Other nice visual touches include how the ports, like on other Samsung notebooks, are labelled at the top of the machine, aiding easy identification and location, while the slightly upward angle of the front edge is also worth noting. There are plenty of vents, particularly around the hard drive, while the fan rarely seems to spin up and even when it does the NC10 remains blissfully quiet with no annoying squeals or squeaks – something that can afflict poorly fitted fans. Indeed, one thing that became immediately apparent is how cool the NC10 remains under all operation. Rubberised legs on the battery and at the front of the machine ensure it remains well planted on an even surface, while also enhancing airflow under the machine. This is joined by smart silver ‘Samsung’ lettering and each side of the lid is tapered slightly to meet the outside edges of the main body.įaux-chrome hinges are attached to a strong hinge section and the matte plastic finish is continued throughout. For something that’s going to be used regularly on the move this can only be a good thing and it’s pleasing to see Samsung paying attention to what many users have been demanding. Its lid, for instance, has a matte plastic finish, as opposed to a glossy plastic one that’s forever picking up fingerprints, grease and scratches. You might be relieved to hear that white isn’t the only option, too, with rather fetching blue and a black versions available at identical prices.Īside from the chromed edges, there are plenty more things to like about the NC10’s design. It’s such a simple thing but it instantly lends the NC10 an ever so slightly more adult and grown up look, contrasting the otherwise all white chassis very nicely. Most striking in this regard is the faux-chrome accenting that runs down both sides and across the front edge of the machine. Glance at the NC10 and you’d be forgiven for thinking it to be an Eee PC, but closer inspection reveals plenty of differences and ones that make it a fundamentally more attractive and more durable piece of kit. That it has all this and comes in at just under £300, approximately £30 less than the MSI, means the NC10 is already off to an extremely good start before you’ve even clapped eyes on it.Īnd when you do, things only get better. Naturally there’s Bluetooth in there, too, along with the 10.2in, 1,024 x 600, LED backlit display that appears to have become the norm among netbooks.įor storage there’s an exceedingly capacious 160GB hard drive and unlike so many netbooks, those mentioned above accepted, it features a six-cell battery with a 5,200mAh capacity. Network connectivity comes in the form of 10/100 Ethernet and 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi and though the likes of the Asus Eee PC 1000H and MSI Wind U100-291UK also pack Draft-N Wi-Fi, it’s a luxury we and plenty of others can do without. ![]() This is backed up the usual 1GB DDR2 RAM module and since there’s just the one slot in the NC10, you’ll need a 2GB stick if you wish to upgrade – something that’s made easy thanks to a dedicated single-screw fixed panel. It might not be a high performance part, but for the needs of a netbook it’s just right and until something else comes along to best it, either the AMD Conesus, the proposed ARM effort, or a dual-core Atom, it’s as good as netbook processing gets. This, as we’ve seen through the last few months, delivers a remarkable balance of performance and battery life. ![]() At the centre of it all, as ever, is an Intel Atom N270 processor running at 1.6GHz. ![]() Of course, fundamentally the NC10 is little different to any other netbook currently available. Frankly, when you’re dealing with a company like Samsung, anything seems possible. That in May we visited Samsung in Korea and were told the company wasn’t working on a netbook and had no plans to do so either proves that Koreans make excellent poker players, or that the Korean giant has designed, produced and delivered a truly superb product in a matter of months. ![]() We could be coy and suggestive and hint at the conclusions to come, but given you can see the score at the top and might have read the strap line “the best netbook money can buy” on the front page, you should already know what’s coming.
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