, and other similarities.

Also:
how important is USB 3.0 ports?

joesherm13 wrote:Memory: 4GB DDR3 (expandable to 8GB)

How does one expand the memory?

Buy new/larger DDR3 memory, open the case and add it to/replace the current memory.

shamcy wrote:Anybody knows if this comes with a built-in camera? I read the description but did not see woot mention that.

Woot doesn't list it but it is included in the Samsung description.

dtcbob wrote:The battery on this model is not user replaceable

Technically the battery in an iphone (or ipod or ipad, etc.) isn't user replaceable either. That doesn't mean you can't open it up and swap in a new battery. Yes it involves removing the screen and opening the case but that doesn't mean it can't be done. I did a quick search and found replacement batteries for about $75.

ptrott wrote:No webcam. Nuts.

the qx410 does have a webcam

http://www.samsung.com/us/computer/laptops/NP-QX410-J01US-features

ankitparekh89 wrote:also if refurbished laptops are sent to the manufacturer nd again packed in new like condition why is the warranty only 90 days?

nellyville wrote:i never bought a refurshed before they make me nervous....

jgt372376 wrote:Should I have concerns about buying a "refurb" laptop? what does that mean? someone dropped it, loaded it with bloatware, infected it with malware? and who fixed it??

----------

radi0j0hn wrote:A lot of tech products are returned due to ignorant users, not real problems.

I was part of a hardware-support team for what was, while it still existed, the second-largest computer company on the face of the earth. (Sic transit gloria mundi.)

And whose hardware did our unit support? Not that of our company's customers, no no. We fixed the computers of our company's employees.

And which employees' computers did we fix? Those of our high-end software-support teams, the people who had to duplicate the problems our company's high-roller customers were having on our own equipment and then fix the customers' remotely or by a dispatched team.

In other words, our team's customers were very picky about their computers working right.

My son was a tech lead at Best Buy, though now he manages a multi-state, 24/7 network for another company. My daughter fixes computers at a Marine base.

Picky people, all, including us. But we all use computers that have been fixed by ourselves or others.

Now take those fixed computers two steps farther.

(1) Replace everything that's going to break (either because it's already starting to come apart or because from experience you know that it's a weak link).

(2) Clean it up.

If my horses and jockeys live long enough to win the race then I will definitely be in for . Let's go Dance City

No bluetooth? Been several like that lately. Dont want to tie up one of my USB ports with a bluetooth dongle

Oh - about the 90-day warranty. I think it's largely a price thing.

Warranties cost the company genuine money, and the longer the guarantee, the more they cost. This is especially true of mechanical parts such as hard drives and switches such as those under the keys.

So you don't get longer warranties for free. You pay for them.

Now, assume that a refurbished computer really is "as good as new" (which is pretty much true if the program is conscientious).

If the product is current, and you're paying significantly less for it, well ... you want them to charge extra for the screen? :-)

The price cut has to come from somewhere, and it can't all be written off to the stigma of being used. After all, it's used but been made new(ish) again.

If the product isn't the currently-hot model, but the company still has new items in stock ... the new ones should be discounted some, and the refurbed ones even more.

Check the price. Don't pay as much for a refurbed as for new-but-discounted, but also don't expect the same package of goodies. In other words, expect a shorter warranty.

A week or two should be enough time for any of the new parts to burn in, and that's when the majority of new parts fail.

Also, if a new part is going to blow up a worn-out part next to it, that will happen quickly.

After that time period, then what? Then you start guessing about customer satisfaction.

Maybe there's a part in there that was on the verge of failure, but it wasn't something you could predict during the refurb process.

Your customer-satisfaction surveys show that a buyer who gets that item will be, let's say, very unhappy if it happens in the first two weeks, quite unhappy in the first month and a half, and somewhat unhappy out to the three-month point.

A failure after three months will annoy them, but won't make them unhappy.

Bingo. There's your 90-day warranty.

My theory, anyway.

-- Ed

NyQuil_Driver wrote:Typing on this right now after purchasing it in the last woot-off. Very happy with this machine for the price; good power and elegant design.

how is the sound. I need a comp. with good sound quality to use with skype.

In for 1. I needed a laptop for Uni this fall, and this laptop looks perfect. I just hope it holds up alright because it's refurbished.

Hi!
This is my 1st Woot post so sorry if I overlooked something when I asked a question before:

"Hi!

Does anybody know if/when the battery is out of cycles, one is forced to replace it? or is possible to use it with the power cable alone and never contact Samsung to replace the battery? --which would make it semi-portable as it could only be used indoors...

Thanks!"

I'm really only would buy if I'm sure that I can use the laptop (all time connected) even when the battery has died!

Thanks for any suggestions/answers

ivanivanovich wrote:I was part of a hardware-support team for what was, while it still existed, the second-largest computer company on the face of the earth. (Sic transit gloria mundi.)

(1) Replace everything that's going to break (either because it's already starting to come apart or because from experience you know that it's a weak link).

(2) Clean it up.

That's a refurbished computer.

Unless it's an NTF (No Trouble Found). Like radi0j0hn said, sometimes people don't know what they're doing.

-- Ed

I too don't mind buying refurbs a lot of the time, however I have stopped with HP. The last HP refurbished desktop I bought came full of dust and a clogged heatsink!

