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The Series 5 UltraTouch is a solid mid-range Windows 8 Ultrabook, with decent battery life, a responsive touchscreen and a tasteful design. If you wanted, though, you could get the same specs for less money.

Samsung's midprice Series 5 UltraTouch looks and feels like a more expensive machine, but keeps it simple by skipping the complex hybrid mechanics of so many new Windows 8 systems.

The Samsung Series 5 UltraTouch NP540U3C-A01UB is a solid touch-enabled ultrabook with decent performance and battery life.

The Samsung Series 5 UltraTouch is a solid-performing Windows 8 Ultrabook with good sound, but beware of those sharp edges.

With the Samsung Series 5 UltraTouch you’ve got an Ultrabook that’s ready to be your best buddy in college, your friendly office companion, or your coffee shop cohort.

The Samsung Series 5 Ultra Touch is an attractive laptop, with design and connectivity suited to life anywhere from the office, to the university library, to the home. However, its weight detracts from its portability.

Balancing portability with power, the 13.3in Samsung NP540U3C-A01UK is a solid ultrabook that’s flexible enough for home use or on the road. Suitable for media playback and productivity, the price isn’t too bad either.

The Series 5 UltraTouch feels like it could be a world-class laptop a lot of the time, but the rough edges mean that it ultimately falls short. It's still a solid option for home use, but it's not the one Ultrabook to rule them all that it could've been.

For its price and performance, this would be a nice first step, but certainly won’t impress anyone who already owns an touchscreen ultrabook.

And, in this early stage, the screen wobbles under the pressure of even light taps. These quibbles aside, both screens were exceedingly responsive to finger input. Just have a cheese cloth nearby to keep it looking pristine.