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Highend Notebooks

Contents

  • Requirements
  • Current Favorites
  • Acer
  • Apple
  • Asus
    • Asus Zenbooks
    • Asus PU500CA-XO002X and Asus N550JV-CN201H
  • Dell
  • Fujitsu
  • HP
  • Samsung
    • Serie 9
    • Samsung ATIV Book 9 2014 Edition
  • Tuxedo
  • Librem 15
  • Notebooks that did not meet the criteria
  • Dear Notebook-Producers
  • References

My Acer Travelmate 5744Z seems to get broken in soon, so I'm currently looking for a new notebook. As I use my notebook quite often and as this is the third notebook within three years that is not usable any longer (the screen of the first is defect and the graphic card / WLAN of the second does not work propperly with the new Linux kernel), I'm would like to have a high end notebook this time. I hope that I not have to think about notebooks for at least 5 years after that.

Requirements

I work quite a lot with the computer, so the keyboard and the display have to be good. What does good mean? Well, the display has to be at least 15" and as I don't want to see my pixels any longer it has to have a higher resolution than 1366×768. But it has to be smaller than 30cm × 38cm to fit into my knapsack. A reason why I do not always have my current notebook with me is that it is too heavy with about 2.5kg and does only run for about 3.5h. The new one should be lighter than 2.5kg and run at least 4h.

Ubuntu has to be supported completely, especially WLAN, sound and Bluetooth. Speaking of Bluetooth, I want Bluetooth 4.0, because it introduced a low energy protocol that might be usefull for notebooks. As I live in a city and as I access the internet via my neighbors WLAN (thank you!), I need a good connection: Dual band and 802.11a/b/g/n need to be supported by the notebook. (Dual band is sometimes also called 2x2).

I use it mainly for writing blog articles, LaTeX stuff and some Python programming and watching movies. I download movies via Online TV Recorder which sums up quite soon. Transfering this to my external HDD always takes a lot of time. The new notebook should support USB 3.0 to speed this up. As I don't have to store anything large, 80 GB SSD is enough. It should be a SSD, because they consume less power, are more durable and are more silent.

I need at least 4GB RAM because ... well, did you ever try to use Eclipse for Java+JBoss programming with less than 4GB? I don't want to have that again.

It would be nice if I could use the notebook outside in the summer which means it has to have a bright matte display.

I want a silent notebook, because I'm very sensitive to noise. My current notebook has less than 30 dB in normal mode (no heavy load). That should set the mark.

A SD-Card Reader would be nice, but it is not required. Just like a RJ-45 for network cables and a DVD drive you can get it via USB.

I robust case is also important. I had troubles working in the train, because the screen was whipping as hell. But this is not a hard requirement for me as I don't work in trains that often.

Current Favorites

I've looked at a lot of notebooks and I did mainly focus on the technical specification and not at the price (I guess I might work about 10h every day in front of this machine. A good, working notebook is very important to me). However, when I see some notebooks that are ok according to the specs from above, I will take the cheaper one.

By the way, while searching for notebooks I discovered that much of the data on Amazon is wrong. See for example the dimensions of the HP EliteBook 8570p-B6Q03EA-ABD (51.6 x 34.2 x 7.8 cm according to Amazon).

Asus Zenbook Samsung Notebook Serie 9
Model UX51VZ-DB114H 900X4D K01
Price 1380 Euro 995 Euro
Dimensions (B × D × H) 380 × 254 × 20 356.9 × 237 × 14.9 mm
Weight 2.2 kg 1.58 kg
CPU Intel Core i7 3632QM Intel Core i5-3337U
Display Size 15.6" 15"
Display Resolution 2880×1620 1600×900
Display more LED-Display, 400 Nit
Matte display ✘ ✔
RAM 8 GB DDR3, 1600 MHz 2× 4 GB DDR3 SDRAM1.600 MHz
Disk 256 SSD 128 GB SSD
Network ? RJ45 with adapter and 1.000 Mbit/s
Wireless 802.11a/g/n, WiDi 802.11a/b/g/n (2×2), WiDi
WLAN-Chip ? Intel Wireless-N 7260
Bluetooth 4.0 4.0
Akku 4750 mAh 8200 mAh, up to 10h
USB 3× USB 3.0 2× USB 3.0, 1× USB 2.0
SD Card Reader ✔ ✔
Linux-Support ? partially (1,2, 3)
Keyboard ? Chiclet-keyboard without numblock
Noise ? 29.5 dB in normal mode, 40 dB max
  • Samsung Series 9
  • Macbook Pro

The WLAN chipset of the Samsung Serie 9 seems to cause trouble with Linux, but it also seems to be solved by a firmware update.5 But one hint seems to be important:

Before you install Linux on a Samsung Serie 9, make sure you update the firmware, because that's only possible with Windows.

