With the X460-44P Samsung does more than just cram an ultrabright 14.1-inch display and an optical drive into a remarkably thin chassis. This machine exudes style like no other notebook in its class, which is not all that surprising given that Samsung has been producing envy-enducing laptops for several years overseas. The X460-44P ($1,699) backs up its good looks with solid graphics performance and above-average battery life, plus security features, such as a built-in fingerprint reader and TPM authentification. Some may prefer the even thinner and lighter 13-inch Samsung X360, which offers a solid state drive but no optical drive. But we prefer this more reasonably-priced status symbol because the X460-44P offers a bigger screen and discrete graphics while remaining easy to carry.
Design
Adding flair to a business notebook is a tricky proposition. Too much bling, and you’ll be laughed out of the conference room; don’t pay enough attention to style, and colleagues and clients will scoff at your run-of-the-mill machine. With the X460, Samsung strikes just the right balance between fashion and buttoned-down formality: A good three-quarters of the lid is adorned with a brushed aluminum panel done up in red, and the rest of the notebook gets the glossy black treatment. The design works, and it will certainly turn more heads than, say, the Dell Latitude E6400, HP EliteBook 6930p, or even the Sony VAIO Z series.
When it comes to size and weight, the X460-44P has few peers in its class. The system weighs 4.2 pounds and measures from 0.8 inches at its thinnest point to 1.3 inches at its thickest. The Fujitsu LifeBook S6520, for example, is lighter at 4 pounds, but it’s 1.2 inches thick all around, and its black and silver design (with white keyboard) looks bland by comparison. On the other hand, having a glossy chassis means you should expect smudging, and the X460-44P is no exception; you’ll want to polish this portable regularly. The X460-44P feels sturdy, though, thanks to its magnesium alloy frame.
Flip the X460-44P over and you’ll notice some interesting features. A battery life meter lights up when you press a small button, which tells you at a glance what percentage of juice you have left—without having to turn the system on. This is a nice touch, as are the clearly marked and easily accessible panels for upgrading the memory and hard drive.
