Samsung 17-inch Series 7 Chronos (NP700Z7C-S01US)

The Samsung 17 - inch Series 7 Chronos ( NP700Z7C - S01US ) ( $ 1,449.99 list ) desktop replacement laptop is just a tad big for the laps of most people . Reserved only for the graphics power users , with a quad- core processor , 3D graphics enthusiasts level , and a large 1TB hard drive . It has several shortcomings , including a lack of a Blu - ray drive and an annoying marketing bar remains at the top of your windows , but all in all it is a system that should appear on your short list if you enjoy creating entertainment hobby or maybe even your vocation .

Design and Features
The NP700Z7C - S01US is a large , yet thin 1 - by- 16 -by - 10.5 - inch ( HWD ) desktop replacement laptop . If you plan on using it on your commute , make sure you find a spacious computer case , preferably one with a sturdy shoulder straps . The system weighs 6.44 pounds alone and 7.37 pounds with the included AC adapter . It fits the style of the times , with a dark silver finish all over , and darker keycaps chiclet keyboard with 101 keys . The full - size backlit keyboard includes a full set of functions , navigation and numeric keys . The navigation key is directly below the shift and return keys , so it takes a bit to get used to their placement , but across the keyboard is comfortable to type on . One - piece is built in touchpad mouse buttons , supports the common multi - touch swipes and is responding well to fast movement .

Like most laptops , the system does not have an external mouse , but you can add one of the two USB 2.0 ports on the right side of the system . The system space - loads of DVD drive on the right hand side also. 4 - in - 1 SD card reader on the front of the system , facing you . The right side of the laptop connector for the AC adapter , two USB 3.0 ports , full - size Ethernet , VGA , HDMI , Mini DisplayPort , headset jack , and Kensington lock port . The two USB 3.0 ports are color - coded blue , so no little confusion when you connect a fast USB 3.0 - enabled peripheral , such as an external hard drive .

Speaker connections , the NP700Z7C - S01US has dual - band ( 2.4GHz and 5GHz ) 802.11 a / ​​b / g / n Wi - Fi so you can connect to a different hotspot . The connections extend WiDi support , although you have to provide your own WiDi receiver , such as the Netgear Push2TV , if you want to stream content from the laptop to your HDTV wirelessly . You can , of course , connect the full - sized HDMI port for a faster , more portable solution . System pump out a good amount of sound when you're watching a movie or online video . Sounds of Music and games will be heard by a crowd in a medium size room , thanks to JBL - branded speakers and built - in subwoofer . Careful not to overdrive the subwoofer however , can distort at higher volume levels .

The system has a 17.3 - inch screen , which is one of the largest screens currently available on a laptop . Do It ( 1,920 -by- 1 , 080 ) native resolution , so most of the online videos look very good a true 1080p . The light is fine for a normally lit room , and the matte finish ensures that distracting reflections are kept to a minimum . We played a variety of trailers and videos , including those for Star Trek and Wreck It Ralph , and all the videos play as fast and well as allow our Internet connection . That said , it 's kind of disappointing that the screen will not be a higher resolution . The 15 - inch Apple MacBook Pro 15 - inch ( Retina Display ) has a higher 2,880 by 1,800 resolution display , an improvement over its predecessor 's 17 - inch MacBook Pro , which itself had a 1920 by 1200 resolution display . The screen resolution NP700Z7C - S01US is not a deal - breaker , because 1080p is the current standard for high - resolution screens , but it is still disappointing for graphic workers who want a portable workstation .

The system has a third generation quad- core Intel Core i7 processor , 8 GB of memory , and a 1TB hard drive . The hard drive is 5400 rpm , a bit slow for video work , but okay for general use and some graphics work ( see performance below ) . The NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M separate graphics are good for light gaming , plus the system has NVIDIA Optimus technology , which automatically toggles between NVIDIA card and the integrated graphics on the CPU .

The 1TB hard drive has plenty of free space , but not free of clutter . There are several useful pre - loaded utilities , such as a utility and software for the DVD burner and webcam . System also has some other third - party utilities such as pre - loaded Skype , Amazon Kindle , and Wild tangent games , most of them are really storefronts for extra services . Also on the list is the package like a 60 - day trial to Norton Internet Security , to be " more useful " then ended the trial period . The most striking of the added software is the electronic " shelf talker " insert that Samsung is set to show in the upper right corner of the screen . It covers any window you're working until you dismiss it . Thankfully , the rest of the desktop is free and not cluttered with icons and shortcuts like some retail systems from Acer and HP . The system has a standard one- year warranty .