Customer Ratings & Reviews

Being on a retirement income, I jumped on this special offer, as my old laptop is losing keys, drives, about to give up the ghost. But on this Samsung, the dropped wireless connections, and then constant computer restarts when trying to repair the connection, has made me NUTS!! So, after several unsatisfactory conversations with Geek Squad about their "certification" and testing (LOL), I started to dig until I could get an answer. About 15 hours of digging, router testing, downloading the Samsung SW Updates (must do!), updating router firmware, etc., NONE of which a BB customer with a "certified" machine should have to do on her own, I think I found the answer CONNECTIVITY: The issue is NOT with the router, although things can be tweaked to improve connectivity, such as disabling the 2.4 band, and setting the channel width to 40 at all times. The issue is the the wireless adapter itself, the Intel Centrino Advanced N-6235. The Intel forums have great info on the device, there are a slew of solutions, all of which I implemented, and so far, so good. However, GeekSquad should have known about this issue, as it's common throughout all makes of laptops and many models within the same make. Otherwise, I like the machine itself, Win 8 is a pain in the neck, but can be tweaked to function more like Win 7. And as long as it stays connected, I am happy. I just think that GS should have done better "due diligence" on this model, and been more cooperative in honoring its guarantee. AND, in the delivery box, there was NO literature about the refurb certification or warranty, what was covered, nothing but the laptop and cord. NOTHING. Really unprofessional. I am not sure I will buy another refurb item from BB again because of the poor service and sloppy work on the certification. I hope this helps those of you with connection issues.

This laptop looked great and turned out to be too good to be true. The build quality is nice but that's where it ends. I received it just a couple days ago and the battery still hasn't charged to 100%. After a few minutes it loses the wireless network and the network adapter disables itself. After you "enable" the wireless adapter it finds the networks again and then disables itself again. I tried to do a system restore to factory and it said that files were missing and it couldn't complete the task. It's useless and after a couple days it's going back.

It's the worst laptop, I have ever come across in my life. Both of the units I got were bad, had the same problems, more or less. This was my first experience with a refurbished laptop. It sounded like a good deal. I don't understand, how Geek Squad certifies these laptops when they don't even make an effort to make them functional. WiFi does not work, even after I installed new drivers from Intel. It drops every few minutes. Nor do, bluetooth and WiDi (wireless display) don't work reliably. Sometimes, it would work after disabling and renabling the wifi adapter and sometimes in would give the infamous blue screen of death with an error message "0xdeaddead"-- appropriate for the unit After the new drivers, problems persist although, I have not seen the blue screen of death since then. Many function keys are disabled, including the one for WiFi, which would put the laptop in airplane mode. The power adapter was bad in the first unit and the right arrow key was broken. Recovery partition is missing. I found this out when I tried to make a recovery disc What good is a laptop without a recovery partition? Someday when you need to install the OS again, you would get a rude surprise that you cannot recover. Then you have to buy recovery discs from Samsung, if it would sell them to you or buy a full license. For those of you who decide to keep it, make sure you write down the windows product ID. You will need it to activate Windows if you reinstall Windows on it---if you can get recovery media. This laptop has so many problems that it's hard to understand how it can be sold! Geek Squad has done nothing to refurbish these units. This is a big negative for Bestbuy and Geek Squad. Even 1 star is too much for this.

I bought 2 of these thinking I was getting a great deal on a really nice laptop(s). I own a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0" tablet and it is awesome, works great, nice build, function, display, etc... So I thought Samsung would make a good laptop. The first laptop seemed to work perfectly, I was impressed, so I ordered another... After playing with the first one a couple days, I decided to restore to factory image so I could start with a NEW setup to complete app installs, etc. To my surprise, that is when I discovered there was NO RECOVERY PARTITION on this computer! Either Samsung or Geek Squad DELETED the factory recovery image/partition. OR, for some reason, GEEK SQUAD did not verify it was there! This is refurbished, but it was Geek Squad Certified (what ever that means). When I checked my 2nd laptop (came a few days later), it TOO had the same problem! I have NEVER owned a computer that does NOT allow you to restore factory image! Good luck to folks that bought this laptop. Hopefully it works great and you never get a virus or need to factory restore, etc. I RETURNED BOTH TO BESTBUY.

Well I seen a lot of people whose laptop arrived dead or something so i thought you would want to hear from somebody with a working one. First off after going to Samsungs website for the laptop there is a link for upgrading everything that is bad, ie new drivers for the touch pad, wireless card, new settings menu, and all that good stuff. The new driver adds all the cool features to the touch pad that don't come ready out of the box, two finger scrolling, three finger flick, and side scrolls(not sure yet what those do).Display is pretty awesome for the size could've been a 1080 screen but that's just knit picking. Keyboard feels great and responsive, but is not back lit and no 10 key, things i can live without. As far as ram and processor power go, oh man its so delightful to have that ram just if you need it at the i5 is a beauty. The speakers a very good for the size once you update you get an array of options for the speakers and screen. Battery and heat goes hand and hand, battery lasts quite a while with just regular uses and only a little to moderate heat. Overall i'm happy with my purchase, all ports work, screen is beautiful, power is abundant for normal tasks.

