Thoughts
When considering whether or not to buy the Katana 3D-9, there are lots of things to weigh up, but we're assuming that you wouldn't be considering it unless you were after a laptop that could be classed as a genuine replacement for a desktop PC.In terms of performance, the Katana clearly is comparable to a desktop PC. You sacrifice some speed but for DCC this is probably the fastest portable money can buy right now, largely in part because of its high-spec NVIDIA Quadro FX Go1400 graphics accelerator.
Other firms will be close behind, and using the same chassis, too, since it's one of the few available that can take two hard disk drives and two optical drives. But simply put, SavRow got there first.
That ability, of course, is another factor that re-inforces the Katana's credentials as a desktop replacement. Dual hard drives are a must for video editing, for instance, and also in any other situation where data and system need to be kept separate. Increasingly, too, the expectation is that there will be two DVD drives - one for reading and one for burning.
Now that FireWire and USB 2.0 are flourishing, it's easy to buy and attach external drives or burners but they add to the weight (and the volume) of what's got to be carried about and they increase the system's footprint and the inconvenience, what with their external power supplies and additional cabling.
While I'm dwelling on the negatives, let's not forget the problem with scratching of the lid. I reckon a custom paint job could solve that one and, in the right colour, make the machine very sexy. But it's an extra cost that you need to factor in.
The SavRow's glass screen cover could have been less reflective and should have been. And more attention should have been paid to how the user's hands and arms rest while working at the keyboard, and on the quality of the track pad's ancillaries. Also, the amount of heat that the user has to put up with while working at the keyboard really does verge on the unacceptable.
Clearly, the SavRow Katana 3D-9 Portable Workstation isn't perfect. But computers, especially portables, are a compromise. If you need or want what this desktop replacement offers, you'll buy it, warts and all, and either put up with its shortcomings or, do the sensible thing and work around them.
That means ensuring your workspace lighting avoids screen reflections, so you can take proper advantage of the Quadro-driven high-quality, high-res, widescreen display. It also means using a separate keyboard and mouse.
Paul Dutton's Thoughts
HEXUS were exclusively in a position to publish a version of this article more than a week ago.However we have, collectively, very carefully - and at notably significant effort and financial expense - considered whether we were approaching this product in the context in which it's targeted.
Our initial thoughts pretty much led to a conclusion that it's simply a monster of a machine and calling it, and similar such products, 'notebooks' is really stretching that description.
Physically, it reminds me of a 386X Olivetti 'laptop' I owned in another lifetime; this was close to the size and weight of a portable typewriter.
And it was on this basis that initially we subjectivity concluded that it was simply rather impractical to use - as it's been optimistically described by the manufacturer - as a 'notebook' computer and probably not something we'd want to own.
However part of the HEXUS mission is to truthfully inform and expertly help prospective purchasers of equipment that enables them to do what they want.
We realised that many of our criticisms were something that were probably reasonable trade-off for someone who was happy to lug about a portable workstation to get a specific job done.
In closing, we feel that the SavRow Katana 3D-9 achieves its manufacturer's objectives in providing a powerful, portable, desktop replacement at a reasonable price. Almost...
Its NVIDIA Quadro FX Go1400 graphics is a powerful best-in-class solution for those who want and need workstation class 3D graphics on the move. SavRow seem to understand the target market, and have provided the basis of such a solution, but have they gone far enough?
For the markets it targeted at we think the SavRow Katana 3D-9 should have been supplied with 2GB of RAM and two, ideally faster, hard disk drives, perhaps installed in a RAID configuration (which is supported by its mainboard), and it should certainly have been supplied with a high quality optical mouse, and ideally also one of its lovely keyboards.
Perhaps SavRow have become too conditioned to pandering to the flawed expectations of some of the IT magazines in print, where products are ineptly criticised because they come at a price which allows for the correct specification, and a margin that will permits the manufacturer to provide a high-level of after sales service. Here at HEXUS we simply and truthfully report and judge each product on its own merit.
Despite the caveats we've already highlighted, as an upgradeable building block the SavRow Katana 3D-9 hits the mark and can be recommended, but at the specification we've reviewed, it's not the perfect desktop replacement for 3D graphics professionals.
