You’d be forgiven when you’ve had some bother combing by Samsung’s laptop computer product web page. Truthfully, I’ve been trying many of the afternoon, and I couldn’t actually inform you the distinctions between the assorted strains. Add to that the assorted subcategories and SKUs, and the entire thing is a bit a maddening. 

However whereas the corporate’s not doing an important job mitigating model confusion, it’s delivering some stable gadgets — and the Notebook 9 Pen is not any exception. Announced at CES in January, the brand new system doesn’t signify a lot of a drastic departure from its predecessor. No shock there, actually, given the truth that the corporate didn’t even wait a full yr for a refresh.

The most important change right here is correct there within the identify, bringing Samsung’s beloved stylus to the road, to make the most of Home windows 10’s pen capabilities and bringing the Be aware line’s acquainted Air Command overlay to the desktop. It’s not a necessary addition by any means, however it provides the corporate an opportunity to play within the “creators” class that Microsoft’s been pushing in a significant manner with its desktop working system.

Construct-wise, the Pocket book 9 appears so much like its predecessors — and, for that matter, different Samsung gadgets, just like the Chromebook Professional. The machine’s coated in an alloy the corporate’s taken to calling “Metallic12,” which feels like a late-’90s rap-rock band, however is definitely a type of magnesium-aluminum combo that’s lighter than aluminum alone.

After all, you run into the identical problem that you just get with loads of these supplies: a form of plasticy really feel, regardless of its metallic make-up. That’s in all probability a small worth to pay for many customers, given the load that it shaves off the physique. The factor is deceptively mild, weighing in at round 2.2 kilos. 

It’s not almost as rugged as the corporate claims, although. The laptop computer traveled completely between my backpack and work/dwelling desks and one way or the other managed to get scratched and barely dinged within the course of.

Two massive hinges on the again give the laptop computer your customary 360 convertible configuration. That’s handiest once you’ve obtained the system arrange in tent mode, stashing the keyboard away when it’s time to observe a film or draw with the S-Pen. The draw back of convertible over removable ought to be acquainted to anybody who’s ever used one among this stuff: when flipped round all the way in which, the keyboard turns into the again of the pill. Considered one of today some intelligent designer goes to crack that code.

The port choice’s a little bit of an odd one — however it nonetheless beats the 2 lonely USB-Cs you get on the MacBook and PixelBook. You get HDMI, one USB-C and a headphone jack on one aspect and a full-size USB and microSD slot on the opposite. Curiously the system additionally has a proprietary charging port, regardless of with the ability to be charged through USB-C. Perhaps it’s simply me, however I’d have gone with two of the latter.

The S-Pen slot is positioned up entrance, slightly below the palm relaxation. Good on Samsung for locating a spot to include that straight into the system. It’s the one manner to make sure that you don’t wind up dropping the factor each different day. This was achieved, partially, by incorporating what’s basically the identical S-Pen you’ll discover within the Be aware.

It’s small and passive (no batteries) and fires up the identical software program overlay you get on the Be aware once you pull it out. The system is good and responsive, as properly — I didn’t detect a lot noticeable lag when utilizing it to attract.

It lacks the heft of bigger pens from corporations like Microsoft and Apple, and as such isn’t as suited to lengthy drawing periods. Additionally, don’t by chance insert it the other way up, which is a factor I undoubtedly didn’t do, as a result of, hypothetically talking, it could be actually, actually laborious to get it again out once more. The keyboard additionally loses some factors for being squishy. It beats a typing on a keyboard case, however not that a lot. 

‘The pen is included with the pocket book, which at $1,400 as configured, just isn’t precisely low-cost. That’s $100 greater than the most cost effective MacBook, with comparable specs, together with 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. The decision’s additionally a step down at 1920 x 1080 on the 13-inch, versus 2304 x 1440 on the MacBook’s 12-inch.

The said battery life is round 9 hours — middling, however it ought to get you thru a full day’s use, unplugged. You may also hold an exterior battery pack helpful for charging through USB for these occasions it’s essential spend extra time away from an outlet.

It’s not a foul little pocket book. There’s nothing actually distinctive right here, however it ought to show a pleasant little journey companion. There’s not a ton in the way in which of firepower beneath the hood, so regardless of the pen performance, this isn’t the “artistic skilled” machine Microsoft retains promising with its Floor gadgets, however those that respect the S-Pen on the cellular system will possible respect it right here, as properly.

The system hits retail on February 18, together with the usual Pocket book 9 and low-cost Pocket book 7 Spin.