With the R710, Samsung is targeting those who want a powerful entertainment laptop that doesn't break the bank. Although available for around just £770 online, the configuration reviewed here, the R710-AS09UK, not only boats a high-resolution screen, beefy processor and fast 3D graphics, but also a Blu-ray drive, so you can use it to watch movies in high definition.
Positives
Thanks to a red flash on the front lip that gradually fades into black as you move towards the middle of the machine, the R710 stands out from the crowd without looking overly gaudy.
The red flash also looks rather like a go-faster stripe. Perhaps that's what Samsung intended, because, under the bonnet, there are some seriously speedy components at work. The R710-AS09UK's muscular 2.13GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P7450 processor and 3GB of RAM helped it to score an impressive 5,117 in PCMark05, which means that it handles complex multitasking without breaking a sweat.
It's no slouch when it comes to 3D graphics either, with the Nvidia GeForce 9300M GS chip helping it to post a respectable score of 2,543 in 3DMark06. It should handle the latest games without too much bother, as long as you back off the graphics detail settings a tad.
With a 17-inch widescreen display, the R710 is fairly large, so it's probably more suited to sitting in a living room or study than jet-setting around the world. But it does boast decent battery life. In the intensive Battery Eater Classic test, it managed to keep running for 2 hours before it ran out of puff -- good going for such a powerful and feature-rich laptop.
Connectivity is also impressive, as there are both HDMI and D-Sub connectors for hooking it up to an external display, four USB ports and a seven-in-one card reader, which is handy for transferring photos and other files from cameras and smart phones. Wireless-n Wi-Fi is included and Bluetooth is also available.
Negatives
As with most desktop-replacement laptops, the R710 is quite large and, as it tips the scales at 3.1kg, you're going to think twice before deciding to lug it with you on a long journey. Also, despite all the extra real estate on offer under the keyboard, Samsung has kitted it out with a smaller than usual trackpad. The one found here is about two-thirds the size of those found on the latest similarly sized HP models, for example.
Despite boasting a Blu-ray drive for high-definition movie playback, the screen only has a 1,440x900-pixel resolution, so you can't watch movies in true 'Full HD' without linking the laptop up to a 1080p TV via its HDMI port. The screen also falls slightly short in the brightness stakes -- it's noticeably dimmer than the likes of the HP HDX X16.
Conclusion
Despite the display's lack of a 1080p resolution, the Samsung R710 is still a very impressive entertainment laptop. We love its fast performance, good 3D capabilities, Blu-ray drive and spacious keyboard. If you're looking for an entertainment powerhouse, it won't disappoint.
Edited by Charles Kloet
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Pj Feldsine 25 November 2012
Good: Huge Display, extra bay for 2nd hard drive, Sleek Design (compared to other 17 inch laptops), powerful, Can be upgraded to 16 GB ram (if you buy 64 bit Windows)
Bad: Overheating
Comment: When the computer works, it works well. Unfortunately overheating can be a problem (see below). They give you space to install a second hard drive (which I did) and you can also put two 8 GB sticks of ram in the machine for a total of 16 GB RAM if you have upgraded to Windows 7 - 64 bit (I use Ultimate, I think 64 bit Home edition only allows you to use 8 gb). Battery life is also decent as I typically get about 2 hours 50 minutes of casual internet/ms office use and about 2 hours 1 minutes if I am watching movies or playing games.
If you want to add more speed to the machine you may want to consider replacing the standard hard drive. For the most part my Windows Experience ratings are in the 7.X range, but the overall score is 5.4 due to the slower primary hard drive. Nevertheless, this has not been a problem for me. Some people complain about the size, but in my opinion this is about as sleek as a 17 inch laptop can get. Compare to similar Asus, Dell, or Alienware machines and you'll see that it doesn't seem anywhere near as thick although I can't say I've compared them directly side by side. I purchased a backpack that is made for 17 inch laptops and I can easily carry it and a laptop cooler on my back with room to spare for school books, etc.
For the most part I love this laptop, but unfortunately it has overheating issues. When the temp creeps up to about 96 degrees the first thing to go tends to be the network adapter, or the entire machine will crash or become unresponsive. This typically happens sometime between 30 minutes and 2 and a half hours after I start PvPing in World of Warcraft. After that, you just sort of have to put it to sleep, and find something else to do for a few minutes while it cools down. The most effective cooler I ever used was just setting the thing on top of a giant box fan - it NEVER overheated when I did this, but otherwise, I've discovered that some laptop coolers that are made for 17 inch machines are still unable to keep it from over heating. The best traditional laptop cooler I ever had was a no-name laptop stand I bought in Korea with a giant 140 mm fan in the center that allowed you to adjust the angle of the machine - it only overheated about once a week. The Cool Master U3 Note Pal that I purchased in the USA has proven woefully inadequate for this machine (but quite effective for my Alienware M13x) - the 30 min to 2.5 hour range I gave represents the temp while I am using this cooler.
Sam James Gunner 5 January 2012
Good: Big screen, Nice Graphics
Bad: CPU is underpowered, Penryn overheats easy, only 1 fan for GFX and CPU cards,
Comment: Plasticy, clunky, and hot. but has potential, sorry but I still prefer my mac :/
qwertyuiop 27 August 2011
Comment: jast for replay to previous comment from "rybeast"
extremaly good laptop, bougt it in end of 2008
In those years it has been used almost 24/7 . I`m using it for studies and my girfrend does, and those few times in month when we want to look a TV it also done on laptop bay DVB-T dongle.
First serious maintenance - reinstalling of windows only in 2011 august, becouse get some virus who made my files unnacesible and unfindable (but luckally get them back with program for recovering deletet files)
previous commentator says it overheats ? maybee , I do not now , I just use it and have no idea about overheating even there are are open tenths of webpages, photoshop and autocad .it`s simply works
greit - it`s big and have full size kaybord with numbers, bad - it`s big :) when needed to cary
there nothing is broked and even keybord is almoust as new, only if look at most used letters in keybord in low angle , can see that they looks polished , bet all letters are still in place
looked extremealy well and modern in 2008 and still looks good , nobody with new cheap acer, hp and so on, didnbelieves thats it almoust 3 year old laptop
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