Samsung R610-64G

Samsung R610-64G

This middle-of-the-pack all-purpose notebook hits the spot for everyday use, but disappoints with some display shortcomings. Yet another notebook trend is on the rise: Laptops that try to straddle the fine line between portable media player and desktop replacement. They sport comparatively large displays (and footprints) with lower price tags than one would assume for the privilege. Take Samsung's R610. This notebook shows promise--but also may be a source of mobile frustration. It's attractive enough on the outside, and the $899 asking price is appealing enough, but unfortunately the underwhelming quality of its 16-inch-diagonal screen makes the R610 a tough sell. The model makes a fair showing in its components, though it's nowhere near the top of the line: It has an Intel T7250 2.0GHz processor, 3GB of DDR2800 RAM, and a 220GB hard drive. The review unit also came equipped with an nVidia GeForce Go 9200GS 512MB video card. But does that discrete card translate into performance that'll keep you even remotely entertained?