"Reasonably well-designed, robust and powerful - that’s the Samsung RV511"
John Hillman
Easy to use, built to resist knocks and bumps and equipped with a simple but effective data recovery system, the Samsung RV511 Laptop is a solid computing option for home and mobile users.
It also comes with an impressive 15.6” screen, and the High-Def LED display makes for razor-sharp, powerful images – whether you’re watching a video online or looking through your holiday snaps.
What we like most
As befits a laptop that prides itself on being reliable and safe, the Samsung RV511 is wrapped in a durable, scratch-proof casing that also protects the computer against all the bumps and knocks you incur when using it on the go or at home. The casing is designed so as not to get stained by greasy fingerprints – so lovers of finger food can relax a bit. We also like the stylish black stripe across the silver lid and the glossy black keyboard.
Using the in-built Samsung Recovery Solution, you can choose how much of your data to back up and where (e.g. an external hard drive), so don’t have to worry about losing important files. Along with all basic ports (mic-in, headphones, USB) you get a very practical 4-in-1 multi card reader, which allows you to move around data between various hard drives.
The Dual-Core Intel i3 380M processor lets the Samsung RV511 run at a very impressive 2.53GHz, which, together with the 3Gb RAM, makes for very smooth working and browsing. But the real clincher here is the Nvidia GeForce 315M graphics card – you’ll be hard pressed to find an affordable laptop with graphics (especially HD video) as impressive as this one.
What we like least
Whilst scoring high on solidity and stability, the Samsung RV511 does not exactly knock us off our feet in terms of portability. At 2.4kg, it’s definitely on the stodgy side, and, since it ain’t the skinniest of laptops either, you’ll be loath to stick it in your backpack.
It’s also a shame that, while the colours come across brilliantly, you do get a fair bit of annoying reflection, and the viewing angle is limited – you might have to draw the curtains while using this laptop, and family viewing of a DVD will be a frustrating experience (then again, that’s what the HDMI cable is for).
Reasonably well-designed, robust and powerful - that’s the Samsung RV511. It is also bulky and, despite its great graphics, can pose problems when the lighting isn’t ideal, but overall, this is a great option for people who like their computing to be secure, simple and visually remarkable.
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Processor Speed
Up to 2.53GHz
Processor
Intel Pentium Dual Core Processor P6100
RAM
Up to 3 Gb
Screen Size
15.6inch
1366 x 768 resolution
Gloss Display & LED Backlight
Graphics
Nvidia GeForce 315M graphics card
Hard Drive Storage
Up to 500 Gb
Battery
6 cell Li-ion
2 hours
Multimedia
0.3 mega pixel integrated web cam
DVD writer
HD Audio
Headphone jack
Microphone jack
4-in-1 memory card reader
Ports
3 x USB
1 x VGA
Weight & Size
35mm(H)x382mm(W)x256mm(D)
2.4Kg
Connectivity
Gigabit Wired Ethernet LAN
WiFi 802.11b/g/n
Operating System
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium
Model Number
RV511
Technology seems to be evolving faster than we can write about it. John Hillman gets to grips with the latest OLED laptop and ponders what it means for the future.
One of the best things about technology is its continuous evolution. Just when you think you’ve got a handle on what’s around the corner something else comes along that makes you go “wow!”
There is just so much happening in the world of PCs at the moment and we promise to wade through all the geek speak and tell you what really matters. First off for me this year has to be the really quite mind blowing potential of OLED technology.
OLED stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode, which to most of us sounds like some sort of living entity from the planet Zorthank, but it’s actually a very cool process that lets you print organic material onto a screen that then works as a display monitor.
Basically it works as an alternative to LCD screens, and OLED technology has some significant characteristics that open up a range of possibilities for PC development.
The pixels emit their own light, which means that the screen requires no backlight. Think about that for a moment. LCDs require backlights in order to illuminate the display panel and increase readability. Take the backlight out of the display and suddenly you can produce screens that are thinner than paper – even ones that roll up, or fold like a newspaper.
The technology has been evolving slowly since the 1950s – and we have recently seen a few gadgets appear on the market that are starting to leverage OLEDs full potential.
But Samsung have just raised the bar significantly. Over at the CES in Las Vegas they are showing off a prototype 14 inch netbook that uses OLED technology to create a transparent screen (picture above courtesy of engadget). Ok so right now this is nothing more than a very cool looking feature, but already people are starting to notice how this technology could be used along with other innovations, such as Augmented Reality.
Personally I’m pretty excited about the sudden leap forward in OLED technology – and I can see just about everyone I know clamouring for a transparent laptop as soon as they go on sale. But I look forward, more, to where this technology is going in the future. We’ll keep you posted.
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Image credit: engadget
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