The Samsung R610-64G hovers in a strange place between a traditional mainstream notebook and a full-fledged multimedia desktop replacement. A svelte 6 pounds (for its size), the R610 is the lightest 16-inch notebook we’ve tested, and with a street price of $999, it’s also one of the cheapest. Its classy black chassis is one of the most attractive we’ve seen in this form. But to achieve its low price, the R610 skimps on performance and features such as dedicated media controls, a full HD screen, and a Blu-ray drive option.

Sleek, Touch of Color Design

The R610’s attractive, understated look is classy enough for the boardroom, yet trendy enough for the dorm room. With the lid open, the thin chassis measures a mere 1.3 inches at its thickest point and 0.8 inches at its thinnest. This is significantly thinner than some other 16-inch systems, most notably the Acer Aspire 6930G, and just a hair larger than the Sony VAIO FW series.

Like other Samsung notebooks with the manufacturer’s signature Touch of Color design, the R610 has a glossy black exterior that’s accented by a dark red gradient stripe on its front lip. A tasteful array of green and blue status lights for the hard drive, power, and Wi-Fi shine through the gradient.