I too was experiencing dropouts in connectivity followed by blue screens of death when trying to repair the connection. I was considering returning the laptop however I decided to do a little research and found that I was not the only one with these issues, there's even a thread on intel's forum that started last year with various users complaining about the centrino n-6235 adapter. To my surprise, Intel has kept quiet and has not provided a reliable solution. What works for some user may not work for another. I've been using linux for a while now and decided to install it on this laptop (using another hard drive) just to see if the wifi adapter behaved the same way and sure enough after some time browsing the web, the dropout occurred. So I have come to terms with the idea that the wifi adapter on this laptop is just unreliable and had decided to order another one(atheros) online. For those that are concerned that there isn't a recovery partion on this laptop, be aware that you can obtain the win8 serial that has been assigned to your laptop by using third party applications. Also, I was reading that the serial is actually embedded in the BIOS so you can reinstall win8 easily (images are available from MS) just make sure you install the same version that you have on your laptop (Pro, enterprise, etc) Hope this helps! It's a great laptop for the price, you just need to put in a litte extra work.

I bought two of these. One didn't work out of the box. It was the wifi issue that is so well documented. I did the research, tried all the updates and settings that some had luck with, but couldn't get it working. I took it back and ordered another one. They said it would take a week to get the new one. Within a couple of days the other one started having the same issue. I decided I am done based on their performance and all the reviews posted here and elsewhere. I returned the second, and the third as soon as it arrived. It does trouble me that the Geek Squad certification process does not appear to involve checking to see if it works, checking for known issues with this model, or fixing anything.

The product itself seems to be great. It looked brand new, nice screen with nice specs. If you receive one that's not DOA, then consider it a great value! + Luckily the unit I received didn't have the wifi drop issues like everyone else. - I received the laptop with a dead battery. It doesn't charge at all. I'm a bit disappointed with Geek Squad's quality and control with this, as it has their stamp of approval on it. This should have been a simple no brainer. I could deal with the "OEM" Windows 8 install, and add everything else myself (the FN buttons weren't working, audio utility, etc.) but a laptop with a completely dead battery (0% available, not charging) makes the laptop as good as paper weight.

After purchasing and waiting for delivery, i had read so many bad reviews about this laptop becuase of wireless connectivity issues. Everything was fine UNTIL I updated the bluetooth and wireless centrino adapter from the Samsung Website. I realized that the connection kept dropping so I rolled back the wireless driver and everything now seems fine.. Lightning fast and am not having any internet drop issues what so ever!..... let's see if these continues I am trying to get the hang of Windows 8 and would much prefer Windows 7 . In all, this is a nice laptop

I read all of the reviews on this machine...I thought I knew better and decided to test it out. All of the reviews are basically true. This is a great machine for the price and Samsung has a sleek, nice feel, but if the laptop's wireless card doesn't work it's basically worthless. I don't understand how the Geek Squad thinks this laptop qualifies for re-sell.

bought on on best buy daily deals for $350 thought it was great deal , there was no reviews on this one at the time when I got it I was pleased with the look of the laptop but it ended there, when I connect to my WiFi it work for 1/2 hr or so then will drop it have to ( forget the connection) and connect again and kept doing that, looked on Samsung website they have other people posting comment about same issue with no response from Samsung, also when I tried to restore the unit it kept telling me missing files and will not restore, I took mine back

It's refurbished but since the Geek Squad checked it all out, I thought it was a steal at $350. First it can't find any available wifi networks. It's sitting next to my MacBook which is on my network. I fiddle around, research the problem, get in to see wifi networks. Within 30 minutes it decides there is no network. And this thing checked out? This cycle repeats 3 times. I try to use the system refresh function and it says sorry, files are missing. I just got it and files are missing. Now, it doesn't turn on at all. Black. Nothing. Total waste of time. If it sounds too good to be true... I will say for the 10 minutes it worked, it was great. The camera is awful but the system is fast.

the wifi card is worthless in this machine, so the specs don't mean anything. I have taken it into Geek Squad twice, and now I will be returning it.

I had been skeptical about purchasing this because on many reviews, it was not connecting to a wireless network. But for the price I decided to risk it, and I was pleasantly surprised. It works great! No issues with not being able to connect to my wireless network or wireless printer, it has a beautiful finish and it doesn't even look like a refurbished unit. Every port on it works correctly. I'm really happy with it and I got it at a steal! The only cons I have is just the screen resolution, but that's usually the typical for 14'' laptops. Also, it isn't energy efficient so it does warm up a bit after using it for a couple of hours. Windows 8 did come installed with it but I'm loving it. I think it's fun and easy to use once you get used to it. Overall, I love this product and I am very happy with it.

I received it just a couple days ago and the battery doesn't charge. a laptop with a completely dead battery

Overall a very nice machine!! People were complaining about WIFI connectivity issues, but I have not had any whatsoever! It performs just like the more expensive series 9 laptops - just no backlit keyboard and a less sharp display. It does have a cd drive though!! Its so thin yet has all the ports you could possibly need. This is a must buy! BTW the speaker is right under the screen and directed right at your face!

I've bought it for my Dad as a gift, but it has a line on it's display. They did not repair the problem and sold it for luck as I, because I can't take it back in store, I'm in vacation in my Dad's homeland. We have Samsung's Repair Center here, but it will cost me approximately 100$. I'll not buy Geek Squad Refurbished products anymore.

I'd like it but need exchanged this PC because when I put USB 3.0 Flash Drive into 1 USB 3.0 port, PC stuck, not working. This PC is refurbished. I think Technician don't check carefully about USB 3.0 ports (it have 2 USB 3.0 ports and 1 USB 2.0 port). Please help me to exchanged PC now. I bought this PC from www.bestbuy.com Thank you

Of course this is a refurbished computer so the issue with the wi-fi dropping is not a problem. pretty easy to figure out. I like the ability to use apps or desktop.