Samsung Series 7 Chronos review

While the Samsung Series 7 Chronos is a beautiful laptop, the PC is dying. Unless you're regularly pushing your device to its limits, most users will be happy with the performance offered by Microsoft Surface Pro or the HP Envy x2. They still have Intel Core power, and when compared with this hefty price tag, you could still afford to have a big screen and a full-sized wireless keyboard set up on your desk.

The days of the full-form clamshell laptop being the only choice for people who want a marriage of work and play have passed, and unless you need every ounce of processing power, more versatile Windows 8 machines are available in your price range, and are worthy alternatives.

We liked

The immense power of the Samsung Series 7 Chronos is genuinely impressive, and it offers near gaming-level performance in a machine that you could carry in a bag and use day to day. With the top of the range processor and dedicated graphics card considered, the slim lines and sleek brushed metal finish are to be applauded.

The upgraded screen is another highlight, and the expansive panel works brilliantly in Windows 8. The deep colours and detailed, pin-sharp visuals make this a truly premium laptop, and add to that the responsive and accurate touchscreen capability and you have a stunning high-end laptop.

This is one of the stand-out laptops you'll see this year, marrying top-notch design with fantastic usability.

We disliked

As a laptop, the Samsung Series 7 Chronos is one of the best you'll find, but our gripes come from a general view of where computing is going, and how you should spend your £1,200/US$1,300. There's stacks of power here, but portability is limited, and this is an issue for many buyers. Most people will happily get by on half the amount of power here, and that means Ultrabooks such as the Dell XPS 13 or Asus Zenbook could be better options, financially speaking.

Next, there's design. The Samsung Series 7 Chronos makes few allowances for the touchscreen user, and while form factors are starting to change across the computing world, this is very much stuck in 2011. Hybrid devices and tablets are making in-roads, especially backed by Windows 8, but aside from touch - which we believe most users will shun in favour of the familiar trackpad - the Samsung Series 7 Chronos does little to embrace the new computing experience.

If you're looking for a home laptop, the Samsung Series 7 Chronos is as good as it gets, but in a year's time the traditional desk-bound clamshell will seem very old fashioned.

Final verdict

The Samsung Series 7 Chronos is one of the best Windows laptops money can buy, but in this changing world of computing, we urge you as a buyer to consider whether your needs would be served better with a lighter, more mobile machine with less emphasis on huge power.

If you're looking for a fantastic laptop today, however, this superb machine comes highly recommended.