Product Listing

LG R590 - Multimedia Powerhouse!

By Andy Sim & Aloysius Low - 13 Jan 2011
Launch SRP: S$2399

What Lies Beneath

What Lies Beneath

Two things impressed us the moment we yanked open the R590's hood. One is the expansive 1600 x 900 pixels widescreen resolution which makes it ideal for watching 16:9 HD material. Although the LED-backlit screen is restricted by a tight vertical viewing angle, it does offer a wider range on the horizontal axis. The glossy screen becomes a tad reflective under brighter working environments, despite its polarizing coat (which is what allows you to watch 3D content with polarized glasses). On the upside, the display is able to deliver crisp and vivid images which makes it perfect for gawking at the likes of Amanda Righetti. Just above the LCD sits a 1.3MP webcam and dual microphones to help eradicate ambient noise. Secondly, wordsmiths would relish the R590's keyboard. It was a pleasure to type with, given its fully-pitched keys with ample tactile feedback and travel. They are also relatively quiet if you happen to hate noisy implementations. If data-entry work beckons, fear not, for there is a number pad included with a huge "Enter" key as well. 

LG's R590 suffers from a tight vertical viewing angle. Thankfully, lesser color or contrast shifts were noted on the horizontal axis.

One of the perks of getting a 15.6-incher is they usually come with decent keyboard layouts. The R590 adheres to this tradition with an ample keyboard spread plus a number pad with a humongous "Enter" key as well.

Further down below, we find the multi-touch Synaptics trackpad to be delightfully responsive. However, we didn't fancy the stiff and narrow trackpad buttons one bit. If it's any consolation, build quality of its wrist rest was pretty solid on the whole with only a mild flex. A smattering of touch-sensitive multimedia controls is present as well, which appears to be the rage these days with many consumer models (think Lenovo). There is also a dedicated button for the "SRS Wow HD" function developed by SRS Labs. When tested, there is a noticeable improvement in audio quality such as wider stereo imaging and more refined treble. Still, we wouldn't count on LG's meek and tinny speakers to give us the auditory time of our life. If you're finicky about audio performance, we'd recommend using external drivers or a decent pair of headphones instead.

The Synaptics trackpad sports a matte surface and is considerably wide enough to navigate with. It also features multi-touch and scroll functions. Be warned about its stiff and slim buttons though.

The LEDs placement tells us LG has given some attention to detail. Located at the edge of the front lip, the power and battery charging statuses can be easily read even with the lid closed.
 

 See those little blue LEDs? They come on every time you touch the touch-sensitive volume controls. Other than that, they are simply little blue orbs which don't seem to serve any practical purpose.
 

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8.0
  • Design 8
  • Features 8.5
  • Performance 8.5
  • Value 8
  • Mobility 7.5
The Good
Zippy Performance
Vibrant Screen
Comfortable Keys
3D-ready Notebook
The Bad
Steep Price
Average Battery Life
Chunky and Heavy
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