Samsung set to launch Aura R20 laptop

Samsung looks to have suddenly found itself in a branding mood, with the company set to introduce a whole new line of laptops under the "Aura" banner next week, beginning with the Aura R20 (pictured above). From the looks of it, the new line is definitely out to impress, with a slimline design and that glossy black finish people can't seem to get enough of these days. Matching R20's good looks are its specs, with a 14.1-inch widescreen display, a Core 2 Duo T7400 processor on the top end, up to 4GB of RAM, a max 160GB hard drive, and ATI's new Radeon Xpress 1250 Hyper Memory graphics chip, as well as a DVD burner, and the usual built-in WiFi and Bluetooth. Unfortunately, it looks like we'll have to wait 'till the official announcement for pricing and availability details, but you can check out a couple more shots of it after the break.

[Via Laptoping]

[Jonny @ Feb 24th 2007 2:05AM]

Still runs crappy Windoze...

[John Doe @ Feb 24th 2007 2:11AM]

Yes, which is a godsend so people don't have to look at you wondering if you are one of those Mac nuts. Jonny do us all a favor and get bent.
Every fucking time I talk about my C2DMBP I have to append it with "but I'm not one of those zealots" because of dipshits like you.

[John Doe @ Feb 24th 2007 2:21AM]

As for the hardware. Nice specs. However nothing overly unique. I was somewhat surprised not to see Draft N not in the thing. I would have thought that at this point in time most OEMs would be starting to transition over to Draft N....

[J. Henry @ Feb 24th 2007 2:44AM]

Ugh, another new laptop with a VGA port. When are manufacturers finally going to switch over to DVI? This isn't 1999 anymore.

[barrington.thompson @ Jul 2nd 2007 8:21AM]

Manufacturers should be inputting HDMI (HDCP) sockets and compatible graphics cards - DVI is probably extinct.

[nikster @ Feb 24th 2007 3:05AM]

humm... lets wait for more pix. glossy black a good design does not make. I am very skeptical on the shape from the side, it should have a square profile and no weird cutouts under the front of the laptop. I hate it when they do that - it only serves the purpose of making it look thinner from the front, e.g. on store shelves, and proves it's a sub-optimal shape. Optimal would be if they had made it square and made the entire thing a little bit slimmer or narrower instead...

[LJKelley @ Feb 24th 2007 3:07AM]

Nice laptop... I'm loving the designs out of Samsung lately. About VGA, It is still the most used connection. The Laptop doesn't need to hookup to a display like a Desktop because it has a display built in. Thinking about that, most monitors our there support VGA, so its the common sense as I doubt you will buy a laptop to use another display exclusively.

Funny thing about Windows (other that being inherently better than Apple OS X due to is flexibility and scalibility) is that Apple OS X is exclusively sold on Apple Hardware. As for Linux, I think it goes without saying that isn't as User friendly as OS X or Windows and the multitude of Distro's and diffculty of installing certian hardware or software is a turn off.

http://www.startblue.net/technology/articles/does-an-apple-keep-the-doctor-away.htm

[manfesto @ Feb 24th 2007 3:00PM]

Then they should use a DVI connection and package a DVI-to-VGA adapter for use with VGA-only displays. VGA may still be the most common connection out there, but there are more than enough DVI devices to justify its use - almost all modern computer displays, HDTVs, and projectors. Even if you don't use an external monitor with your laptop all of the time, don't you want the highest quality connection when you do?

Also, your jabs at OS X and Linux have nothing to do with the discussion at hand.

[Johan S @ Feb 24th 2007 3:22AM]

Branding .. Samsung is at the early stage where they can either do this right like Apple, or do it wrong like Sony don't know how to maintain a brand name.

Rule 1: Do not under any circumstances have a massive product line up.
Rule 2: The low end product should also be usable and fun.

Example: Notice how there's only 3 kinds of iPods (low end, medium, high end). Sony on the other hand would have many different types of products each going after some sort of esoteric niche. I have no idea what different Sony Cybershot cameras are in production. And their laptops? They come in a multitude of configurations. What happens is that whenever I see a Sony, I associate it with low end performance and crippled functionality. Maybe their high end products are good .. but I guess I got biased by being exposed to their low end stuff.

[Richard J @ Feb 24th 2007 4:57AM]

Sony are one of the best companies at keeping brand names going. Look at Walkman, Vaio, Clie.

[mre @ Feb 24th 2007 3:44AM]

can we even buy these laptops in the u.s.? it seems like this is strictly for asian countries and europe.

[tc @ Feb 24th 2007 3:46AM]

I own a Samsung notebook, and I have to admit they're definitely not the best buy for the money spent. The battery on my notebook is horrendous, and the screen's maximum brightness is inadequate. From what I can tell, this just looks like a very standard computer with just some gloss on it.

[David W. @ Feb 24th 2007 4:49AM]

The specs look pretty nice...it must get reaaaaally hot though.

Hey I know this is kinda off topic, but I'm looking for a small laptop for use in lieu of my desktop replacement that can be used for gaming. I'm looking at the Dell M1210 right now and am willing to spend around 3300...just reply to this comment plz!!!

[L.Rawlins @ Feb 24th 2007 7:18AM]

Amen J.Henry, a-freaking-men.

DVI should already be a standard feature on all modern notebooks. Many potential purchases for me are immediately shot down in flames when I find that despite it's power, it flounders on connectivity.

[DP533 @ Feb 24th 2007 7:29AM]

Betanews.com = Dave W.??

[Phil @ Feb 24th 2007 12:37PM]

lol, hope they got permission from DTS before using that image. :p

[rareleopard @ Feb 24th 2007 1:34PM]

4 GB is odd for the core2duo mobile chips because they don't allow more than 3 gb of ram.

[TJ @ Feb 24th 2007 1:39PM]

walkman vaio clie bravia xplod xbr blehhhhhhhh

[sebastien @ Feb 24th 2007 3:04PM]

Looks just like a vaio !

[shimman @ Feb 24th 2007 3:40PM]

not bad, but nothing too special about it just like sony's vaio slim notebooks

however, i would get one if the price is right as it is stylish, thin, and well made (probably)

[Archietype @ Feb 24th 2007 7:14PM]

Pricing wise, Micro Anvika is listing it as going for £599 and dabs.com have it down at £573 so it's pretty reasonably priced compared to other notebooks in the same kind of area.

http://www.microanvika.co.uk/product.asp?TXT=INFO&PNO=SAM14520

http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=4FW6&CategorySelectedId=11105&fb=429&NavigationKey=11105&ExposedRefinement=11001