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Samsung's new laptops--new Intel processors, plus a thin surprise

A look at Samsung's laptop announcements from CES 2011, including the 9 Series 13-incher.

Scott Stein Editor at Large
I started with CNET reviewing laptops in 2009. Now I explore wearable tech, VR/AR, tablets, gaming and future/emerging trends in our changing world. Other obsessions include magic, immersive theater, puzzles, board games, cooking, improv and the New York Jets. My background includes an MFA in theater which I apply to thinking about immersive experiences of the future.
Expertise VR and AR, gaming, metaverse technologies, wearable tech, tablets Credentials
  • Nearly 20 years writing about tech, and over a decade reviewing wearable tech, VR, and AR products and apps
Scott Stein
The Samsung RV511.
The Samsung RV511. Samsung

LAS VEGAS--Samsung announced three laptops of note at CES 2011, all of them featuring Intel's new Sandy Bridge 2nd-gen Core processors. One aims at the executive market, while the others focus at the high and low end of average consumer laptops.

The RV511 is a thin and very affordable $599 multimedia budget laptop, featuring a Core i3-380M CPU, 15.6-inch display, 4GB of RAM, and a 500GB hard drive.

The RC512 is Samsung's high-end 15-inch offering. At $1149, it packs a Core i7-2630M CPU, Nvidia GeForce GT430 graphics, 6GB DDR3 RAM, a 750GB hard drive, and a Blu-ray playing drive. It looks like a heady competitor to the Sony Vaio F series.

Samsung 9 series (photos)

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Last but not least, the 9 series is a bold, 13-inch laptop with a 2nd-gen Intel Core i5 processor that claims it's the thinnest in the world. A striking metal design and integrated stereo speakers and subwoofer come with a high price of $1599.