Asus Zenbook seems also to work almost out of the box.6 I've just learned that you can use

sudo dmidecode -s system-product-name

to determine your exact laptop product name.

In the following, I will give you an overview of the notebooks I took a look at. I think all of them are very good.

In many cases I will need some more equipment:

  • MicroHDMI 2 VGA adapter: Samsung AA-AH2NMHB/E for 29.90 Euro
  • USB Ethernet adapter: "Cable Matters - SuperSpeed USB 3.0" for 16 Euro
  • External DVD burner: Samsung SE-208DB for 30 Euro works with DVD±R Dual layer disks and DVD±RW disks. Is there anything more important to look at?

Others:

  • Lenovo Thinkpad T450s (20BWS1UT00 with i5-5200U, Nvidia GeForce 940M). See notebookcheck
  • TUXEDO Book BU1505
  • Samsung ATIV Book 9 2014 Edition
  • Lenovo ThinkPad X1
  • Notebook for developers

Acer

Acer Aspire
Model V5-573G-54208G50aii
Price 649 Euro
Dimensions (B × D × H) 382 × 256 × 18
Weight 2.04 kg
CPU Intel Core i5-4200U
Display Size 15.6"
Display Resolution 1920 × 1080
Matte display ✔
RAM 8 GB DDR3, 1600 MHz
Disk 1000 GB HDD
Network 10/100/1000MBit
Wireless
WLAN-Chip Atheros AR5BWB222
Bluetooth 4.0
Akku 3560 mAh
USB 1× USB 3.0, 2× USB 2.0
SD Card Reader ✔
Linux-Support ✔
Keyboard Chiclet-Keyboard
Noise 33.3 dB

Apple

Macbook Pro
Model Retina 15"
Price 1999 Euro
Dimensions (B × D × H) 358.9 × 247.1 × 18 mm
Weight 2.02 kg
CPU Intel Core i7 2760QM
Display Size 15.4"
Display Resolution 2880×1800
Display more
Matte display ✔
RAM 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3L
Disk 256 SSD
Network no RJ45
Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n
WLAN-Chip ?
Bluetooth 4.0
Akku up to 7h
USB 2× USB 3.0
SD Card Reader ✔
Linux-Support ?
Keyboard Chiclet-Keyboard
Noise 29.4 dB in normal mode, 47.4 dB max

Although the hardware looks very nice, it is still comparable with both of my favorites.

Asus

Asus Zenbooks

Asus Zenbook Asus Zenbook Asus Zenbook
Model UX51VZ-CN035H UX51VZ-DB114H U500VZ
Price 1390 Euro 1380 Euro 1350 Euro
Dimensions (B × D × H) 380 × 254 × 20 380 × 254 × 20 380 × 254 × 20 mm
Weight 2.2 kg 2.2 kg 2.2 kg
CPU Intel Core i7-3612QM Intel Core i7 3632QM Intel Core i7-3612QM
Display Size 15.6" 15.6" 15.6"
Display Resolution 1920×1080 2880×1620 1920×1080
Matte display ✔ ✘ ✔
RAM 8 GB DDR3, 1600 MHz 8 GB DDR3, 1600 MHz 4 GB
Disk 256 SSD 256 SSD 512 GB SSD
Network 10/100/1000, RJ45 ? ?
Wireless 802.11a/g/n, 2×2 WiDi 802.11a/g/n, WiDi 802.11a/b/g/n, 2×2
WLAN-Chip ? ? ?
Bluetooth 4.0 4.0 4.0
Akku ? 4750 mAh 4750 mAh
USB 3× USB 3.0 3× USB 3.0 2× USB 3.0
SD Card Reader ✔ ✔ ✔
Linux-Support ? ? ?
Keyboard ? ? Chiclet-Keyboard with Numblock
Noise ? ? 34 dB in normal mode, 42 dB max

Asus PU500CA-XO002X and Asus N550JV-CN201H

Asus Asus
Model PU500CA-XO002X N550JV-CN201H
Price 998 Euro 1099
Dimensions (B × D × H) 383 × 257 × 22.5 mm 383 × 255 × 27
Weight 1.96 kg 2.7 kg
CPU Intel Core i5-3317U Intel Core i7-4700HQ
Display Size 15.6" 15.6"
Display Resolution 1366 × 768 1920 × 1080
Matte display ✔ ✔
RAM 4 GB 8GB DDR3
Disk 524 GB 1000 GB HDD
Network ? ?
Wireless 802.11 a/b/g/n, WiDi 802.11 b/g/n
WLAN-Chip Atheros (AR9485)
Bluetooth 4.0 4.0
Akku 4000 mAh, up to 7h 4000 mAh
USB 1× USB 3.0 2× USB 3.0
SD Card Reader ✔ ✔
Linux-Support ? ?
Keyboard Chiclet-Keyboard with Numblock Chiclet-Keyboard with Numblock
Noise 30.7 dB in normal mode, 38.4 dB max 32.9 dB in normal mode, 38 dB max

