Samsung R480 Laptop Review

Mobile computers based on Core i3/i5/i7 processors finally appeared in
the mass-selling, and today we met one of the most interesting
representatives of this generation of notebooks - Samsung R480, which
combines high performance and good portability.

Specifications of Samsung R480

• Operating
  system: Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium (32 bit).
• Processor: Intel Сore i5 540M, 2.53 GHz.
• Chipset: Intel HM55 Express.
• Memory:
  • System Memory: 4GB (DDR3/2GB x 2).
  • Memory Slot: 2 x SODIMM.
• Storage:
  • Hard Disk: 320GB (5,400rpm S-ATA)
  • Optical Drive: Super Multi Dual Layer (S-ATA)
• Display: 35.56cm (14.0 inch) LED HD (1366 x 768) 16:9 Gloss
• Graphic Card: nVIDIA GeForce 310M 512MB gDDR3
• Weight: 2.4 kg with battery.
• Dimension (W x D x H mm): 343.9 x 239.0 x 30.5 ~ 37.9

• Battery: 6-cell, 4400 mAh (48 Wh).
• Communications:
  • Wired Ethernet LAN: Gigabit LAN
  • Wireless LAN: 802.11bg/n
  • Bluetooth: Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• Connectors: HDMI, 4 x USB 2.0, eSATA, ExpressCard/34, VGA, Ethernet,
  audio, microphone, SD/MS/xD.
• Webcam: 1.3 MP.
  Software installed:
  • Easy Battery Manager
  • Easy Display Manger
  • Easy Network Manager
  • Easy SpeedUp Manager
  • Microsoft Office Professional 2007 (free 60-day trial)
  • Samsung Magic Doctor
  • Samsung Support Center
  • Samsung Update Plus
• Security:
  • Virus: McAfee Virus Scan
  • Other:
    • BIOS Boot Up Password
    • HDD Password
  • Lock: Kensington Lock Port
  • Recovery: Samsung Recovery Solution IV

Appearance, especially the construction

Traditionally for Samsung notebook, R480 almost completely covered with
red-black color paint which is pronounced as "striped" pattern. On
photographs, the laptop looks perfect but in the real life this beauty
instantly loses its glitter and starts to look pretty shabby.

This laptop is not very thin and not very easy, but still it is 14
inches and not 15. The R480 housing shuts down very tightly. In our test
there were some problems caused, obviously, by improper disassembly and
subsequent assembly. The lid is very tight and well protects the
machine from outside pressure.

Ports are quiet well. From left - connector for the power supply, socket
for LAN connection, VGA, HDMI, three USB (one of which is combined with
eSATA) and audio.

From right - one more USB, ExpressCard/34, and optical drive. In front
there is nothing except the card reader.

The bottom of the notebook is made of very strange to look and feel
"fat" plastic. A single hatch gives access to all the components to be
replaced.

Display

The screen of the notebook is glossy; its resolution is 1366x768 pixels.
Quality is rather mediocre, the main drawbacks - the high level of
black and visible illumination along the bottom edge. Maximum brightness
is very high and thus it allows you to work on the street. Twinkling
backlight is unnoticed.

The keyboard and touchpad

The notebook has excellent "island" type keyboard and there is
absolutely no complaints about the layout: it is precisely this which
should be. From a mechanical point of view, it gives the feeling as if
you are pressing the real elastic. An additional advantage of island
keyboards is that the mechanism of the keys is almost completely
protected from falling debris.

The touchpad is made flush with the stand under the wrist, tactile; it
highlighted the rows of small