Samsung Launches R80 Multimedia Notebook Line Into Best Buy

We never thought we'd say it, but notebooks are the new black. Notebook after notebook has launched since CES (we've lost count, to be honest), yet only a handful of new desktops have done likewise. We know the desktop still has a life to live with hardcore gamers demanding performance that only a desktop GPU and CPU can provide, but it's actually astonishing to see just how much focus is being placed on mobile machines compared to towers.


Take Samsung, for example. The company isn't even in the desktop PC business, yet it's getting incredibly serious about their notebook range. Announced today, the company's multimedia R80 line will be shot out into Best Buy stores and on Best Buy's website starting on March 7, which means a great deal of exposure for these very machines. Packing Blu-ray drives, NVIDIA graphics and Samsung's Crystal Wave design, we're pretty sure these won't be relegated to the last shelf in the store.

Samsung's R80 line will be offered in a variety of sizes (17.3” – R780, 15.6” – R580, 14.0” – R480), and all are designed with Blu-ray viewers in mind as well as medium-grade gamers. These also feature an integrated webcam, a built-in microphone, HDMI output and a 16:9 screen layout. If the full-size rig isn't your cup of tea, the company's N210 netbook, which features an Atom N450 CPU, Windows 7 Starter, 1GB of DDR2 memory, a 10.1" WSVGA display, GMA 3150 graphics and a 250GB HDD, will also be sitting alongside of those at Best Buy Stores. The full pricing and specification breakdown is listed below.

• R480: $729.99
• R580: $829.99
• R780: $929.99 (available exclusively on BestBuy.com)

Samsung N210

• CPU: Intel® Atom™ N450 Processor
• Genuine Windows® 7 Starter Edition
• Memory: 1GB DDR2
• Screen: 10.1” WSVGA
• Resolution: 1024 x 600
• Graphics: Intel GMA 3150
• Speakers: 3 W Stereo Speaker (1.5 W x 2)
• Audio technology: HD Audio
• Web camera: 0.3MP
• Internal microphone
• Hard Drive: 250GB 5400 RPM
• Wireless LAN: 802.11bg/n
• LAN: 10/100 Ethernet
• 2.82 lbs.

Samsung R480

• CPU: Intel® Core™ i3 Processor
• Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium (64bit)
• Memory: 4GB (DDR3 / 2GB x 2)
• Screen: 14.0” LED HD
• Resolution: 1366 x 768
• Graphics: Intel® GMA 4500MHD
• Optical Drive: Blu-ray
• Speakers: 3 W Stereo Speaker (1.5 W x 2)
• Audio technology: HD Audio
• Web camera: 0.3 MP
• HDMI port
• Hard Drive: 500GB 5400 RPM
• Wireless LAN: 802.11bg/n
• LAN: Gigabit Ethernet
• 5.07 lbs.

Samsung R580

• CPU: Intel® Core™ i5 Processor
• Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium (64bit)
• Memory: 4GB (DDR3 / 2GB x 2)
• Screen: 15.6" LED HD
• Resolution: 1366 x 768
• Graphics: nVIDIA GeForce 310M
• Optical Drive: Blu-ray
• Speakers: 3 W Stereo Speaker (1.5 W x 2)
• Audio technology: HD Audio
• Web camera: 1.3 MP
• HDMI port
• Hard Drive: 500GB 5400 RPM
• Wireless LAN: 802.11bg/n
• LAN: Gigabit Ethernet
• 5.7 lbs.

Samsung R780

• CPU: Intel® Core™ i5 Processor
• Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium (64bit)
• Memory: 4 GB (DDR3 / 2GB x 2)
• Display: 17.3" LED HD+
• Resolution: 1600 x 900
• Graphics: nVIDIA GeForce GT 330M
• Optical Drive: Super Multi Dual Layer
• Speakers: 4 W Stereo Speaker (2 W x 2)
• Audio technology: HD Audio
• Webcam: 1.3 MP
• HDMI port
• Hard Drive: 500GB 5400 RPM
• Wireless LAN: 802.11bg/n
• LAN: Gigabit Ethernet
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• 6.26 lbs.