So many reviews tend to ask whether something is faster than something else. Is it thinner, lighter, faster, smaller, more powerful, has more storage and even prettier or more funky.

But this does not address the problem about something being more suitable for a job than something else.

We have turned computers into accessories rather than tools; do we care if a washing machine, or drier or lawnmower is available in pink or white or paisley? Do others care if we have a pink, blue or red laptop?

So it was with a technical view to video editing that I approached the Samsung 900X laptop. Simply, how does it fare against my current mobile tool for the job – an Acer Ferrari 5000.

Oh yes, some may say that is not a fair contest. The Ferrari is now over 3 ½ years old and technology moves fast.  The Samsung is bound to beat it hands down. But is it not also true that people upgrade to a newer model because something is better than what they have? I don’t really think that the majority of people compare laptop to laptop to laptop when they buy; I think they look at pricing and features for the job at hand. Or if they don’t maybe they should and I have just done my bit for computer/gadget buyers’ education.

I may be wrong. It’s only my opinion and I would love to know otherwise so please contact me via david@auscamonline.com with your thoughts.

Anyway… moving right along.

On the stylish front, the Samsung 900X is certainly a looker. Thin, light and with a huge trackpad/mouse combo. The screen is very bright and sharp, and startup time is superb, measured in seconds not minutes as my dear old Ferrari can be.

I like the keyboard too. Personally I like a bit of key travel, but even though the Samsung keys barely move when pressed there is still a ‘feel’ to them; nothing yet has come close to my favourite all time keyboard, the venerable Tandy Model 100 that is now more than 25 years old – and mine still works! A good keyboard that is comfortable to use over a period of time is important to me – and is a game breaker when iot comes to buying one computer over another.

Another is battery life an the Samsung it is very good, although the battery is sadly non-removable. I am getting close to 7 hours and that alone is a reason to switch from the 2 ½ hour Ferrari. Even my HP 5103 netbook gets 4 hours and this is another area that can force a user to switch to a new computer – and even camps.

So is weight, and with no ‘proper’ hard drive, but instead a SSD (solid state) unit tucked away inside – albeit only 100GB. This makes it borderline for video editing use, although there is nothing to stop you plugging in an external USB drive (using the supplied USB 2 and 3 ports). Other ports include HDMI, headphone, microSD and a proprietary LAN port. Proprietary in this day and age is nuts, but of course Wi-Fi is also built in. The ports are tucked away under flaps on the left and hand right sides of the 900X, and being kind, could be better engineered in terms of access.

Finally, the engine room is an Intel Core i3-380um (1.33GHz) processor with 2GB of DDR3 memory.

So how does the Samsung 90X stack up for video use? Not bad. Nice screen, very fast and light weight are box tickers. Lower than average HDD space, no optical drive and the price (RRP $2498) are negatives. An extra tick is given for the “sexy gadget” appeal.

I’d buy one in a heartbeat for day to day computing, despite the price, but throwing serious editing in the mix makes me stop and think with my head, and regretfully say, no.

By David Hague

David is the owner and publisher of AusCam Online. He has a background in media dating back to 1979 when he first got involved with photojournalism in motorsport, and went from there into technology via a 5 year stint with Tandy Computers. Following that, he ran a software distribution company on the Gold Coast and was one of the first to recognise the potential of Microsoft Windows.

Moving back to WA, David wrote scripts for Computer Television for video training for the just released Windows and Office 95 among others, and was then lured to Sydney to create web sites for the newly commercial Internet in 1995, building hundreds of sites under contract to OzEmail including Coates Hire, Hertz Queensland, John Williamson, the NSW Board of Studies and many, many more.

He went back into full time journalism as the Managing Editor for Channel 7's 'Gadget Guy', Peter Blasina's publications VideoCamera and Pixelmag, before starting Australasian Camcorder magazine when these publications were shelved. He lives at Sydney's Avalon Beaches nearly on the ocean front with dog Budweiser and in his spare time is a nut for motor sport, road safety, fishing, science fiction - especially Dr Who - and technology.

David can be contacted via david@auscamonline.com