We’ve just spent the last hour trying out Samsung’s new Series 5 Chromebook and wanted to share our initial impressions. The Series 5 is a web-only affair using Google’s Chrome OS so there won’t be any desktop behind the browser. While the Chromebook is focused more on entertainment-related activities, it can also handle light productivity. The notebook is good at surfing the web, watching movies and video, and staying connected to social networks. Its light weight and 8.5 hours of battery life make it extremely portable, but ultimately it can’t replace a regular netbook’s versatility.
Dimensions and Ports
Measuring 8.6 x 11.6 (H) x .79 inches and weighing in at 3.3-lbs, the Series 5 can easily fit into any shoulder or book bag. The lid is made of a glossy white plastic accented with the colorful Google Chrome logo. Like the best netbooks, the Chromebook is powered by a 1.66GHz dual-core Intel Atom N570 CPU, a 16GB SSD, and integrated graphics. As a result, the notebook boots up in about 10-15 seconds and immediately connects to an available Wi-Fi connection. The matte, 12.1-inch LED display has a native resolution of 1280 x 800p. Peripheral addicts will be disappointed with the Series 5’s slim pickings. On the right side, we found 1 USB 2.0 port and a 4-in-1 card reader. The left side houses an additional USB 2.0 port, a mini-VGA port, a combination microphone/headphone jack and the power jack. The Wi-Fi only version of the Series 5 is priced at $429 while the Verizon-supported 3G model is an additional $50 at $479.
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