Samsung RF711 review

A 1,600×900 resolution is disappointing for a 17.3in screen, especially as there’s a Blu-ray drive installed. At this price, we expected a 1,920×1,080 resolution, which would also be welcome for video editing and other applications that need lots of information on screen at once. Still, image quality is good, with a bright, even backlight and vibrant colours, thanks to a glossy screen finish. Vertical viewing angles are fussy though, so you’ll have to adjust the tilt of the screen carefully.

There’s no ExpressCard slot, but that shouldn’t bother many people. You do get an SDHC memory card reader, four USB ports, two of which are USB3, as well as a choice of VGA or HDMI video outputs. Also, the hard disk has a huge 1TB capacity.

Like many laptops these days, Samsung has opted for a keyboard with separated, Chiclet-style keys. Their flat tops are a bit slippery, but our main concern was the spongy action, which lacked feedback for touch-typists. At least the layout is standard, and the numeric keypad includes a row of page navigation keys. The touchpad is smooth and responsive, but its buttons are flush with the case so it’s hard to locate them by touch.

Had the RF711 had a 1,920×1,080 screen we’d have liked it a lot more. It’s not a bad laptop if you do a lot of multimedia editing, and it has a collect-and-return warranty. The Dell XPS L502X does have a Full HD screen for a similar price, albeit a smaller 15.6in version. It’s not quite as fast overall, but its better-quality screen plus a better keyboard mean it’s a superior choice for most people.