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Samsung launches Blu-ray toting R620 notebook

by Parm Mann on 29 June 2009, 12:14

Tags: R620, Samsung (005935.KS)

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qasun

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Samsung kick started its Blu-ray notebook series back in 2008 with the launch of its R610, and it's today expanding on that range with the introduction of the all-new R620.

The 16in system, pictured below, is thinner and lighter than its predecessor - measuring 381.4mm x 259mm x 31mm and weighing 2.75kg.

Inside, there's a choice if Intel Core 2 Duo processors, up to 4GB of DDR2 memory and up to 500GB of storage.

That's joined by a choice of ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 or HD 4330 graphics, and a Blu-ray optical drive - both of which should combine well with the notebook's 16in backlit display, available with a 1,366x768 HD resolution as standard, or upgradeable to full-HD 1,920x1,080.

The R620 ships with Microsoft's Windows Vista Home Premium operating system and a six-cell battery that claims up to 4.5 hours of operation from a single charge.

Samsung tells us the notebook will be shipping next month, and prices start at £699. Not a bad looking system, we reckon, but although Samsung's R620 offers beefier internal components, we're leaning toward the aesthetics of the Sony VAIO NW.

Samsung details the R620's complete specification as follows:

Processor

Intel® Core 2 Duo Processor

Operating System

Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium

Memory

Up to 4GB (DDR2/ 2GB x 2)*

LCD

16" Full HD (1920x1080) 16:9 Gloss backlit*
16” HD (1366x 768) 16:9 Gloss backlit*

HDD

160GB/ 250GB/ 320GB/ 500GB (5400rpm SATA)*

Optical Drive

Super Multi Dual Layer (SATA)*

Graphics Processor

ATI Mobility Radeon HD4650
ATI Mobility Radeon HD4330

Wireless LAN

- Intel 802.11a/b/g/n 1x2 (MIMO)*
- Bluetooth 2.1 + Enhanced Data Rate*

LAN

Gigabit LAN

I / O Ports

- 3-in-1 Card Reader (SD, SDHC, MMC)
- 4 x USB 2.0 (incl. 1 x chargeable USB, 1 x combo USB/eSATA)
- 1 x Headphone-out
- 1 x Mic in
- 1 x Integrated Mic
- 1 x VGA Port
- 1 x RJ45 (LAN)
- 1 x Modem*

Multimedia

1.3 Mega Pixel Web Camera

Battery Life

6 cell (4000/ 4400/ 5200 mAh) Lithium battery – Up to 4.5 Hours*

Speaker

3 W Stereo Speaker (1.5 Watts x 2)

Dimensions (W x D x H)

381.4 x 259.0 x 31.0 (Max. 37.3) mm

Weight

2.75kg (incl. 6 cell battery)

Warranty

1 Year Collect and Return*

* based on factory specification, Subject to change. Errors and omissions accepted. Battery life based on Battery Mark test scores that will vary based on configuration. Warranty service availability and response times may vary from country to country and may also be subject to registration requirements in the country of purchase. OS reveals lower HDD capacity than the specification as the difference of the calculation way and recovery partition.



HEXUS Forums :: 6 Comments

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Price compared to Sony? They both tempting!
The Sony should start from £650ish, I think ($880 with bluray drive). I wonder how much this one would rocket to if you specced it up with full HD display and the upgraded 4650 graphics…
Wasn't the Sony battery life also rubbish?
Seen some reviews of the Sony, sub 1hr battery life playing a blu-ray with decent screen brightness and volume up. Not seen any of the Samsung yet, but as said in preview they're quoting 4.5 hours against the Sony's quoted 1.75 so double it, meaning about 2 hours with a blu-ray, so a short film would probably be ok…
I see that etailers are starting to list the base model now (for the last week or so), but no sign of even pre-orders for anything with a 4650 in it :(

The Sony looks nice but that battery life is worse than many more powerful notebooks (and it's not exactly cheap either!)