Samsung - Geek Squad Certified Refurbished 13.3" Touch-Screen Laptop - 4GB Memory - Bare Metal

The computer is great. I've had many computers in the past. This works great. The software, windows. 8.1 is not the best. You have to have a Microsoft email to login to use the computer. Unlike windows, you did not need the email account. Oh well, the computer rocks for everything I need.

I ordered the refurbished Samsung series 7 ultrabook online and received it about a week ago. I had read great reviews about the product online but was slightly apprehensive about the condition of this particular piece (Geek squad certified refurbished) but was pleasantly surprised at the condition of the laptop. Except for minor wear of the rubber pads and a slightly used feel( I'm pretty sure the laptop has changed hands more than once), it was otherwise in perfectly good condition. There were minor hiccups with the function keys and the keyboard back light but they were fixed once I updated the Samsung software suite. 114 GB of the 128 GB SSD was available. The trackpad isn't great and there is a slight response delay. The battery lasts anywhere between 4-5.5 hours depending on applications being used. Decent speakers. Touchscreen not really helpful, smudges the screen. Overall its a great laptop especially for the price!

It's classed as refurbished, but it seems like they just have a surplus that they need to sell. I couldn't find any traces of use at all. Refurbs are a roll of the dice each time, and this instance was excellent in my opinion. Here's the thing. Geek squad sets you up with Windows 8 and the program to update your drivers from Samsung, which is... an interesting decision. I don't really see why they leave you there. When you get it, it has almost no driver software, which means you can't control your backlit keyboard, screen brightness, or do fancy stuff with your trackpad like 2 finger scroll. This can all be fixed though! And at no monetary cost. Just some clicking and patience. Here's what you should do. First, when it prompts you, go ahead and make your Microsoft account, which you will need to update to 8.1. Then, go bottom right and hit Settings->Change PC Settings -> Windows Update. After you've updated, go to the Windows Store and get your free Windows 8.1. Once you have 8.1, update your Samsung drivers using the program on the desktop, or go to http://www.samsung.com/us/support/owners/product/NP740U3E-K01UB and download them there. Do you really need 8.1? Well 8 isn't the worst, but 8.1 brings back a lot of the classic Windows 7/XP feel. That being said, I'm really impressed with the aluminum case, the screen resolution, and the battery. The keyboard backlight is very convenient for students. It has a high-end 3rd generation i5 processor that is competitive with 4th generation i5 you will find in laptops under $850. Its fast enough to play League of Legends at a good quality, and turns on in ~10 seconds! I cannot overly stress the importance of a 1920 by 1080 monitor. It just looks too good to compromise. You can see and read two Word pages at once. It really is just the most important trait of this laptop. That and the SSD. My 4 year old Samsung Q430 laptop is still powering along, and I assume that this will similarly last a while. Compare it with a Macbook Air, which is very very similar, but usually $1000 and has a lower screen resolution.