Dell

XPS 15
Model 9530-1906
Price 1711 Euro
Dimensions (B × D × H) 372 × 254 × 18
Weight 2.02 kg
CPU Intel Core i7-4702HQ
Display Size 15.6"
Display Resolution 3200x1800
Matte display ✘
RAM 8 GB DDR3L, 1600 MHz
Disk 512 GB SSD
Network (no RJ45)
Wireless 802.11 ac, 2x2
WLAN-Chip Intel AC 7260
Bluetooth 4.0
Akku ?
USB 3× USB 3.0
SD Card Reader ✔
Linux-Support ?
Keyboard Chiclet-Keyboard
Noise 29.8 dB, 42.1 dB max

There seem to be other versions of the XPS 15:

  • XPS 15 (L501X)
  • XPS 15 (L502X)
  • XPS 15z

However, I was not able to find any specification of those.

Fujitsu

Fujitsu Lifebook
Model E753
Price 1759 Euro
Dimensions (B × D × H) 374 × 374 × 20
Weight 1.99 kg
CPU Intel Core i7-3632QM
Display Size 15.6"
Display Resolution 1920×1080
Matte display ✔
RAM 8 GB DDR3
Disk 256 GB SSD
Network 10/100/1000MBit
Wireless 802.11 a/b/g/n
WLAN-Chip Centrino Advanced-N 6235
Bluetooth 4.0
Akku 6700 mAh
USB 3× USB 3.0
SD Card Reader ✔
Linux-Support ?
Keyboard Chiclet-Keyboard
Noise 33.3 dB

HP

HP Envy 15
Model J011SG
Price 811 Euro
Dimensions (B × D × H) 380 × 251 × 28
Weight 2.19 kg
CPU Intel Core i5-4200M
Display Size 15.6"
Display Resolution 1920×1080
Matte display ✘
RAM 12 GB DDR3L, 1600 MHz
Disk 1000 GB
Network 10/100/1000 RJ-45
Wireless 802.11b/g/n
WLAN-Chip Intel AC 7260
Bluetooth 4.0
Akku 2200 mAh
USB 4× USB 3.0
SD Card Reader ✔
Linux-Support ?
Keyboard with numblock
Noise ?

Samsung

Serie 9

The next few lines show the difference of the 900X4C A0A to...

  • NP900X4C-A01: Intel Core i5-3317U, 128GB SSD, no Dualband
  • 900X3C A03: 3610 mAh, 1399 Euro
  • 900X4B-A01: Intel Core i7 2637M, 1999 Euro
  • 900X4C-A04: Intel Core i5 3317U, 1999 Euro
  • 900X4C-A05: Intel Core i5 3317U, 128GB SSD, no Dualband, ca 1200 Euro
  • 900X4C A06: 256 GB SSD, 15.6" Display, 1629 Euro
  • 900X4C A09: Costs 1999 Euro (any other difference?)
  • 900X4D A03 has also 15" Display, but only 4GB RAM and a Intel Core i5-3317U and a 128 GB SSD. But it costs only 799 Euro.
  • 900X4D K01: Intel Core i5-3337U, 128 GB SSD, 8400 mAh, Dual Band, 997 Euro

Samsung ATIV Book 9 2014 Edition

Samsung ATIV Book 9 2014 Edition
Model NP930X5J-K01DE
Price 1599 Euro
Dimensions (B × D × H) ? × ? × 14.9 mm
Weight 1.78 kg
CPU Intel Core i7-4500U
Display Size 15.6"
Display Resolution 1920×1080
Display more Touch-Display
Matte display ✘
RAM 8 GB ? MHz
Disk 256GB SSD
Network RJ45 with adapter and 1.000 Mbit/s
Wireless 802.11 ac (2x2) (source)
WLAN-Chip Intel Wireless-AC 7260, 802.11 ac
Bluetooth 4.0
Akku ?, 14h
USB 2× USB 3.0, 1 × USB 2.0
SD Card Reader ✔
Linux-Support ?
Keyboard Chiclet-keyboard
Noise ?
  • Good audio qualit: 24-bit, 192kHz audio, 2x 2W
  • HDMI out, mini VGA, an SD card reader
  • 720p webcam

Release date should be 28.03.2014 (source).

