The 11.6 inch netbook/notebook category is packed with top computers and today we’re going to talk about the most successful and accomplished models to populate the niche until now.
Of course, I’m referring to the MackBook Air and the Samsung Series 9, both built with the same “commandments” in mind: portability, ultra light weight, performance and lots and lots of style.
Even so, the two couldn’t be more different and are tailored and aimed at slightly different audiences. But if you’re still undecided for which of the two to go, we’ll try to give you an unbiased and complete look at both, pinpointing what makes them a little similar and what sets them completely apart.
First off, let’s take a look at each notebook and zap through their most important features.
Samsung 9 Series, the thinnest notebook around
The Samsung Series 9 is the thinnest laptop that Samsung ever introduced. It comes in both 13.3 and 11.6 inch standards and the first impression is staggering. It’s made from a metal called duralium, an alloy used for building the fuselage of airplanes. It looks a little rugged, but it’s overall smooth and nice to hold, not to say it’s extremely tough and very light.
The notebook has a 1366 x 768 resolution, LED screen, which is good for playing HD videos, as well as a chiclet keyboard and a large touch pad, that has support for multi-touch gestures.
Unlike the larger, 13.3 inch version, the 11.6 incher comes with a Core i3 processor, while the bigger variant has the Core i5. Still, you get decent performance for multitasking and some gaming, also thanks to the integrated GMA HD graphics. The system has a 64 GB SSD, which is not much at all, but if you’re into cloud computing and keep lots of data online it should be enough.
There’s also 2 GB of RAM out of the box, and the maximum you can add is 4 GB. Although small, the notebook has its share of ports, including a USB 3.0 drive, a card reader and audio jack, while connectivity modules include WiFi N, blue tooth 3.0 and 4G.
The duralium finish is both ultra resistant and very classy
The OS is, as expected, Windows 7 Home Premium, 64 bit, and you get also a bunch of additional software (some on the bloatware side), including some trial antivirus, Samsung Update Plus, Screen Manager and some encryption for the HDD. The battery (where were they able to fit that in a 0.6 inch machine?) should run for about 7 hours on a single charge. The base model costs around $1200, which is 400 bucks less than the cheapest 13.3 inch version, but it’s still pricey, if you ask me.
Sure, we’re talking about the best 11.6 machines out there and they always tend to cost more, considering the features and the experience they bring. Also, the notebook is kind of fresh of the bus, as Samsung released the series only a couple of months ago, so you have to pay extra for the rush of getting your hands on a new and exciting machine.
MacBook Air, Apple’s offering for ultra portability enthusiasts
Moving on to the MacBook Air, you should know that this model also comes in a 13.3 inch version. The larger version has more ports and even an SD card reader, while the 11.6 inch version only has a couple of USB 2.0 ports. But it’s maybe a price people are willing to pay in order to have the first 11.6 inch mini laptop from Apple. The MBA is a little thicker than the Series 9 (0.7 inch) and has the same chassis and finish that you would expect from any Apple portable computer. That means you get a fantastic keyboard and touch pad, bot comfy and big enough, even if there’s way less space than on a 13.3 or 15 inch machine.
The MBA is still powered by a rather old fashioned Core2Duo ULV processor, but there’s word that the series will soon get a hardware update and probably will go for Core i3 or Core i5 processors. The MBA comes with a Nvidia 320M graphics card, which is a more pertinent graphics controller than something on board and will be better when it comes to games and different fancy apps. The system comes with 2 GB of RAM, but it shouldn’t be a problem, as Apple computers have better memory management than Windows running machines.
A Mac computer to hold with two fingers
The OS X and the Apple experience will probably convince fans and beginners to go for the MBA instead of any other machine. It’s maybe the notebook’s main selling point, as you get that user centric operating system and apps, as well as access to the entire Apple ecosystem, including iTunes. As for pricing, the base, 64 GB SSD MBA model goes for a little under $1.000, while for the version with double the storage space you’ll have pay almost 1200 bucks. Yes, it’s expensive, but name one piece of fantastic plastic with an apple on it that isn’t.
Spot the differences
In the end, it mainly comes down to loving or hating an OS
At a quick look, the Samsung 9 Series seems to have the better hardware, especially the best processor from the two. That’s also because it’s a newer model and the MBA will soon get an update, as we said, and will be able to compete with Samsung’s 11.6 laptop. Also, Samsung’s laptop is a little lighter, maybe tougher thanks to the special material used and, at least on paper, it can run longer on a single charge (7 hours vs MBA’ 5)
This is also reflected in the pricing, as the Series 9 base model is 200 bucks more expensive than the cheapest MBA. What the MBA has to offer is better graphics and the Apple experience, which makes many people forget about the hefty price tag and lower spec sheet.
Final thoughts
This was it, a clash of some really thin titans. It’s difficult to say which one is better and in the end it all comes down to a matter of taste and for what you need a computer. If you intend to make this your working computer, the 9 Series is maybe a better choice, as it has better hardware and runs on Windows.
But if you’re just looking for a fantastic gadget to keep you warm and cozy, you should probably break the piggy bank for the MBA.
Update: Apple released a new series of MacBook Air mini laptops, which feature Core i5 and Core i7 processors, with the 11.6 inch base model to cost $1000. As of now, MBA and Samsung Series 9 have the same Sandy Bridge hardware.