It was luck that I had to open it up to add a graphics card, otherwise my customer may have been calling me with a noisy fan overheating CPU right after the 90 day warranty expired...

It was factory sealed in the HP Refurbished box when I got it. Apparently they do not do the step #2 you list.

mjregier wrote:I feel it's not that great of a deal. I just got a 14" HP, Core i5 Aluminum body with HD out, 3 USB, yada yada yada for 600$ plus a 50$ mail in rebate. So yes, after taxes I paid about 70$ more for the thing, but it was also brand new instead of refurbished.

If you're patient and look around for a bit, it shouldn't be that hard to find a similar deal on a new i5 laptoppy...just a thought.

Also, 14" in my opinion is the way to go. 15.6 would be ok, but unless your a gamer (Of course then you'd be using a desktop) having a 17" screen is like lugging around a desktop in your bag.

What HP model are you talking about?

hamjudo wrote:You weren't clear enough. The 64bit windows7 will start 32bit apps. You appear to want more than that. You seem to want them to keep running and to work correctly, or at least as well as they do on the 32 bit windows version.

In answer to the original question: side-grading to the 32bit windows version is probably possible, but it doesn't seem to be something you can just do out of the box.

I have an industry-specific app that will not run correctly under 64bit - even in 32bit mode...it's a database thing. I think your right though; most of these will support 32bit Win7 just as well...

bogus wrote:Not a bad looking machine--I'm in the market for a decent laptop with an actual GPU--but the non-removable battery worries me, especially since it's refurb. What happens if the battery craps out?

Seriously,,,, how many people do you know that has replaced a laptop battery. By the time the machine is 3 years old you will want a new laptop/touchpad with all the new bells and whistles anyways.

Look at an ipad, xoom and move 3 years into the future. Your QX410 is going to look like a T-Ford with rust on it :-)

I just bought this laptop a couple of minutes ago and I was wondering if it comes with bloatware like the ones most PC's come with? I know it has A Norton 60 day trial, but anything else?
And thinks to all you guys for the great responses regarding this laptop. Can always rely on you guys for honest and informative info.

Oh! And do you guys like Squaretrade's extended warrenty program? Are they reliable when something goes wrong most of the time?

theguruguys wrote:The last HP refurbished desktop I bought came full of dust and a clogged heatsink! ... Apparently they do not do the step #2 you list.

I don't blame you for being disgusted; that's pathetic. There was a time when I felt they were a super top-notch company.

-- Ed

cheet0 wrote:Anyone know why the squaretrade widget on the woot page says $79.99, but when you click to buy it and get directed to the squaretrade website the price changes to $89.99?

You and me both! Why does it do that? Do we have a woot.com coupon code? What is it?

1920x1080 (or 1200) is a LOT more useful than 1366x768. If you ever want to plug this into a projector or TV, get a higher resolution.

This has the features of my new Macbook Pro, yet half the price. Too bad I have to furnish a new home, I would be in for one otherwise.

fmslay wrote:1920x1080 (or 1200) is a LOT more useful than 1366x768. If you ever want to plug this into a projector or TV, get a higher resolution.

Are you saying that this does not support 1920x1080? Because it looks like it does support it on external displays.

I'm used to the camera on the Macbook Pro. How is a 640x480 camera in comparison? Will it be awful for video chat?

Can you make this bad boy into a Hackintosh (Mac OS X bootable)? My girlfriend is an Apple fanboy who needs a laptop. This would make a great fakemeout MacBook.

Aside from money, what's the difference between nutjob on tv and one that stands on a street corner with 2 pieces of cardboard?

whetham25 wrote:Is there seriously only 1 USB port on this thing?

no - there is one exposed on the right side, and two more under the dust cover on the left along with the HDMI port.

Ive been Very nervous about this refurbished, the word alone scares me,.....refurbished! oohh!, Refurbished!! ooooH!! Refurbished!! ooooohh!!
I did buy one.....Also Ive been reading that alot of people return this model after they buy it from Best Buy because they didnt know the battery is not user replaceable, I HOPE TO GOD I GET THAT COMPUTER!

shamcy wrote:Anybody knows if this comes with a built-in camera? I read the description but did not see woot mention that.

yep - the little dot on the top of the screen is a camera

core i5... hmmmmm

OUCH OUCH OUCH!!! Kicking myself... I just bought this a few weeks ago from BestBuy for much more. Mine has the i5-480, but what's the difference in the millisecond difference that makes. I LOVE this laptop, wish I would have saved money in the process and bought from Woot! I own HPs, Dells, and have had several others in the past, and would pick this PC over and over again. For the money it is hands-down the best quality laptop in it's range. I spent hours at the stores comparing various models of different brands. The look and feel far surpass every HP I own and tried out. While I like the stats of the Toshibas... I just flat out liked the look and sleek design of this Samsung. And while I usually have had good luck with Dell and generally I like the Asus... something about the feel of the keys, the look of the screen drew me back to this same laptop. BTW - I tried a more plastic Samsung, the keyboard was much cheaper on it. It's fast, it's virtually silent, the battery lasts a good 4 - 6 hours depending on use. The Wifi picks up better than any other laptop I have. It just feels good, it runs, and looks great! BTW - a really COOL feature is that when I open the lid, it goes from fully asleep to fully running in 3-5 seconds flat! I just wish I could dream up a reason to buy 3 today.