Thursday 31 May 2012

A Review of the Samsung Chromebook Series 5 550


Introduction:  The Samsung Chromebook Series 5 550 has the advantage of a lot more RAM than some of its predecessors. It offers improved access to the Chrome OS system. The processor on the tablet is faster than the previous version. On the downside the price is a bit high. It also requires that the user is always online, a situation that is sometimes impractical in certain circumstances. Moreover it also suffers from the general limitations of the Chrome OS system. At $549, you might be better off looking elsewhere for an efficient tablet.
Specifications: One of the problems for consumers is the fact that up to date, they do not really understand the concept of Chromebook. The use of cloud-based applications and services is attractive until you lose your internet connection. It is at that point that you will be hoping for rescue by the Windows or Mac OS which work offline as well as online. In terms of portability the Samsung Chromebook Series 5 550 tablet is very thin. It measures 12” and can fit in most places. However you do not get a hard or CD drive. Instead you have to rely on some remote programs to carry out the basic functions.
What is the practical use of a gadget that requires you to be online all the time? In this review we were not convinced that the Samsung Chromebook Series 5 550 tablet is the answer. There are traditional alternatives which are much cheaper and yet as effective as this latest product. The battery life is necessarily very good but that is not always the primary concern of consumers when they are looking for a practical device. They have worked on the hardware but you would have to pay $549 if you wanted a Verizon 3G wireless antenna.
The specification includes an Intel Celeron processor and 4GB worth of memory. The hard drive has 16GB SSD. The full dimensions for the Samsung Chromebook Series 5 550 are 11” by 25” by 8.3”. It stands 0.7” tall with a diagonal screen size of 12.1”. This comes to 3.7lbs in weight when everything is included. Ultimately we found this device to be ultraportable during the review. However the pricing strategy and limitations discouraged us.
Pros: The device benefits from a faster and more powerful operating system than its predecessor.
Cons: The fact that you are required to be on the internet all the time is frustrating. We also feel that the pricing strategy is too harsh.
Editor Rating: The Samsung Chromebook Series 5 550 deserves 3.5 stars out of 5 following this review.

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