If you need it, buy it, but at the very least our advice is to specify it with more RAM, more disk storage and a good pointing device.
HEXUS Awards
SavRow Katana 3D-9 Portable Workstation
HEXUS Right2Reply
Ali Raissi-Dehkordy. Managing Director, SavRow, had this to say about the review:
Dear Paul,
I would like to thank you and the HEXUS team for the review of the SavRow K3D-9 desktop replacement workstation. We at SavRow have always been committed to providing cutting-edge solutions, incorporating the very latest technology available to our clients, and we are proud to have been the very first to market, globally, with the Quadro Go 1400 based professional notebook.
I believe that the K3D-9 is unique in providing desktop workstation class performance in a portable notebook. As you have noted, it does pack a huge amount of performance and I was proud to see the how it stacked up against a true desktop workstation built by none other than your own technical team. The SavRow K3D-9 provides the professional user with a moveable office environment, cramming a UPS, high resolution screen, high end graphics and CPU processing power (now also shipping in 64-bit capable 6xx series Intel) and significant storage capabilities. I believe that this system provides the first viable alternative to a desktop setup that would invariably weigh up to ten times as much as the SavRow K3D-9. It is not the case of having a laptop and a desktop, this solution provides a truely movable office environment without the compromises that would be made on available competing solutions.
I would like to explain the spec provided in the review. While the system configurations on the K3D-9 offer up to Pentium 4 3.8GHz and up to 200GB of storage with 2 x 8-speed DVD-DUAL +/- RW optical drives, we were keen to provide a world exclusive system to HEXUS on an expedited basis, such was our excitement about the K3D-9 and its excellent – workstation class performance.
SavRow has always committed itself to providing our clients with truly bespoke solutions, and as such we have always embraced the widest range of solutions to provide a better, tailored fit to requirements. While the system reviewed provided an excellent illustration of the power of the SavRow K3D-9 platform, it did as you suggested, fall short in terms of the true capabilities of the system. The WUXGA screen for example, while better suited to a workstation environment also lacks the high-gloss finish of the WSXGA system we shipped to you. While providing great clarity and image quality the reflective glass surface, is at the end of the day a reflective glass surface. As such I would like to illustrate to your readers, the customisable nature of our laptops and propose the following, high-end solution as an alternative for professionals requiring workstation performance in a portable system.
Katana K3D-9 | Professional Setup
Pentium 4 3.6GHz 660-Series (64-bit Upgrade Path)
2GB Corsair PC4200 (5x512MB)
2 x 60GB (7200RPM 8MB) HDD (available as RAID 1/0 or Single Drives)
8x DVD-DUAL +/- RW
WUXGA (1920x1200) Non-Gloss High Resolution Screen
Quadro Go 1400 FX (256MB DDR3) Workstation Graphics Card
Microsoft Windows XP Pro (enhanced 64-bit upgrade path)
2 years Collect & Return Warranty
USB Corded Mouse
Priced at only £2495.00 ex. VAT, this configuration of the SavRow Katana 3D-9 can be acquired at the SavRow WebShop here
With regards to the brushed aluminium back panel, this is the first instance in which I have heard about the sensitivity to scratching, as you note, a number of our clients do opt for painted solutions, however we have yet to see any scratching issues on unpainted K3D-9s. Nevertheless, we do constantly strive to improve our offering and it is through feedback and editorial that we have improved our products and services over the years – you have my assurance that we will look towards solutions to mitigate this matter.
With regards to painted solutions, I would also like to draw your attention to our corporate branding solutions that are most appropriate to our K3D-9 clients. Offering the ability to match corporate branding from embedded logos under the paint lacquer through to Pantone® matched fully painted systems, corporate branding has proven to be an attractive means of marketing for our clients, while also providing an element of protection against theft – a fully branded painted laptop is somewhat more difficult to sell on than one protected by simple means of asset tags.
I apologise for the length of my right to reply, but I thank you for your hard work and diligence in the review of the SavRow K3D-9 workstation and for the feedback that continues to help us craft this unique offering for our most important stakeholder, our clients.
Warm wishes and kind regards,
Ali Raissi-Dehkordy
Managing Director, SavRow.