Sources

  • techradar.com
  • notebookcheck.de

Tuxedo

Tuxedo Book
Model BC1503
Price 763 Euro
Dimensions (B × D × H) 374 × 252 × 31 mm
Weight 2.4 kg
CPU Intel Core i5 4200M
Display Size 15.6"
Display Resolution 1920×1080
Display more IPS-Display
Matte display ✔
RAM 1×8 GB 1600 MHz
Disk 120 SSD (Samsung EVO / SATA III)
Network has RJ45 built-in, 10/100/1000
Wireless 802.11 ac/a/b/g/n
WLAN-Chip Intel Dual AC7260
Bluetooth 4.0
Akku 62,16 Wh, 2.5h4
USB 2× USB 3.0
SD Card Reader ✔
Linux-Support shipped with Linux Mint ☺
Keyboard ?
Noise Laut4

See also: tuxedocomputers.com, linux-onlineshop.de

  • TUXEDO Book BU1505 (with Skylake, up to 16GB RAM, ca. 1240 Euro)

Librem 15

Librem 15
Model
Price 2185 Euro
Dimensions (B × D × H) 375 × 244 × 22 mm
Weight 2.0 kg
CPU Intel i7-5557U (Broadwell-U architecture)
Display Size 15.6"
Display Resolution 3840×2160
Display more IPS-Display
Matte display ✔
RAM 1×8 GB 1600 MHz
Disk 250 GB SSD
Network ✘, 10/100/1000
Wireless 802.11 n
WLAN-Chip ?
Bluetooth ✔, ?
Akku 65W, 48 Wh, Up to 6 hours usage
USB 1× USB 3.1, 2× USB 3.0
SD Card Reader SDXC
Linux-Support ✔
Keyboard ?
Noise ?

Other

On a first glance, the Samsung ATIV Book 8 NP880Z5E-X01 looked quite promising. But it doesn't have an SSD, it weights 2.54 kg, but has no optical drive.

  • Samsung ATIV 870Z5E-X03DE

  • ATIV Book 8 870Z5E X04

  • ATIV Book 8 880Z5E X01
  • ATIV Book 9 900X4D K01 (notebookinfo.de)

Notebooks that did not meet the criteria

Display is too small:

  • Chromebook Pixel has only 12.85"
  • XPS 13 has only 13.3"
  • Asus Zenbook has only 13.3"
  • Lenovo IdeaPad U300s have only 13.3"
  • All Samsung Series 9 X3A seem to have 13.3" displays
  • Samsung Series 9 900X3D-A02: 13.3"
  • Samsung Series 9 900X3C-A01: 13.3"
  • Samsung Series 9 900X3C A07: 13.3"

Too low resolution:

  • Acer TravelMate 6594eG-464G50Mikk
  • Asuspro PU500
  • All Acer Aspire TimelineU M5

To heavy:

  • Lenovo IdeaPad Y510p: 2.89 kg
  • HP EliteBook 8570p-B6Q03EA-ABD: 2.91 kg
  • Sony Vaio VPC-F21Z1E/BI: 3.17 kg

Availability: seems not to be available on Amazon

  • Samsung Serie 9 NP900X4C-A02
  • Sony Vaio SV-E1511V1EW
  • Sony Vaio VGN-TX2
  • HP Envy 6-1000sg

Other:

  • Acer Aspire M3-581TG: Too loud, only 667MHz RAM

Dear Notebook-Producers

After searching so much for notebooks, I have some hints for you what you could do better:

  • Add a single specification page for each notebook. This page should include at least:
  • Weight in kg and dimensions in mm
  • Battery life in mAh
  • Display (size, glare or matte display, supported resolutions)
  • Exact CPU name (not only Intel i5 - if it varies, list all possible CPUs)
  • Disk (size, SSD or not)
  • Wireless support (IEEE 802.11 supported standards? Dual band? Bluetooth? Bluetooth version?)
  • Keyboard: Does it have a numblock? Backlit?
  • Does it have a DVD-Player / Burner? Blue-Ray?
  • Webcam (resolution)
  • Microphone
  • Sensors (GPS)
  • Image of the notebook
  • A good specification page would include:
  • Noise in dB
  • Information about Linux support (especially Debian)
  • Explain your version names!
  • Provide a possibility to compare your products like Intel does with ark.intel.com for its processors
  • Provide a possibility to filter your products by technical specification.
  • Add an image of your product to Wikipedia Commons

References


  1. Linux and the Samsung Series 9 NP900X3C: A review for the NP900X3C and openSUSE on 24th or September, 2012. ↩

  2. Samsung Series 9 - Ubuntu Community Page ↩

  3. Linux auf Samsung Series 9 2012 ↩

  4. Tuxedo Book DC1502 im Test ↩↩

  5. No wireless with Intel Centrino Advanced-N 7260 ↩

  6. AsusZenbook - Ubuntu Community Page ↩

Published

Jan 28, 2014
by Martin Thoma

Category

Cyberculture

Tags

  • Hardware 7
  • Notebook 3
  • Review 22

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